The UTD Mercury May 2 Edition

the Mercury

www.utdmercury.com

The Student Newspaper of UTD

Vol. XXXI, No. 8

Disc golf group tees off in time for summer Page 9

Concealed handgun license talk stalls in senate Page 4

May 2, 2011

Club members share laughs, recipes Page 5

UTD investigation into softball under way AD, panel review program, coach after players allege multiple violations Bobby Karalla

Sports Editor rjk090020@utdallas.edu

Cassie Crabtree Head softball coach

Burglary victim calls for caution Anwesha Bhattacharjee Staff Writer axb094820@utdallas.edu

In “UTD PD Theft Update,” in the March 20 issue of The Mercury, Lt. Ken MacKenzie informed readers about increasing numbers of car thefts on campus.

Roughly a month later, on April 13, Emily Nunn, biology freshman, walked out of Building 41 to her 2009 Volkswagon Jetta, and found her front passenger window shattered.

Electronics worth more than $700 were stolen from the car, including a radar detector, an iPod and a GPS. Nunn, a resident of University Village, said she stayed the night at a friend’s second floor apartment.

Meanwhile, her car was parked for seven hours unattended.

When she reported the incident to the UTD Police Department, officers responded and performed a thorough fingerprint examination of the car. The police have been very helpful, Nunn said.

“I gave them the serial numbers of my things that were taken and they called me about once a week with an update, so hopefully they will turn up at a pawn shop or something and we’ll have an idea who stole them,” she said.

Nunn said the radar detector she left on the windshield was probably what lured the thief to break in.

see THEFT page 4

University officials are investigating the softball program for potential UTD and NCAA rule violations committed this school year.

The investigation began in April after at least three players met with Athletic Director Chris Gage,

and accused head coach Cassie Crabtree of multiple rule violations pertaining to team practices. The alleged violations include practicing outside the NCAA-allowed time frame and falsifying players’ hour sheets.

While Gage confirmed a panel is investigating the matter, he said the athletic department cannot release information until the

review is complete. The investigation should be finished by the end of the school year, Gage said.

In an email Crabtree said she had no comment on the investigaion or alleged violations.

Former player Caitlyn Todd — who quit the team in late February — met with Gage to discuss information already presented by another former player and current

player, both of whom asked wish to remain anonymous.

Todd said the allegations include unauthorized practices and players being told to sign blank hour sheets weeks in advance. According to NCAA rules, in-season sports have no official hour limit per week, but

see INVESTIGATION page 9

The price of

PARKING Tickets on pace to triple in 2011 Nada Alasmi

Staff Writer nma096020@utdallas.edu

UTD students might want to watch where they park and make sure they have a proper permit, because ticketing is on the rise.

More than 6,000 tickets were issued per month in February and March of this year, higher totals than any other months in the past three years.

Additionally, more than 26,000 parking tickets have been issued in the first seven months of the 2011 fiscal year — from September 2010 to March 2011

see TICKETS page 4 photo by Albert Ramirez

Information courtesy of UTD’s Parking and Transportation Office

* This figure is a projection based on the average number of tickets issued per month this year and assumes the monthly averages hold for the remaining five months of this fiscal year.

illustration by Michelle Nguyen

Commuters say finding convenient parking more costly than it’s worth Nada Alasmi

Staff Writer nma096020@utdallas.edu

Whenever Ashley Skillern drives to campus, she circles the parking lot for minutes looking for an empty space.

The biology junior said she makes loops around lots C and D near the library, lots A and B near Green Hall and Lot J near the Activity Center to look for a parking space. Generally, after about 15 minutes, she says she finds one and walks

frustrated to class.

It’s because of this daily struggle that Skillern said she feels there aren’t enough parking spaces on campus.

Data from the Parking and Transportation Office indicates there may be some truth to

her complaints.

While 12,654 parking permits have been sold to UTD commuter students, there are only 5,206 spaces in which these students can park.

see PARKING page 4

Comets honored for leadership Shagman wins for service, Chui earns Student Leader of the Year Sheila Dang

Contributor news@utdmercury.com

Eight students who have demonstrated excellent leadership qualities were honored at the Student Leadership banquet in the Galaxy Rooms on April 18.

About 100 students and faculty attended the formal event, which featured a three-course dinner before the award recipients were announced.

Biology junior Derek Chui

received the Student Leader of the Year award, the highest individual honor given that evening.

“To be honest, I was shocked,” Chui said afterwards. “I had received an email from Kristen Myers (assistant director of Student Life Programs) a while back, and I saw a lot of deserving leaders who have made an incredible impact on the campus.”

Jacqueline Long, program supervisor for the Academic Bridge Program and adviser of the National Society of Black Engineers,

received the Advisor of the Year award. Long said cultivating leadership skills and confidence in her students is a priority.

“I feel like my job as the adviser is to help them (with) leadership development,” she said. “My second biggest thing is I feel like I’m responsible for making sure they uphold the image of UTD. They have to never forget that UTD is their home and that they’re repre-

see BANQUET page 4

photo by Akshay Harshe

Students, faculty and staff converse over a three-course dinner at the Student Leadership Banquet in the Galaxy Rooms.

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News

May 2, 2011

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the Mercury

UTD Police scanner The following is a breakdown of key topics raised at the April 19 Student Government, or SG, meeting. Full minutes of meetings can be found at sg.utdallas. edu.

•Richardson City Councilman Amir Omar visited senate to thank senators for their cooperation with his projects. Omar specifically noted the efforts of Zayd Mabruk, Legislative Affairs Committee chair.

• Treasurer Samuel Scott announced that only 14 percent of the SG project budget remains and cautioned senators to consider project expenses carefully throughout the summer.

• Senate approved a letter addressed to the Texas Legislature in opposition to the ongoing concealed handgun license legislation.

The letter explains that the

majority of UTD’s student body is against the law and therefore SG does not support it.

