March 31, 2014
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FOOLS'
Fake news for UTD → SPECIAL SECTION
SPRINGTIME Photos from the week-long celebration → SEE PAGES 8-9
THE MERCURY | UTDMERCURY.COM
Assault victims decline to press charges ANWESHA BHATACHARJEE Web Editor
A sexual assault, two other assaults and a robbery were reported in the University Village apartments in the last week of February; two of the cases have been cleared and closed. The sexual assault, reported on Feb. 24 in Phase VIII, was exceptionally
cleared, which means the complainant chose to not press charges with the Dallas District Attorney’s office, said Lt. Ken Mackenzie, UTDPD’s crime investigation division head. The DA office also declined to accept the case due to lack of evidence. Both the complainant and the respondent were cooperative with the police but were unable to provide suf-
ficient evidence supporting their side of the case, Mackenzie said. The sexual assault was reported several days after the incident, as a result of which there was no medical examination to prove or disprove the assault. The alleged assaulter was a person known to the complainant, Mackenzie said, which is the reason why no alerts were sent out to stu-
dents on campus. No other witnesses were present at the time of the incident, he said. Despite the complainant choosing not to press charges, UTDPD would have filed the case according to the Title IX and Dear Colleague Letter federal mandates, Mackenzie said, had any substantial evidence existed and had the DA office accepted the
case. The Dean of Students’ office has received the police report for the case and has been briefed by UTDPD. The office will conduct a separate investigation into the case as per the federal mandates on sexual assaults and the police report will form the starting point, said Dean of Students Gene
→ SEE ASSAULTS, PAGE 16
Students bootstrap New SG admin hardware startup puts focus on
traditions, spirit
ROLLOUT | COURTESY
Rollout, a hardware company, is a product of UTD's new Startup Launch Track program offered through the Master of Science in Innovation and Entrepreneurship degree in the Naveen Jindal School of Management.
Paperless blueprint system boasts flexible screen, scalable product JOEY SANKMAN Mercury Staff
With billion dollar initial public offerings, software startup companies like Twitter and Facebook have grabbed the limelight of public interest, creating the perception that there is a disparity of success and prevalence between software and hardware startup companies. However, hardware startups remain prolific. One example is Rollout, a company founded last July by innovation and entrepreneurship graduate students Alejandro Jacobo and Matthew Hinson. The pair is part of the 2013 inaugural class of the Startup Launch Track in the Master of Science in Innovation and Entrepreneurship, or MSIE, program. The MSIE degree prepares students for entrepreneurial activities, but the Startup Launch Track enables students to start a new business venture as part of their MSIE degree program. Rollout provides a novel hardware and software solution to enable scalable and full-size paperless blueprints for customers in the architecture, engineering and construction industry. The idea originated from Hinson’s experience in industry where he observed the need and advantage of going paperless, Jacobo said. Conventionally, updates to paper blueprints are slow and inefficient, and existing approaches using tablets or television screens are either too small and battery hungry, or too bulky for portable applications, he said. The most challenging aspect of the hardware design, Jacobo said, was the implementation of the display. “We are in the final talks with our
supplier for our flexible screen,” he said. “We have talked to manufacturers, and when it comes to the (Central Processing Unit) and other hardware, it’s not as challenging as you would think since there are people who can do that now.” Rollout is on the cusp of creating its first prototype and already has interested customers. However, launching Rollout has not been without ups and downs. Mutual support from co-founder Hinson has led to their resiliency, and a strong partnership has enabled the progress of Rollout, Jacobo said. “Matt is a tremendous leader, and when you have the right partner, you can get to the next level,” he said. The success of Rollout is indicative of a hardware startup community that may simply be flying under the radar. Surpassing the previous record of 29 fundraising deals set in 1999, 31 deals were secured by venture capitalists for hardware startups last year. Furthermore, hardware startups received a record $848 million from venture capitalists last year, beating the previous record of $442 million set in 2012, according to DJX VentureSource. The lower capital investment requirements and quick development of software startups are reasons why investors may pass over hardware startups, but hardware is still essential as a platform for new services much like smartphones are to apps, Jacobo said. A lack of media coverage has added to the prevailing view that there are few hardware startups, said Dan Bochsler, senior lecturer at the Jindal School of Management and member of the Metroplex Technology Business Council. “It’s part of what we see,” Bochsler
said. “There are plenty of hardware startups, but I think we hear more about the software startups because they are easy for a broad range of people. There are many phone apps that we hear about that are actually more of a cottage industry instead of being oriented towards a business.” Despite the focus on software startups, launching a hardware startup company is possible for anyone with an understanding of how to develop a new company, Bochsler said. Exploration is necessary before execution, meaning a careful understanding of customers is essential before releasing a product, which can be explained in a two-step process, he said. “First, customer discovery, which is understanding customer wants and needs, competition and market,” he said. “And second, customer validation, which involves the construction of a minimum viable product (prototype) that will give customer feedback.” Students interested in learning more about launching a startup company or becoming involved in the DFW startup community can participate in organizations like the Richardson Chamber of Commerce or the Metroplex Technology Business Council, but it is also important to focus on networking in general, Bochsler said. “It’s not just about a technical bent; it’s about finding the right people and organizations that can assist you in development,” he said. The Dallas Entrepreneur Center,
→ SEE HARDWARE, PAGE 16
BUILDING BRIDGES | COURTESY
Student Government President Brooke Knudtson (right) and Vice President Nancy Fairbank (left) seek to immediately improve the senate's outreach. SHEILA DANG Managing Editor
As each of the newly elected Student Government senators were named on the evening of March 26, Brooke Knudtson knew it was a good sign that most came from her ticket “Building Bridges.” Finally, Knudtson and her running mate, political science freshman Nancy Fairbank, were announced as next year’s SG president and vice president. The pair ran against EMAC and marketing junior Katie Truesdale, and electrical engineering sophomore Alex Zahabizadeh — the presidential and vice presidential candidates for the ticket “Forward.” A record-breaking 14 percent of students voted, double the 7 percent turnout last year. Part of 2013’s low turnout may be attributed to the fact that only one ticket ran in the election. This year, the two tickets were led by members of the same sorority, Kappa Alpha Theta. The election became a taboo topic among the Thetas. Knudtson said she knew it was going to be a split vote among the sisters; she and Truesdale didn’t campaign within the group. “We just wanted to (keep the election) outside of Theta,” Knudtson said. “I’m sure it’s going to be a little awkward for a little bit, but other than that I think it will be fine. I’ve worked with Katie before in other SG things and for 5Ks and stuff. It’s like another professional relationship.” The platform for Building Bridges is to improve spirit, tradition and community across campus; the three areas Fairbank said most students have asked them to work on. Apart from the Whoosh, Knudtson,
a political science sophomore, said there aren’t enough traditions on campus to bring students together. Additionally, communication must be improved to make students more aware of campus events, and in turn, increase student attendance. Knudtson said she plans to mandate senators attend a certain number of events and sports games in order to increase SG’s presence on campus. She pointed to the men’s basketball team’s game against Chapman on March 7, which broke a record for number of attendees, as an example of Comet spirit that should be evident every day. “If we can have that sort of energy throughout campus, that kind of spirit, that’s what we’re looking to build upon…,” Knudtson said. But adding food options on campus — particularly tacos and vegetarian dishes — is also a top priority for Knudtson and Fairbank next year. Chartwells currently has a contract with UTD, and thus a monopoly over the food options that are available on campus, Fairbank said. She and Knudtson plan to present a petition to Chartwells to pressure them to either lease out space to more vendors, expand their own menu or allow an offcampus vendor to sell their vegetarian food on campus. “I think that if we can show Chartwells that there’s a very large desire for that, they’ll be more receptive,” Fairbank said. “It should be beneficial to them as well, because if students are willing to pay for vegetarian options, they should be willing to do that to help their business.”
