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October 2, 2017
Garden offers additional features, expanded plots at new location
THE MERCURY | UTDMERCURY.COM
STORY BY: SARAH CHAN | STAFF WRITER PHOTO BY: NADINE OMEIS | STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER In 2015, student volunteers petitioned to keep the Community Garden in the wake of construction through its plots. This year, they’re operating an updated, expanded version of that garden. This past year, 117 Comets volunteered with the Garden. Altogether, they managed to harvest 680 pounds of organic produce, due to new features such as the greenhouse and weed barrier. The Community Garden functions as a way to introduce both experienced and new gardeners to gardening in a practical way. When the Office of Student Volunteerism had to move its Community Garden to Phase 1, Mackenzie Hunter, interim director of the OSV, incorporated several new features to improve and expand the production of their produce. Part of the Community Garden’s upgrade was the addition of a greenhouse, which helps in planting new vegetation and nurturing seeds into seedlings.
→ SEE GARDEN, PAGE 12
EMAC junior Delaney Conroy (left) and Associate Director of Energy Conservation Thea Junt work in the Office of Student Volunteerism’s Community Garden which was relocated to Phase 1 in 2015.
GRAPHICS BY: ANTHONY MCNAIR, ETHAN CHRISTOPHER | MERCURY STAFF
Center expands research Professor featured in documentary opportunities, potential ‘Stopping Traffic’ examines roots, modern implications of human trafficking New advanced imaging equipment available
MICHAEL STOUT | MERCURY STAFF
Jimmy Gowrisanker, director of Research Core Facilities, talks about new equipment capable of viewing live tissue cells at the Olympus Discovery Center. The Center opened on Sept. 13 with a ribbon cutting ceremony in the NSERL building. CINDY FOLEFACK Mercury Staff
One year and nearly $3 million in the making, the Olympus Discovery Center provides new imaging systems expanding research opportunities for students, faculty and outside researchers. The Center, housed in the basement of the Natural Science and Engineering Research Laboratory, allows researchers to utilize live cell imaging capabilities. This means students can administer medications to lab animals or inject substances into cells and see the results in real time, increasing the accuracy of the data. Additionally, the equipment includes two confocal microscopes, one of which allows students to view fluorescent molecules and emissions using a laser, while the other allows students to perform high-speed and high-resolution imaging through a spinning disk. Students can also observe molecular interactions using total internal reflectance fluorescence, which allows small regions of compounds to be viewed by
exciting its surface molecules. Director of Core Research Facilities Jimmy Gowrisanker said he hopes the time and money put into the Center will pay off in the long run, and believes the lab is well-equipped to do that. “One of my goals is for this lab to be set up in such a way that it’s marketed outside the university as well,” he said. “Hopefully this will foster cross-university collaboration, which can bring in money that will be put back into the Center.” Olympus representatives teach two to three hour group training sessions for those wanting to use the lab, with instructions on how to properly use the equipment. This gives faculty time to focus on their research and allows students to begin working faster. In addition to the training, researchers also have to pay a fee averaging $24 per hour for equipment use. UTD alumna Grishma Pradhan uses the Center for her ongoing research and said she is thankful for her training, which helped her understand not
→ SEE OLYMPUS, PAGE 12
WILLIAM LEGRONE Mercury Staff
A UTD professor is featured in a documentary focusing on the human sex-trafficking trade and the exploitation of minors. Human trafficking is second only to drug trafficking as the most profitable form of transnational crime, and generates billions of dollars from those that it exploits. Drawing on his historical expertise, Assistant Professor of Historical Studies Ben Wright spoke about the difficulty of combating modern slavery compared to that of historical slavery in the documentary “Stopping Traffic.” “Human trafficking is illegal. We’re looking at tracking an illegal enterprise. This is actually the difference between historical slavery, where it was legal and we got explicit records and insurance companies,” Wright said. “It was out in plain sight. It’s not anymore.”
Because of the covert nature of modern slavery, Wright said he feels it was especially important for him to take part in the documentary and call for today’s youth to take action. “There is a chronic need for more and better research. One of the things I try to tell students to do is … no matter what is that you’re studying, use the expertise of what you’re studying and apply it to this issue, because we need more brainpower,” he said. Wright first became involved in the documentary around three years ago when the director approached him with the aspiration to create a movie about human trafficking. In the years following, Wright provided his insight on modern slavery for the movie. Wright is one of 16 cast members in the final cut of the film, providing historical context and a broader scope on human trafficking. Although he sees it as a good way to call on the next generation, initially Wright
STOPPING TRAFFIC | COURTESY
“Stopping Traffic,” directed by Sadhvi Siddhali Shree, was released on Sept. 29 and discusses the spread human trafficking.
was cautious about being interviewed for the documentary. “There’s a lot of material about modern
→ SEE TRAFFICKING, PAGE 12
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THE MERCURY UTDMERCURY.COM Volume XXXVIII No. 15
THE MERCURY | OCT. 2, 2017
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Contributors Carolina Alvarez Sachin Arya Emaan Bangash Sarah Chan Emilio Chavez Jenna Cherrey EJ Chong Kolton Coats Ethan Christopher Cindy Folefack Christina Jia Madeleine Keith Christi Lazutkin William Legrone Anthony McNair Chiamaka Mgboji Keaton Nations Will Nguyen Nadine Omeis Edgar Gonzales Pineda Bianca Del Rio Amit Singalwar Roman Soriano Meha Srivastav Michael Stout Matt Strack Anjali Sundaram Noah Whitehead David Worman Media Adviser Chad Thomas
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Mailing Address 800 West Campbell Road, SU 24 Richardson, TX 75080-0688 Newsroom Student Union, Student Media Suite SU 1.601
The Mercury is published on Mondays, at two-week intervals during the long term of The University of Texas at Dallas, except holidays and exam periods, and once every four weeks during the summer term. Advertising is accepted by The Mercury on the basis that there is no discrimination by the advertiser in the offering of goods or services to any person, on any basis prohibited by applicable law. The publication of advertising in The Mercury does not constitute an endorsement of products or services by the newspaper, or the UTD administration. Opinions expressed in The Mercury are those of the editor, the editorial board or the writer of the article. They are not necessarily the view of the UTD administration, the Board of Regents or the Student Media Operating Board. The Mercury’s editors retain the right to refuse or edit any submission based on libel, malice, spelling, grammar and style, and violations of Section 54.23 (f ) (1-6) of UTD policy. Copyright © 2017, The University of Texas at Dallas. All articles, photographs and graphic assets, whether in print or online, may not be reproduced or republished in part or in whole without express written permission.
