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January 9, 2017
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Registered dietitian shares tips to maintain healthy lifestyle in 2017
UTD alum chosen to attend NCAA mentorship program
SG report shares senators’ plans for more social spaces on campus
THE MERCURY | UTDMERCURY.COM
STORY BY : MARISA WILLIAMS MERCURY STAFF
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UTD student celebrated what aspiring movie stars constantly dream of — receiving an important role in an independent film. Finance freshman Sasha Singh hits the big screen in a Telugu film, “Appatlo Okadundevadu,” which follows the life of an aspiring cricketer. “It is based on a true story about how he gets involved with the underworld,” she said. “He kills a crime lord, and after that, he becomes wanted in the eyes of the police. He was an innocent man who is a cricketer and who is just living his life.” The film is set in India, where Singh lived for months following her sophomore year in high school. “I got the role because I was living in Mumbai at the time and they came to Mumbai to audition for the film. I got a call from a casting director to go to the audition and then I got it,” she said. “Fortunately, the UT system actually does online high schooling for students that don’t have a traditional career or school path and want flexible hours … so it was super easy for me to continue my education.” Singh’s passion for acting began in high school. She made the most of her new experience on “Appatlo Okadundevadu” even with her lack of exposure to oncamera acting prior to the project. “It was the first time that I saw how much work goes into it. On set, there was never less than 100 people,” she said. “It opened my eyes up to what cinema really is and how movies are so different than theater and advertisements. There is so much work and so many details that go into it and then when you see it on screen, you don’t really think about that stuff.” Another hurdle Singh faced was the language barrier. “It’s in Telugu, which is a South Indian language,” she said. “Actually I don’t speak this language, so it was an alien language to me. My part is dubbed, so it is not my voice. It is someone else’s.” This challenge didn’t stop Singh. She tried her best to learn her character’s dialogue so the movement of her mouth would match the voice the audience heard. Despite the language discrepancies, she enjoyed her time on set. “In terms of being in a new city and with people that speak a different language than me and that speak minimal English, I never really felt I was out of place. Everyone always made me feel like I was at home and I really enjoyed seeing the city, too,” she said. Singh’s character is an 18-year-old girl looking for the man who is wanted by the
COMET BECOMES STAR UTD freshman, aspiring actress makes film debut with independent Indian flick
HUSSEIN NJOROGE | MERCURY STAFF
Finance freshman Sasha Singh helps promote her role in Telugu film “Appatlo Okadundevadu” at a signing at Regal Cinema in Irving on Jan. 6. Despite Singh’s unfamiliarity with the Telugu language and acting on screen, she said it was a successful venture.
police. When she read over the script, she was pleasantly surprised by its individuality. “It wasn’t really mainstream Bollywood cinema. … It had the aspects of an independent film,” she said. Singh believes the movie is also made unique by its setting. “It is set in the ’90s in a major city in South India. The film is very different than what it would be if it were filmed in English and if it were shot here. … I feel like the message of the film at least is relatable and applies to all languages,” she said. Ria Varma, an undeclared freshman who has been friends with Singh since the sixth grade and has followed her journey from the stage to the big screen, said she was one of the group of close friends and family who attended the film’s premiere on Dec. 31. Varma typically watches movies in
Hindi, which made watching Singh’s film a new experience. “It wasn’t even in my language, so I thought it was really interesting and this was the first movie I had seen from (the Southern) part of India. So I didn’t know what I was expecting or what I was going into, but when I watched it, I actually really enjoyed it and it wasn’t like any other movie I’ve seen before in India,” she said. Although the showing of this film didn’t include subtitles, Varma didn’t feel like it prevented her from enjoying the movie. “The language barrier kind of made it interesting because I had to interpret and look at all their facial expressions and see how they were talking and what they were doing. I had to really concentrate and focus on what was happening in the movie,” she said. Even though Singh’s role required her
to take on another individual’s mindset, Varma believes she did it well. “I feel like it was a lot about who she was because the character was very sincere and genuine and emotional to where I felt like it was a really good role for Sasha,” Varma said. Unfortunately, with Singh being away, her older sister and UTD alumna Sanya Peshwani wasn’t able to be by Singh’s side while she worked on her first film. But Peshwani understood the year they spent apart boosted her sister’s career. “I only got to hear it through her and I went to visit a couple times, but it was just cool to see my baby sister grow up and become a woman,” Peshwani said. As Peshwani got to know the character Singh would be playing, she further witnessed Singh’s abilities as an actress. “I think her character was a lot more serious than she is, so it was interesting
to see how her bubbly personality had to kind of be turned off and her acting personality had to be put on. … So when you see someone on screen versus when you see them in person, especially if you know them, it’s very difficult to separate the two entities,” she said. The film will play at FunAsia, a movie theater in Richardson, and at Regal Cinema in Irving. Singh said the cast and crew she got to know through her time on set put a lot of effort into the film despite its low budget, and she recommends attending the showings to share in its movie magic. “I think people would really enjoy it because of what aspects it has. It has drama, sports, action, romance. It has a mix of all these flavors. That is what makes it unique and that’s why people should go watch it. It is really easy to relate to,” she said.
