the Mercury
www.utdmercury.com
The Student Newspaper of UTD
Vol. XXX, No. 13
What will Proposition 19 mean for UTD? Page 7
Student uses his skills to pursue his passions Page 8
October 18, 2010
UTD gains an international tennis star Page 11
Professor’s memoir Safety concerns reflects on Holocaust Student attacks reported, ISA calls for action Rebecca Gomez
Staff Writer becks@student.utdallas.edu
Graduate student Sharad Jaganathan was tasered, beaten, held at gunpoint and robbed on his walk home from Target to the McCallum Meadows apartments, said Indian Student
Association (ISA) president and MBA student Rohan Nilekani. Jaganathan was attacked at approximately 10.15p.m. Oct.6, two weeks after computer science graduate student Shridhar Pathak was beaten and robbed in a DART train station, Nilekani said. Nilekani, as president of the Indian Student Association (ISA), called an emergency ISA meeting at 10 p.m. Oct.8 in the Waterview Park Phase II clubhouse to discuss safety concerns. Rohan said the
see SAFETY page 4
Second hall on the way
Nada Alsami
Contributor news@utdmercury.com
Leah and Paul Lewis Chair of Holocaust Studies and Arts & Humanities Professor Zsuzsanna Ozsváth is featured in a Jewish-themed book fair which commemorates her new memoir “When the Danube Ran Red.” “When the Danube Ran Red” tells the story of Ozsváth’s childhood in Nazi occupied Hungary during World War II. At the beginning of the Nazi reign, Ozsváth and her family were safe from anti-Jewish violence. “Hungary was the ally of Germany,” Ozsváth said. “We only heard rumors and stories about the Germans killing Jews.” In 1944 Germany occupied Hungary and enforced antisemitic law. People of Jewish ancestry were forced to wear a yellow Star of David on the
photo by Brandon Higgins
Arts & Humanities professor Zsuzsanna Ozsváth holding her memoir “When the Danube Ran Red.” Which tells of her childhood in Nazi Hungary. outside of their outfits. “It did not even matter if you were born as a Catholic,” Ozsváth said. “If you had two grand-
parents who were Jews you were identified as a Jew. You had to wear a yellow star.” Despite deportations of
Culture shock Jargon jam invades public space Rebecca Gomez
Staff Writer becks@student.utdallas.edu
photo by Albert Ramirez
Construction workers at the site of the second residence hall, located in the northwest corner of campus.
New residence hall is currently ahead of schedule Danelle Adeniji
Staff Writer dxa102120@utdallas.edu
UTD continues its expansion with the addition of a second freshman residence hall. The demand for living space exceeded the first hall, and plans to add another residence hall were approved and set in motion. The second residence hall is slated for completion fall 2011. The ground breaking took place summer 2010 and three months later the second residence hall is ahead of schedule in comparison to the first. The first hall was a fifteenmonth project and the second has been allotted twelve
months, said Assistant Vice President for Student Affairs Matt Grief. With construction of the second residence hall starting so quickly after the first, a few questions arose about whether the new hall will face the same issues as the first, and if there will be any internal or external changes to the building. UTD’s first freshman residence hall opened fall 2009. It was the first dormitory built on campus and was in high demand by first year students, Grief said. Once students moved in, they realized the building included a few things they didn’t sign up for. The water
see NEW HALL page 6
Literary studies junior Alexandria McLemore interrupted the frequency of radio talk-show host Dr. Laura Schlessinger’s audio book cover to create a platform for her important message, the American cultural affinity for the “n-word.” McLemore’s impetus to address cultural acceptance of the “n-word” was a Sept. 23 Culture
Jam assignment in her Contemporary Cultural Criticism (CCC) class. Scott Herndon, CCC professor, said the jam project required a publicly displayed element of pop culture reflective of change in message via any observable medium. Change, she said, was not a sufficient solution. The “n-word” was fully articulated 11 times by Dr. Laura to an African American listener who had called in for advice to deal with white peo-
Hungarian Jews to concentration camps, Ozsváth and her family remained
see OZSVATH page 9
One stop shop
ple’s casual use of the “n-word” in her presence. Mclemore said the philosophical point Dr. Laura later made, that African American people have a free pass to use the “n-word,” might have been valid had she not used it to defend her rant. “When I was 14, my mother and I were walking past a Hispanic man who was on the phone
Anwesha Bhattacharje
see SHOCK page 4
see STORE page 6
Contributor news@utdmercury.com
Student Government (SG) has developed a new project aimed at helping students without cars purchase necessities on campus. SG Student Affairs Committee chair and Economic Policy & Political Science junior Haroon Hashmi said his committee has received
Wellness center expands offerings Move to SSB increases space provided Danelle Adeniji
Staff Writer dxa102120@utdallas.edu
Health awareness is now more accessible with the expansion of Health Education, a component of the Wellness Center. In contrast to the Health Center’s treatment of illnesses, the Wellness Center is dedicated to the promotion of health and the prevention of illness. Assistant Director of Student Wellness Amanda Smith said she is excited about the expansion of the
photo by Brandon Higgins
Wellness Coordinator Kacey Luker in the Wellness Center, located within the Student Services Building, demonstrates how to operate the “Drinking Clock.” One of the many props the center uses to educate students. Wellness Center. Before the center was moved to the Student Services Building health education couldn’t be provided whenever Smith
stepped out of the office. With the expansion of the Wellness Center UTD has been able to add a wellness coordinator, Kacey Luker, and an administra-
tive assistant, allowing the center to stay open. Along with Smith, Luker wants students to engage
see WELLNESS page 6
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News
October 18, 2010
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Put things in places Leave bits of media in locations Alex Hays
Social Media Editor socialmedia@utdmercury.com
Do you miss scrawling messages into the desks in your high school classes? Well, there will be an App for that and it will let you leave more than just letters. PlaceThings is an iPhone/Android/Blackberry app that allows you to leave text, video, audio or photos at any location. Want to leave a comment about a place or a picture you took there? PlaceThings will let you do that too, with the goal of making physical locations rich with virtual content. Any bits of media that get placed can be seen on an online-map. You could make video-logs of your travels for your friends and family to follow, or just leave anonymous comments at coffee shops.
graphic courtesy of Vera Maxakova
A ‘video thing’ on an iPhone
PlaceThings is being created by Arts & Technology senior Nicholas Spencer, Emerging Media & Communications senior John SyrinekI and Emerging Media & Communication Director Dean Terry. The app is still in development, but they are excited about it. The Placethings team was a finalist in the Accelerator Competition at South by South West last year. I asked them a little about how the application started. John: “I wanted to do something new. Smartphone manufacturers like Apple just started shipping devices with GPS, and we realized this can provide a bridge from the virtual to the real world. Augmented reality was really fascinating to us.”
graphic courtesy of Vera Maxakova
Visiting Placethings.com will allow users to browse through ‘things’ left by others anywhere in the world.
Nick: “(Terry and I) started conceptualizing what we could/wanted to do after (Terry’s) first mobile lab class. I initially wanted something for creating and sharing memories about locations. It sort of evolved from that into a story telling platform.” If you’re intrigued, check out www.placethings.com/demo to take a look.