•Vishal Channe, Graduate & International Affairs Committee chair and graduate student, said his committee is working with the International Student Services Office to create a furniture rental service for students.

Channe also announced he has requested a change machine for the McDermott Library.

• SG President Grace Bielawski noted I Heart UT Dallas increased attendance over last year’s event.

• Bielawski concluded the meeting by handing the gavel to Secretary Brittany Sharkey, Sharkey and Cody Willming will preside as SG president and vice president, respectively, beginning May 1.

Correction: In the April 18 issue of The Mercury, the SG Report contained an error. Information regarding a split lease option offered through Waterview Park, or WP, was incorrect. WP is currently monitoring the student demand for a split lease option in consideration of offering it in the future. The Mercury regrets this error.

April 12 • A non-affiliated person was arrested for Driving While Intoxicated following a traffic stop.

April 13 • A student reported the burglary of her vehicle.

• UTD Police officers were dispatched to a Waterview Park apartment in response to bur-

glary of a habitation.

April 16 • A student was arrested for Evading Detention and issued a citation for Possession of Alcohol by a Minor.

April 18 • A Burglary of a Motor Vehicle was reported in the southwest corner of the Living Learning Center parking lot.

• A student reported the theft of his cell phone.

April 20 • A student was arrested for Reckless Driving and Driving While License Invalid following a traffic stop.

• An affiliated person was arrested for Driving While Intoxicated.

• A student reported the theft of her money from a

person selling magazines.

• A student was issued a citation for Possession of Drug Paraphernalia.

April 23 • Narcotics and drug paraphernalia items were seized from a student’s apartment.

• A professor was arrested for Obstructing Highway or Other Passage.

News briefs New Minors • The Environmental Studies minor will be offered starting fall 2011 and students can now enroll in the minor.

The minor will include two new courses: Ecology and an Environmental Studies Internship/ Independent Study Capstone Project course.

Elizabeth Salter, associate dean for the School of Interdisciplinary Studies, said she believes the minor is a valuable addition to UTD’s curriculum.

“In order to keep everything in equilibrium, I think we need to be aware of the changes we make to the environment, and the push-back the environment has on us,” Salter said. “We need to be aware of the changes that go on so that we can live better

and so that the environment is still preserved.”

• A Healthcare Studies concentration will also be offered starting fall 2011.

The concentration was created to provide students interested in healthcare a broader liberal arts experience than the typical biology or neuroscience majors, said Scott Wright, director of undergraduate education.

It will include a number of biology courses, in addition to new courses with a broader perspective such as Global Issues in Healthcare and U.S. Healthcare System, Salter said.

“In medical schools, students will be studying science, so why not study something different at the undergraduate level?” Wright said. “It’s still relevant, still in the area that they want to

enter into, but it’s broader than studying science all the time. It still has the courses they would need to get into medical school or dental school.”

Wright said his office is working towards possibly converting the concentration into a major by fall 2012.

• The Spanish and Hispanic Area Studies minor is an 18-hour minor started in fall 2010.

Apart from the four required Spanish language courses, students are required to choose four elective courses out of the 13 electives offered.

These electives include courses such as Advanced Spanish Culture, Latin American History and Modern Mexico.

“Because of our proximity to Mexico and Latin America, Spanish is

obviously an important language,” said George Hensen, senior lecturer of Spanish. “Some of the important emerging markets right now are in Latin America, and this minor course will look good on the résumé and job application, because a language always gives students a one up.”

• Another minor that started in fall 2010 is Healthcare Studies.

“This would be great for students who have pursued a non-biology degree who are interested in getting into healthcare because it gives students a more diverse background,” Salter said.

Courses in this minor include The American Healthcare System, and Anatomy and Physiology of Speech and Hearing, among others.

— Anwesha Bhattacharjee

Opinion

the Mercury www.utdmercury.com

May 2, 2011

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Whooshes, booshes: a look at issues from the semester The following is a collection of hits and misses board members noted from the spring 2011 semester. If “whoosh” is the Comet spirit sound, “boo-sh” seems to be the logical antonym.

Boosh: Parking The current parking system isn’t working. It just isn’t.

The point has been discussed in an abundance of ways, but it’s worth noting again. With more than 40,000 tickets projected to be doled out this year and a consistent source of student complaint, there’s no denying something needs to change.

Whoosh: Text-friendly campus When UTD lost to the snow-week, commonly given the moniker “snow-pocalypse,” it was memorable to say the least. Given this opportunity the text-oriented alert system proved its worth and convenience — falling back asleep after looking at a text is much easier than after rolling out of bed to check the UTD website.

The text-convenience continues as students can now wait in line electronically after giving the Student Services Building front desk their cell number. Instead of waiting

in line students can carry on with business as usual until they’re notified via text when it’s their turn.

Boosh: Student Government website If students want to review what senate has accomplished, or what was discussed at previous meetings on their website, they’ll be met with some difficulty since several aspects of the SG website aren’t regularly updated.

For example: • Meeting agendas, updated Dec. 7, 2010 • Meeting minutes, updated Nov. 16, 2010 • Agendas, updated April 2010 • Resolutions, updated 2009 This year’s senate created a newsletter identifying accomplishments made by senators. This is a good way to show students what they’ve been working on, but for more accessibility their web interface should be revamped to give students up-to-date information.

Whoosh: Collection of first-place titles The past semester it seems like the only clubs, teams or organizations to come from UTD have been awardwinning. The excellence this university strives for has been achieved over and over by its students, which goes to show to the quality of the people on this campus.

College finals, finale What education could be worth to students Paul Dang

Contributor news@utdmercury.com

It’s kind of funny.

After almost two decades of school, I still haven’t learned how to not procrastinate. I mean, why would I responsibly use my free time to gradually finish assignments before due dates when I could easily be watching re-runs of Scrubs instead?

Zach Braff beats MLA essays any day of the week.