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Sept. 16 • A UTD student recieved a phone call from two unknown people claiming to be from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and lost $1,700.
A
Sept. 19 • At RHSW, an unknown person stole a student’s licence plate at 7:46 a.m.
B
Sept. 19 •Police issued a UTD alum a criminal trespass warning for causing a disturbance in JSOM at 1:45 p.m.
C
Sept. 20 • At 9:59 a.m., an unknown person hit a student’s vehicle in Phase 1.
D
Sept. 21 • An unidentified person contacted a student numerous times over the course of the year.
E
Sept. 22 • An unknown person broke a student’s vehicle window in PS4 at 10:43 p.m.
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A D LEGEND VEHICULAR INCIDENT
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DRUGS & ALCOHOL OTHER MAP: UTD | COURTESY
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THE MERCURY | OCT. 2, 2017
Ethnic diversity on campus UTD ranks second in state marking important achievement for UTD faculty, staff
CHRISTI LAZUTKIN | MERCURY STAFF
MEHA SRIVASTAV Mercury staff
UTD recently ranked fifth in a report of different ethnically-diverse campuses in the United States. The list of rankings, released in the 2018 U.S. News & World Report on Sept.12, placed UTD fifth nationwide and second in the state for ethnic diversity. For staff members of offices such as the Multicultural Center and the Office of Diversity and Department of Community Engagement, the ranking came as an important achievement. Arthur Gregg, director of UTD’s Multicultural Center and assistant vice president of Multicultural Affairs, worked at the university since 1998. In 2003, Gregg founded the center along with other workers from the then-named Multicultural Services. “I was just elated that we are seen in this place with these rankings,” Gregg said. “It just shows that UTD is on the map and that people recognize what we do here. I was excited because it will open us up to continue to diversify our campus. People will look at us for our academics as well as students’ comfort in coming here.” The report classified colleges based on each institution’s 2016-2017 data for the total proportion of minority students, excluding international students. On an ethnic diversity index of 0-1, UTD scored 0.71 on the list for national universities, placing 10 spots behind the highest score of 0.75, with several schools tying for each place. UTD tied with UT Arlington and nine other schools for fifth place, and ranks higher than other school in the UT System. Gregg said he believes UTD was able to surpass most public universities in Texas because of its relatively newer establishment. “We’re young and we’re not tied to a history of traditions of oppression,” he said. “And our beginnings come totally different from a lot of other institutions. So the
ability to be young and innovative really connects to us being so diverse. The fact that we’re growing in many ways — there’s something about being under 50. That we’re growing with the world. We’re setting the standard.” Another factor Gregg attributed to the university’s diversity was its collaboration among different offices. He works closely with other departments on campus, including the Office of Diversity Initiatives, Department of Community Engagement and the Galerstein Gender Center. Raul Hinojosa, director of the Department of Community Engagement since 2008, worked on developing diversity outreach programs and partnerships at UTD. “To me, (the ranking) means a lot because it means that our students are coming here and learning from different backgrounds and different life experiences, and that’s such an important trait to graduate with,” Hinojosa said. “Industry has shown us that at the end of the day, students need to be competitive in a global workforce and those experiences of students — that’s how they become competitive.” Hinojosa’s work at the department aims to provide programs increasing college access to minority populations. These programs, such as the Minority Scholars’ Symposium and the Urban STEM Summer Camp, are focused on under-represented groups of middle school and high school students. “Sometimes it’s been challenging; middle school kids that we work with aren’t graduating for five or six years, so we might not see the impact of a student that we work with immediately,” Hinojosa said. “It’s the kind of work that’s long-term and sometimes can be frustrating because you want short-term wins. It’s cool to see recognition like this one to show that our effort is having an impact, but also as an institution, we’re making progress.” Although they were not included in the diversity index as members of ethnic
→ SEE DIVERSITY, PAGE 4
Frat welcomes incoming members Phi Delta Theta works to overcome first year obstacles, encourage involvement UTD App OIT’s Manager of Mobile Applications Wayne Peterson, is spearheading the creation of the UTD app. SG’s role in the development of the app is to provide feedback and ensure that there is continuous progress. SG has been involved with beta testing since September of last year. The app includes quick links to emergency contacts, maps, transit routes and information, directories for different UTD contacts, information on parking availability, the Comet Calendar, Student Galaxy and 13 other functions. The features of the app will be rolled out in multiple phases. Updates to existing features, as well as the addition of new features, will be included following the release of the app’s first phase. OIT is responsible for the development, release and update of the UTD App. “Know Your Rights” Card Rebecca Tjahja, chair of the Legislative Affairs Committee, is working on the “Know Your Rights” card. The card is a resource where students can easily reference their legal rights. Currently, SG is considering several designs for the card’s layout, as well as which rights to place on the card. Political Speaker
The Legislative Affairs Committee is exploring the possibility of having a notable political speaker come to campus during January or February of 2018. Mitt Romney, former Governor of Massachusetts, is being considered as a speaker. Rebecca Tjahja, head of the committee, said that the goal of bringing such a speaker on campus is to increase political efficacy among the student body, as well as raise interest in SG. SG Debate An ongoing series, Rebecca Tjahja of the Legislative Affairs Committee is organizing a student debate for Nov. 2 at 7 p.m. While the specific topic of the debate is undecided, Tjahja said there is a strong chance that net neutrality will be the topic. MICHAEL STOUT | MERCURY STAFF
It’s On Us SG is holding its fourth annual “It’s On Us” donation drive at the Plinth on Oct. 3 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. The funds raised at the event will be given to “It’s On Us,” a national movement to end sexual assault. At the drive, there will be a speaker from the Title IX Office, as well as popcorn and T-shirts. The focus of the drive is to inform students on ways they can assist the movement and motivating them the take the pledge against sexual assault.
Nicholas Lormand (left), Dylan Capece, Raphael Colombelli and Hunter Tranchina whoosh as members of a new fraternity. The members found the frat this past August. CINDY FOLEFACK Mercury staff
A newly chartered fraternity introduced its inaugural class this semester. Phi Delta Theta got its start on campus in August 2015 as an interest group. New recruits known as “Founding Fathers” gained traction for the fraternity while the organization took steps to become an official chapter.
