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September 6, 2016
WHAT'S BELOW?
Trial update in missing alum case
‘Bit of everything’
THE MERCURY | UTDMERCURY.COM
Fraternity leader plans Greek housing for near future as chapters seek to maintain member diversity during recruitment
STORY BY NIDHI GOTGI | EDITOR-IN-CHIEF PHOTO BY ANKITH AVERINENI | MERCURY STAFF GRAPHIC BY CHAD AUSTIN | ASSISTANT GRAPHICS EDITOR FSL AT UTD | SOURCE
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s recruitment begins for a community that is already home to more than 700 students, Greek organizations on campus are aiming to continue diversifying their membership and pushing for housing. Sept. 6 marks the start of rush events for Kappa Sigma, the oldest fraternity at UTD. Cameron Peterson, who is currently the president, said the founding members were leaders on campus, which set the standard for Greek involvement across UTD. “You’ll see touches and traces of (Greek life) everywhere,” he said. “I think that’s how (fraternity and sorority life) has kind of evolved, just (by) being involved as much as possible other than just in Greek life.” As Kappa Sigma’s 25th anniversary approaches this March, Peterson’s goal is to establish strong ties with the fraternity’s alumni. “We’re working towards building a better alumni basis because we are the oldest on campus, so we’d like to have a better connection with them so we can do bigger things,” he said. A long-term objective that could be achieved through a stronger alumni network is Greek housing, Peterson said. “The other project I’m working on right now is to establish a housing campaign, but not necessarily a house just yet,” he said. “(Just) something to get that in the near future, you know five to 10 years.”
→ SEE GREEK, PAGE 14
La’Tressa Graham, the vice president and treasurer of the Delta Sigma Theta sorority, performed at the Multicultural Greek and National Pan-Hellenic Councils’ Showcase on Sept. 1. at the Activity Center.
Jury picking UTD affiliates race motorcycles for charity Faculty members, students help raise money for Special Olympics of Texas while enjoying hobby together begins Sept. 6 for Arochi ARIANA HADDEN Mercury Staff
12 jurors needed to try man accused of kidnapping UTD grad Jury selection for the trial of Enrique Arochi is set to begin Sept. 6. Collin County grand jury accused the Allen man of aggravated kidnapping in the disappearance of UTD alumna Christina Morris. Morris disappeared the morning of August 30, 2014 at The Shops at Legacy in Plano. Security footage last captured her walking into a parking garage with Arochi at 3:55 a.m. According to the Dallas Morning News, 125 potenAROCHI tial jurors are expected to appear at the Collin County courthouse to start the jury selection process. The pool must be narrowed to 12 jurors before the trial can start. The trial is estimated to last around two weeks. Arochi has pled not guilty. If convicted, Arochi faces up to life in prison. Follow utdmercury.com for updates on the trial.
UTD faculty Scott Steffen and Richard Marler took part in this year’s Corporate Challenge: the Great Ride to raise money for the Special Olympics of Texas. With the company of hundreds of other bikers, including UTD students, Steffen and Marler rode their motorcycles to support the cause. The Corporate Challenge is an Olympic style series of charity events held every year from late August through early October. One of these events includes the Great Ride, where a group of people travel a pre-determined route on their motorcycles. Like the 22 other events, the Great Ride raises money for the Special Olympics of Texas. IT Manager Marler and his wife attended the charity event for the second time on Sept. 3. “My wife and I rode last year,” Marler said. “I’ve been (at the Research and Operations Center) since 2002 so the Corporate Challenge has been going on for some years. There was always talk of joining it and participating. I’m not really much of an athlete so I figured, ‘Hey, I can ride a motorcycle.’” Although he has not participated in all of the Corporate Challenge events, this is not Office of Information Technology Systems Analyst Steffen’s first time joining in the Great Ride. Steffen also took part in the kick-off walk. “Every year on Friday evening at the start of (the event) they have a walk,” Steffen said. “It’s another participation event where they give you a marble
RUTH VARGHESE | MERCURY STAFF
Systems Analyst Scott Steffan (third from left) and IT Manager Richard Marler (second from right) competed in the 2016 Corporate Challenge: the Great Ride motorcycle ride — an event that is almost 90 miles — with other members from UTD.
at the beginning of the walk and at the half mile mark you drop it into whatever bucket your team is, so you drop it in the UTD bucket and you walk back. So if you wanted to you could go and get another marble and do it again.” Not only does Corporate Challenge have a kick-off event, but there are many other activities besides the Great Ride. From table tennis and volleyball to corn hole and horseshoes, the Corporate Challenge has events for people of all ages
and preferences, and all the events are spread out over the course of three weeks. “I participated in the running event in the past and kept in the running team,” Steffen said. “A few years ago, they started the Great Ride and somehow I heard about it. I wasn’t able to ride because my bike was getting repaired, but (Marler) rode that year.” Although Steffen enjoys riding his motorcycle, he said that the cause of the event is equally important.
“For me I think it’s a good charity event,” Steffen said. “It’s a good excuse to get together and go on a ride and hang out with a bunch of like-minded people. It’s over roads that we are way too familiar with so it’s not something new to us. We are very supportive of the cause.” Richardson Sponsorship Director for the Corporate Challenge Donna Leach said that the event was originally started
→ SEE BIKE RACE, PAGE 14
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THE MERCURY UTDMERCURY.COM Volume XXXVII No. 24 Editor-in-Chief Nidhi Gotgi
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NEWS
THE MERCURY | SEPT. 6, 2016
UTDPD Blotter August 26 • A student reported their apartment parking permit was stolen at 1:20 p.m. in Phase 1. August 27 • At 12:21 p.m., a student’s computer was stolen from their apartment in Phase 7. • A student was issued a citation for Minor in Consumption at 10:46 p.m. in Res Hall Southwest. August 29 • At 12:00 p.m., an employee reported a weed eater stolen from their vehicle in Lot A. • A student reported their cell phone was taken from the Activity Center between 2:30 p.m. and 12:00 p.m. August 31 • Between 10:00 a.m. and 12:00 p.m. a student’s backpack was stolen from their locker in the Activity Center. • An unaffiliated female was given a criminal trespass warning for the campus at 5:30 p.m. for making racial slurs at the NSERL bus stop. • At 9:18 p.m. a student reported that $200 was stolen from their wallet while it was stored inside a locker at the Activity Center.