Opinion
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October 18, 2010
3
Editorial Board
Student safety improves with new mass notification system Concern for student safety has become more apparent with the improvement of the mass notification system on campus. During the summer a student was robbed at gunpoint on campus. Because summer isn’t a regular semester, students living on campus yet not enrolled in classes were not sent notification of the attack. As soon as the administration became aware of this fact, an e-mail was sent to all students living on campus to notify them of the robbery. Not only did the university fix the problem as soon as it was discovered,
they were already in the process of updating the notification system to better inform students, faculty and staff. The system that will soon be in place requires students to specifically request not to be a part of the notification system, instead of the old method, which had students register for additional notifications. As part of the new system, student phone numbers, along with their e-mail addresses, will be added. The system will also add text-messaging capabilities to the armory of notification devices.
The average student is more likely to check a text before an e-mail, and as a result they are more likely to be informed of emergencies through this method. Students are also more likely to not interfere with the system set up, and as a result notification as the default setting will help to keep the mass majority informed while still allowing those who want to be taken off the list that option. This decision shows a forward way of thinking went into changing the mass notification system to better fit student lifestyles.
To ask, to learn Reem Elghonimi
Contributor news@utdmercury.com
As a UTD graduate student what initially appealed to me about academics was summed up by a professor: Ask more questions and assume less. These are liberating words to live by. Especially for all of us here, those who are learning and those who teach. Recently news coverage on “Islamaphobia” and the proposed New York mosque have touched our own corner of the world, the UTD campus. Allegations and insults are being hurled dizzyingly at Islam and Muslims, weighing down the already heavy baggage of assumptions we drag behind us. I suggest trying my professor’s tack, asking more questions and watching to see what new picture they unfold. Is Islamic Shariah oppressive to women, gays and apostates as we constantly hear? Federico Garcia Lorca, if he were alive, would answer loudly “No!” The famous Western poet of the early twentieth century liked to dress as an Arab Muslim, walk through the Alhambra citadel in southern Spain and study Arabic poetry. Lorca was gay, and he was arrested by Franco’s fascist regime in the 1930s, possibly because of his homosexuality and his defense of Muslim Spain. Lorca called the fall of Muslim Spain a catastrophe
on a radio show, months before his disappearance. Evidently Lorca learned something about — and got close enough to — another culture. Close enough to see what was admirable in it. He found a tolerance and coexistence he chose to identify with because, for his last major work, “The Diván at Tamarit,” he chose a Persian and Arabic name. Amnon Cohen, an American Jewish historian, wrote the book “A World Within: Jewish Life as Reflected in Muslim Court Documents” about Jews’ religious autonomy and the significant protection of their rights and properties in the Muslim Ottoman empire. Islamic societies before colonization, slavery, economic power plays and Cold War tactics were very different from what we know today. Cohen’s perspective is the kind of learning we need more of now. An interesting space we could excavate with more questions and hopefully where we could leave some old assumptions. It would be refreshing to travel so light. To turn to our own time period we can ask, do we have mistreatment of Muslim women and minorities today? Absolutely, in politically failed states. Even so, that is an indictment that cannot be factually or
news@utdmercury.com The Mercury Editorial Board voted 5-0 in favor of this editorial. The board consists of the newspaper’s editor-in-chief, managing editor, graphics editor, social media editor and web editor. The board will discuss, debate and develop editorial positions on issues affecting the UTD community. We welcome your responses at news@utdmercury.com. Opinions expressed in The Mercury are those of the writer and not necessarily those of the university administration, the University of Texas System Board of Regents or the Student Media Operating Board. Editorial and business offices are in Student Union, Room 2.416. Telephone: 972-883-2286. Mailing address; SU 24, Richardson, TX 75080.
(and you can too!) John D. McCrary
Contributor news@utdmercury.com
One evening this past summer, I met some friends at a bar and one asked me to explain some claims she heard in an interview on NPR. At the time I was a landman for a broker working for Chesapeake Energy (CHK). Everyone was all ears as we argued over the validity of a man who claimed he could light his tap water on fire, but before I could explain more about drilling for clean natural gas (CNG) in Fort Worth, everyone grew tired of the issue and we moved on to more inconsequential fare. Much later in the night, my friend, feeling bold, looked me in the eye and asked “JD, why’d you have to sell out?” Looking back I struggled to find the moment I was asked to sign any documents by an obese half octopus woman with purple skin, but if the divergent opinions people suddenly had of me was any indication, I guess I had. I thought all this gas business seemed pretty cool but people were furious about it. I was compelled to find out why. I mean, there’s no way that many people could all be clueless, right? I started working as a landman in 2009 and it was my job to contact property owners, explain what was going
W
Comments
Jessica Melton, Editor-in-Chief Shane Damico, Managing Editor Laura-Jane Cunningham, Graphics Editor Alex Hays, Social Media Editor Swaroop Rayudu, Web Editor
I am a sell out
honestly attributed to the majority of Muslims today or in any time period and absolutely one that is not condoned by Islam. Can we realistically eradicate mistreatment of women and minorities in failed states, in countries that are characterized by political dictatorship, poverty and the accompanying ignorance? In that light, we all understand what an unlikely scenario that would be for peace, prosperity, education or empowerment. Yet by no means does this point to Islam or Shariah being the problem. As for me, a Muslim woman, I am contentedly sporting a veil that is an outgrowth of my personal conviction. I have lived in other ways, dressed in other ways. In the Islamic mode of dress I have found a dignity and a lack of objectification of women that is unique. More than anything else in my experience it offers an identity that is not merely sexual, but truly modern, equally defining a woman through intellect and character. It wasn’t imposed upon me by Shariah, but it existed there as a model that I was free to take up, a model that was validated through my particular experience. We are fortunate to have an incredible array of diversity at UTD. But I guess it’s never enough to just have diversity. We have to get a little closer, look deeper and ask more questions. Lorca did. Amnon Cohen did. And they liked what they saw.
Comet
Editorial Board
on and to facilitate establishing a mineral lease (permission to develop their minerals in exchange for a bonus and royalties) on their property. It was either that or strong arm people into signing away their rights for unfair prices. I forget depending on who I’m talking to. Truth be told, my approach was always to play up my baby blues and youthful appearance. I was mostly clueless anyway, so it wasn’t hard to be polite and sincere. The thing that gets me is at no point was I being dishonest. When I told people I believed CNG was good for everyone involved, I meant it. When I told them CNG had a third less emissions than coal and petroleum, I meant it. So many people slammed the door in my face and colorfully told me to leave, when I was essentially offering them free money. Well, it wasn’t free, I was taking away their right to build a well in the backyard of their quarter acre lot and develop themselves. We were probably taking advantage of people by investing billions of dollars to do the work for them, not affect their property in any way and be held liable for any kind of negative outcome. A lot of people claiming expertise decided there were terrible consequences as a result of the drilling but I had plenty of evidence telling me their claims were unfounded.