Nearly two years later, Phi Delt welcomed its first official class of new members, known as the Alpha class. Electrical engineering sophomore Gabe Cobarrubias, serving as Phi Delt’s public relations manager, said the fraternity faced obstacles trying to establish a chapter on campus. “There were times when it would be difficult to raise money or reach a certain number of members to become a
chapter,” Cobarrubias said. “Overall, it was difficult, but it was an enjoyable experience too. It was definitely worth it.” The recruitment process includes eight weeks of new member classes, where the chapter’s Phikeia Educator, who prepares new recruits for
→ SEE FRAT, PAGE 4
4 → DIVERSITY
THE MERCURY | OCT. 2, 2017
the organization. “I love the diversity,” Ye said. “Being part of CSA got me more involved with what it’s like to speak the actual groups, international students at UTD language, eat moon cakes and celebrate comprise 4 percent of undergraduate culture. Since I visit China only every students and 49 percent of graduate three years, it helps me connect with the culture and feel like a part of it … students. And because there are Marketing sophomore hundreds of Chinese Sophia Nikhar started her I love the students at UTD, it’s first year at UTD this seeasy to have everyone mester after transferring diversity. Become out and celfrom India. ing part of CSA ebrate.” “Everybody’s so welAlthough the unicoming — it’s been a got me more versity has progressed great experience,” Nikhar involved with since the establishsaid. “Every day when I what it’s like to ment of its various walk to class there are so diversity programs, many people from differspeak the acGregg said he believes ent backgrounds, different tual langauge, there are still areas for cultures, different places. improvement, espeAnd it’s really great that eating moon cially for under-repreyou can see so much dicakes and celsented groups. versity in one place.” ebrate culture. “I think we could With over 30 organizado a better job at retions catering to different — Erik Ye cruiting and attracting ethnicities and cultures, students can often find Finance Junior African American and Hispanic students,” their own community Gregg said. “Their within UTD. Finance jupercentages are fairly nior Erik Ye, president of the Chinese Student Association, said low when you look at the demographhe was able to form a stronger connec- ics of the state. But I think it’s going tion with his culture as a member of to be a natural thing to grow in all the CONTINUED FROM PAGE 3
NEWS other areas — what we’re going to have to do is continue to be innovative and supportive.” Hinojosa said that UTD should continue to focus on under-represented groups in order to further increase diversity by developing outreach programs that the university already has in place. “We know that we have a lot of work to do to keep up the diversity at our institution; we can’t rest on our laurels,” Hinojosa said. “We need to make sure students from vulnerable communities are graduating from high school and have the resources they need to come to the university. Our work needs to keep going, but it’s nice to see a pay off at the end.”
UTDMERCURY.COM
NADINE OMEIS | MERCURY STAFF
UTD was recently ranked fifth in the nation and second in state for ethnic diversity.
CHRISTI LAZUTKIN | MERCURY STAFF
→ FRAT
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 3
MICHAEL STOUT | MERCURY STAFF
Members of the Phi Delta Theta fraternity lift Dylan Capece and try not to drop him. The brothers said their fresh start will build a solid foundation for the fraternity in the future.
initiation and future leadership in the chapter, teaches students about the fraternity’s history. The members also complete tests, quizzes and projects throughout the eight weeks. If they receive a passing grade and meet the fraternity’s academic requirements, the students are initiated. As a newcomer to the Metroplex, neuroscience sophomore and new member Hunter Tranchina said he found a welcoming community in Phi Delt. “I actually rushed for two fraternities, but Phi Delt just seemed more committed,” Tranchina said. “They were always asking me to hang out outside of the rush events, and I was
getting messages daily, which was really appealing to me having moved from out of state.” Phi Delta’s inclusiveness also played a role in computer science sophomore Dylan Capece’s decision to join the fraternity. “A lot of people are very introverted on this campus, and I wanted to branch out in a community that accepts diversity and helps you become a better version of yourself,” Capece said. Cobarrubias said Phi Delt plans to use its age to its advantage by establishing a good foundation for future members. “Since we are new, we don’t have a legacy or a reputation,” Cobarrubias said, “Everything that we do, all the traditions that we create, will affect what Phi Delt is going to be like in 20 years.”
LIFE&ARTS
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OCT. 2, 2017 | THE MERCURY | UTDMERCURY.COM
ON THE ROAD TO RECOVERY Students, staff travel to Houston to assist in Hurricane Harvey relief efforts
SAHER AQEEL | PHOTO EDITOR
Debris lies on the side of a street near C.E. King High School in the Sheldon neighborhood of Houston. Hurricane Harvey made landfall in Texas on Aug. 26, causing widespread flooding and devastation. WILLIAM LEGRONE Mercury Staff
Following the wake of destruction left by Hurricane Harvey, students and staff from UTD mobilized to provide relief for those affected in Houston. Student athletes from the StudentAthlete Advisory Committee organized a collection booth at the Plinth the day after Hurricane Harvey. Students took time between their classes to help man the booth and organize the collection process. In total, student athletes collected over 1,000 physical donations. The SAAC gave these contributions to the Trusted World Foundation, an organization designated by Dallas to collect and distribute physical donations. “I was really proud they wanted to
do something, and I was really proud they stepped up and said, ‘What can we do?’” Angela Marin, an associate athletic director at UTD, said. Marin and athletic marketing coordinator Valerie Hoops worked with the Office of Student Volunteerism to help collect monetary donations over the two weeks following the hurricane. The two organizations collected a total of $5,500 that was donated to the American Red Cross. “It turned into a much bigger endeavor than we ever thought it would be, but that just goes to show that we’re a very giving campus,” Marin said. “It was really cool to see it all come together.” Independent of OSV and SAAC efforts, Delta Tau Delta and Alpha Epsilon Delta raised over $1,000 in monetary and
physical donations. Apart from on-campus activity, individual students also went down to Houston to volunteer their time. For Bonnie Helm, an MBA student, going to help with the relief effort in Houston was a personal mission. Helm grew up in Houston before coming to study at UTD. During the hurricane, her parents and childhood friends directly experienced Harvey’s impact. “We’re very lucky that the house I grew up in wasn’t harmed, but a lot of the neighborhoods and areas ... I grew up in are just gone.” Helm said. Scheduled to work a 5 a.m. shift at the NRG Convention Center in Houston to help displaced families, Helm and alumnus Tyler Hurst were turned away due to an influx of volunteers who
had shown up unscheduled. “Yeah, it sucked that we (were) turned away because we had woken up at 4 in the morning,” Helm said. “But at the same time, that really shows a sense of community and that made me really happy.” Helm spent over an hour looking for any place that had room for them to volunteer. At around 6:30 a.m., she found a nonprofit called Best Friends, a national animal welfare organization with an emphasis on a no-kill policy for rescued pets. The organization’s mission in Houston is to reunite pets with their families and put the rest up for adoption. “We actually got to see a couple of reunions between the owners and the dogs, and that was so cool because they would let the dog go and it would just bound over to its owner,” Helm said. “It
was just so heartwarming.” Helm and Hurst volunteered over 14 hours during the Saturday and Sunday they were in Houston. During that time, they worked odd jobs around the shelter. “We were cleaning out kennels, distributing food and stuffed KONGs (a treat dispensing dog toy) with peanut butter. We also made dog toys out of towels, walked the dogs and just tried to take care of them the best we could,” Helm said. Pets that are unclaimed will be moved to shelters for adoption on Oct. 14. As a part of Best Friend’s mission, none of the animals will be put down, and they will be cared for until they are adopted. UTD relief to Harvey victims will continue when the SAAC goes to Houston on Nov. 21.