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OPINION
SEPT. 6, 2016 | THE MERCURY | UTDMERCURY.COM
Consider third party candidates
More inclusive, balanced platforms will boost voter turnout in election RAMAH JARADAT COMMENTARY
The two party political system is something I just can’t seem to agree with. Whenever I tell people I am neither a Democrat nor a Republican and would rather vote third party, they tell me not to waste my vote. But being in a country founded on democracy, how is this acceptable? There isn’t a better time to refuse conforming to a party you don’t completely believe in than now. With presidential candidates who have highly unfavorable ratings, it seems like it’s time to look at a new presidential candidate or even a new party. In my opinion, Donald Trump is an offensive public figure. His conservative social policies such as a proposed ban on Muslims and his anti-abortion stance are ideas I simply can’t agree with. In contrast, Hillary Clinton has Republicans wanting to send her to prison for inaction during the Benghazi attacks that killed four Americans in 2012. In addition, I don’t agree with her proposal for a $15 minimum wage. People are gearing up to vote for the better of two unpopular options: Clinton or Trump. They seem to forget that Clinton and Trump are not the only options. I feel as if the two party system leaves no room for middle ground. I am not saying that a party should directly mirror your beliefs. If that were the case, we would have hundreds of parties to cater to everyone’s stances and nothing would
which direction we want the country to really get accomplished. Politics is not meant to be black and go. And if third party starts receiving white. By sustaining a two party system, more votes, the two bigger parties will begin to implement the third party idewe make it that way. Having a third party be the gray area als into their own.” In 2015, Gallup announced would increase voter turnout because we could map multiple dimensions of Americans are less likely to selfidentify as what someone Republican could want — a or Democrat, party that strives with 43 perfor individual and cent of peoeconomic liberty. ple choosing According to Having a third party “independent” FairVote, a nonbe the gray area would when asked. In profit organizaincrease voter turnout 2010, a Wall tion that strives Street Journal to make elections because we could map poll showed fairer and every multiple dimensions of that 83 percent vote count, the of Americans voter turnout in what someone could a problem the 2012 elections want — a party that strives have with the two was on average for individual liberty and party system 51 to 64 percent. and wished That is 36 to 49 economic liberty. there were percent of people more options. not voting. In this way, Although facpeople should tors like election be telling the type, voting laws government and demographics affect voter turnout, I know a few people — which way they want to go, not surrenincluding myself in the past — who have dering to a system they don’t agree with voiced they were not voting because they do because they feel as if they can’t make not agree completely with any of the candi- change happen. If you completely stand by the dates, or because they feel as if a third party could never win an election, rendering their Republican or Democratic Parties, then by all means, vote for what you contribution a “wasted vote.” In American politics, the Electoral believe in. But for those people like me College system makes it difficult for who simply have a hard time choosing third party candidates to gain traction in between the ideals of the two parties, stand by what you truly stand for. When presidential elections. According to Freepress, “we don’t vote we believe we are helpless, then we have to select the winner, but to tell everyone already lost.
COMET COMMENTS
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What do you think of the new food trucks on campus?
“Everything on there sounds really interesting. I just can’t justify crossing the entire campus to go when I can’t even use the money on my Comet Card.”
Ray Alerte Computer Science Freshman
“It’s nice having a different thing every day because it keeps it exciting. But they are more expensive than the other food on campus. The meals tend to be $8 versus $5. ... But besides that, I really like it.” Katrina Menter Political Science Sophomore
“I have not used them, but I think they’re a good asset because a lot of people prefer to eat there and not at the Student Union.” Anthony McNair ATEC Junior
EUNJEE CHONG | MERCURY STAFF
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THE MERCURY | SEPT. 6, 2016
NEWS
UTDMERCURY.COM
Students protest oil pipeline
DRUMLINE
College Democrats: construction infringes on ‘sacred land’
JENNIFER CHI | MERCURY STAFF
People gathered at Energy Transfer Partners on Sept. 2 to protest the construction of the Dakota Access Pipeline. YASH MUSALGAONKAR | MERCURY STAFF
Biomedical engineering freshman Stephen Robinson performs during tryouts for the UTD drumline in front of Director Lori Gerard and the original four members of the drumline on Aug. 22. The drumline is looking to play at a volleyball game in October for its first public appearance.
Campus gets first drumline
She didn’t use words like good and bad to describe the performances. She said they’re either “less experienced” or A small troop of musicians who came “more experienced.” The idea for the drumline started to UTD from all around — Berkner High School, Plano Senior High School, out last fall when a group of four stuIrving High School and even Houston dents approached Gerard and told her — huddled together in a packed room they wanted to continue on the tradition of having a drumline so many of in the Arts and Humanities building. They’d all gathered on Aug. 22 for the them brought from high school. At the time, their equipment was same reason: They wanted to be a part of history and become members of the uni- less than ideal. Stuffed in a dimly lit, cramped closet, the versity’s first drumline. beat-up drums were They had all heard barely suitable for what one way or another that I would get middle school lines use, tryouts for the drumline would be taking place ... emails every Gerard said. “These guys came to the first day of school at summer: ‘How about this time last year 4 p.m. As the sounds of do I audition and said, ‘We want to do the pep band’s practice drumline,’” Gerard said. from next door soaked for the UTD “And I said, ‘... OK, I’ll through the dull, gray drumline?’ show you our equipment walls, prospects looked that we have.’ And they over music, tapped on And I’d have all looked at it and they practice pads or opted to to email them all just went, ‘Oh.’” just sit patiently. back and say, Despite the struggle In the middle of the of having subpar equiproom lined with empty ‘We don’t ment, Gerard promised cases of all shapes and have one.’ to put a budget proposal sizes sat a single snare together for the student drum. That’s the in— Lori Gerard, fees committee to try strument the drummers would use and what Lori drumline director and secure funds for actual drums. Gerard, a senior lecturer The original four stuin arts and humanities and the director of the pep band and dents showed up every week of the fall the drumline, would judge prospects semester last year for a technique class and practiced on drum pads to keep on as they tried out that day. Gerard listened to musicians who their performances sharp, along with shined and those that could still use being a part of the percussion ensemble. “They’ve just been kind of the core some work.
Director: New organization will draw attention to presence, importance of music on campus
ESTEBAN BUSTILLOS Mercury Staff
YASH MUSALGAONKAR | MERCURY STAFF
Political science sophomore Jacob Munoz (right) and global business freshman Andrew Alston await their turn to try out for the quints.
group for it,” Gerard said. Zack Oldham, a computer science sophomore who plays the bass drum and is one of the four, said the idea for getting the drumline going started when the end of year show for UTD’s percussion ensemble didn’t end up happening. “We went to (Arts and Humanities Dean Dennis Kratz) about the concert and why we didn’t have our big end of year concert and that kind of turned into, ‘What if we had a drumline?’” Oldham said. Gerard, who started working with the pep band in 2010, said percussion students had always been asking to start a drumline, but the funds and equipment had been lacking. “I would get probably somewhere between five to 10 emails every summer,” she said. “‘How do I audition for the
UTD drumline?’ And I’d have to email them back and say, ‘We don’t have one.’ ‘Oh, well, let’s start one.’ And students don’t realize how much money it takes to do something like that.” Seeing the demand for a drumline from athletics, Student Affairs and different departments in addition to the enthusiasm of the four students, Gerard put together a budget proposal and hoped for the best. “I told these students, ‘I’ll propose it, but you guys have to stick with it through the year and then come back next year and do it.’” Gerard said. “‘Cause if I go in and they give me all these instruments and nobody shows up and I don’t have a group to start it, it’s just not going to look good, it’s
→ SEE DRUMLINE, PAGE 5
UTD fast-track medical program loses funding UT-PACT no longer accepting incoming applications starting in 2017 MIRIAM PERCIVAL News Editor
The UT-Partnership in Advancing Clinical Transition program was discontinued after the Transformation In Medical Education initiative, which supports UT-PACT, did not grant additional funding. Students in UT-PACT were able to graduate from UTD in three years, continuing their medical education with automatic admission to UT Southwestern. An announcement saying, “UT Dallas and UT Southwestern have jointly decided not to reopen future applications” for the program was posted to the website a few weeks ago. Normally, applications open Sept. 1. Those currently in the program still have the same guarantees as when they
joined, but new students will not be our current students are going to freak out. But once we were able to talk to admitted in fall of 2017. The TIME initiative created and them, they weren’t (stressed). You have a lot of emotions going funded several programs through your head when similar to UT-PACT We don’t a decision like that is at other UT System schools. It aimed to creknow what will passed down to you.” Huy Do, a biology ate a new and innovative happen in the senior involved in UTway to prepare underfuture. ... That’s PACT, said he was shocked graduates for medical to hear about the program’s school. why we’re not discontinuation. Cristina Gonzalez, really saying “Everybody was pretty UT-PACT’s program cosurprised,” he said. “It ordinator, said because that it’s gone. created a big hot topic in the decision to cut grant funding from TIME was — Cristina Gonzalez, the pre-medicine commade at the UT System UT-PACT coordinator munity. (Even) students who weren’t in PACT level, she wasn’t sure were talking about it.” about the exact reasons Do said several UT-PACT members’ behind the call. “I was sad,” Gonzalez said. “I thought siblings were disappointed to hear
JULIO NIETO | MERCURY STAFF
Cristina Gonzalez, the coordinator of UT-PACT, said she wasn’t sure why funding for the program was cut.
