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February 20, 2017
On the spectrum
THE MERCURY | UTDMERCURY.COM
UV app privileges under classmen
UTD’s resources help students with autism navigate college
New tiered system to increase transparency
BHARGAV ARIMILLI | LIFE & ARTS EDITOR
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MERCURY ARCHIVES
The new housing application, which works in a tiered system, is open until Feb. 27 for students to sign up. LOGAN HARLESS Mercury Staff
Motivated by student feedback regarding widespread issues with the old online application, Residential Life has overhauled its process to account for the high demand in leasing out its limited housing space. “We needed to make a bigger change than just small tweaks here and there,” said Ryan White, assistant vice president of Residential Life. The most important and visible of these changes revolved around the online “intent to sign-up” process. “Last year we opened sign-up at 10 a.m. At 10:03 a.m., we were full. … People had class, people had work. ... When it fills up that fast its going to be disadvantageous to students. …We knew that first-come, first-served was not student friendly,” White said. Not only did registration fill up within three minutes, the volume of students applying put stress on the servers and caused them to fail. Neuroscience junior Udit Bhatt recounted his experience during the fall 2015 application period when he was leaving the dorms and applying for an apartment in University Village. “When we first did it, it actually didn’t work at all and that was a big fiasco. Because it was at 10 a.m., something like that, in the middle of a school day, I was in (general chemistry) and everyone was refreshing their page to try and open the housing app and it never opened,” Bhatt said. For this semester’s round of applications, Res Life is implementing a priority-based system that will improve transparency and present a more student friendly interface. The portion of the process called the “intent to signup” — which caused the most problems in the past — occurred without incident on Feb. 6. Students have now formed their roommate groups and are waiting until Feb. 27 when the highest priority housing signups begin. The new method uses a tiered system. Students are assigned a priority number based on a variety of factors. The number determines the order in which students can apply for housing. After lease renewals are addressed, the signup priority is given to McDermott, Terry and National Merit scholars followed by, rising sophomores, rising juniors, rising seniors and finally graduate students. Commuters who lived off campus can only apply for spots on the waitlist. If students decide to apply as a group of roommates and not individually, their priority numbers are averaged.
→ SEE HOUSING, PAGE 13
ennifer Partin was on her shift social interaction and communication looking after children when she and encompasses a range of sympsaw a young boy with autism toms, skills and disabilities. According grabbed and forced to make eye con- to a CDC report published in 2014, about one in 68 children have been ditact with another worker. “I wanted to say something, but I agnosed with ASD. UTD is home to one of the nawas just a lowly respite worker,” she said. “Every now and then I get pes- tion’s largest populations of students simistic, so what I try to do is just diagnosed with ASD. According to the Office of Student AccessAbility, 450 raise understanding.” Partin, a psychology senior who students have registered for autismwas diagnosed with autism spectrum related accommodations. A New York disorder in 2016, started doing so at Times article published last November UTD. She founded a student group reported institutions such as Westcalled For Autistic Empowerment ern Kentucky University and Adelphi University had — the first of its similar accommodakind on campus — tion programs that that provides supThere’s a tenserved between 45 port for individuals and 100 students, with autism. dency towards far less than UTD. “On one hand, awareness raisA 2012 study in we want to create a ing. Awareness the journal Pediatrics community where found that 34.7 peryou don’t have to without educacent of adolescents worry about people tion leads to fear with ASD attended judging you for becollege and 55.1 ing autistic,” she and stigma. percent were only said. “The other side employed within of the mission is to — Jennifer Partin, the first six years afspread education President of For Autistic ter high school. For about what autism Empowerment Noah Sasson, a prois and what it’s like. fessor in the School There’s a tendency of Brain and Behavtowards awareness raising. Awareness without education ioral Sciences who specializes in autism research, these statistics reflect a larger leads to fear and stigma.” problem in the way resources for individuals with autism are allocated. *** “A huge problem is getting support Autism spectrum disorder is a de- for adults with autism because a lot of velopmental condition that can impair public services for kids with autism
SAHER AQEEL | PHOTO EDITOR
Jennifer Partin, a psychology senior and president of For Autistic Empowerment, was diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder in 2016. She founded FAE, the first group of its kind, to offer support for individuals with autism.
(are) tied to the school system,” Sasson said. “They’re very few of these kinds of resources for students once they age out of those.” UTD’s large number of autistic students receive support from the OSA, which works to ensure they receive adequate accommodations based on paperwork filed with the office after acceptance into the university. Kerry Tate, the director of the OSA, said the office makes every effort to tend to personal needs. “Each student is unique because they’re each going to have different en-
vironments,” Tate said. “It may be that they need different color paper when they’re taking their exam. It could be a variety of things, but once the documentation supports it, we are trying to meet their need.” *** The relatively high number of students with autism at UTD can be attributed to the university’s strength in certain fields, Sasson said.
→ SEE SPECTRUM, PAGE 14
CentralTrak closed indefinitely A&H administrators look for alternatives after lease termination causes artist residency program to close ist residency by philanthropists Ruthie and Jay Pack. It was supposed to be Mercury Staff matched by the Edith O’Donnell InCentralTrak, UTD’s artist residency stitute of Art History at UTD, but now program, is closing after nine years of that CentralTrak is closing, the money housing students and international has been retracted. “(The Pack’s) gift was based on the concreatives. Administrators and directors on campus are working toward estab- tinuation of CentralTrak at the present location. Given what has lishing a similar prohappened, it is now null gram that will fill the We are acand void,” said Richard void left by the closure. Brettell, director of the The program protively engaged Edith O’Donnell Instivided a living space for in planning and tute of Art History. four artists who had the ability to exhibit in According to the think about the building’s gallery Dallas Observer, the how to keep space. The gallery had landlord of the buildthe concept also allotted space for ing decided to termilocal art groups, classes nate the lease as he did of CentralTrak and other events. not wish to continue alive ... accommodating the Dennis Kratz, the university program. dean of Arts and Humanities, hasn’t com— Dennis Kratz, The original date of mitted to the conDean of A&H closure was December 2016, but after negotiatinuation of a UTD artist residency, but tions, it was changed to said he is currently the end of June. looking for possible locations for eiFrank Dufour, the interim director ther moving CentralTrak or creating of CentralTrak, said an artist residency is necessary for both students and the a new program. A few months before the closure reputation and legitimacy of the arts was announced in mid-2016, a gift departments. He also cited pricing and of $50,000 was presented to the art- availability of buildings for why moving IAN SEAMANS
CHRIS LIN | MERCURY STAFF
Clayton Harper, an artist in residence at CentralTrak, will have to move out of the living space after the lease ends in June. Harper said he is waiting for new information as faculty looks for alternative space for a similar or new program.
would be difficult. “We want to be able to have something in place in the fall … but we do not have a time frame,” Dufour said. Clayton Harper, an artist in residence at CentralTrak, said he understands why decision making may take time but he would like answers about the future of the program. “I would almost rather hear that for sure they’re terminating the program or something like that and be able to take
actionable steps on what I’d do next year in terms of living situation,” Harper said. Both Kratz and Dufour agreed that some sort of residency is needed for UTD’s art department, but a future program may be somewhat different from what students were used to at CentralTrak. “We are actively engaged in planning and think about how to keep the concept of CentralTrak alive, but it’s premature at this point to give … any more information,” Kratz said.
