March 21st Edition of The UTD Mercury

the Mercury

www.utdmercury.com

The Student Newspaper of UTD

Vol. XXXI, No. 5

Rough sport gains fans on campus Page 9

One ticket to run for office

Brittany Sharkey Pres. candidate

Cody Willming VP candidate

Student Government elections are set for March 28-30.

In preparation for campaigning that began March 21, The Mercury interviewed the candidates running for the offices of SG president and vice president.

As of March 18, the only candidates running for the two offices were Brittany Sharkey, Art & Performance junior, for president, and Cody Willming, political science sophomore, for vice president.

Both Sharkey and Willming are running on the same ticket labeled

“Students United for Progress,” or “SUP.” The Mercury: What are your qualifications for this office?

Sharkey: I do have a wide variety of experiences at UTD and a lot of different perspectives that I can bring to the table.

I have been everything from a worker in The Pub to a research assistant.

I’ve lived on campus and recently moved off campus, so I’ve had the oncampus experience, the commuter experience and

see ELECTION page 7

Prof aids $9 billion exploration

Nada Alasmi

Fees in brief • The SU Expansion Fee will include a $70 addition to Student Fees to support the $45 million plan which will expand the SU by 112,000 sq. ft.

• The Green Fee would add $5 to Student Fees and be allotted to a studentrun sustainability committee to implement green projects

Fate of the SU Expansion Fee and Green Fee will not be determined this semester Anwesha Bhattacharje Staff Writer axb094820@utdallas.edu

Voting for the Student Union Expansion Fee and Green Fee, originally scheduled to take place along with Student Government elections March 28-30, has now been postponed indefinitely.

The fee votes have been

delayed, possibly until the fall semester, said Darrelene Rachavong, vice president for Student Affairs. One reason they will not be voted on this semester is due to the possibility of more budget cuts by the Texas Legislature, she said.

All student fee increases

see FEES page 6

Is it a right or a privilege?

Staff Writer nma096020@utdallas.edu

Paul Dang

About 83 percent of existing mass in the universe is known as dark matter — it is not made of atoms, cannot be seen, and scientists do not know what it is made of.

They do know dark matter exists because it affects the motion of galaxies and because it bends light from distant sources.

In collaboration with the European Organization for Nuclear Research, or CERN, UTD physics professors and scientists hope to one day understand dark matter.

CERN is the world’s largest center for nuclear research and includes the Large Hadron Collider, or LHC, an underground ring in which

Contributor news@utdmercury.com

C

oncealed handguns may soon be allowed on UTD campus if a proposed piece of legislation passes this year.

Texas legislators are set to vote on a bill that, if enacted to law, would allow people to legally carry their weapons onto public university campuses.

Students weigh This could make Texas the secin and share ond state in the U.S. to allow their opinions people with Concealed Handgun on page 4 Licenses, or CHLs, to bring their weapons onto university property.

The issue took center stage on March 10 when more than 150 students, staff and faculty members attended an open forum in the Conference Center to voice their opinions

see CHL page 6

see CERN page 6

The UT System Student Advisory Council, a group consisting of two student representatives from each System school, met for the third and last time this semester March 4-5. The following is a list of the key recommendations and resolutions forwarded to the UT System Board of Regents for consideration: • Recommendation to enforce a System-wide smoking ban • Resolution to minimize cuts to the state’s higher education budget and the Texas Grants program • Recommendation for system dining facilities to post nutrition facts • Recommendation that academic dishonesty hearing panels include student representation

Vote moved to later date

bearing arms

CERN research could help explain origins of the universe

UTSSAC decision summary

On pace for best season in years Page 11

What UTD guys and gals are looking for Page 5

Election Q&A

March 21, 2011

photo illustration by Albert Ramirez

Advertisement exterminators Alumni stop junk mail at its source Nada Alasmi

Staff Writer nma096020@utdallas.edu

Like many college students, when Steven Rosson checked his mailbox he often found it stuffed with clutter — credit card applications, directories and coupon booklets.

But no matter how annoying these documents became, Rosson could not find a suitable option to stop them from flowing in.

That’s when Rosson and Paul Ingram, both UTD

photo by Brandon Higgins

UTD alumni Steven Rosson and Paul Ingram are the creators of SlotGaurd, a service intended to block any unwanted postal advertisements. alumni, decided to create a technology to reduce junk mail.

The pair created SlotGuard last fall and are now hoping to make a

career from the system. “(Steven and I were having) a conversation,” said Ingram, a 2008 graduate in economics. “I remember him saying he kept on

getting all this junk mail.

It was a side thought that turned into something.”

see GUARD page 6

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March 21, 2011

News

www.utdmercury.com

the Mercury

UTD Police scanner The following is a breakdown of key topics raised at the March 1 Student Government, or SG, meeting.

Full minutes of meetings can be found at www.sg.utdallas. edu.

• Matt Grief, assistant vice president for Student Affairs, visited senate and announced that rent for all residents of the Residence Hall and University Village will increase by 4 percent starting fall 2011.

This rent increase, among other things, is planned to be used for operations and renovation of the older apartments, Grief said.

These renovations will include LAN connection replacements, kitchen top and appliance replacements and improvements to the exterior of apartment buildings, he said.

• Lewis Chang, academic affairs committee chair and neuroscience senior, said his committee is working to open group study rooms in the library 24 hours a day.

The committee is also looking into keeping the library open longer on Saturdays and open earlier on Sundays, he said.

• Dypti Lulla, residential affairs committee chair and graduate student, said the results for the lease survey conducted by the committee among residents of Waterview Park are back and indicate that residents at Waterview Park prefer to share the lease on a bed-

room, which Waterview Park does not currently allow.

The committee is in the process of talking to Waterview Park management to work out a way to implement lease sharing for residents, she said.

• Dina Shahrokhi, SG vice president and political science senior, said she and Grace Bielawski, SG president and political science senior, met with UTD President David Daniel regarding student concerns about the new transcript fee and how the fee could be implemented with less cost to students.

The new fee is one of the university’s steps to cope with the budget cuts, Shahrokhi said.

Students will still be able to receive unofficial transcripts for free, as before, she said.

• Shahrokhi also said students have expressed concerns over parking on campus and that she is working closely with parking officials to create a frequently asked questions page for Facebook, to increase communication and answer the questions and comments students have.

• Bielawski said SG elections will take place March 28-30.

• The senate approved the appointment of Sandy Yeh to the Judicial Board. The board is responsible for resolving disputes over election decisions, Bielawski said.

Feb. 25 • A student reported her laptop computer was stolen from the Student Union.

Feb. 26 • A non-affilliated person was arrested for outstanding warrants following a traffic stop.

Feb. 27 • A non-affiliated person was arrested for Driving While Intoxicated.

• Five burglaries of a motor vehicle were discovered in Phase III. Feb. 28 • A subject was arrested for Driving While License Invalid and Failure to Maintain Financial Responsibility.

March 2 • A student was arrested for Delivery of a Controlled Substance in University

Village.

March 3 • A student reported his cell phone was stolen from the SOM. • A student reported his wallet was stolen from the Comet Café the previous week.

March 4 • A student was arrested in Phase I, apartment building 6, for assault.

• Officers responded to the theft of a motor vehicle in Phase II. March 5 • A non-affiliated person was arrested for assault in Phase IX, building 66, and was issued a Criminal Trespass Warning for the campus.

• A Chartwells employee was cited for Minor in Consumption of Alcohol and another Chartwells

employee was cited for Furnishing Alcohol to a Minor, at the Dining Hall.

• An un-affiliated male was arrested for Possession of Drug Paraphernalia and disregarding a red light.

March 6 • A student reported the theft of $12 from the McDermott Library.

March 8 • A student was arrested on Drive A after a traffic stop.

March 9 • A student was cited for loud music in Phase III. March 10 • A student reported an ex boyfriend of her roommate was outside her Phase I apartment and refused to leave.

March 11 • A non-affiliated person was arrested on Campbell Road for their second

offense of Driving While Intoxicated.

• A non-affiliated person was arrested on Synergy Park Boulevard for possession of a controlled substance, after a traffic stop.