about the closure, as they had hoped to join the program. Thinking back on his time in the program, Do said his favorite part was the relationships he formed with the other members. “I feel like because we all have a common interest and we are all together for seven years, we’ve developed
→ SEE UT-PACT, PAGE 5
NYEMIKE OKONKWO Mercury Staff
The UTD College Democrats were among the allies of the American Indian Movement of Central Texas, which descended upon the headquarters of Energy Transfer Partners in Dallas on Friday to peacefully protest the construction of the Dakota Access Pipeline. The construction of the pipeline, which will transport crude oil from the Bakken/Three Forks rock formations in North Dakota to a terminus in Illinois, would cross Sioux territory. The Standing Rock Sioux Tribe is arguing that the DAPL was fast-tracked by the federal government, which is a direct violation of the Tribe’s rights as a sovereign nation and would jeopardize historic and cultural resources. “The problem with the pipeline is that it crosses through native lands and their only access to water is the Missouri River, and if anything happened to the pipeline, all of the water would be contaminated, so the Native Americans who drink from it have a problem,” Hira Saleem, the communications director of College Democrats at UTD, said. “Their cattle and the animals who drink from it would be destroyed.” Saleem, a finance and entrepreneurship senior, helped mobilize the student organization and is eager to shine light on the controversy. “The goal was to bring more attention to this because so many people have been protesting already, but it’s not seen in the media much,” Saleem said. A variety of property rights, including bodies of water, are subject to eminent domain, which is a power of the government allowing it to take private property through condemnation proceedings. Throughout these proceedings, the property owner has the right of due process. But, Saleem said, this power may not be in play in the case of the pipeline. “It doesn’t seem like they’re doing that because they’ve used eminent domain to implement the pipeline,” Saleem said. “So, I don’t think they are dealing with the land owners nor the Native Americans who are protesting across North Dakota.” Proponents of the DAPL argue that it, among other energy pipelines, is necessary to reduce AThe United States’ dependency on foreign energy sources. Saleem said she disagrees with that imperative. “I feel like they can respect the Native Americans who own that land and the environment first,” Saleem said. “(The DAPL) crosses through what Native Americans consider sacred land, which is a problem for them, and on top of that it could contaminate their water.” Christian Briggs, a computer science junior and president of College Democrats at UTD, said he was pleased with the protest. “It was really lax,” Briggs said. “The Dallas Police Department was really nice. There were different people from the various tribes from the local area. A member of the Sioux tribe of North Dakota was there, so that was nice.” Briggs said he knew convincing
→ SEE PROTEST, PAGE 5
NEWS
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just not going to work.” Gerard requested $24,000 to start up the drumline and got the budget approved in March. This covers everything from the drums, cases, carriers, uniforms and any other equipment the line may need. This allowed Gerard to purchase five snare drums, three sets of quints, a drum set composed of four smaller drums, and five bass drums. Compared to other university drumlines like the one at the University of Texas at Austin, which marches 10 snare drums, five tenor drums, six bass drums and one cymbal player per snare drum, UTD’s drumline is small. But it’s still larger than Gerard expected. “Honestly, I didn’t think we were going to fill the spots,” she said. “We had enough (instruments) for 18 students total, so I didn’t think we were going to even come close to that. I thought maybe if we had nine people, if we hit ten, I was going to be like, ‘Woo hoo! Victory!’ ... It filled in way more than I thought we were going to have going into it.” One of the newcomers, biomedical engineering freshman Stephen Robinson, started playing in sixth grade. He got excited about the opportunity it would give him to have access to equipment. “So when I heard there was going to be a new drumline I knew that would mean there
would be new drums and everything and it would also give me access to other percussionists who also attend here that I could drum with and we could help each other get better,” he said. Psychology freshman Amy Diaz, who plays a bass drum she has christened “Professor Snape,” is one of three women on the drumline. For Diaz, music is an outlet and a way to escape. “Life can get stressful, and so can college especially, and I found this as an opportunity to automatically make new friends, learn about everything and just gain knowledge about music in general,” she said. Although she and the other women on the line are part of a minority within the larger group, Diaz, who started playing in middle school, is used to being one of the only women in a larger group of men. “It’s not some really big challenge, it’s just something (I’ve) been accustomed to,” she said. “I have to be a little bit tougher, which I don’t mind, and a little bit more aggressive, a little bit of a tougher skin, which I cherish, because that’s how life is. They’re just going to throw you and you succeed or you fail and being in something like this, they’re just going to be honest with you. They’re not going to sugarcoat anything.” A week after the first tryouts, the drumline met as a whole for the first time to assign instruments and get accustomed to one another. Everyone who tried out
made it. Line members took out brand new sleek, black Yamaha drums lined with Kevlar for a tighter sound. As they opened the drums out of the cases like kids unwrapping presents on Christmas day, line members chatted excitedly with one another as they got a feel for the new drums. The drumline is looking at playing at a volleyball game in October for their first outing. They’re also gearing up to play at home volleyball and basketball games. Gerard said she hopes to march the line in this year’s homecoming parade. The drumline may be small and it may not compare to those of larger universities, but Gerard, who played in the drumline at Central Michigan University, has firsthand experience in how important it can be to a university, especially its musical community. “I really hope that this drumline, because people will be able to hear it from a farther distance, that it will just let people on this campus know that there is music,” she said. “We have music. We have a pep band, we have a wind ensemble, and we have choirs. We have all this stuff and nobody knows about it. ... That’s one of my hopes for this, it’s not just that the drumline is something cool and that everyone loves. I hope that it lets people know that there’s music on this campus.”
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really good friendships with each other,” he said. “I think that’s one of the things I really (liked) about the program.” “We’re very proud of our program,” Gonzalez said. “(UT-PACT ending is) definitely not because it wasn’t a successful program. In fact, we really won’t know the success of this program until our students are practicing physicians.” To make the program unique, Gonzalez said students would participate in physician training classes at UT Southwestern during the summer to further their education. “It’s supposed to get them out into the workforce quicker because we’re shaving off a year of undergrad by getting them there,” Gonzalez said. “By the time they get to medical school they’ve already done some of the things that
→ PROTEST
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ETP to shut down their operation was a far-fetched idea, but he was happy to show support for the Sioux tribe and he and the College Democrats will stay the course. “It was largely to show solidarity with the people of North Dakota,” Briggs said. “The company didn’t announce they were going to (cease construction of the pipeline) but it can be blocked, so of course we are going to continue that hope.”
