23rd August - The Mercury

the Mercury

www.utdmercury.com

The Student Newspaper at UT Dallas

Vol. XXX, No. 9

Scottish travels change a life Page 3B

New softball coach on campus.

Page 1C

August 23, 2010

Arts & Performance minor offers flexibility Page 5A

Dean, wife die in accident Jessica Melton

Editor-in-Chief jjm082000@utdallas.edu

Every seat and all the standing room in Jonsson Performance Hall was occupied by those who came to remember Associate Dean Duane Buhrmester and his wife Linda Buhrmester Duane and Linda Buhrmester died in a mountaineering accident July 27 in Colorado. A reception took place in their honor Aug. 6.

“They died doing what they love,” said Duane and Linda’s son, Michael Buhrmester.

Duane Buhrmester was Associate Dean to the School of Behavioral and Brain Sciences since 1989, and Linda Buhrmester was a caregiver to children ages three and below.

Duane and Linda spend

most of their lives together, as they met and fell in love in eighth grade, and continued through school and the rest of their lives together according to their obituary.

They had two sons, Michael and Ryan Buhrmester.

Michael noted among the things which brought his parents together were athleticism and, with a laugh, frugality.

He said he remembered all the good times they had on family trips, including one to Milan in which his parents suggested spending one of the nights in a train station.

“Which apparently is common, or so mom and dad have said,” Michael said.

Michael said because of the language barrier the family missed the designated sleeping area, and ended

see DEAN page 5A

photo by Alex Hays

A portrait of Associate Dean Duane Buhrmester and his wife Linda Buhrmester stands in the Jonsson Performance Hall as family, friends, faculty, staff and students come to remember.

School of Management to expand degree offerings Shane Damico Managing Editor

spd064000@utdallas,edu

The School of Management’s addition of three undergraduate degree plans aims to improve student success in the job market.

Approved by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board in June, degree implementation will begin this fall.

Global Business The Bachelor of Science in Global Business will provide students who previously pursued a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration, with concentration in international business, with a specialized degree plan.

Dean of Management

illustration by Laura-Jane Cunningham

All registration is not created equal Mari Vila

Staff Writer mxv093120@utdallas.edu

More than 50 percent of UTD students are transfer students, according to Transfer Student Services Assistant Director Yolande’ Porter.

Despite the growing number of transfer students, those who transfer in still have problems signing up for classes, and some are required to communicate with an adviser every semester to address pre-requisite errors and credit equivalency issues.

The problem occurs when a student transfers with a course technically equivalent to a UTD class, but filed under

a different name. The result is that Orion, the student information system, may not notice the similarity.

According to graduate student and transfer student liaison Emily Pace, students who attempt to sign up for certain classes cannot because they receive a pre-requisite error in Orion, which can only be overridden by an academic adviser.

These registration glitches prevent some students from signing up for a class before it is filled. The delay transfer students experience before enrollment is not something many other students have to worry about.

Pace, a member of the

Rebecca Gomez

Staff Writer becks@student.utdallas.edu

Hasan Pirkul said students will be taught proficiency in a second language and the degree will offer many opportunities to study abroad.

“If you look at why (students) will fail should we send them abroad, out of the top five reasons it is a lack of language skills,” said Director of Global Business Habte Woldu.

Woldu said the primary focus of the program will initially be within the Latin American community and therefore Spanish will be taught intensively.

“It’s better to stick to places where we have geographical proximity, so I’m talking about Mexico and

see SOM page 6A

Dining scores stagnant

Student Welcome and Transition team, said the inability to sign up for classes isn’t fair.

“These kids just want in these classes. They know they can go in these classes, they want to get in these classes, but they just can’t for logistical reasons,” Pace said. “It’s not something that everyone else has to deal with, and in that sense, it’s kind of discriminating.”

Pace said students complain they waited for an adviser override to register for a course, only to find the class was already filled when

see TRANSFER page 4A

Food and safety standards have improved in the UTD Dining Hall, by one point.

The Dining Hall received its second inspection from the Health Department of the City of Richardson April 29, improving its score to 77 from its Dec 2009 76.

The current Dining Hall score keeps it in the range of “acceptable” per the Health Department’s rating system. Ratings below 60 are grounds for closure of a facility and ratings above 79 are considered good or great.

“Our goal is to score in the 90’s. I have a promise from my executive chef that everything will improve,” said Keith Foreman, director of dining services.

The Pub and the Comet Café haven’t been re-inspected since 2009, but their current scores stand at 100 and 88.

The score in the Comet Café, however, can be a bit misleading.

Foreman said part of the reason the dining areas scored the way they did is because of the kitchen. The Dining Hall

see DINING page 10A

Lights out Shane Damico Managing Editor

s.damico@student.utdallas.edu

As outside temperatures sizzled above 100 F, UTD administration had no choice but to evacuate students, faculty and staff after all air conditioning ceased to function.

For students on campus Aug. 2, especially those in the McDermott Library or the Natural Science and Engineering Research Laboratory (NSERL), it was immediately apparent something was wrong when all electrical power was lost in the buildings.

Contractors performing landscape renovations in preparation for the second resident hall struck disaster when one of their drills hit a high voltage power line.

According to Associate Vice President of Business Affairs Richard Dempsey, no one was hurt in the incident.

Dempsey explained that two primary cables power the campus. The contractor’s drill severed the primary cable responsible for providing energy to the central energy plant, the Engineering and Computer

see LIGHTS page 6A

photo by Shane Damico

One of the many drills currently operating at the second resident hall’s construction site.

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August 23, 2010

News

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the Mercury

theMercury | Blog

Folks flock to lose locks for cancer fund raiser Kyle Kondas is a PHD student and Arts & Technology Professor at UTD. His father battled and subsequently died from cancer two years ago, and he’s had a friend die from the disease in ‘09.

Instead of getting depressed about the whole thing he decided to create a social event where people could come together and share their stories and experiences.

Kyle threw an event called ShaveDallas: People got sponsored to come shave their heads, and any money raised was given to charity to help fight the disease. The event gathered far more people than expected, and was a huge success.

More information can be found at: www.shavedallas.org An interview with Kyle can be found at www.utdmercury.com

photos courtesy of www.markramsey.com

Opinion

the Mercury www.utdmercury.com

August 23, 2010

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Letter to Student Government

Ramadan, students unite

Over the summer semester the newly elected Student Government (SG) president and vice president have operated in a different manner, but still lack sufficient student interaction.

“Whenever there has been bloodshed allegedly in the name of one tradition or another, it’s necessary to say, ‘That’s not what that tradition is about.’ The Cordoba Initiative will keep saying that is not what Islam is about.” – Rabbi Arthur Waskow When I heard of plans to build an Islamic community center near Ground Zero my first thought was “Whose suicidal idea was this?” As one of the 1.5 billion Muslims around the world, I have learned to temper my religious identity in light of the discriminatory aftermath of 9/11.

Expressions of faith in my community, while just as heartfelt, are less obviously fervent than before. No one wants to be the man attacked because he has a beard, the woman whose scarf is snatched from her head or the child taunted in school for being an “Islamist.”

I was sure, then, that such an ambitious project would invite unprecedented slander against a community that has become accustomed to hugging the shadows.

But it is Ramadan, and if there is ever a time when being Muslim is difficult to hide, it’s when you haven’t eaten the entire day. Your stomach growls in class, your lips chap and If you’re anything like me, you stop making as much sense as before, because it becomes harder to translate your thoughts into coherent sentences.

Your head nods en route to your 8 a.m. labs, and when you make it to school you wonder how on Earth you got there. Concentrating in class becomes more difficult when you don’t have your daily dose of M&Ms or coffee to keep you awake. And when you get home, it is impossible to complete your Calculus homework because

Sunna Syed

Contributor news@utdmercury.com

Political science senior Grace Bielawski and political science senior Dina Shahrohki, campaigned on the Student Allies ticket, and were elected as SG president and vice president, respectively, in an online election March 8-10.

Since that time the website has been updated to include pertinent information such as services and senator applications, instead of the previous picture of senate whooshing. Meeting minutes are posted in an appropriate time, knowledge of Robert’s Rules has increased and as a result the meetings flow smoother and also begin on time.

Nonetheless, there are strategies SG has not utilized to ensure their senate meetings are well attended by students, or to portray themselves as the voice of the students.

Students currently do not seem like a priority at SG meetings. Agendas are posted shortly before meetings, allowing senators to follow along during the meeting, but are not available early enough to give students the opportunity to decide ahead of time if any of the issues concern them.

In other aspects the website has drastically improved, noting dates for the upcoming senate meetings, but the last agenda posted was in April. As a result students cannot know beforehand if they want to attend the meeting.

Ocassionaly senate meeting will have many visitors, such as during the ice cream social hosted last semester. Many chairs were set up to accommodate guests.

During routine senate meetings, however, the senators sit at tables arranged in the shape of a rectangle, with visitors pushed to the wall in a cramped line.

While the meetings have flowed smoother this summer, there is less discussion. A student at a senate meeting should walk away with the knowledge of what their government is doing, instead of a bulleted list that makes no sense out of context.

At meetings most senators play the role of an observer while a select few voice their opinions and give reports. More senator interaction could draw students to the meetings, and create richer discussion.

SG makes a difference to students, but the students themselves seem unaware of what SG offers with the exception of free scantrons and blue books. In the past, SG hosted events to promote themselves, but perhaps placing their accomplishments on a more prominent location on their website would prove more beneficial.

Informing students about accomplishments, listening to concerns and making information readily available might get the student body involved with the actions of SG.

Editorial Board Jessica Melton, Editor in Chief Shane Damico, Managing Editor James Woolley, Advertising Manager Benjamin Linke Copy Editor editor@mercury.utdallas.edu The Mercury Editorial Board voted 4-0 in favor of this editorial. The board consists of the newspaper’s editor-in-chief, managing editor, graphics editor, advertising manager and Life & Arts editor. The board will discuss, debate and develop editorial positions on issues affecting the UTD community. We welcome your responses at mercury@utdallas.edu.

Opinions expressed in The UTD 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; P.O. Box 830688, SU 24, Richardson, TX 75080.