Granted, all the other studies and reports were sent to me by folks from CHK’s PR department, but I made sure to take it with enough salt to spell out the word “brainwash” on the dinner table. No one just sat down and said, here are the benefits and here are the costs. I was left to figure things out for myself. Isn’t that lame? Now CNG was a cleaner alternative to other fossil fuels, but it wasn’t renewable energy. There would be a transition off of petroleum (I’m so over oil), but there would be a transition to green energy too, and CNG is more accessible and a lot cheaper. Home Owner Associations and drove CHK out of neighborhoods by asking for too much money, but I couldn’t help thinking the good folks from the Midwest would feel differently after having the industries that provided their livelihood yanked out from under them. Truth be told, our country is in dire need of some kind of vast economic innovation and I feel like CNG is the fuel America needs to keep running. So listening to people rant about CNG now, it seems reminiscent of the folks complaining about how wind farms ruin their scenic view and make too much ambient noise. No major change is going to come without some growing pains, and I’m on board as long as growth isn’t at the cost of lives or livelihoods. So, I’m sorry to say that my new car and I are with “the man” on this one.
hat are your plans for Halloween?
“I’m going to the Chi Phi goes to hell party.”
“I’m going trick-ortreating in Allan Park.”
“I’m going to Fright Fest at Six Flags or a house party.”
Sara Smith Finance sophomore
Sikander Qureshi Finance sophomore
Iman Thompson Interdisciplinary senior
the Mercury Editor-in-Chief Jessica Melton
Graphics Editor Laura-Jane Cunningham
Managing Editor Shane Damico
Web Editor Swaroop Rayudu
Advertising Manager Josh Moncrieff
Social Media Editor Alex Hays
Administrative Assistant Andrew Arias Photographers Albert Ramirez Brandon Higgins Ben Hawkins Staff Writers Danelle Adeniji Jameshia Bankston Rebecca Gomez
Contributors Nada Alasmi Anwesha Bhattacharje Rebecca DeButts Amanda Duke John D. McCrary Lauren Monsalve Michelle Nguyen Aditi Vira Christopher Wang
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October 18, 2010
Parking, textbook rental update Shane Damico
Managing Editor spd064000@utdallas.edu
The following is a breakdown of key topics raised at the Oct. 5 Student Government (SG) meeting. Full minutes of meetings can be found at sg.utdallas. edu. •SG President and political science senior Grace Bielawski kicked off officer reports with a long list of items to report on parking and transportation on campus. Notable statistics included a 16 percent increase in parking permit revenue, permit sales online have tripled and DART route 883 has had 26 percent more student use this fall. Bielawski also reported that the color system used
for parking spots is currently being evaluated to see if a better system can be used. •Bielawski’s parking and transportation update was followed by a report from
Report
SG Vice President Dina Shahrokhi on the results of the on-campus bookstore’s rental program. Shahrokhi said over 2,000 text books were rented at about half the purchase price, saving students approximately $86,000. •Communications Committee chair and
Arts & Technology senior Kia Wright reported that comment boxes will be located on SG bulletin boards sometime starting November. •Student Affairs Committee chair and political science junior Haroon Hashmi said research is currently being done to see if the vending machines on campus can be equipped with credit card readers. Hashmi also said he is in discussion with administrators about getting a statue placed at the center of the roundabout. •Sustainability Subcommittee chair and political science sophomore Andrew Previc moved to allocate up to $150 for the marketing and up to $650 for the screening of the film “Fuel.”
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UTD Police scanner Oct. 1 •Student reported her apartment window being broken at the University Village Apartments (UV) Phase VII. Oct. 9 •Student reported burglary of his vehicle at the Soccer Fields. •Student was arrested for possession of marijuana and issued two citations in UV Phase IX. •PD dispatched to UV Phase VIII, Building 59 in response to the odor of burning marijuana. One student was arrested for possession of marijuana
that was less than 2oz and issued a citation for possession of drug paraphernalia. Another student was issued a citation for possession of drug paraphernalia and two non affiliated persons were issued criminal trespass warnings. Oct. 11 •Student reported a case of harassment in Waterview Park Apartments (WV) Phase IV. Oct. 12 •Staff member reported an unknown vehicle hit her unattended vehicle while she was parked in Lot L. •Student reported the theft
of their Comet Card in the School of Management. Oct. 13 •PD dispatched to the Living Learning Center to investigate a domestic disturbance. •Student reported an unknown person intentionally stole her art work from the Visual Arts Building. •Staff reported her Sony Camcorder was stolen in Green Hall. •Student reported his backpack was stolen in the Dining Hall. •Student was arrested for assault at Lot G near McDermott Library.
Correction: In the Oct. 4 issue of The Mercury the article “Battling Bedbugs” contained an error. Electrical engineering-telecommunication graduate student Sandeep Kolla was misrepresented as electrical engineering graduate student Sandeep Kannappa. Kannappa was never interviewed by The Mercury, and all statements attributed to Kannappa were said by Kolla. The Mercury regrets this error.
SAFETY
continued from page 1 meeting was rescheduled because Comet Cruiser shuttle service to McCallum Meadows, where a majority of the students lived, ended at 10.15p.m. “They were worried about not catching a bus home and becoming a victim of a crime,” Nilekani said.
courtesy of Alexandria Mclemore
SHOCK
continued from page 1 when he used the “n-word” like a term of endearment to the person on the other end of the line,” Mclemore said. “That’s when I realized this word had evolved from deplorable to almost acceptable.” The Dr. Laura controversy was in the news when the project was assigned, so Mclemore used it as her platform for popular culture criticism. Mclemore used a digital copy of Dr. Laura’s audio book cover as her medium for cultural criticism. Black people, McLemore said, were more at fault for longevity use.
“I was watching an episode of Oprah where Jay-Z was the guest and they were discussing the use of the ‘n-word’ in his lyrics,” Mclemore said. “Oprah said she doesn’t use that word because she thinks of how that was the last word black men used to hear before they were lynched.” Puerto Rican rapper Fat Joe explained, in a video on YouTube, that he has a right to use the “n-word” in his lyrics because it was so heavily used in the neighborhood he grew up in that it became a part of his culture. Fat Joe’s use, said Mclemore, is not malicious but it’s just as bad as Dr. Laura’s because it still propagates the use of
the word. Mclemore said the use of the “n-word” as a term of endearment between friends is a symptom of the public not educated enough about the history of it to know better. Mclemore said the only solution to the issue of the word’s use is a complete extinction of it from the American vocabulary. “Black people were only really granted the freedom to be Americans in 1964. Fifty years of freedom doesn’t compare to the centuries of oppression that came before it,” Mclemore said. “Once people see it in that context, they’ll understand why the ‘n-word’ should not be used.”
After he used the ISA Google group to disseminate information of Jaganathan’s attack, Nilekani said he was invited to a joint meeting with Student Government (SG), the UTD chief of police and unconfirmed members of faculty. Nilekani said SG graduate
and international student affairs committee chair Vishal Channe told him the meeting was scheduled for 4 p.m. Oct. 14 to address these recent attacks.