THE MERCURY | SEPT. 6, 2016 a typical medical student does.” Gonzalez said that the existence of UT-PACT helped to attract students to UTD who might not have considered the institution before. “Once they realized what kind of scholarships were available to them even though they didn’t get into UT-PACT, they still came here,” she said. “We really benefitted by getting a great group of students who may not have considered UTD as an option and now they’re here (and) they’re loving it.” Although the program is winding down, Gonzalez said there is still a chance of a program similar to UT-PACT being created. “But we don’t know what will happen in the future,” she said. “Perhaps it will resurface as something else and I think that’s why we’re not really saying that it’s gone, we’re saying that we’re no longer taking applications.”
Briggs also said it is important to stay focused on the broader picture. “Honestly it takes policy,” Briggs said. “People can go out there and we can protest constantly, but it’s all about those votes. It’s about getting out there and lobbying for important causes, it’s about getting out there and actually voting for candidates who will push this forward as a health emergency (…) it’s about getting people together and making them feel like they are a part of something.”
UPCOMING EVENTS CINEMATHEQUE: “THE BIG SHORT” Join Meteor Theater for a movie and a Q&A real economics behind the movie’s events.
Sept. 7, 7 PM, JO 2.604 WOMEN’S SOCCER VS. CARROLL Watch the Comets take on Carroll University. Free admission with Comet Card.
Sept. 9, 7 PM, UTD Soccer Field AVOID PARTY FOULS Learn alcohol awareness from the UTD Police and the Student Wellness Center.
Sept. 13, 7 PM, Res Hall North UNDERGROUND POETRY CIRCUS Come to the Art Barn for an open mic night.
Sept. 15, 7 - 9 PM, Art Barn VOLLEYBALL VS. LETOURNEAU Watch the Comets take on LeTourneau in the first ASC game of the season.
Sept. 16, 7 PM, Activity Center
COMETS ROCK THE VOTE Enjoy music, food and giveaways while learning about the upcoming election.
Sept. 21, 7 - 9 PM, Res Hall West Courtyard
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with live DJs, prizes and shaved ice in Lot T. B Brain Freeze Students enjoyed ice cream treats on the south side of Green Hall on Tuesday, Aug. 30. C Cometville (left to right) Accounting sophomore Stephanie Tran and marketing freshman Jo-Annie Au meet Temoc at the Mall where student organization booths were lined up with information, giveaways, treats and games on Wednesday, Aug. 24. D Greek Treats and Trivia Greek life occupied the Plinth with food and trivia on Wednesday, Aug. 24. E Paint the Rocks The first day of classes started with an opportunity for students to paint the Spirit Rocks Monday, Aug. 22. F Rec N’ Wild (left to right) Psychology and child learning development senior Samantha Thornton, neuroscience sophomore Tricia Interino and information technology and management graduate student Mehul Gangwal cool down at the softball fields with water rides, games and treats on Thursday, Aug. 25. G Sex Bowl Men and women gathered at the Activity Center to compete to determine the superior sex through games and sex education on Tuesday, Aug. 23. H Shop UT Dallas Students had a backstage opportunity to explore the services, goods and food the university offers on Monday, Aug. 29 in the Visitor Center Atrium. I Silent Disco The annual Silent Disco was held in Recreation Center West where students danced with wireless headphones Thursday, Aug. 25. J T-Shirt Swap Students traded in their other university t-shirts to recieve a UTD shirt at the mall on Thursday, Aug. 25. K Volleyball vs. Wiley With a 3-0 win, volleyball opened their season on Friday, Sept. 2 against the Wiley Wildcats at the Activity Center.
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SEPT. 6, 2016 | THE MERCURY | UTDMERCURY.COM
LIFE&ARTS
Alum to represent women in video games Grad repairs vintage arcade games, challenges stereotypes
ANDREW GALLEGOS | PHOTO EDITOR
April Pruitt graduated from UTD in 2014 with a bachelor’s degree in interdisciplinary studies focusing on business management and arts and technology. She now serves as an arcade game repair consultant for the National Videogame Museum. Since her foray into the gaming industry in 2015, Pruitt has worked to break down stereotypes of female characters in video games. MARISA WILLIAMS Mercury Staff
An ATEC alumna, who is an arcade coordinator at the National Videogame Museum in Frisco, has influenced the growth of the museum from the perspective of a woman in a field that has yet to be equally composed of both men and women. After hearing about the National Videogame Museum’s vision to revive the world of arcades in the present day and reaching out to the founders, April Pruitt was welcomed aboard to refurbish arcade games. Working with the museum isn’t an easy job, but Pruitt said it changed how she views herself and the work she does. “It has increased my self-confidence and my personal strength, as well as my patience,” she said. Alongside her husband, who does the woodwork on many of the games, Pruitt said she entered the gaming industry in
March of 2015. According to the BBC, the representation of women in video games has remained at a constant 15 percent since the 1990’s. Additionally, in those games, they are often hyper-sexualized. Pruitt remembers one experience in particular that made that fact incredibly apparent. “We go to the Texas Pinball Festival every year,” she said. “One of the games that came out the year before last was ‘Woah Nelly, Big Melons.’ It was a woman holding two giant melons.” Pruitt said the gaming industry primarily markets itself to male consumers, which is part of the reason women are under-represented. “Women may stand up and have more of a voice, but the issue is the games that are put out these days aren’t designed with any kind of women’s desires in mind,” she said. She also said the games women are usually interested in are quite different
in comparison to a majority of the firstperson shooter games that are the most popular products on the market. “Most enjoy logical and side-scrolling and adventure, not necessarily hunting and killing,” she said. Even in games where female characters are prominently featured, Pruitt said stereotypical gender roles are still portrayed. “Peach’s adventures (in Mario Kart) are about her being on PMS. Her powers are to cry, to become angry,” she said. “We finally get a game and that’s what we get.” Nonetheless, Pruitt doesn’t let that stop her. “You have to be a little bit stronger and a little more persistent. Otherwise, that stuff would knock you out of the hobby pretty quick,” she said. The under-representation of women appears in the setup of the National Videogame Museum, but Pruitt said she does see potential for the museum to become more progressive than it already is.
“They have a replication of a bedroom and living room (from) the 80’s,” she said. “It’s all the boy stuff. There’s no representation of girls at all.” Pruitt said she plans to use her influence to change that. “What is there now is the museum 1.0 version and they have plans for the 2.0 version,” she said. “I’m hoping what we will do in the 2.0 version is including a lot more woman stuff and I have already talked to them about maybe doing a rotating exhibit about women in the industry and they’re definitely up and open for that.” The BBC also found that women are primarily represented as either the “damsel in distress” or the hyper-sexualized “ultimate warrior.” Pruitt said she doesn’t see such stereotypes as an obstacle, but rather as a brush on the path to a society with equality for men and women in occupations like hers. Pruitt explained how her job has increased her patience with people and
changed the way she sees sexist views. “(Men) absolutely don’t do it on purpose,” she said. “They don’t even think about it. … It’s not that men are oppressing women in any way. (Women) need to have a louder voice.” Several women who have succeeded in the gaming industry have inspired Pruitt. She got to meet some of them at the museum’s opening gala. “There were a couple of women that used to work at Atari back when ‘Centipede’ was first born. … I asked them what it was like being a woman working in that field and they said, ‘We didn’t even think about it. We just got the job done,’” Pruitt said. For any women who aspire to bring their passion and skills to the gaming industry, Pruitt said taking opportunities as they come and performing well is key. “Be patient,” she said. “Don’t force it and just create good product … and make it fun and move forward.”