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THE MERCURY UTDMERCURY.COM Volume XXXVII No. 33
NEWS
THE MERCURY | FEB. 20, 2017
UTDMERCURY.COM
UTDPD Blotter
Editor-in-Chief Nidhi Gotgi
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News Editor Miriam Percival
news@utdmercury.com
Sports Editor Summer LeBel
February 6 • Between Feb. 6 and 7, a student’s property was stolen from Res Hall South. February 7 • At 1:15 a.m., an unafilliated person was arrested off campus for possession of a controlled substance, failure to identify a fugitive and a probation violation from Missouri. • At 2:46 p.m., a student was arrested in Res Hall South for possession of marijuana and drug paraphernalia. • A student reported their bicycle stolen from outside the McDermott Library between Jan. 31 and Feb. 7. February 9 • An employee reported their prescription pills stolen from their desk in the Administrative Building between 9 a.m. and 12 p.m. • A student reported their vehicle had been deliberately scratched multiple times by unknown parties in Phase 6.
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Life & Arts Editor Bhargav Arimilli life@utdmercury.com
Web Editor Bharat Arimilli
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Contributors Samee Ahmad Carolina Alvarez Ankith Averineni Srikar Baskara Donia Bosak-Barani EJ Chong Nathan Gurgainous Ariana Hadden Logan Harless Robert Johnson Shelbye Karr Mithra Kaushik Chris Lin Sam Lopez Anthony McNair Chiamaka Mgboji Shannon Ramirez Bianca Del Rio Ian Seamans Roman Soriano Matt Strack Dev Thimmisetty Marisa Williams
LEGEND VEHICULAR INCIDENT THEFT
-Corrections-
DRUGS & ALCOHOL
In the last issue of The Mercury, Shannon Mariani, was incorrectly attributed as a “she”. Mariani is male. Donnalin Constantin was incorrectly cited as a psychiatrist. She is a psychologist. Also, Steven Larsen’s name was misspelled.
OTHER MAP: UTD | COURTESY
The Mercury regrets these errors.
JUST THE FACTS
Media Adviser Chad Thomas
chadthomas@utdallas.edu (972) 883-2286
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 © 2014, The University of Texas at Dallas. All articles, photographs and graphic assets, whether in print or online, may not be reproduced or republished in part or in whole without express written permission.
The Mercury is a proud member of both the Associated Collegiate Press and the Texas Intercollegiate Press Association.
SOURCE | PEW RESEARCH CENTER, 2015
OPINION
FEB. 20, 2017 | THE MERCURY | UTDMERCURY.COM
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Letter To the Editor UTD Dining Services misrepresented in previous issue of The Mercury The Mercury’s reporter Mithra Kaushik this past fall which serves food free from reached out to us for a news story and re- the eight major allergens, in addition to quested to meet with UT Dallas Dining items that are gluten free. All preparation Services staff to conduct a “behind the tools are purple to help prevent cross conscenes type of interview, finding out where tamination for those with food allergies the ingredients come from, how it’s made and intolerances. and so forth.” What appeared instead in Sanitation the last issue of The Mercury was an opinion piece about her dissatisfaction with food The photo of the beetle was taken over options and sanitation at Dining Hall West. Everyone is entitled to his/her opinion, three months ago on November 30, 2016, and we truly value all feedback. UT Dallas during Kaushik’s visit to the dining hall for Dining Services has grown into an award- dinner. She did not bring it to the attenwinning, nationally recognized program in tion of the dining hall staff when it was part due to our patrons’ continued feed- found. When shown the photo during the Jan. 30 interview, Resident back, suggestions and supDistrict Manager Shannon port. However, we feel the We view it as Mariani apologized, but reporter misrepresented us also communicated how in her story to support her our moral obimportant it is for patrons opinion, and we wish to ligation to proto immediately find a manaddress a few inaccuracies. vide the campus ager for any issue. He also reminded the reVegetarian Options community with porter that there are a variety food that is safe, of ways an insect might enter The reporter stated, the dining hall not related “Another issue with the provides nutrito food delivery or processdining hall is the options tion and allows ing. However, he was only for those who have differthe community referenced as expressing “the ent dietary needs are limdifficulty of spotting a single ited, if not nonexistent. to connect with insect when trying to serve Those who are vegan or each other over 1,000,000 meals per year.” vegetarian have little to no At no time do we resign ouroptions for food, especiala meal. selves to the mediocre stance ly healthy ones.” In fact, in that since we serve such a addition to the vegetables at the stir fry station and the offerings at the large population there is the opportunity for salad bar, approximately 80 percent of all any non-food items to appear on your plate. options offered daily in the dining hall are Our team has extremely high standards for service regardless of the amount of meals we vegetarian or vegan. We learned from Kaushik’s story that are serving. Throughout the story, the reporter stated we need to do a better job letting you know about these offerings, so we have she knew of several instances where food stepped up with more obvious signage was not cooked to proper temperatures or to help diners fill their plates with the insects were found, but she did not menhealthy options that work best for their tion these concerns in the interview, nor dietary needs. Also, shared with the re- did she report or provide documentation of porter but left out of the story, we opened these events. Since the dining hall opened an allergy-friendly station called Oasis in 2014, the City of Richardson health de-
DINNING HALL WEST STAFF| COURTESY
UTD Dining Hall West staff and Chartwells Higher Education credit their national recognition to the feedback they recieve from their patrons.
partment has never administered a score lower than a 95 out of 100. The last inspection was conducted in November 2016, and the score was a 97. The three point deduction was an equipment issue. All food was found to be cooked and maintained at proper temperatures and no other issues were cited. The reporter also stated, “While the management takes the measures to follow health and cleanliness procedures, there are still problems that loom. Even if there are no issues with food, the utensils and dishware aren’t in the best shape.” The reporter did not mention this concern in our interview, so we had no opportunity to respond. The tumblers, dinner plates, bowls and dessert plates are actually brand new. The dining hall had been previously
stocked with ceramic plates and bowls, but due to so much breakage we opted to replace our stock with high-quality melamine. The recent stains which have appeared on some plates and bowls are not harmful. The dishes are properly cleaned and sanitized, but we are working with our dish machine representative to address their reaction with the hard water in the City of Richardson. Bottom line, we view it as our moral obligation to provide the campus community with food that is safe, provides nutrition and allows the community to connect with each other over a meal. We encourage you to share your concerns or positive experiences with us by scribing your thoughts on our new chalk wall at the dining hall, speaking to our management staff (wearing
orange chef coats) in the dining hall or visiting our website at utdallas.edu/dining. Additionally, we host an open, monthly Food Advisory Committee meeting. The meeting dates and minutes are also available on our website under the “About Us” section. Lastly, we conduct two campuswide surveys a year. The spring survey will launch on Feb. 28, so please visit our website or look for a dining ambassador in the dining hall to fill one out. We are committed to providing the campus community a high-quality dining experience, and thank you for your continued support and patronage. Carrie Chutes Charley, UT Dallas Food & Retail Services Director, and the UT Dallas Dining Services Team
Comets and Craters Fog Log operational again
Hiring freeze causes setbacks
The mist tower is now fully operational. The return of the Fog Log will help continue to beautify the campus as well as cause more people to come to the Plinth.
With multiple spots needing to be filled for on-campus jobs, the freeze’s implications could potentially negatively impact university operations.
