The Mercury 01/12 by The Mercury

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January 12, 2015

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

FOOTBALL AT UTD? Athletic dir. explains why the sport isn't likely to hit campus

Movies, music to look out for in 2015

PG 7

THE MERCURY | UTDMERCURY.COM

PG 9 UT SYSTEM NABS 4 STAR ADMIRAL

WHAT'S BELOW?

PLUS + Local film on slave trade shines light on issue // PG 6 UTD is boring, it's your fault // OPINION, PG 3

LOOP ROAD GETS AN UPGRADE

LIBRARY HOURS EXPANDED

YANG XI | MERCURY STAFF

Students can now use the McDermott Library from 8 a.m. Sunday until Friday at midnight. The library will have extended hours on Saturday from 8 a.m. to midnight. Comet cards will be needed for night access.

Student Government details spring initiatives including student discounts on toll tags, improvements in Wi-Fi, new flyer kiosks NIDHI GOTGI Mercury Staff

Improving library access and expanding the Pub's alcohol limit are among a number of projects Student Government concentrated on in the fall and will continue this spring. Extended Library Hours SG Vice President Nancy Fairbank said one of the most significant achievements of Student Government last semester was the extension of library hours. In effect as of Jan. 11, library hours increased by 35 percent, rendering the

space available to students from 8 a.m. Sunday to Friday at midnight, as well as remaining open from 8 a.m. to midnight on Saturdays. Students need to bring their Comet Card to the library at night since security measures similar to those at the residence halls will be added, Fairbank said. To publicize this change, SG will be hosting an event at the library on January 15th from 10 p.m. to midnight with several giveaways on each floor, including free coffee, T-shirts, power banks, and stress balls. A caricature artist will be on the fourth floor.

Admiral appointed UT System chancellor

REGULAR LIBRARY HOURS MONDAY - THURSDAY OPEN 24 HOURS FRIDAY CLOSE @ MIDNIGHT SATURDAY 8 AM - MIDNIGHT SUNDAY OPEN @ 8 AM

→ SEE SG, PAGE 4

UTD, Richardson begin expanding Loop Road, plan to finish by 2016 ESTEBAN BUSTILLOS Managing Editor

Bill McRaven was named the replacement for Francisco Cigarroa as the chancellor of the UT System on Jan. 5. As chancellor, McRaven, along with the Board of Regents, governs the overarching UT System, which is made up of nine academic institutions and six health care institutions. Cigarroa, who had been serving as chancellor since 2009, will return to UT Health Science Center at San Antonio, where he was president for nine years, to serve as the head of the institution’s pediatric transplant service. MCRAVEN “We were aware that getting Admiral McRaven to consider the UT System position might have presented a challenge, given the high demand nationally for his leadership,” Board of Regents Chairman Paul Foster said in a statement from

→ SEE MCRAVEN, PAGE 4

→ SEE LOOP, PAGE 4

Managing Editor

SG has also focused its efforts on improving campus Wi-Fi. Information Resources needed specifics about the issues students were facing with Wi-Fi, such as where the problems were centered, at what times, and on what devices they occurred. SG acquired this information through a comprehensive survey. “We did a campus-wide Wi-Fi survey in conjunction with Information Resources that was really successful,” Fairbank said. “We got a lot of feedback, and based off of that we can look forward to some changes in the next

semester.” Going forward, SG hopes to address the issue of students in the Plinth area using the Wi-Fi from the Student Services Building and the Student Union by installing an initial test router before the end of the spring semester, that will solely cater to the Plinth, Fairbank said. This router will collect information such as the average number of people using Wi-Fi there and at what times the traffic is heaviest. Fairbank predicts that 8 routers will be purchased for use around campus, but the statistics gathered by the test router and the survey

Road construction starts The city of Richardson, in partnership with the university, has started expanding Loop Road through lots A, B, C and D. Construction, which is being done by North Texas Contracting, is slated to be completed by the end of this year. The project will connect Loop Road from Parking Structure 3 through the parking lots to the Supplemental Utility Plant, and will also add another bridge by Lot R to allow for easier access into campus using Facilities Way. Edward Witkowski, a project engineer for the city of Richardson who is working on Loop Road, said in an email to The Mercury that the city and UTD began discussing the project in 2009. Voters approved it in 2010. Doug Tomlinson, Director of engineering and construction planning, said the project helps both the school and the city. It’s beneficial for both parties because it helps them alleviate traffic on Floyd Road, he said, and it helps the flow of traffic