Gourmet Club offers taste of home College foodies find family through regular dinners with fun, new recipes CARA SANTUCCI Managing Editor
CHRIS LIN | MERCURY STAFF
Members of UTD’s Gourmet Club gather several times per semester to catch up and share a meal. The club also teaches students how to cook healthy and affordable food.
It was 7 p.m. in the Student Union. The regular hustle and bustle was in full swing. Behind the doors of the Gemini Room, however, a warm family dinner was underway. The Gourmet Club had its first meeting of the year on Aug. 29. Eighteen people showed up, but — if the past were any indication — soon they’d be down to five or six regulars. For those most dedicated members, however, it was a homecoming. Healthcare studies sophomore and club secretary Lauryn Manning joined the club her first year at UTD.
“I’ve always been a big cook,” she said. “My dad is a big cook so he kind of passed down things that he knew to me.” Manning said the Gourmet Club helped cure her homesickness, because cooking was always something she and her dad would do together. “(Joining the club) was something I could do on my own, but still feel connected (to home),” she said. At the end of meetings, Manning and the other club officers ask the members to submit ideas for what they want to cook throughout the year. “While we’re eating, we like to talk a lot about where we came from and
what we’ve cooked in the past and our experiences,” she said. Last year, Manning remembers a student who came to the club who was from Scandinavia. His experiences, she said, diversified their conversations about what they traditionally cook back at home. “It feels very homey. It feels like I’m finding a place to just get comfortable with friends,” she said. “I feel at ease just talking to people who have the same interest as me.” Manning said part of the club’s appeal for college students is learning
→ SEE GOURMET, PAGE 9
Oldest driver helps settle int'l students Veteran Comet Cruiser operator connects with students as they adjust to life in Dallas BHARGAV ARIMILLI Life and Arts Editor
Comet Cruiser’s 883 West service to McCallum Boulevard is almost always full. Dennis Taylor, one of the longest-serving drivers for the Comet Cruiser service who operates the McCallum route, chats with students on the 15-minute journey, asking about their days, offering recommendations for restaurants in the city and reminding them to call their parents. A native of San Antonio, Taylor grew up in a military family and moved around the country for his stepfather’s job. Once the Vietnam War began, Taylor chose to join. “I went into the military because I wanted to see what all the hubbub was about,” he said. “I was against the war because I felt that the people in charge were lying to us — the youth —and the only
way to find out was to be a part of it.” For Taylor, his time in the Air Force’s special operations Survival, Evasion, Resistance and Escape (SERE) program played an important role in shaping his views. “It gave me a sense of accomplishment and … develops a strong discipline in leadership,” he said. “My military background and my travels get me to (connect) with people.” Taylor’s connections began to strengthen after he decided to make use of his commercial driver’s license by working as a bus driver for Plano ISD after hopping between a few careers following his time in the military. He attributed his decision to leave his old job as an advertising executive because he wanted to have an impact on youth. A year later, he began working for ECHO Transportation, a UTD contractor that provides Comet Cruiser services. “I immediately started driving on the
McCallum route where I’ve met so many of my passengers who are now dear friends of mine,” Taylor said. “I’ve been fortunate to carry people for years.” A large number of students who use the Comet Cruiser service are international students. For Taylor, creating an open and welcoming environment for these students, who are often unfamiliar with the area at first, is an important component of his job. “I feel as though I’m an ambassador,” Taylor said. “I’m an ambassador for this country, our company and UTD. If one of my students picks up the phone and ... calls mom and dad, I want them to have a good conversation about somebody that they met (who) is an American and treats them with respect.” Taylor said his passengers have been extremely kind to him in his five years
→ SEE TAYLOR, PAGE 8
SAHER AQEEL | ASSISTANT PHOTO EDITOR
Dennis Taylor served in the Air Force during the Vietnam War before he retired and began working for Comet Cruisers.
UTDMERCURY.COM
LIFE&ARTS
Alum launches clothing line Next Ummah Apparel finds balance between religion, aesthetics
ALI MAHMOUD | COURTESY
Ali Mahmoud, who graduated from UTD in 2015 and is now a second-year medical student, founded Next Ummah Apparel in April to give Muslim Americans a way to express their faith through trendy clothing.
be proud of where they come ESTEBAN BUSTILLOS Mercury Staff from,” he said. “I feel like in order to do that you have to not It’s safe to say Ali Mahmoud only be obvious in how Muslim is a modern Renaissance man. the clothing is, but you also The UTD alumnus is a medical have to make clothing of a good student at the University of Tex- and modern quality.” Mahmoud, who designs all of as Medical Branch in Galveston, a husband, a businessman and Next Ummah’s apparel, draws fashion designer for Next Um- inspiration for the shirts from mah, a fashion brand he found- sources like “The Simpsons,” Muhammad Ali and Drake. He ed during his time at UTD. Mahmoud said the word starts off the designing process by “ummah” refers to the general simply jotting down ideas on his phone and working from there. Muslim community. Sometimes, the designs work “In a way, I was kind of going for the phrase ‘next generation,’ out great. Other times, Mahbut tying in Muslim sentiment moud said he creates a shirt that just doesn’t look good or doesn’t to it,” he said. Next Ummah, which Mah- get the desired message across. moud started in April, resembles Mahmoud admitted this can be streetwear brands like Supreme, frustrating, but that it’s part of if Supreme catered to modern the creative process. Mahmoud started a crowdfundMuslims. Designs range from a shirt adorned with an image of ing campaign to help cover the Malcolm X shooting laser beams expenses of the company and it raised over $5,000 out of his eyes à la dollars in about a Cyclops, the charNext Ummah month. He’s not acter from the is trying to... the only one who “X-Men” comic is running the books, to a shirt create clothing show, however. quoting Kanye that looks cool, When he’s West praising Alnot interning at lah on his song that expresses a cancer research “So Appalled.” a message and treatment cenFor Mahthat allows Muster in Chicago, moud, the inspiration for lims to be proud molecular biology junior Omar the brand came of where they Hamed is directfrom looking at ing the marketing similar brands come from. and advertising that catered to for Next Umyoung Muslims — Ali Mahmoud mah. Hamed first and finding deheard of Next signs in one of Ummah from two camps: those that leaned too heavily on re- Mahmoud and said he fell in love ligious imagery and messages with the idea immediately. “I was like, ‘Man, that’s really and those that nixed the relicool,’” Hamed said. “Just heargious aspect all together in faing the idea made me realize how vor of aesthetics. much impact this can have beWith Next Ummah, Mahmoud is trying to find the prop- cause it really is a void in the fasher balance between the two sides ion industry. … I’ve always felt to create a brand that represents our youth are very proud of their his religion while still appealing identity, we just didn’t have the tools to express it aesthetically.” to the eye. Hamed has been helping “Those shirts and clothing items, they look cool, but they Mahmoud since the crowdfunddon’t exactly accomplish the ing campaign and putting in same mission as what Next Um- time to reach out to customers. mah is trying to accomplish and Afterwards, Hamed approached that is to kind of merge those Mahmoud and offered to come two to create clothing that on board to help take off some looks cool, that expresses a mes- of the workload. Even though they’re across sage and that allows Muslims to
the country from one another in Galveston and Chicago, Hamed said the distance doesn’t hinder his work on Next Ummah with Mahmoud. “Honestly, it’s just the feeling, that trust between the both of us, I feel that’s the key thing,” he said. “You just trust the other and try to communicate as much as possible. You can do it over the phone, messages, it depends on how each of us, how our days are and how busy we are, but we try to stay in touch pretty much daily.” Since the company is still young, Hamed said any money that Next Ummah makes is automatically invested back into the company. Mahmoud said all products are printed in the United States to ensure both quality and peace of mind in knowing that no sweatshop labor is involved in the production of Next Ummah apparel. That makes it more expensive to make Next Ummah clothing than if they made their products overseas, but for Mahmoud it’s worth the cost. “It means that the shirts are made in a way that is absolutely devoid of any kind of abuse,” he said. Although they’re only making t-shirts right now, Mahmoud said there are plans to make other apparel like hats in the future. Mahmoud said his goal is to one day have Next Ummah resemble an Urban Outfitters for Muslims, where different people can bring their designs together to celebrate their culture in a collaborative setting. He stressed, however, that Next Ummah is not exclusive to just Muslims. “I don’t have a problem with anyone outside of the Muslim community choosing to wear the shirts,” Mahmoud said. “If anything, I think that it would be somewhat of a show of solidarity in today’s times where there’s a lot of open discrimination against Muslims. So I think if someone from a different community wanted to wear the shirts. … That’s more of really an honor for me just because my message was received by somebody who didn’t have the same beliefs as I did.”