Students compete in triathlon
Scam calls on campus
On Feb. 18, UTD held its first timed indoor triathlon. Students, staff and faculty all participated in events such as a 10-minute swim, 20-minute treadmill and 30-minute stationary bike, to name a few.
Reports from students losing up to thousands of dollars through scam calls have increased. Lieutenant Ken MacKenzie advised students to reach out to UTD PD if they receive suspicious calls.
COMET COMMENTS
What does feminism mean to you? HAVE SOMETHING TO SAY? Students interested in writing opinions can email editor@utdmercury.com.
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
“Feminism means not necessarily empowerment of women, but I feel like it should be more of equality. I feel like we should aim more for equlity across gender, no matter what.”
“It means equality of gender. We get the same rights as females do, and females should get the same rights that males do all the time.”
“It means empowering women for equality and to utilize their strengths as much as possible.”
Araceli Taranto ATEC senior
Adwait Kulkarni Mechanical Engineering graduate
Kristy Deupree Applied Cognition and Neuroscience alumna
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.
OP-EDS
Apart from your name and photo, personal info will not be published. We reserve the right to reject submissions, and we cannot be responsible for their return. We reserve the right to edit for clarity, brevity, good taste, accuracy and to prevent libel.
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NEWS
THE MERCURY | FEB. 20, 2017
UTDMERCURY.COM
ROMAN SORIANO | MERCURY STAFF
MARCHING FOR PROGRESS
Students, professors explore feminism’s trajectory looking back on Women’s March CARA SANTUCCI Managing Editor
(Left to right, top to bottom) Shilyh Warren and Annelise Heinz, professors in the School of Arts and Humanities, attended the Women’s March on Washington in D.C. Stevie Cornett, Vanessa Joseph and April Harrison-Bader, members of the Intersectional Feminist Alliance at UTD, are planning to use the march as a jumping off point for advocacy projects. Adam Richards, a member of Rainbow Guard, and ATEC senior Alec McKay attended the DFW branch of the Women’s March on Jan. 21.
A month ago, the Women’s March on Washington amassed over one million marchers in D.C. and over five million protestors worldwide. In the event’s aftermath, feminist students and professors on campus are left figuring out how to take that energy and apply it to activism moving forward. Annelise Heinz, an assistant professor of history in the School of Arts and Humanities, travelled with Assistant Professor of Film and Aesthetic Studies Shilyh Warren to D.C. to attend the march. “For my own work as a historian, being there was really powerful and interesting because it was, I think, in many ways, this culmination of a long history of women’s activism and also significant change and evolution over time,” Heinz said. So how does the march fit into the historical path feminism has taken over time? Heinz argued the fact that the march originated on Facebook is indicative of how feminism and activism has developed to fit the current cultural climate. “This has happened many, many times before,” she said. “Mass events happening in a messy way with an
individual spark, in this case, in our own historical moment, over social media. And having missteps.” A common conflict news organizations, such as The New York Times and NPR, have addressed is whether the Women’s March — both on Washington and around the world — was intersectional enough. Intersectionality is the interconnected nature of multiple systems of oppression, such as race, class and gender. “(There is a) difference between saying: ‘Race is a problem because feminism is a white women’s movement and white women don’t know what to do with race,’ versus, ‘Race is a point of conflict in feminism because feminism is an extremely diverse movement, and so race is going to be there and is going to be a point of conflict,’” Heinz said. That point of conflict, the professors said, belongs within feminism. “This is a process of ongoing growth,” Heinz said. “Of course it’s not enough. Let’s keep going.”
→ SEE MARCH, PAGE 13
ANTHONY MCNAIR | MERCURY STAFF
New political club to encourage student involvement in elections Texas Rising pushes progressive policy agenda to drive change locally, nationally ARIANA HADDEN Mercury Staff
A chapter of Texas Rising, a nonpartisan group that advocates for more progressive policy and participation from college students in local elections, was established on campus this semester. Computer science junior Christian Briggs helped found the UTD chapter of Texas Rising from the parent organization Texas Freedom Network, a nonprofit entity that monitors far-right issues, organizations and leaders. When Briggs became involved with TFN there weren’t enough officers available during the fall semester to properly establish a chapter. “We needed personal and financial resources and (TFN was) happy to help because they need people to get out and vote. It’s a mutual relationship,” he said. “I switched over because they do everything from policy research to talking to officials, and that was the environment I started getting into. TFN had those resources when I had none.” Accounting and finance sophomore Kristen Bonner serves as the communications director for the chapter. She heard about Texas Rising from Briggs and quickly became interested in the organiza-
M Net ID System M SG senator Rahul Sonwalkar of the Technology Committee has finalized the creation of a new Net ID system. Passwords will expire every year instead of every six months. The new password will go into effect immediately, rather than after the 15-minute window it currently takes to update. Additionally, students will be less likely to be locked out for entering the wrong password. With the addition of self-service, students will be able to unlock their accounts themselves.
S Laundry S
ANKITH AVERINENI | MERCURY STAFF
Christian Briggs (center), the president of Texas Rising at UTD and a computer science junior, helps students register to vote at the ‘We Are UTD’ event on Feb. 8.
tion’s overall goals. “A lot of the political organizations on campus show mostly how they feel about people, but we focus on local government elections and our main goal is to get people registered to vote,” she said. While understanding policy is critical, Briggs said UTD’s Texas Rising is different from other political groups on campus such as College Democrats in that it
emphasizes the importance of involvement in politics more so than knowing about platforms and issues. “A lot of it has to do with local and state government,” he said. “While sister chapters are more focused on policy and educating on policy, our campus does more call to action.
→ SEE RISING, PAGE 13
Leader of the Residential Affairs Committee Tiffany Chu is looking at ways to resolve the laundry issues University Commons residents face. Residents often find others’ clothes left behind in the machines after a wash cycle. There is currently no way for the owner to be notified. Chu plans to reach out to the manufacturers of the washers and dryers to see if they have a pre-existing method in place that would resolve this issue.
V Consent Video V Nancy Fairbank, leader of the Student Affairs Committee, informed the
senate that the informative video on the political and moral definition of consent has been filmed and is in the process of being edited. Fairbank has received the link for the video and it will be released in April for sexual assault awareness month. It will be shown at orientations prior to the fall semester and it is possible the audio track will be played at sporting events in the future.
H Recycling H Also, the signs with guidelines on what is to be placed in the recycling dumpsters in University Village will be replaced in order to provide current residents with clearer instructions on what is recyclable.
A Disability A Additionally, Fairbank is working with senator Mimi Newman on planning a disability awareness event, which would consist of a scavenger hunt where participants would only be allowed to do certain things, such as use elevators and automatic doors. The hope is to host an event that allows universal participation, as well as spread awareness about the struggles those with disabilities face.