Comet

W

Comments

Sunna Syed every time you try, it morphs in and out of your field of vision.

These, however, are only side effects of one of the most potent treatments offered by modern religion for apathy, ingratitude and impatience: personal obstacles that most often confront people our age.

During Ramadan, the ninth month of the Islamic lunar calendar, Aug. 11, Muslims fast – refrain from eating, drinking and sexual relations – from sunrise to sunset.

As the fourth Pillar of Islam, fasting hones a Muslim’s discipline, and we use our newfound time to practice our faith and better understand the plight of those who must live without basic provisions.

It is a time to be more kindhearted than necessary, more faithful than usual and more forgiving than comes easily.

The UTD Muslim community is never more united than at this time of the year. And sort of like Christmas, the spirit of Ramadan is something to be shared. It presents an opportunity for all people, regardless of their faith, creed or color, to strive for purity of body and soul, give to the less fortunate and overlook petty wrongs.

Islam is a religion that encourages humility, tolerance and friendship, and the Quran itself presents instruction to “hold to forgiveness and command what is right.”

A believer’s relationship with the world and his God must be one built not on arrogance or pride, but on love.

It is from this perspective I

attempt to view the mosque controversy. The 9/11 terrorist attacks bruised the relationship between Islam and the rest of the world, leaving a wound that continues to fester. These attacks, purposed for death and destruction, also intended division – division of the Americans whether they be black, white, man, woman, Jew, Christian or Muslim.

But it is Ramadan, and so there has never been a better time to put our differences aside and forget the missteps of the past – it is time, ultimately, to realize that we are all one people. If you were to experience a Muslim’s grief, it would feel no less consuming.

If you were to listen to his heartbeat, it would sound no less vital. If you were to take a knife to his flesh, his blood would be as red as that of any human being.

The purpose of this writing, then, is not to preach, admonish or complain, it is to extend a hand. This Ramadan, on behalf of the UTD Muslim community, I am asking the bitter, the doubting and the indignant to take a moment to walk in the shoes of a Muslim. Pick up a Quran, ask questions. Discover the open hearts and minds that wait where you anticipated only antagonism.

I am asking you to join Rabbi Arthur Waskow and view the mosque near Ground Zero as the triumph of a moderate and tolerant religion and faith over human insanity. Support it with your whole heart as the symbol of what this country is so rightfully proud of: the ability of its people to emerge renewed, if slightly battered, from the rubble of adversity.

I know, with my whole heart, that this mosque is exactly that for the Muslims, including the 70 Americans who died in the towers. It is a sign of revival, an affirmation that we are done hiding and will do whatever is needed to right a terrible wrong. To react in any other way would be to truly let the terrorists win.

hat are your expectations of Student Government (SG)?

“I hope (SG) takes care of the needs of students.”

“Gosh, it would be great if they didn’t suck this year.”

“My other school’s wasn’t that great so I hope (SG) isn’t poor.”

Mohammad Islam Biology freshman

Kelly Crowley Literature graduate

Nick Liew Economics junior

“To help the school accommodate all different kinds of people

“I hope they put up events to make us want to go to school”

“Help the freshmen and continue to provide blue books.”

Taylor Kobs Arts & Technology freshman

Steve Powell Computer engineering freshman

Cynthia Ruiz Computer engineering freshmen

the Mercury Editor-in-Chief Jessica Melton

Graphics Editor Laura-Jane Cunningham

Social Media Editor Alex Hays

Managing Editor Shane Damico

Web Editor Swaroop Rayudu

Photographer Albert Ramirez

Advertising Manager James Woolley

Copy Editor Benjamin Linke

Media Adviser Cristen Hixson

Staff Writers Rebecca Gomez Mari Vila Contributors Dan Trinh Alex Markova Rebecca DeButts Jameshia Bankston Anwesha Bhattacharjee Brandon Higgins Jordon Batura Anjan Selvam

The UTD 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 UTD 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 pro-

hibited by applicable law.

Evidence of discrimination will be the basis of denial of advertising space. The publication of advertising in The UTD 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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News

August 23, 2010

Greek Life adviser

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All night madness

Rebecca Gomez

Staff Writer becks@student.utdallas.edu

New Greek Life Adviser Zachary Shirley can boast of an accomplishment no one else can — he brought fraternities to Texas Woman’s University (TWU).

“Two percent of the students at TWU are undergrad males, that is enough for a fraternity,” Shirley said.

Shirley said it wasn’t easy, but after he received sorority approval and attracted interest from two national fraternities, he was able to help charter Phi Beta Sigma and Kappa Sigma at TWU. Shirley is a Phi Beta Sigma brother himself, but he said it does not affect his ability to advise.

“If a guy came to me and needed to be persuaded to join Phi Beta Sigma, then that isn’t the fraternity for him,” Shirley said.

Shirley said he wants Greek Life at UTD to appeal to everyone, even those who never previously considered it.

Graduate student Nick Hinojosa and Chi Phi brother said he is excited about bringing new fraternities to UTD. “When Fiji came to campus, (Chi Phi) got the best recruitment numbers ever,” Hinojosa said, “The competition really helped us out.”

Shirley said he completed his undergraduate degree at Paul Quinn University, continued to Texas A&M Commerce where he received his masters and currently he is finishing his doctorate in counseling at the University

photo by Albert Ramirez

New Greek Life adviser Zachary Shirley. of North Texas.

Shirley said he expects to expand Greek Life at UTD while overcoming some negative stereotypes fraternities are associated with.

“I expect the fraternities to live their rituals and to be a shining example of what Greek Life is,” Shirley said.

Part of expansion is compromise, Shirley said.

Recruitment is an important part of Greek life and sometimes advisers and fraternities do not see eye to eye with what is an appropriate recruitment event.

Shirley said should he run into disagreements with fraternities regarding recruitment events, he will not directly veto them, but try to find an alternative.

“I’m looking at it from the school’s perspective, and they are looking at it from

the fraternity perspective, and I want to meet somewhere in the middle,” Shirley said.

Interfraternity Council (IFC) recruitment rules prohibit fraternities from throwing non-sanctioned parties, starting freshmen move-in day and until bid day on Sept. 4.

Hinojosa was initially against the rule when it was put in place under the previous Greek adviser, Trapper Pace, but said he now feels it has given fraternities a better quality recruitment.

“TWU has the same rule, it is in place to protect the integrity of the fraternities,” Shirley said.

Shirley will have his first experience IFC recruitment experience on Aug. 28, when the IFC fraternities host events until Sept. 4.

photo by Brandon Higgins

Biology senior Shadi Lavasani and business administration senior Crystal Cruz call our bingo numbers as part of the All Night Madness.

transfer

continued from page 1A received it. For some students, this is more than an inconvenience. Pace said she has heard stories of transfer students delaying graduation because they could not register for core, required classes.

According to Pace, the prerequisite errors only affect some majors.

Criminology senior William Castillo said he has not encountered any problems since he transferred in two years ago.

Cognitive science senior

Melissa Sootho, however, said she has had problems registering for classes and that the UTD administration hasn’t been helpful.

“I’ve had a whole bunch of problems registering,” Sootho said. “I think (the administration) doesn’t care about all of us.”

Porter said this is not the case.

“We love our transfers,” Porter said. “We recognize their needs are different from incoming freshmen’s, and we cater to those needs.”

Porter said UTD has taken strides to improve and imple-

ment programs for transfer students, some of which include the Tau Sigma National Honor Society and weekly transfer student e-mails. Porter said she did not know transfer students were having these types of issues registering for classes and will work to solve the problem.

“Now that I know, I think that we should take all parties involved and sit around a table so that we can flush out a solution,” Porter said.

“I think it’s a conversation that could be had to make (registration) work for transfer students.”

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August 23, 2010

5A

Minor interests many Rebeca DeButts

contributor news@utdmercury.com

After four years of work, the School of Arts & Humanities has finally achieved its goal. Through the efforts of the dance and theater faculty, motivated by student interest, a performing arts minor will be offered fall 2010.

Hanlon said the minor is something the student body is interested in. Students were asked to write testimonials describing why they would be interested in the minor and reasons they felt it was important for the university. During their presentation, the faculty submitted three pages of testimonials to the Academic Senate.

The process to establish a minor includes three steps, all of which require approval.

The minor has to pass through the Council on Undergraduate Education, the Committee on Educational Policy and the Academic Senate.

Stover said the performing

DEAN

continued from page 1A up settling down right in the middle of the station.

“Mom and dad poured their lives into us boys, and I’m actually kind of puzzled to know how they got to know every one of you,” Michael said in the more than full Performance Hall.

Psychology sophomore

arts minor was emphatically and unanimously received.

Hanlon said unanimous approval reflects the presence the dance and theater program has on campus.

“I think this minor will be great for students like myself who are interested in dance but do not have enough time in (their) current degree plan to pursue an Arts & Performance major,” said biochemistry junior Lye-Ching Wong. “I am happy to see UTD put more emphasis on the dance and theater programs.”

Dance professor Michele Hanlon and theater director Jeff Stover said it took a year to write, edit and decide the minor needed to combine both disciplines.

Stover said it was important to meet the needs of both dance and theater, and the requirements were spread evenly between interests so the minor itself expressed a holistic discipline.

“We’re trying to teach students to be as diverse as possible,” Stover said.

“My choice of inter-

est throughout my college career has been dance and I am extremely happy that I will be able to graduate with this minor,” said neuroscience senior Rigoberto Hernandez.

Business administration senior Mash Rahman, performer of both theater and dance, said he thinks the minor will attract students from all over campus.

Stover said he expects to see a large number of new students expressing interest in the program, stating that many of this year’s incoming freshmen have already contacted him about the minor.

“We’re small, but we’re growing,” Stover said.

Across campus, current dance and theater students have expressed excitement with the upcoming change “I believe this will bring more attention to the undoubtedly understated talents of the Arts & Performance department as whole,” said Arts & Technology senior Jacqueline Justice.

Gloria Daniel said she met Duane in a Collegium V psychology course and grew to know him more through the Behavioral and Brain Sciences Honor Program. She said he was like a mentor to her in her time at UTD. Daniel said there was an instance when she had a hard time in one of her classes, and went to see Duane. She said she went

into his office crying, and he told her it would it would be alright, they would find a way to make everything work out.

