LIFE&ARTS
LIFE&ARTS
Teen tearjerkers, street portraits and Neon Trees → PAGE 7
Six cultural finds to cure summer apathy → PAGE 8
June 9, 2014
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Multimillion dollar gift jumpstarts new program Edith O'Donnell donates $17 million to support creation of art history institute MIGUEL PEREZ
THE MERCURY | UTDMERCURY.COM
"I LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING WHAT THE FUTURE HOLDS FOR ART HISTORY, UTD-STYLE."
Fresh-faced trailblazers Students, staff from first freshman class reflect on summer before first year Editor's Note 2015 will mark the 25th anniversary of UTD's first freshman class, and the following is the first part of a multi-part series detailing the challenges and stories of the staff, faculty and students who paved the way for today's undergraduate student body.
ESTEBAN BUSTILLOS Managing Editor
William McDowell had everything planned out. The senior from Berkner High School in Richardson had his sights on College Station, and he was ready to start his life as an Aggie. “I was all lined up, ready to go down to Texas A&M,” McDowell said. “I had even gone down to their freshman orientation camp and kind of on a whim put in the application to UT Dallas.” Little did McDowell know that such a simple action would make him a part of UTD history.
LINA MOON | GRAPHICS EDITOR
Editor-in-Chief
On May 19, Edith O’Donnell donated $17 million to fund the creation of an art history institute on campus. According to Richard Brettell, distinguished chair of art and aesthetic studies, the endowment will support five new distinguished chairs in art history, 10 simultaneous research graduate fellowships, as well as a programming fund for visiting scholars, symposia and lecture series. The donation will double the course offerings in art history as all faculty members will teach both graduate and undergraduate courses, Brettell said. “A lot of people who I know in the art historical community, both in museums and universities, have said it really is a transformational gift,” Brettell said. “It’s a gift that will forever change the way that art history is experienced both in universities and the metropolitan area.” Brettell will head the institute as its founding director, and plans to hire new faculty and create a physical space for the institute in the Arts and Technology Building have already begun. He hopes the institute and its place within
The above quote was made in a statement by Edith O'Donnell for The Dallas Morning News. She also noted the connections between science and the arts as a main focus in her philanthropic efforts.
→ SEE ART HISTORY, PAGE 6
Biker embarks on nationwide trek
Changing times The year was 1990, and the world was being introduced to some radical changes. South African officials released Nelson Mandela from prison. East and West Germany reunited after years of being divided by the Cold War. The United States was introduced to a quaint little family known as the Simpsons. At the same time, UTD was going through some radical changes of its own. After spending 20 years as an exclusive graduate and upper level institution, the Texas Higher Education Coordination Board made the decision to allow freshmen and sophomores to enter UTD out of high school in January of 1990. Students coming straight out of high school like McDowell could enter UTD’s doors for the first time. That decision did not come lightly. A cadre of Dallas business and civic leaders first approached the Texas legislature with a bill to expand UTD to a full undergraduate program in the spring of 1989. Their goal was to create a university environment that would focus on students who had an interest in science, math, engineering and computers. That group was ultimately successful in its efforts and the legislature passed the bill, which was later signed by Governor William Clements. After that, the door was open for the coordination board to approve UTD’s request to allow for a freshman class. Obstacles and Challenges The decision to let freshmen was not without its challenges. The dean of undergraduate studies at the time, Chris Parr, had many of those problems to resolve, including a stubborn elderly regime. “There was an old guard that wanted to see (UTD) be a graduate student (facility) forever,” Parr said. “Economically, that couldn’t work.” Parr said that at the time UTD was only open to junior and senior underclassmen. He said that bringing in freshmen was a way for the school to recruit people who fly off and prefer to live somewhere else for a four-year college. To cater to all of those new prospective students, a curriculum had to be made and courses had to be prepared first. Parr said that a master’s council of undergraduate deans from each school came together as a committee to decide how the general education would work. Most importantly, students had to be brought in to take part in that new curriculum. That meant UTD would be fighting an uphill battle to recruit students against big-time schools like UT and Texas A&M. “First out of the box we offered scholarships,” Parr said. “We offered full-ride scholarships for the best qualified students on the assumption that if the best qualified students said they’re going to UTD, their colleagues would follow on and they would be the better students as well.” The admission standards that they placed on
→ SEE FRESHMEN, PAGE 6
YANG XI | MERCURY STAFF
Along with 29 tour mates, McDermott scholar Irene Morse will cycle her way through 11 states from Providence, R.I. to Seattle, Wash., to raise funds for affordable housing organizations like Habitat for Humanity and Rebuilding Together. She began her 70-day tour on June 6.