ESTEBAN BUSTILLOS

Wi-Fi Improvement

MIGUEL PEREZ | EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

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JUST THE FACTS

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OPINION

JAN. 12, 2015 | THE MERCURY | UTDMERCURY.COM

Student apathy to blame for drab campus SAARA RAJA COMMENTARY

Reading the UTD Confessions 3.0 Facebook page, many of the posts about the university are unmistakably negative. Bashing the university occurs not only on Facebook, but also in several posts on other social media platforms such as Yik Yak, describing UTD as devoid of social opportunities due to its student-proclaimed characterization as a nerd school. This assertion is baseless considering the fact that the Student Union and Activities Advisory Board, or SUAAB, and other campus organizations are actively trying to create events with wider appeal. An example of this was last year’s homecoming dance. Students swiftly entered the warmth of the student union for the 2014 homecoming dance on the cold November night. The vision that greeted them as they traversed through the building could only be described as the most confusing yet brilliant conglomeration of themes imagined to date in the history of UTD. Elegant swing dancing, futuristic light sabers, high-energy disco moves and a college-student friendly version of highstakes gambling were juxtaposed in fine taste — four very different themes aimed to appeal to a variety of students. However, despite the diversity, the majority of students on campus did not set foot inside one of the university’s biggest traditions. According to Sereena John, executive chair of SUAAB, almost 700 people attended the dance. Though that may sound like a staggering number, out of the more than 23,000 students enrolled in fall 2014, only about 3 percent of the population attended the event. Given that attendance to other collegiate events is even lower, it indicates that there is a general lack of interest on campus for the majority of students. If the diversity of homecoming is not evidence enough, SUAAB and Meteor Theater have big plans for diversifying further for the upcoming semester. “We have Comic Con, so that people that do like playing video games, anime charac-

ters and things like that also get a chance to come to events and show what they love to do,” said SUAAB traditions chair Aradhana Bagaria. “So, we really like to have events that cater to every demographic.” With plenty of preexisting events and new opportunities for students to participate in, the environment of the campus cannot be blamed for the disinterest present at UTD. The unfortunate truth is that the majority of students do not involve themselves in campus life. Apathy

for tests and graduate for a degree. This notion is not meant to label all of these individuals as introverted; they may be incredibly social people among their own friends. The problem is that they bring almost nothing to campus life and graduate with almost an invisible presence. There are several common reasons given as to why this problem of apathy exists. Some blame the lack of a football team and believe the deficiency of Division I sports can hardly inspire school spirit.

and also hosted NCAA games, we had a very good turnout even with bad weather those nights.” The athletics department is also promoting student attendance at games by offering the Comet Cash Jackpot. At halftime of each game, a student’s name is randomly drawn from the entire list of enrolled students. If that student is present, the cash will be awarded; if not, the money rolls over to the next game. “Now it’s up over $2,000, and by the

MIGUEL PEREZ | EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

is inherent in many students and cannot be attributed to lack of opportunity. The level of campus involvement among UTD students is at two opposite levels. Students who are involved in organizations often exert themselves entirely, show UTD pride and volunteer at campus events. Apathetic people are not usually in campus-related organizations because the duties involved are many times too work intensive to do out of anything other than passion. The other students do not involve themselves. They come to classes, study