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October 18, 2010
5
Sustainable eats close to campus The third article in a continuing series on the environment. Jessica Melton
Editor-in-Chief jjm082000@utdallas.edu
A healthy way to stay sustainable is to go green with your vegetables. Buying locally grown food not only helps to support local famers, but also cuts down on the fuel emissions it takes to ship groceries. According to sustainabletable.org, purchasing foods in-season helps decrease environmental damage caused by shipping food, in addition to money going directly to local farmers. The Dining Hall keeps this idea in mind and orders locally grown food whenever possible, said Director of Dining Services Keith Foreman. While not all food can be obtained locally year round, the Dining Hall makes other efforts to stay sustainable. Foreman said every egg used in the Dining Hall is cage free, and Chartwells couldn’t buy any other kind of egg, even if they wanted to. He said Chartwells works with foodbuy, a company
that works directly with food vendors to find the best products to use. They then add certain items to a list for Chartwells, and those are the only foods available for purchase by the Dining Hall. A good example of this, Foreman said, is when Chartwells looks to buy fish. He said in those cases they work with Monterrey Bay Aquarium which is a company that keeps track of different fish species to make sure the companies they work with never buy over-farmed or endangered fish species. When looking to buy food off campus there are many options available from Walmart, to farmer’s markets and everywhere in between. The sustainable table website lists different kinds of grocery stores depending on what you’re searching for and your zip code. The closest sustainable grocery stores to Richardson’s area code are Sprouts, Whole Foods and Central Market. In Dallas there is a farmer’s market, which can be found at dallasfarmersmarket.org, and it gathers regional produce growers to sell their products year round. When shopping at grocery stores for more animal friendly items it would be a good idea to look for eggs or chickens labeled as cage free or free
range and rBST free milk. The first identifier means chickens raised with the opportunity to go outside and the second means the cow that provided that milk was not treated with growth hormones, according to thedailygreen.com. Another option for forward thinkers in community garden agriculture (CSA) is when consumers pay farmers for a share of their crop before it is planted. According to the sustainable table website, this means the consumer and farmers carry the same risk when crops are planted. If there is a good season then they both benefit, and if it is a bad season both parties deal with the fallout. In addition to their efforts to be sustainable in buying food, Foreman said the Dining Hall will be implementing a new program titled “The Clean Plate Program” for four weeks this semester. The goal of this program is to reduce the amount of wasted food in the dining hall, which will be measured by a large floor scale for around four hours out of the day, Foreman said. Foreman said the less amount of food that gets wasted each week, the more the Dining Hall will donate to a local food bank. He said the idea isn’t just to save money, it’s to get students thinking about how much they could keep from wasting everyday.
photo by Laura-Jane Cunningham
STUDENT HEALTH CENTER AD REMOVED For accurate information regarding information upcoming vaccinations on campus, please refer to the UTDallas Health Center website:
www.utdallas.edu/health center The Mercury accepts full responsibility for this error and wishes to make clear that the UTDallas Student Health Center is in no way liable for this mistake.
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October 18, 2010
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Crime report released Mass notification system to be updated Jessica Melton
Editor-in-Chief jjm082000@utdallas.edu
According to the UTD Campus Security Report, instances of forcible sex offences, aggravated assault, burglary and arrests for weapons violations rose in 2009. The security report is released Oct. 1 every year and lists certain offences committed during the previous three calendar years. The crimes listed in the report are defined by the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act. There was an increase of judicial referrals on drug violations and liquor law violations remained consistent. A total of eight increases and five decreases in crimes
STORE
continued from page 1
many requests from the student body. “A lot of students, especially new graduate and international students who don’t have a car, need to depend on DART for a ride to the stores,” Hashmi said.
illustration by Michelle Nguyen
occurred in the 2008 year. The report covers calendar years 2007-2009 and does not contain the aggravated robbery, which occurred on campus this past summer, as it was in 2010. In next year’s report it will be filled in the “aggravated robbery” category. The different crimes are listed in the location in which they occurred. Crimes occurring on public property are those which do not occur on campus. Non-campus buildings and
property includes streets running through campus. Judicial referral applies to cases filed in court and not just handled as campus discipline. In the near future, students will be notified of emergencies differently as UTD’s mass notification system is slated to change, said Associate Vice President for Communications John Walls. The new system, made by Cooper Safety Systems, combines more traditional
methods such as outdoor sirens and more advanced systems such as text messages and e-mails to notify students of emergencies. Currently the mass notification utilizes text messages, e-mail, outdoor sirens, indoor voice notification systems and reverse messaging for campus telephones to inform students, faculty and staff of problems. The new system aims to increase outreach in situations, Walls said. He said the
increase will be made possible by several techniques, one of which involves the need for students to opt out of the notification system instead of into it. What this means for students is they will automatically be placed into the mass notification system and if they do not want to be notified they will have to make arrangements to be taken out of the system. This differs from the current system in which students have to specifically
register for mobile messages. Police Chief Larry Zacharias said he believes the new system is more efficient as its offers more options of alerting students of issues such as the tornado warning Sept. 8. Zacharias said the new system is versatile and students will be able to alter phone numbers or e-mail addresses if they choose, allowing them to be notified of emergencies wherever they are.
“We thought it would be good if we could have a place that they could get the stuff on campus.” When the project was proposed, SG had two choices – either expand the bookstore and vending machines to include new products or acquire a new convenience store altogether. SG decided on the
grander option and pitched for a new store. SG Vice President and Political Science senior Dina Shahrokhi said the idea has been on the drawing board for about three years. “A number of locations are under consideration for the new store, including the basements of the McDermott library
and Student Union. But we don’t have a product list or rates yet,” Shahrokhi said. There’s still work to be done before the store becomes a reality. “It’s a long term project, and if we can have the store running in a year, it would be a feat,” Hashmi said. “Our goal at the moment is to have the project approved
by the administration within the spring semester.” Auxiliary Services Manager Carrie Chutes said the project is in the exploratory stages. “We are still surveying the students on this. A vending contract is up for proposal and the vending services might include (convenience store) products, or it could
be partnered with the new Bookstore that opens up in 2011,” Chutes said. The project is fueled by student voices. “Student inputs will be vital and necessary in order to realize this project. If successful, it’s going to be a very tangible benefit to the student community here,” Hashmi said.
photo by Albert Ramirez
UTD’s second residence hall is slated for completion Fall 2011. The building will have taken approximately three months less to build than the first hall.