Alumna Irene Morse cycles through northern U.S. to raise funds for affordable housing ANWESHA BHATTACHARJEE Web Editor
Irene Morse, a recently graduated McDermott scholar, started her 70day bicycle tour across the northern United States from Providence, R.I., on June 6 to raise money for affordable housing. In that time, Morse and her 29 tour mates will bike through 11 different states across the Appalachian and Rocky mountain ranges, interacting with affordable housing organizations and building houses for them. The tour will end in Seattle, Wash. Twelve years ago, when she first learned to ride a bicycle at age 10, Morse could never have imagined that the sport would become an important part of her life. “I was really bad at it,” she said. “My dad used to run behind me and hold the seat and he would get so tired because we would do that forever. I was too scared to actually ride on my own.” Now, after having traveled to Washington D.C. as an Archer scholar and Morocco for her study abroad program in 2012-13, Morse is looking forward to this trip that
will combine her passion for public service with the adventure and adrenaline rush she craves from her life. In her sophomore year at UTD, Morse and a friend would cycle around campus for recreation, and it was her friend who informed Morse of Bike and Build, the nonprofit that organizes 30 different bike tours across the country each summer. Her friend graduated in 2012 and never made the trip, but seeing her opportunity this summer after graduation, Morse decided to take on the challenge. She will be the first person from UTD to ever have made this trip and will be the only person from Texas in the group of 30 she’ll be biking with. The only requirements for her to be part of the program were to have 500 miles on her bike before hitting the tour route and raise $4,500 for the charity and trip expenses. The money will go toward organizations like Habitat for Humanity and Rebuilding Together, among others, and to competitive grants for local housing organizations across the country.
Morse has raised $4,680 for the cause so far, exceeding the required amount, and the whole process of fundraising large amounts does not daunt her as much as it did initially, she said. The whole project is a challenge and a little bit scary, Morse said, and despite having cycled long distances in the Dallas area, riding a bike on the mountains is difficult and new to her. “I think we are all going to die for the first two weeks or so,” she said. Those who know Morse are hardly surprised by her decision to make this trip with people she doesn’t know except through Facebook. She has been determined to do what she wants to do since childhood, said Morse’s mother, Melisa. Back in junior high, there was a time when Morse had to run on her school team. One day, Melisa walked into Morse’s room and found she had charted out a running schedule for herself to stay fit even though the team coach hadn’t asked her to maintain one. “Once she decides to do something, she’ll do it no matter how hard,” Melisa said. “… She does everything with excellence.”
Morse said her family and friends along with the faculty and staff at UTD supported her in the endeavor with their moral and financial support. However, her mother is, perhaps, the most relieved that the trip won’t take Morse to foreign lands. As part of her study abroad program, Morse has lived in Morocco where she learned Arabic, as well as other parts of Middle East and Argentina. Melisa said she is grateful her daughter chose to stay closer to home this time. For Morse, however, the travel to foreign countries hasn’t seemed to end. Morse received her Englishteaching certification last semester and would like to travel to the Middle East or Turkey to teach English for a while after she returns from the trip. Eventually, Morse would like to further her education and join a think tank or some other government organization in D.C. that will help her serve her country better, she said. Morse said she believes that while the Archer program taught her to make friends among strangers, this
→ SEE CYCLING, PAGE 8
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NEWS
THE MERCURY | JUNE 9, 2014
UTDPD Blotter
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May 9: Sixteen students were issued citations for minor in possession of alcohol at Resident Hall West at 11:15 p.m.
May 2 t " TUVEFOU SFQPSUFE IJT CJLF TUPMFO GSPN Phase 8 around 2 p.m. t "O VOBĂ° JBUFE QFSTPO XBT BSSFTUFE GPS GFMP ny driving while intoxicated on Campbell Road around 11:18 p.m. May 4 t " TUVEFOU XBT BSSFTUFE GPS QVCMJD JOUPYJDB tion at Resident Hall Southwest at 1:20 a.m. May 5 t " TUVEFOU SFQPSUFE UIBU BO VOLOPXO JOEJ vidual took her bike without her consent from University Village around 3 p.m. May 8 t A student reported his front side driver window was broken into in Lot B around 8:30 p.m. t Two students were issued citations for minor in possesion of alcohol at Residence Hall Southwest around 10:35 p.m. May 18 t " TUVEFOU JO 1IBTF XBT JTTVFE B DJUBUJPO GPS disorderly conduct at 3:41 a.m. May 19 t A student reported the theft of a bicycle at Residence Hall South at approximately 2:30 p.m. May 21 t A UTD employee reported an iPad 2 was stolen from the Facilities Management building at 4:31 p.m. May 23 t An unaffiliated person was arrested for driving without a license on Floyd Road at 3:34 p.m.
LEGEND VEHICULAR INCIDENT
May 7: Officers were dispatched to the basketball courts in reference to a fight in progress at 8:46 p.m.
May 3: An unaffiliated person was arrested for DWI, possession of marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia following a traffic stop on N. Floyd Road around 4:30 a.m.