→ SEE SG, PAGE 16
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Just the facts
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Editor-in-Chief Lauren Featherstone
NEWS
THE MERCURY | MARCH 31, 2014
To remember and honor students who have passed away since last year, UTD will host an event called “Comets Remember,â€? which Student Government hopes will become a school tradition. UTD will hold the memorial event from 4-5:30 p.m. on April 16 in the Galaxy Rooms. “It gives Comet spirit and Comet unity just saying that these students went here and are not forgotten,â€? said SG President Liza Liberman. UTD President David Daniel and Liberman will give short speeches at the event. Each student will individually be recognized, and families will be presented with white carnations, which symbolize remembrance. SG hopes this to be a yearly event held every April. The families of 12 students who have died since June 2013 are expected to attend. Some of these students were international students, and because it may be difficult for some of their families to attend, SG has invited the student organizations that they were members of to represent them at the ceremony. Friends of all students who have died are also invited. Many universities across the United States hold annual memorial services to honor students who have passed away, and UTD plans to follow in those footsteps. UT also holds a memorial event called “UT Remembers.â€? While many universities have certain rituals and ceremonies, such as lowering university flags, lighting candles and ringing bells, there is no confirmation yet on whether UTD will do anything in addition to the speeches and flower distribution. t 4( T 5XJUUFS BDDPVOU JT OPX SFBDUJWBUFE BGUFS CFJOH JOBDUJWF for almost two years. SG news and updates will be posted on this account. Students can follow @SG_UTD. t "EBN .B HSBEVBUF BOE JOUFSOBUJPOBM BĂŞ BJST DPNNJUUFF chair, said SG will have two booths at the “Passport to the Worldâ€? event during International Week on March 31. This year it will represent the United States, as it has in the past. The booth will have red, white and blue decorations, and grilled cheese sandwiches will be given out. The senate allocated $500 for the SG booths at the “Passport to the Worldâ€? event for food, drinks and decorations t 3FTJEFOUJBM "ĂŞ BJST $PNNJUUFF DIBJS ,BUJF 5SVFTEBMF TBJE IFS committee is working with Media Services to create poster-size “This Week at UT Dallasâ€? announcements for the Res Halls to increase student outreach. “This Weekâ€? is a weekly event schedule posted in the News Center on the UTD website. t 5SVFTEBMF BMTP TBJE UIBU 4( JT XPSLJOH XJUI BTTJTUBOU QSPGFTTPS Robert Ackerman in BBS to create a personality test that would yield more accurate results and matches for the 2015-2016 housing application. t ɨ F TFOBUF BMMPDBUFE GPS GPPE BOE SFGSFTINFOUT GPS UIF JSOM “Meet the Deanâ€? event. t ɨ F OFYU 4( NFFUJOH XJMM IFME BU Q N PO "QSJM JO POF of the Galaxy Rooms.
Alison Kwong Ian Lamarsh Madison McCall Sunayna Rajput Joey Sankman Pratap Surya Justin Thompson John Thottungal Yang Xi Mailing Address 800 West Campbell Road Mailstop SU 24 Richardson, TX 75080-0688 Newsroom Student Union, Student Media Suite SU 1.601 FIRST COPY FREE NEXT COPY 25 CENTS The Mercury is published on Mondays, at two-week intervals during the long term of The University of Texas at Dallas, except holidays and exam periods, and once every four weeks during the summer term. Advertising is accepted by The Mercury on the basis that there is no discrimination by the advertiser in the offering of goods or services to any person, on any basis prohibited by applicable law. Evidence of discrimination will be the basis of denial of advertising space. The publication of advertising in The Mercury does not constitute an endorsement of products or services by the newspaper, the UTD administration, the Board of Regents or the Student Media Operating Board. Opinions expressed in The Mercury are those of the editor, the editorial board or the writer of the article. They are not necessarily the view of the UTD administration, the Board of Regents or the Student Media Operating Board. The Mercury’s editors retain the right to refuse or edit any submission based on libel, malice, spelling, grammar and style, and violations of Section 54.23 (f ) (1-6) of UTD policy, which can be found at policy.utdallas.edu Copyright Š 2014, The University of Texas at Dallas. All articles, photographs and graphic assets, whether in print or online, may not be reproduced or republished in part or in whole without express written permission.
UTDPD Blotter March 6 t An unaffiliated person was arrested on Drive A at about 11 p.m. for theft of a firearm, evading arrest, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, delivery of marijuana, DWI and driving with an invalid license. March 10 t " TUVEFOU SFQPSUFE B UIFGU PG VOJWFSTJUZ equipment from Green Hall at about 2 p.m. March 17 t "O PGGJDFS SFTQPOEFE UP B CJLF UIFGU BU 3FT Hall Southwest at about 2 p.m. t "O FNQMPZFF SFQPSUFE EBNBHF UP VOJ versity property at Jonsson Center at about 4 p.m. March 18 t " TUVEFOU SFQPSUFE B UIFGU BU 3FT )BMM West at about 6 p.m. t " TUVEFOU SFQPSUFE B CVSHMBSZ PG B NPUPS vehicle at Lot I at about 6 p.m. March 19 t "O VOBGGJMJBUFE QFSTPO XBT BSSFTUFE GPS public intoxication on Rutford Avenue at about 10 p.m. March 20 t " TUVEFOU SFQPSUFE BO VOLOPXO QFSTPO took her laptop from Green Hall without her consent at about 6 p.m. March 22 t 5XP VOBGGJMJBUFE NBMFT XFSF JTTVFE DSJNJ nal trespass warnings for the entire campus at Res Hall construction sites at about 11 p.m. t "O BMVNOVT XBT BSSFTUFE GPS %8* BOE an outstanding warrant on Campbell Road at about 1 a.m. t " TUVEFOU SFQPSUFE IJT MPOHCPBSE TUPMFO from outside the Dining Hall at about 2 p.m. March 26 t " TUVEFOU T XBMMFU XBT TUPMFO GSPN B MPDL er in the Activity Center at about 7 p.m.
LEGEND VEHICULAR INCIDENT THEFT DRUGS & ALCOHOL OTHER MAP: UTD COMMUNICATIONS | COURTESY
March 7: A student reported an unknown male was making obscene calls to her from a private number.
March 24: A student patrol member reported graffiti at Lot H at about 7 p.m.
March 16: A student was cited for disorderly conduct (loud noise) at Phase IV at around 4 a.m.
OPINION
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MARCH 31, 2014 | THE MERCURY | UTDMERCURY.COM
Editorial Board
Selfish students steal show
Keep politics out of sports
LINA MOON | GRAPHICS EDITOR
Russia, U.S. try to ban each other from World Cup PARTH SAMPAT COMMENTARY PARTH PARIKH | STAFF
When Thompson agreed to pose for a selfie with a student, others began climbing onto the stage to get in the photo. Thompson joked about the several police officers in the audience who did nothing to stop the incident.