LIFE&ARTS
FEB. 20, 2017 | THE MERCURY | UTDMERCURY.COM
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Comet Clash smashes Guitar program into local gaming scene expands New video gaming league launches weekly tournament series with cash prizes from sponsors
abroad
Professor lectures, performs across Asia
ENRIC MADRIGUERA | COURTESY
Enric Madiguera is the Russell Cleveland Professor in Guitar Studies. DEV THIMMISETTY Mercury Staff
ROBERT JOHNSON | MERCURY STAFF
Members of Comet Clash gather for a game of “Super Smash Brothers.” Top players compete for a $75 prize and a custom controller at the end of the semester. DONIA BOSAK-BARANI Mercury Staff
What began as a hobby turned into a competitive opportunity to earn rewards and recognition for members of the “Super Smash Brothers” community at UTD. A group of students gather every week for Comet Clash, a “Super Smash Bros.” for Wii-U tournament series hosted at UTD by organizational behavior and human resources freshman Adam Alami. “Super Smash Bros.” is a fighting game in which competitors brawl to knock one another off the stage. Alami began hosting the tournament series in the fall after a successful experience with a makeshift competition. He decided to change the way the tournament is organized this spring to allow for more stability. The event now follows a circuit structure based on a point system, and the points determine the top players who will compete for a $75 prize and custom controller in a closed tournament at the end of the semester. “My main involvement in the game is hosting the tournaments, so I feel like at the end of the week I can always rely on the fact that I’m going to enjoy hosting this tournament and being around all the
what’s going to happen. It makes it better.” people I’ve met as a result of it,” he said. As the host, Alami aims to make the Alami recently accepted a tournament sponsorship from an eSports website, tournament more student-friendly, which which provides a weekly cash prize of sets it apart from other weekly tourna$25 for the winners at each competition. ments in the area. Others, such as Shockwave at FX Game ExThis sponsorship has change in Plano, cost allowed Comet Clash It gives me someupwards of $10 and to recruit more plaything to think about draw crowds of over 50 ers both on and off people whereas Comet campus, which makes that's not school or Clash costs $2 and avthe event’s outcome stress. I'm nowhere erages 25 players. unpredictable. “The goal for this Chaynen Casas, close to profestournament series is an ATEC freshman, sional. I just like to to make it more acsaid he appreciates the commentate. cessible for people to variability of the series get into joining tourbecause of the influx of — Jordan Slack, naments,” Alami said. new players. “Ever since the Business administration “It’s a lot easier for sponsorship, the freshman someone to walk over from a different resiamount of non-UTD dence hall to our tourpeople coming in has really come up. Because of the pot bonus nament than it would be for them to drive they’ve had an interest, and they make the over to Shockwave.” The Smash community at UTD is comtournament series more competitive, more interesting and more enjoyable,” Casas posed of experienced and novice studentsaid. “Before they started showing up, it players. Business administration freshman was kind of already set in stone who would Jordan Slack attends and commentates at win. Now with these new people, it kind the Comet Clash tournaments and other of shakes things up, and you don’t know local tournaments on their respective video
streams online. “It gives me something to think about that’s not school or stress,” Slack said. “I’m nowhere close to professional. I just like to commentate. We have a stream now, so we can commentate our matches like you see in professional sports. I learn about the game whenever I play it, so I can apply it there.” Slack has found his place at UTD through “Super Smash Bros.” and Comet Clash because of his investment in the game and the people that play it. “More than a majority of my friends at UTD have come from Comet Clash, so you can always just hang out with people. You can ask someone to have a set-up ready whenever. At two in the morning, there’s normally people still playing,” he said. Ian Braunfeld, a computer science graduate student, has been playing variations of “Super Smash Bros.” for eight years and has seen the scene transform. He currently ranks eighth on the DFW power rankings and said the reason he continues to play the game is for the sense of friendship it offers.
→ SEE SMASH, PAGE 8
Q&A: ATEC Dean Anne Balsamo First-ever holder of deanship details new vision, ideas for Arts, Technology program on campus Q: What are your plans for the ATEC program as its first dean? When an opportunity like this comes up, which is pretty rare, it’s a real testimony to the boldness of UTD to start a new school. So the first year has been doing this kind of inventory of what is the current status of ATEC. Because until you know what is going on, you can’t figure out what you might want to do differently or what you need to amplify, what you need to build on, what you need to revise. We’ve added new courses. We had to get rid of redundant courses, so there was a lot of clean up that happened when ATEC and EMAC merged. So the plan now is for the undergraduate program, the new curriculum, to go into effect next fall, in addition to creating these new pathways. The freshman class that comes in next year in the fall will have a freshman ATEC year-long experience. Q: With those changes, what does that mean for people that are currently in the program? Students that are currently in ATEC can continue to pursue the degree program that they are already in. You could also, though, make the decision or choose to go through the pathway curriculum. For the next couple years,
ATEC will be offering multiple curriculum options because we are bound by law to honor the curriculum structure that was in place when a student entered a program. The hassle, in that case, is on the advising side, which is that our advisors, especially for the undergraduate students, have a lot of things to keep clear about what requirements each degree program implements and so on. Q: Given that, will advisors go through training or be informed about what they can expect so they can best serve the students? Absolutely! We’ve already started talking to the advisors. They’ve been in on the discussions about the curriculum revisions and we’re preparing all sorts of supporting materials, handouts, one-page descriptions, check sheets to help advisors have discussions with students about what are the benefits of the different curriculum options. This isn’t a straight forward curriculum revision. We’re not changing the names of things and keeping the major the same or keeping the degree the same. We’re changing the structure of the ATEC undergraduate degree. We’re going to have a couple of things that will help students make sense of these. We will have at least two town hall meet-
ings with advisors and undergraduates, anybody who is interested and just wants information about ATEC. We will have specific advising sessions for ATEC students who are already registered in ATEC programs. Some of the animation students are creating an animation to explain the new ATEC undergraduate degree options. Q: Do you think the employee hiring freeze will impact your plans at all? The good thing is that the hiring freeze is tied to a very specific type of money. So it’s a hiring freeze for positions that are supported on the state of Texas money, but all units are also run on money that is provided through other avenues. For example, we get student allotment money that is based on the number of students that we have as majors and that is a different category of money. For example, what we can do with that money is we can hire additional advisors. We have two job openings available for two new academic advisors and those positions are not subject to the hiring freeze because the salaries for those positions are paid for by a different pot of money. There're ways in which we are trying to address the very foundational needs of student advising, which is a really critically important
ANNE BALSAMO | COURTESY
Anne Balsamo previously served as the dean of the School of Media Studies at The New School in New York City.