THEFT DRUGS & ALCOHOL OTHER MAP: UTD COMMUNICATIONS | COURTESY
Sarah Larson John Thottungal Shyam Vedantam Christopher Wang Yang Xi Mailing Address 800 West Campbell Road, SU 24 Richardson, TX 75080-0688
Just the facts Thought-provoking statistics from The Mercury
Cumulative mass shootings in the United States by year
1990
10 fatalities || 4 injuries
1998
14 fatalities || 36 injuries
2007
54 fatalities || 32 injuries
2012
72 fatalities || 104 injuries
Newsroom Student Union, Student Media Suite SU 1.601
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Sources: The New York Times, Mother Jones
OPINION
JUNE 9, 2014 | THE MERCURY | UTDMERCURY.COM
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Greener schools lead the way Rigorous sustainability initiatives, standards at universities serve as catalyst for change in surrounding communities MIGUEL PEREZ COMMENTARY
President Obama’s ballsy move to push for more rigid carbon emission standards may be causing political uproar, but it could be used to inspire a push for more sustainability initiatives at universities and their surrounding communities. The plan in question, one that the Obama administration unveiled on June 2, aims at reducing carbon emissions. Using an executive power granted under the 1970 Clean Air Act, Obama effectively would be bypassing Congress to issue an E.P. A. regulation that would reduce the carbon dioxide pollution spilling out of the United States’ more than 600 coal power plants. The goal is to halt emissions by 30 percent by 2030 as compared to 2005 emission levels. Proponents of the administration’s actions are lauding it as a brave move addressing growing concerns over climate change. In an article for the Associated Press, former Vice President Al Gore praised it as an important, symbolic gesture “re-establishing the moral authority on the part of the United States of America in leading the world community.” Others fear the move will have adverse effects on employment in the energy sector and push energy prices even higher. In an opinion piece for The Wall Street Journal, junior senator John Barrasso from Wyoming voiced the concern of many by expressing how Obama’s effort couldn’t have come at a worse time for the stressed economy. Either way, the world is watching. In an article reporting on international response, The New York Times said governments are paying attention to the regulation, and it might “stimulate policy changes.” Any move the United States makes in regard to climate change will resound on the global stage. Its strategy will no doubt pique the interest of other big polluters like China and the European Union. It’s the kind of ripple effect that any powerful
institution can stimulate, and demanding sustainability initiatives on college campuses could have a similar effect. Investing in more rigorous green projects and regulations may seem like an unnecessary reach in the present, taking into account declining funding for public universities, but the social microcosm that exists in universities has the power to influence change in the surrounding community. Universities can act as models. Their students not only attend classes, but also live on the campus and interact with the city surrounding them. As an influential consumer group, college students can dictate the kind of campus and city they want to live in and the kinds of products and services available to them. By pushing for the tangible goals like providing local, organic food options or building a bikefriendly campus, the culture changes within the school and outside as well. Universities like UC Santa Cruz, whose pioneering farming program led the way for organic horticulture techniques, change the culture of the entire city. Through aggressive efforts on behalf of the administration and the student body, sustainability almost becomes institutionalized within the campus. The greatest roadblock to creating a culture like this at UTD is the student. If an individual is making a clear and willful choice in not wanting to understand why sustainability is important, nothing can be done. Like in the greater national debate over carbon emissions, we have to be able to put politics aside. Regardless of whether human activity has accelerated climate change or not, choosing to recycle, reducing carbon footprints and learning to abide by general green practices will be beneficial for everyone in the long run. Once a culture is created on campus, the surrounding community will undoubtedly follow suit. UTD is on its way there. With the award-winning, green Student Services Building, a small but active community garden and transparency on energy usage, the administration is on the right path, but the true push toward a truly green campus ultimately lies in the hands of the students.
ANAND JAYANTI | MERCURY STAFF
On-campus health services improve ease of access JOHN THOTTUNGAL COMMENTARY
et m o
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This clearly points to the university taking the health of its more than 20,000 students seriously. The Student Health Center, the Student Wellness Center and the Student Counseling Center form the crux of medical services for any student who lives on or off campus. My own personal experience allowed me to use their services in between a hectic class schedule It is not mandatory, as per UTD’s registration policies, to be enrolled in a health care plan as a permanent resident, but every international student must enroll in a plan. Most of them who tend to simply buy the plan offered by the school can now electronically opt for a waiver rather than being billed and then waiting for a refund if they have an equivalent or competing insurance plan of their own. The streamlining of this process will save international students around $500 at the be-
ginning of the semester if they have their own health insurance. The opting out can now be done each semester electronically as per the announcement on the website. With the majority of international students living on campus or close to campus, many of whom may not have a car, the Student Health Center’s clinic is the first and primary choice for health care. Students who are facing difficulties due to stress and personal issues can take advantage of counseling by certified psychologists on campus, HIV testing and a plethora of information for maintaining a healthy lifestyle. Advice onnutrition and safe sex practices can be easily obtained at the Student Wellness Center. UTD is taking the steps to ensure a better time for students with respect to their physical and mental well-being, and I applaud them for this.
“How would you want a multimillion dollar donation to the campus to be used? ts
C
“Hi, here is a care package on behalf of the Student Wellness Center. Have a happy spring break,” said a student volunteer as she cheerfully went around, dropping care packages on each table at The Pub. My professor looked at the package, and I was blushing as it contained a condom, dental dam, personal lubricant, sunscreen and information on how to have a safe and happy spring break. Despite the embarrassing expression on my face at the time, I was proud of UTD for taking serious steps in improving the health of its students.
The Student Health Center can now allow students to use its services without having to pay the costs upfront. According to the its website, beginning fall 2014 all students who purchase the UT Student Health Insurance Plan, or UT SHIP, will be able to use it at the Student Health Center. This was not the case to date, but it is unequivocally a step in the right direction. In the past, many students paid for UT SHIP, administered through Blue Cross Blue Shield, but still had to pay for certain services upfront and seek reimbursement later. A cautionary note, the center will still require students who have insurance plans besides UT SHIP to pay costs upfront. The Mercury ran an opinion piece in January on the advantages of purchasing UT SHIP as opposed to public health insurance plans, and it holds more true now.
mm
n e
“I would redo all the buildings.”