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how to cook. “You don’t have to just live off of Ramen noodles,” she said. “We can teach you how to make other, better food.” In addition to learning new skills, Manning said the social atmosphere of the club started to feel like a family the longer she participated. “I have a lot of memories of just, after we cooked, (sitting) around and (talking) for hours,” Manning said. “It’s just a really good place.” Looking forward, Manning said she’d like to get the club interested in service projects. She said she could see the club helping out in the food pantry on campus and donating some of the money they make during their bake sales. Kaylee Gross, the co-president of the Gourmet Club and accounting senior, said the group appealed to her freshman year because of her family’s history of cooking.
→ TAYLOR
THE MERCURY | SEPT. 6, 2016
“I’ve always been a foodie other co-president and neurogrowing up,” she said. “(My science junior, said he’d like to family) would always have meals add restaurant outings to the together and I kind of wanted to year’s activities, in addition to expanding the extend that into membership of college life.” the club. Like Manning, When you're Sinha, unlike Gross said the vibe of all cooking for the other offithe Gourmet Club cers, didn’t have often veers into faone another, much cooking milial territory. it kind of does experience be“When you’re make you like fore joining the all cooking for Gourmet Club. one another, it a family. ... It “I was feeling kind of does make also gives me homesick because you like a family,” I couldn’t eat my Gross said. “It also a place to get mom’s food,” he gives me a place away from said. “I had to to get away from school — to learn to cook on school — to forget my own.” about tests.” forget about Although the Although she’s tests. five or six core been in the club for members of four years, she said the group often its basic principles — Kaylee Gross don’t see each haven’t changed. other between “We’re still cooking. We still meet up and cook meetings, Gross said she viewed together,” Gross said. “That’s the it as a positive. “It’s like a homecoming when whole point.” In the future, Sahil Sinha, the we get together,” she said.
age, not knowing the language well. They come here and they really put themworking as a selves into it. Comet Cruiser They’re the best, driver. He said one I want them nicest, most particular memory to get a sense friendly people stands out. I’ve ever met.” During one of culture, The sprawlof his shifts, he because that's ing Dallas-Fort realized that he what it's all Worth Mehad forgotten troplex offers his water bottle about. ... take a number of and lunch. Two off your sansightseeing lostudents stepped cations, but for forward and ofdals, put your many internafered him food. boots on and tional students Small moments enjoy yourself! who don’t have like these, he licenses or cars, said, remind him why he loves his — Dennis Taylor these places are inaccesjob so much. sible. Because “I look at these kids and I look at myself. I of this, Taylor said he tries to couldn’t do what they’re doing,” help students get out of their Taylor said. “They’ve come to a apartments by suggesting public country far away at a very young transport alternatives in order
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to see the city. “I want them to get a sense of the culture, because that’s what it’s all about,” Taylor said. “Take your sandals off, put your boots on and enjoy yourself!” Taylor’s multicultural friendships extend beyond graduation. He keeps in touch with some of his former passengers, who have gone on to pursue careers elsewhere in the United States. But with each year, Taylor said he hopes to welcome new members to the UTD community and maintain connections with them. He plans to stay with ECHO and Comet Cruisers for as long as he can. “When I sit and think about the various jobs I’ve had in my life — and I’ve had a lot — this is by far the most significant,” Taylor said. “I truly enjoy what I’m doing right now. I truly enjoy what I’m doing right now.”
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SEPT. 6, 2016 | THE MERCURY | UTDMERCURY.COM
SPORTS
JUST FOR KICKS Taekwondo-playing grad student sees potential for club on campus ANDREW GALLEGOS | PHOTO EDITOR
Biomedical engineering graduate student Nicholas Kirk competes in local, state and national taekwondo tournaments. It wasn’t until he was an adult that he began to take the sport seriously. PABLO JUAREZ Sports Editor
Nicholas Kirk wasn’t always an active person. His parents urged him to get involved in sports at the age of 10. That’s how Kirk and taekwondo crossed paths. Taekwondo is a Korean martial art, which traditionally was used as a form of self-defense, but was later developed into a sport. Kirk, a biomedical engineering grad-
uate student, didn’t begin competing until he was an adult. “When I was 18, I started doing the sport class at my school,” he said. “Right before I turned 19, there were some friends at the gym who did compete and they talked me into going and trying out a tournament. (The tournament) didn’t go well. I got a black eye and I got beat up pretty bad.” UTD currently doesn’t have a taekwondo team, which Kirk attributes to the dominance of other state schools’
teams in attracting potential talent. “The last tournament I did was the National Collegiate Championships back in April,” Kirk said. “I was the only person representing UTD (there). That was all people that were in colleges like Texas A&M, Baylor and a couple of universities from California and New York.” Though there may not be serious taekwondo competitors, Kirk said he believes he could generate enough interest to form a club.
“Just from the people I’ve talked to, I could probably get enough interest,” he said. Kirk said he considers himself a late bloomer since a majority of the people he meets at high profile tournaments have competed since they were 10 years old. He said there’s a common theme for those most successful at the sport. “Once you get more competitive you find people with certain body types and certain skill levels,” he said. “Most guys that you’re going to find that are
any good are tall and lanky. I’m probably average for my weight division, but I’ve seen guys that are six foot and are somehow in the same weight division as me.” Despite losing his first match, Kirk returned to the mat six months later and defeated his next opponent. Like any other sport, there’s a lot of preparation behind the scenes to ensure tournament readiness.