UTD startup impresses at conference
Bioelectronics company adds to university’s growing entrepreneurship landscape SAMEE AHMAD Mercury Staff
SAHER AQEEL | PHOTO EDITOR
BackStop Neural, a campus-based company that creates spinal cord simulators, presented at the 2016 Materials Research Society conference.
UTD’s startup scene got another boost this winter when BackStop Neural, a campus-based bioelectronics company, presented at the 2016 Materials Research Society conference in Boston. Backstop creates spinal cord simulators that tie shape memory polymer research to a neuroscience application, producing devices which can be implanted while stiff and rigid in surgery. The devices then soften and conform to the spinal cord. “Of the 30,000 spinal cord simulators implanted in the U.S. annually, 30 percent fail,” said Sydney Sherman, a sophomore biomedical engineer and head of product development for BackStop Neural. The startup is licensed under the parent company Qualia, a UTD bioelectronics company. They have applied for several grants and hope to connect to the larger bioelectronics base. “Part of the point of going to the conference was to speak with investors in the area. With that in mind, (BackStop Neural) presented with Qualia. We wanted to reach out and make initial contact and plant the seeds
there,” said Connie Manz, a recent UTD are involved in the business side of things, such as the Comet Accelerator,” she said. graduate and the CEO of Qualia. Sherman also praised the exceptional Many of the products fail because the leads on the simulators migrate when startup culture at UTD. “UTD has been excellent for startup people with stimulators installed on their spines move around excessively. The mate- space. Just as a university as a whole, it is helpful to try and do a rial used in BackStop’s startup with them versus technology allows it to be UTD has been being at another univerfixed in place despite temsity that did not support perature changes. excellent for it,” Sherman said. Sherman said the comstartup space. She recommended that pany was well-received. anyone interested in entre“The biggest success was the positive feedback, — Sydney Sherman, preneurship should make people being interested in Engineering sophomore an effort. “The university is actuit. We got good feedback ally putting in a Blackstone about the company, the technology, where we’re going with it and Launchpad for any new startups that come some good ideas for different things we from campus, so they’re really pushing that as a university, if anyone wants to try can try,” Sherman said. For Manz, the success from the confer- entrepreneurship,” she said. Manz emphasized the opportunities ence has much to do with UTD’s ability to are not just limited to science. advance startups on campus. “If students are interested in getting in “UTD definitely is trying to work to be supportive of startups that are spin- startups, even if they aren’t interested in ning out. We have a good relationship the science and engineering aspects, they with the Office of Technology and can still get involved in the business side Commercialization. Qualia itself has of things,” she said. “The opportunities an office in the Venture Development are out there, you should go look around Center. Several of the undergrad students on campus.”