Power to the people Long-standing building provides energy for campus heating, cooling systems EMAAN BANGASH Mercury Staff
Near the crowded Science Learning Center and bustling street of Rutford Avenue stands a tall and tan concrete building with slats on the side. Men in hard hats and fluorescent suits walk in and out, and an occasional alarm blares loudly when a door to the building opens. This is the UTD Energy Plant. While the exact function of the energy plant is a mystery to students, the building has provided heating and air conditioning throughout campus for decades. Kevin McDowell, project manager of construction in Facilities Management, said he enjoys working on campus buildings such as the power plant because he likes the tangible nature of the job. “It’s the invisible comfort that’s provided to them that most people just don’t question. It’s just always there,” McDowell said. “It takes a lot of work and infrastructure to provide that.” The plant has been in operation since the
1970s and is the producer of the majority of the campus’ air conditioning and heating. Robert Barnes, an international political economy freshman, said he sees workers going in and out of the building and hears loud noises, yet he didn’t have a clear idea of the purpose of the plant. “You walk past buildings and I have no idea what this is used for … it was a mystery. I thought it was a laboratory,” Barnes said. The inside of the plant contains boilers and chillers with large pipes going in and out of the building. Connected to the plant are underground pipes that transport water throughout campus, aiding in the ventilation of campus buildings. The chillers create cold water, which is sent through the buildings and run through coils. Air is blown over the coils, generating air conditioning. After the campus is cooled, the water heats up and returns to the plant. The same cycle occurs with boilers when the campus needs to be heated. On the roof of the building are the cooling
towers, which have large fans inside to blow air and cool the water. There are four cooling towers total, two of which have been in the plant since the building was first built. The older cooling towers are composed of wood, while the newer ones are composed of fiberglass. “(People) don’t realize how many other things are going on,” McDowell said. In 2012, another plant was constructed near Parking Structure 1 to provide additional energy. The second plant was built with more chillers and fewer boilers to accommodate for the frequently hot climate in Texas. Both of the buildings perform the same function all throughout campus. The plant has faced technical issues such as a main switch gear blowing up, causing the plant to stop functioning temporarily in 2013. Because this system operates every day and night, and workers are at the plant at all times to ensure it is operating properly. “The students are our mission,” McDowell said. “We’re here to serve the campus community as best we can.”
BHARGAV ARIMILLI | LIFE & ARTS EDITOR
Members of UTD’s chapter of Young Americans for Liberty rolled a large ‘free speech’ ball around campus on Sept. 26, encouraging students to write anything they wanted.
NOAH WHITEHEAD | MERCURY STAFF
UTD’s Energy Plant, which has been in operation since the 1970s, is located on the southern end of Rutford Avenue and provides heating and cooling for the campus.
AMIT SINGALWAR | MERCURY STAFF
The University of North Texas’s One O’Clock Lab Band, a 70-year-old jazz ensemble, performed at UTD on Sept. 21 on the Plinth.
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THE MERCURY | OCT. 2, 2017
LIFE&ARTS
UTDMERCURY.COM
‘Golden Circle’ falls flat with weak plot
Latest release in ‘Kingsman’ series impresses with intense action sequences, disappoints with lack of character development
20TH CENTURY FOX | COURTESY
Actors Taron Egerton (left), Colin Firth and Pedro Pascal star in ‘Kingsman: The Golden Circle,’ a spy comedy film that centers around a secret group’s mission to stop a drug cartel from spreading a toxin.
ROMAN SORIANO COMMENTARY
“Kingsman: The Golden Circle” contains intense, violent actions scenes, similar to what made the first so satisfying to watch. Unfortunately, with a predictable plot and little character development, it does not have much more to offer. As a sequel to the 2014 film “Kingsman: The Secret Service,” Taron Egerton returns as the main character Eggsy, and new charac-
ters are introduced into the movie as well. This includes a new secret organization similar to the Kingsman — their American counterpart, the Statesman, whom they work together with. The premise of the film is that the world’s largest drug cartel, called The Golden Circle, needs to be stopped because the drugs they distribute have been laced with a toxin that eventually leads to death. The film puts the viewer in the action from the start, opening with a dramatic car chase and a fight within the car. “Let’s Go Crazy” by Prince plays in the background, following the current revival of 80’s music. There are in-
teresting camera angles that make the fight more exciting, much like in the first film. Although the first “Kingsman” had certain elements that seemed outrageous, this sequel has gone even more over the top, often leaving you questioning why. Poppy, the leader of the drug cartel, is a deranged villain who is more than willing to kill millions of people to obtain fame. Her willingness to be so evil leads to barbaric, outlandish events. Though the drug cartel is a large focus of the movie, drugs are hardly ever seen, and they’re never seen at Poppy’s base at all. Instead, the cartel’s hiding spot looks nothing
like a criminal organization and is guarded by two robot dogs. It’s all very strange, and the dogs especially were very unnecessary. It never feels like they’re combatting a drug cartel. This film challenges negative views on drug users, and they are quickly judged despite drug addiction being a serious issue. In Poppy’s negotiations to release the antidote, the president displays crooked, hateful opinions about those who are addicted, regardless of who they are. Unfortunately, no real character development occurred throughout the movie, and their actions don’t have meaning-
ful consequences. For example, when Eggsy is forced to cheat on his girlfriend for the sake of the mission, she stops talking to him for most of the movie, yet at the end they get married, with no explanation of what happened whenever they got back together. The golden circle motif was not prevalent and it was not a meaningful aspect of the drug cartel outside of its name. Every cartel member had a circle tattooed on them with real molten gold, but outside of that it did not present much significance. At the end, Eggsy and Tilde’s wedding rings are gold, referencing the motif, but there are no other important
references to this theme, which suggests that it was an afterthought. The motion picture contains moments that capture the appeal of the first movie such as the crazy weapons (for example, a briefcase that was a machine gun, rocket launcher and a riot shield all-inone), the brutal deaths (as some people were thrown in a meat grinder) and of course, the iconic suits. Whenever it comes to anything else of substance, “Kingsman: The Golden Circle” falls flat with a big lack of character development and a loosely-structured plot, falling into the trap of sequels not living up to the thrill of the original.