need and we’re not going to run into problems with the hiring freeze. Q: What brought you to apply to serve as the ATEC dean, specifically here at UTD? I had been the dean of the School of Media Studies at the New School in New York City. I’ve been the dean there for four years and I was really interested in the opportunity that
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In junior high, Enric Madriguera travelled with his father from Connecticut to New York to attend a guitar concert by the famous Andre Segovia. That experience convinced Madriguera to become a lifelong guitarist, resulting in him travelling the world with his music as a professor at UTD. He first graduated from the Royal Conservatory in Madrid, and then came to UTD, kindling the same passion among students that he developed as a young boy. After obtaining his doctorate, Madriguera became an endowed professor and set about the task of expanding the music program at UTD, with a special focus on guitar studies. “I really think that no university or institution is complete without a solid music department,” he said. “I wanted to develop that at UTD. As the Russell Cleveland Professor in Guitar Studies, Madriguera teaches and organizes local competitions frequently. He also travels to countries like Spain, Mexico, Brazil and Vietnam to learn more about international classical guitar study and spread word of the UTD guitar studies program. For the first time this year, Madriguera received invitations from China and Japan to play and teach at guitar societies and universities. “I’d never been invited to Japan at that point, so it was exciting because I really wanted to go,” he said. “China was the same way. This was my first invitation, so it seems like my work is spreading.” Although Madriguera is a full-time faculty member, he still finds the time to create and release albums of guitar music on iTunes and Amazon Music. His presence as a contemporary artist is one reason he secured invitations to perform and teach. “Well, I just released a new CD, and it got pretty good reviews, so that certainly helped things,” he said. “And wherever I go, I go as a faculty member of UTD. And UTD is a fine institution, so I’m sure that’s part of it too.” The trip to China was separated into two parts, both geographically and conceptually. Madriguera visited two cities — Nanjing and Wuhan. At both locations, he lectured at local universities or guitar societies and played classical guitar concerts. He was pleasantly surprised at the level of Western classical guitar instruction in the heart of China, he said. “When I first started doing this thing, I was worried that they might not take my music too well, especially when I went to Vietnam,” Madriguera said. “But I was really surprised at the level of classic guitar instruction in Asia. Japan, especially, is very developed, and China too is on the trend of high development in the area.” Madriguera would start with a technical lecture and a presentation of what UTD’s guitar studies program has to offer, and then would play a concert for the audience. He sees the trip to China as well as the more informal trip he made to Japan as steps towards growing the UTD guitar program while building relationships abroad. “Actually, in Japan, I was working with colleagues that I had worked with previously in Spain,” he said. “So this kind of thing happens a lot in the music world. We tend to be pretty connected. Even in Wuhan, I played with a traveling music group, and they invited me to play with them again in Hong Kong.” To Madriguera, the trips are making a real impact on students in Asia as well as the guitar program here at UTD. “We’ve actually gotten some interest from Chinese students … after my presentations in Nanjing and Wuhan,” he said. “We’re hoping to have some of them come and play at our annual festival in March.”
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Soul group wows with debut album ‘Sunny Days’ masterfully weaves influences of Maori, New Orleans culture into music ROMAN SORIANO COMMENTARY
Maya Piata, a local singer/songwriter band with lively style, recently released its debut EP, “Sunny Days.” It is composed of five songs, running just short of 20 minutes. However, within that short time frame, the lead singer, Maya Hook, captures her listeners with strong vocals that express feelings of love, heartbreak and nostalgia. The opening track, “Fall in Love” is one of the most interesting tracks
on the EP. Although the music is upbeat, the lyrics reveal a far less pleasant message. The juxtaposition makes the song stand out. Based on the instrumentals, one would expect it to be a happy song, but the words “I will never fall in love again” quickly prove otherwise. “Fall in Love” sets the tone for the rest of the EP, which has an uplifting beat despite the somber lyrics. Hook describes her music as “sunshine soul,” which is spot on. Her style is inspired by her Maori background and the fact that she was raised in New Orleans, a town famous for its musical influences. There are some definite jazz influences in their music, especially in the bassline and
drums, clearly showcasing Piata’s New Orleans heritage. Piata combines all of these different sources of inspiration to create her music. There’s nothing new about the band’s sound — the instrumentals are traditional, consisting of a guitar, bass and drums. Yet the band still has a refreshing style. Corbin Winkfield, the producer of this EP, did an excellent job. Every note played by the band is clean, and you can clearly differentiate between the instruments used. Hook’s voice also isn’t overpowered by the music. “Sunny Days” stays true to its name and sounds open and airy.
Hook’s singing sounds mature, meaning that she focuses just on singing well, not surprising the listener with her technical skills. This makes the EP feel genuine, like she’s solely focusing on the stories that she’s trying to tell. She doesn’t try to distract the listener by doing crazy vibrato, or hitting long falsetto notes. As a debut EP, Maya Piata makes a great first impression. Most bands’ first project does not sound as refined as “Sunny Days,” but Maya Piata has done an exceptional job of putting together the EP. Even though it is short, it showcases the band’s potential well.
MAYA PIATA | COURTESY
Maya Piata, a local singer/songwriter band featuring lead singer and UTD senior Maya Hook, released its debut album, ‘Sunny Days,’ on Jan. 21.
‘Miss Julie’ reinvents play with contemporary setting UTD production explores class differences, power struggles
ROBERT JOHNSON | MERCURY STAFF
Arts and performance freshman Alexandra Schmid (left) and marketing junior Trent Lintzen play the roles of Miss Julie and Jean, respectively.
modern ones. Instead of utilizing carriages and vinyl, the set uses COMMENTARY cars and iPads. Riccio’s move to use a modern set made the play all the more engaging to watch. A modern kitchen centered within a wooden cage with dim Love, sex and power all trapped inside a cage — this lights created an ominous feel, is perhaps the simplest way to piquing the audience’s interest. capture the essence of “Miss Ju- After all, it isn’t often that a play lie,” a play masterfully brought is engaging well before it starts. to life on stage by UTD’s own. The play is set in a wealthy UTD Director Thomas Riccio area in the DFW Metroplex on adapted “Miss Julie” to present a con- the night of Midsummer’s Eve. The drama essentially tells a temporary take on the production. tale of a high-class The lead role woman who of Miss Julie, wishes to bethe daughter of The passion of a social aristocome one of the the characters lower class in crat, is played order to experiby arts and perand the physience life without formance freshcal interactions the restrictions man Alexandra between them of regal society. Schmid. MarIn her attempt keting junior created an to do so, she Trent Lintzen intense effect is taken by the plays Jean, a handsome valet, self-centered, that made the Jean, in a drunkegotistical vastoryline more en state and loses let. Speech and alluring. her virginity. language paJean, who is desthology sophoperate to climb more Lauren Massey plays Kristine, a cook up the social ladder, uses this to who also works in Julie’s his advantage. household. These three charOver the course of the play, acters manage to intrigue the the two characters go back and audience for the entirety of forth with one wanting to run away together and the other the 90-minute performance. The reason this play is so at- stating that it would be a bad tractive is because it expresses idea and vice versa. While this our daily struggles, both in- is what creates much of the ternal and external. Struggling plot, it is also the most apparto express ourselves as young ent drawback in the drama. It people in a world led by the would have been more engagprevious generations can be ing if the repetitiveness of the difficult, especially when hin- arguments between Jean and dered by the societal rules set Miss Julie were trimmed. by the latter. A younger audience can conRiccio presents a unique stage nect with the story line because setting by replacing the play’s the theme of trying to break free original archaic elements with of societal expectations is appliMITHRA KAUSHIK
cable to our generation. To add to the existing dramatic element of the contemporary version of Miss Julie, various other aspects such as lighting, music and sound were well-coordinated by the tech crew, which amplified the plot. The lighting and sound were nearly in tandem for most of the drama, creating different effects throughout the play. The lighting was always focused on the kitchen set, whereas other areas of the stage were dark or dimly lit to emphasize the action in the kitchen. It seemed clear that the set blocking was planned so that the cage had large openings to allow the audience to see through any obstructions. The play is in one sense, a bit of a melodrama. In another sense, all three actors realistically portray it. The passion of the characters and the physical interactions between them created an intense effect that made the storyline more alluring. Much of the play focused on the theme of duality, such as love versus hate, male versus female and sexuality versus sensuality. The plot focuses on the dynamic of duality which gives rise to controversy. This is the ultimate source of conflict within the drama, enveloping aspects such as class difference, power struggles and the economic gap between the various social hierarchies. It is almost as if the social issues of today were transformed, given personas and acted out in “Miss Julie,” which makes it all the more interesting. In addition, Schmid and Lintzen, along with Massey work together to bring to life the characters of Miss Julie, Jean and Kristine.