“He’s one of those teachers that really care about your life,” Daniel said.

Dean of Behavioral and Brain Sciences Bert Moore said Duane and Linda were both teachers, as Linda cared for young children every day

photo by Albert Ramirez

Professor Michelle Hanlon, literary studies frshman Kinsey Cline and biochemistry freshman Polly Fleishmann warm up for class with stretches.

from her home.

One of the parents from her program said Miss Linda’s wasn’t a daycare, it was a home and a second family. Another parent added it takes a special couple to have photos of other people’s children covering their refrigerator.

Moore said Duane’s life was devoted to the transmission of knowledge and

the fostering of lives, and he was not exactly a big talker. Moore added, with a laugh, that when there was an issue Duane was passionate about, he could go on for a while.

“I would sometimes say, too long Duane, too long.”

Moore said. “But now all I can say is too short Duane, too short.”

Duane and Linda’s other

son, Ryan said he would always remember a poem which hung in his parents kitchen.

“A hundred years from now it will not matter what my bank account was, the sort of house I lived in, or the kind of car I drove...but the world may be different because I was important in the life of a child.” - Forest E. Witcraft.

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August 23, 2010

News

You have the right to remain silent — if you ask for it Supreme Court reinterprets Miranda rights Rebecca Gomez

Staff Writer becks@student.utdallas.edu

In a 5-4 ruling, the Supreme Court has reinterpreted the Miranda warning.

The court decided defendants must directly invoke their right to remain silent.

The previous interpretation of the Miranda rights was called into question after Berghuis v.

Thompkins, a shooting in Jan. 2000. The defendant, Thompkins, claimed he had invoked his Miranda rights by remaining silent during questioning, but the police continued to interrogate him until he confessed to the shooting.

Thompkins’ conviction was overturned on appeal stating the police had ignored his silent invocation of his Miranda rights.

The Supreme Court denied the appeal June 2010 and determined defendants must explicitly invoke their Miranda rights.

UTD Police Chief Larry Zacharias said he has always made sure that

both the police and suspects are clear on whether or not the right to remain silent has been invoked, which sometimes requires documentation.

“No answer doesn’t necessarily mean that someone has invoked their Fifth Amendment right,” Zacharias said. “The person may not have understood the question.”

Criminal defense attorney and Innocence Project of Texas case coordinator Clay Graham said this ruling exposes the variety of ways a person can be Mirandized between jurisdictions.

“There is no uniform way to perform an interrogation,” Graham said.

“You can be arrested and not be Mirandized for an hour or even longer. Police are able to get around it by saying that you’re being detained rather than arrested up until you’re read you rights.”

Political science senior James Mulvey said he finds the new ruling odd and worries it could turn into an abuse of police power.

“Most people who have

illustrated by Laura-Jane Cunningham

been detained won’t have the education to know you have to verbally invoke your Miranda rights,” Mulvey said. “I think it can lead to police using someone’s ignorance of the law to coerce them into continuing to talk.”

Anthony Champagne, professor and director

of the pre-law program at UTD said he doesn’t expect the changes to have a great impact on the way the Miranda warnings will be handled in the future.

“People who want to remain silent are going to do so whether they say so or not,” Champagne said.

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SOM

LIGHTS

Central America,” Woldu said. “I see the Americas integrated just like the EU, which is why the Spanish language is going to be the flag holder.”

Other languages the degree might focus on are Mandarin, Slavic and Arabic — languages which encompass a large population with business potential.

“If you have a degree in global business and accounting or finance or marketing then you have everything in you,” Woldu said. “You have the knowhow, you have the management skill and you have the exposure and then you go and help where no business exists.”

Marketing Marketing Area Coordinator B. P. Murthi said some managers in the marketing industry are looking for students with a deeper knowledge of marketing than UTD currently offers.

To remedy the issue, UTD will offer a Bachelor of Science in Marketing which will provide a more thorough marketing education than a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration.

“It’s a 120 hour bachelors program in which you’re to do 24 hours of marketing—eight courses—and currently the (Marketing) concentration only requires nine hours,” Murthi said.

“So the degree more than doubles the amount of marketing courses you need to do, but it gives (students) the skills that the marketing people in the industry want.”

Engineering and Computer Science building and Founders, Dempsey said.

In addition to the cable, the accident also damaged a nearby switch. After damage was inflicted upon the switch, NSERL additionally lost power.

NSERL was immediately evacuated after it lost electricity. Vice President of Communications Susan Rogers said the building could have been dangerous without a properly functioning ventilation system in the labs.

Consequently, the entire campus was soon evacuated after the central energy plant was unable to operate any of its water chillers without the assistance of electricity.

At first the problem was probably unnoticed by students, faculty and staff, but slowly conditions became intolerable without air conditioning, Dempsey said.

The university remained closed the following day as facilities management hunted down three emergency generators, which were placed near the activity center, McDermott Library and NSERL. The three generators allowed a separate generator, located within the central energy plant, to power the water chillers. The university returned to its regular schedule Aug. 4 with air conditioning restored.

Dempsey said the contractor’s insurance will cover all of the expenses the incident would have cost the university.

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News

August 23, 2010

7A

Sophomore campus communities growing Mari Villa

Staff Writer mxv093120@utdallas.edu

In fall 2010 two Living Learning Communities (LLCs) began to be offered for sophomore students who had participated in LLCs their freshman year.

LLCs were established in 2006 for freshmen with common academic interests and goals to live together. Freshmen apply and go through a selection process to receive a spot in the small community that each LLC consists of. The

freshmen LLCs include Arts & Technology, engineering & computer science, management, music and prehealth.

The pre-health and Arts & Technology LLCs now have sophomore equivalents, Sophomore Living Learning Arts & Technology Experience (SLATE) and Sophomore Pre-Health Academic and Residential Community (SPARC).

Assistant Director of LLCs Mary Jane Suarez said that UTD initially planned to expand the pre-health community only, but because of

interest and commitment from Arts & Technology students, SLATE was created.

“SPARC students are serious about it and even had an induction ceremony,” Suarez said. “Once we realized we had that level of commitment from (Arts & Technology students), we had no problem creating SLATE.” Arts & Technology students in the LLC made a video convincing the university to extend the community to include sophomores once they heard about SPARC, Suarez said.

Arts & Technology senior and SLATE student adviser Hayley Tiefenthaler said she was not surprised that Arts & Technology students fought for the opportunity to have a sophomore LLC. “They’ve made such close bonds. They continue to want to live together, and some of them formed more intimate relationships — like some of them are dating now,” Tiefenthaler said.

“So they were going to go to these events together anyway.”

Tiefenthaler also said the sophomore LLCs will focus

more on programs to help the students advance in their professional lives while the freshmen LLC required more social activities.

“It’s a lot more meaningful for the sophomores,” Tiefenthaler said. “With the freshmen, you have to get all the requirements out of the way, but with the sophomore one you can focus more on programs such as studio tours for (SLATE students).”

As LLCs are part of the President’s Strategic Plan, the incorporation of sophomore LLCs is another step

forward for student development, Suarez said. One of the only concerns Suarez had in extending the LLCs into sophomore year was that the participants might become isolated from the rest of the students in their major, but she said alienation is preventable.

“We work with residence life to help prevent them from isolating themselves from the rest of [the student body],” Suarez said.

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August 23, 2010

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Feature

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August 23, 2010

9A

photo by Shane Damico

Top: The west entrance of the Founders (FO) building. The renovated part of FO opened July 2010.

Right: The lobby on the ground floor of FO. photo by Albert Ramirez

Bottom: The core of the Student Services Building.

Student service offices will move into this building throughout the fall.

Top: The view of the Student Union Mall which is slated to be completed in September.

Left: Construction workers laying tiles on the newly completed Science Learning Center (SLC).

photo by Shane Damico

long

The

Road

Bottom: A look down the stairwell of the SLC. The blue cast in the photo is caused by one of the SLC’s most distinctive features, stained glass windows depicting a magnetic spectrum.

to

Beauty photo by Albert Ramirezg

The Student Union Mall is located at the center of campus and is currently open to walk through. It will be officially completed in September. photo by Albert Ramirez

photo by Albert Ramirez

photo by Albert Ramirez

photo by Albert Ramirez

photo by Albert Ramirez

photo by Albert Ramirez

Left and top: Angled perspectives of the Student Services Building.

An advanced classroom in the Science Learning Center, formerly known as the Math, Science and Engineering Technology-Learning (MSET) Center during construction.

10A

News

August 23, 2010

Dining

continued from page 1A was scored for its kitchen as well as the kitchens of the Comet Café’s Subway, Chikfil-A and Chef’s Corner. The result from this system is that the Dining Hall is scored for its own kitchen in addition to those used in the Comet Café, while the Comet Café is scored for neither.

“The health inspector suggested I break the kitchen and the dining hall into two health permits, she said our score would be more fair if we did,” Foreman said.

The most egregious error was five points deducted for fish left out to eat that had dropped below the safe temperature ranging between 135 F – 115 F. Foreman said this wasn’t a critical error, because there is a four-hour window in which food can drop below its safe temperature before it starts to grow bacteria.

The Environmental Health Supervisor for the City of Richardson Bill Alsup said while he agrees the four-hour window is a generally accepted as the time frame before bacteria begins to grow, food temperature is a critical error and the most important issue raised in the inspection.

A deduction of two points was given for a fly light above a cooking apparatus.

Foreman said the fly light referred to is not a bug zapper, but a glue pad that emits a blue glow. He said it is supplied by a food company and is food safe, but some inspectors still don’t like it.

Points were also deducted for cracks and holes in the walls that could allow insects

and pests access to the kitchen.

Foreman said these cracks were not noticed before the inspection because shelves or boxes hid them, and facilities management has since fixed them.

Several issues arose, Foreman said, because the inspector was different from the previous one.

“Some of it is cut and dried, but certain sanitation issues are a gray area,” Foreman said. “Each inspector has their own way of thinking.”

One such sanitation issue was a point deduction for a bucket of sanitizer water sitting on a shelf next to a card-

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board catering box. Foreman said the previous inspector allowed the two items to coexist on a shelf, while the

Dilligence about the little things will help raise the dining hall’s score.