“The first thing would be to get
“I would say a better bus service
grants and scholarships for stu-
and a bigger computer lab in
dents who want to go to summer
the Jonsson building.w”
classes but don’t have the tuition.” Francis Ngugi Electrical engineering junior
“I would get a better library and better computer labs.”
Siddharth Sakthadeo
Computer science graduate student
“Probably for a a variety of places to eat and little convenience stores.”
Angel Roa EMAC sophomore
Miguel Cortez Mechanical engineering senior
Marriam Khan Software engineering senior
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NEWS
THE MERCURY | JUNE 9, 2014
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Experts assemble for terror talk Researchers join for annual Terrorism and Policy conference ESTEBAN BUSTILLOS Managing Editor
ESTEBAN BUSTILLOS | MANAGING EDITOR
Thomas Gries, an economics professor from the University of Paderborn in Germany, presents his paper on the link between terrorism and the United States’ support for oppressive governments.
Leading researchers from around the world convened at UTD on May 22 and 23 for the annual Terrorism and Policy conference, where they discussed and share their theories on terrorism and its causes. The conference was sponsored by the Center for Global Collective Action, headed by Todd Sandler, professor of economics and global economy. This year, the event brought in scholars from Yale, Penn State and Princeton universities, along with attendees who came from as far away as Israel, Spain and the United Arab Emirates, among other countries. The papers presented at this year’s conference included topics like the link between terrorism and the arms trade to the effect terrorism has on fertility.
The conference was conducted in a peer-evaluated format where researchers would present their papers and the conclusions they reached from their data andthen would answer questions and take critiques from the other attendees. Fifteen papers were presented this year. Thomas Gries, an economics professor from the University of Paderborn in Germany, presented a paper on the link that anti-American terrorism has with support for oppressive governments from the United States. He found that when the United States supports oppressive governments, there is a higher chance that people in those countries will commit terrorist actions against the United States. “I became aware of the conference by contact with Sandler,” Gries said. “It’s a unique opportunity to have so many people who have been
→ SEE TERRORISM, PAGE 6
Women’s soccer team enlists champion New assistant coach plans to push athletes toward championship ESTEBAN BUSTILLOS Managing Editor
After months of searching, head coach Kanute Drugan announced Sterling Mueller as the new assistant coach for the soccer program. Mueller began her duties on May 19. She will also be the assistant coach for the women’s tennis team. There were more than 75 applicants who applied for the job, some of whom had collegiate head coaching experience, Drugan said, but he kept coming back to Mueller. “She had all the qualities we’re looking for,” Drugan said. “I wanted somebody who understood the commitment to academic excellence here, along with a commitment to athletic excellence, and she had a career that proved that.” A native of Chapel Hill, N.C., Mueller played four seasons at the University of North Carolina, where she was a member of three NCAA Division I national championship teams and four straight Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC)
championship teams during her time there. “She’s been taught through her upbringing in soccer at UNC about the importance of little details,” Drugan said. “One of the things that was lacking in this program was that little details were not a concern. That’s one big way that she can step in and make a positive impact. Another way is as a role model. She’s going to embody what it takes to be a champion. Until you become a champion, you don’t know what it takes to be a champion.” Although she has had some experience coaching at the youth and secondary school level, this will be Mueller’s first foray into the world of collegiate coaching. “I actually heard about (the opportunity) through Taylor Maeker, who played here,” Mueller said. “I’ve been looking for an opportunity kind of like this, and when she told me about the position it sounded awesome so I started looking into it.”
→ SEE MUELLER, PAGE 6
MARCELO YATES | STAFF
New assistant soccer coach Sterling Mueller played four years for the University of North Carolina, where she was a member of three NCAA Division I championship teams.
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→ FRESHMEN
ate facility; plus, the smaller size of UTD and the lack of connectivity in the Dallas area at the time meant the school went unnoticed. Calhoun said the discovery of UTD as a whole came as a bit of a surprise to him and his family. “We were all kind of amazed that there was a UT Dallas’ Calhoun said. “Growing up in Oak Cliff, my parents and I knew very little about Plano and Richardson. If it seems like UTD is surrounded by empty land now, it was much more so then. I remember driving around and kind of saying ‘There’s a school here? Who knew?’” There were about 100 students who were admitted and prepared to begin their term as UTD’s inaugural freshman class. From valedictorians to national merit scholars, the class was full of young people brimming with potential.