March 12 • A non-affiliated person was arrested along Rutford Avenue for Criminal Trespass and issued a citation for Possession of Drug Paraphernalia.

March 14 • UTD staff reported a theft at the Activity Center.

March 15 • A non-affiliated male was arrested for outstanding warrants after a traffic stop on West Drive.

March 17 • A student reported his car had been burglarized while parked in Phase II.

News brief UTD PD theft update Car thefts and burglaries are slowly becoming a growing trend at UTD, said Lt. Ken MacKenzie.

The most recent occurred March 4, when a car was stolen from Phase II, MacKenzie said.

The 2004 Dodge Intrepid was broken into and hotwired at 10:30 a.m., then driven to DFW Airport.

The Intrepid was unlocked at the time of burglary.

The Richardson Police Department informed UTD Police that someone

attempted other thefts in the area that morning.

MacKenzie said he suspects the car was stolen by the same individual, and therefore likely not a UTD student.

The vehicle was recovered that night around 6 p.m., MacKenzie said. There was no reported damage to the car except to the steering column, which had been broken to start the car.

On Feb. 27, two men unaffiliated with UTD burglarized 12 cars around Campbell and Floyd Roads — five of the vehicles were located in UTD parking lots — between 6-10 a.m.

The two men had reportedly drank alcohol the night before and confessed to police they were looking for unlocked cars, MacKenzie said. The most valuable item stolen was a digital camera.

While MacKenzie admits on-campus car-related thefts are on the rise, he said it is important to note that in all recent cases, the cars were unlocked.

MacKenzie said in 50 percent of car thefts and burglaries, the victim’s car was unlocked, and 20 percent of burglarized cars have keys inside.

Other recent on-campus

thefts include a laptop stolen from the Student Union on Feb. 25. A student left her laptop in the Phoenix Room overnight, and the laptop remains missing.

On March 3, a cell phone was stolen from the School of Management.

The phone was left unattended for a couple of hours, MacKenzie said, and has yet to be found. Another cell phone was stolen from the Activity Center on Feb. 19.

MacKenzie said steps as simple as locking a car could prevent a theft or burglary and is urging students to take those precautions.

Opinion

the Mercury www.utdmercury.com

March 21, 2011

3

Election changes, updates

Editorial Board

Spirit Rocks lack their namesake

Grace Bielawski

Contributor news@utdmercury.com

They’ve been used to advertise on-campus clubs, promote fundraisers and at least one time they’ve been used to propose a marriage (she said yes).

The Spirit Rocks are at the center of campus, and can be a reflection of what students are excited or passionate about. But, recently they’ve primarily been used to demonstrate other ideals.

In a recent edition of The Mercury there was a photo, which showed a student in front of the rocks with the UTD Police. It was taken moments before the rocks were painted over, not with a new message, but simply cleared because someone had defaced the Israeli flag previously painted upon them.

This is just one incident in which students showed pride in their culture and were then belittled.

Now, this isn’t to say we shouldn’t paint over messages on the rocks. There have been several organization feuds depicted on them, all of them aimed to show theirs was “the best.”

But putting down someone else’s religion or country, especially in a university as diverse as UTD, doesn’t accomplish much more than leaving passersby with a bad taste in their mouths.

This could include any visitors pass by the rocks and view whatever message is written on them as a representation of our student body.

Through the past academic year UTD has opened four new buildings and completed redesigning the SU mall. These construction projects have placed the mall back into the center of campus as an easily accessible area, which one could easily see is in use by students.

On top of that our student body has made its way past the 17,000 mark and we’re continuing to expand. It only makes sense that we follow the momentum set in place by those before us and quit breaking each other down and start building each other up.

Seeing Spirit Rocks that actually show spirit can only make us better as a university and group of peers. Seeing what other students are excited about could lead us to discover a new club or lead us to grab a paintbrush of our own. It is what we make of it.

This March, students have the opportunity to vote for their Student Government representatives for the 2011-2012 school year.

Students will elect 44 student representatives: seven freshmen, seven sophomores, seven juniors and seven seniors from each academic school, 14 graduates, and the president and vice president.

The primary role of Student Government is to advocate on behalf of student interests to UT Dallas administration, the city council, the Texas Legislature, and The UT System Board of Regents.

Student Government has tackled an array of issues over the years, from implementing the Comet Cruiser for better transportation, to getting “student” removed from personalized e-mails earlier this year, just to name two examples.

Our constituents often shape where Student Government focuses its

advocacy work, but sena- not allow for us as stutors themselves also priori- dents to effectively move tize which services to tackle forward with fee referenda for students’ benefit. while the Texas Legislature Two issues that Student is in session and faces such Government has chosen to extreme budget deficits. prioritize this year are in We in Student the form of fee referenda Government certainly that students do not want would have the to give false chance to vote expectations by on in a schoolgetting everywide election. one involved The Green prematurely in Fee and a school-wide Student Union vote when the Expansion fees might not Fee referenda be approved at would provide a higher level.

Grace Bielawski funds for enviIf pursued SG President ronmentally next year, there sustainable would still projects and an expanded be ample time to present Student Union, respectively, referendum results to The if passed by the student UT System and the Texas body.

Legislature before the The Green Fee and Student Union Expansion Student Union Fee refer- Fee’s original enactment enda could come before date in fall 2014. students as early as next The Green Fee, if passed fall, though these two next year, could be impleissues will not appear on mented as early as fall the Student Government 2012.

Election ballot this The effective pursuit of March. these two issues depends The current climate at on next year’s Senate, as The UT System level will they will be the ones to

take the lead once the Texas Legislature has concluded and the financial climate becomes more favorable for the institution of new fees.

This year’s Student Government has conducted much of the background research to bring these two referenda before the student body, but it will be up to next year’s leaders to continue moving forward with these efforts.

By voting in the Student Government Elections this March, students have the chance to determine who represents them not only on these two issues but on any student concern that arises next year.

Voting for Student Government President, Vice President, and senator positions takes place March 28-30 online at sg.utdallas.edu.

This site also provides information for those interested in becoming officers or senators on Student Government for the 20112012 term. The deadline to file paperwork as a candidate for election is March 23 at noon.

Guns (un)controlled

by Laura-Jane Cunningham

Editorial Board Jessica Melton, Editor-in-Chief Shane Damico, Managing Editor Laura-Jane Cunningham, Graphics Editor Albert Ramirez, Photo Editor Bobby Karalla, Sports Editor news@utdmercury.com The Mercury Editorial Board voted 5-0 in favor of this editorial. The board consists of the newspaper’s editor-in-chief, managing editor, graphics editor, photo editor and sports editor. The board will discuss, debate and develop editorial positions on issues affecting the UTD community. We welcome your responses at news@utdmercury.com.

Opinions expressed in The Mercury are those of the writer and not necessarily those of the university administration, the University of Texas System Board of Regents or the Student Media Operating Board.

Editorial and business offices are in Student Union, Room 2.416.

Telephone: 972-883-2286. Mailing address; SU 24, Richardson, TX 75080.

Comet

W

Comments

hat’s the best class you’ve taken at UTD and why?

“Theoretical Concepts of Calculus, it’s the interpretive proof class. It’s definitely a different way of think about mathematics.”

“I like Medical Neuroscience with Dr. Miller, it was pretty interesting plus it was what he did it for a living so coming back here and telling us all his crazy stories — it was fun.”

Tyler Martiez Mathematical sciences junior

Whitney O’Hearn Neuroscience senior

“Frederick Turner’s Western Literary Tradition.

He’s one of your stereotypical British professors with the patches on his elbow. He’s one of the most brilliant people I’ve gotten to talk to.”

“I liked a philosophy class on Nietzsche taught

by Charles Bambach, the guy was really bright and he had a lot of insight into Nietzsche and just reading philosophy in general.”