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THE MERCURY UTDMERCURY.COM Volume XXXVII No. 30
NEWS
THE MERCURY | JAN. 9, 2017
UTDMERCURY.COM
UTDPD Blotter
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December 8 • At 8:37 p.m. two unaffiliated persons were caught at Outtakes in the Student Union stealing food. They were released to their parents. December 10 • Two UTD students were issued a citation for Minor in Consumption at 1:12 a.m. in Res Hall North. December 13 • A student’s laptop was stolen from Classroom Building 3 at 7:51 p.m. December 16 • An unaffiliated person was arrested for public intoxication at 3:38 a.m. at the Research and Operations Center. • A UTD student’s miniature motorcycle was reported stolen from the Phase 1 parking lot at 5:20 p.m. January 1 • A UTD student reported their bicycle stolen from the Phase 7 parking lot at 4:02 p.m. January 3 • At 4:15 p.m. a UTD student reported their bicycle stolen from the Phase 7 parking lot.
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LEGEND VEHICULAR INCIDENT THEFT
Contributors Samee Ahmad Ankith Averineni Emilio Chavez Brianna Hubiera Hussein Njoroge Shannon Ramirez Ian Seamans Dev Thimmisetty Kevin VanHorn Marisa Williams
DRUGS & ALCOHOL OTHER MAP: UTD | COURTESY
JUST THE FACTS
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Mailing Address 800 West Campbell Road, SU 24 Richardson, TX 75080-0688 Newsroom Student Union, Student Media Suite SU 1.601 The Mercury is published on Mondays, at two-week intervals during the long term of The University of Texas at Dallas, except holidays and exam periods, and once every four weeks during the summer term. Advertising is accepted by The Mercury on the basis that there is no discrimination by the advertiser in the offering of goods or services to any person, on any basis prohibited by applicable law. The publication of advertising in The Mercury does not constitute an endorsement of products or services by the newspaper, or the UTD administration. Opinions expressed in The Mercury are those of the editor, the editorial board or the writer of the article. They are not necessarily the view of the UTD administration, the Board of Regents or the Student Media Operating Board. The Mercury’s editors retain the right to refuse or edit any submission based on libel, malice, spelling, grammar and style, and violations of Section 54.23 (f ) (1-6) of UTD policy. Copyright © 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.
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OPINION
JAN. 9, 2017 | THE MERCURY | UTDMERCURY.COM
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‘Alt-right’ movement too ill-defined for use
Nebulous political term makes racism, sexism, homophobia acceptable through disguising extreme stances of those in movement IAN SEAMANS COMMENTARY
The term “alt-right” came to the forefront during the 2016 election as Hillary Clinton and various media outlets connected the movement to the rise of Donald Trump. But what exactly is the “alt-right?” The phrase encompasses neo-Nazis, some users of the message board 4chan, anti-establishment conservatives and white nationalists. The problem with the term “alt-right” is that it’s nebulous. Instead of calling people members of the “alt-right” movement, we should accurately label and characterize them based off their actions. “Alt-right” isn’t a descriptor of an action so much as a movement, and, because of that, there are no specific actions that can be described as “alt-right.” Self-avowed white nationalist Richard Spencer coined the term “alt-right” in 2010 to describe himself, but it is more accurate to call Richard Spencer a racist and perhaps a neo-Nazi. By calling people like him “alt-right,” we are making his opinion more palatable to the general public. Breitbart News Network editor Milo Yiannopolos has been called a leader of the “alt-right” by NPR, but it
would be more accurate to call him a misogynist who hates political correctness and has engaged repeatedly in controversial and hateful speech. By calling people like Yiannopolos or ex-chairman of Breitbart and now Trump’s Senior Counselor Steve Bannon “alt-right” we start to conflate sexists and anti-immigration advocates with white supremacists. In short, the term “alt-right” manages to sugarcoat white nationalists while also perhaps misguidedly calling other individuals who identify with only some parts of the movement racists. The use of the term plays to individuals who have unacceptable views in modern society like racism, anti-egalitarianism, homophobia and xenophobia. Individuals with these views should be called what they are instead lumped of being into an ill-defined category. The New York Times and The Associated Press recently put out a memo and style guideline respectively about the issue of using the term “alt-right” in publication. The guidelines make it clear that the term should only be used in coordination with a definition and that it should be made clear that “alt-right” is an “offshoot of conservatism mixing racism, white nationalism and populism,” according to The Associated Press. These are steps in the right direction but I fear that ascribing the term “altright” to individuals can be seen pejoratively instead of as a statement about
Accurately using language to describe people based off their actions leads to ... trust and solidarity across partisan lines against racists and sexists.