— Bill Alsup new inspector did not.

“We all work out of the same rulebook, but some inspectors focus on things that others do not,” Alsup

the Mercury said.

Alsup said rotating inspectors is important because they may find things that the previous inspector didn’t notice, even after several visits.

The continued scoring in the 70’s for the Dining Hall could lead to further action, said Alsup, which is up to the judgment of the inspector.

He said the frequency of the inspections can be increased and citations can be issued, but said the Dining Hall’s score could be mainly attributed to small issues which added up to the major point loss.

“Diligence about the little things will help raise the dining hall’s score,” Alsup said.

the Mercury

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News

Police lawsuit update Jessica Melton

Editor-in-Chief jjm082000@utdallas.edu

Former UTD police department employees’ defamation lawsuit will be partially dismissed.

The lawsuit was brought against UTD and the UT System by former Assistant Chief Debra Marable and former Officer Ryan Ballard Oct. 16, 2009 after they were fired July 2009.

The former officers claim they were fired after filing a complaint against former Police Chief Colleen Ridge for her alleged misuse of department and state resources,

said Marable and Ballard’s lawyer, Dan Wyde of Wyde, Fox & Nation.

As of July 16 the single case was split into two. Wyde said Marable will continue the pursuit of compensation for wrongful termination and the hope of preventing the alleged unlawful conduct toward others, and Ballard’s goal is to regain his right to work as a police officer.

Wyde said the reason behind the split comes from the former officers’ different situations.

Marable and seven other officers brought forth a complaint about the former police chief prior to her inves-

tigation, while Ballard’s statements about Ridge were in cooperation with her investigation, Wyde said. He said it is because of these differences that Marable’s case falls under the whistle blowing act, and Ballard’s does not.

The case will remain in Dallas County as the motion to transfer to Collin Country was denied for a second time June 21 by District Judge Gena Slaughter, who believes the case is in the correct court, Wyde said.

Wyde said he plans to continue research and to request a jury trial when prepared.

For more information check back at utdmercury.com.

August 23, 2010

11A

12A

August 23, 2010

News

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the Mercury

New dean of students brings experience Ben Linke & Jessica Melton

Mercury staff report news@utdmercury.com

Student roles in judicial affairs and opportunities for Greek housing may change with Gene Fitch as dean of students.

Fitch began working at UTD Aug. 2 after he previously served as associate vice president for student affairs and dean of student life at Middle Tennessee State University (MTSU). He replaced Dean of Students Donna Rogers, who retired July 31 after 30 years at UTD. After working at MTSU for 13 years, Fitch served in a variety of positions involved in student activities and discipline.

Fitch said he will be committed to helping students, and doesn’t want them to leave his office without getting answers.

Fitch said although the dean of students oversees grievances, he tries to interact with students aside from complaints and discipline. He said he participated in student government at MTSU and teaches a course each fall semester — habits he hopes to continue at UTD. Fitch said he plans to be involved on campus, and intends on attending as many events as he can during Welcome Week and other occasions.

“I believe in empowering students and giving them the resourc-

es to do what they want in terms of accomplishments and goals,” Fitch said.

When students came to him and asked about implementing a green fee to support environmentally friendly ventures at MTSU, he supported the idea by helping them take the steps necessary to make the fee a reality. Fitch said he tries to be a resource for students, but plays a modest role in student projects.

“All I did was point them in the right direction,” Fitch said.

UTD Vice President for Student Affairs Darrelene Rachavong said Fitch showed experience and focus with students.

“He’s got such a depth of experience that there will be very little of a learning curve for him, because he’s done it all. So, he’ll hit the ground running,” Rachavong said. “I think we have selected somebody that’s going to just do extremely well on our campus and be very connected to our students.”

Fitch said he spoke with Rachavong about a green fee as well as construction of on-campus fraternity housing and a new student union at UTD. He said during his time at MTSU, Greek Row, on-campus Greek housing and a new $60 million, 197 thousand square feet student union were constructed.

“Our students have, for a few years now, talked about Greek housing on campus.” Rachavong

said. “’I’m especially interested in his observations about where we are and where we might be in that process over the next few years.”

Fitch said he feels he can draw on his experiences from MTSU, but wants to wait before making changes.

“My goal is not going to be to come in there and start changing things,” Fitch said. “ Student Government (SG) President Grace Bielawski said she thinks Fitch will be approachable and helpful to students.

Fitch’s interest in judicial affairs began while he was working on his doctorate at the University of Arkansas. “(Judicial affairs) is a piece that a lot of folks don’t find much interest in,” Fitch said. “It’s an opportunity where you have a chance to impact students on a daily basis.”

Bielawski said SG hopes to resolve student complaints about the judicial affairs process with help from Fitch.

Biology senior Aceil Rashid said she hopes Fitch will help promote student ideas.

“There needs to be less margin between faculty and students,” Rashid said. “We’re not just here to get a piece of paper. Student ideas should be able to flow more easily — people want to know that their ideas are being heard.”

Fitch said he believes in helping student ideas succeed.

Chau Nguyen, a post-baccalau-

reate biomedical student, said he hopes Fitch will work to involve non-traditional students by scheduling events outside the typical daytime schedule geared toward traditional students.

“Students will be involved if you give them a chance,” Nguyen said.

Fitch said he is glad he was able to move closer to his relatives, who will now live five hours away instead of 10, but will miss his immediate family.

He said uprooting his wife, daughter and son would make transitioning stressful.

During his first year at UTD, he will be in the Dallas area by himself.

“They’re going to stay behind and let (my daughter) get finished with high school,” Fitch said.

He said the separation from his family would be hard, but said he thinks it will give him more time to explore a variety of UTD activities.

Since he’s been away from his family, Fitch said he’s discovered new ways of communicating through the Internet and telephone applications. He said his son calls him every day to give update on his school’s pet cacaroaches.

Away from campus you might find him running, especially in halfmarathons, playing with his dachshund or enjoying a good basket of Buffalo wings.

“But always the fried (wings),” he said. “I don’t go for the naked ones. I can’t do that.”

I believe in empowering students and giving them the resources to do what they want in terms of accomplishments and goals.

— Gene Fitch

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August 23, 2010

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Classifieds To place a classified advertisement for the next issue, ad copy accompanied by payment must be received the Wednesday before publication.

Classified rates are $10 for the first 30 words and $5 for each additional 10 words. ADVANCE PAYMENT IS REQUIRED FOR PLACEMENT. Call, fax or come by SU 2.432 or mail ad and check to The UTD Mercury, Attn: James Woolley, 800 W. Campbell Rd., SU24, Richardson, Texas 75080.

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14A

Comics

August 23, 2010

Please Take Note by Jacob Naasz

Despondent Gents

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the Mercury

by Alex Hays

Elsewhere, another buffet falls to the hunger of the hippos.

Campus Glorification

Living with Lucifer by Dan Trinh

by Alison Kwong The time has come to put my master plan into motion...

On the first day of class, I will use the machine I invented during summer to...

Hey, Lou!

What do you want, Brandon?

I just wanted to ask how your first days of class were.

It’s Monday morning.

Classes haven’t started yet.

But Lou, classes started last Thursday.

What?

Crashing Prom

Why the hell did classes start on a Thursday?!?!?!

by Sumner Anderson

Swift & Tuttle by Russell L. Smith Shouldn’t you be working on your EMAC project?

I am.

All you have been doing is tweeting about twitter!

Yup.

That is why I love EMAC. Jealous?

Maybe.

A

16A

August 23, 2010

Advertisement

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Life &Arts

August 23, 2010

1B

the Mercury

Women’s rights, immersion Jessica Melton

Editor-in-Chief jjm082000@utdallas.edu

Samia Hossain is a Muslim woman empowered by her passion for women’s rights.

UTD’s second Fulbright Scholar will travel overseas to study Arabic at the American University in Cairo and to fully immerse herself in Muslim culture.

Hossain, after her spring 2010 graduation, will spend nine months in school learn-

ing Arabic. In addition, she will have three months of one-on-one private language tutoring, made possible through an additional Fulbright grant she qualified for.

“I feel after completing my degree at UTD I have all this class knowledge in my head and not really practical knowledge,” Hossain said.

“I knew that I wanted to do something before I went to law school, just for more life experience, to become more

mature.”

The Fulbright scholarship will supplement her academic background, Hossain said, and be a stepping-stone to her goal of studying international law at Berkley. “(I’m) going to law school to work in middle eastern rule of law issues, so studying Arabic, to me, is integral to understand middle eastern legal structures,” Hossain said. “My ultimate goal is to work for a think-tank doing legal research on women’s

issues in the Middle East, and so I’m going to Egypt not only to study Arabic, but understand the culture better, understand women’s relations better.

A law degree, coupled with first-hand knowledge of Muslim culture, Hossain says will help her promote rule of law, better law enforcement and stronger codes of ethics, specifically in Muslim countries.

“On an academic standpoint I’m trying to under-

‘Dias de los Muertos’ is testament to life

stand their culture, but also a personal standpoint of being a Muslim and seeing how Islam is practiced in a Muslim country,” Hossain said.

Embarking on her yearlong journey during the middle of Ramadan, the holy month in the Muslim faith, Hossain said she hopes to fully immerse herself in the culture.

see FULBRIGHT page 2B

Program aims to lower sexual assault Mari Vila

Staff Writer mxv093120@utdallas.edu

photo by Albert Ramirez

Atrs & Technology senior Mauro Avila as his stage persona, St. Hyde the Marter. Avila uses this persona when he performs rap, and recently created an album entitled “Dias de los Muertos.”

Music helps student on road to sobriety Karl Pabst

Contributor news@utdmercury.com

Strong backbeats, synthesizers and a fast-paced mix of Spanish and English mark Arts & Technology senior Mauro Avila’s rap album, “Dias De Los Muertos.”

“Dias De Los Muertos,” or “Day of the Dead,” is the first rap album from Avila,

who performs under the stage name St. Hyde the Martyr. The album’s theme is perseverance, which Avila said he hopes is conveyed to his listeners by the last song of the album.

“Perseverance through sobriety is really the message of this album,” Avila said.