Kenan Thompson treated as prop during Springapalooza performance
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agreed to a selfie with a student, only to be bombarded by others climbing onto the stage to besiege Thompson. The scene, and in essence the entire Q-and-A, made UTD students look awkward, rude and uncivilized. Booing ensued while audience members sank in their chairs, and the editorial board of The Mercury wondered what this would do to UTD’s reputation. This was, after all, a unique situation because each member of the audience, which consisted mostly of students, represented the university. Big-name acts at other colleges often require tickets but allow outside attendees. Even for the ATEC Lecture Hall, this was the first time to fill the auditorium entirely with UTD people. Students turned to Twitter, the UT Dallas reddit page and Facebook to share similar sentiments, believing that Thompson was “visibly irritated” and concerned that this would hinder booking big acts in the future. “I think we seriously chased off Kenan and other entertainment celebrities from ever visiting our school,” one reddit user posted. Aradhana Bagaria, variety chair of SUAAB and global business junior, said this isn’t the case. She said Thompson was “definitely okay” after the show and down-to-earth throughout the entire process. Thompson also knew what he was getting himself into, said Ted Yu, executive chairman of SUAAB and molecular biology senior, as he was the one who notified SUAAB when he reached campus that he wanted to call students up at the end of the show. “One of the things that I think is really really important to consider right
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now is that Kenan, in filling the role as a comedian and then requesting the Q-and-A, I believe he felt he was fully self accountable for the occurrence,” Yu said. So the concern is not what Thompson or future performers think of our student body, but what we think of ourselves. Since each of us on the editorial board joined UTD, students have persistently commented on how socially inept our student body is. Audience members’ posts resurfaced this culture, and from the performance, it becomes clear why people think that way. But this is not who we all are at UTD. A handful of students asked Thompson legitimate questions, including what his SNL audition was like. The power of peer accountability can work wonders. So let it. SUAAB will screen questions for future Q-and-A events, but that will simply sift through the trash, not eliminate it. We will only be able to foster unity and community if students can listen to others and treat people with respect. Learn to take no for an answer — yes, you selfie lovers — and think before you act. “Welcome to Good Burger, home of the —” No. That’s Kel’s line. Editorial Board Lauren Featherstone, Editor-in-Chief Sheila Dang, Managing Editor Anwesha Bhattacharjee, Web Editor Christopher Wang, Photo Editor Lina Moon, Graphics Editor Miguel Perez, Life & Arts Editor
“What are your thoughts on the new Student Govenment president and vice president’s platform of tradition, community and spirit?”
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Peers have been condemning UTD students for their behavior at Kenan Thompson’s performance on campus, and rightfully so. On March 20, more than 1,200 Comets lined up to see the Nickelodeon and “Saturday Night Live” star, along with comedian Paul Varghese, at the ATEC Lecture Hall. The Student Union and Activities Advisory Board, or SUAAB, hosted the talent as part of its annual Big Bad Comedy Show. With about 300 students turned away after the auditorium was filled, those inside appeared grateful and anxious to witness their childhood celebrity in the flesh. But once the Q-and-A segment started, all awe and respect seemingly dissipated. “Kenan Thompson did a question and answer session at UTD and I have never been more ashamed of the people who go here,” tweeted an audience member. The much-anticipated guest speaker turned into a prop for students to tout on their social media platforms, while they regressed into questions that were anything but reflective of an intelligent, academic community. “Have you ever watched ‘My Little Pony?’” “Do you know what Delta-ing is?” “What’s the dopest dope you’ve ever smoked?” Very little of the Q-and-A actually consisted of questions, but instead was marked with continuous requests for selfies, fist bumps and dog-trick tasks. One student even went as far as insulting Thompson’s unborn child’s name, while others asked potentially racist questions. Early on in the session, Thompson
The quarreling between the United States and Russia has started to spill over from the political arena and into the playing field. On March 6, Republican senators Mark Kirk (Ill.) and Dan Coats (Ind.) requested FIFA to strip Russia of its membership and to move the 2018 World Cup to a different location in a letter to Sepp Blatter, general secretary of FIFA. Kirk and Coats argued that Russia had demonstrated disrespect for the fundamental principles of FIFA and international law, and it did not deserve the honor of either hosting the World Cup or participating in one. In retaliation against this asinine act, Russian politicians Aleksandr Sidyakin and Mikhail Markelov, deputies from the Russian State Duma, demanded on March 11 that the United States be kicked out of this year’s World Cup and have its membership terminated. They cited aggressive actions against Yugoslavia, Iraq and Libya, as well as attempts to encroach on Syria, as reasons for asking for the ban. “It’s an eye for an eye, a ball for a ball. Don’t let the USA take part in the 2014 World Cup! End their membership of FIFA,” Sidyakin wrote on Twitter. It’s a shame that politicians are playing with the athletes’ careers and aspirations like pawns in their cruel game of politics. FIFA has the power to prevent a country from participating in a tournament, but what the politicians should realize is that FIFA is an independent governing body and any decision that it takes will be of its own accord — not one that was a result of a bitter politician’s demand. The players of the respective teams have done nothing wrong. Their entire aim is to win that coveted trophy. There is no way of knowing the athletes’ political alignment or views on the situations surrounding the demands. So, the question in this case is quite simple: Why must the athletes pay for their country’s ac-
tions? Sports transcend cultural and political differences and unite people. Sports diplomacy has played a huge role in promoting peace within and between warring countries. If a politician can put forth a precedent for preventing a country from participating in a sporting event, there are numerous precedents that can be put forth where sports has united people for a good cause. India and Pakistan’s political enmity and history tend to take to the field when the two countries compete, and nothing ignites their passions more than watching a cricket match between them. But, the two countries share an entirely unique chemistry on the tennis court. India’s Rohan Bopanna and Pakistan’s Aisam-ul-Haq Qureshi partnered for three years. The duo, nicknamed the IndoPak Express, was ranked in the top 10 in doubles and was also runner-up in the U.S. Open in 2010. In the U.S. Open finals, the supporters from both countries, including the respective United Nations ambassadors, sat in the stands together. The best response to this pair came from Manohar Singh Gill, India’s sports minister, when he said, “I have one question for everyone. If Bopanna and Qureshi can play together, why cannot India and Pakistan?” This is the true spirit of sports. British Prime Minister David Cameron is being sensible in the issue between the United States and Russia. When asked about the issue during a press conference, after a meeting of EU leaders, Cameron said it should be left to the football authorities. Blatter has, so far, rejected the senators’ calls for Russia to be stripped of either its membership or the tournament. The request to disallow Russia to host the 2018 World Cup is still a valid request, as letting them host would bring the country a huge financial influx, but preventing a team from participating on as grand a stage as the World Cup is simply intolerable. Politicians must cease using sporting events to voice their agenda, and instead realize that the prime reason for such events is to recognize and celebrate every contestant’s genius, talent and skills.
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“They should definitely work on the community because keep in mind that UTD is a place where many students are coming from different countries.” Manoj Chowdary Computer science grad student
“I’m not really a school-spirited person, so that’s a hard one. I don’t mind that they focus on those things, but I just don’t have an emotional investment in them.” Erin Krebel Psychology freshman
“Getting involved, you realize how great the school is, so it’s very important to connect to other students. School pride is really what makes a school great.” Munashe Chando Biology and business administration sophomore
“I think spirit, tradition and community are good things to have especially at a university ... I know that a lack of a football team is one factor that contributes to slightly lower school pride.” Andrew Lo Computer science freshman
“I haven’t noticed much spirit. As a master’s student, I don’t have much time to participate in events.” Thithya Kannan Telecommunications engineering grad student
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THE MERCURY | MARCH 31, 2014
News
UTDMERCURY.COM
— Infographic —
Professor: Smart Which apartments teaching crucial give you the most for online courses Hybrid classes may replace traditional structures ELIZABETH BEWLEY Mercury Staff
As online classes become more prominent at universities, the quality of the programs has been up for debate. This concern, however, has become a pretty tired conversation, according to Rebekah Nix, a senior lecturer in the School of Interdisciplinary Studies. In a study done at Georgia Southwestern State University, researchers found that students don’t perform all that differently in an online class than they do in the more traditional face-to-face courses, and Nix agrees. “It depends on the course and the instructor. Completely,” she said. “I don’t see a difference anymore.” Nix has been teaching online classes for 15 years. IS has one of the highest amount of online classes out of all the schools at UTD, with 13 classes each semester. The School of Behavioral and Brain Science is on the other side of the coin with no online classes offered this academic year. This is because those courses are largely lab based and don’t translate well into an online environment. “You have to take professors out of their regular jobs,” said Bert Moore, dean of Behavioral and Brain Science. BBS has a lack of professors to build successful online classes, Moore said, which is one of the contributing factors to its lack of an online presence. He also said, though, that the school is working toward developing hybrid classes that will have a balance between online and face-to-face class time. These hybrid classes could become standard in the future of education. “That’s definitely the future,” Nix said. “Most face-to-face classes are using a lot of online tools already.” Arts & Technology sophomore Conor Roycroft takes a mix of online and inperson classes. “Online classes are a tool that I use to
take classes during summer,” Roycroft said. “That way I don’t have to drive to and from campus every day.” The flexibility of online classes allows students to work where and when they want, and could offer a solution for students who want to continue taking classes while having to work. The courses aren’t perfect though. Professors have been fighting academic dishonesty for as long as they have been teaching, and the Internet opens many new doors that facilitate it. “It all comes down to what the person wants to get from the class,” Roycroft said. “If someone is taking an online class to avoid sitting in a classroom, they probably don’t care if they cheat or not.” Taking classes online that are required but aren’t related to a student’s major, like core classes, work best for the format, according to Roycroft. However, having the whole of the Internet for classes students don’t necessarily want to take in the first place can make cheating more tempting. “(Academic dishonesty) is an issue,” Nix said. “But it’s an issue everywhere.” A study by the University of Michigan explores the different perceptions of cheating, and found that typically, students have one definition of cheating, while professors have another. Professors can still fight dishonesty; they just have to be craftier about the way they do things in their virtual classroom. “You can be smart about the way you design quizzes and exams,” Nix said. “It’s really forcing the issue of good teaching. (Creating an online class that works) sometimes costs a pretty penny in terms of your effort and time, and it takes a few iterations, but it’s worth it.” Keeping the attention of students, she said, is done the same way as discouraging cheating. “You’ve got to be a pretty good teacher to compete with the Internet.”