New HALL
continued from page 1
and air conditioning didn’t run properly and disruptive plumbing and electrical issues prevented students from studying Grief said. The water problem was a mechanical issue and poorly built pipes by the manufacturing company caused the faulty plumbing Grief said. Electrical issues occurred after students brought all of their appliances, such as televisions, laptops and microwaves. The additional usage caused a power over-
WELLNESS
continued from page 1
in more health and fitness activities across the campus. Luker will assist students who want to obtain a health and exercise program by fitting it just for them. The Wellness Center team has been increasingly requested to speak at different activities and events around campus Smith said. At these engagements they cover various topics ranging from women’s and men’s
load. The power issues were fixed and are not expected to carry over into the new residence hall, Grief said. “The Office of Facilities and Construction and I sat down and looked at everything from start to finish to see how things could be approved for the second building,” Grief said. “We learned a lot of lessons and have made significant improvements.” The second residence hall will look almost identical to the first hall but with a few design tweaks. Terrance Mathis assistant general manager of American
Campus Communities and biology senior Shadi Lavasani explained there will be no significant changes to suites except they will operate on their own breaker preventing electrical outages. The classrooms, multipurpose rooms and study areas will also increase in size. Grief said he doesn’t believe that there will be issues in the second hall as the first one. He said he has been along every step of building the new residence hall. “(We have) a good handle on the design and construction side,” Grief said.
health to mental disorders. The Wellness Center also raises awareness about alcohol, drugs and sexual responsibilities. Criminology junior Joshua Pritchett said he was pleased after his visit to the Wellness Center. Pritchett said he had visited the Wellness Center when it was located on the first floor of the Student Union. Now that the center has moved, Pritchett views the Wellness Center as a larger presence on campus. “You cannot say that
they aren’t there because they have always been available when I needed them,” Pritchett said. “I have always been able to get information from them for my wellness.” The Wellness Center will sponsor Alcohol Awareness week Oct. 18-22. The week will feature a program called, “So You Think You Can Drive?” which involves an adult tricycle and a pair of drunk goggles. For further details and events stop by the center or visit utdallas.edu/studentwellness.
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October 18, 2010
7
Effects of California law could be felt at UTD Laura-Jane Cunningham
Graphics Editor graphics@utdallas.edu
If you travel on I-10 going West, it will take you more than 19 hours and 1,238 miles to get from UTD to the border of California. This may make California’s efforts to legalize marijuana seem irrelevant, but Proposition 19, which will be voted on Nov. 2, could still effect UTD. Proposition 19 would make it legal for anyone 21 years or older to possess up to an ounce of marijuana. Californians will be permitted to cultivate, process and distribute marijuana, though they will need a license to sell it. If marijuana can be grown for free in California, there will be a huge temptation to smuggle it into Texas, where a pound of marijuana can be sold for $4,000, said Larry Talley, director of the Dallas/Fort Worth chapter of National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws (DFW NORML). “I would want to change the laws here in Texas really fast or we could have a lot of people in trouble,” Talley said. The goal of DFW NORML is not to tighten marijuana laws, but to make marijuana legal. The organization currently supports three pieces of legislation which if passed may decrease the penalties for marijuana use and possession. “Millions and millions and millions of lives have been ruined because of arrests, because of the drug war we have in this country,” Talley said. There were 51 drug violations on campus from 2007 to 2009, according UTD Annual Security Report 2010. Three more violations were filed with the Richardson municipal court between Jan. 1 and Aug. 31, implicating four students. The minimum penalty for such violations is a class B mis-
demeanor, which includes imprisonment for up to 180 days, a fine of up to $2,000 and suspension from UTD. UTD police arrested another student, who requested to remain anonymous, for possession of marijuana and drug paraphernalia at 11:41 p.m. Oct. 9 in Phase VIII. The student said he was hosting a smoking night at his apartment. He was not in the apartment when the police arrived, but two of his roommates, his girlfriend and some friends were. When he arrived, he said the police asked him to sit down. His two roommates gave consent for the police to search the apartment, despite having alcohol in their rooms, he said. He denied consent until the police obtained a warrant. “They wrecked the fuck out of my room,” the student said. “All the books were pulled off the shelf and my mattress was against the wall.” The UTD police reported finding less than two ounces of marijuana. The student’s girlfriend, who is not a UTD student, was charged with criminal trespassing and banned from campus. The police gave everyone who was not a student a criminal trespassing charge, the student said. According to the police blotter individuals not affiliated with the university, including his girlfriend, were only given warnings. The student was arrested and taken to Rich- ardson City Jail until his father posted bail. Bail cost $750. “My booking officer had just come from California. He said over there the same crime would cost $100,” the student said. The student was released at midnight on Oct. 11. Upon leaving, the police gave him a list of items they
confiscated from his apartment. One item was described as a green leafy substance on the bookshelf. The student said he didn’t initially know what it was, and thought it could be an old stash. Then he realized it was not marijuana. “They confiscated my catnip, those bastards!” he said with a smile. Although the student spent more than 24 hours in jail, he said his situation could have been much worse. “The cops were not assholes,” he said. “They were really respectful guys. They could have busted my roommates for the alcohol, but they just poured it out and threw away the bottles. We also had tons of paraphernalia they didn’t cite us for.” The student said he is still waiting to hear from the Dean of Students office. Once they contact him, he will have five days to respond, said Gene Fitch, the Dean of Students. If he does not respond, he could be withdrawn from classes. “The minimum response (to a drug violation) could be suspension or removal of privileges, like on-campus housing,” Fitch said. “When you’ve already paid to live there, it’s pretty serious.” Fitch said some scholarships could also be affected if they contain a stipulation about conduct. Medical and law schools often ask for applicant’s files, and would be aware of any drug violations that are reported to the Dean of Students office. “Students need to understand that any decision made after 1 a.m. is usually not a good decision, and that there are consequences,” Fitch said. Students who are accused of drug violations meet with Kim Winkler, the associate dean of students
responsible for student conduct. If students want to dispute the accusations made about them, a formal hearing will be scheduled. “90% of the time the issues are resolved just by talking,” Fitch said. Fitch said his primary concern is the health and safety of everyone on campus. Amanda Smith, assistant director for student wellness, expressed similar views. “If your mind is being altered by any sort of a chemical, you are at a risk for hurting yourself and others,” Smith said. Smith said she encourages students to become educated before deciding whether they should try marijuana. The Student Wellness Center offers educational programming about drugs and alcohol throughout the year, including alcohol awareness week, risk management training and the “Don’t Be That Guy” campaign. “I try to keep reminders in front of students all year long,” Smith said. “It’s something we keep ongoing. We don’t ever let it stop.” Smith said students should be sure any personal research is coming from reputable sources, and said she worries about students’ access to inaccurate information. “If you want to search ‘marijuana is good for me,’ you can put that in a search engine and get a million websites telling you why marijuana is good for you. If you want to search ‘why my child should not use marijuana,’ same thing,” Smith said. “That’s the one thing that makes me nervous about health and wellness issues. You can get any answer you want.” Smith said these sources are often not arguing for the properties of marijuana, but for their personal beliefs. As long as marijuana is illegal, however,
police officers will continue making arrests. Larry Zacharias, chief of the UTD police department and former head of the Richardson narcotics department for three years, said UTD students are academically minded, and drugs are less common here than in many parts of Dallas. “The Dean of Students will stand up and say that we are not one of the top 50 party schools and (we’re) proud of it,” Zacharias said. Zacharias said Richardson is not a known drug corridor, and the department is more concerned with the safety of students. “(Drug violations are) not something we spend a majority of our time on, because it’s not our biggest problem. But when something comes to our attention, we dedicate what we need to,” Zacharias said. In University Village, peer advisers receive training from the UTD Police Department on drug awareness and how to respond if drug use is suspected, said residential life director Ryan White. “We all operate under the guidelines that (marijuana is) illegal, it’s a drug and it’s against our code of conduct,” White said. White also said UTD students seem to be more focused on schoolwork than marijuana, and he doesn’t see its use becoming widespread. He said everyone at UTD has the same goals in mind. Administrators want to help students graduate, and students want to graduate. But even if marijuana use is not high, there is a lot of debate about whether it should be allowed on campus. “I don’t think it should be allowed. It will detract from the environment,”
said biochemistry junior Johnny Herrera. “I understand it has medical uses, but people want to use it for recreational uses.” Emerging media & communication junior Tommy Truong said he didn’t have an opinion either way, and it didn’t bother him if others used marijuana. “If they keep it to themselves, it’s alright,” Truong said. Herrera said marijuana should not be legalized because it hinders people’s judgment. Herrera grew up in Los Angeles, and said from his experience, drugs cause problems. “It’s dangerous,” Herrera said. “I saw a man who was high run over a whole family. The mother, her two kids and an infant all died.” Other students, like Arts & Technology sophomore Nick Bostick, disagree. “People believe it’s dangerous, because people are told it’s dangerous,” Bostick said. “Is it more dangerous to smoke weed and go to sleep or drink lemon extract behind the 7-11 and cry?” Literary studies junior Jessica Rodriguez said from the statistics she heard, marijuana was not dangerous and bad things usually didn’t happen from it. “I think (legalization) is a good idea if they were smart about it,” Rodriguez said. “If they made it like cigarettes and alcohol (and) set ages.” But even with restrictions on the amount of marijuana available or the ages of those who can use it, many people are still worried about the risks involved in legalization. “I’m concerned about what everyone else is concerned about in California,” Talley said. “There are a lot of unknowns. But until we change things and make that step forward into the unknown, we are never going to know.”