→ SEE KICKS, PAGE 11
Program cultivates Fall sports winning tradition breakdown Men’s basketball overcomes early mediocrity, develops into ASC powerhouse
Volleyball, soccer teams primed for successful seasons
CHAD AUSTIN |ASSISTANT GRAPHICS EDITOR
PABLO JUAREZ Sports Editor
Dapo Ogunfeitimi stepped foot on UTD’s court for the first time as an incoming freshman. His eyes immediately became fixed on one thing — the basketball championship banners hanging from the rafters. The senior guard said he knew at that point he wanted to become part of the program’s winning tradition. The men’s basketball team is arguably the most successful program in UTD history. They are the school’s only team to reach an NCAA tournament “Elite Eight” along with multiple “Sweet 16” appearances. But for the first five seasons following the program’s founding in 1998, the team struggled to win consistently, posting records well below .500 in four of those years. The program made a change at the helm during that time span which laid the
building blocks for turning the team into plan from top to bottom. I can’t say that I’ve ever stepped onto the floor of a regional and national powerhouse. a game here and have In 2000, Terry Butnot been given all the terfield was hired as keys to be successful the men’s basketball I can’t say that during the game.” head coach. In only his I’ve ever stepped Since 2006, the third season as head program has yet to coach, he was named onto the floor of undergo a losing the ASC East Division a game here and season. During that Coach of the Year. His have not been time, they’ve made passionate outbursts 10 consecutive trips from the sideline durgiven all the keys to the ASC tournaing games became a to be successful ment. The program’s prominent fixture of peak years were UTD basketball. during the game. in 2008 and 2009 “Coach Butterfield behind the scenes … — Dapo Ogunfeitimi, when they went to the “Elite Eight” and oh man,” OgunfeitiSenior guard “Sweet 16” in backmi said. “He’s a great to-back seasons. coach. Out of any Former Comet guard and now Assiscoach that I’ve ever played for throughout my years of playing basketball, he’s tant Men’s Basketball coach Jared Flemone of the best at drawing out the X’s and O’s. Every game he comes in with a game
→ SEE BASKETBALL, PAGE 11
ANKITH AVERINENI | MERCURY STAFF
Outside hitter Holyn Handley goes for a kill against Wiley College on Sept. 2. Handley recorded four total kills for the match. The Comets defeated Wiley College in their season opener in straight sets, 3-0.
The subtle changing of leaves means it’s time for UTD fall sports to start up again. Volleyball, women’s soccer and men’s soccer all have high hopes this season, but whether those hopes will yield results requires a complete breakdown of each sport. Roster The volleyball team, like last year, again lacks height, with zero players over six feet and five players measuring 5 feet 6 inches or below. The team’s core players, Abbie Barth, Michelle Toro and Holyn Handley return as seniors for one last title run. Fayna Zeng, who was initially recruited as a setter but filled in as the team’s libero last year, will return to
her normal position to fill the void the program’s all-time assist leader, Kayla Jordan, left behind. The women’s soccer team consistently started multiple freshmen last season. At one point in the year, all 11 starters were freshmen. A good portion of those players will be returning, giving the team some continuity moving forward. A nagging injury plagued senior forward Megan Mugavero last season. Now healthy, Mugavero and first team All-ASC selectee, sophomore forward Jacquie Kaufman will lead the Comet’s dynamic attack. Men’s soccer ended an eight-year ASC title drought in 2015. They’ll come into their 2016 campaign as a
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SPORTS
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veteran team once again, losing only one starter from their championship winning team. The team is well balanced offensively and defensively, featuring the reigning ASC Offensive Player of the Year Danny Meyer and ASC Defensive Player of the Year Sam Konstanty. Schedule Volleyball entered the season as the 13th ranked team in the country. They won their home opener against Wiley College on Sept. 2 in straight sets. The team will have three major tournaments this season: the Colorado College Invitational Tournament held in Colorado
Springs from Sept. 9 to 10, the ASC Crossover Tournament held in Austin from Sept. 23 to 24 and the Washington University Volleyball Tournament held in St. Louis from Oct. 21 to 22. The team will begin ASC play on Sept. 16 against LeTourneau University. Women’s soccer will begin the season with an eight-game home stand, three of those home games against ASC opponents, the first on Sept. 17 against Howard Payne. Those eight games will set the tone for the team’s season. Games to watch for include a road game against ASC powerhouse Hardin-Simmons on Sept. 30 and a rematch from last season’s ASC semifinal against Tyler on Oct. 20. Men’s soccer faces a difficult road schedule to start the year, including a match-up with the
23rd ranked team in the country. A key game to watch for is a road game against Trinity University on Sept. 10, the same team that has ended all of the Comets’ past NCAA tournaments runs. The team will begin ASC play on Sept. 22 against Concordia. Recap Women’s soccer is poised to break their 11-year ASC title drought. Volleyball and men’s soccer have proven themselves as ASC powerhouse programs, but have fallen short on the national stage, with neither advancing to a “Sweet 16.” Their ultimate goal is to make a serious run in the NCAA tournament and bring home UTD’s first ever National Championship.
Volleyball season openers Sept. 2: Comets vs. Wiley College — 3-0 Sept. 3: Comets vs. Texas Lutheran — 3-0
ANKITH AVERINENI | MERCURY STAFF CHRIS LIN | MERCURY STAFF
The volleyball team was ranked 13th in the country at the start of their season. Like last year, the team this year has no players over six feet tall, and has five players under 5 feet 6 inches.
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“Usually we’ll do lots of cardio and lots of conditioning because you have to build endurance to fight those kind of rounds,” Kirk said. “Since more points (come) from kicking, usually if you’re taller (or) have longer legs then you have an advantage. A typical class will do drills where we practice kicking targets. We always spar towards the end of class. I’ll spar bigger people and smaller people. The idea is that you want to be well rounded so you can go in and fight anyone based off their body size.” Kirk admits that there was some initial reluctance from his parents. “My mom was at the tournament when I got (a) black eye and she told me afterwards she wouldn’t blame me
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THE MERCURY | SEPT. 6, 2016
if I didn’t want to do it again,” of points, resulting in a higher Kirk said. “I don’t think she seed. The top ranked fighters was as open to it (at first), but in the world are usually given a she was willing (to support me) bye for the preliminaries using when she saw it was what I this process. wanted to do and that I wasn’t “Locally, there might be one or afraid of that two good guys,” kind of stuff.” Kirk said. “At Like in boxthe state tourUsually everyone nament ing, taekwondo you in the taekwondo has various have the best weight classes guys in the state community is measured in kiand nationally pretty humble it just goes up los. Currently from there, but there are eight when they’re not usually everyweight classes. trying to knock At the Olymone in the taeyour head off. pic level, there kwondo comare four. Kirk munity is pretty — Nicholas Kirk humble when belongs to the 130 to 140 they’re not tryweight range. ing to knock As far as tournaments go lo- your head off.” cally, anyone who shows up In the short-term, Kirk plans is able to fight. If it’s an offi- to compete in the Fort Worth cial tournament, the match- championships in October, ups are determined through a but he has his eyes set on the seeding process. Every match Olympic Trials. win yields a certain number
and a great time,” he said. “I played all four years there. We had a lot of success. I had a great ing said players from those time playing for Coach Butterteams still stay in contact with field (as) a point guard. He puts each other. Fleming, despite a lot on his point guards to run the team, be playing on a leader and I both of those Now we have embraced that teams, had role. My teamtwo unique a year of experimates that I experiences. ence under our played with In 2008, belts and that will … we still his senior season, he definitely be some- talk everyday. I thought the appeared in thing we utilize this overall experievery single ence was great.” game but coming season. In 2014, only logged — Dapo Ogunfeitimi the team once 260 minutes, again won the roughly 8.4 conference timinutes per contest. In 2009, his duties tle and advanced to the “Sweet were expanded in part because 16” in nail-biting fashion by he was the only experienced drilling a three-point buzzer guard on the team. His min- beater against Whitworth Colutes nearly quadrupled and his lege. That team had a short run scoring average soared from and was unable to recreate their magic after several veterans 2.8 to 11.4 points per game. “I had a great playing career graduated and those remaining
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were decimated with injuries. Ogunfeitimi, who was only a freshman on that year’s team, said he feels like he’s been a part of two completely different eras. “My freshman year it was a very veteran dominant team,” he said. “This past year we were just a bunch of young guys. There were no seniors on the team. At the beginning of the (year), the season was kind of just up in the air. No one knew how it was going to go.” Now as a solidified starter with three years under his belt, Ogunfeitimi said that the groundwork for another title run has already been put in place. “We didn’t lose anybody (from last season),” Ogunfeitimi said. “(Last year) we had the talent (and) the heart but we didn’t have true experience. Now we have a year of experience under out belts and that will definitely be something we utilize this coming season.”