“Perseverance through the game of life.”

Avila said his inspiration is largely personal, and described

his resurgence after a rough patch in life.

“I had four years of sobriety, and this (album) came in the third year,” Avila said. “It was like a calling to make a rap album, kind of like when the world gives you lemons, make lemonade.”

According to Avila, one of the key events that shaped the making of “Dias De Los Muertos” was a 900 mile pil-

grimage. During the summer of 2009, Avila said he traveled on foot from the Mexican border to Dallas and back.

“I was walking through the heat, running in 113 degrees. A lot of that experience went into the album,” Avila said.

The album’s influences

see RAPPER page 2B

Samia Hossain

Every two minutes someone is sexually assaulted, according to RAINN, a rape prevention organization Although the crime rate is dropping, RAINN states more than four million people have been sexually assaulted since 1993.

Programs such as Rape Aggression Defense (RAD) seek to further lower the frequency of sexual assault.

The UTD Police Department offers RAD courses once a month free of charge, with the aim of giving women the opportunity to fight back.

The classes are only for women, and participants are welcome to bring their daughters.

Literary studies senior Georgia Smith has a background in martial arts but said she still plans to attend the class this fall.

“I’m glad they’re offering (RAD). I’d hope that all universities were offering something like it,” Smith said. “It’d be stupid not to take advantage of it.”

There are no prerequisites, and students do not have to be in top physi-

cal shape to participate.

Classes will be kept small to give students more oneon-one time with instructors, according to the RAD website.

“It is a great opportunity for women who have never had any self-defense training before,” said UTD Police Officer Kristina Herrmann, one of the instructors for the three day long class.

According to the RAD website, the class will show students how to defend against attacks using a basic skill set of defensive and offensive maneuvers.

Smith said she hopes the class will teach students to prevent attacks before they even occur.

“The most important thing to teach people is to be aware, because it’s easier to confront someone like that,” Smith said. “If a woman spots a predator before he even approaches her, he’s probably not even going to attack.”

Hermann said the class might be offered more than once a month if there is enough interest.

Sign up is available through the UTD Police Department’s website: utdallas.edu/police.

Artwork on wheels, professor uses talent to protest in creative way Rebecca Gomez Staff Writer becks@utdallas.edu

Initially created to chase the Oscar Meyer Wiener truck around the country, the 27 foot long airstream trailer artwork created by professor Greg Metz was displayed May 24 - June 6 on the Washington D.C. Mall.

Entitled “The Diner,” the piece was commissioned by People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) as a way to gain national attention of the cruelties perpetrated by the meat industry upon farm raised animals.

Metz pulled inspiration from his childhood when creating the piece.

He said that during his childhood similar airstream trailers, serving as bookmobiles, would

drive through his neighborhood. One of the books he checked out was the 1906 exposé on the meatpacking industry, “The Jungle,” by Upton Sinclair.

“That book had the most impact on me of anything that I had ever read,” Metz said.

“This literary artist, Sinclair, had changed the way meat was handled in the United States just by writing a book.”

“The Diner” is the vehicle Metz used to show just what went into creating the meat that big companies like Oscar Meyer sold.

On one side of the trailer are grisly depictions of frightened farm animals being injected with growth hormones and graphic images of how livestock are prepared for production. PETA footage of actual

farm practices plays alongside the depictions so people may see what Metz used to make the images.

PETA intern Holly Peterson, who was working as a docent for “The Diner” while it was on the mall, said in an e-mail that it inspired conversations among people who came to see it and some even left vowing to become vegans.

To balance out the frightful images, Metz said he wanted to create something positive. So on the other side of the trailer he put his touch on Da Vinci’s “Last Supper.”

Rather than Jesus and the 12 apostles dining on their last meal together, Jesus is dining with famous vegetarians from throughout history.

Metz said Jesus is included because he may be one of

courtesy of Greg Metz

One side of “The Diner,” created by Greg Metz, depicting some of the world’s most well-known vegans. the most famous vegetarians in history.

“I did a lot of research and discovered that Jesus was a part of a sect of Judaism that did not consume meat, so he

is in there along with Paul McCartney and Tolstoy and Einstein,” Metz said.

Willie Baronet, masters of fine arts and previous student of Metz’s, has only seen the

piece in pictures, but said he is struck by amount of technical work that went into creating it as well as the message.

see ARTWORK page 8B

2B

August 23, 2010

Life &Arts

Software offers take on language-learning that is fresh, free Mari Vila

Staff Writer mxv093120@utdallas.edu

Students who want to take a language course but cannot fit it into their schedule might consider Tell Me More, a free, self-paced alternative.

The McDermott library started offering a languagelearning software, Tell Me More, in May 2010, which is free for currently enrolled students.

Head of Reference Services Linda Snow said that languages are not prioritized at UTD, even though they are required for some degrees.

The new software seeks to solve that problem by providing students the opportunity to learn languages on their own.

“There is no big language component,” Snow said. “(Tell Me More) is kind of to help out since the university does not have any language labs.”

Tell Me More is intended to be a standalone course that allows students to choose from seven languages anywhere with a headset and computer. The software tracks progress and varies from traditional courses, as it focuses on visual and oral immersion instead of just vocabulary and grammar, said Snow.

“It’s pretty well thought out, and it’s pretty easy to use,” Snow said. “But occasionally I will stumble across things where I don’t know

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Fulbright

continued from page 1B

Her time in Egypt will not be her first in a primarily Muslim country. Hossain studied in Malaysia after her first year at UTD, and said it was a culture shock.

“We all call ourselves Muslim, but we define things differently,” Hossain said. “In past experiences I haven’t completely identified with their brand of Islam.”

Hossain said her trip to Malaysia is what spurred her curiosity in women’s issues. She said she spoke to women who believe Islamic women have a different role; equal, but separate, which she said isn’t truly equal.

“I’m a Muslim woman, but I’ve never studied it at an academic level,” Hossain said. “To see things on how different people interpret a woman’s place

Rapper

continued from page 1B illustration by Sumner Anderson

why something is wrong, and I don’t have a person to ask.”

Using the software, students are able to take the program at their own pace.

The voice recognition component allows students to answer questions verbally while the sound allows participants to hear a native speaker repeat phrases.

Business administration junior Ashallan Moore said she has been disappointed with traditional languages classes in the past, and thinks that Tell Me More might be a good alternative.

“I would definitely choose (Tell Me More) over a typical class,” Moore said.

“I’ve taken Spanish classes where we haven’t learned anything, so it’s cool to be able to take (the program) at your own pace and be able to hear a speaker say something over and over again.”

Access to Tell Me More can be found through the McDermott Library website.

Users register with their UTD-ID and their school email address. Students may also choose to access the software in the library’s media room.

are many, Avila said, including hip-hop and East Coast rap. Religion also plays a major role in his music. Avila said he believes perseverance through hard times is one of Christianity’s most important messages, and many of his songs draw heavily from Christian imagery. Even the name “St. Hyde the Martyr” is a reference to the importance religion plays in his music, Avila said.

Avila said he wants to tell a story and so he doesn’t have a favorite song on the album. Every track is one part of the larger message and every

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in Islam made me want to join the conversation.”

Hossain said she saw most of the scholars in Islam are men who have defined ways women should act.

She said she feels someone who isn’t part of a group should not be able to define them completely.

“A Muslim man should not be able to define the way a woman acts with the pretense of religion,” Hossain said.

She said she thinks it will be interesting to learn more about her own practices and her own faith while she is in Egypt.

“Growing up as a Muslim in Texas, and dealing with that fed into my interest in understanding other cultures at a deeper level,” Hossain said.

Professor and Director of Collegium V Edward Harpham said he guided her interest after he saw she had concern with women and a real interest in the question of language

studies.

“I worked with Dr. Harpham and we talked about my interest in different cultures,” Hossain said.

“He convinced me to take a couple courses, and eventually I switched (my major) to International Political Economy, and I was really happy with it.”

Professor Douglas Dow oversees the University’s Office of Distinguished Scholarships and said applying for a Fulbright can be an arduous process, and UTD only put forth four applicants this year.

Dow said to affect change in the Muslim area Hossain had to know Arabic fluently and a one-year intensive, advanced level language immersion sponsored by the AUC was exactly what she needed.

“If ever there was someone who deserves this opportunity, it is Samia,” Dow said. “I am so very proud and excited for her.”

word is carefully chosen, Avila said.

Political science junior and self-proclaimed rap aficionado Jason Pooler said he enjoys Avila’s album, particularly the way each song flows into the next.

“That way you really feel like it’s a more cohesive album, not a bunch of songs stuck on one disc,” Pooler said.

Avila said he hopes he can develop his message across multiple media in order to reach the highest number of people and is currently working on literary and animated comic adaptations of his album’s story. Eventually, he hopes to complete two or three more albums to develop his message of perseverance

through difficult times.

Avila highlighted three songs as the most significant on the album.

“American Cartel,” the first song he wrote, was heard by a movie director and featured in a film of the same name. “Master Time Wasters” and “The Bible’s More Than Enough” are his other picks for most significant songs.

Pooler, however, has his own top pick.

“My favorite song would have to be ‘Barrio in the Pueblo,’” Pooler said. “The guitar in the background is pretty cool.”

If there is one thing Avila would like people to take with them after listening to his album, it is hope itself, Avila said.

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Life &Arts

August 23, 2010

3B

Lane self-publishes Memoir of study abroad turns into study of growing up Mari Vila

“I almost want to talk about me in the third person, because I’m not that person anymore,” Lane A young college student noted.

Lane’s husband, Loren sits at a dinner table with her host family, laughing Miller, agrees that the and talking about nothing 20-year-old in the beginof importance. She opens ning of the diary is very her mouth to say some- different from the woman thing, when all of a sud- he married.

“Without her support den she’s shushed. Her dining companion gingerly system in place, she was forced to be moves his independent. pointer finger When I The young girl from his lips at the beginto the ceiling, left to go to ning of the mouthing one Scotland, I diary is not word: bugs. the woman Her eyes felt insecure that I know widen in fear, and inferior. today nor is it reminding herself that in — Shelley Lane the woman at the conclusion Tunisia, situaof the book,” tions like this Miller said. “Throughout are common.