John Dees Arts & Humanities junior

Brandon Lee Molecular biology junior

the Mercury Editor-in-Chief Jessica Melton

Graphics Editor Laura-Jane Cunningham

Web Editor Dhamodaran Subramanian

Managing Editor Shane Damico

Photo Editor Albert Ramirez

Media Adviser Chad Thomas

Advertising Manager Josh Moncrieff

Sports Editor Bobby Karalla

Photographers Ben Hawkins Brandon Higgins

Staff Writers Nada Alasmi Anwesha Bhattacharje John D. McCrary Contributors Paul Dang Rebecca DeButts Akshay Harshe Michelle Nguyen Christopher Wang

The Mercury is published on Mondays, at twoweek intervals during the long term of The University of Texas at Dallas, except holidays and exam periods, and once every three weeks during the summer term.

Advertising is accepted

by The Mercury on the basis that there is no discrimination by the advertiser in the offering of goods or services to any person, on any basis prohibited by applicable

law. Evidence of discrimination will be the basis of denial of advertising space.

The publication of advertising in The Mercury does not constitute an endorsement of products or services by the newspaper, or The University of Texas at Dallas, or the governing board of the institution.

Copyright © 2010 UT Dallas

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March 21, 2011

Opinion

www.utdmercury.com

the Mercury

Possibility of on-campus concealed carry draws attention Facts, statistics show reason to permit CHL at Texas universities Kalyn Hanson

percent higher after the Concealed Handgun outset of the 1968 gun Permit Holders have killed control law and 15 per- 151 people since May cent higher since the out- 2007 (published March In right-to-carry states, set of the 1997 handgun 2010). the violent crime rate is ban.

The total number of 24 percent lower than Although the U.S. does homicide victims in the the rest of the U.S., the have a much higher homi- U.S. from the years 2007 murder rate is 28 percent cide rate per capita, this is to 2009 totaled at 42,776, lower and the robbery not necessara c c o r d rate is 50 percent lower. ily due to our ing to the Now, although this right to posFBI Uniform data does not account for sess firearms.

C r i m e other factors that affect As Gary Reports. crime rates (such as pov- Kleck, a crimiOf those, erty, illegitimacy rates, nologist at 28,803 were cultural differences, etc.), Florida State committed as it would be impossible U n i v e r s i t y using a fireto control all of those vari- stated, “The arm. ables, the numbers are U.S. also has a This means still astounding. far higher rate that only 0.5 Kalyn Hanson For those who are of murders percent of Biology junior against or are fearful c o m m i t t e d homicides by of the new legislation with knives, firearm were that may pass allowing but I doubt that cutlery committed by concealed for concealed handgun ownership is any higher handgun permit holders. license holders to carry in the U.S. than in Japan, That is 12.4 percent their weapons on campus, Germany and the U.K… less than the number of I feel that, before you for- America is more violent people killed using knives mulate your stance on the than other nations in ways or other sharp instrumatter, you should be pre- unrelated to guns and for ments, 3.9 percent less sented with the facts. reasons having nothing to than those killed by blunt I know a lot of people do with the rate of gun objects (clubs, hammers, are concerned that allow- ownership.” etc.), and 5.5 percent ing concealed handguns In states with right-to- less than those killed on campus would create carry laws, citizens are with “personal weapons” an unnecessary hazard or allowed to obtain a per- (hands, feet, fists, etc.) during the same period.

It should also be noted that justifiable homicides We should be concerned by those are included in those 151 who commit the heinous acts...and people killed by CHL holddo not care about the legality of ers.

The people whom our bringing the weapon. nation and campuses — Kalyn Hanson should be worried about aren’t those who obtain their concealed carry that many of you feel that mit to carry concealed licenses and/or handguns people owning guns at all firearms in most public in a legal manner. is dangerous. places if they meet certain We should be concerned However, contrary to criteria, or completion of by those who commit the what many may assume, a background check and heinous acts such as the banning handguns does gun safety course. incidents at Virginia Tech not mean that crime In 1996, Texas passed or UT Austin and do not or murder rates will its own right-to-carry law. care about the legality of decrease.

At first, many skeptics bringing the weapon onto Take Great Britain for worried this would inevi- school property. instance. In 1968, the tably lead to chaos (streetIf someone were to U.K. passed a law that corner fire fights, road bring an illegally conmade their previous hand- rage shootings, etc.). cealed weapon onto camgun law stricter by requirHowever, none of these pus, they are probably ing citizens to obtain a fears manifested. already doing it or would certificate from their disIn fact, since the onset do it regardless of the trict police chief in order of the law, the Texas mur- law. to obtain any firearm. In der rate has averaged The biggest pro of pass1997, Britain then passed 30 percent lower than it ing the law allowing CHL a law that required citi- was before the law took holders to possess their zens to surrender all pri- effect, which is 2 percent guns on campus is that in vately owned handguns lower than the national the event that something to the police. average. does happen, we as stuSince, the British homiAccording to data from dents would then be able cide rate has averaged 52 the Violence Policy Center, to protect ourselves.

Contributor news@utdmercury.com

All angles should be considered before allowing guns at UTD Julie Gavran

Contributor news@utdmercury.com

Over Spring break, I took advantage of the week off and drove to the East Coast.

On the way I passed through Blacksburg, Va., home of Virginia Tech.

In light of the recent debates on Texas gun legislation I felt the need to visit the campus as well as the memorial marking one of the largest school shootings in history.

As I walked around the campus I kept thinking about how the environment of the university would change if people were actually allowed to have firearms.

(Texas) Sen. (Jeff) Wentworth argues that if people are armed, incidents like Virginia Tech would be stopped before it got out of hand.

The thing is, how do we know this for sure?

How do we know if the right people are being shot in the chaos?

There is too much uncertainty in people’s behavior and judgment.

Wentworth argues that getting a CHL is difficult, but when you lay out the requirements it is no more difficult than obtaining a driver’s license.

He also argues that by permitting guns on campus we are actually protecting our students, faculty and staff from an active shooter.

But more college students die each year from alcohol poisoning than all college school shootings combined.

Perhaps instead of arming students, faculty and staff, we can be proactive against violent behavior by education and prevention.

We need to work on recognizing the signs and symptoms of potential violence and not be afraid to address them.

A university’s primary goal is education; this means offering a safe and hospitable learning environment.

The threat of having compensation for enticemore guns in people’s ment? hands does nothing posiSecondly, school recruittive for the learning envi- ment to Texas state colronment because it adds leges would become more increased fear, anxiety difficult. and stress.

If the student has the For one thing, since the means to go to a private minimum age of getting or out-of-state college a CHL in Texas is 21, this rather than a gun-percreates a twomitting pubtier system on lic university, the univerwhat percentsity campus: age actually those who will? (potentially) Wouldn’t carry guns, this thus result and those in the posy o u n g e r sibility of less undergraduenrollment ates who canand tuition Julie Gavran not. This is money?

A&H grad student not to menAlso, as tion the large illustrated number of international in the recent incident at students who also would Texas Woman’s University, not be eligible to carry a verbal threats alone are firearm. enough to put an entire This could make under- university under lockgraduates perceive them- down. selves as defenseless By allowing guns on against their own peers, campus, the threats alone and make them feel like will be elevated in seriouseasy targets. ness.

Perhaps even more sigThere is no doubt that lockdowns will increase and the education of stuThere is no dents will be disrupted. doubt that lockAnd how would allowing guns on campus downs change the dynamic of will increase teaching and grade allocation? and the educaThis should be our tion of students weapon: open dialogue will be along with available means of support and help. disrupted We need to encourage — Julie Gavran each other and help each other in times of stress and need. nificant is the probable With proactive meaincrease in student sui- sures our universities are cides. becoming safer.

Students would have It is important to coneasier access to some- sider what will happen thing with which they when someone who is statistically tend to harm legally carrying a gun themselves. feels that a situation is Since everyone is wor- threatening and decides ried about the budget to prematurely pull the cuts, these laws have the trigger. potential to create proAre we ready to invite found operational chal- the university’s gun-carlenges for the university rying students, faculty as an institution. and staff to make life and Has anyone thought death decisions for all of about the fact that it may us? be difficult to get qualWouldn’t it be better to ity professors to work in do what we can to help such an environment thus people make better life resulting in the necessity decisions before it leads to offer higher wages and to gun violence?

the Mercury

www.utdmercury.com

Opinion

March 21, 2011

5

Wedding dresses, birthday suits What women, men really expect from relationships Everyone wanted the same thing.