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the inaugural class were comparable to those at UT, meaning only some of the best and brightest could qualify to attend UTD. Pioneers All that UTD needed was somebody who would step to the plate and be the first to sign up. That somebody was William McDowell. “I was excited about the opportunity and thought that it would be pretty cool,” McDowell said. “Then all of a sudden I get a phone call from them saying ‘hey, if you actually accept, you would be the first one.’ I was like ‘well, ok, that sounds kind of cool,’ so I was the first one to accept it. It wasn’t really planned, but it worked out absolutely fabulously.” Just like that, McDowell had become the first freshmen in the history of UTD. The class had the highest overall SAT scores and class rank of any freshman class for a Texas public institution that year, according to Parr. He said that those high standards attracted students who wanted to elbow with people of their own caliber. Another aspect that appealed to many of UTD’s pioneering freshmen was the fact there would be a high-level university right in their neck of the woods. No longer did Dallas area students have to travel all they way to Austin or Houston for a world-class education. That also meant that they didn’t have to spend as much money, either. For Daniel Calhoun, who was a member of the class of ’90 at Skyline High School in Dallas,
Anticipation
SPECIAL COLLECTIONS DEPT. | COURTESY
UTD recruited high scool seniors for its first freshman class with the “Come Make History” slogan.
that was the deciding factor. “To me, there were two reasons (I picked UTD),” said Calhoun. “ One, my parents and I didn’t have a whole lot of money and the idea of going off to Austin or College Station, that meant debt. So coming to UTD meant that I
→ ART HISTORY
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the context of UTD’s focus on fusing art, technology and science will inject new vitality into the field of art history. “The fact that (O’Donnell) chose UTD is really interesting and adventurous because, usually, art history is associated with the humanities rather than with the sciences,” Brettell said. “To have it be in a university, which is filled with brilliant people who do independent and collective research in the sciences and technology was something that was the most exciting thing about the university to her.” Associate professor in aesthetic studies Charissa Terranova expects the institute to play on the strengths of the existing art history program; including cartography, art conservation and big data. The ultimate goal is for the institute to be one of the only art history programs in the American South of Ivy League caliber, Terranova said. “We don’t want to necessarily repeat what the Ivies have done,”
→ TERRORISM
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exposed to the literature in one place and share and discuss ideas with people who are experts in their field.” UTD paid for the expenses of the all participapants through the Vibhooti Shukla endowment, along with contribution from Hobson Wildenthal, Sandler said. Another researcher, James Piazza from Penn State University, presented a paper dealing with the root causes of domestic right wing terrorism in the United States. His research found that right wing terrorism is the most deadly in the United States and that there has been a growth in right wing terrorism since 2008. The research presented at the conference has also been applied in the real world. According to Sandler, his paper he worked on with Javier Gardeazabal, who teaches at the University del Pais Vasco in Spain, is currently being used by INTERPOL. Sandler said he received data from the secre-
→ MUELLER
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 4
Mueller said she really connected with Drugan when she had her interview because their coaching style and philosophy matched up well and their vision for the team was very similar. Although Mueller was hired right at the start of summer, when many players aren’t on campus, she has had the chance to make a first impression on some of the members of the team, including Sarah Borg, one of the senior captains. “When I first met her she seemed like a really cool (person),” Borg said. “My first impression was that she was really smart and she knows a lot about soccer. She also seemed pretty relaxed and like she wasn’t somebody who would make for a stressful environment. She seems like somebody who will be really good around us at our age.” Drugan was pleased with how Mueller connected with the players that she met, saying they “love her” and that he’s sure they like her better than they like him. Mueller and Drugan want to take a focus for details and apply them to the team in areas other than just the games, Mueller said. They’ll be implementing ways to keep practice competitive and grading players on their performance so the players can see their growth
could still live at home. Two, they offered me a scholarship. So really for me it was all practical.” Despite the close proximity of UTD to many DFW students, the university still was an unknown option to many in the area. Many overlooked the school because it was mostly a gradu-
she said. “We want to stay on being in the heartland and in the unique strength of being an important school for science and technology.” Dean of the School of Arts and Humanities Dennis Kratz said Brettell’s plans for the institute will fit well into the school’s grand plan. “The vision for the School of Arts and Humanities is to integrate the arts into the overall vision of the university,” Kratz said. “Obviously, the creation of an internationally renowned art history institute will advance that purpose.” UTD faculty recently spearheaded a new coalition named the DFW Art History Network, or DFWAHN, that offers a database for art historians and a point of collection for all the research and education in the DFW metroplex. The institute will act as a physical base for DFWAHN and the art historical community in North Texas, Brettel said. Debra DeWitte, a doctoral candidate in aesthetic studies and an adjunct professor, said the institute and the study of art history in general has value for students outside of art history.
tary general of INTERPOL, which is the first time ever that access has been granted. Besides acting simply as a place for researchers to discuss the most recent trends in the field of terrorism, the conference has also fostered respect for the research being done at UTD, both nationally and internationally, according to professors. “It brings people in to further see the expertise of what we’ve got here,” said Dan Arce, program head of economics. “There’s always a special issue journal that’s associated with the conference, so it gets out UTD’s name internationally as a place where the highest level of research in this area is being conducted.” Sandler was confident in the positive effect the conference had on UTD. “This is the best terrorism conference in the world,” Sandler said. “You get the absolute best researchers. The special issue journals that these researchers publish their work in are in very good places and a lot of people read them and cite their work. That makes scholars at the top universities want to come to this conference.”
and development. A big take away that she took from her playing days at UNC was a focus on embracing the journey, she said. She learned to embrace the experience of getting to her goals, and she wants to help the players here understand that when they enjoy the journey and do the right things, the outcomes take care of themselves, she said. Mueller said there would be some adjustments that she would have to make to transition into coaching at the Div. III level. “It’s going to be a different level that I’ll be coaching at,” Mueller said. “They’re women as opposed to girls, and they’ll be better than some of the girls that I’ve coached previously. It’s a challenge I’m excited about. I remember being a college soccer player, and there are things that I was unaware of then that I want to share with (the players) so that they can be the best they can be.” Despite the challenges that come with the new territory as an assistant coach, Mueller said that she and Drugan both have high hopes for the team. “We want to get a national championship during our time here,” Mueller said. “I was fortunate enough to get three championships while I was at UNC, and I want to do it at the coaching level now.”