bang for your buck? by Madison McCall and Lina Moon On- and off-campus apartment complexes are ranked, with one being the least expensive price per square footage and five being the most expensive price per square footage.
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MOST EXPENSIVE
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1 LEAST EXPENSIVE
MOST EXPENSIVE
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PRATAP SURYA | STAFF
CHRISTOPHER WANG | PHOTO EDITOR
Students line up to get a variety of toppings for their pancakes at the “Delta HOP” event on March 26 in the Dining Hall. The Delta Delta Delta sorority sold tickets to the all-you-can-eat pancakes event to raise money for St. Judes Children’s Hospital. Raffle prizes were awarded, including gift cards for Sprinkles Cupcakes and Fox and Hound.
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MARCH 31, 2014 | THE MERCURY | UTDMERCURY.COM
LIFE&ARTS
decoding religion Jain students make smooth transition to United States with religion’s emphasis on nonviolence, open-mindedness as key tenets Editor’s Note In an effort to further understand UTD’s diverse population, what follows is part two in a four-part series exploring lesser-known religious communities, their traditions and their presence on campus. MIGUEL PEREZ Life & Arts Editor
When Nirav Nagda immigrated to Dallas from Mumbai in 2012, he was leaving behind a small but tight-knit religious community. He came on a student visa to pursue his master’s degree in software engineering at UTD, but left his Jain roots in the process. A nontheistic faith, Jainism is one of the oldest religions in the world with evidence of its
origin dating back to at least 800 B.C.E. To believers, however, Jainism is eternal, with no beginning and no end. There are about 4.2 million practitioners of the faith, referred to as Jains, worldwide with India having the largest concentration. There are also significant populations in Europe and North America. Nagda said his voyage to the United States was not as isolated as most people would expect. One of his community’s leaders, living in Dallas, is in the custom of helping Jain students through the immigration process. Arun Shah, who Nagda fondly refers to as uncle, helps students in India go through the process of applying for college in the United States and acclimate when they arrive. “We had a gathering within a week of coming,” Nagda said. “So it’s a strongly-knit community.”
MIGUEL PEREZ | LIFE & ARTS EDITOR
The stigmatization of the swastika in the Western world prevents many Jains from expressing their faith. The imagery has a long tradition in Jainism, symbolizing the four different states of rebirth.
Nagda said community engagement is an essential part of the Jain experience, acting as a key way of disseminating the religion’s ideas. “Some of our talks, some of our conversations are around the religion,” Nagda said. “That is one of the ways that we learn about the religion. Most of my knowledge comes from the discussions that I have with family members and my friends.” The group dynamics of the Jain community at UTD are much different from Mumbai, Nagda said. Despite knowing very few Jains on campus, he said the community is strongly connected. “I only know around 10 people who are Jain,” Nagda said. “I don’t feel bad about that. We are connected to other communities. It really doesn’t make that much of a difference to me.” Nagda has always been used to a diversity of religions within his
space. “(In Mumbai,) I lived in an area where one of my neighbors was Christian, one was Hindu, so we were surrounded by all different religions,” he said. “Every one of us played together and the festivals that we have, we would celebrate together.” Jains do not believe in a supreme creator, instead choosing to focus on the continuous cycle of life and death. Everything in nature has a spirit that is part of the cycle until it reaches moksha, or inner peace. Jains who overcome wordly desires and attain inner peace are known as jinas, and jinas who spread the religion are known as thirthankaras. Jains currently worship 24 different thirthankaras. Professor of sociology
→ SEE JAINISM, PAGE 7
‘Universe’ exhibit debuts at gallery
PHOTO SERIES: CONNIE CHENG | ASST. PHOTO EDITOR
Graduate student Val Curry explains the environmental themes he’s incorporated into “Universe,” his art installation currently showing at the McKinney Avenue Contemporary. The exhibit will run until May 3, and Curry will hold a discussion on the work April 2 at 6 p.m.
MFA student uses rust, recycled materials to make asteroid-like installations JOHN THOTTUNGAL Mercury Staff
Visitors to the McKinney Avenue Contemporary were led through a small hallway into a white room that flowed with rust-colored asteroids suspended from the ceiling to lacquered waste objects reaching up to the sky in universal spirals. Val Curry stood behind one of the asteroids that hung from the ceiling as he spoke about his latest exhibit. Curry, who is currently pursuing his masters of fine arts at UTD, is an avid environmentalist, and it shows as one of the central themes in his current exhibit. “I think the biggest thing for me is that my
passion for nature comes through and nature is my teacher,” Curry said. Curry has strong environmental themes in his exhibits and has collaborated with 2013 EMAC graduate Robert David Reedy in the One Day project, in which they collected wastes from different Starbucks around the area, counted, sorted them out and then used them to make different shaped objects. Curry has been working and showing his art for 11 years. His love for art drove him to seek out other artists and get involved in their work at a very young age. A work from one of his mentors is also displayed as a part of the Universe exhibit. In the center of the white-walled room,
balls of various sizes covered with rust stand suspended like a row of asteroids making their way to an unknown destination. Upon closer examination, each asteroid-like ball is filled with smaller pieces all fashioned together in a brown rust-coated suspension held together with an epoxy adhesive. “It is quite easy to see the flowing ephemeral quality of his work even though the pieces are still,” 2013 biology graduate Yasamin Khanian said at the exhibit. The spiral shapes created for the main floor standing exhibit flow along like mathematical functions, and Curry said this ties in with his
→ SEE UNIVERSE, PAGE 7
African org brings together community, culture ZAINAH ASFOOR Mercury Staff
Juliette Ugirumurera left Rwanda with nine other people to a country far from home. She came to the United States six years ago with a scholarship to attend Oklahoma Christian University. She is pursuing her Ph.D. in computer science at UTD. Although the first year in the United States was hard, Ugiru-
murera said she began to adjust after that. The thing she likes most about America is the education system, she said, because students have access to all the resources they need and the professors are always available to meet with students outside the classroom, which is not always the case in Rwanda. She also said she feels that people here are friendly. “I have some friends (in Dallas) so I felt it was important for
me to stay where I know people,” Ugirumurera said about choosing to come to UTD. The UTD website reports that there are more than 5,100 international students on campus. According to the Office of Strategic Planning and Analysis, roughly 115 students came from African countries within the last three years, most of them being Nigerian, followed by Egyptian and Kenyan.