Here’s the catch: The difference was when they Dating at UTD can be wanted it. a fairly difficult process Meet Justine Fowler. for people not involved in Justine is a sophomore campus groups or organi- studying biology for prezations. med.

For many guys, as if She’s currently in a fourfinding a date month relawasn’t hard tionship with Commentary enough, the her boyfriend more difficult whom she issue remains: met at UTD What women through friends want. in Greek Life.

Aside from Then there’s being the title A m a n d a of a medioBillingsley, an cre chick flick accounting starring Mel junior.

Gibson prior Amanda is to his openly anti-Semitic also in a relationship with days, the question itself has someone she met at UTD. boggled the minds of men Her relationship is in its fifth for ages. month.

On the other hand, many They both want the same women readily assume they thing from the opposite already know what those of sex. the less-fairer sex want — “Commonalities and and in what measurements, personality are both importoo. Just listen to a certain tant,” Billingsley said.

Sir Mix-a-Lot song for the “(They) don’t have to be answer. the most amazing looking But as the saying goes, person, but you do have to men are from Mars and be attracted to them.” women are from Venus, Fowler shared the same and the lines of communi- views and stressed the cation between the sexes importance of personality can become blurred by over physical attractiveness. gender differences leaving But while they both have both men and women con- the same preferences, their fused as to what the other outlook on dating slightly wants. differs.

I ventured on a comet Billingsley said she took ride to see what the inhab- the idea of marriage at her itants of both planets had age seriously, but Fowler to say, questioning random on the other hand didn’t subjects about their experi- really consider the thought ences and preferences in of marriage at this point in regards to dating and rela- her life. tionships.

“I’m still a sophomore,” What are the guys and Fowler said. “So I’ll play it girls of UTD looking for, by ear and see how things besides a place to park? go. If it was a three year After probing the minds relationship, I’d be like, of almost a dozen students where’s my ring?” in a completely nonscientifBeyonce would be proud ic study, I discovered some- of Fowler, but another thing shocking. song had to be played for

Paul Dang

Contributor news@utdmercury.com

illustration by Laura-Jane Cunningham

the boys.

Kyle Morris is an accounting junior, and Edgar Segura is an Emerging Media and Communications freshman. Their relationship statuses on Facebook match the chorus to that one Lil Wayne song: “Single.”

Despite the so-called gender gap, the guys’ preferences in potential partners were actually virtually identical to the girls.

“I’m looking for a girl that respects herself,” Morris said. “And has the

ideal girl, but he also wanted her to have a specific character trait.

“She’s got to be able to keep a good conversation going,” he said. “Funny, cute of course, and she has to like monkeys.”

Wait, monkeys?

Segura was obviously joking. However, in his jest he revealed his lax attitude towards dating and relationships. He said that while he was open to the possibility of a girlfriend, he was just keeping it casual

While this study was merely a nonscientific observation, I’m willing to bet that the distance between Mars and Venus isn’t as far as some would like to believe.

— Paul Dang same family values as me.

Obviously she has to be somewhat attractive, but more important is her personality.”

Segura wanted the same qualities as Morris for his

for the moment.

“Most of the girls here already have boyfriends,” Morris said.

Morris’ words rang true.

The trend was the same: Most of the girls were in

relationships and most of the guys were single.

Was it simply because there are more guys than girls at UTD? Or was there some sinister predisposition that made women think of wedding dresses while men thought about birthday suits?

I refuse to believe the latter.

Both gentlemen were open to a potential relationship and had the same preference for personality over appearance like the girls.

What distinguished everyone, regardless of gender, was his or her timing.

Billingsley contemplated her relationship further down the line than Fowler did. Segura was more concerned with the present than Morris. What’s important to note, though, was that they all desired the same thing in a partner.

They all wanted someone with a good personality and a decent enough appearance that they could be attracted to. Their sex had nothing to do with what they wanted.

Maybe miscommunica-

tions between partners don’t come from the gender gap and differing views on what they want from each other. Maybe disputes are actually over the timeframe. Some people are thinking long-term while others are thinking shortterm.

What I hate hearing is the whole spiel about how all men want is sex and how we’re noncommittal creatures. Conversely, I also hate hearing about how women are relationship driven and become Stage 5 Clingers. Untrue on both counts, I say. I’ve seen plenty of noncommittal women and just as many clingy men.

And while this study was merely a nonscientific observation, I’m willing to bet that the distance between Mars and Venus isn’t as far as some would like to believe. It’s about time men and women both come back down to Earth and pragmatically work their issues out as human beings and not as though they were from different worlds.

6

News

March 21, 2011

CHL

continued from page 1 about the proposed legislation.

There was just as much inquiry into the issue as there was opinion. Of the 12 people from the audience who spoke, four supported the legislation, four were against it and four expressed mixed feelings or shared questions about the bill.

“I’m inclined to agree with (UTD Police Chief Larry Zacharias) that this act will certainly not make campuses safer,” said Murray Leaf, pro-

fessor of economics. “It will probably also not make it notably more dangerous.”

Zacharias briefed the audience on the history of concealed handgun laws which currently require CHL holders in Texas to be at least 21 years of age, U.S. citizens and residents of Texas, in addition to other strict requirements.

“This particular bill makes very little changes to the existing law on the Concealed Handgun License,” Zacharias said. “What it changes are some definitions regarding institutions of higher

photo illustration by Albert Ramirez

Concealed handguns may be allowed on university property with the correct license as soon as August if the proposed legislature passes.

GUARD

continued from page 1 Since it was created in October 2010, SlotGuard has grown through acquired contracts with both individual subscribers and apart-

They say you make your own luck... (and) whether you’re 20 or 60 I do not believe the rules change.

— Paul Ingram ment complexes, Ingram said.

SlotGuard provides its subscribers an online profile on which to specify the type of junk mail they do not wish to receive.

Mail can be blocked from certain companies or within categories such as magazine offers.

While Ingram said that it is possible to individually send mail opt-out requests to advertisement companies, SlotGuard simplifies the process by submitting requests on behalf of their users.

Rosson, former Student Government president and vice president of the Chi Phi fraternity, said being involved on campus taught him skills he needed to create SlotGuard. “(Being involved) taught me a lot more about dealing with adversity, compromising, budgeting (and managing) administrative tasks,” he said. “Most of the responsibility I learned is from . . . being involved.”

Ingram, a McDermott Scholar, tells potential entrepreneurs that success comes down to hard work.

“If something was not working and if there was a problem, we did everything we could to actually reach out and try (to fix it),” he said. “They say you make your own luck . . . (and) whether you’re 20 or 60 I do not believe the rules change.”

Ready to rumble

education and premises.”

Supporters of the bill said they believed the presence of licensed gun owners on the premises would provide additional safety in the event of a school shooting like the one that claimed 32 lives in 2007.

Paul Landfair, a business administration graduate student, keeps a close eye on the legislation. He said campus safety is important, and it’s hard to argue with him.

Landfair is a survivor of the UT Austin campus shooting in 1966, when Charles Whitman killed 16 people from his sniper post atop the UT tower.

“I’m on the pro-carry side — I’m a CHL holder myself,” Landfair said at the March 10 forum. “But I’ve been around guns all my life and guns make me nervous in other people’s hand.”

Landfair also served as a Marine and was no stranger to gunfire. He estimated that active duty police officers on campus would have 44 seconds, at best, to get to the site of an incident of on-campus violence. Landfair said 44 seconds was too long in that kind of crisis.

University officials acknowledge the fact that the decision to pass this legislation is completely up to the state. If passed, UTD would have no say in whether or not carried concealed handguns would be allowed on campus.

This didn’t sit well with Pia Jakobsson, an academic advisor, who expressed her fears of being in the proximity of armed individuals.

Jeffery Nanson, business graduate student and former marine, speaking at the March 10 forum concerning the legislature which could allow concealed handguns on university property. Nanson spoke in favor of the legislature as did the following speaker, Kalyn Hanson (right), biology junior.

“This potential legislation makes me very, very nervous,” she said. “My understanding of this bill is that I would still be able to tell (students) not to bring their laptops, but I wouldn’t be able to tell them to not bring their guns. I would not be able to decide what is a safe work environment for me.”