“Looking back on it now, there was a lot riding on us,” Calhoun said. “They wanted us to be successful because they didn’t want the whole idea of freshmen at UTD to fail. I can imagine the nightmare scenario of ‘It’s the end of the first year and all of your freshmen have failed out’.” Despite the pressure that was being placed on those first students, Parr was confident in their ability to handle the rigors of UTD. “I knew that they were going to put great expectations on these students,” Parr said. “What I knew was that these students background were enough to handle that. So that didn’t bother me.” With the start of the semester looming just over the horizon, those expectations would soon be put to the test.
“I think the methods we use to study art are really valuable no matter what you’re studying,” DeWitte said. “We use a lot of careful analysis and critical thinking that’s really useful in other fields.” She hopes the development will bring exposure for the field throughout campus and wants to see funding go toward aiding doctoral students and their research. O’Donnell, after whom the Arts and Technology Building was named after, has been a longtime supporter of UTD. The O’Donnell Foundation has donated over $600 million supporting education and science research in the United States since 1984. “One of the goals of Edith O’Donnell in giving the money was to recognize the many links between the visual arts, technology and the sciences, which are, of course, so strong at UTD,” Brettell said. “We will be an institute, not a department, of art history within a university that’s directed toward science and technology, engineering and management. Our whole idea of art history will be inflected by our place at UTD.”
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JUNE 9, 2014 | THE MERCURY | UTDMERCURY.COM
Students mimic street portrait project Students explore, highlight unique individuals on campus with popular Facebook page ‘Humans of UTD’ Mercury Staff
A student-run Facebook page called “Humans of UTD” has been growing in popularity for bringing the unique stories and faces of individuals on campus straight to the newsfeeds of followers. Started in late April, “Humans of UTD” has already reached 1,242 likes on Facebook. Inspired by “Humans of New York” and other popular “Humans of ” projects, the page highlights the unique individuals on UTD’s campus and the stories they have to share. The three friends who started the page, Rafi Ayub, Sathvika Gunturi and Asha Pavuluri, said they wanted to bring the “Humans of New York” experience to UTD in order to give people who are affiliated with UTD a glimpse into the lives of one another. While “Humans of UTD” is not a student organization nor is it associated with the university, it still serves to bring the people of UTD closer together. Ayub, a biomedical engineering sophomore, said the mission of “Humans of UTD” is to build a sense of community. “(We created the page) to inspire others to the fact
that you can just talk to anyone and learn anything,” Ayub said. The page also serves to display the variety of interesting activities students participate in but that others may not be aware of, he said. Sathvika Gunturi, a neuroscience sophomore, said the Facebook page exists “to show the unique aspects of the campus, because there are so many different things that people do.” During the end of the spring 2014 semester, the trio would walk the campus during their free time in order to scan the crowds for potential subjects. “If someone’s doing something cool, then yeah we’ll talk to you,” Gunturi said. “But there’s no special requirement.” Subjects are chosen as random as possible with the intent to share overall diversity. “If we want to talk to you, we’ll talk to you,” said Pavuluri, neuroscience sophomore. There were different reasons the founders decided to start “Humans of UTD.” “I initially got into it for fun,” Ayub said. “And then I started realizing, when I started talking to people and taking their pictures, that this is actually really cool. It’s interesting talking to strangers and
MARCELO YATES | STAFF
Frontman for rock band Neon Trees, Tyler Glenn crooned through fan favorites like “Everybody Talks” during the June 1 show.
Neon Trees electrifies at House of Blues MARCELO YATES Commentary
Keeping the crowd out late on June 1, pop rock band Neon Trees performed at the House of Blues Dallas to promote its latest album “Pop Psychology.” British-American indie rock band Nightmare and the Cat kicked off the evening with a large crowd eagerly awaiting the show to start. The group played hits like “Undercover” and “Blackbird Smile” characterized by a bluesy chorus yet poppy vocals and rhythm led by the sensual dance moves of front man Django Stewart. While its live set lacked the energy to rouse up the crowd, Nightmare and the Cat’s unique blend of rough guitar riffs and soft vocals was more than enough for an enjoyable opening act. The second artist of the lineup was relatively new indie-rock band Smallpools led by vocalist Sean Scanlon. The band became hugely popular after its single “Dreaming” became a relatively popular indie pop hit last May. Unfortunately, “Dreaming” was the only distinguishable song in the set. Through the synth -packed songs, it was difficult to tell differences between songs. Smallpools’ songs might be catchy, but what’s the point if they don’t have anything to keep the audience coming back? It wasn’t until Neon Trees began its set that the crowd came out full force. Starting the set behind a curtain covering the stage, Tyler Glenn delivered an energy packed set with his sparkling dance moves in his golden glittering boots. The band’s
→ SEE NEON TREES, PAGE 8
CHRISTOPHER WANG | MERCURY STAFF
Rafi Ayub, Sathvika Gunturi and Asha Pavuluri (from left) joined forces in late April to create and develop “Humans of UTD,” a Facebook page where unique individuals and their stories are featured.