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Documentary examines race relations, black identity Film provides social commentary on historical, modern American race relations guided by author James Baldwin’s writings SAMEE AHMAD COMMENTARY
James Baldwin, outspoken African American author and civil rights activist in the late 20th century, wrote extensively on race and white America’s influence on African American identity. With the writing’s personal significance to Baldwin, however, it was not just about politics. His most discerning work manifests itself in his letters, personal musings and public debates. Baldwin’s 30-page manuscript, “Remember This House,” left unfinished on his desk upon his death in 1987, receives its coda in Raoul Peck’s tense yet brilliant 90-minute documentary, stitching together prescient decadesold lessons to the modern day. In 1968, the year of Martin Luther King Jr.’s murder, talk show host Dick Cavett asks Baldwin, to the delight of his white audience, why “Negroes”
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was presented by ATEC, moving from programs to a school, to not just be a dean of a school that had already been in existence, but to come in as a dean and academic leader for a school that was going to be merged over the next several years. So, the project of being a dean is very different in those two cases. When I went to the New School, the School of Media Studies had been around for a while. It had just celebrated a
in the country are not more satisfied with their ostensibly improving position in society — a similar platitude repeated today. A white professor of philosophy on the show attacks identity politics, asserting that he has more in common with a black scholar than a white man against scholarship. “Why must we always concentrate on color when there are other ways of connecting men?” he asks. This film certainly attempts to answer that question, but it also asks why white America raises that question in the first place. Peck explores the concept of race through American history using Baldwin’s words interlaced with a gamut of historical and modern images. Alexandra Strauss, the editor of the movie, realizes the power of the documentary through the style in which she presents it — a nonlinear, starkly contrasted and cleverly edited rumination on African American identity contrasted with white America’s conception of, and effect on, that identity. A voice-over narration, pro-
vided by Samuel L. Jackson, is pulled entirely from Baldwin’s letters and books. Montagebased cinematography weaves his prophetic words with universally recognizable pictures, layering Baldwin’s meditative voice with historical images like Malcolm X’s lifeless body to contemporary scenes of protests in Ferguson, pointing out how far the world still has to progress in race relations. But the documentary is not just a rebirth of Baldwin’s works to suit a present day point-of-view. It rekindles their importance and purposes their meaning. “Remember This House” was partially based on the deaths of three civil rights activists: Medgar Evans, Malcolm X and Martin Luther King Jr. Throughout their successive murders, the audience feels the mixture of terror and frustration Baldwin expressed as “social danger” in his writing. That very same “social danger” that minorities feel and have felt in the United States becomes all too real when successive riots in April 1968 following MLK’s murder are
juxtaposed with the 2015 unrest in Baltimore after Freddie Gray’s murder. Even when there is hope, there is not. Bobby Kennedy presciently predicting a black president forty years from 1963 is repudiated by Baldwin’s reflection on the malicious arrogance of political discourse surrounding “the Negro.” Baldwin and Peck understand the threads of history that enable similar discourse surrounding African Americans — the inclination of whites to sanitize themselves of complicity, the dehumanization of blacks under disenfranchisement, the tension between an inability to comprehend privilege and the birthright to retain it. Perhaps the most cynically rewarding — and the most haunting — aspect of the movie is the ability of an author who has been dead for thirty years to so accurately predict the capricious development of nebulously understood race relations in the United States. There are few essayists who write with the consciousness Baldwin does, which underscores and powers
40-year anniversary. It’s a different project to be the dean of an enterprise that has been going on for so long. It has a history. It has a legacy. It has a certain set of ways they do things, habits, traditions, and so on. The establishment of ATEC at UTD provided a very different kind of experience and a different entity, which was how do you build a school when you don’t have any blue prints. There is no operating manual. The exciting opportunity for me was to kind of take on a project that literally wasn’t already figured
out. To get to be the leader of that kind of project that is so wildly collaborative and kind of unknown in terms of what it should be, that kind of opportunity doesn’t come along many times in one’s life.
sound design courses and 3D fabrication. They have passions for topics and areas that, many times, I had never even thought about. Literally, they can’t get enough. I was talking to a student on reproductive rights in digital media and I’m like, ‘Wow, that is a great problem to have’ when you have students that are turned on and really interested and want more rather than having to figure out how do you inspire them to get passionate and to invest themselves in something.
Q: What do you enjoy most about working at UTD, specifically with the ATEC students you’ve come across? ATEC students have such passion for things that I’m like, “Okay, that’s interesting.” Passions for rigging and specialty
the command of his self-taught, street-learned excellence. But most tellingly, Baldwin asserts, “I can’t be a pessimist because I am alive. So I am forced to be an optimist.” Of course there is a solution. If not a one-part answer, then an answer found within the chaotically stitched together filaments of “I Am Not Your Negro.” But if there is a broad explanation, Baldwin clarifies, “it is entirely up to the American people whether or not they are going to face and deal with and embrace the stranger they have maligned so long.” That stranger they have maligned is not just African Americans, but according to Baldwin, themselves as well. That they themselves have convinced each other that racism is a relic of the past is exactly the same societal paradigm they benefit from. This conception becomes especially important in Baldwin’s final question in the documentary: Why was there a need for white America to create blacks as second-class citizens, to have them as objects of hate? Baldwin believes that the ne-
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“The community is hard to describe. It changes a lot. Coming from back then, I’ve seen the community change, and for Smash 4 it’s a lot different because eSports is more of a mainstream now, so a lot of tournaments and whatnot cater towards the eSports crowd, and tournaments are bigger,” he said. “So really, the community is just all the people who contribute to the experience of a player, and there’s just different
MAGNOLIA PICTURES | COURTESY
“I Am Not Your Negro” (2017) was directed by Raoul Peck and critically examines American race relations.
cessity of asking the question is imperative to the survival of a multiracial society. Peck perfectly combines that communal exhortation with the clarity of a conscious racial commentary. If there were required watching in this day and age, “I Am Not Your Negro” would be at the top of the list.
aspects to it.” The tournament series has done its part in bringing the players together to compete, but it’s done even more for the UTD smash players as a group. “Tournaments are always fun and I enjoy competing, but I enjoy more just having fun with the people who are in the community. Some people have those personalities that are just very upbeat and just make every game fun, regardless win or lose,” Braunfeld said. “And then those are the type of people in the community who just make the experience that much better.”
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Local league finds Comet connection
UTD affiliates discover shared background while participating as players, officials at Assassination City Roller Derby
SAHER AQEEL | PHOTO EDITOR
Lone Star Assassins and Deadly Kennedys, both of which have UTD alumni on their rosters, battle during a bout on Feb. 11 at Thunderbird Roller Rink in Plano. The Assassination City Roller Derby is made up of four home teams and a travelling all-star team. The regular season, which runs from February through July, consists of a double round-robin that sees the four home teams competing in six monthly doubleheaders leading up to their seeded championship tournament held in August. SUMMER LEBEL Sports Editor
Assassination City Roller Derby, a local roller derby league, has a growing population of players and officials from UTD. The league, which is part of the Women’s Flat Track Derby Association, is made up of four home teams plus a travelling all-star team. While some leagues are different, ACRD only has female players, though there are male officials, including some from UTD. The group of current students, alumni and staff didn’t know they had a connection to the same university at first. The topic came up during a conversation that included Betsy Clarke, an administrative assistant for the Student Union. The sport draws people in because it’s an outlet for aggression, while still
fostering camaraderie between the players, Clarke said. She related the experience back to when she was growing up. “I’m one of four girls, so you fight and you make up,” Clarke said. “It’s great. You’re close and it’s a good dynamic.” Khara Smoot, an alumna and player for a team in the league, the Lone Star Assassins, grew up around boys, as she has five older brothers. For Smoot, the friendship she found in the team has been invaluable. “It was an amazing thing to be able to have that support from women,” Smoot said. “I didn’t see that in high school and college.” Smoot got involved in roller derby nine years ago when she was living in Las Vegas. She went to the roller derby for her birthday and was immediately ready to try out. “I left saying, ‘I have to do this,’” Smoot said.