Her concern elicited applause from the audience, but her rationale led bill proponent Jeff Nanson, another Marine and business graduate student, to explain how CHL holders are required to conceal their firearm in a manner in which no one

would be able to tell whether or not they carried a weapon at all.

Nick Hinojosa, a business graduate student, objected to the legislation for an entirely different reason much more specific to UTD. “I believe universities should have a right to determine whether guns are good or bad for their campus,” he said.

“We’re different from other schools. I feel like legislators in Austin don’t necessarily know that. If I don’t want to go to a university that has handguns, I should be able to make that choice, not the state of Texas.”

The forum also served as an opportunity for students to ask questions about the CHL law and to clear up any misconceptions.

“My concerns are accidents,” said Cynthia Edmond, a graduate student in humanities. “What if somebody else gets to (the gun), and shoots someone else?”

Zacharias said that the training required for a CHL would lessen the chance of making those kinds of mistakes.

UTD officials said the university will host additional forums if the proposed legislation passes.

courtesy of Joseph Izen

On site at ATLAS, in Switzerland, where UTD professor Joseph Izen is one member on the team that searches debris resulting from nuclear collisions looking for clues to find what dark mater is.

CERn

continued from page 1

physicists collide protons or lead nuclei. The ring is 17 miles in circumference and is located under both French and Swiss territory.

Along with other researchers from around the world, UTD’s CERN team “sees” the collisions with ATLAS, a nuclear detector found on the LHC. ATLAS searches the debris that result from nuclear collisions “looking” for certain particles such as those associated with dark-matter.

The ATLAS experiment runs 24 hours a day, seven

continued from page 1

Jessica Tsing (left), finance junior, and Lisa Varghese, molecular biology junior, duke it out at Chinese Market Night, hosted by the Student Union & Activities Advisory Board, March 3 at the SU Mall.

the Mercury

photo by Brandon Higgins

FEES photo by Albert Ramirez

www.utdmercury.com

must be approved by the UT System Board of Regents, said Grace Bielawski, SG president and political science senior.

days a week, and the physicists involved take responsibility for running the experiments.

UTD Physics professor Joseph Izen is spending this academic year conducting research at CERN, but will resume teaching on campus in the fall.

Izen leads a 13-person shift crew in the ATLAS Control Room during the night shift.

“It’s humbling to sit at the helm of a billion-dollar detector while the rest of Europe is at home and in bed,” Izen said.

The UTD team has helped commission and operate the ATLAS detector during the past four years, and ATLAS has been accumulating physics data

since March 2010, Izen said.

While the ATLAS experiments only take place at CERN, analysis of the data takes place all over the world through a worldwide computing network.

Xinchou Lou, a physics professor involved with ATLAS, said UTD’s research aims to find not only dark matter but also new, previously undiscovered, particles.

Though dark matter does not interact directly with light and cannot be seen, graduate student Wei-Cheng Wong said it might be detectable.

If dark matter is created during the collisions at CERN and then decays, Wong said, the ATLAS

detector may then “see” the decayed particles.

The research could help scientists better understand the origins of the universe.

“All matter comes from the big bang, so we need to understand (dark matter to understand the big bang),” Wong said.

UTD’s CERN team includes two professors, Izen and Lou, two postdoctoral researchers, Mahsana Ahsan and Kendall Reeves, and a team of graduate students.

Major discoveries are anticipated during the coming two years, Izen said, and research with the Large Hadron Collider is expected to continue beyond 2020.

Even if students voted in favor of the referendum, it is likely the Regents would not approve the student fee increase at this time, Bielawski said.

A special election may take place fall 2011, but

it is unknown whether students will be asked to vote on one or both referendum if such a session is called, Rachavong said.

If there are no special elections, the referendum will appear on

the SG election ballot in 2012, she said.

The delayed voting on the referendum will not affect the planned timeline for the SU expansion project which is intended to begin in 2013, Rachavong said.

the Mercury ELECTION

continued from page 1 I’ve used different resources.

As far as leadership, I’ve been vice president plus co-founder and co-captain of the Slam Poetry team which is an organization I helped found last year.

I am currently chair of the University White Committee, which is the auxiliary services committee.

As far as general SG experience, I have been a senator for two years now, and I’ve spent the past year as secretary.

The year before that I served on the Residential Affairs Committee.

If I do win (the election), the transition will be much smoother than it would if I didn’t have this experience.

Willming: I can’t claim

One of the big powers of SG is advocacy and we’re going to make sure that all student concerns are heard.

— Brittany Sharkey to go as far back as Sharkey, since I’m a freshman.

In the time that I have been here, I’ve tried to take advantage of this.

I was elected president of Residential Senate, and I’ve had experience with leading an organization and working with several

www.utdmercury.com people.

I’m a member of SG and was appointed to several committees that I served on for the year.

The first was the Academic Calendar Committee, and I helped give student opinion on the academic calendar that we’re getting next year, which is much better than we had this year, with a longer winter break.

I was also on the Student Union Expansion committee and have recently been appointed to the University White Auxiliary Committee, which Sharkey chairs.

I wrote the Green Fee referendum, I served on the Legislative Affairs Committee in SG, along with the Sustainability Committee in SG. I feel like I have a pretty good understanding of how the university works.

Sharkey: Thankfully there’s very little overlap, and between the two of us we can reach out to the entire student body.

Willming: Since I live on campus, I feel I also bring the freshman perspective, and the population of freshman is only going to grow.

The Mercury: What kinds of changes would you like to see in student life if you are elected?

Willming: The primary thing that’s on our mind is the budget cuts.

As we know, SG is going to take a dip in its budget and while we feel that doesn’t mean we should be stingy with spending money or that we should stop spending money, we certainly need to be smarter with how we spend

News

money.

What we want to do is have some in-house reforms with SG, as far as budgeting for each committee.

We want to give each

have online, easier to use.

Willming: Another thing that Sharkey and I are passionate about is trying to see if we can find alternate ways for student organizations to advertise

We want to create a centralized format for people to advertise on campus rather than flyering because it’s not sustainable.

— Cody Willming committee a suggested spending proposal so that we don’t go halfway through the year with over half of our budget spent.

Sharkey: In addition to that we are also going to see the issue come up a lot where the budget concerns become such an overreaching issue within the university that you’ll have students worrying that other issues that are already a big deal now, like parking and course offerings, are just going to be ignored.

One of the big powers of SG is advocacy, and we’re going to make sure that all student concerns are heard.

With the budget cuts one of the things that we see being opportune for us to move into is more sustainable efforts.

Having budget cuts is going to affect a lot of the ways the university operates.

We’ll have the opportunity for streamlining, whether that means getting rid of multiple forms, doing more things online, pushing for the university to make things that we

on campus.

We don’t feel that the flyering system that everyone tends to utilize right now really works.

We have potential ideas but we don’t know which direction we’re going to go with it.

We want to create a centralized format for people to advertise on campus rather than flyering because it’s not sustainable.

The Mercury: What is your stand on the proposed change in Texas law to allow concealed handguns on college campuses?

Sharkey: If I recall, a couple of years ago SG sent forth a resolution — or maybe a recommendation — saying that the student body of UTD was not going to take a stance, because they had found there was an even split (in student opinion).

Staying consistent with that, I don’t think I could take a stand if I were to be elected president.

I don’t think I could give an opinion either way without going through the process of taking student input.

March 21, 2011 The Mercury: The international student population is growing at UTD. Do you have any ideas on making the transition easier for them?

Sharkey: One of the things the Residential Affairs Committee did last year was set up a poll trying to get information about graduate housing.

We found a pretty large support in numbers for graduate housing to be increased.

With the second residence hall opening up, there will be spots available for undergraduate international sophomores and juniors to move into the freshman apartments,

7

which will be vacated now.

Even if we don’t see a whole lot of openings on campus, I would like to see more resources shared with the international students before they come to the U.S. Willming: Sharkey and I understand how difficult it is for all our international students to get around.