New halal restaurant not worth wait time Despite delayed waiting times, trendy establishment offers reasonably-priced Mediterranean menu, UTD student discounts ANJALI SUNDARAM COMMENTARY
Charcoal Avenue is satisfactory with average flavor, and the only interesting part of the restaurant is the atmosphere and fact that it serves halal meat. Off Coit Road, Charcoal Avenue’s doors open up to a combination of styles, with brick wallpaper, chipped black paint and an ostentatious orange wall with the restaurant name printed in big black blocky letters. Posters and magazines are plastered on the walls. Wooden tables and metal chairs complete the setup as customers make their way to the counter. Since its opening on Sept. 2, Charcoal Avenue, a Middle
Eastern restaurant, has amassed 4.9 out of 5 stars on Facebook for their food and service — with good reason. The restaurant’s management jumped on the Subway-style service where customers can choose what kind of meat they want and the way they want it served. Customers can decide from five different meat options, all of which are halal, and can be served three ways: sandwich, salad bowl or rice bowl. Each meal is priced reasonably at $5.99, and UTD students will receive a 10 percent discount. However, the main issue is not price, but waiting time. Though the food is prepared fresh for hungry customers, the delay can seem infinite. Ranging from five to 15 minutes when the restaurant is empty, it’s hard to understand the delay. When the food
finally arrived, unfortunately it was lukewarm. While sandwiches aren’t supposed to be scorching, the chicken should at least be warm. In spite of the temperature, the sandwich had the fresh taste of chicken and the slow but powerful kick of the spicy red sauce. The bread was soft, complementing the chicken quite well. However, as someone who adores heaps of seasoning, the chicken lacks in flavor. Not to say the chicken was not palatable, but it seemed that most of the flavor came from the red sauce and not the chicken itself. Overall, Charcoal Avenue’s food was adequate and satisfied my hunger. The atmosphere and staff were pleasant and the food was decent. Consider giving this restaurant a try, but the wait might be problematic.
WILL NGUYEN | MERCURY STAFF
Charcoal Avenue opened on Sept. 2 on Coit Road in Dallas. It serves halal Mediterranean-style food.
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THE MERCURY | OCT. 2, 2017
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Senatorial candidate Beto O’Rourke
Current congressman, Democratic challenger to Ted Cruz visits UTD as part of Texas college tour
The bipartisan organization No Labels invited congressman Beto O’Rourke on campus to discuss his campaign for a seat in the U.S. Senate (he is currently running against incumbent Ted Cruz) and answer the questions of UTD students. After the meet and greet, the congressman sat down with The Mercury to discuss gerrymandering, free college and the one thing he’d like all voters to know. A large majority of the cities in Texas are believed to be “turning blue” with an increasing Democrat population. However, we have not had a Democratic senator in the last 23 years and all 38 of Texas’s electoral votes DAVID WORMAN | MERCURY STAFF were given to Trump in the last election. What would you say Beto O’Rourke, the U.S. representative for Texas’s 16th congressional district in El Paso, spoke at UTD in the SSA auditorium on Sept. 20 at an event held by No Labels. to college Democrats who don’t vote because they feel like their out of their democracy based on we’re elected, then they’re going young American and one of the part of the state, and not just tiple colleges today, what made things that I’d love to work, with once or twice, but that we con- you want to come to UTD in their race and on their ethnicity. to have a reason to vote. vote has no real impact? especially young people, on be- tinue to show up, to listen, to particular? And while these districts may or Speaking of college students, cause they would be the ones that learn. No one has a monopoly It’s interesting, because the may not be redrawn in a way that I want to represent the people more you look into this, the responds to that, we all have a Senator Bernie Sanders brought we would ask to serve is some kind on the great ideas or the answers more evident it becomes that chance right now to decide these an issue to the forefront in this of national service bill or national to the questions that were asked who go to school here and the peoTexas, more than it is red or issues. And we can leave it up last election that many millenni- service program that may or may in that room, and it’s only by ple who teach here and the people blue, is a non-voting state. More to the power-brokers in Austin als have come out in support of not be connected to one’s education working together, listening and who work here. As I said earlier, than half of Texas has made the and in D.C. or we can take mat- — free college tuition for public but ensures that everyone has the being open to an argument that too many in Texas are relegated to choice not to vote. The opportu- ters into our own hands and this colleges and universities. What is chance not only to learn and suc- may fly in the face of what you a group that’s been counted out or ceed in that way, but to serve and have believed or what you’ve that has been taken for granted. nity inherent in that is that elec- campaign is very much about your stance on that? to sacrifice and succeed in that way concluded that things are going It’s no wonder that young people tions (not just for Democrats, doing the latter. And any conI like the idea a lot. One, we as well, so with some of the other to get better. And that is the way don’t vote at the rate that you’d but for anything that you believe sultant worth their salt would in or care about) can be decided urge me not to come to a college know that it can predict earning members of Congress those two that I’ve tried to conduct my- expect them to, given that everyself as a public servant, holding thing is at stake for them as well. by the people who, for whatever campus today, and we’re on three potential in taxes that they pay, and things could be connected. town hall meetings in El Paso But if I don’t show up and if I’m reason, have not been involved. college campuses today because two, we know it can — to some deIf there was one thing about every single month and being not listening to you and I’m not You may have seen in just this typically young people, as you’ve gree — predict someone’s ability to year alone that the courts have said, don’t vote. My bet is that if live up to and fulfill their potential. you, political or otherwise, that very accessible and responsive engaged, then I don’t blame you found four separate occasions you show up and show respect I would love for there to be some you’d like the voters to know, online and just in the commu- for not voting. Why would it matnity beyond that. It’s the way ter? Because what you care about that the state has racially gerry- and show that you’re going to be way that all of us not only receive what would it be? that I’m running this campaign. hasn’t registered with the candimandered these districts. They’ve accountable to them, reflect their the benefit of a great education date if I don’t show up, so that’s That I’m here. That we’ve drawn people out of these dis- interests in the way we campaign without taking on debt, but there’s Since you are visiting mul- the premise of that. tricts, and I would say effectively and the way we behave once also some sacrifice made by every been personally present in every