Maybe I just have a different mentality about college.

Let’s face it, we’re all here Paul because we want a semi-decent career.

As exams approach I can’t help but wonder how much of the material I’ll be cramming will actually help me when I enter the work force.

If you’re one of those overachieving students who visit professors during office hours to whine about your 3-pointwhatever GPA, this rant isn’t meant for you. No, this is meant for my people who just want college to be done with so they can start their lives — the coasters, like me.

Academia obsesses and drools over GPA. This oracle number will determine your future as a

student. It’ll tell you what school you’ll go to, and how much tuition you’ll have to pay.

The scholastic system is set up in such a way that we all become so fixated on this little number, that we can forget what we’re supposed to be doing here: learning.

If I gave you an exam from a class you took just last semester, how well would you do? I know I’d probably fail with flopping colors.

Now what about an exam from a year ago? Two years ago? How much have we Dang really learned?

Oftentimes, the student with the higher grade isn’t the more knowledgeable student.

Sometimes they’re just better at playing the game.

What’s even more ironic is that most of the information we regurgitate in college will be irrelevant in the work field. Barring jobs that require higher level mathematics or science, or ones that require thorough knowledge on specific subjects, most of the stuff we learn in college will be forgotten and unnecessary in the corporate world.

Don’t get me wrong, college will teach you invaluable things that will put you

ahead in your field, but by the time you start working you’ll be expected to learn new things on your own — not to mention that a lot of acquired knowledge becomes obsolete when your chosen field advances.

Doctors are constantly reading journals of medicine to stay updated on procedures.

Programmers must constantly learn the newer, more efficient coding. English teachers keep pushing for their novels to get published so they can retire.

That piece of paper on the wall we work so hard to earn is just proof for employers that we’re committed enough to work for them. Once we’re hired, it’s back to square one — almost everything we’ve learned gets scrapped and we’ll have to learn how to do things their way.

Employers know that being a good business student does not mean you’ll be a good businessman. Having A’s in biology classes does not make someone a good doctor. You get the idea.

Ultimately we’re all here just doing our time, waiting for the day we graduate so we can start making real moves. Until then I’m stuck here buying Scantrons and Number 2 pencils so I can bubble C in when I don’t know the answer.

Good luck on finals.

Comet

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

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

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Residential parking needs improvement, consistency Amanda Preston

Contributor news@utdmercury.com

While residents may note their on-campus apartment lease makes no comment on requirements for guest passes or permits, if your friends come to visit you it could cost them $40.

There are no visitor spaces around dorms or apartments, as you may note, and they would not be able to park in them anyway if they are associated with UTD, so before you think about having a friend stop in for lunch or a bout of “Halo 3,” be sure to get a visitor’s pass from the housing office.

Also note that their hours are limited, so plan ahead, and be sure that both resident and visitor are present or passes will not be issued.

For UTD students who already pay to have the option of parking on campus, be doubly advised, literally, as those who do not have a university sticker will pay $20 for the offense of occupying resident spaces, while students, faculty and staff will fork over twice that.

What is more troubling is the gross inconsistency among signs, online information and personnel within the parking office.

Signs in Phase II (on

W

Comments

Boosh: Thefts increase on campus There has been an increase in on-campus thefts this semester, but often the part of the blame lies with the people whose things are being stolen.

It can be awful to have things you own taken, especially on a campus where the crime rate is so low for the most part, and it seems silly to feel anything but safe. But it doesn’t hurt to remember to keep your car doors locked and electronics where you can see them.

campus property, but the apartments are not campus owned) state that visitor passes must be obtained from “the Information Center on University Parkway or the Police Department,” but campus police no longer issue visitor passes.

M o r e o v e r, according to one employee Amanda within the police office, no visitor may park in resident lots even with a pass obtained from the Information Center.

Green temporary permits are given by the Info Center only for those without campus affiliation, but guests must then park in a green space somewhere on campus and walk to their friend’s residence (hopefully the campus map’s parking will match the actual lots).

The housing office for Waterview Park has a different story than campus police. They give two-day guest passes for visitors that (in theory) allow parking in resident lots.

Office hours may make this difficult, but for timesavvy individuals, making advance plans for lunch

dates or Rock Band tournaments shouldn’t be a problem, especially since we all know college kids never do anything last minute.

According to at least two housing office employees, unofficially that is, after 9 p.m., parking is not enforced, but that still leaves two hours Preston between when the housing office closes (M-F) and when tickets are no longer issued.

The time gap could be costly for conscientious individuals who may stay overnight at a friend’s apartment to avoid driving after consuming alcohol, or for those community members who come on campus to watch sporting events and don’t know house rules on colorcoded club membership.

Whether the police, info center, housing office or signs are correct is hard to say, and since each has a different story, better be safe than sorry and invite your campus-dwelling friend to visit your house instead.

At least there, you can make the rules and decide how much to charge for admission.

hat are your plans for summer vacation?

“Working full time at Target.”

“Take community college Spanish. Summer break exhausted my hands.”

“Go to an EVO fighting game tournament in Las Vegas.”

Marion Paulo MIS junior

Madelyn Day Geography junior

Sonny Nguyen Engineering senior

the Mercury Editor-in-Chief Jessica Melton

Photo Editor Albert Ramirez

Media Adviser Chad Thomas

Managing Editor Shane Damico

Sports Editor Bobby Karalla

Photographers Ben Hawkins Brandon Higgins

Graphics Editor Laura-Jane Cunningham

Web Editor Dhamodaran Subramanian

Staff Writers Nada Alasmi Anwesha Bhattacharjee John D. McCrary Contributors Paul Dang Sheila Dang Akshay Harshe Navneet Kumar Michelle Nguyen Christopher Wang

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News

May 2, 2011

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Hand gun bill loses support

BANQUET

Concealed carry talks cool, debate remains heated at UTD

senting the school.”