7 12 SCHOOL SUPPLIES
SEPT. 6, 2016 | THE MERCURY
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Since Clark Center — a popular location for fraternities and sororities to have meetings — was torn down, the chapters have had trouble finding spaces large enough to accommodate them regularly, Peterson said. Greek housing is meant to solve that issue by moving Greek activities off campus. “I want to be somewhere where we can have our events … and not have to worry about reserving a room on campus,” Peterson said. “That could be opened up to other student organizations. It’d be easier to throw events that we have a dedicated space for.” Briana Lemos, the Student Government advisor, served as the Greek life coordinator in 2005. She said FSL had worked with UTD’s former president David Daniel about Greek housing. “(Daniel) had promised the students a land lease, so if they could show their organization could afford the home and (its) upkeep and everything their national organization needed to do, he would allow them to lease the UTD land for … something affordable for their organization,” she said. At the time, the groups were still young and no alumni were old enough to make significant contributions, Lemos said. With 25 years under Kappa Sigma's belt, Peterson said alumni are excited to celebrate the milestone, making it easier to reach out to them. “I want to start with connections … to further establish connections we don’t necessarily have with some alumni that have moved farther away to get as many people together as possible,” he said. “And this is going to be standard … not just this year, but a foundation for that in the future.” By establishing a solid alumni basis, Peterson said he wants to work toward securing housing for
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in 1997 to raise money for the Special Olympics, and the Great Ride portion started eight years ago. “Ultimately all of the funds and the proceeds go to Special Olympics,” Leach said. “(We) charge the vendors, and that also goes to Special Olympics. Last year we donated about $5,300 out of this one event and around $1.8 million over the years.” Although the event is low scale, Leach said there are many sponsors including Blue Cross Blue Shield, State Farm and even UTD. The cost to participate is $20 per motorcycle and an extra $10 per passenger. “In the first year we had 100 motorcycles and it was only a 30 mile long ride from the Civic Center to Eastside on 75 and
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all of FSL. “This is something that we’re looking to set (up) for everybody and it’s going to be like a Greek row rather than a house randomly on campus,” he said. Vice President of Student Affairs Gene Fitch said there are small pockets of land that could be used for Greek housing, such as the stretch between the rail line and Point North Park near Synergy Boulevard, but that is contingent on a variety of factors. “(It’s) a very visible location but the problem is (whether there is) enough to build houses and provide parking and everything else that you would need out there,” he said. “That’s not to say we won’t still continue to pursue that. As (it) gains momentum, we’ll have conversations again and explain how the financing piece works. Then (FSL has) got to decide whether or not that’s something they have an interest in pursuing.” Seeking diversity Lemos, who managed Greek life at UTD until 2010, said FSL had a slow start on campus. “It was a completely different community than it is now,” she said. “(With) a Greek community, there’s usually a sense of home and we didn’t have that yet because the groups were so new. (They) didn’t have that history or past to build on. They were still figuring life out.” As Greek life grew, Lemos said it adopted an identity that mimicked the campus population. “A lot of times at institutions, Greek life gets a bad rap of being elitist or not inclusive, (but) from my standpoint that’s not how we are,” she said. “We truly are what UTD is. You get a little bit of everything.” Kevin Saberre, the director of FSL, stressed his recruitment goal for chapters is to seek diverse individuals to round out the membership and continue the trend of FSL mirroring the cam-
ANKITH AVERINENI | MERCURY STAFF
La’Tressa Graham (far right), a psychology senior, is a member of Delta Sigma Theta sorority, which is part of the National Pan-Hellenic Council in UTD’s Greek community. Currently, there are 12 members in the NPHC.
pus’ identity. “We’ll be more intentional in our conversations with our chapters about understanding that the diversity on campus is a huge strength,” he said. “A lot of times, with fraternities and sororities, you have to make sure that you are going out and seeking quality members. I think when you have such a large campus, it’s easy to just fall back on the students who are already interested and come to you as opposed to you going out and finding quality members.” Community service Andrew Chen, the vice president of Omega Delta Phi and an international student from Taiwan, said his image of fraternities and sororities was limited to what he had seen in American movies. “I never thought about joining a fraternity,” he said. “But, after I came to UTD, … (I realized) that
Campbell,” Leach said. “Each year like back roads to ride with my wife who is also particiit has grown.” The race has since almost tri- pating. We are fairly new to motorcycles and it’s going to pled in distance. Interdisciplinary studies junior be our first ride together.” Steffen said that he is most Michael Kessinger said that this looking foris the first year ward to the race he will be paralongside his ticipating in the co-workers and race, and that he Last year we friends, and that is most looking donated about it is a good way forward to sharto share comrading the experience $5,300 (to the ery while supwith his wife. Special Olymporting a good Kessinger also pics of Texas). cause. said he grew up “This is the around motorfirst year we all cycles and recently bought two — Donna Leach, have gone as a Harley’s, so when sponsorship director group,” Steffen said. “I think he heard about it’s cool because the Great Ride through the UTD News Center, (Marler) and I ride together a lot. The other guys in the group he had to sign up for the cause. “It’s going to be an interest- ride together some, so it will be ing ride,” Kessinger said. “I’m the first time we’ve all hung out looking forward to new areas on the road together.”
the movies just emphasized certain parts of fraternities. (They) actually do a lot of community service and fundraising for philanthropy. (And) I think the brotherhood is really strong and it provides me another feeling of home.” Chen said the diversity of FSL continues to expand and strengthen the chapters on campus. “Even though some fraternities may (have) started with just a single race as their founders, all of their goals are to become a multicultural fraternity and sorority,” he said. “For example, in Omega Delta Phi, there are not only Latinos, there are also Asians and African Americans. When different cultures work together, it actually makes a fraternity and sorority better and more thoughtful toward other people.” FSL’s programming has developed over the years, giving groups like Delta Sigma Theta a chance to organize events like Pink Power to raise breast cancer awareness.
Members have opportunities to be leaders, La’Tressa Graham, the vice president and treasurer of the sorority, said. “We’re just ‘show and prove’ types of people,” Graham said. “As you go through the process, you just learn so much more in watching other people in the positions that they hold. (You see) how much of a business it is and how much we try to reach out to initiate programs and do things that can help the community as well as help ourselves.” Rush season As rush season picks up for the 24 Greek chapters on campus, Peterson said he hopes new recruits find their place in FSL as he did, three years ago, with Kappa Sigma. He said one memory in particular made him realize he’d made the right choice in ‘going Greek.’ Around this same time last year,
50 of his brothers gathered to set up camp on the Plinth with cardboard boxes. That would be home for the next couple of nights. As the rest of the campus settled in for the night, the makeshift homes came alive. The fraternity men were swept up in a frenzy of activity, from playing soccer and tossing a Frisbee around to watching a movie and getting to know each other. Amidst all the socializing, however, they all knew their presence in the middle of campus represented something bigger. Kappa Sigma fraternity’s annual awareness campaign for homeless veterans had its biggest turnout last year and reaffirmed what being a part of Greek life is to Peterson. “That was probably where I started thinking ‘This is why I want to be here,’” he said. “We’re hanging out together and we’re doing something for a good cause and we’re having fun while doing it.”