The growing population of African students at UTD led to the founding of the African Student Union three years ago. The motto “Unity in Diversity” is exemplified in the fact that its members come from different countries in Africa. While most of the members recently have come from a country in Africa, or have lived abroad at some point in their lives, there are some members of other nationalities and races, such as American
and Asian. Because she did not know many people at UTD when she came, and knows of only two other Rwandans on campus, Ugirumurera said that being a member of ASU helps her feel at home. “I like that I can go and experience that African environment. ASU is one of those places where I go and be like, yes, I’m back to my roots,” Ugirumurera said. Nikki Awolowo, a Nigerian
member and treasurer of ASU, feels the same way. “I really love ASU. We have people from different parts of Africa, which is the coolest part. They are really glad to be a part of Africa,” Awolowo said. ASU was formed by a group of African students to create an African community for students and teach African culture to UTD’s
→ SEE ASU, PAGE 7
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‘Enemy’ confuses with sex, spiders Spanish-Canadian film stars Jake Gyllenhaal as Toronto professor who discovers, switches lives with body double MIGUEL PEREZ COMMENTARY
In a dimly lit room in front of an audience of stern men, a woman disrobes and walks down a black, slick runway placing her high heel on top of a crawling tarantula. So begins “Enemy,” an erotic thriller that manages to feel terrible and enthralling all at once. The indie film stars Jake Gyllenhaal as history professor Adam Bell. He wears the same disheveled brown suit and gives the same lecture daily as part of his dreary, sepia-toned life in Toronto until he notices an extra in a movie that looks exactly like him. Bell meets the actor, Anthony St. Claire, and what follows is a battle of psyches as both men try to process the possibility of living with a body double. Based on “The Double,” Nobelwinning writer Jose Saramago’s
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fascination of shapes found in nature. He also has a deep appreciation for science and is planning to sit in on chemistry classes in the future to better understand shape and form of entities in nature, and also has an avid interest in nanoparticles. “I always feel like I am right on the edge of being completely in control and chaos,” Curry said. Each piece is a collection of donated materials put together to
2002 novel, the film respects only the essence of the book: Two men identical to each other meet and disrupt each other’s lives. Director Denis Villeneuve and screenwriter Javier Gullón make some changes in executing this slightly unsettling look at intimacy and identity. Bell has a rocky relationship with his girlfriend Mary (Mélanie Laurent) that seems heavily grounded in the physical, as we watch her storm out of his apartment several times after they have sex. St. Claire’s own relationship is disrupted when Bell contacts him as it’s insinuated that his wife Helen (Sarah Gadon) is distrustful of St. Claire’s fidelity. At only 90 minutes, the film is heavily stylized — hindered by a slow pace and dressed in a glaring yellow palette. Seriously, the film is really yellow. Villeneuve even intersperses scenes that drive the plot with dream sequences that place Gyllenhaal’s character in nightmares made of giant spiders trekking the
Toronto skyline and nude women with spider heads. The film is fun in terms of the hypothetical questions it poses: What would you do if you had a body double, or what if you could replace your partner with a version you like better?
form the final shape. The balance between metaphysical and mathematical is what Curry focused on as he designed the exhibit. “I am really thrilled we have it here because it is experimental and it is different from anything we have had here in the past,” said MAC gallery manager Claire Roseland. Curry, who is mostly a selftaught artist, has presented his work in many other locations including Chicago, New York and the Netherlands and has been showing his work for the past
11 years. He works as graphic designer at Urban Outfitters, designing store displays and mannequins, and his work at the store can be seen at the Mockingbird station location. In addition to taking classes at UTD and his day job, he volunteers at a local organic farmstead called Urban Acres. The exhibit along with two others will run at the MAC until May 3. There will be a talk with Curry at 6 p.m. on April 2 in which he will answer questions about the exhibit at the gallery.
SFSTATION.COM | COURTESY
Directed by Denis Villeneuve and written by Javier Gullón, “Enemy” is based on Nobel-winning author Jose Saramago’s novel, “The Double.” The 90-minute film stars Mélanie Laurent, most known for her role as Shoshanna in “Inglorious Basterds,” as Gyllenhaal’s
AFRICAN STUDENT UNION | COURTESY
Dancers from the African Student Union perform in the Galaxy Rooms as part of Africa Night on Feb. 8
→ ASU
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student body, ASU secretary Mark Nwokocha said. It holds many events throughout the year, such as talent shows, dance competitions, potlucks, bake sales and fashion shows to equally showcase the beauty of the different African cultures. Although it is mainly a social or-
ganization, members like to work with other UTD organizations and do volunteer work. This year, ASU has also partnered with the Black Student Alliance to host different events to tie the traditional African cultures with the African-American culture, Nwokocha said. ASU is currently preparing for International Week from March 31 to April 4. It will be represent-
ing Ghana in the “Passport to the World” event. There will be food, crafts and music at the booth, and members will be dressed in traditional Ghanaian costume. ASU will also perform a mixture of modern and tribal dances at the talent show. All students are welcome to join ASU. Those who are interested should send an email to asu.utdallas@gmail.com.
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Now, the sudden ending is either the best or worst part of “Enemy,” and it all depends on whether you’re ready to crap your pants. It’s a frightening scene that last only seconds, but it leaves you confused and clamoring for answers. It feels a little traumatic, and it wouldn’t
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Bobby Alexander, whose research focuses on the intersection of religion and immigration, said the United States has interesting challenges ahead in learning and cooperating with minority religious groups. “We’ve reached the point historically, demographically and culturally at which people have these support structures — laws, constitutional freedoms — to be who we are,” he said. “This means we get to bring our religion into our daily lives. People are no longer practicing their religions on the weekends in isolation. “ Marketing senior Nick Jain’s experience has been different having moved to North Texas from Punjab when he was only 10 years old. He said that since his childhood, his religious experience has been full of openmindedness and choice. “I was left to learn on my own, and my parents had a lot of trust in me for that,” Jain said. “The basis of all of it is that you don’t pursue violence whether that’s toward another person, or with your voice or with your nonverbals.” For Jain, one of the most important aspects of Jainism is diet. As part of the doctrine of non-violence, Jains prescribe to a lacto-vegetarian diet. Jain said that more dedicated Jains will also stay away
be surprising if that was part of Villeneuve’s intention. Many of Villeneuve’s films deal with very cerebral situations and “Enemy” is no exception. It’s swift and mercilessly executed. It offers no answers for the questions it poses, but, instead, leaves every-
thing open to interpretation. For a film with such a thin plot, its ambiguity is a crutch, and there are too many questions left unanswered for it to be a rewarding experience for audiences.
from root and bulb vegetables like potatoes, garlic and onions. Taking their dedication to the furthest level, Jain monks and nuns abstain from most wordly activities preferring to focus on finding inner peace. Jain said ascetics go door-todoor with their mouths covered and without shoes to accept small food offerings. They carry small brooms with them to move all living creatures out of their path. Misconceptions about the religion are few and far between considering knowledge about Jainism by the American public is sparse, but there are common misunderstandings. The swastika, for example, is one of Jainism’s most prominent images symbolizing the four places or forms where spirits can be reborn: as flora or fauna, as human, in heaven or in hell. Because of the stigmatization of the symbol in the Western world, Jains often encounter confusion when expressing their faith through this symbol. Nagda has drawn swastikas on his property various times, like during the Diwali festival, and has been met with some contention from other students. “At home, whenever we buy something new we actually draw swastikas,” Nagda said. “My roommate bought a car about four months ago and drew a swastika on his car. Somebody came to warn us that the window would be broken if they didn’t remove the symbol.” Nagda said it doesn’t bother him, but that the confusion over the ancient symbol, with significance in other South Asian religions like Hinduism and Bud-
dhism, can be frustrating. Jainism’s relationship to Hinduism is ambiguous at best with many Jains considering it somewhat interconnected and others perceiving Jainism as an offshoot of Hinduism. Nagda believes them to be very much separate from each other. Jain, on the other hand, said the religions are very interconnected with each influencing the other. He says his parents have always encouraged that kind of holistic approach to religion. “Growing up as a Jain, I’ve always been told to respect other religions,” Jain said. “In fact, when I moved here, it was the summer of fourth grade, we were next to a Christian church and my parents encouraged me and my sisters to attend Bible school over the summer.” In terms of practicing his faith on campus, Jain said there aren’t many challenges, but he would like to see more expansive vegetarian options for not only Jains but other religious groups. He said he’s noticed that both meat and vegetarian foods are handled by the same utensils in the dining hall, creating an additional challenge for him during lunchtime. For the most part, both Nagda and Jain agree that while their religious community is small, it is strong. “As a Jain, I don’t feel left out because there isn’t a Jain club or something like that,” Jain said. “It’s not something that concerns me that much. I’m here for an education, and I would say that other Jains would agree with me as well.”