A committee of five faculty members selected the award recipients. In addition to Chui and Long, Biochemistry junior Carolyn Nghe received the Community Service Award and Psychology senior Megan Richardson received the Employee of Excellence Award. Additionally, Political Science sophomore Cody Willming received the Rising Star Award and Radio UTD was presented with the Golden Comet Award.

Speakers, including UTD

Paul Dang

Contributor news@utdmercury.com

The concealed handgun issue was stalled in the Texas Senate on April 7.

Senate Bill 354 was proposed by Sen. Jeff Wentworth (R-San Antonio) to allow students, faculty and staff members with a concealed handgun license, or CHL, to carry concealed handguns into buildings located on college campuses in Texas.

The bill was open for discussion on the Senate floor but it was withdrawn because two Democratic senators, Sen. Lucio (D-Brownsville) and Sen. Gallegos (D-Houston), who originally supported the bill, pulled their names from the majority vote that was required for the bill to be heard.

Before the campus-carry bill could be voted on, it required 21 senators, or two-thirds of the Senate, to carry it into discussion.

The bill was one sena-

PARKING

continued from page 1 Parking for commuter students includes remote, green, gold and evening orange spaces — spots that are also shared with hundreds of faculty and staff.

This sharing of parking spaces has caused problems for Micaela Canedo, a gold permit holder who said she often can’t find parking.

“Gold is definitely worth it because I don’t have to walk a lot,” the accounting junior said. “But there are not enough gold (spaces) and it stinks to have to drive around looking for parking.”

Canedo said she faced parking problems last semester when her classes began at 11:30 a.m. This semester her classes begin at 9:30 a.m. and she usually finds parking more easily.

The approximate 6-to-1 ratio of gold parking permits to gold parking spaces is the largest of all permit types, with 6,084 permits for 1,348 spaces. But gold

tor short of being brought into discussion.

Zayd Maybruk, Student Government Legislative Affairs Committee chair and business administration senior, has stayed updated on the status of the bill.

“Right now it’s withdrawn, meaning Wentworth is working behind the scenes, and if he does get the support he’ll make a motion to listen to the bill on the floor. It just depends on how much Wentworth is willing to compromise,” Mabruk said. “If he does compromise it’s going to pass in my opinion.”

Some of the compromises mentioned are defining that only licensed and concealed pistols will be allowed in campus buildings, that universities would be allowed to establish their own rules for storage of firearms on campus and that campuses with primary or secondary schools would be able to prohibit concealed handguns from those

permit holders also have the option to park in green and remote spaces — spots that UTD officials say are underutilized.

James Wright, assistant vice president of Business Affairs, said there are more than 1,000 untaken parking spaces on campus at any time, many of which are remote spaces in lots A and B near the library. He advises students to park there.

While there may be available spots in remote parking, Skillern, whose green permit is more expensive than a remote one, said remote parking is far from her classes and asks why UTD doesn’t create more parking spaces.

That may be a significant question heading into 2012, when student enrollment is expected to increase by almost 1,000 students, according to information presented in UTD President David Daniel’s 2010 State of The University address.

As the campus grows, so must parking, said Student Government President Grace Bielawski.

To that end, UTD has

buildings.

UTD Police Chief Larry Zacharias, who has seen similar bills fall short before, has a different opinion than Mabruk on the outcome of the bill.

“It doesn’t look like there are any chances that this bill will become law,” Zacharias said. “It’s not that big of a surprise really.”

Despite the stalling and uncertainty of the legislation, students continue to discuss how they would potentially be affected by the Senate’s decision.

“After looking at all the facts and reading the bill, for Texas to even consider adopting a bill forcing institutions of higher education to allow concealed handguns is just a terrible idea,” Mabruk said. “You don’t need to bring guns to a place where people are learning and getting an education.”

Jeff Nansen, business graduate student, attended UTD’s open forum discussion on March 10 and was vocal about his sup-

converted Lot I, a 155space visitor lot near the Conference Center, to include 93 student and 62 visitor spaces in March.

UTD will also add 300 spaces to Lot M near the School of Management by Fall 2011, Wright said.

While the modification to Lot M is the only planned parking expansion for the immediate future, long term plans include enhancement of the UTD Comet Cruiser routes, increased parking lot expansion and the completion of a loop road inside UTD, he said.

Another projected expansion, parking garages, is not on the near horizon due to its high price tag. UTD officials say parking garages would cost $10,000 per space to build and $250 per spot per month to maintain.

“In the future when the population does grow and when there is no availability, we will need to make a (parking) garage,” Bielawski said. “But for now we will push that back as much we can because it’s such a burden.”

port for the bill in question.

He expressed his dissatisfaction to the state Congress’ decision to withdraw the bill from discussion.

“Fear won out the day over facts and reason,” Nansen said. “I think it was apparent in the open forum we had on campus that people that are opposed to the bill are just using fear mongering as opposed to facts, and the victims of that are unfortunately civil liberties.”

Nansen said that while he hopes the bill will pass in its current form, he would still support a compromised bill in hopes of coming back to the issue again.

The withdrawal of the bill will not affect the campus police department.

“It allows us to keep operating the way we’ve been operating which is very definitely about how we respond with weapons cases on campus,” Zacharias said. “It’s not a bad thing for us at all.”

TICKETS

continued from page 1 — according to data from UTD’s Parking and Transportation Office.

Parking enforcement could conclude this fiscal year with as many as 46,100 tickets issued. That’s more than the number of tickets issued in 2009 and 2010 combined.

James Wright, assistant vice president of Business Affairs, said while he could not provide a direct answer for why ticketing has increased, UTD has recently improved its parking enforcement. “. . . Our main challenge continues to be students, faculty and staff who park on campus without purchasing a valid parking permit,” he said in an email to The Mercury. “To address this situation, we have recently improved enforcement throughout campus in order to protect the privilege of those who have purchased permits.”