KEVIN VANHORN | MERCURY STAFF
The Associated Press defines the “alt-right” movement as an “offshoot of conservatism mixing racism, white nationalism and populism” or as “a white nationalist movement.” News outlets such as The New York Times have offered their own definitions of the ambiguous term.
the person’s actions or values. The way we use language regarding the “alt-right” affects the disposition of conservative-leaning individuals
who might not identify with the “altright,” but feel as if their ideology is being attacked when the phrase is used to describe far-right conservatives.
Accurately using language to describe people based off their actions leads to more trust and solidarity across partisan lines against racists and sexists.
Comets and Craters First snowfall of the year
Classroom Buildings still stand
Dallas saw snow for the first time this year on Jan. 6. Despite freezing weekend conditions, weather in the 60s and 70s is projected for the first week back at school.
As buildings are constructed all over campus, students who have to go into the classroom buildings wonder when the trailer-like structures — one of which had mold last semester — will be updated.
UTD meets The New Yorker
Thefts on campus
Professor of Criminology and Associate Dean of Graduate Programs Alex Piquero’s research on juvenile offenders was featured in an article in The New Yorker magazine, helping to put UTD’s name on the map.
Between Dec. 1 and Jan. 9, 12 thefts were reported on campus, according to the UTD PD blotter. Items stolen include several bicycles, a laptop, a dump trailer attached to a vehicle and a miniature motorcycle.
Chess team finishes fourth
Coyotes spotted around UTD
The UTD Chess Team made it to the Final Four of the Pan-American Intercollegiate Team Chess Championship and finished fourth in the competition.
Coyotes have been seen by the woods above the Northside apartment complex. Students on campus with small dogs should be sure they are on leashes and under supervision at all times.
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ATTENTION STUDENTS: The UT Dallas Student Fee Advisory Committee will convene meetings during January and February to consider budget requests for the fiscal year 20172018. Meetings will be held in the SSA 12.471 from 11:30am - 1:30pm on January 13 & 27 and February 3, 10 & 17. For more information go to http://www.utdallas.edu/studentaffairs/ studentfee/
LIFE&ARTS
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JAN. 9, 2017 | THE MERCURY | UTDMERCURY.COM
A Taste of Home Community gathers to celebrate Iranian culture
HUSSEIN NJOROGE | MERCURY STAFF
The Iranian Student Community hosts several events every year to introduce the UTD community to Iranian culture. Yalda, a holiday that marks the winter solstice, was celebrated this year on Dec. 20. DEV THIMMISETTY Mercury Staff
UTD students — many of them Iranian — celebrated Yalda, or the winter solstice, over break. The event was organized by the Iranian Student Community with two main aims: to share Iranian culture with all the students at UTD and to allow Iranian students to reconnect with the customs of their homeland. Historian Sahar Nadimi, a biology senior, said one of the most important events the club hosts is Yalda. The holiday falls on Dec. 20 and indicates the beginning of winter. It is often marked by unique foods, classical Iranian music and special activities. “People get together, they read Hafiz’s poems. Hafiz is one of the traditional poets who lived 700, 800 years ago,” she said.