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OCT. 2, 2017 | THE MERCURY | UTDMERCURY.COM
SPORTS
Soccer player eyes record UTD junior aims for top of school career assist leaderboard UT Tyler vs UTD Women’s Volleyball Sept. 26, 2017 3-0 for UTD (25-21, 25-23, 25-23)
SACHIN ARYA | MERCURY STAFF
Junior forward Melissa Fulfer practices on the UTD soccer fields. Fulfer continues to work her way up the UTD career assist leader board. After the 2-0 home win against Howard Payne on Sept. 30 where she added another assist, Fulfer sits in third place with 25 assists, tied with Carli Beckett. She needs 29 assists to tie the record and 30 to take over sole possession of first place. She came into the season in ninth place with 18 assists and added seven so far this season. KOLTON COATS Mercury Staff
EDGAR GONZALES PINEDA | MERCURY STAFF
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A promising women’s soccer player is on her way to beat UTD’s all-time assist record of 29. Junior forward Melissa Fulfer began this season with 18 assists, and after the first 10 games, has brought that number up to 25. Although she is quickly advancing up the leaderboard, Fulfer said she hasn’t been paying attention to her stats. “When I’m playing, I don’t think about that at all,” Fulfer said. “I’m not really aware of it. I don’t know how many points I have or how many the record is. I just play.” Women’s soccer head coach Kanute Drugan said the team is only keeping track of the record because other people keep reminding them. “She really works hard at what she does,” Drugan said. “She makes a huge commitment to her self-process and a huge commitment to the team process.” The women’s soccer team is currently 9-1 in their season with eight games left before the American Southwest Conference cham-
pionship. Fulfer is tied for 10th place in season assists on the NCAA Division III leaderboard. She’s also tied for third in all-time assists at UTD. Drugan said Fulfer and the rest of the team’s success was something that was taught through trial and error and not spontaneous. Senior defender Laurel Hansen said their coach’s management was another source of their triumph. “(Drugan) didn’t let them be freshman,” Hansen said. “He treated them like everyone else on the team and I think that really helped all of them, including Melissa, be good leaders on the team.” Both Hansen and Fulfer said they believe the younger players on the team will pass on this knowledge and continue getting better. “I think that we have a really good group of girls coming in under us and I think they’ll be natural leaders,” Fulfer said. Throughout her time at UTD, Fulfer said she’s developed her leadership skills. Becoming a team leader motivated her to be a better communicator on the field and helped her guide the rest of the team to better communication.
MATT STRACK | MERCURY STAFF
Fulfer is also a member of the women’s soccer Leadership Council, and on Aug. 1, she was elected to the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee, which Drugan said is a reward for her commitment. Hansen said these positions and Fulfer’s attitude towards the team help make her a good role model for the younger players. “She’s always there if you have questions,”
Hansen said. “She’s always doing the right thing, always on time, always leading by example.” Although Fulfer has focused on leading and building up the team rather than pursuing the all-time assist record, she did make her career goal very clear. “We’re going to get a (championship) ring,” Fulfer said. “We’re gonna win.”
Golf team swings for a better start Women’s program sees positive results while working to improve athletic, academic standards SUMMER LEBEL Sports Editor
C A Freshman setter Miranda Mendez led the team with 24 digs. She also had 10 digs during the sweep against the UT Tyler Patriots, which moved the Comets into first place in the ASC East. B Temoc was on hand as usual. He was dressed in a special T-shirt for the annual Gold Game. UTD holds the game each year to raise awareness for childhood cancer. T-shirts were given away to fans in attendance. C Junior setter Fayna Zeng was in attendence to help with the celebrations. Zeng has been sidelined since the beginning of the year, along with sophomore hitter Dylan Brinkman. Both athletes may miss the whole season after playing every game in the 2016 campaign. PHOTOS BY: EDGAR GONZALES PINEDA | MERCURY STAFF
The women’s golf program started this season with a series of new individual and team records as they work to establish the program as an athletic competitor as well as an academic one. In a school full of American Southwest Conference championship winning programs, the women’s golf team has never placed in the top three of an ASC tournament. Under head coach Butch Edge, who took over the job before the 2015-2016 season, they started to rise. Their fourth place finish in the ASC tournament during the first year of his tenure was the highest in UTD history, but a player’s illness last season left them one member short of being able to compete as a team for the conference title. “When I took over, we were so bad, we were un-rankable,” Edge said. “Last year, we finished 48th, and if the rankings came in today, we’d be in the top 25.” The golf team started the season by taking third in the Lady Bulldog Fall Classic on Sept. 12. In their second tournament of the season, the Transylvania Intercollegiate, they held a 10-stroke lead after the first day. “They’d never been in the position as the leader and they’re looking around like, ‘This is different,’” Edge said. “Well, you’ve got to perform, ladies. They’re going to come get you.” The Comets took home first place in the tournament, setting a school record in the process. Their combined score of 628 was four points better than the record they’d set this season at the Lady Bulldog Fall Classic, and 13 points better than the record that stood prior to this season. Freshman Lindy Patterson set an individual record as well, scoring 149 over the two rounds for the lowest individual 36-hole score in school history. Patterson took home
UTD ATHLETIC DEPARTMENT | COURTESY
The women’s golf team took home first place at the Transylvania Intercollegiate in Nicholasville, Kentucky during the weekend of Sept 23-24. Six girls traveled to compete in the competition (from left to right): Michelle Oliff, Hailey Hollas, Shreena Bhakta, Vivian Pham, Marissa Langer and Lindy Patterson. In addition to the team’s win, Patterson placed second overall individually.