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MARCH 31, 2014 | THE MERCURY | UTDMERCURY.COM
time for change
Highly acclaimed Kanute Drugan takes on women’s soccer coach role with novel strategic ideas for team
Who you are as a human being means more to me than who you are as a soccer player. — Kanute Drugan PARTH SAMPAT Sports Editor
B
eing named after legendary figures football coach Knute Rockne and King Canute can carry some high expectations. But new head women’s soccer coach Kanute Drugan has risen to the challenge and proven he’s worthy of the name. Drugan was chosen to fill the UTD position in February out of more than 110 applicants — all head coaches for more than eight years — in a search that lasted a couple of months. Drugan has one of the best win records among coaches in NCAA Division III women’s soccer history, as he ranks in the top 30 Division III all-time in both winning percentage and total wins, and in the top 50 in career wins in all three NCAA divisions. “We wanted somebody who had been successful in division III,” said interim athletic director Bill Petitt. “We wanted somebody that could take the team to the next level, as far as be competitive nationally year in and year out. When we visited with Kanute, he was all of those things, and we were fortunate that he was available and interested in being here.” An athletic kid growing up, soccer was just one of the many sports Drugan played, though he was introduced to it quite late in his childhood. He played four sports in high school and two — baseball and basketball — in college. “I had a girlfriend and then I got involved with her friends, and they would just be kicking the ball around and I kind of stayed involved that way,” he said. “I was already involved in two sports, so there was no way fitting in another, and I wasn’t good enough to play at that level.” Though he developed a passion for soccer he went into basketball coaching right after graduation in 1977. He did not get involved in soccer coaching until three years after graduation. His first soccer-coaching engagement was as an assistant coach at a high school in Ohio. Just after a year of being MARCELO YATES | STAFF the assistant coach, he was made the head coach when the New head women’s soccer coach Kanute Drugan is a seven-time conference Coach previous coach departed. of the Year, claiming Northern Illinois Iowa Conference honors in 1997, 1999, 2000 He has come a long way from being the assistant coach at
a high school to the head coach at UTD. Drugan earned most of his success and accolades at Aurora University in Aurora, Ill., where he was the head women’s soccer coach for 17 seasons. He achieved 229 wins, 13 regular-season championships and 11 Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference, or NACC, titles, including seven straight titles from 2005-11. Drugan has stayed active in the coaching community, serving seven years on the NCAA Division III Regional Advisory Committee for the Central Region. For eight seasons, he served as the NACC’s women’s soccer committee chair and nine years as the commissioner of the city of Aurora Sports Festival. Drugan said he is hoping to do similar things at UTD, as well. In spite of his stellar record, Drugan was part of a university-wide downsizing that saw 54 employees from the athletic department lose their jobs. “Things changed quickly and suddenly, and I found myself dismissed,” Drugan said. “It was difficult for (my family), and I have faith in a belief system that I’m not going to be bitter about that and I’m not going to be angry about that.” A very soft-spoken person, Drugan prefers to stay calm and collected. “When I first met him, it was during his interview,” said junior midfielder Sarah Borg. “He seemed really nice. He seemed laidback and easy going, which was really appealing to us.” The reputation Drugan had built up due to the success he had at Aurora made it easier for him to find a new job. He had 16 different opportunities fairly quickly, but he chose to move to Washington College in Chestertown, Md. Drugan’s reason behind moving to Washington is quite similar to his reason for taking up the UTD job. “One of the reasons why (I chose Washington), like here, it’s top tier, top 100 school in America,” Drugan said. “And I wanted to be in that kind of academic environment.” Drugan continued his success at Washington College by taking the struggling program to its best-ever conference record in program history and the team’s best winning percentage in more than a decade. He said he expects his squads to display academic excellence along with great feats on the field, and this is evident from the fact that his squads had the highest team GPA among all of Aurora’s varsity sports during all of his seasons.
→ SEE DRUGAN, PAGE 12
and 2005, and Northern Athletics Conference recognition in 2006, 2007 and 2010.
Team stumbles in ASC play
UTD hosts tourney Unseasonal weather, rough terrain hurts golfers’ game ESTEBAN BUSTILLOS Mercury Staff
Avery McHugh and two runs with a triple by sophomore Chelsea Sartor. The Crusaders scored their seventh run of the night in the fifth inning. “I can live with a couple of mistakes as long as we are there and giving everything,” said head coach Brad Posner. “I think we might have had moments in the game that might have cost us, but overall I was very pleased with the performance.” The third game did not bring any
UTD came in sixth place at the annual John Davis Group/UTD Classic on March 25 and 26 at the Firewheel Golf Park in Garland. Eight other schools competed at the tournament. The Comets fielded two teams in the event, with the Green team placing sixth place and the Orange team finishing in ninth place. “We lost focus,” said head coach Eddie Bull. “We have the ability; we just haven’t put it all together.” The Comets have struggled for the majority of the season, failing to finish a tournament higher than sixth place all year. Much of that adversity can be attributed to the youth of the team, which is comprised of seven underclassmen, three juniors and no seniors. “It’s different in college,” Bull said. “I have four freshmen who were the top players in their high schools, and they competed there and did very well. But everyone who is here was the top player in their high schools. Everybody hits it long; everybody hits it well.”
→ SEE SOFTBALL, PAGE 13
→ SEE GOLF, PAGE 13
MARCELO YATES | STAFF
Junior pitcher Lauren McLeod pitches against Mary Hardin-Baylor on March 21. She was the relief pitcher in the nonconference game against Westminster on March 25. She gave up just one hit, three walks and three strikeouts. The Comets (12-11 overall, 7-11 ASC) are tied in eighth position with LeTourneau.
Minor mistakes cost Comets three games as they lose to Mary Hardin-Baylor in close contests MADISON MCCALL Mercury Staff
The softball team’s six-game winning streak came to an end when it lost three consecutive games against Mary HardinBaylor on March 21-22. The Comets took the lead toward the end of the second inning in the first game with back-to-back runs by freshman infielder Kendall Moore and junior infielder Morgan Anderson. They kept the lead until the top of the fourth when
Mary Hardin-Baylor scored two runs to level the score. The game remained close with a final score of 3-4. Junior infielder Jonelle Feikis scored in the fifth inning and the Crusaders scored the winning run in the top of the sixth. Freshman pitcher Lauren McLeod pitched all seven innings and gave up 13 hits. “I think that our bats finally came together to help give our pitchers support,” Feikis said. “We also had solid defense. We were making game-saving plays.”