We will also be looking at finding ways to improve existing ways of moving around for international students who don’t have cars. ­— Question and answer session conducted by Mercury Staff Writer Anwesha Bhattacharje

Student Government Election quick facts • Elections will take place March 28-30 • Students can vote online at www.sg.utdallas.edu using their NetID and password • “Students United for Progress” are currently running uncontested. Brittany Sharkey and Cody Willming are running for President and Vice President, respectively • Votes will also be collected to elect the new Student Government officers • For Grace Bielawski’s, the current Student Government president, input on the ongoing elections, see page 3

8

March 21, 2011

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Good date movie, not much else

Life &Arts Mixing it up March 21, 2011

9

John D. McCrary

Staff Writer jdm095120@utdallas.edu

In his new film, Josh Radnor, of “How I Met Your Mother,” tries his hand at writing and directing with moderate success, but the happy vibes sent out by this cute little dramedy just might leave you asking for “more please.”

With a diverse cast of new and immensely talented young stars, Radnor’s “Happythankyoumoreplease” sets out to tell the loosely connected stories of a group of 20-something friends living in New York City, waiting to grow up and tired of their reflexive cynicism as they search for hapJohn D. McCrary piness.

Commentary The movie begins as the central character of Sam, played by Radnor, rushes to get to a meeting. On the way he witnesses a kid get separated from his foster family on the subway and inadvertently ends up taking the boy in for the next couple weeks.

From there Sam goes about his life as a writer and crosses paths with his various friends who inhabit the different subplots of the scattered story.

Sam is also an avid pursuer of women, one in particular named Mississippi, played by up-and-comer Kate Mara, who is adorable and very charming as the wounded singer/bartender.

Sam’s alopecia-stricken best friend Annie, a completely bald Malin Akerman, acts just as much as Sam’s sounding board as he does hers, as she tries to reconcile pursuing the man who hurt her with the dork, Tony Hale, of “Arrested Development,” who is pursuing her.

The stories are rounded out by an almost completely independent His dialogue is subplot sharp and satconcerning Sam’s isfying without childhood sounding overly friend contrived...

M a r y Catherine making natural as she tries but astute to define statements her relationship with her — John D. McCrary longtime boyfriend as they are quickly forced to address a number of different life choices.

Radnor’s occasionally funny and occasionally touching script is surprisingly fresh. His dialogue is sharp and satisfying without sounding overly contrived, with all of his characters making natural but astute statements throughout.

While considerably smarter than “How I Met Your Mother,” the story centralizing around a group of young adults looking

photo by Ben Hawkins

Jason Mefford, a mechanical engineering junior, practices the teep kick at the Fuller MMA Time gym. Mefford is one of more than 20 UTD students involved in the Mixed Martial Arts Club, which now practices cage fights.

Mixed martial arts gains popularity in U.S.; UTD club approved to practice fighting style at off-campus gym Paul Dang

Contributor news@utdmercury.com

T

wenty years ago, mixed martial arts, or MMA, was nonexistent in the U.S. — now UTD has its own MMA

ratifies it and pretty soon we can see it in the main media.”

Cardoza and a group of students that trained Brazilian Jiuclub.

Jitsu with him at a gym called Machado’s were With the days of the bare knuckle, Vale disappointed by the university’s lack of approval Tudo or no-holds-barred mentality in the past, for their Jiu-Jitsu grappling sessions, which they MMA has evolved into a legitimate sport. The call “rolling.”

Ultimate Fighting Championship, or UFC, has “Me and my friends would always go and since reformed its blood sport history under the roll every Sunday night on the mats,” he said. direction of its current president, Dana White.

“Then the school said we couldn’t do it anymore “The sport is getting increasingly popular every because other people would take out the mats year,” Jimmy Cardoza, an accounting junior, said. and not put them back up. We asked them “I think it still has a ways to go though. how we could get access to those mats There are still states that are ratifybecause we wanted more mat ing to make it legal within time. We ended up formJason Mefford their state, but it’s only ing the MMA club.”

Club member a matter of time Alexander now before every state Lao, a UTD alumnus, photo by Ben Hawkins

see MMA page 10

James Norwood, an undeclared freshman ( l e f t ) practices his punching technique with a f e l l o w MMA club member.

see HAPPY page 10

This house is a circus Club aims to teach fire tricks, acrobatics Paul Dang

Contributor news@utdmercury.com

Most universities can’t boast a circus club as part of their extracurricular groups.

UTD however, isn’t like most universities. And with a number of students who have the same unique talents in performance arts, a club has growing potential.

Cameron Childress, a biochemistry sophomore, leads the charge for such a club.

He hopes to teach other

students how to perform the stunts that he’s picked up over the years.

“Someone on my street gave me a unicycle and I was stubborn enough to learn how to ride it,” he said. “I found this camp in California that teaches fire spinning to kids and I started a unicycling program there.

The rest is history.”

The potential club would require little equipment or funding from the school, Childress said.

“Luckily people that are

interested in this usually already have some props,” he said. “I have enough of my own personal collection where I could set them out there and we could have a circus jam. We don’t actually have to have props bought by the school, but what we’re hoping for is getting some assistance from the university in getting an aerial silks rig.”

These aerial silks are long sheets of silk hung from

see CIRCUS page 10

photo by Brandon Higgins

Left to right, Daniel Young Cameron Childress and Anthony Nguyen perform some of the stunts they hope to teach other students if a circus club is founded.

10

March 21, 2011

HAPPY

continued from page 9 for love in New York feels like it draws on storylines that could just as easily be found in the manufactured world of Radnor’s sitcom.

Each of these narratives is independently endearing and just interesting enough to keep from the label of boring, but their overall function together as one cohesive film is much less effective.

At his important meeting with a publisher at the beginning of the film, Sam is told that while his short stories are good, his novel is just a whole lot of “kinda.”

It’s kinda funny, kinda sad, kinda exciting, but it’s not really much of anything.

This could very well be

CIRCUS

continued from page 9 ceilings that can be climbed.

They are one of Childress’ many routines, including juggling and fire spinning, which he combines with his unicycling.

His circus acts have garnered attention from other students at UTD. Childress said many students have approached him during his performances and suggested he start a club.

Students like Anthony Nguyen, a neuroscience junior, use tricks like fire spinning, or Poi, as a stress-relieving hobby.

Poi is a performance art originating from New Zealand that involves the spinning of weights on a rope. Oftentimes these weights are lit on fire to create an aesthetic illusion.

“Well it’s a funny story,”

Life &Arts

the Mercury

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a commentary on Radnor’s own shortcomings as a writer, but the shortcomings remain nonetheless.

The film’s focus on happiness and gratitude are ultimately its saving grace.

Without those themes it would very quickly feel like a bunch of successful but dissatisfied adults whining about their relationships, and the lack of urgency in the plot would quickly become unbearable.

Instead it’s about that newfound awkward age between youth and adulthood where pessimism reigns supreme and the time comes to start looking for something more.

“Happythankyou moreplease”

7/ 10

Nguyen said. “My friend and I spin Poi, and we were thinking about starting a group but we didn’t know enough people on campus so we were like, ‘We should ask that kid that rides the unicycle to do it.’”

As the club is still in its primary steps of starting up, the main issue remains the safety of the club.

“It’s all up in the air right now,” Childress said. “I’ve spoken to the dean of students about some of these things. There would be all kinds of risk management inevitably, but I’m sure we could start a club.”

Unicycling and juggling bring up some risk management issues, but Childress said the university was more concerned about the fire stunts.

“With the fire, we’re completely safe,” Childress said. “I know exactly what I’m doing.

courtesy of flixter.com

Josh Randor, of “How I Met Your Mother,” (right) discusses relationships of all kinds in his first directed film, “Happythankyoumoreplease.”

Every session at camp there would be about 20 kids who would learn and we would approve them and they would light up with fire props — sometimes with 8-year-old kids. You know your safety, you know what the person can do, you know that they know it and it’s safe. It’s as dangerous as you want it to be.”

Despite the inherent risks that come with circus stunts, Childress said injuries are uncommon if safeties and precautions are made a priority.

Daniel Young, a computer science senior, has been on the wheel of a unicycle for a year now and said he really wanted a club to practice at.

His experiences with injuries have been minimal.