A defining characteristic of Yalda is the presence of foods like pomegranate, watermelon, nuts and tea, which hold a cultural significance. “It’s because pomegranate and watermelon are fruits of the fall and winter. At least in Iran, you don’t see much of them in the spring and summer,” Nadimi said. At the same time, vice president Mohammed Aliakbar, a doctoral mechanical engineering student, said Yalda has a basis in folklore. “Yalda is the longest night of the year and on that night there was an angel that was fighting with a devil all the night. After the battle, the nights get shorter and shorter, and it represents how she’s going to win over that devil,” Aliakbar said. “That is the reason for celebration.” For Nadimi, a poetic stanza she read
some years ago sums up Yalda best. “Even though it is the longest night of the year, it is only longer by less than a minute compared to the nights before and after it,” she said. “Yalda shows that our time on earth is so short, so we have to celebrate even one more minute together.” Although the holiday only comes once a year, the ISC has been active for five years. In that time, the officers have organized several events to spread Iranian culture. The club’s treasurer, biology sophomore Anita Yazdani said the ISC had changed gears recently by introducing events to help other students get exposure to Iranian culture, such as the movie night that took place in November. The major focus of the organization has not changed. The ISC provides a
Q&A: Tips to stay healthy in 2017 Dietitian organizes health program to help students maintain New Year’s resolutions
ANKITH AVERINENI | MERCURY STAFF
Sara Asberry, a registered dietitian at the Wellness Center, said students should be realistic when planning New Year’s resolutions. To help students stay on top of their goals, Asberry is helping launch Resolution Revolution, a community health program.
Fifty-five percent of college-aged Americans made a New Year’s resolution for 2017. Of those, 35 percent made a resolution related to their health, according to the Marist Poll. A new program, Resolution Revolution, is starting Jan. 9 to help members of the UTD community keep their health-related goals with weekly events and free Group X classes. The Mercury sat down with registered dietitian Sara Asberry and asked her for advice about students maintaining their New Year’s resolutions. What advice would you give students who have a resolution to be healthier this year? I think that it’s important to look at something sustainable, and it’s much better in terms of your body’s perspective if we look at a long term sustainable change — lifestyle modification and not a temporary diet plan. I don’t want you to torture yourself either with unsustainable, unrealistic goals, unrealistic meal plans that aren’t individualized for you, but look to balance, moderate. How can you make lifestyle changes as opposed to following a very specific diet plan? So instead of following diet plans, what do you recommend students do? Instead of saying, “Well, I’m going to wake up and go to the gym seven days a week and follow this intense plan by some bodybuilding.com,” really talk about “is that reasonable, is that going to give you enough time to study and keep up with your student organizations, your on-campus jobs, you off-
campus jobs, your family responsibilities?” Students should do something fun and also find a way to manage stress that way or “I’m going to maybe build in some accountability and go to a Group X class twice a week” and “I’m going to go on a walk with my roommate every Saturday morning” or “I’m going to take the dog to the park more on the weekends.” Make sure that you’re making it fun for you, as opposed to it feeling very ritualistic and rigid, because that is not sustainable and it is not checking any other boxes for us besides physical fitness. Your program, Resolution Revolution, is starting Jan. 9. Could you tell us more about that? One program that we’re starting on campus on the first day of classes is Resolution Revolution which is something I’ve been working on with the Activity Center and Recreational Sports. We are going to put out a calendar that goes six weeks of different weekly activities that students can engage in. We are going to give out some healthy breakfast items, have a presence at the farmers market and be giving away resistance bands. Recreational Sports will be featuring a free Group X class every week for students to go and try different classes and see if there is a way to get plugged into something fun that way. Are there any resources that would be helpful for students to use? I like fitnessblender.com, a website that has a lot of free workout videos and you can
even say, “I have no equipment or I have a resistance band or a yoga mat” and they have anything that goes from a five-minute quick ab exercise to an hour high intensity interval training, so you can pick and choose based on your fitness level and how much time you have. In terms of diet they can definitely look at eatright.gov and look at meal plans you can customize through that website. Is there anything students should watch out for that might get them off track? If you choose a plan that is way too restrictive and is not sustainable, like when students come into my office and tell me that they have cut out food groups or that they are going to completely change how they normally eat or maybe how their family eats, that is unsustainable and also socially isolating. Make sure that you’re focused on progress, not perfection. What additional advice can you share? I just want to encourage students to think outside the box with New Year’s resolutions and not necessarily be so focused on diet, weight loss and exercise. There is so much more to being a person that can be important to focus on too. Especially looking at things like relationships, connections and stress management, like how much are you sleeping? Maybe even looking at how hydrated you are. Maybe start with drinking more water this new year and see what that is like.