The second game of the night resulted in another close loss with a final score of 5-7. The Comets had a hard time getting runs on the scoreboard throughout the first two innings until Anderson gained a run from third base at the bottom of the third at 3-1. After that, the team claimed four runs in the bottom of the fourth bringing the score to 6-5. Sophomore infielder Sara Navarro started the four-run streak with a single up the middle, followed by another run brought in by junior catcher
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V-ball player tries out for national team ESTEBAN BUSTILLOS Mercury Staff
Kelsey Morrison knew that she didn’t have a chance of making one of the three U.S. national volleyball teams. Out of the 240 or so volleyball players from around the country that had traveled to Colorado Springs, Col., Kelsey was well aware of the fact that she couldn’t make the cut. “I was really overwhelmed,” Morrison said. “I saw some really big girls there; girls who were up to six-foot-five. The girls from the Pac-12 and the top college teams were all huge. You could tell how elite they were by their confidence and by how they played on the court.” The tryouts for the women’s national teams, which took place on Feb. 21-23, featured talent from all around the country. The competition was open to not only college students, but to athletes who have concluded their college eligibility and athletes born 1996 and prior, according to USA Volleyball. The majority of the women who were there were college players, however. Many of them also played at higher levels of college athletics than Kelsey. According to head coach Marci Sanders, Kelsey was one of only three Division III players who went to the tryouts. “I actually heard about it in January right as the girls were getting back from break,” Sanders said. “I was proud of her. A lot of people could look at it with a ‘she doesn’t even play that much for us, why is she going to take that on?’ attitude, but a lot of people don’t even have the courage to take on something like that.” Morrison, a sophomore marketing major, said she has been playing volleyball since she was 12, but didn’t start taking it very seriously until she was around 16. That’s when she met Ruth Nelson. Kelsey, who plays as a defensive specialist for
UTD, first heard of the opportunity to try out for the national team from Nelson, her longtime trainer and a former coach for one of the U.S. squads. She told Nelson that she wouldn’t stand a chance against that level of competition. Nelson, however, knew that trying out would be a great experience for her. Morrison said she owes a lot of what she knows about volleyball to Nelson. She said she learned key principles like discipline, respect and realizing that volleyball is ultimately about making you a better person. Nelson, who has been a volleyball coach for more than 40 years and has coached six Olympic athletes, has worked with and trained Kelsey since she was a sophomore in high school. She saw the potential in Kelsey to compete and work with athletes at a higher level. “She needed to be able to compete against and see the work ethic of the best players in the country,” Nelson said. “She got to see how driven they are. A lot of times in college you’re not getting to see national team players. Putting yourself in that setting sets the stage for you to understand how hard you have to work to be the best you can be.” Kelsey, who appeared in a total of 23 matches and 55 sets last season out of a 40-match season, also does more than just play the game. She has started to follow in her mentor’s footsteps by helping to coach young volleyball players. “She’s mentoring and training an eight and under team,” Nelson said. “She’s expanding out and she’s a very good teacher, and I trust her. And there’s only about two or three kids that I trust. I have a lot of confidence in her.” Along with volunteering to mentor the eight and under team, Kelsey works as an assistant coach for a local volleyball club team. Kelsey is also involved with several extracurricular activities. She is a member of the management honors program at UTD and is involved with
Campus Outreach. Kelsey wants to use what she has learned as a marketing major to help others and maybe even coach one day. “I hope to start my own business and contribute something to society,” Morrison said. “If I have an established career at a marketing firm one day and I have some free time, then I would totally love to coach.” Although she did have some reservations, Morrison ultimately didn’t let her lack of experience at a small school deter her from going to Colorado. “I was nervous of what they would think if they knew I was D-III,” Morrison said. “I was nervous that they would look at me and think ‘Well, she doesn’t deserve to be here.’ But they didn’t think that at all. Everyone is there for themselves and to get better.” Kelsey also learned that there wasn’t that much of a difference between the game she was playing on a Division III level and the game that her Division I competition was playing. “We all went in with intensity. We all played our best. We all have skill that we’ve acquired from playing for many years. I was able to play up to their level,” Morrison said. “I discovered that the only real difference between D-I and D-III players was the height and hustle.” That revelation may have been the biggest takeaway that Morrison took from her trip to Colorado. “I saw how athletic those girls are and it forced me to step my game up and be disciplined,” Morrison said. “I really had no choice but to play up to my surroundings. With that, I learned to force myself to talk more on the court and be more confident and act like I was one of the greatest players there, like I deserved to be there. Once you act like it, you start to believe that you are.”
→SEE MORRISON, PAGE 13 PHOTO BY: MARCELO YATES | STAFF
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Drugan gave a similar written goal to his new team, but was surprised to learn that the Comets already had great academic records. He attributes everything that’s happened in the past three years, including his coaching position at Washington College, his inability to completely move to Maryland because his wife was unable to find a job in Maryland and his new job at UTD to God, and said it was God taking care of him. “I have a strong faith in God and I felt pulled, called to (the UTD position),” Drugan said. “I felt like God was telling me here’s a place that needs you, wants you, you could make a positive influence and you could make a positive impact.” The Comets reminded him of his team at Aurora — before he took over — in the way that it had small successes and he felt that he could bring the team to the next level. “He has a very different coaching style, so he wants us to learn and we could see that right off the bat in his interview,” said junior midfielder Jeri Mills. “He told us that we were going to be better
by the time we were done playing for him. So, I think that’s what he focuses on — improvement.” With recruitment in full force for next year, Drugan said he is seeking players who have strong characters. “Who you are as a human being means more to me than who you are as a soccer player,” he said. “So, I will take a pass on people more talented to surround myself with people with strong character.” He is also looking for a measurable degree of leadership in his recruits, but leadership that extends off the field, as well. Drugan, a strong home team supporter, was seen in many of UTD’s men’s basketball home games after his appointment. “I will make sure I see every sport play,” Drugan said. “Unfortunately, I’ll have to start next school year, but I’ll fit in what I can now. It’s something I have always done.” Drugan will be looking to build on his past successes to turnn the team into winning champions. “We want to win now,” Petitt said. “We have always been competitive, so why not?”
Caught Reading
The Mercury John Barrett, interdisciplinary science junior, was caught reading The Mercury . He will win a $20 gift card to Palio’s Pizza, a local pizza, pasta and salad restaurant. You can contact Palio’s at 972-234-4002. Thank you Palio’s Pizza!
MARCELO YATES | STAFF
Kanute Drugan instructs players in one of the practice sessions in his first week at the university.
UTDMERCURY.COM → MORRISON
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Sanders saw that and knew that Kelsey had the right take away from her experience in Colorado. “She had the right mindset in that she wanted to go and compete against all different levels of talent,” Sanders said. “Going and doing these experiences does make her better and improves her volleyball IQ. It was always
something that I personally wanted to do, but I never had the courage to try. She wasn’t afraid of failure, which is a reason that a lot of people don’t end up trying out.” Morrison hopes that her experience in Colorado Springs cans encourage her teammates to participate in the future and hopes to try out again as well. “When I told some of my teammates how it was, they told me that they were definitely trying out next
→ SOFTBALL
Junior outfielder Jordan Bratcher bats in a game against Mary Hardin-Baylor on March 21.
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The Comets did have some individual standouts from the tournament, with freshman Ryan Bell tying for fourth place overall individually with a total of 231. Asa Denning, Dylan Caroll, Josh Baltzell and Johnny Begzos all finished in the top 40 of the tournament as well. “We have a lot of work to do,” Begzos said. “We need to play a lot better if we want to compete at conference. I have to work a lot at my short game. None of us are even close to where we should be.” Begzos, who is one of the
year,” Morrison said. “If we had all the girls on the team go try out, we would play so much better. I’m definitely going to try to do it again next year.” This trip was not a failure in Kelsey’s eyes, even if she didn’t make one of the three teams. Seeing that level of competition was her sole purpose in venturing to Colorado. Steel sharpens steel and the sharpest volleyball blades happened to be in the Centennial State.