l l o r n a c u o y s c Stasti o t p u n o
91%
84%
70%
Statistics
were base survey dis d on an anonymou tributed b s student y The Me rcury. GPA Stats
3.35 Average GPA of students who filled out the survey In favor of medical marijuana 37%
In favor of legalization of marijuana 67%
Students who tried marijuana 73%
3.26 Average GPA of students who used marijuana in the past month 3.46 Average GPA of students who tried marijuana
Students who used d in the last month
Students who knew someone at UTD who used regularly
Students who knew more than one person who used
3.35 Average GPA of students who never tried marijuana
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October 18, 2010
Life &Arts
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Dallas exhibit to feature student work Works selected for major art gallery exhibit Danelle Adeniji
Staff Writer dxa102120@utdallas.edu
Four UTD students’ artwork will be featured in the first student only exhibition at a major art gallery. 500X gallery is launching its first college student only exhibition. Participants from all over Texas entered up to five of their best works. Public Relations for 500X and UTD alumna Shelby Cunningham said the stu-
dent exhibition has gotten a big response. Arts & Technology junior Devyn Gaudet entered several of her pieces from her previous work “no/where inbetween.” Gaudet was a part of the student exhibition that took place August 2010 in the Visual Arts Building (VAB). Gaudets said she is still happy to have her work on display and plans to continue with her series after the student exhibition. Arts & Performance senior
Janan Siam is a video artist and for the student exhibition she will have a timebased art piece displayed on a projector. Siam said the inspiration for her work comes from her everyday experiences living in a metroplex. This is Siam’s first major art exhibition. Future plans include continuing studying the arts into graduate school and to continue showing
photo by Amanda Duke
“Jack-o-Lanterns” by Arts & Performance senior Jack Sheely currently featured at the 500x gallery in Dallas.
see 500X page 9
Political renaissance man Two passions meet one goal
Classes will introduce unique methods of dance
Jameshia Bankston Staff Writer jtb071000@utdallas.edu
With a guitar in one hand and a helping hand as the other, political science junior Haroon Hashmi integrates what he fell in love with as a young boy into his current career aspirations. “I love being in front of a crowd, I love the whole aspect of performing,” Hashmi said. Influenced by his mother Salma Hashmi, former mayor of Wesley Chapel, Florida in 2003 and 2004, and his father Dr. Hasan Hashmi, who served as a member of the Lincoln Society in the Republican party, Hashmi gained the courage to act on his own desires to represent the general public. “When I saw them doing what they did, helping people, I knew then that this was what I was meant to do,” Hashmi said. He currently serves as the Chairman of Student Affairs in UTD’s Student Government, and is a member of UTD’s FIJI chapter chartering committee. He’s also the Director of Public Relations at Texas General Hospital in Grand Prairie. He has worked with various local gubernatorial political figures like
Cultural forms of expression
Rebecca DeButts
Contributor news@utdmercury.com
photo by Brandon Higgins
Political science junior Haroon Hashimi follows his dreams of being on stage in both the musical and political worlds. Governor Rick Perry and Senator Kay Bailey Cornyn, and recently served as a city chair for Dallas in Senator
Hutchison’s gubernatorial campaign. While catering to his political career satisfies
Hashmi’s need to help others and serve his commu-
see HASHIMI page 10
Classes on West African dance and rapping will expand cultural offerings at UTD. Arts & Humanities professor Venus Reese said she wants to encourage her students to participate in West African Culture and will introduce a West African Dance course spring 2011. African dance is a culture form of movement used to articulate occasions and chronicle life. Reese said she wants this class to challenge her students to be comfortable with self expression and expression in a form of dance they may not feel comfortable with. “We have an African presence on campus, we have an African American presence on campus and we have a dance presence on campus,” Reese said. “My hope is that if we do offer a class that is directly tied into African culture, it could be a hub for connectedness.” The class will feature live drumming, which Reese said is an important element of African dance.
“I think that given all the cultures that UTD has, it would be good to have (this course). I’m sure that a lot of dancers will take it,” said political science sophomore Mimi Ghasseni. In addition to her new class, Reese, will host a master class with nationally renowned performer Tim’m West. Reese worked to bring West to UTD through her partnership with the Fahari Arts Institute, the South Dallas Culture Center and SUAAB West is a hip-hop artist, author and activist with three published books and degrees from Stanford, Duke and American University. West focuses primarily on sexuality and homophobia in hip hop culture. He has established himself as a literary and performance artist living and thriving with HIV. West’s class will be a combination of performance, video and lecture, students will also be given the opportunity to work with West. West will teach the master class, entitled “Keepin’ it Real: Hip Hop has Gone Gay” Oct. 22 in the University Theater and perform in the Underground Poetry Circus in the Hub Oct. 21. The master class is open to all students as well as the Dallas community.
Theater critics award performers for excellence Rebecca DeButts
Contributor news@utdmercury.com
Professor Fred Curchack and three UTD alumni were recently honored at the annual Dallas Fort Worth Theater Critic Forum (DFWTCF) Awards. Curchack is honored internationally for his work in theater and most recently, has been declared by DFWTCF a “renaissance theater artist” akin to Leonardo DaVinci, the famous artist from the Renaissance era. The Dallas Fort Worth Theater Critic Forum Awards are given annually by a network of journalists who focus on theater critics. Curchack has also recognized, along with the rest of the ensemble for his performance in the play “Endgame.”