Tickets at UTD range from $20 to $120 per offense and are issued by police officers and student ticketers.

This ticketing produced $293,714 in revenue in fiscal year 2010 and $367,147

THEFT

continued from page 1 The incident has left her traumatized and upset, she said.

“Somebody invaded my space,” Nunn said. “My car is my sanctuary; it’s

continued from page 1

the Mercury President David Daniel, expressed that the evening’s award winners demonstrated the benefits and opportunities that can be created by becoming an involved student serving the UTD campus.

“About 50 legislators visit campus every year… and I can tell you without exaggeration they always remember our campus and they always remember our students,” Daniel said in his opening remarks that kicked off the banquet. “They forget me and everything I say, but they always remember (the students), and that’s the way it should be.”

Student leadership award recipients • Rising Star Award Cody Willming • Employee of Excellence Megan Richardson • Service to Student Life Laura Shagman •Community Service Carolyn Nghe • Golden Comet Award Radio UTD • Advisor of the Year Jacqueline Long

in 2009. It remains to be seen how much revenue will be generated this fiscal year, which ends Aug. 31.

While Wright said ticketing is not specifically seen as a source of revenue, the profit generated from ticketing goes to fund parking services, parking lot upgrades and some police services.

Maham Shafi is one of the many UTD students who have received a ticket for parking without a permit.

Shafi, a psychology sophomore with a gold permit, said she received about 12 tickets this semester, first for not having a permit and then for parking in lots she did not have permission to park in, including one incident in March.

“I had a class at the Conference Center (and) I looked everywhere (but) there was not a single parking space, no gold, no green, nothing,” she said.

“I parked in front of the Student Services Building where it said (it was for) services parking only.”

She said she appealed all of her tickets but only two were approved.

Of the 1,325 that were made in fiscal year 2010.

Of these, 629 were denied and 696 were granted.

While most appeals are made by students who have not purchased permits, some students, like biology freshman Fatima Khan, feel their appeals were unfairly denied.

“I think there are a lot of people just making excuses because they didn’t get their permit on time,” Khan said. “But there are a few hundred that have legitimate excuses (and) are not given a chance.”

After her parking permit was stolen in December, Khan received two tickets for not having a permit on her car. She appealed the tickets and both were denied.

Camille Williams, parking and transportation specialist, is the only person on campus who grants or denies appeals.

“You read what the customer writes down (in their appeal) and what the problems are that they are facing,” she explained about the appeals process. “It’s a case to case basis and depends on what happens to the person.”

Along with her other duties, Williams reviews about 40 appeals per day.

She said if students feel their appeals are unfairly denied, they can re-appeal online or call her.

my hang-out spot, and somebody went in there without my permission.

That’s more offensive than taking my stuff.”

She was surprised that no one heard the car alarm go off and called the police.

“Nobody noticed a pile

of glass on the ground, nobody noticed this car window was smashed,” she said. “If I saw that I would call the police immediately.”

Nunn, a Longview, Texas native, said her family has been supportive throughout the incident.

She now has a new radar detector and hopes to get an iPod from her parents on her birthday.

She will never leave any valuables in the car again, she said.

“I would never expect this to happen in my driveway in Longview, so I never thought this would happen in my driveway here,” Nunn said. “You pay $35 for a parking pass here, you live here and you feel safe here. People just need to know these things do happen here, so don’t get too comfortable.”

the Mercury

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Life &Arts

May 2, 2011

5

Good eats Group makes food, friends in the process Nada Alasmi

Staff Writer nma096020@utdallas.edu

In the Residence Hall kitchen, a group of students huddles around steaming pots and long marble counters to fold pastry sheets, dice vegetables, boil noodles and make tasty meals.

These students are members of UTD’s Gourmet Club and meet to learn cooking basics, prepare favorite dishes and experiment with cuisine from various cultures.

What started as a joke between friends became the Gourmet Club in

spring 2009. Now it has 15 regular members and about 50 Facebook followers.

“It was a random idea (we) brought up at Walmart,” said neuroscience junior Kristine Aragon, club co-founder and event coordinator.

What the Gourmet Club cooks varies based on what its members want to do. Sometimes they hold

see COOK page 8

photos by Ben Hawkins

From left: Kristine Aragon, Yasmin Noor and Varna Davalth make fried rice, one of the Gourmet Club’s favorite dishes to prepare.

Bruising brawls, button mashing At each meeting, members of the Fighting Game Club take turns competing to ensure each person has a Members of the recently turn. Each member may play created Fighting Game Club two rounds before handing can be seen battling it out on the controller over to the next several popular video games player. The club plays several in the Phoenix room at 5 p.m. varieties of fighting games, every other Friday. including many popular and The brainchild of Dontrel newly released editions.

Johnson, software engi“The favorite games at the neering sophomore, the meetings right now are ‘Super club started out as mere- Street Fighter IV,’ ‘Marvel ly an idea in the fall vs. Capcom 3’ and ‘BlazBlue and, after much Continuum Shift,’” Johnson preparation, said. “My personal favorite members had games are ‘Street Fighter their first meeting 3,’ ‘Dragon Age 2’ and halfway through the ‘Marvel vs. Capcom spring semester.

3’…though my per“It was sonal favorites kind just to find of shift around based more peoon what I’m doing, ple who the (popularity of the are intergames) come and go ested in fighting as they please.” games like we Johnson’s pasare, and just sion for video to gather peogames began ple together early. with similar “I have enjoyed i n t e re s t s , ” video games ever Johnson said since I was 3,” of his purpose for he said. “My first the club. “We use console was the the PS3 and Xbox 360 Sega Genesis and most of the time, but the first games (that anyone who has any I can remember) were console that has a ‘Fatal Fury,’ ‘Sonic 2’ fighting game is weland ‘Streets of Rage.’” come at the Along with courtesy of meetings.” rhythm-based fightersgeneration.com T h e games such as Fighting “Rock Band” and Game Club of about 14 regu- “Dance Dance Revolution” lar members is a leisure gam- and role-playing games like ing group, though Johnson is “Final Fantasy” and “Dragon open to the idea of hosting Age,” fighting games are or attending tournaments in one of Johnson’s favorites for the future. many reasons.