In July 2010 Associate the book the descriptions Dean of Arts & Humanities of her experiences help to Shelley Lane independently explain her march towards published an autobiograph- self-esteem and selfical book titled “A Stirling worth.”

Diary,” which chronicles Miller said he was immeher changing perspectives diately impressed with his and attitudes as she studied wife’s writing style and skill abroad in Scotland and vis- at such a young age. He ited Tunisia her junior year said he was also surprised of college. by her bravery, traveling Lane recalled Tunisia was across Europe with only a under martial law because female companion during there had been a strike a time when women travelright before she arrived. ing alone wasn’t common Lane said worrying about and being taken to a police bugs at the dinner table station in Tunisia when a and people getting shot if corrupt police officer tried they were out after curfew to help a vendor overcharge helped her appreciate her her for flowers. rights.

Miller said he looked “Everything I took for through Lane’s draft and granted as an American edited some of her entries citizen, I couldn’t take for teasingly, telling her that it granted anymore,” Lane would make the book more said. commercially popular.

Her travels, however, “A bodice ripper that began in Scotland. Lane said also describes the unusushe was always interested al cultural differences in Great Britain, but the experienced by her in her choice to study abroad was year abroad would have not an easy one. It was post appealed to a multitude Vietnam and the women’s of audiences,” Miller said. rights movement was grow- “Alas, she found every one ing, but still she was taught of my entries and changed by her mother that women them back to what really are secondary to men. happened.”

Lane was told to focus on After Lane returned from graduating her year and putting abroad, she her fiancé said her I said ‘well through law first order you get the school, when of business hell out of my she said she was to meet couldn’t even house.’ He left, with her cook or do fiancé. To and I never laundry. her shock, “When I he admitheard from left to go to ted he not him again.

Scotland, I only wasn’t felt insecure — Shelley Lane ready to be and inferior,” married, but Lane said. he wasn’t Lane studied abroad in sure he ever would be. She Stirling, where she kept said her response to him a diary to remember her was different than it would time there. Although ini- have been before she left. tially Lane said she experi“I said ‘well you get the enced severe culture shock, hell out of my house,’” she eventually adapted to Lane said. “It was the first her surroundings and the time I was assertive, and freedom they provided. She you know what? He left, said she could walk to her and I never heard from him friends’ dorms to visit them again.” and take a stroll in the Lane said she consequentwoods if she wanted to. ly fell into a deep depresLane was forced, for the sion. Her grandmother had first time, to rely on herself died, she lost the love of and make her own deci- her life and she lived in an sions. When looking back environment which she said on the beginning of the more closely resembled the diary, Lane said she is still oppressive Tunisia than the shocked at how much she free Scotland. grew and changed.

“The walls were closing Staff Writer mxv093120@utdallas.edu

I could understand, for the first time, why people would think about committing suicide. The suffering was incredible.

— Shelley Lane in. I had no friends, and the friends that did come to visit me, for the most part, they were different,” Lane said. “They couldn’t relate to me, and I couldn’t relate to them.”

Lane said she wanted to go back to Scotland, but she knew she couldn’t. She said she couldn’t survive yet another bout of culture shock. She said she was just getting used to California again, and psychiatry wasn’t prevalent enough for her to talk to someone about her depression. Her mental state got so bad she said she thought about suicide.

“I could understand, for the first time, why people would think about committing suicide,” Lane said.

“The suffering was incredible.”

To get her mind off her depression, Lane said she immersed herself in summer school, finished another year at UCLA and went on to graduate school.

Ruth Anna Abigail, a curriculum specialist at Azusa Pacific U n i v e r s i t y, went to

graduate school with Lane at USC and said she with Lane as she processed her experience abroad.

“When I look at the transformation that’s reflected in ‘A Stirling Diary,’ it sounds like what happens to a lot of young people who remove themselves from a comfort zone, expose themselves to new adventure and new ideas and then come home,”

Abigail said. “If they don’t change, then there’s something wrong with them.”

Years later when Lane unearthed the diary, she said she was ready to read about her travels lightheartedly, but she quickly realized how her experience had shaped her into a different, stronger person, and that sharing her experience could bring some good to others. “(A Stirling Diary) is a book for any young person who is on the cusp of adulthood, is being forced to make decisions, and maybe realizes that there is something good inside of them,” Lane said. “And maybe you have some doubts, but at the very end, you

Maybe you have some doubts, but at the very end, you realize you’re worthwhile.

— Shelley Lane realize you’re worthwhile.”

“A Stirling Diary” is available to buy and download through Amazon.

Associate Dean of Arts & Humanities Shelley Lane wears the ancient Scottish flag, also called St. Andrew’s flag.

Lane independently published an autobiographical book titled “A Stirling Diary,” in July 2010. It chronicles her changing perspectives and attitudes as she studied abroad in Scotland and visited Tunisia her junior year of college.

“A Stirling Diary” is available to buy and download through Amazon.

photo by Albert Ramirez

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August 23, 2010

Cap and gown countdown Mari Vila

Staff Writer mxv093120@utdallas.edu

For seniors ready to graduate, the realization that their résumé is blank or that they don’t have any work experience may be daunting. The UTD Career Center, located in the basement of the McDermott Library, seeks to alleviate stress by preparing students for their future careers.

Although UTD encourages students to get involved with the Career Center their freshmen year, the Center has special programs and plans specifically with seniors in mind.

Career Center Director Michael Doty said the first and most important step for any senior looking to the Career Center for guidance is walking through the door and deciding what services they need.

“They need to come to the Career Center and talk to the

front desk,” Doty said. “(From there) it really comes down to what the student wants, we’re here for the students.”

Physics senior David Hinojos said he is worried about graduating, but utilizes the services provided by the Career Center whenever he has questions.

“I’m still freaked out, but I do feel more comfortable and at ease,” Hinojos said. “A lot of their services are valuable.”

The Career Center has programs which cater to students who are at all different stages of their career planning. Doty said one of the more popular services offered is résumé editing. For students unsure of what they want to pursue after they graduate, Doty recommends career counseling.

For students who know what they want to do, but don’t know how to achieve their goals, Doty recommends the career coaching program.

In career coaching, students meet with a coach who sets goals for them. The student has a set time frame to achieve these goals and report back at the next meeting. Then new goals are set until students feel they can achieve them on their own.

Doty said one of the most integral tools offered by the Career Center is CareerWorks.

CareerWorks is the Career Center’s online job recruiting system. Students are able to browse jobs and internships, as well as upload their résumé online. Doty said CareerWorks is a good service because it allows employers to contact UTD students.

“But we’re not here handing out jobs,” Doty said. “We are educating, training, assisting, helping and encouraging to get the students to where they want to be.”

CareerWorks is also avail-

5B

photo by Dan Trinh

The graduating class of spring 2010. able to UTD alumni. Doty said people who have graduated in previous years continue to use the board.

The Career Center also offers fall seminars aimed at seniors,

which include “Roadmap to the Real World” and “Success in the Real World.” Some of these seminars include professionals from the Dallas-Fort Worth area. Doty even encour-

ages seniors who haven’t been to the Career Center to attend these seminars.

“Networking is the best way to get your career started,” Doty said.

Grant offers undergrads professional experience Mari Vila

Staff Writer mxv093120@utdallas.edu

Automatic essay scoring might be possible in the future, natural disaster preparedness could be significantly improved and a 3-D model of the tongue may help correct speech disorders.

All three topics were funded by the Office of Research’s third annual Undergraduate Research Program. This yearlong project gives undergrad-

uate students the opportunity to work alongside a faculty adviser and participate in a theoretical or practical study of their choice.

Every year in September, the Office of Research accepts applications and judges them to decide which are worthy of receiving a grant.

Although the experience might be unnerving to students who have not participated in research projects in the past, UTD alumnus Luis

Torres said he thinks it is a worthwhile endeavor.

“At first I was shaking in my boots, because who of us has the gall to think they can work with a professor at our age?” Torres, who won first place last year with his motion capture of the human tongue, said. “But really they understand you’re an undergrad, and they try to agree on a project that is in your reach.”

When he applied last fall,

Torres was a senior set on graduating and jumping into a career. But after completing his research he said he liked his experience with Professor Xiaohu Guo so much that he decided to go to graduate school and continue his studies.

Associate Vice President for Research Rafael Martin said he was not surprised to hear some students continue the research they started through this program.

“(This program) gives them an early insight into what is actually required to pursue research endeavors. For some it opens their eyes and lights a spark to motivate them to further pursue research,” Martin said. “And the questions (the undergraduates) are answering are very much similar to the ones graduates are looking at.”

Last year, 54 participants were given a total of $43,200 to fund their proposed

research. The amount of money offered has more than doubled since the program’s beginning.

Martin said he thinks the growth and success of the program will continue with this year’s applicants.

“This year’s program will be largely similar to years in the past,” Martin said.

“We’ve put together a successful model and we’ve had more and more applications every year.”

6B

August 23, 2010

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7B

Fine dining without the whining The formal collegiate placesetting

Eat healthy for only $25 a week The Mercury boils it down to the essentials: cooking from scratch

Potholder

Laura-Jane Cunningham

Tea and tea packets

Comet pride

Graphics Editor lcc082000@utdallas.edu

od

Pot of fo

Take-out

If you want to cut down on your grocery bill, start chopping.

Cooking from scratch can bring your grocery bill down to $25 a week, without sacrificing nutrition or taste. You could spend only $3.50 a day — half the cost of a Chipotle burrito — and still eat more than beans and rice.

Cooking won’t guarantee a cheap grocery bill, but follow our tips and it might help you stay under budget.

Other coffee

Coffee

Sauce

Term paper

Make it easy The idea of cooking may sound daunting or inconvenient, but you only have to cook one or two times a day. Cereal, sandwiches and leftovers can cover the rest of your meals.

If you don’t have enough time to cook more than twice a week, start a cooking rotation.

Having a group of friends to cook for will help you stay motivated, and it’s also a great way to use ingredients left over from smaller meals.

Textbook Dirty dishes

e

Phon

Current

meal

Avoid prepackaged meals When you buy prepackaged foods you not only pay for the food, but the packaging, the packaging plant, anyone working there and all the big-wigs who run the food/packing company. The money saved by eating low-quality foods is lost in the added cost of production.