Also recognized by DFWTCF were two of Curchack’s former students, UTD alumni Josh Glover and David Lozano. Glover is the founding Artistic Director of Upstart Productions, which received a great deal of notice for its second season. Their productions, “SubUrbia,” which Glover directed and “Talk Radio,” which he co-produced both received awards from DFWTCF. Among the awards Upstart Productions received were Outstanding Performance by an Actor and Outstanding Creative Contribution for “SubUrbia “and “Talk Radio.” “SubUrbia” was also among those honored with the Outstanding Ensemble award, which included another UTD alumna, Maryam Biag who has recently been given rave reviews by The DallasMorning
News for her show “Ban the Tal.” David Lozano is currently the artistic director of Cara Mia Theater Company. He was recognized by the Dallas Fort Worth Theater Critic Awards for Best Premier of a New Play in Dallas for his show, “Crystal City 1969,” which he co-wrote and co-produced. Curchack said that he is proud to have his former students show such empowerment and sense of integrity in their work. “So many of my former students are doing great work and I don’t pretend I have any responsibility for the good ones,” Curchack said. “I’m totally thrilled that three of my former students each got recognized also for the work they’ve done in the past year.”
photo by Christopher Wang
Professor Fred Curchack being filmed in front of his art. Curchack was likened to renaissance theater artist Leonardo DaVinci by the Dallas Fort Worth Theater Critic Forum for the 2010 awards.
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Life &Arts
October 18, 2010
9
A nice run of ‘All My Sons’ Jameshia Bankston Staff Writer jtb071000@utdallas.edu
In Arthur Miller’s play, “All My Sons,” a play centered around the Keller family, who’s portrayed as the “all-American family” but in reality hide and deny a deep sin, UTD’s theater students grabbed the attention of a moderate audience by filling the atmosphere with tenacious energy and a unwinding plot. Setting the tone for the rest of the show, the first scene opened with all of the characters on stage in a still frame, each with a different emotion expressed on their face. Suspenseful and melodramatic, this left the me with the question of what
OZSVATH
continued from page 1 in the country. Jewish deportations began in the Hungarian countryside and were stopped before they could reach the capital city of Budapest, where Ozsváth and her family lived. “President Roosevelt sent a letter of warning to the leader of Hungary against continued Jewish deportation,” Ozsváth said. “It was Roosevelt’s first and last intervention for the Jews.” Although more than sixty years have passed since the events of her childhood, Ozsváth said that she has never been able to forget her past. “It was the Nazi presence in Europe and the German
did all of it mean? Immediately after, two old men and a young man sit in lawn chairs telling jokes about each other and their neighbors, making the show comedic. Drawn in by a once happy and settled family and friends, the story progresses and the character’s humility become anger, their laughter turn to tears and guilt and the preceding dry humor become an indication of suppressed feelings. Kate Keller, played by biology freshman Teagan Batts, is a naive and hopeful mother, mourning the loss of her son who may or may not have died at war. The resentful son, played by business administration sophomore Brian Pappas, is
forced to choose between his relationship with his father and his mother’s heart. The closeness of the stage to the seats created an intimate setting, and because of the energy protruding from the stage, I remained on the edge of my seat throughout the entire show. My first glance of the stage I didn’t know what to expect of the show, the fallen tree, which served as a memorial for a dead son, could have been more intricate and clear as to what it actually was. Had I not known what the structure of a tree looked like and the miscellaneous apples surrounding it, I wouldn’t have known what it was. But by the second act of
the show, I found myself feeling as if I was in the backyard with the family. The dark, gloomy stage lighting and sound effects enhanced the mood of the scenes, and helped to create an eerie ambiance when the climax of the show came about. I don’t think anyone in the audience realized any imperfections on the stage by that time. As a turn of events and revelation, the show ended with a standing ovation by the audience. This means the theater students and directors at UTD did their job.
occupation of Hungary that have shaped my early emotional-intellectual development,” Ozsváth said. “I have never forgotten this experience.” When three years ago Ozsváth, who had long since established herself as a eminent scholar, writer and poet, was invited to write an article on her childhood, she could not stop writing. “I wrote about myself, and about our life under the Nazi and Communist regimes,” Ozsváth said. “Still, the writing of this article didn’t satisfy me; rather, it created a deeper desire in me to write more.” Ozsváth’s book reading took place Oct. 17. It was a part of the 2010 J Book Fair, a project sponsored by the Aaron Family
Jewish Community Center of Dallas, the Tycher Library, the UTD Ackerman Center for Holocaust Studies and the Dallas Jewish Historical Society. Rachelle Weiss Crane, organizer of the book fair, said “When the Danube Ran Red” is a perfect blend of Ozsváth’s historical knowledge and storytelling abilities. “While she tells the story in the first person, you also get background information based on her historical scholarship,” Crane said. Crane said that the book reading event featured a lecture by Ozsváth, a question and answer session, a reception and finally and a book sale and signing. While the book fair is a month long event, Sunday
featured only Ozsváth. “Each day features a different author,” Crane said. Joan Gremont is director of the Tycher library, Dallas’s public Jewish library. Gremont said a large audience attended Ozsváth’s reading. “I had a woman who took a class with Dr. Ozsváth in 1975 call me about event,” Gremont said. “I truly think that anybody who has ever taken a class with her was at the lecture.” The 2010 J Book fair will continue until Nov. 22. The fair features visiting authors who are either Jewish or have Jewish themes in their books. For more information, visit the Aaron Family Jewish Community Center of Dallas at www.jccdallas. org.
photo by Christopher Wang
All My Sons
9 / 10
Part of the cast from “All My Sons,” a student production that took place in October.
500X
continued from page 8 her work in galleries. Arts & Technology senior Brandon Higgins’ black and white photos from “No Parking” will also be on display. “No Parking” first premiered alongside Gaudet at the student exhibition in the VAB. The series was taken summer 2010 in downtown Austin. Higgins said his purpose was to capture and share his perspective of the live musical capitol of the world. The student exhibition at 500X gallery will be Higgins’ first major art show and he said
he is excited about this opportunity. “Jack-o-Lanterns” by Arts & Performance senior Jack Sheely was also selected for the student show. Sheely took a picture from the Internet and transformed it into his own art work. “In my works I like to explore the duality of a lost and redeemed sense of time, thought, value and memory, as well as distance and intimacy,” Sheely said. Sheely has had works featured in several showings in the UTD gallery but this will be his first major art gallery show. The exhibit will be on display until Oct. 30.