Childress said he hopes to have the club started by fall 2011.

MMA

continued from page 9 shared the same interests in martial arts with Cardoza and became a co-founder of the club.

“Well, I always wanted to learn martial arts as a kid, but I never had the time,” Lao said. “My junior year, I met Joe Al-Kirwi, who introduced me to Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.

Right away I fell in love with the sport. At the place I trained, I met Jimmy Cardoza, who was also a UTD student.”

Lao added, “little did I know that the three of us would later create the UTD MMA club.”

Mixed martial arts, like its name implies, mixes all the fighting systems from around the world into a comprehensive combat sport that uses the most efficient techniques from all martial arts.

“You have your striking which combines anything from boxing to Muay Thai or American kickboxing,” Cardoza said. “We’ve even seen guys from karate and Tae Kwon Do make a good living in MMA. You also have your wrestling and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, or some guys even use different things like Sambo.

“It’s just combining different martial arts, putting them together,” Cordoza added.

“It’s probably the most technical sport out there right now because it’s not just one thing, it’s a

whole bunch of things combined.”

Despite its newfound publicity, the novelty of MMA can bring about misconceptions of the sport.

“People still don’t understand the sport, they still see it as barbaric,” Cordoza said. “They see it as two guys in a cage beating each other to a pulp; they don’t see the technique behind it. On the other side of that, some people will see the Jiu-Jitsu and the wrestling as just hugging or whatever, but there’s

only athletic alternative for wrestlers after college,” he said. “I’ve always been interested in Jiu-Jitsu and MMA but I never wanted to spend the money to go to a gym. Whenever I got to UTD and found all these clubs that were free, I gave it a shot. It’s cool to get a variety of people together and learn from everybody.”

Cardoza’s and Lao’s Jiu-Jitsu sessions began to attract members of all disciplines, and what was once advertised by word of mouth became

People still don’t understand the sport, they still see it as barbaric.

They see it as two guys in a cage beating each other to a pulp; they don’t see the technique behind it.

— Jimmy Cordoza actually a lot of technique behind it. It takes years of experience. You have your Olympic wrestlers and world champions in Jiu-Jitsu going into MMA.” Jason Mefford, a mechanical engineering junior, joined the MMA club after his decorated years in high school wrestling.

Being the youngest captain for his high school wrestling team and winning regional and state competitions, Mefford boasts a wrestling record of 45-5 as an All-American wrestler.

“MMA is really the

a growing club.

“What we’re trying to do is meet up at a local MMA gym and start doing some of our training sessions there,” Cardoza said.

“It’ll be good because they’ll have equipment we don’t have access to at UTD like an actual MMA cage which is an important aspect of the sport.”

The university recently approved the off-campus training, and Cardoza and other students in the MMA club now meet up on Fridays at 2:30 p.m. to train at the Fuller MMA Time gym.

Sports

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March 21, 2011

Lady Comets see program ascend to new heights

Commentary

BACK TO Bobby Karalla

Sports Editor rjk090020@utdallas.edu

Despite first round exit, men’s season still a success Something special is going on when a first-round loss on the road in the NCAA Tournament is a disappointing end to a season.

UTD’s men’s basketball team lost to Mary HardinBaylor, or UMHB, 86-77 in the first round of the NCAA Men’s Division III Basketball Championship on March 3 in Belton, Texas.

UMHB also knocked the Comets out of the ASC Tournament in the semifinals and went 3-0 against UTD this season.

What makes this a disappointment?

The Comets went 21-7 this season and lost their final two games. They had a 10-game winning streak heading into the ASC Tournament — that UTD was hosting — before finally losing to a sharpshooting UMHB team.

This season comes on the heels of a Sweet 16 run last season and a trip to the Elite Eight in 2009.

For most teams, not getting as far as they did the previous season is considered a disappointment, and there is no question that the Comets planned on playing further into the postseason.

Could the end to this season be considered a disappointment? Yes. Should it be considered a failure? Absolutely not.

Less than one-tenth of more than 400 D-III teams in America won 20 games.

Only one team beat the Comets more than once this season, and UTD was

see MEN’S page 12

EARTH

Bobby Karalla

Sports Editor rjk090020@utdallas.edu

While their both seasons ended in defeat, UTD’s 2010-11 basketball teams had their share of significant achievements

photo by Ben Hawkins

Brandon Greene dunks against Concordia University in the quarterfinals of the ASC Tournament.

Greene was one of three seniors on the Comets squad that hosted the tournament. Mary Hardin-Baylor eventually knocked UTD from contention, also ending its season-long 10-game winning streak.

Softball starts ASC play

11

The Lady Comets set their fair share of milestones this season.

For the first time ever, a senior class left the program with four winning seasons.

They tied a university record with 21 wins. Most importantly, they finally captured their first postseason victory.

Head coach Polly Thomason has transformed UTD’s women’s basketball program in six seasons.

Before Thomason arrived, the Lady Comets went 52-121 through seven seasons, never finishing a season with a winning record.

In the last six seasons, UTD has gone 100-56 and finished above .500 four consecutive seasons.

Give credit to the coaching. Thomason has clearly done her part. She inherited a program with a losing pedigree and has quickly instilled a winning attitude in her players.

Give credit to the players.

This year’s team had outstanding talent, chemistry and teamwork. The players had fun with each other on the court. They play a smart brand of basketball, rarely make mistakes and take advantage of what defenses give them.

Tarneisha Scott and Lyndsey Smith have scribbled their names on just about every individual offensive record UTD has. Let’s not forget about the team as a whole, either. The Lady Comets had an outstanding season as a unit.

They gave up 57.6 points per game. Only one team in the ASC gave up fewer.

Only one team shot the ball better than UTD’s 42.4 percent clip.

Three Lady Comets finished in the top-10 in the ASC in assists per game.

Tawni Ichimura, Nikki Kosary and Smith (sixth, eighth and

see WOMEN’S page 13

Serving up victories Tennis team takes on ASC opponents Bobby Karalla

Sports Editor rjk090020@utdallas.edu

UTD kicked off ASC play by going 3-1 at the ASC First Pitch Tournament in Farmers Branch.

Its only loss came in an 8-7 thriller to Concordia University, with the go-ahead runner on second base with two outs in the top of the

UTD tennis is off to a hot start in 2011.

After finishing last season 3-2 in ASC play, UTD’s women’s tennis team started conference season 3-0 and is 5-2 as of March 18.

Megan Tan (4-1) and Rachel Houston (5-1) have had the most success in singles play.

In singles play overall, the women are 23-13.

Freshman Mindy Tiu was named ASC East Player of the Week on March 9, the first Comet to receive the honor this season.

The men have already eclipsed last year’s ASC wins total as well.

see SOFTBALL page 13

see TENNIS page 13

photo by Albert Ramirez

First baseman Caysie Norum attempts a tag at first base against Austin College. The Lady Comets swept the double-header, winning 5-3 and 6-2.

UTD softball competes for ASC Tourney berth Bobby Karalla

Sports Editor rjk090020@utdallas.edu

Lady Comets softball started the season with a new coach in Cassie Crabtree and hopes of improving on last year’s forgetful 16-24 season.

They are well on their way

to doing just that.

After going 5-31 two seasons ago and posting 16 wins last season, the Lady Comets are off to their best start in years.

At 12-6 (1-1 in the ASC), the Lady Comets have started the season on the right foot heading into the thick of ASC conference play.

photo by Ben Hawkins

Rachel Houston serves as Megan Tan awaits the return. UTD’s women’s tennis team started the 2011 season 5-2, and 3-0 in conference play.

12

Sports

March 21, 2011

some teams simply struggle against others, for whatever reason. No disrespect to UMHB, either. The Cru went 15-6 in conference play this season. They are no underdog.

UTD head coach Terry Butterfield said UTD and UMHB play very similar styles, and after watching the two teams play, it is easy to see the comparisons. Both teams have timing-based offenses, high shooting percentages and excellent perimeter defense.

The Comets beat their fair share of good opponents this season, but just could not find a way to beat UMHB. It may be upsetting that one team can alter another’s success so much by knocking it out of two tournaments, but a team should never measure its season based

photo by Ben Hawkins

Greg Chiasson dunks against East Texas Baptist University, a game the Comets won 71-60.