“If we find players that are “If anything, I can say my good enough we would like favorite thing about fightto do tournaments, but as ing games is just pressing of right now, we are pretty unofficial,” he said. see GAMES page 8

Sheila Dang

Contributor news@utdmercury.com

Realism takes backseat in ‘Water for Elephants’ Romance, circus give classic style a twist John D. McCrary

Staff Writer jdm095120@utdallas.edu

Three years into the worst economic crisis in modern history, 20th Century Fox’s adaptation of Sarah Gruen’s bestseller of the same name takes us back to the last Great Depression and gives us a very pleasant courtesy of Daemonsmovies.com portrayal of a time when Reese Witherspoon and Robert Pattinson have little on-screen chemistry in “running off and joining 20th Century Fox’s “Water for Elephants,” but the film is still pleasant. the circus” was a legitimate career move.

The film awkwardly ing for work after the Jacob’s time in the circus istence. opens by immediately death of his parents. Late leading up to the climacWaltz is perfectly cast jumping into its frame one night, he jumps a tic circus disaster. here as the controlling and where an old man is train only to discover it’s Director Francis volatile August, considerfound wancarrying a Lawrence (I Am Legend) ing he’s fresh of his Oscar dering in the traveling cir- attempts to instill a sense win as the Nazi Col. Hans rain outside cus, and he of peril early. In the open- Landa.

Unfortunately, of the ticket quickly takes ing, the manager asks the August fails to duplicate booth for a up the posi- old man, “The Benzini any off the breathtaking modern day tion as their Brothers? That’s the most menace that launched circus. resident vet. famous circus disaster in Waltz’s career.

The old It’s here history. You’re telling me Witherspoon is also man is where he promptly meets and shuffled into falls in love ...A pleasant story that conceals John D. McCrary with Marlena, the circus Commentary the underlying tension to the m a n a g e r ’s p l a y e d office, where by Reese point of near nonexistence.. he begins divulging his Witherspoon (Walk story. the Line), who is mar— John D. McCrary Just as awkwardly we ried to August, played jump into the old mans by Christoph Waltz past in the 1930’s. From (Inglourious Basterds), you were…” “Right in well cast as the beautihere the story follows the ringleader and auto- the middle of it.” ful — and I mean really Jacob Jankowski, played cratic head of the Benzini What follows is a pleas- beautiful — object of all

by Robert Pattinson Brother’s Most Spectacular ant story that conceals the men’s affections, but (Twilight Saga), a veteri- Show on Earth. the underlying tension to nary school dropout lookThe resulting story is the point of near nonex- see ELEPHANT page 8

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Feature

Greek Life at UTD www.utdmercury.com

May 2, 2011

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May 2, 2011

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UTD houses 15 national Greek-letter fraternities and sororities representing a full spectrum of the student population. Greek life encourages and develops high scholastic performance among its members and builds leadership and networking skills through brotherhood and sisterhood, all while giving back to the community through community service activities.

photos by Akshay Harshe

photo by Brandon Higgins

Mehran Sami, a finance and economics junior, signs the Roll Call book as part of his inductiontion into the Order of Omega as witnessed by Adrienne Rathy, president of the UTD Pi Xi chapter, on Jan 12. The Order of Omega recognizes juniors and seniors exemplifying high standards in scholarship, leadership, involvement within their respective organization and within the Greek, campus and local community.

Courtesy of Pavan Dave

Greek Life Director Brianna Lemos (far right) takes a group picture with members of the United Greek Council (UGC), after “Meet the Greeks” on March 8 in The Pub. Co-sponsored by SUAAB, the event feature UGC member chapters dancing, performing skits and introducing their respective organization to attendees.

Greek Week

(Above) Fraternities and sororieties kick off Greek Week with a game of “Think Fast” on April 25 in the Galaxy Rooms. Greek teams are challenged with questions about pop culture and Greek life and UTD, scoring points with each correct answer. (Left) Biology and business freshman, Godswill Ugwa demonstrates his dancing skills after he draws a wild card, which requires a talent performance.

An annual celebration with competitive, philanthropic and social events that bring the Greek community together in fellowship.

photo by Albert Ramirez

photo by Christopher Wang

Courtesy of Office of Greek Life

photos by Blaire Collum

Alpha Phi Alpha members Kieth Johnson and Skylar Lewis serve food to students during NPHC game night in the SU. The game night is a mixer where students get to meet NPHC members, play games and eat for free.

Kimberly Coon, a cast member of the ABC’s TV show “The Bachelor,” hands a rose to freshmen Vince Dutton during an Amercan Red Cross blood drive on Jan. 22 in Richardson.

ABC and the UTD Fiji chapter co-sponsored the event and succesfully drew both students and members of the surrounding community.

Greek Life advisor Brianna Lemos (left) and Panhellenic president Laura Shagman pose with awards (Jane Sutton Greek Advisor of the Year and Outstanding Public Relations respectively) during the Southeastern Panhellenic Conference on Apr 2 in Atlanta, GA.

Greeks gather for The Busy Book service project on April 27 in the Galaxy Rooms. This philantropical event involves students creating activity books for Children’s Medical Center, which are later hand carried and delivered to patients.

Teams perform a skit and dance using the theme “The Pillars of Greek Life” on April 28 in the Galaxy Rooms.

Teams used music from the 70s, 80s, 90s, and 2000’s. (Far left) Guitarist Michelle Do, a visual arts and marketing student, edges her team into second place.