learning all of these random things about them.” For Pavuluri, the main reason was the “Humans of New York” page. “It’s not like there’s anything special about the peo-
SUMMER POP REVIEW
SARAH LARSON
ple of New York,” she said. “There are special people everywhere. Everyone has something unique about
→ SEE HUMANS, PAGE 8
20TH CENTURY FOX | COURTESY
Adapted from John Green’s novel, “The Fault in Our Stars” focuses on cancer patient Hazel Grace Lancaster (Shailene Woodley).
Teen romance explores life with cancer SHYAM VEDANTAM Commentary
How do we best express universal emotions or themes in the arts? Ironically, this happens best when a story is so laser focused, that its characters seem so real and familiar. By speaking in broad terms or about generic situations with caricature characters, emotional depth cannot be reached. “The Fault in Our Stars” exemplifies that while not everyone has to go through the same experiences, it’s easy to empathize with characters fully realized. Directed by relative newcomer Josh Boone, the film is an adaptation of the bestselling novel of the same name by John Green. 16-year-old Hazel Grace Lancaster’s (Shailene Woodley) life could have been determined by her crossroads with cancer. She’s been brought back from the brink of death by an experimental drug as a teen, but now her thyroid cancer has metastasized to her lungs. She has to lug around an oxygen tank and nasal cannula to breath, and short flights of stairs make her short of breath. A cynical recluse, Hazel resigns to reading a fictitious postmodern novel about cancer entitled “An Imperial Affliction” by Peter Van Houten. Her parents, Frannie and Michael (Laura Dern and Sam Trammell, respectively) begin to worry that Hazel is depressed, so they enroll her in an over-the-top religious support group. It’s a futile effort at first, but here she runs into Augustus Waters (Ansel Elgort). A cancer survivor as well, he approaches life with a different point of view. He wants to be remembered and loved forever by the masses. The two begin a romance that involves late night phone calls, picnic dates and bonding
→ SEE STARS, PAGE 8
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THE MERCURY | JUNE 9, 2014
UTDMERCURY.COM
Cultural getaways hide in Dallas MIGUEL PEREZ Editor-in-Chief
Whether it’s because of school or work, some Dallasites will undoubtedly have to relinquish summer fun in some faraway vacationland. That’s not to say Dallas doesn’t offer some cultural treats for those seeking a brief escape from the daily grind. Pan-African Connection 828 4th Ave., Dallas, TX 75226 Closest DART station: Fair Park Located off of Interstate 30 near Fair Park, Pan-African Connection is a gallery, bookstore and shop all rolled into one. The resource center has been in business for more than 23 years, and it houses a large selection of handmade art from across the African continent. Yoruban iron sculptures and Congolese wood carved masks fill the shelves of the first floor. Jewelry, fabrics, health products and furniture are also sold in the adjacent rooms. The Buddhist Center of Dallas, Wat Dallas 8484 Stults Road, Dallas, TX 75243 Closest DART station: Forest Lane Colorful murals line the walls of this Thai Buddhist temple near
Highway 75 and Forest Lane. Apart from the beautiful temple and gold Buddha statue, Wat Dallas also houses a library and offers Thai cultural and language classes on Sundays at 9:30 a.m. Call ahead of time to make sure there isn’t a ceremony or chanting in progress (214340-6187). El Rancho Supermarket 14211 Coit Road, Dallas, TX 75254 Closest DART station: Spring Valley El Rancho is a gritty, vibrant megastore that’s the closest you’ll get to a Mexico City market in Dallas. There’s a bakery with cakes and “pan dulce,” or sweet bread, and a juice hut serving up smoothies and fruity water all within seconds of walking into the store. Visit early in the morning to get the freshest of El Rancho’s take on Mexican street foods. The Wooden Spoon 1617 K Ave. Plano, TX 75074 Closest DART station: Downtown Plano A quaint, Scandinavian shop is hidden in the oldest home in downtown Plano. The Wooden Spoon is filled with imported and domestic goods from Sweden, Norway and Denmark. Its food section is stocked
with all kinds of Scandinavian treats from pepparkakor ginger cookies to jars of lingonberry jam. Kalachandji’s Hare Krishna Temple 5430 Gurley Ave., Dallas, TX 75223 The closest DART station is Mockingbird, but it’s a lengthy trip. Beautiful Rajastani murals cover the walls of Kalachandji’s Temple in East Dallas off of I-30 and Grand Avenue. Contact Nityananda Chandra (214-669-3369) to take a guided tour of the temple and learn about Vedic culture and the Hare Krishna movement. A restaurant with a beautiful courtyard accompanies the temple serving vegetarian cuisine, and in keeping with tradition, the entire restaurant runs on suggested donations. Trinity Hall 5321 E. Mockingbird Lane, Dallas, TX 75206 Closest DART station: Mockingbird Conveniently located next to Mockingbird Station, this Irish pub and restaurant is great for a bite to eat. Its menu includes traditional pub fare like bangers and mash, shepherd’s pie and Irish stew. You can also watch a soccer or rugby match nearly every day, or go on Sunday and participate in the team trivia pub quiz. PHOTO SERIES BY MIGUEL PEREZ
The Wooden Spoon sells authentic, imported Scandinavian goods.