MEN’S

continued from page 11

unlucky enough to play it twice in a row, the latter game coming in a tournament that is supposed to be national, not regional.

A combination of financial savings and convenience led the NCAA to schedule the three qualifying ASC teams against each other in the first two rounds of the tournament.

After playing three games against UTD and winning them all, UMHB proved it was the better team this season. But, that does not mean

UTD isn’t deserving of some praise.

Throughout the history of sports, certain teams simply have other teams’ numbers.

It happens every season.

In the 2006-07 NBA season, the 42-40 Golden State Warriors beat the 67-15 Dallas Mavericks three times in the regular season and won their first round playoff series 4-2.

In 2010 the 8-8 Oakland Raiders went 6-0 against AFC West teams, including two wins against both the 9-7 San Diego Chargers and the 10-6 Kansas City Chiefs.

While those are only two examples, they both show

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son. The 2010-11 Comets wanted to win the ASC, then look towards making a deep run in the NCAAs. While neither happened, they still had a spectacular season by the numbers.

They led the ASC in scoring defense (65.9 PPG) and scoring margin (+9.5). No team made more assists (16.3 APG) or had a better assist/turnover ratio (1.1).

How do these numbers translate to the floor?

The Comets did not allow teams to score. They played aggressive — but smart — defense, contested shots and did not give up easy baskets. They scored the ball as well, enough at least to beat teams by more points per game than any other in the ASC. Only 21 other teams in the country had more assists

or expected, but posting a 21-7 record and calling it a disappointment is good in its own way.

It means UTD has now established itself as a basketball power. The best way to do that is win a national championship, but the program is still in its growing stages.

This is the third 20-win season in a row for the basketball team. Add three NCAA berths and an ASC Title to that and it spells success. For a program that had just its eighth winning season, this is a quick rise to the top.

the Mercury Butterfield and his players may have to wait on that national championship, but they have taken the first few, important steps in that direction. No one can win a championship overnight, but the Comets are quickly on their way to becoming a contender.

Good teams score. Great teams share the ball and play defense, and statistically no one in the ASC passed or defended better than UTD. Yes, MHB swept the Comets. But 21 wins, stellar team defense and unselfish offense add up to future success.

It may be upsetting that one team can alter another’s success so much by knocking it out of two tournaments, but a team should never measure its season based on performance against one team.

— Bobby Karalla

on performance against one team.

Twenty-one victories is a great accomplishment. This year’s Comets might look back and say all they are concerned with is 0-3 — their record against the only team they could not beat.

Every team sets goals at the beginning of the sea-

per game. The Comets had weapons everywhere on the floor this season, and they shared the ball. Unselfish play leads to victories. Not turning the ball over is also a huge key to winning games, and a 1.1 assist-to-turnover ratio is a solid mark.

The season did not end the way they wanted, hoped

photo by Ben Hawkins

Curtis Davis crosses over a LeTourneau University defender on Senior Day, when he, Brandon Greene and Wells Adams were honored. The Comets won 83-47 in their final regular season home game.

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BASEBALL RECAP After their hot start to the season, the Comets hit a brick wall March 4. They suffered through a 1-5 stretch that included an 0-2 showing at the Abilene Classic at HardinSimmons University.

Heading into their three-game weekend series against Mississippi College on March 18-19, the Comets have since won three games in a row to snap out of their worst slump of the young season, recovering against a loss to University of the Ozarks by winning the next two games of the series, and then beating Austin College 7-3.

Against Austin College, Joseph Killgore hit a pinch-hit grand slam to top off a six-run 7th inning.

Killgore — who suffered an injury earlier in the season — chose the right time to hit his first home run of the year.

Derek Dallas is off to an outstanding start. Through March 17, Dallas is 4-0 after five starts, with a 1.22 ERA and a team-leading 36 strikeouts.

Note: All statistics and records are as of March 18, before UTD played a threegame series against Mississippi College.

SOFTBALL

continued from page 11 7th inning.

The Lady Comets went on to defeat nationallyranked Louisiana College in the first leg of a doubleheader.

Heather Foust struck out seven batters en route to a

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TENNIS

continued from page 11

Currently, they are 7-3 and in third place in the ASC East.

Antonio Alda (7-2 in), Bryan Leib (7-2) and Sebastien Leitz (6-2) lead the Comets in singles play.

Wayne Chang and Clint Laukhuf have seen success in doubles play, going 5-1 and 1-0 in conference matches.

Perhaps the men’s most important victory came outside of ASC play.

The Comets beat D-II

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Dallas Baptist University, 6-3, on March 1.

A win against higher competition can provide a boost to a program.

UTD won five of its six singles matches to complete the upset.

The men are 7-3, and 2-1 in conference through March 18.

In their most recent matches on March 14, the women beat Central College 7-2, and the men won 8-1.

Both the men and women return to action at home March 21 at 2 p.m. against Whitworth College.

March 21, 2011

photo by Ben Hawkins

Sebastien Lietz and Jeff Trinh compete in doubles. The two have combined to go 3-2 overall in doubles, and 1-0 against ASC opponents.

10th respectively) found the shooters both on the perimeter and inside in what was a very well-rounded, versa-

tile offensive system.

Ichimura and Scott will be gone next season, but they have certainly left their mark on the budding program.

In six seasons, the Lady Comets have evolved from mediocre to dangerous.

They have averaged 20.3 wins the past three seasons and qualified for the ASC Tournament five straight seasons.

This season, UTD went 12-1 at home. The Lady Comets won games they were supposed to win. Their loss in the ASC Tournament came on the road against

Howard Payne University, the champions of the West Division.

Each season, UTD has taken another step forward.

Under Thomason’s guidance, the Lady Comets have risen at a rapid pace to the top of the East. While they did not get an at-large bid to the NCAA Tournament, a postseason win is still a step in the right direction.

The Lady Comets have done an excellent job building on the previous year’s success, and the foundation is in place for another good season next year.

Tarneisha Scott

Lyndsey Smith

Team

470 points - most in a season 17.4 PPG - second highest in a season, led ASC 175 FG - most in a season 52.9 FG% - highest in a season, third in ASC 105 FT - second most in a season 223 rebounds - second most in a season 8.3 RPG - second highest in a season

391 points - fourth most in a season 14.5 PPG - fourth highest in a season, ninth in ASC 135 FG - fifth most in a season 59 3s - second most in a season 41.5 3-pt% - second highest in a season, second in ASC 87.3 FT% - highest in a season, led ASC

42.4 FG% - highest in a season 151 3s - most in a season 34.5 3-pt% - second highest in a season 71.9 FT% - second highest in a season 15 APG - highest in a season 107 BLK - most in a season 16 ASC wins - second most in conference 24.7 DEF 3-pt% - 5th in nation

complete game victory.

At the time of the upset, Louisiana College was ranked No. 2 in Division III. Caysie Norum got off to a stellar start, hitting .500 through 18 games.

Norum leads the Lady Comets in nearly every major offensive category

and is putting up AllConference numbers..

She is first in the ASC in batting average, first in slugging, first in on-base percentage, tied for first in home runs, fifth in total bases and tied for third in walks.

Norum has already matched her home run

total from last season — six — and has dramatically improved in all other statistical areas.

Should the stretch of solid performances continue, the Lady Comets will be in position to improve and build upon their lackluster previous few seasons.

UTD’s last winning sea-

WOMEn’S

continued from page 11

13

photo by Ben Hawkins

Kellie Loukanis jumps for a loose ball against a LeTourneau University defender. The Lady Comets won the Senior Day game 56-41, closing out the regular season with their twelfth home victory.

son was in 2006 — former head coach Kim Sotomayor’s first full season in charge.

At this point, the Lady Comets have a shot at more than just a winning season.

They could compete for their first ASC Tournament since 2005.

The Lady Comets have

already nearly matched their win total from last season and are on pace to have their best season since 2005.

Their next game is a March 22 double-header at LeTourneau University, then they return home April 2 in another double-header against LeTourneau.

14

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March 21, 2011

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March 21, 2011

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March 21, 2011

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