While sports is a major factor in university spirit, UTD’s teams make up for the lack of football both in tournament performance and in rising audience numbers. Associate Athletic Director Bruce Unrue said that attendance for all of the teams has been increasing over the last few years. “It all kind of started last year with basketball with the playoff games at home,” Unrue said. “We had some of our biggest crowds ever at those events and that’s kind of carried over to this year, and when the soccer team had the tournament here

end of basketball if no one wins it it’ll be up to $5,000,” Unrue said. “At least now people are paying attention at halftime to hear if their name gets announced, so that’s been one thing.” The sad part is that the athletics department has to incentivize students to attend sporting events for teams that are actually doing very well in their leagues. Incentives are offered to people to encourage them to do things that they find annoying or unimportant on a regular basis, such as when residential life and other organizations offer students the

opportunity to win electronics for completing satisfaction surveys. That sporting events can possibly be compared to dorm satisfaction surveys shows that the apathy on campus is a legitimate issue and should be addressed. Another possible reason for lack of student participation is the fact that UTD is a commuter school. Most students live in nearby suburbs and drive to campus on a daily basis. Also, many students who live on campus go back home each weekend and leave the university looking like a ghost town. If a student is not on campus on the weekend then he or she cannot take part in campus life during those days. Still, the allures of college life in America are prevalent throughout the nation. This is not a country in which the sole purpose of college is to educate. Universities in this nation serve the higher purpose of making students both intellectually and emotionally whole. Students who want to be a part of this college experience can make the effort to stay longer on campus even if they are commuters. It is an entirely personal choice and many commuters do choose to involve themselves on campus. Still, other people may argue that UTD is destined to have low involvement because it is not a liberal arts school or because many of the students enter on academic excellence scholarships and focus mainly on academics. If this argument had any merit, then the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, a very non-liberal arts and academically rigorous university, among other top universities, would have absolutely no social life, which is not true considering the cultural events, social protests and long held traditions found on such campuses. Our campus has been diagnosed with a sad case of indifference, but this can be remedied with a strong dose of passion. The university is currently growing in both infrastructure and credentials with the goal of attracting more high-achieving students to make UTD their academic home. With this rapid influx of interested students from across the nation and world, activity on campus is bound to increase. There will be an upward trend of students participating in events that they feel strongly about, voicing their opinions and making a mark on this campus.

Internet fame, celebrity important for culture TEJ GIDVANI COMMENTARY

The prospect of making money on the Internet has been around since it first became public domain, but only in the past decade have Internet fame and Internet celebrities become common. The magical thing about the Internet is that it allows anything the ability to become popular, from fads to memes.

The things that start on the Internet and gain fame eventually exist offline and become relevant to modern culture as a whole. Over the years we have seen this happening more. Most Internet fame and popularity belong to memes, sayings or anything that the collective body of Internet users rallies behind. Memes are concepts — images, phrases or jokes — that spread from person to person over the Web. They are usually created through the intentions of mimicry and mockery, but through that they rally a huge fol-

COMET COMMENTS

lowing and usually get ingrained as big parts of culture. For instance the troll face is an extremely popular image. This is a picture that was conceived on the Internet and stuck. Another image meme that has spread through the Web is the doge. This meme originated when a peculiar looking image of a Shiba Inu, a Japanese dog breed, was posted and the word dog was misspelled as doge. The image inspired people to make creative variations of the photo with silly words or phrases layered in the image.

Without the Internet, an aspect of culture as seemingly meaningless as this may have never come around. The ability to reference these things offline and have people understand is an example of how the Internet is shaping modern culture. In the case of both these memes as well as many others, not a lot of monetary profit, if any, is made. In other cases though, the payout for creating something that people of the Internet love can be extravagant. Last year, the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge was one of the larg-

est Internet fads. The Ice Bucket Challenge spread awareness about Lou Gehrig’s disease and raised more than $100 million for ALS research. If this campaign had been executed through some other means such as television, it may have received more viewership by typical demographics, but the nature of the Internet allowed people to participate, thereby sharing the experience with more people. Grumpy Cat is one of the most well-known memes. This meme originated when an owner of a cat with an underbite and feline

dwarfism posted its picture. Due to those physical conditions, the cat always looks like it is grumpy, therefore giving it the name Grumpy Cat. The popularity of this picture caused the cat to gain a following of fans that not only wanted more pictures, but actual merchandise, giving the owner more cash inflow. The Internet is increasingly shaping and molding our culture. Its creative nature has allowed popular ideas and creations to emerge from nothing and spread into modern life offline.

“What SG initiatives are most important to you?” Related to “Library hours expanded” on page 1

Tell us what SG initiatives matter to you and answer our poll at www.utdmercury.com.