(Below) Members of Ares & Athena sing and dance, earning them a first place win. photo by Akshay Harshe

photo by Christopher Wang

Andrew Thinker & Company perform at Sigma Alpha Epsilon’s anual Rock the Campus for the Cure (RTCFTC) on April 16 at the soccer fields. RTCFTC was organized after a fraternity member lost his battle with leukemia. To date, the event has raised over $83,000 in donations to the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society.

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Life &Arts

May 2, 2011

GAME

CoOK

a combination of buttons in a quick sequence to make amusing things happen,” he said. “The fast pace of fighting games and their unique mechanics compared to most other games is what draws me in.”

Johnson’s club has done well in terms of attendance, and he said the meetings usually have a good turnout, which he considers to be around 15 or more people. Anyone interested in participating in the club can simply attend the meetings.

“I try to attend the Fighting Game Club meetings,” biology sophomore Dan Nguyen said. “I enjoy playing games such as “Super Smash Bros.

Brawl, and the meetings are a really good way of connecting with other gamers.”

egg whisking contests, or sometimes they decide to make nothing but rolls for the entire month.

Varna Davalth, club president, said rolls month was April and that she enjoyed making Chinese egg rolls most. “(I) didn’t know what goes into making (them) or how (they are) made,” said the biology junior.

The club has also made sushi, Filipino banana rolls, fettuccini and Chinese pancakes.

Members say they are united by their love of cooking new foods and of one another.

continued from page 5

continued from page 5

Many of them were friends before starting the club and as the club has grown, new members have joined the network of friends.

“When we get together and cook it’s kind of like we are family,” said club treasurer Yasmin Noor.

“We get to make food and enjoy it and we all get to be involved.”

Noor, a biochemistry sophomore, said she has experience in cooking and “30 Minute Meals” is one of her favorite shows on the Food Network.

While the club meetings vary, the Facebook group “Gourmet Club (at UTD)” lists its upcoming events.

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Egg rolls made easy Ingredients • 6 ounces lean ham • 4 ounces Shrimp • ½ pound Bean sprouts • 2 ounces Spring Onion (shredded) • 20 pieces Spring roll skins • 6 cups Oil • 1 teaspoon and 1 teaspoon Cornstarch • 1 tablespoon and ½ tablespoon Soy sauce • 1 teaspoon and ¼ teaspoosalt • ½ cup Soup stock • 1 tablespoon cornstarch (make paste) • 1 tablespoon cold water • 1 tablespoon flour

Directions 1. After cutting the pork marinate with soy sauce and cornstarch. In another bowl marinate shrimp with salt and cornstarch.

2. Heat 5 tablespoons oil in frying pan, stir fry the pork about ½ minute, drain and put aside. Repeat with shrimp until well done and then remove from pan. Add bean sprouts to the frying pan, stir, add soy sauce, salt and soup stock and cover with lid for 2 minutes. Then add pork, shrimp and onion before stir-frying another ½ minute over high heat, stir cornstarch paste until thickened and remove to bowl.

3. Place 2 tablespoons filling on the spring roll skin, about 1 inch from the edge, roll then fold both sides toward the center. Stick outer edge of skin to roll with flout paste (combine 1 tablespoon of flour to 1 1/2 tablespoons of water).

Place face down to keep the rolls shape for frying.

4. Heat oil in pan, deep-fry spring rolls 10 at a time. Use high heat, fry about 3 minutes. Serve with soy sauce and brown vinegar.

- recipe courtesy of UTD Gourmet Club

Showing it off in the showcase

photo by Brandon Higgins

Hayley Tiefenthaler, Arts & Technology senior, views a classmate’s project at the ATEC/EMAC showcase April 20. At the event students were able to present class projects and recieve feedback.

ELEPHANT

continued from page 5 her radiant charm fails to convey the wounded star, resigned to her life with such a capricious husband.

Robert Pattinson as the central figure is just as handsome as Reese is beautiful, but he brings little dimension to his somewhat blank faced character. And while both stars are pleasing to watch on their own, the coupling is almost devoid of chemistry.

Really the only thing that carries the audience along is just the mystifying environment of it all. A quaint period piece with numerous aesthetically pleasing sequences set to James Newton Howards dulcet numbers, meant to set up

an old fashioned melodramatic romance.

While the plot leaves much to be desired, at the end of the day this isn’t really a terrible movie, it’s simply just out of place in today’s movie theatres. It’s nice to see a film that features real people, places, and spectacles without any kind of special effects, and it’s unfortunate that a film like this almost feels foreign to modern viewers.

Ultimately, Water for Elephants is a film without impressive performances or a gripping plot, but it is a very pleasant viewing experience that asks nothing of its audience other than to sit back and enjoy the show.

“Water for Elephants”

7/ 10

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Sports

May 2, 2011

Baseball team finishes second in ASC East

investigation continued from page 1

practice time must be recorded. Todd said the hour sheets are meant only for the athletic department to use as a reference to keep track of practices.

NCAA rules state a team can practice six out of every seven days in the off-season and are not allowed to play intrasquad games offcampus during pre-season training. Extra practices are prohibited outside of the eight-hour per week limit set during pre-season practices.

Todd said while the additional practices were called voluntary, the players had no choice but to attend.

“It was very clear that we were supposed to be there, and if we weren’t, there would be consequences,” Todd said.

NCAA practice rules state

Comets take on TLU in first round of ASC Tournament Bobby Karalla

Sports Editor rjk090020@utdallas.edu

The Comets baseball team finished the 2011 regular season in second place in the ASC East, clinching a home playoff game in the first round of the ASC Tournament, played April 29-30 at the UTD Baseball Field.

A report on the UTD/Texas Lutheran first round weekend series can be found at www.utdmercury.com UTD (25-15, 11-7) won its final two games in a double-header against the third-place Louisiana College Wildcats on the last day of the regular season and improved to second place after the sweep. The Comets entered the double-header two games behind Louisiana College for second place in the division.