Most food rots after short periods of time, so salt and other spices have are added to make prepackaged meals palatable. If you want to avoid the additives, you are better off buying fresh produce and making pasta or stir fry from scratch.

Sugar

Keys

Other sauce

illustration by Laura-Jane Cunningham

How to boil water

Energy drink

How to chop

Limit meats

cause of a sale. Go to the stores which have the best prices on items you already need. You don’t have to go to five different stores, but it’s usually good to go to more than one.

Remember: If you are paying more than 50 cents for a mango, you are paying too much.

Meat is a dense source of calories and an efficient way to keep yourself full, but be careful not to buy too much. Eggs cost eight - 14 cents each, making them a cheaper source of protein then meat. Beans and nuts are another source of protein and cheaper than meat.

Pick and choose organic

Chicken thighs are sometimes sold at a discount with the spines still attached. Cutting the spine off a chicken may have an ôEWö factor, but the unwanted bits can be boiled to make chicken broth, used in soups or to boil rice in for extra flavor.

Buy in $2 increments When you’re on a budget, it’s important to keep track of prices. You could carry a calculator around or you could buy food in $2 increments.

Before you go shopping, make a list of 12 items which cost $2 or less. Count two cheaper items as one item, or pricier purchases as more than one. The idea is to have a list written before you shop, even if you don’t know exact prices.

Once you’re in the store, spend no more than $2 on each item. This will prevent you from going over budget, even after tax.

Go to multiple stores If you live on campus, you probably get ads for grocery stores in the area. It doesn?t take long to compare the prices of items on sale or in season before you shop. Looking at prices can help you create your 12 item list, and might even influence what you buy.

Don’t let yourself splurge on last minute purchases just be-

Even if you are trying to avoid pesticides, you don’t have to buy everything organic. Organic produce is more expensive, so it’s important not to buy organic food if you don’t have to.

In most cases, pesticides can be avoided by not eating the outermost layer of a fruit or vegetable. If the produce has a rind or husk, like watermelons, corn and pineapples, you don’t have to worry about pesticides.

This is because the pesticides are not absorbed into the fruit or vegetable.

Food with thinner or no skins, like apples, peaches and nectarines, should be bought organic.

Stagger ripeness Try to buy food which is already ripe and some which will ripen later in the week. You’ll waste less food and won’t have to shop multiple times per week, which wastes time and gas.

Top buys Make these nutritious and affordable foods part of your shopping list: Eggs Sweet Potatoes Green vegetables Mushrooms Whole wheat pasta Onions Black beans

How to make pasta and sauce Cheese

Meat

1.

Put a pot of water on the stove.

2.

Turn on the stove.

3.

Make sure you’ve turned the correct burner on. Do not test with hand.

1.

Get a cutting board*, a chef’s knife**, and something to chop***.

2.

Touch the pointed edge of the knife to the cutting

board.

1.

Boil water (see How to Boil Water.) Lower the temperature of the burner to warm or low.

2.

Add pasta to water. The pasta should be submerged.

3.

Cover the pot with a lid, and cook for nine min-

Sauce

utes.

Pasta

Bowl

4.

The water will start to bubble, when the bubbles are larger than standard LEGO bricks, the water is boiling.

5.

Do not let the water bubble over.

6.

Do not lean over a pot of boiling water. Steam is hot. It will hurt your face.

3.

1-3.

Press down on the handle of the knife. Repeat steps

4.

Do not chop on the counter or your hand, as both are easily damaged.

*Or a textbook **Not to be confused with katana ***Food

4.

utes.

Cover the pot with a lid, and cook for nine min-

5.

Drain the water from the pasta over the sink.

(Warning: steam is hot.)

6.

Add butter or olive oil to pasta.

7.

Combine ingredients.

illustrations by Jordon Batura

8B

August 23, 2010

ARTWORK

continued from page 1B Metz, even before his corroboration with PETA, has had a long history of trying to use artwork to make social and political statements.

Educated as a printmaker at Texas A&M Commerce and the University of Indiana, Metz came to Dallas upon graduation, looking for a way to turn his drawings into three dimensional pieces

of art.

In 1984 Ronald Regan came to town with the Republican National Convention in his bid for re-election. Metz made a 3-D version of a political cartoon entitled “Regan’s Temple of Doom” and put it on display in the street before the convention started.

National coverage of “Regan’s Temple of Doom” resulted in Metz receiving death threats and having the windows in his studio

Life &Arts busted. It made him realize how powerful art could be when produced outside of a museum.

It was the national coverage that Metz received from this piece that garnered him the attention of PETA and turned his attention to championing the cause of animal rights.

Metz said that while his work with PETA has given him the most press, he is more interested in his work on social and political commentary.

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Students get settled

photo by Albert Ramirez

Mechanical engineering freshman Star Walker (left) and computer science sophomore Alex Welcing unload in phase 8 during move-in day on August 11.

Students move in and prepare for semester Anwesha Bhattacharjee & Anjan Selvam Contributors news@utdmercury

The Residence Hall and Phase 8 apartments were packed with students and parents buzzing all around Aug 11 as new students got settled.

University Village staff handed out move-in tickets and distributed welcome kits and Peer Advisers distributed cold water to combat the 100-degree Texas heat as they helped students move furniture and find their new on-campus homes.

Biochemistry freshman Ian Yeow lives just 30 minutes away but said he was thrilled about moving in.

“I am really looking forward to the ‘living by myself’

thing here, and (I’m) excited about meeting new people,” Yeow said.

Other students already had plans on which student organizations to join.

“I’m really excited about the university and I like Temoc,” said literature freshman Kinsey Cline. “I am interested in the Baptist Student Ministry and wish to join it.”

Representatives were on hand from Wells Fargo, Time Warner Cable, Parking & Transportation Services and Student Government with information for students about a variety of services available to them.

For sophomore and upperclassmen helping at move-in, it was an opportunity to meet all the new freshmen.

“It’s a lot of fun and I am getting to meet new fresh-

men,” said Rebekah Mallette, business administration sophomore.

Freshmen said they had unique reasons for attending.

Mechanical engineering freshman Star Walker chose UTD because he said the University is more an academic school than a sport school.

Arts & technology freshman John Glenn and his family dragged a full size synthesizer complete with a stand and chair into the elevator.

Glenn said he hoped to combine his musical passion and technology talent in arts & technology.

History freshman Braedon Taylor on the other hand said he is really looking forward to participating in swimming and theatre while at UTD.

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August 23, 2010

9B

Study abroad hits close to home 17 students explore China, South Korea Karl Pabst

Contributor news@utdmercury.com

For two weeks 17 students spent their summer in China and South Korea, soaking up the culture, cuisine and learning about Asia’s business environments. As they travelled from Beijing to Seoul, these students came to realize the experience was as much about individual growth as professional and academic development.

They began their trip in Beijing, China and made a special journey to visit the iconic Great Wall of China.

Business graduate students Praveen Narayanan and Svetlana Popova said the gigantic structure left everyone in awe, and they wished they had been able to stay for more than a few hours.

From Beijing, the group moved on to Seoul, South Korea, where they spent the majority of their time.

“Overall, I was extremely impressed with what the Korean culture is and how nice the people are,” Popova said. “Everyone took care of us.”

Junaid Wajid, a business graduate student, said everyone enjoyed their last meal in Korea and tried not to think about the imminent flight home that was hours away.

“Everybody came back with just a ton of cultural knowledge,” Popova said. “We saw how people do business, how people live. It is amazing what these people have done.”

photo courtesy of Prayeen Narayanan

UTD students stand on the Great Wall of China as part of their study abroad trip this summer.

Director of International Student Exchange Programs and Foreign Study Trips Habte Woldu, said he believes studying abroad is essential not only for well-rounded students, but for all educated people.

“You go abroad and you see yourself, strong and weak,” he said. “To know yourself, you need to go abroad.”

Wajid said the experience is indescribable, it’s value unquantifiable and to truly understand you need to study abroad yourself.

“Not only did we learn much about China and South Korea, but individually everyone learned a little more about themselves,” Wajid said.

Likewise, Narayanan compared

the entire trip to a dream from which you never want to wake up.

Program Coordinator for International Student Exchange Programs and Foreign Study Trips Angela Vehige said next year trips are planned for India, Latin America, South Korea and Germany.

“We’re building relationships

with universities around the world, according to students’ interest,” Ms. Vehige said.

For more information on Foreign Study Trips or student exchange programs, visit the School of Management website at som.utdallas.edu or contact Angela Vehige at avehige@utdallas.edu.

10B

August 23, 2010

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11B

Photographers share their world views Liz Anderson

Contributor news@utdmercury.com

The opening show of the 2010-2011 academic year at the Visual Art Studio (AS) has a twist, all of the artists are current UTD students.

According to gallery coordinator Greg Metz, students mainly exhibit their work during the summer, and professional artists, both local and visiting, use the gallery space during the school year. This year, however, the space is filled by art of an Arts & Technology doctoral candidate, an Arts & Technology masters candidate and an Arts & Performance senior.

Undergraduate students usually have opportunities to exhibit their art in various group shows held over the summer or in other venues, professor of art Marilyn Waligore said. Graduate students have priority at the AS galleries, and their work is usually displayed in the late spring and summer.

“Students have to have the confidence of their professor in order to have a show (in the gallery),” said Metz.

Robert Galindo, Arts & Technology graduate student, gathered 25 years worth of photographs for his exhibit.

The photos include scenes from all over the U.S., as well as several Latin American countries like Guatemala, Colombia and Mexico. Galindo said his theme, “Wonder taken as Wonder”, developed from making art over the past several years during the transition of photography from analog to digital.

“There is a lot of talk about the medium being the message,” Galindo said, “but I like wonder just for what it is.

Children’s awe — they don’t have any filters. If it’s interesting they’re going to look at it, if it’s not, they’re not.”

Galindo said his work also explores the idea of memories, and how they interact with each other and the environment where they are found. The most difficult part of his show was setting up his projection screen, which shines through an aquarium.