While skating, Smoot uses the name “Malyss Heart.” It’s tradition in the sport to use a derby name, which is a nickname that players use. Before passing the required assessments and joining a team, which Clarke has yet to do, the player is simply called “Fresh Meat.” The league welcomes beginners and holds training sessions to start players on the basics of the sport. Interested skaters continue to train in the Fresh Meat program, where they advance through training in all aspects of the game until they can pass the assessments. While she trains for the next round of assessments, Clarke is working as a nonskating official for the league. “It’s good to (be an NSO) because it gets you a little more insight into the game and how it works from the other side,” Clarke said. There’s always something new to learn when training and preparing for assessments.
“You’re constantly being thrown Girl Scouts that allowed them to earn a back in the deep end and it keeps you field day badge. “That was so cool, to have all these on your toes,” she said. little girls asking for auEven while training, intographs,” Clarke said. juries can happen. Roller It was an The skaters don’t derby is a full-contact let the game interfere sport. One of the players amazing thing with their friendships in the league recently sufto be able and relationships off fered a broken ankle durthe track. Small rivaling a clinic. to have that ries crop up between “I had a friend come support from players when the bouts for the first time and women. I are happening, but he said, ‘So, this is real? they’re gone when the They’re really hitting didn’t see that game is over. each other? Because in high school “For the most part, she looked like she got we may be opposing hurt,’” Clarke said. “This and college. players, but off the is not wrestling. This is football on skates.” —Khara Smoot, track, we support one In an effort to give UTD alum another,” Smoot said. “It’s a tight knit group back, the league holds of people that really community outreach events in between practices and bouts. support and encourage one another, Recently, they hosted a clinic for the and I just love that.”
Tennis teams serve up new season Both men’s, women’s teams chosen as favorites from ASC West division after retaining most players from last year’s roster SUMMER LEBEL Sports Editor
The two UTD tennis teams got off to different starts this season as the men’s team swept its first weekend and the women’s team dropped both of their opening matches. After their short run of fall matches, the teams worked to get ready for their regular seasons in the spring. For the men, this included working the new freshmen players into the team, which did not lose any graduating seniors over the break. That won’t be the case at the end of the season, as there are two athletes who will depart the team. Senior Christian Duarte said he can feel his body showing his age as he enters his final year. “I just feel a lot older,” Duarte said. “I’m glad this is my last season of eligibility because I can’t do this for much longer.” The women’s team only lost one senior going into the spring. Before leaving, the player paired with freshman Kathy Joseph to qualify for the national tournament held in Arizona last fall. After qualifying in both singles and doubles for the national tournament, Joseph used the opportunity to gauge the amount of competition she was up against.
“It was good to be exposed to the top level that the girls are playing at nationally,” Joseph said. She also watched the other matches and players to find the parts of her game that need work. “It gave me more motivation to keep playing and know that there’s always stuff to be improving on,” Joseph said. Whereas the fall matches are based more on the individual players, the spring season is focused on the team — an aspect Joseph is looking forward to. “Right now I can just focus on having more fun in the spring and enjoying the game a little bit more,” Joseph said. Head coach Bryan Whitt said the teams have good players from top to bottom who are capable of getting points anywhere. The team, he added, is ready to go into the swing of the season. “Practice is one thing, but seeing how they perform in actual competition is really what matters,” Whitt said. As the two teams open the regular season with opposite records, they are using the out-of-conference matches to keep everyone sharp. “Ultimately, the conference is what matters,” Whitt said. “We definitely try to look at (the matches) as just Saturday.”
SRIKAR SUDARSAN BASKARA | MERCURY STAFF
Head coach Bryan Whitt watches players on the women’s team practice picking up dropped shots at the net during a practice on Feb. 15 at the UTD tennis courts. Whitt, a five-time ASC Coach of the Year, is entering his 13th season at UTD. The women’s team lost the first two matches of the spring season (1-8, 4-5) while the men’s team won both (9-0, 5-4).
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University Village replaces roofs Starting on Feb. 20, the UTD Office of Housing and Building Operations will begin the process of removing and replacing all roofing in University Village as well as some of the dorm roofing. This comes after a bad hailstorm in March 2016, which caused serious damage on almost every building in UV. The entire replacement process will cost upwards of $1.7 million and is expected to take six months to complete. “Maintenance will begin working in the south most Phases, and will be working on a building or two a day as they move their way to the northern phases,” said Matt Grief, the associate VP for Student Affairs. Residents should expect little
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In creating its new system, Res Life had a simple goal. “What we want to do is have a process that is just as fair as it can be,” White said. He elaborated further, listing Res Life’s priorities in decisionmaking. First was to get housing for scholarship students who are required to live on campus. Next was to ensure students know who their roommates will be, then to make sure students know their assignment. Lastly was to guarantee the process is as transparent as possible. Bhatt said he can see a tangible improvement in the process, though he pointed out some areas that can still be refined.
SAM LOPEZ | MERCURY STAFF
inconvenience during the replacement period, with the exception of some UV parking areas being occupied by the construction crews’ equipment. “We should begin work for the dorms sometime during the summer, but we are still looking at the pricing on those,” Grief said. These repairs are not the only ones coming up, as maintenance is also planning on improving UV internet services and may be beginning a new outdoor lighting project around the phases to make UV safer at night, Grief said. By next semester, the UV maintenance team should be done with most of these projects. - Nathan Gurgainous
“Overall it’s a better system, and I think it will work but it’s not perfect,” Bhatt said. “It’s good that they have some priority system in … (but) it’s probably unfair to students. Say there is a current sophomore who was trying to do it last year but got put on a waiting list, or a senior for that matter, and then they try again now and don’t get it now because of this new priority.” White said Res Life recognizes now is the first time it will be running its new system and is looking for ways to fine-tune the process. “If there is a better way to do this, I’m all ears. …When we’re all through this process we’ll go assess it and go talk to students,” he said.