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October 18, 2010
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‘Funny Story’ lacks depth but is enjoyable John D. McCrary
16 year old going to a CEO-intraining high school and finds himself in the adult psych ward making friends with suicidals “It’s Kind of a Funny Story,” far more committed to their like its title, is a craft than him. Commentary movie with lots As Gilchrist of juicy details, deftly moves the it just decides to plot along, we get avoid telling them. a good look at Based on the book that tricky space of the same name between “it’s all by Ned Vizzini, in your head” and “Funny Story” is bona fide mediabout a teenage cal condition. boy who admits What we don’t himself into a get is a good look psych ward after at what’s going struggling with thoughts of on with the far more intersuicide. esting and far more troubled The movie opens with a characters played by both dream sequence that effec- immensely talented and soontively sets the tone for the to-be Hollywood powerhouses film. As the protagonist, Craig Zach Galifianakis and Emma Gilner, played by Keir Gilchrist, Roberts, both of whom perhas his attempted suicide inter- form what little is asked of rupted by his family, concerned them well. about the fate of his bike once Gilner acts as our innocuhe’s gone. ous guide through the war The film plays out much like zone that is a psych ward, but a wake, with the occasional provides little in terms of draguilty laugh you enjoy more matic punch. It’s Galifianakis than you normally would were that moves this movie out of it not for the circumstances. As the realm of light hearted teen far as psych ward fare goes, angst and into a world where this one sticks to the usual rou- people have real debilitating tine, while using some refresh- life changing problems, and ingly original tricks and some the only way to bear it is to well placed humor to freshen laugh out loud. the experience. Galifianakis also seeks to The plot centers around an prove the reasons he is the over-worked, paternally driven most in demand actor today, Contributor news@utdmercury.com
HASHIMI
continued from page 8 nity, another part of who he is was still missing. He’d always had an underlying aspiration that served as in indirect guidance in his cur-
rent projects. Inspired from when he sang lead and played guitar in a band comprised of himself and his older brothers as a child, Hashmi knew that music would always be a part of who he was.
photo courtesy of themoviemash.com
Actors Keir Gilchrist (left) as the protagonist Craig and Zach Galifianakis staring in the new book to movie film, “It’s Kind of a Funny Story.” but sadly is not asked by the light hearted script to show he could very well be the next Robin Williams. However, in a scene where his character gets his hands on an ice cream cone, all other characters gravitate towards him in a tangible display of the way he commands those around him as well as the audience’s attention. The talent of
the other is measured by how well they keep up with him, and everyone involved manages to play their parts with pitch perfect humor and light gravitas. Emma Roberts also reiterates the promise of her own potential as the scarred love interest who provides plenty of momentum but little punch. “It’s Kind of a Funny Story,”
while effectively light in the midst of some very heavy characters, never strays too far from its protagonist, and by extension never manages to move the audience into any kind of powerful dramatic territory. It does act as an easy viewing, humorous, escapist film and effectively leaves its audience feeling good by the time
it’s all said and done. It just manages to navigate its self created minefield without setting anything off, much to our disappointment. Well worth the trip, just don’t expect to leave the theater with anything more than a grin.
“I figured that I could do something that integrated my love for music with my current inclination to help others,” Hashmi said. He recently started Palladium Enterprises his own music productions
company who’s main focus is artist development and performance. He utilizes his resources and experiences as a performer to assist upcoming artists in developing their stage and performance per-
sona. His company’s next venture will be at the Dallas House of Blues which will benefit the flood relief project in Pakistan. While politicians can follow precedent examples
and create innovative public policies, they can also follow their passions and dreams and create “music.” Friend and cousin biology freshman Abraham Hashmi never doubted Hashmi’s potential to become all that.
Funny Story
7 / 10
the Mercury
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Sports
Common ground on foreign soil
October 18, 2010
Head start Jameshia Bankston Staff Writer jtb071000@utdallas.edu
photo by Amanda Duke
Business administration junior Sebastien Leitz at tennis practice. The tennis player left France for the United States with hopes of finding a less superficial surrounding which he says Dallas has.
French champ moves to Dallas for school Lauren Monsalve Contributor news@utdmercury.com
The men’s tennis team gained a European tennis champ this season. Business administration junior Sebastien Leitz is originally from Nimes, France where he established himself as a serious tennis player early on in life. Leitz said he chose to play his last season at UTD because of their excellent business program. “I have heard great things about the business program; I want to get my MBA here and perhaps
open a business in Dallas, it’s a great city,” said Leitz. In 2005 Leitz placed in the 11th International Gasperich Junior Open in France according to http:// www.tennis-gasperich.lu. Leitz said he played hours of tennis every day and rarely did anything else. He quit when he was 17, due to the hectic lifestyle it created. “One day everything is tennis and the next it was all over - I quit,” said Leitz. Leitz said he decided to play tennis again in college, but not as intensely. He then went to play for
Tyler Junior College and Florida Gulf Coast University (FGCU). “Tyler Junior College is the number one Junior College in the United States, in tennis,” said Leitz. FGCU plays division one tennis and Leitz said he thrived there. He hEhsaid he had a very comfortable position in Florida, with a private beach and housing on a private beach. He said he didn’t care for the people in Florida because they were like the people in France, too superficial. “I like the people here, they are friendly and sub-
stantial,” said Leitz. “Have you ever been to Dallas? It’s a great city,” Leitz said. “I like the team and the coach at UTD, they’re really cool; it’s a lot of fun playing with them,” Leitz said Leitz has favorably contributed to the team as recently as Oct. 4, 2010. He won his first match of the weekend against Austin College’s James Taylor with scores of 6-0 and 6-0 and again against Trinity’s Don Murray at 6-4, 6-0. Head coach Bryan Whitt said he has great hopes for Leitz and even hopes to play him on a national level.
11
In a seven-man race riddled with huge hills and sharp turns over a course of five miles, you never know what to expect. UTD’s cross country men’s and women’s teams have ran in four meets this year and no match can be compared to the other, said historical studies sophomore Daniel Ludwig. Ludwig placed first at the Sept. 11 meet at UT Tyler, winning the American Southwest Conference’s Runner of the Week honor. With a new coach for the men’s team and only two returning veterans for the women’s, there is a demand for more commitment from each runner to create the structured team intended. International political
economics sophomore Christine Celepak prefers the novice atmosphere. “There is a lot more accountability from each runner,” Celepak said. “It creates a good environment for us to build relationships with each other, it’s like a camaraderie.” Both teams practice at 7 a.m. four to six days a week with various drills and workouts to build endurance, which Cepelak said is the most important asset a cross country runner can have. Though practice is long and tiring, a cross country meet is a different atmosphere. The excitement of hearing the gun go off, the pushing and shoving between runners throughout the course and the adrenaline rush are especially intense Ludwig said. “But in spite of the competition, the relationship amongst athletes is one of the main things I love about running,” Ludwig said.
Soccer takes lead
photo by Ben Hawkins
Finance sophomore and midfielder Eric Pekkala drives the ball toward the goal. The next men’s soccer game will be in Austin Texas against Concordia University.
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October 18, 2010
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The First Clown
Comics Sudoku
by Laura-Jane Cunningham
The Story of My Life
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October18, 2010
by Pennyworth
Sudoku solutions online at utdmercury.com.
Math puzzle
Math Puzzle solutions online at www.utdmercury.com.
Instructions:
*Remember multiplication and division are performed before addition and subtraction.
+
/
+
+ /
/ 7
36
+ 62
+
-
+
Try to fill in the missing spaces using numbers 1-9 to complete the equations for every row and every column. Each number may only be used once.
8
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Stuck in my Head by Alison Kwong
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1 36
Workspace:
Losers and Geeks: Guide to Gaming with Your Girl
by V.A.X.
Sweet action, keep it going!
Whoo!!!
I think I’m getting it!
How the... I swear there was still like 30 more hours of content...
!!!
Winner
Be encouraging and supportive as it may take a while for her to learn to play. She probably didn’t spend half her life doing this. Unlike you, she was being productive.
But watch out. She’ll eventually master the game and her skills might soon rival yours. She might even play and beat your games without you.
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October 18, 2010
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