community for Iranian students away from home. ISC president Shaida Parsaei said the core of Iranian culture is tied directly to this goal. “Our culture is really based on getting together, having fun. That’s what I think the club is really about, you know, having those get-togethers,” she said. “A lot of (Iranian students) are here alone, not with family. That’s what our club is mainly about — to give them a second family.” A large portion of members are students that moved to the United States specifically for college, like Yazdani’s father. In fact, the ISC celebrates Yalda in part to help those students who may be missing home and their families. “I’ve heard stories from my dad, and he said, ‘All you have is your friends. Sometimes you miss your family so
much, but all you have is your friends,’” she said. “We take away that loneliness. They will be less preoccupied with worrying about their family and they can be focusing on the things they came here to accomplish.” The club also makes efforts to share traditional Iranian culture with students that may not know much about it. “We try to help Iranians who were born here and are not necessarily familiar with the culture back in Iran,” Parsaei said. “We want them to experience what it’s like to go through those (special) celebrations.” Yazdani also said the club is not exclusive to those of Iranian descent. “We try to promote our culture to everyone,” she said. “We want other students to experience our events and our culture.”
CHAD AUSTIN | GRAPHICS EDITOR
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JAN. 9, 2017 | THE MERCURY | UTDMERCURY.COM
SPORTS
Mavs, Stars need to Alum to gain mentors through NCAA Immersion Program provides experience for aspiring coaches, administrators change narrative Injuries, roster moves cause struggles for both teams of injuries, which include Deron Williams’ hamstring injury and losing Dirk COMMENTARY Nowitzki’s Achilles. The addition of Harrison Barnes over the offseason has helped some, but the Mavericks still have a long way Following successful starts to 2016 to go if they want to make the playoffs. that included playoff berths for both At this point, that doesn’t appear to be teams, the Dallas Stars and the Dallas the end goal for the season. The team Mavericks have taken steps back in the has dug itself into a very deep hole that second half of the year, due in part to its unlikely to escape. Cuban has been answering quesinjuries and roster changes. As the teams move into 2017, they tions from reporters about whether the are approaching the halfway point of team is tanking for a high draft pick. their respective seasons. Both teams are He has denied any reports of tanking, sitting outside of a playoff spot to start as is standard practice, but the team isn’t the new year. The Mavericks have only making any moves to better themselves. If the management was to move missed the playoffs once in the past 17 seasons, but the Stars are no strangers into rebuild mode, they would be cleaning out their lockers in April, hav- likely to go after a new guard being made the postseason only twice in cause it is a weak position for the team. Several big names are available the past eight years. Even with their impressive 15-1 record in this year’s draft and they wouldn’t even need to win the of making the postseafirst overall pick to son over the past 16 grab one. As long as years, the Mavericks The Mavericks they drafted in a high have struggled in recent era of success position, it could be years. Since winning with Dirk Nowitthe big first step tothe championship in 2011, the team has yet zki at the lead ap- wards a rebuild. The Stars organizato make it into the secpears to be windtion’s two recent playoff ond round and missed berths came in the last the playoffs just two ing down and three seasons. Last year, years after winning. headed towards the team got off to its Mark Cuban’s owna rebuild. best start in franchise ership has had a rehistory and had the best markable impact since regular season record in he bought the team in 2000, thanks in large part to the money the Western Conference. New managehe put into the franchise for improve- ment and ownership have put money ments. However, Cuban’s money doesn’t and effort into turning the organization prevent the team from making bad ros- around — both on and off the ice — ter moves, which have been plaguing the with a combination of roster moves and rebranding. The work of the new manMavericks recently. The trade for Rajon Rondo required agement team is starting to pay off, but the Mavericks to give up three depth there are still growing pains. It’s easy to pinpoint which growplayers for a player that would end up not working well with the team and ing pains are plaguing the Stars this leaving in the off-season. The team also season, particularly a string of injuries signed Amar’e Stoudemire, who only had to key players, including Ales Hemsky a short tenure before leaving for Miami. and Mattias Janmark being out for the Moves like these, combined with Dirk season, Patrick Sharp being in and out Nowitzki’s age, have put the Mavericks in with concussion symptoms and Jiri Hudler missing weeks with a mysterian uncomfortable position. They started the 2016-17 season off ous illness. with the worst record in franchise history, going 0-5. They’ve had their share → SEE TEAMS, PAGE 8 SUMMER LEBEL