UTD and Louisiana played the day after the Comets fell to the Wildcats. The loss came on the tail end of a 2-1 series loss to fifth-place East Texas Baptist on April 16.

The Comets ended the regular season with 25 total wins and 11 in conference — both two more than last season’s total.

Derek Dallas finished the season with several singleseason UTD records to his name.

His 1.59 ERA and .635 walks per nine innings shattered previous school records, and his 85 innings pitched and 65 strikeouts rank second and third respectively in a single season. Dallas’ ERA was second-lowest in the ASC, he pitched the most innings and struck out the fourth-most batters.

Marvin Prestridge struck out 61 batters, fifth-best in the ASC and sixth-best in UTD history, and his 3.84 ERA was among the conference’s top 20. Jason Fink finished just behind Prestridge in the conference, with a solid 3.96 ERA. UTD’s pitching carried the team this season. Its 4.01 staff ERA was third behind national powerhouse UT Tyler and West regular season champion Hardin-

McMurry (W4) @ UT Tyler (E1)

The Comets baseball team finished the season in second place in the ASC East, and qualified for the ASC Tournament for the eighth time in the program’s 10-year history.

Disc golf inception brings course to life

second-most.

The offense was not as statistically outstanding. The Comets finished 13th in batting average, but scored the sixth-most runs.

a voluntary activity is one not required by the athletic department staff, and a student-athlete may not be subjected to penalty if he or she elects not to participate.

Todd met with the investigation panel on April 19 — the other former player met with the panel as well — to clarify the issues in question. She said the panel also asked questions regarding how players were treated and why the violations were initially reported.

Crabtree coached at Forney High School from 2006 to 2009 before spending 2010 as pitching coach at UT Tyler. She was hired as UTD head softball coach on June 30.

The Lady Comets finished 2011 in sixth place in the ASC East with a 7-15 conference record. Their 18 wins is the highest total since 2006, when they finished with a 20-16 record.

ASC TOURNAMENT FIRST ROUND

photo by Albert Ramirez

Simmons.

The Comets’ pitching staff threw eight complete games, tying them for second-most in the ASC behind UT Tyler.

Their five shutouts were also

9

Louisiana (E3) @ Concordia (W2) Texas Lutheran (W3) @ UTD (E2) Mississippi (E4) @ Hardin-Simmons (W1) Note: All series were best-of-three and played April 29-30.

The second round will be played May 6.

ASC East Final Baseball ASC Rec. Standings

Overall Rec.

UT Tyler

14-4

33-4

UTD

11-7

25-15

Louisiana College

11-7

25-15

Mississippi College

11-7

23-16

East Texas Baptist Univ.

7-11

14-26

LeTourneau Univ.

7-11

19-21

Univ. of the Ozarks

2-16

8-32

Note: The top four teams in the division qualified for the ASC Tournament.

Softball ends season in sixth photo by Albert Ramirez

Freshman Charles Shu, a member of the new disc golf club, throws a Frisbee towards the first hole on UTD’s disc golf course. The club’s goal is to give disc golf players of all skill levels a chance to play together.

New club puts disc golf course on map Bobby Karalla

Sports Editor rjk090020@utdallas.edu

Tucked deep in the southeast corner of UTD’s campus, a disc golf course is hidden. So hidden in fact, that it isn’t even on the campus map.

Students use the ninehole, par 3 course at their own leisure and also compete in a Rec Sports disc golf tournament each spring.

Until now, though, UTD has not had a club for the sport. That came as a surprise to computer science junior Norman Liu, who has just laid the foundation for the school’s first organized disc golf club.

Disc golf is very similar to golf (or ball golf), but players use a Frisbee instead of a golf club and ball.

A player throws the Frisbee towards a target, commonly known as Pole Holes, in the fewest number of throws possible.

A regulation-size disc golf course contains 18 holes, and the holes are much longer than those at the UTD course, but Liu said since the course is on campus, it will be a great place to practice.

Liu worked with Chris McAlpine, assistant director of recreational sports, to bring the organization to life. Liu, the club’s president, and vice president Jon Devlin have recruited potential members through email and plan to post flyers and make a Facebook group to further advertise the new club.

“Once you know someone that plays disc golf, it’s really easy to find

other people (that play),” Liu said.

While still new to the sport — he recently picked up the sport — Liu described the game as easy to get into and a very fun, cheap hobby.

Liu said the club is open to members of all skill levels, and members have the option to compete in Professional Disc Golf Association competitions.

The club will officially meet in the fall once per week, Liu said, but members will be on campus throughout the summer and plan to play although school is not in session.

Interested members can email Liu at sretsnom@ gmail.com to receive information about the club and his plans for the group over the summer and in the fall.

The Lady Comets finished 2011 in sixth place in the ASC East, and finished the season by winning three of their final four games.

Four East division teams ended the regular season ranked in the top six in the national rankings.

Though they did not compete for the ASC regular

season or postseason title, their 18 wins are the most since 2006 and fifth-most in program history.

Caysie Norum was second in the ASC during the regular season in batting average (.481), and finished in sole possession or tied for the lead in slugging (.894), on base percentage (.613),

ASC East Final Softball Standings

home runs (11), total bases (93) and walks (36).

Pitcher Heather Foust finished the regular season second in the ASC in strikeouts (127) and led in strikeouts looking (39).

The Lady Comets have not advanced to the ASC Tournament since 2005.

— Bobby Karalla

ASC Rec.

Overall Rec.

East Texas Baptist Univ.

17-5

32-6

UT Tyler

17-7

31-9

Mississippi College

16-8

29-11

Louisiana College

15-9

28-10

LeTourneau Univ.

9-15

20-18

UTD

7-15

18-20

Univ. of the Ozarks

1-23

7-33

Note: Standings are from ascsports.org and are accurate as of April 29.

The top four teams advanced to the ASC Tournament.

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May 2, 2011

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