El Rancho Supermarket offers traditional Mexican street foods.
The exterior of Wat Dallas is adorned with intricate relief sculptures.
→ STARS
Even though this is coming from someone who has not read the book, this seems due to a direct adaptation of lines or actions from the novel by Green. For example, there’s a scene in which Augustus explains to Hazel why he keeps an unlit cigarette in his mouth. The reasoning is a bit ridiculous in the film and undoubtedly works better on the page than the screen. The supporting cast does good work with their somewhat limited roles. Used sparingly, Dern, Trammell and Nat Wolff as Isaac, Augustus’ best friend, have their own character arcs that work well and are meaningful in their own way. Specifically, Wolff works as a great, albeit dark, comic relief here. Neustadter and Weber have become quite adept at indie romance films. From “500 Days of Summer” to last year’s “The Spectacular Now,” their scripts are funny, timely, honest and touching. This one follows these same trends. The last 20 minutes of this film are too affecting not to tear up. The minor gripes with this film might stem from Boone’s direction. Some scenes linger on longer than they should. Sometimes, this made
scenes unintentionally humorous. While the narration and story attempts to subvert generic conventions, upon closer inspection, it’s evident that some of these conventions were still followed, albeit with deft writing. As aforementioned, the choices made during the adaptation of the novel led to some metaphors that were too on-the-nose. At a little over two hours, the film is a little long. There seems to be five different end points in the third act, which could throw some viewers for a loop. There are some minor problems with the film. The ending is somewhat conventional and simplistic considering how smart and subversive the film claims to be and is for the most part. However, the ending of the film is too heart wrenching to feel too negative about the film. There was so much sniffling heard throughout the theater, the film will undeniably be adored.
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zel’s favorite novel. There’s almost a three-act structure to this film, with a lot of good surprises without being too unrealistic. Boone’s previous directorial effort, “Stuck in Love,” was an uneven but mild success of a romantic film. It had smart characters yet stumbled into generic trappings. Some of these problems persist in his second film. However, the replacement of Boone as writer-director with the writing team of Scott Neustadter and Michael H. Weber make for a markedly improved film. Woodley carries this film, even though her character would probably struggle to carry any more than her oxygen tank. She doesn’t go for the easy or overwrought theatrics. She’s convincing as the smart and witty Hazel. It is a greatly endearing performance by a rising star. Elgort is less successful but adequate. He overplays some of the character’s quirks too far. While Woodley goes for the subtle, Elgort’s performance sometimes feels like histrionics.
→ NEON TREES
→ HUMANS
teristic dance-pop style with an ’80s influence shone from the minute the show started till it ended. In the midst of all the pop sounds and powerful vocals, Glenn took a brief minute to speak about his recent coming out news. He spoke about his trouble in the past due to his sexuality but ended on the high note exclaiming “I’m a gay man and I’m happy!” This was met by the deafening approval of the young, enthusiastic crowd. After what seemed like the end of the set, Neon Trees came back to perform an encore with a cover of The Pixies “Where is My Mind” and fan-favorite hit “Everybody Talks.” Neon Trees’ newest album, “Pop Psychology,” was released April 22.
them, so if you talk to them you’ll find something.” The responsibilities of managing the page are divided among the three. Because they post daily to the page, they do most of the work at the same time, finding and interviewing a handful of subjects in about an hour. The biggest challenge they’ve faced is finding certain locations on campus that are welcoming to their approach. “Once, we tried to go to different buildings, like the ATEC building, but usually people studying in those places are unwilling to talk,” Gunturi said. “We like to stay around more social places like the Comet Café, the Plinth and The Pub.” When they first started, finding the courage to
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walk up to strangers and engage in conversation was difficult. “It’s kind of hard predicting whether someone’s going to want to talk to you,” Pavuluri said. “And knowing how to carry the conversation was hard.” The questions they opened with like, “What do you like best about UTD?” actually hindered the experience as a whole, Ayub said, so set questions were thrown out in favor of genuine conversation. To date, their most popular post has been of a squirrel on campus meant as a bit of light-hearted humor for the page. During the summer semester, “Humans of UTD” is requesting user-generated images and content to post, as two of the founders are off campus. As for future goals, “Human of UTD” is continually trying to diversify its audience. “We want to get professors, too. We haven’t gotten any yet,” Ayub said.
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trip will be a lesson about accomplishing her goals despite challenging odds. While her family is proud that Morse is making the trip, they are equally proud that she chose to do it for more than just fun and that a cause would benefit from it, Melisa said. For Morse, the trip is a way for her to help build new houses and refurbish old ones, meet new people and make friends. But it’s the biking that Morse is most looking forward to on the trip. “Definitely for me, the biggest thing is biking,” Morse said. “I really like biking, and I’ve always wanted to take it to the next level because mainly I’ve done it for recreation before. And this is such a unique way to see the country.”