SARA NAVARRO | COURTESY
Alumna Sara Navarro, who played softball for four years while attending UTD, rounds the bases during a game. Navarro is the first student athlete from UTD to be chosen to attend the prestigious Immersion Program at the NCAA Convention in Nashville. SUMMER LEBEL Sports Editor
For the first time in school history, a UTD student athlete was chosen to participate in a program designed to help minority students pursue careers in collegiate athletics. Sara Navarro, who graduated in the fall with a bachelor’s in business administration, was one of 40 students and recent alumni picked to join the NCAA Division III Immersion Program. The program is in its second year and runs during the annual NCAA convention. Participants are typically from an ethnic minority background and have a strong interest in coaching or athletic administration. Navarro, who was a softball infielder for four years at UTD, intends to pursue a career in coaching. One of her goals is to coach softball at a collegiate level. “I’ve always been interested in coaching,” Navarro said. “I’m so passionate about it.” She was nominated by one of UTD’s assistant athletic directors, Angela Marin. Navarro’s excitement and desire to have a job she loved were things that stood out to Marin when it came to nominating her. “Sara has been a role model student athlete,” Marin said. “She’s just a great
person and I know she’ll be a great influence on up and coming student athletes as they go through the process.” Navarro’s communication skills and passion for softball make her a good candidate to be a coach in the future, Marin said. “She’s so well respected within her community that I think that will carry over quite seamlessly to a coach or eventually hopefully an administrative position,” she said. Marin suggested the program to Navarro after they discussed her interest in coaching on numerous occasions. During their conversations, the pair talked about Marin’s personal path to success. “Through that discussion, I wanted to emphasize that there is no right or wrong way to do this,” Marin said. “Your path could look very different from mine. The end goal, however, I believe is the same. The qualities needed to be successful are the same. That’s where I want to help her grow.” When Navarro found out about the opportunity, she was drawn to the personal road map the program gives students. “What I really look forward to is finding out everything that I need to do. I think I’m more on the driven side. If you just tell me what I have to do, I’m going to go do it,” she said. After being nominated, applicants go
through a lengthy process. “The NCAA Division III really wants to make sure that they’re picking the student athletes who are genuinely interested and want to take full advantage of the opportunity,” Marin said. The goal during the convention is to get experience working with athletic administrators. While there, the selected applicants are paired with mentors, typically with the same degree. “It’s a lot of networking and teaching you how to be a good executive,” Navarro said. “You’re learning all of the ins and outs of being in administration at the Division III level, which I would love to do and be a part of.” Marin was a mentor during the 2016 convention and has kept in contact with two people who she mentored. A lot of mentorship is based on asking and answering questions, she said. “They’re completely immersed within other athletic departments, athletic directors and assistant athletic directors,” Marin said. “They get the big grand picture of how the NCAA works.” Mentors also help introduce their mentees to other people in the same field so they can start networking. “It’s a really cool process to see it all
→ SEE NCAA, PAGE 8
COMICS&GAMES
JAN. 9, 2017 | THE MERCURY
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RESOLUTIONS
SEMESTER ANXIETY
EMILIO CHAVEZ | MERCURY STAFF
SHANNON RAMIREZ | MERCURY STAFF
RING IN THE NEW YEAR
BRIANNA HUBIERA | MERCURY STAFF
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THE MERCURY | JAN. 9, 2017
NEWS → NCAA
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During the last senate meeting of the fall semester, Student Government members addressed new proposals and projects that are now complete. SG President Akshitha Padigela spoke with John Ferguson, associate head of the geosciences department, concerning the possibility of engraving rocks in the reflection pools with names of individuals who have passed away while at UTD. Joey Campain, SG vice president, talked about increasing recreation and leisure activity opportunities for UTD students. Kayaking may become free to students on White Rock lake with their Comet Card. Campain said the policy will be implemented soon. Rec Sports has agreed to work with SG to expand rentals for mountain and road bikes. However, Campain said senators are still trying to find a company to use. SG members are also planning nature trips with Rec Sports by helping to fund buses. SG members, led by International Students Affairs Com-