second place overall, just one stroke above the first place finisher, and won the ASC Golfer of the Week title. “It’s been really fun, being able to have a team that can break school records,” she said. “We know we can shoot better than we have in the past, so it’s fun when we’re actually attaining those goals and passing them.” The Transylvania Intercollegiate was held in Nicholasville, Kentucky, which means the team spent considerable time on the road travelling for the tournament. Sophomore Marissa Langer, who took over the fourth place position for UTD’s 36-hole record with her score of 155 at the Lady Bulldog Classic, said the team members don’t get a break from classes for the travel time. They have to make up anything they missed, which can be difficult to balance. “We were coming back at 6 a.m. on Monday morning and people had exams at 11:30 a.m.,” she said. “We have to work hard to keep up our grades.” Edge encourages the team to keep up with their studies with the goal in mind that they
would place at the top of the ranking for academics as well as athletics. With the team spending their entire weekend on the golf course, they end up with very little free time, leaving many of them to study while on the bus or plane ride. “At times it breaks my heart,” Edge said. “They take a quick nap and the rest of the time their computers are on, the books are out and they study all the way here.” An 18-hole round typically takes five or six hours to complete during a competition. In addition, they practice for four hours at a time, adding up to around 20 hours a week on a combination of practice, strength and conditioning. Along with their work on the golf course, the athletes attend classes and do homework like regular students, leaving very little time for a social life during the season. “You go to class, you study, you play golf, you eat, you sleep and you do the same thing over,” Edge said. “There’s just not enough time to do anything else.” That academic focus translates into how Edge sees the season itself.
“Every day you go out there and we have a match, that’s test day,” he said. “There’s 18 questions, so how are you going to answer them? Our midterm is the fall season and our final is the conference championship. We all want to do well on our midterms but the goal is the final.” The women have one more tournament before the break between the fall and spring seasons, the Abilene Intercollegiate on Oct. 23-24. During the break, NCAA regulations forbid official team practices. The athletes still attend strength and conditioning training during that period, and Edge has set up a round robin tournament throughout the break to keep the players in contact and in practice. The golfers also take a personal initiative to maintain their play during the down time. Patterson will continue to play on her home course to stay sharp. She will also work with her personal swing coach, which is not against the regulations. “We’ll continue to make sure we’re growing, we’re building and that foundation is still set for the spring,” Patterson said.
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OCT. 2, 2017 | THE MERCURY
TEMOC THE DANCING COMET
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OPINION
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OCT. 2, 2017 | THE MERCURY | UTDMERCURY.COM
Critics need greater understanding of players’ protests Individuals who do not realize meaning behind athletes’ kneeling during national anthem must listen to experience of others MADELEINE KEITH COMMENTARY
There is an old saying, overused to the point of cliche. Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me. It’s supposed to convey embarrassment, shame over missing a pattern that is present but not made obvious until it repeats itself over and over again. Lately, I have heard this phrase playing constantly in the back of my head as I become increasingly aware of the pattern it took me far too long to see: the inherent and perpetual discrimination against AfricanAmericans in this country. After all, one police shooting of an AfricanAmerican is an accident. Another could be a coincidence. When African-Americans are being shot by police at a rate 2.5 times higher than white people, according to The Washington Post, it is institutional racism. It seems, however, that I am not the only one who was fooled. The past two weeks have seen a tidal wave of anger descend on those who dare to participate in or defend the act of kneeling during the national anthem. It’s a sentiment that I understand. When former quarterback named Colin Kaepernick knelt on the field for the first time, it was virtually intolerable to me. To me and thousands of other Americans, it felt like a slap in the face to everyone
who had ever fought, served or died to ensure that that flag and all it represents remain intact. Even as I came more and more to understand the truths behind white privilege and the harsh realities of police brutality, this was the one act of protest that I found difficult to stomach. The cause of my transformation came in the form of a different type of protest, one that involved Ku Klux Klan members and Confederate flags. The shear amount of unbridled hate displayed on that day in Charlottesville shook me to the core. If anyone needed further proof of the inherent racial inequality still present within this nation, it was now on display for the whole world to see. How anyone could remain on the other side of justice, on the other side of racial reconciliation was inconceivable to me. Football teams around Dallas have now come together to preserve and perpetuate the message that Kaepernick first tried to convey. From the Dallas Cowboys to Southern Methodist University Mustangs to my own alma mater, Garland High School, players and fans alike have decided to take a stand for their beliefs by taking a knee. Unfortunately, there are still far too many individuals who have yet to realize the importance of these demonstrations. Facebook posts are filled with angry rants, schools have threatened to remove their players from the team if they dare kneel and our own president has attempted to start a nation-wide boycott of NFL
EJ CHONG | MERCURY STAFF
games until the protests subside. To the members of my community (and I’ll be blunt: I mean white people) who are still blind to the necessity for change, I would say two things. First, I am not going to tell you why, under the First Amendment, any player or individual who so desires to kneel in protest has the constitutional right to do so. That has been explained repeatedly, and I feel that it attempts to validate an act that
should require no further justification. Rather, I would encourage you to ask yourselves why they are kneeling, because I can promise you that it has nothing to do with wanting to disrespect the flag. Second, I would urge you to listen. If you would like the protest to go away, if you would like NFL players to stand proudly with hands over their hearts, then give them cause to do so. Listen to what African-Americans throughout your community and
throughout your nation are trying to tell you. Listen to them as they detail the myriad instances of micro-aggressions and blatant racism they experience so consistently throughout their lives. Do not try to argue with them or belittle them or detract from their experiences. Rather, seek understanding and acknowledge their struggles, for it is only through empathy that we will ever be able to seek equality. United we stand but divided we will kneel.
Comets and Craters Alumni artists featured in campus art gallery The gallery, named “Critical Mass,” will display work from UTD alumni with visual arts degrees. The gallery will be open from Oct. 1-Nov. 11 and is housed at SP/N.
Res Hall power outage On Sept. 19, the power went out in one of the residence halls. The outage occured between 7 a.m. and 2 p.m. ANTHONY MCNAIR| MERCURY STAFF
COMET COMMENTS
Do you feel like ethnic diversity is supported on campus? HAVE SOMETHING TO SAY? Students interested in writing opinions can email editor@utdmercury.com.
“I think so, because when I’m walking around I just see so many clubs ... so I feel like that’s bringing a lot of different cultures and ideas together on campus.”
“Yes, I definitely think that we are being supported by UT Dallas here. I feel very comfortable here at this school, because many of the things that I need, they provide to me.”
“Definitely. Today I went to Japanese Language Association club meeting, and in that meeting it wasn’t just Asian students ... I feel like UTD is very ethnically diverse, both in their population and how they want to interact with the world.”