“Knowing that I’ve had this experience, that I can play and keep up with women that play in D-I schools and have played their entire lives has shown me that I can obviously play with players on my level,” Morrison said. “I wanted to show my teammates that if I could keep up with those D-I players just with my drive and intensity, then we as a team can do the same if not more when facing bigger competition next fall.”
better results with the Comets losing again at 8-0. The game ended in six innings due to the mercy rule, which brings the game to an early end if a team has an 8 point lead over the other within five innings. McLeod gave up five runs in the top of the second inning, and freshman pitcher Sara Davison went on to give up three runs. UTD struggled with its defensive and offensive plays throughout the game. “We struggled on a lot of ends. We didn’t pitch, we didn’t hit and we didn’t field,” Posner said. “It kind of snowballed.” The Crusaders gained two more runs in the top of the sixth
inning. “We were not as intense as we were on Friday,” Davison said. “We were just going through the motions.” The team played Westminster in nonconference play on March 25 and won both of the afternoon’s games. Westminster was shutout during the first game due to the Comet’s strong pitching. The team scored four runs in the third inning and gained two more runs off a triple by sophomore catcher Jessica Ramos in the fourth inning of the game. Junior pitcher Jessie Richardson and Davison pitched the entire game with only two hits and zero runs. The final score was 6-0.
UTD continued its strong offense and scored its first run in the first inning of the second game. One run was scored in the third inning by freshman pitcher Taylor Nabors. Three runs were scored in the fourth inning and two more runs were scored in the fifth inning, taking the score to 7-1. Westminster managed one run in the top of the third inning. Junior pitcher Megan Aragones pitched four innings allowing four hits and one run. McLeod pitched three innings allowing one hit and zero runs. UTD will host seven home games in a row beginning on April 1 against the University of Dallas, UT Tyler and LeTourneau.
three juniors on the team, finished his two-day stint with a total score of 266 and tied for 37th place overall in the tournament. The climate may have contributed to the Comets sub-par performance. The combination of wind resistance and a bitter wind-chill factor affected the accuracy on the players’ long drives. The terrain of the course was rough and rugged, making for a difficult couple of days for the Comets. “It was rough,” said economics junior Brad Panske. “It was freezing for the first few swings in the morning. The greens were okay, but the fairways were like goat pastures. The ground was
difficult to work with.” With just one tournament left before the ASC championships on April 14, the Comets are looking to bounce back from their rough season and compete strong in the tournament. The Comets are still eligible to continue into the postseason. Every team in the conference is invited and the team that wins that tournament earns an automatic berth in the national championship, regardless of the record they had the rest of the season. “Golf is a weird machine,” Panske said. “It’s not like other sports where a mistake can cost you a possession. Every mistake
can cost you the whole round. A chance at the national championship is on the table, and we’re in that dog fight. We hope to be in the mix.” To get there, UTD will have to go through defending national champions and ASC rival UT Tyler, who placed second as a team overall at the Comet Classic. “We have to play a lot more consistently and play up to our potential,” Begzos said. “We’ve all played pretty good at one point or another, but we’ve never played good all at the same time. We’ve all shown that we can do it. We just need to practice and believe that we can play with everybody.”
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MARCELO YATES | STAFF
SPORTS
THE MERCURY | MARCH 31, 2014
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MARCELO YATES | STAFF
Kelsey Morrison was one of about 240 collegiate volleyball players who went to Colorado Springs, Col., to try out for the national team.
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MARCH 31, 2014 | THE MERCURY
Bad Jokes Your Dad Makes
by Alison Kwong March Sadness
Playing on Train Tracks
by Emily Grams
by Anand Jayanti by Ian Lamarsh
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THE MERCURY | MARCH 31, 2014
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→ ASSAULT
CRIME PREVENTION TIPS
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1
YANG XI | STAFF
Late afternoon on March 28, students drenched each other with color at the Multipurpose Fields in celebration of the festival of colors. UTD Holi 2014 was sponsored by the Indian Students Association, Hindu Students Association and South Asian Intervarsity.
→ SG
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Fairbank, whose brother Nate served as vice president in 2012-13, said she looks forward to leading a diverse group of senators, but is also nervous about accomplishing all of the initiatives Building Bridges has proposed. “The UT Dallas administration is great, they’re really helpful, but it’s such a large bureaucracy to go through,” she said. “So I hope to do as many as possible and hopefully the very important ones, and I know that that can be a difficult process.” Immediately upon taking office, Fairbank said she and Knudtson plan to improve SG’s
outreach so they may better hear students’ needs and set their agenda for the year. This will include having senators attend Student Organization Center meetings and holding office hours in places around campus. Ultimately, Knudtson said she hopes to collaborate with the student body to improve the feeling of community across campus. “In order to combat communication issues on campus, in order to combat the apathy on campus, we need to broaden our sense of community and all work together to build up the UT Dallas that we want,” she said.
Fitch. Two unrelated assaults were reported on Feb. 25 and 28, respectively. The first case involved a non-student issuing a verbal threat to a student during an argument in the Phase III apartments and has been cleared because the complainant did not want to pursue the case in court, Mackenzie said. The second assault case was reported from the Comet Café and is currently under investigation; no other information regarding the case has been released. A robbery was also reported from the Phase I apartments. The complainant reported that an unidentified man ran by her, turned around, shoved her and stole her phone while she was walking by the apartments. Robberies such as these are uncommon on campus, Mackenzie said. The last reported robbery was in September last year, and the one before that was reported in 2010. Simple assaults are more common, however, and 16 assault cases were reported on campus last year, including one sexual assault in September and several family violence cases. Most of the family violence cases involved students in a relationship, Mackenzie said. Not all of the 16 will appear in the 2014 annual Clery Report because simple assaults are misdemeanors that don’t have to be reported. Assaults that are felonies or armed assaults are categorized as aggravated assaults and have to be reported annually. UTD reported three aggravated assaults in 2010, five in 2011 and six in 2012, which is comparable to other UT System schools.
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Call 911. They will route it to UTDPD. Use the blue call boxes on campus if a phone is not available. Do the same if you see something suspicious.
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Report it. Aggravated assaults, or assaults by a weapon, are felonies and should be reported. Simple assaults can vary from a verbal abuse to physical abuse like physical restraint or a slap, but also need to be reported because it is major to the victim.
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Give it up. The best thing to do when an armed assailant asks for a personal possession is to hand it over to them. Defend yourself. Self-defense should be used when an assailant tries to physically take you away from the crime scene by force or tries to sexually assault you. Take the RAD classes for free. Do whatever you can to get the assailant to back off your personal space.
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Look Around. Be aware of your surroundings so that you know when someone is following you or watching you. Travel in groups and use police escorts in dark parking lots or late at night.
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Have a plan. Always prepare a plan for yourself so you know what to do if you are assaulted in a parking lot and how to react. You won’t be shocked in the event of an assault and will have a response plan.
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Avoid being a target. When you’re dressed for a night out, change into walking shoes when walking to the car. Hide expensive flashy jewelry and cash. Bring your purse in front of you and hold it close to your body. Don’t let it dangle from your arm. Carry a business-card holder with your ID, a couple of cards and some cash and hide it on your person.
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Don’t trust websites. Make sure you verify sellers on Craigslist and other websites are legitimate and don’t drag you into an empty house where they can rag you.
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Be responsible on social media. Don’t put up photos of your car’s license plate or any personal identification on Facebook because assailants can track your address and information through that. Don’t announce your plans for the day on Face-
→ HARDWARE
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LaunchDFW and Network After Work Dallas are a few organizations that are useful for building a professional network, Bochsler said. In addition, there are several relevant courses offered in JSOM.
“We have startup classes and other innovation courses that any student across campus can take as an elective, as well as a startup launch track in which students can vie for up to $25,000 — with no strings attached — for the development of their business,” he said. The startup launch classes are ENTP 6360 and ENTP 6361. Other entrepre-
neurial courses can be found under the prefix ENTP. Ultimately, no matter if the startup is hardware or software based, both Bochsler and Jacobo agreed that it is important to understand that products are used to accomplish a job, and that capturing value is essential in developing products that customers will want to buy today.
book because it alerts assailants about your whereabouts.
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Follow your gut. If you feel uncomfortable or unsafe, you are probably right. Call for the police or an escort. Calling a friend or family member won’t help much.
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These tips come courtesy of David Spigelmyer, Crime Prevention Officer, UTDPD. The UTDPD main phone number is 972883-2222 for both emergencies and non-emergencies.