“I wanted to make something that had some content behind it, but I wanted to make it so that people that think that art is pretentious could just enjoy it for the pretty pictures,” Galindo said.

Sheila Cunningham, arts and technology graduate student, entitled her show “Groves, Intersections of Change.” The show, a combination of photographs and 3-D installations, combines books and live plants.

“You’re recycling the books, what else could you do with them … you could plant the books and they could feed the plants around them,” said Cunningham.

To create this show she made planters from old books and encyclopedias, and planted herbs and trees in them.

The hardest part of the process was cutting through the books. After this show she would like to make an outdoor installation of her book planters, said Cunningham.

Jenny Snyder, arts and performance senior, is the only undergraduate in the exhibit.

She called her collection of environmental portraits “Night Shift.” All of the people were photographed at work, during the night shift.

“These are the people who keep our world running while we sleep,” Snyder said.

She said the most difficult element of these portraits was dealing with the light conditions that people work under, ranging from fluorescent lights in restaurants and hospitals to low lights in a bar.

Some of her favorite pieces are a picture of a bartender just before 2 am and a picture of a firefighter sitting in his truck.

“These are the people who we don’t even think about until we absolutely need them,” she said of the firefighter and the nurse.

Snyder said she doesn’t know if she will continue with her theme of “Night Shift” after this exhibit, but will continue taking environmental portraits, which are photos taken in a raw or spontaneous setting.

The graduate art show will continue through Sept. 18th in the Visual Art Studio gallery. Hours are Mon. – Fri. 9 a.m. – 10 p.m. and Sat. 9 a.m. – 6 p.m. Attendance is free. There is a free reception Aug. 27th at 6:30 pm with all three artists present.

Metz said most art shows run four weeks, and there is almost always a show up.

“If you come to the Visual Art Studio month-to-month you will find a different exhibition just about every time,” Metz said.

photo by Brandon Higgins

Books stacked in the AS represent a portion of Cunningham’s exhibit.

12B

August 23, 2010

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1C

New coach comes with wining record Rebecca Gomez Staff Writer becks@utdallas.edu

The upcoming softball season might be a home run with the addition of Cassie Crabtree as head coach.

Prior to UTD, Crabtree was the assistant coach for UT-Tyler, one of the highest ranked American Southwest Conference teams.

“Tyler is a powerhouse,” said biology junior Haley Starkey.

Starkey, who will be in her third season with the team, said she hasn’t met Crabtree, but thinks her arrival will bring a positive change.

Crabtree began coaching at Forney High School and never lost more than

10 games per season in the four years she was there.

Crabtree spent the past year at UT Tyler, boasting a 39-9 season.

Always having coached a winning team, Crabtree said, gives her high expectations for the Comets.

“I plan on turning the (UTD softball) team around this year,” Crabtree said.

She said her plan to improve the team includes an emphasis on pitching, hitting, discipline and a lot of hard work.

Christopher Gage, the director of the athletics at UTD, said Crabtree stood out from other applicants for her connections in the community. He said this helps the

team’s ability to recruit quality players.

Crabtree, for example, is currently visiting tournaments across the state to watch potential recruits compete.

Gage said tournaments, as well as softball camps, allow coaches to see a lot of players compete in a short time.

Starkey said academics also play a role in recruitment.

“It’s not as hard to get into UT Tyler so they have that as an advantage to recruiting more players,” Starkey said.

Crabtree said while the academic standards at UTD can hinder the recruitment process, she is confident there are students who can perform well on the softball field and in the classroom.

Soccer season starts up

Team size has been an issue, Starkey said, since eight players are required to play a game, and UTD has, at times, only had 10 team members total.

Crabtree said the starting roster for spring currently consists of 19 players, five of which are pitchers.

“In the conference last year the Comets were third in batting, in pitching they were a little lower.” Crabtree said. “We’ve brought in five pitchers for next year so the depth will be there.”

Students will get their first chance to see the new coach team in action in a series of friendly matches during the non-traditional fall season.

photo by Albert Ramirez

New softball coach Cassie Clayton.

Volleyball team may improve ranking Rebecca Gomez Staff Writer becks@utdallas.edu

photo by Albert Ramirez

Soccer players practicing for the upcoming season.

This season of women’s volleyball is going to be the most exciting yet.

After going undefeated last season, the Comets remained third in National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Div III rankings, but this year they have a chance to hit No. 1.

Head volleyball coach Marci Sanders said that this time around UTD will be playing teams that are highly ranked, some higher ranked than the Comets.

“If we win games that we aren’t supposed to, then our ranking will go up,” Sanders said.

Interdisciplinary studies senior Niki Calverley is back for her fourth and final year with the Comets and said that this will be the most exciting season yet.

“I look forward to playing East Texas Baptist University because we have a good rivalry with them,” Calverley said.

The Comets were unable to schedule their games against highly ranked teams last year, but this year Coach Sanders was able to create what she calls a harder schedule.

“The harder schedule is going to help us compete better at regional’s and push us to go further than we ever have before,” said child development and psychology senior Jessica Nassau.

Opponents for the new season include the No. 2 ranked UT Southwestern.

Nassau said that she is excited to play against New York University, which will be a home game for the Comets.

Five out of six starters from last year will be coming back, including AllAmerican Calverley and All-Region Nassau.

“There will be nine freshmen on this team, we’ll see how the new mix works out,” Sanders said.

The standard roster for Div III volleyball is 18, UTD will be starting with 17.

Sanders said there is an injury and the team could dwindle to 15, but that

is still the largest starting roster the Comets have ever had.

Calverley said the new talent plus the return of the core of the team should be a winning combination this season.

Sanders wanted to encourage more students to come out to cheer on the Comets. She said that one of the reason team loses recruits is because they don’t feel that UTD has enough college spirit.

Nassau said the Comets could use more support from the students. She said UTD isn’t the typical university where people get pumped up for the games.

“When I tell people that I play volleyball at UTD, they’re surprised that we even have sports,” Nassau said.

Sanders said that as an additional enticement to students, prizes and coupons are given out to the audience during games.

Nassau said to expect an impressive season because this year the Comets are the team to beat.

Basketball teams gear up for new year, new players Jameshia Bankston Contributor news@utdmercury.com

With nine seconds left in the game, the Comets are down one-point, it’s the University of Ozark’s possession of the ball and they’re positioned out of bounds under their goal.

Finance senior Scott Rodgers forces the inbounded pass back out of bounds causing a turnover, leaving the Comets with 6.25 seconds to turn the game around.

The ball is passed to electrical engineering senior Jordan Eppink; he shoots and misses; But the ball is tipped in by business administration sophomore Chris Barnes and the Comets win 82-81.

In 2010, the men’s bas-

ketball team were American Southwest Conference (ASC) runner-ups and amongst National Collegiate Athletics Association’s (NCAA) “Sweet Sixteen”.

Though coaches and players agree that the 2008-2009 season is most

It was kind of out of nowhere, but it was a good run for us.

— Brandon Greene favored. For the second time in history the team won the ASC Championship and were one-eighth of NCAA’s Division III, “Elite Eight” for

the National Championship.

This was a definitive season for the team leaving business administration senior Brandon Greene in awe of their success.

“It was kind of out of nowhere, but it was a good run for us,” said Greene.

For the past two years the team has lost many of its leading scorers such as, Ernie Lowery, Jared Fleming, Jordan Eppink and Scott Rodgers, due to graduation.

This left Head Coach Terence Butterfield with large shoes to fill.

The women’s team has also lost two of their leading scorers, Rachel Addison and Chelsea Edwards, because of graduation.

Undiscouraged, Women’s Basketball Head Coach Polly Thomason said, “there are

question marks on who’s going to step up to fill those roles but I think we have some great players coming in and our returning group is strong and experienced.”

On the women’s side, the team has had numerous individuals qualify for ASC’s East Division teams.

In addition, during the 2009 pre-season they were nationally ranked within the top 25 in Division III women’s basketball out of more than 400 teams.

Since the team, under NCAA regulations, is not allowed to practice during the summer break, many of her players have joined Texas Wesleyan Women’s Summer League to maintain and enhance their skills for

see TEAMS page 2C

photo by Albert Ramirez

UTD almuna Chelsea edwards.

2C

Sports

August 23, 2010

TEAMS

continued from page 1C the coming season.

Using their past achievements as motivation, Thomason has her team to set goals for themselves at the beginning of each season.

“There were a few things on that list that we were unable to accomplish, so this year we plan to accomplish those things.

I’m looking forward to winning our first ASC Championship,” said busi-

ness graduate student Tawni Ichimura.

But bringing in new players means building a new chemistry and adjustments according to skill level for Butterfied.

“You don’t really know what a guy is about until he gets in the battle,” said Butterfield.

But that is not stopping him from pushing forward to the National Championship.

He said though unfortunate a loss the team is going to adjust and adapt to their new circumstances

and he said he hopes the new players will want to surpass the legacy that has been left before them. He said between work ethic, selfmotivation, team unity and a new line of recruits, the team is looking to go all the way.

Between the two teams Coaches and players have inadvertently agreed to what motivates the players to be successful.

“You’re going to see a team that really wants to play together and enjoys one another,” said Thomason.

Thomason’s expectations

photo by Albert Ramirez

Comet basketball player making a shot for the basket.

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for her team are also structured around the chemistry and the friendships between her players.

“You’re going to see a team that really wants to play together and enjoys one another,” said Thomason.

The 2010-11 season is right around the corner, and we have two teams with an expansive track record to back up their aspirations.

“We hope to rebound another successful season; but you have to come out and watch,” said Carruthers.

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Sports

August 23, 2010

Comet

D

3C

Comments

o you intend to follow any Comet Sports teams this season?

“No, unless it’s fencing, sports aren’t really my thing. I like to play them but not necessarily see them played.”

Michelle Nguyen Undeclared freshman “The soccer team because I played here the last two years.”

Brandon Bridgewater Arts & Technology junior

“Probably soccer because I play soccer here.”

Trey Simpkins Finance junior “Just the basketball team, I guess. That’s my favorite sport that’s around here and I play it.”

Chidi Echebiri Psychology freshman

“Probably not. They’re not football.”

Colleen Walsh Biochemistry junior

4C

August 23, 2010

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