mittee Leader Jason Waye, are taking steps to make their presence more widely known by the student body. They hope to encourage students to come to them directly about their concerns by making themselves more available. To do this, senators updated the design for the phone stickers and card holders, which will be passed out at freshmen orientation in the fall. The stickers will include SG’s email and social media handles. Flyers about SG will also be posted on the bus routes. Residential Student Affairs Committee Leader Uttara Thiagarajan informed the senate that University Village’s MyHousing portal, an online system for work orders, is now open for use by residents. Thiagarajan is also meeting with Ashleigh Beckmann, the housing operations coordinator, about standardizing how UTD will be portrayed on Google Maps. This will be finalized at the end of the spring or the following fall semester. Thiagara-
jan said Beckmann will be the UTD representative spearheading this project. “This standardization would allow non-UV residents to better serve or reach UV residents,” she said. With Student Affairs Committee Leader Nancy Fairbank heading the effort, SG members are working to place more benches across campus. They are looking for suggestions for bench placements. Fairbank said students are welcome to email any of the senators with ideas because a formal poll will not be conducted. She will also be meeting with university administration to proceed with the plans for the “Plinth 2.0 proposal .” Although it is still under development, the idea is to create a space closer to the dorms and Phase 8 where students can “hang out and relax.” SG suggested putting an amphitheater in this area so it could be used for large events on campus.
→ TEAMS
nity to play and develop in the minor leagues. The Stars have a plethora of problems to fix outside of injuries, most notably their reliance on a two goalie system and their struggles in overtime. Both goaltenders have talent and Antti Niemi even has a cup ring from his time in Chicago, but they’re on the downswing of their careers and struggle to be consistent for any long stretch of time. The team started out well when the new 3-on-3 overtime system was introduced last year, but that has changed dramatically this season with the Stars going 2-7 over their first 9 overtime games of the season. A change in the narratives for
both teams this season would be a great way to start the new year. While the Mavericks are unlikely to make the playoffs this year, the Stars spent most of December looking a little more like their former self as players returned from injuries, though they still had a few missteps — including their first New Year’s Eve loss in six years. The Mavericks era of success with Dirk Nowitzki at the lead appears to be winding down and heading towards a rebuild, while the Stars look like a team ready to take the last few steps out of its rebuild and into cup contention.
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With the injuries piling up to top forwards and the departure of two major defensemen, Alex Goligoski and Jason Demers in the offseason, a lot of weight has fallen on the younger players in the system. It’s given some of them the opportunity to finally shine, but it’s also come at a cost to player development. Head coach Lindy Ruff has elected to continue his system of benching young defensemen on a rotational basis for another year, leaving them sitting in the press box night after night instead of getting the opportu-
evolve, because they walk in the first day almost scared to death and they leave a week later and they’re excited,” Marin said. Navarro wasn’t aware of the extent of the program before applying, but she said she’s enjoyed getting her itinerary and other information as the convention approaches. “Initially, I didn’t know how big of an opportunity it was, but I’m really excited,” she said. Navarro also didn’t know she was
UTDMERCURY.COM the first student from UTD to be chosen until after it happened. “It’s a really cool blessing that came out of nowhere,” she said. “It’s definitely a cherry on top.” After graduating in the fall of 2016, this opportunity came along at the best time for her. “When you’re in school, you’re just grinding along and you’re thinking about your classes,” Navarro said. “You don’t really think that much about afterwards.” With school behind her now, Navarro is looking forward to
starting her career after the program and hopes to be able to stay involved in softball. “I think how fun would it be to impact people’s lives and be out on the ball field, so hopefully that’s in my future,” Navarro said. Marin will continue to work with Navarro to help her reach her goals after the program. “She’s young and she’ll have a lot to learn,” Marin said. “Hopefully I can help her, but she has a solid foundation and she loves what she does, and that’s the most important thing.”