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Cawlyn Robinson said his involvement in the club came both from Briggs’ recommendation as well as his own outlook. When he was younger, Robinson said he focused more on national issues but eventually realized how much weight local elections carry. “I don’t have the same views as I did back then,” Robinson said. “I wanted to act and once I got the opportunity to do something, I did, instead of sitting at home and complaining.” Some of the projects the group works on involve identifying state and local candidates. In order to reach out to representatives, Briggs said the
manner in which members conduct themselves when sending emails is crucial. “We know how to match their rhetoric to make it seem like there isn’t just an angry radical yelling at them, but someone who is on their side,” he said. “You don’t know where people lie on the spectrum, so giving them an understanding who the local candidates are is important to get people involved.” While the federal elections receive greater coverage than local elections, Briggs said local elections are the first steps in pushing policy ideas so that needs can be addressed. “In local elections less people
vote, so the more powerful your vote is,” Briggs said. Despite the lack of participation in local elections, Robinson said conservatives turn out and that is why there is a Republican majority in government right now. If more millennials and liberals were to show up to local elections, their concerns could be heard more easily. “It takes initiative to look up who is running in school board elections and county precinct chair,” Robinson said. “A lot of people feel like they do not need to do it or care. We remind people that we do have elections on off years.”
of mass education. “Having the march explicitly organized around ideas of Further, Heinz said, criti- solidarity and intersectionality cizing the leadership of the sparked conversations for peomarch is disrespectful, because ple who’d never had these cona majority of the leadership was versations before,” Heinz said. Because of that organization, women of color. “Part of my concern with the Women’s March is the beginning of a new having a constructuring of versation that It’s so imthe focus of femframes feminism portant that inist activism. in the past and “If femithe women’s this language nism becomes march today as is inclusive. If a mainstream a white women’s you’re not reporganizing way movement is that of talking about it further erases resenting evintersectional isthe real, esseneryone, you’re sues of social justial centrality of tice, I think that women of color representing that will help to these struggles no one. larger causes of of social justice from the begin— Adam Richards, social justice and ning,” she said. Rainbow Guard at UTD help feminism,” she said. That erasure, she went on, fits Adam Richright in to the historical path ards, an electrical engineering of feminism. senior and member of RainHeinz and Warren both saw bow Guard, attended the DFW the march as a training ground Women’s March. The major for people interested in activ- conflict Richards noticed had ism. Heinz said she believes, in roots in transgender exclusivity. the future, the women’s march “Those were some of the tenwill be thought of as a moment sions that I saw on display,” he
said. “This kind of overarching, one size fits all feminism. The needs of people are very different. The biggest thing to me was just kind of the body parts language.” For Richards, it’s important for feminism to try to “coach” the language of reproductive health in more gender-neutral terms. “It’s so important that this language is inclusive,” Richards said. “If you’re not representing everyone, you’re representing no one.” The Intersectional Feminist Alliance at UTD attended the Dallas iteration of the march. Stevie Cornett, an IFA member and psychology senior, said the event marked an important opportunity for those upset with the result of the election to constructively protest. “Change doesn’t come from us being in our own homes ranting on Facebook to people who believe the exact same thing as us,” she said. “Change comes from honest, face-to-face dialogue. Which is so lacking.” April Harrison-Bader, a political science junior and IFA member, said an important aspect for feminists to improve on is allowing people from different groups
to advocate for themselves. “There is still a lot of improvement that can be made, but I think that this was a good first step,” she said. “But now I’m really kind of excited to see how we start to include minority groups.” In the next month or so, the IFA will use the energy from the women’s marches to begin advocating for the different groups on campus. “We bring in people from other organizations that we should be advocating for,” Bader-Harrison said. “To at least learn about the struggles they endure and what they think will actually help them.” Despite the different ways for activists to go forward after the march, Warren stressed the importance of recognizing the Women’s March on Washington as more than one isolated event. “Let’s not make the mistake of calling this a one thing that people either belong in or out of,” Warren said. “Let’s remember that what we have here is a moment of activation or a catalyzed political moment where people who care about things deeply suddenly realize they’re not alone.”
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There are various identity groups on campus that have that taken care of, so we work to fill the gaps.” Part of Briggs’ involvement in the organization came from the desire to educate the public on how the government and its system of checks and balances functions. “I want people to understand the power doesn’t rest solely with the president, and he doesn’t have as much power over the economy as the legislative branch does,” Briggs said. Political science junior and Texas Rising vice president
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THE MERCURY | FEB. 20, 2017
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“We have top engineering programs (and) computer programs. These are areas where some — not all — people with autism tend to have talents and abilities,” he said. “There’s a lot of research on the kind of logical thinking in autism. Often times we see strengths in mathematics and science-related areas.” Sasson said though autism is no longer as stigmatized in society as it was before, stereotypes surrounding autism are still prevalent. For Partin, dealing with these misconceptions as a student with autism is a constant struggle. “People think that it’s some terrible tragedy that only affects children,” she said. “The five-year old boy lining up trains — that’s the stereotype.” Partin has executive function issues, which impair her ability to manage time and prioritize tasks, as well as dysgraphia, which affects her ability to write. To accommodate her needs, the OSA allows Partin to take notes on her laptop and record lectures. On a personal level, Partin said she struggles to interact with other students at UTD. “I have trouble bridging the gap between ‘acquaintance’ and ‘friend’ and actually feeling like I’m worth their time,” she said. “Part of that is a social anxiety thing from autism and part of it is just social ineptitude.” In spite of the difficulties she faces, Partin emphasized the importance of being treated the same as any other UTD student. “We’re just like you. We don’t need cures, we don’t need to be coddled, we don’t need to be looked at as weird,” she said. *** To foster social connections within the community of students with autism, FAE meets every Friday to provide a space for dialogue and plan campus
events. Chance Reyna, a computer engineering sophomore, joined FAE in September. He said he was hesitant to join the group, but found the environment to be welcoming and inclusive. Since then, he’s attended every meeting. “The key word is acceptance,” Reyna said. “People at this point are aware that it’s a thing that exists, but there needs to be more understanding about how autism works in different people … (because) it’s literally impossible to throw a blanket statement that encompasses every single autistic person.” Other UTD affiliated institutions also support individuals diagnosed with autism. The Callier Center operates the Young Adult Communication Group, a support group for young adults diagnosed with ASD. Lucinda Dean, a lecturer in the School of Brain and Behavioral Sciences, launched the program in 2004 and started with a group of three members. “What I enjoyed probably the most was seeing the young adults who attended grow in confidence with their social communication skills and feel more successful communicating with their peers and professors,” Dean said. Christina Gollis, a speechlanguage pathologist at the Callier Center, took over direction of the group in the fall of 2016. By then, the program had grown to 20 members. She leads participants in role-playing scenarios such as asking a professor to fill out accommodation paperwork or interacting in a group setting. “Most of the students who participate in the group that go to UT Dallas are very smart and they are very successful in the academic part of their classes,” Gollis said. “A lot of them end up coming for half of a semester and then they realize that they’re actually doing pretty well because they have met some new people that they have for support.”
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*** After completing her degree in psychology, Jennifer Partin plans to pursue a career in academia and continue her advocacy work started in FAE by researching the ethics of certain psychological treatments. “I have a lot of resources through being in connection with other autistic communities,” Partin said. “We share tips of the trade on how to navigate being autistic.” Despite the challenges she faces, Partin is optimistic. “Autism is like anything about being human. There are things that suck about it. And there are things that are awesome about it,” Partin said. “Autism isn’t a broken computer — it’s a different operating system.” Additional reporting by Marisa Williams
Terminology The OSA website encourages the use of “students with autism” instead of “autistic students,” preferring the use of “person-first language.” However, students have voiced their disapproval of person-first language, preferring the use of “autistic students” instead. “It could be something that offends some people. Each person is different in certain ways. The key point is autism — whether I’m a student with it, or I am autistic — I wouldn’t care,” said Chance Reyna, a computer engineering sophomore.
UPCOMING EVENTS TEA TUESDAYS Join the Women’s Center for a refreshing cup of tea.
Feb. 21, 10 AM - 4 PM, SSB 4.300 DINE ALFRESCO @ DHW Eat outdoors with Dining Services.
Feb. 22, 10 AM - 2 PM, DHW