Mahitha Roy Biomedical Engineering Senior
Luis Colunga Economics Graduate
Gabrielle Alovera Undeclared Freshman
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR Letters must be 250 words or less. Students should include their full name, major and year. Faculty, staff and administrators should include their full name and title. Email letters to editor@utdmercury. com. Although electronic copies are preferred, a hard copy can be dropped off at the reception desk of the Student Media suite (SU 1.601). Please include a headshot. Authors may only have one letter printed per edition of The Mercury.
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THE MERCURY | OCT. 2, 2017
NEWS
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Emerging Media and Communication junior Delaney Conroy plants seeds at UTD’s Community Garden in Phase 1. After relocating in 2015 due to construction on the expansion of Drive H, the new garden space offers students more resources such as a greenhouse and larger plot spaces for plants.
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During the move, the Garden also expanded with two additional garden beds. With this expansion, they were able to add three new hose bibs so watering the plots would be easier. The garden also included a new weed barrier to combat the grass invading the garden beds. “We’ve had a community garden on campus since 2006, but we’re currently on our third itera-
tion. I mean, it’s exciting. It’s just our campus is growing so much,” Hunter said. The Community Garden donates its produce to food pantries, such as Jewish Family Services. Produce is grown seasonally, so the summer crop of tomatoes, cucumber, okra, eggplant, watermelon and others, were just harvested. During a gardening event on Sept. 30, students had the opportunity to assist in the transfer of summer produce to fall plants. “They had the extra special treat of being able to transplant
the broccoli, kale, bok choy and lettuce that we had started from seed in the greenhouse. Now they’re little seedlings and they’re strong enough to go out in the real world, and so the volunteers help us transplant them into the plots,” Hunter said. Students such as molecular biology sophomore Vivian Nguyen are plot holders at the Garden. Plot holders commit to a section of the garden and are free to plant whatever they want, as long as it doesn’t inhibit the growth of the neighboring plants.
“The fact that we have a donation plot and we have UTD students that are so intrigued by gardening and wanting to beautify the UTD environment and get involved in stuff, is just amazing to me,” Nguyen said. Accounting junior Vidya Mohanraj, also a plot holder, initially joined the Garden for the community, but said she was eventually drawn to the satisfaction of planting something and watching it flourish. “Bridging the gap between those that live in the urban ar-
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slavery that is quite frankly not very good. There’s a lot of misinformation. There’s a lot of sensationalism,” Wright said. “So I went in a little bit cautious. And there still are maybe some aspects of the documentary that is not the way I would’ve made the documentary, but I still think it provides a very human face on the problem and has some valuable things to say about ways we can fight the institution.” Overall, Wright said he feels positively about how the documentary portrays sex trafficking culture. “One thing I do like about how the documentary talks about this is that the problem of sex trafficking is overwhelmingly a problem of toxic masculinity and about a broken cultural sense of what sex is,” he said. “I’m not trying to advance a puritanical relationship of sexuality; I don’t think that actually helps. But focus should be on what ways are (students) nurturing thoughts and desires that enable this kind of evil to exist.” Although human trafficking is uncommon on college campuses, Wright said the consumption of
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only the equipment, but the software behind it. “Since we have representatives who are already here and we have them on call, if we don’t feel comfortable using the equipment after getting trained, we can set up one-on-ones with them, so they can make sure you know how to use it properly,” she said. Pradhan, who works with live animals, said she is excited about the added depth the Cen-
eas and those that do gardening for fun, it’s something we can all learn,” she said. For those who have always been interested in gardening, but don’t have much background, the Garden offers several different opportunities, including a one-time volunteer event where students can try their hand at gardening. In the future, the Garden would like to continue to expand and add more plots, and it would like to continue improving its unique opportunities afforded
to all aspects of the UTD community, Mohanraj said. The next Community Garden event will take place Oct. 11 and is available to all students. “For our alumni and our faulty to have opportunities to engage with students in a nonacademic setting, of course there’s lots of learning that takes place, but it’s just special for them to be working alongside students and teaching in a more informal way, and also helping to grow and learn in their development as gardeners as well,” Hunter said.
pornographic content is increasingly prevalent due to technology and ease of access. Porn and human trafficking are interconnected by the increasing demand for porn and the use of sex slaves to keep up with that high demand. The documentary briefly focuses on how negative behaviors and beliefs about women that are socialized by the regular viewing of porn aid the growth of sex trafficking. According to the nonprofit Fight the New Drug, “men who go to prostitutes are twice as likely to have watched a porn film in the last year compared to the general population.” In 2008, a study in the Journal of Traumatic Practice surveyed 854 women who were victims of sex trafficking across nine countries. Of those 854 women, 49 percent of them said that porn had been made of them while they were in prostitution, and 47 percent said they had been harmed by men who wanted to re-enact things they had seen in porn. “I’m not prepared to say (trafficking) doesn’t happen, but one thing I can say that does happen on our campus is that people consume sexual content online,” Wright said. “That fuels human trafficking.”
Wright’s role in the movie is roughly 10 minutes of him talking about sex trafficking, discussing his personal focus on modern slavery as well as briefly discussing the economics of poverty and how it allows such trafficking practices to exist. “We’re not going to knock it out in one big punch; there’s not going to be a silver bullet. It’s going to be a long and complicated and varied process for different places, but it has to start with a focus on reducing poverty, because this is how people end up being trafficked,” Wright said. Wright said he hopes that “Stopping Traffic” will encourage people, especially students, to become involved in direct actions that will help stop modern slavery. “One thing that we can do locally is that there are some great institutions here that do victim care. My favorite one is Mosaic House, which does work with not just victims of trafficking but victims of all sorts of domestic abuse,” he said. The documentary shows in Dallas at the AMC Classic Valley View 16 theatre from Sept. 29 to Oct. 5.
ter will bring to her research, especially due to its high-tech nature, including a multiphoton imaging system, which is one of only two in the country. “We apply medications to animals all the time, but we don’t actually see what is going on in the body,” she said. “With the new equipment, we can see a live feed of what’s going on.” Neuroscience junior Adil Ahmed, said he is looking forward to using the new equipment. “We can do a lot of things that we couldn’t do before, like live-cell imaging,” Ahmed said.
“I feel like it’s going to be helpful and provide opportunities for everyone in the building.” Pradhan said with the Center’s advanced technology and ongoing studies, it is already helping students conduct experiments they previously weren’t able to. “Before, we had all of these ideas, but we couldn’t do them because we couldn’t analyze or image them,” Pradhan said. “But now, with the new microscopes, there’s so many things we can do. We can better analyze our results and look at them in different ways.”