“Internet is such an important resource right now. I feel the improved Wi-Fi is a great change as previously it was pretty difficult with the Wi-Fi problems.” Michael Bucag Biomedical engineering sophomore

“I face disconnections randomly, so the Wi-Fi improvement is important to me. I think the extension in library hours is great.”

Alicia Lavarn Biology and business administration junior

“The Wi-Fi improvement is an important change for me as it kept switching between CometNet and UTD Guest. Especially if you are in the middle of an online interview.” Priyanka Minghani Computer science graduate student

RESULTS FROM LAST ISSUE Do you think unauthorized immigrants seeking higher education should be granted temporary legal residency?

53% Yes, they can contribute to the economy.

22% Yes, but it should be contingent upon their performance in school.

20% No, because they are undocumented.

I don’t know enough about the issue.

I don’t care.

The online poll was open from Dec.1 to Jan. 11 and had 60 participants.

THE MERCURY | JAN. 12, 2015

NEWS

WHEN WILL THE CONSTRUCTION END?

UTDMERCURY.COM

NORTH MALL PROJECT

SU WALKWAY PROJECT

This second phase of the campus landscape enhancement project, headed by the Office of Facility Planning and Construction, consists of new foliage, a water feature, stone seat walls and new pedestrian walkways.

Construction crews are undertaking predrilling operations to set up piers that will support the roof of the new covered walkway along the east side of the Student Union.

ETA: OCTOBER 2015 → LOOP

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

throughout campus. Even though the project is taking place primarily on campus, the city is paying for most of the project, Tomlinson said. “The city is putting a bunch of the city’s bond money into this work,” he said. “They’re paying for a lot of it.” The city has contributed $2.7 million to the

→ SG

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will consolidate the decision. Mobile App The mobile app proposal, introduced last year as a convenient and user-friendly way to share campus-wide information, is making progress with the new chief information officer, David Crain. The app, recommended by the Technology Committee headed-by SG President Brooke Knudston in fall 2014, would allow users to find campus-related material. “Right now, if you go on the UT Dallas website on your phone, there is a mobile version. However it is far less accessible than a mobile app would be,” Fairbank said. “Many other campuses have a mobile application, and we’re supposed to be a leader in technology so it makes sense to have one of our own.” The app’s features include a news section that will provide construction updates and current events. Students will be able to follow the bus schedule and attain parking information. In addition, the business hours, menus and nutrition facts of the products of on-campus food choices will be available on the app. On it, the Comet Discount Program will show which off-campus vendors will offer discounts to students. Another aspect of the app is the virtual campus tour it offers and the search feature within the map section, which will allow for easier navigation around campus. Daily events, the Comet Calendar, and the academic calendar will be updated frequently. Emergency contacts and a directory, which will include faculty, staff and students, will be provided. Students will be able to reserve study rooms in the library and monitor their accounts through the app. Campus and building services will be derivable from the app, and students can also report maintenance issues. The app will also provide direct links to frequently visited websites such as the Student

→ MCRAVEN

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the UT System. “We were honored that he chose the UT System as the most important place where he could continue to serve his nation upon his pending retirement from a most distinguished military career.” McRaven, who is a four-star admiral in the U.S. Navy, spent 37 years as a SEAL, finishing his time in the armed forces as commander of the U.S. Special Operations Command. As part of

project, and the university will have added roughly another $1.5 million, he said. Part of that money was spent on renovations last summer as well. Sections of lots A and B will be cut off for most of the remaining semester, as will large parts of C and D when construction starts there during the summer. There will also be several spots in these lots that will be permanently cut off because of the road expansion. Parking will compensate for this with the recently reopened Lot Q and Parking Struc-

ture 3, according to Director of Parking and Administration Cris Aquino. Construction during the project will also cut off various sidewalks for different amounts of time, Tomlinson said. The sidewalk that runs in front of the police station will be open for the next few months until crews have finished milling and repaving lots A and B. The sidewalk that is located between lots A and B will be open only for the next few weeks until crews will have to cross that sidewalk to continue

Affairs page. “We’re a front runner of science and technology,” Knudston said. “We should be able to develop an app for our university. I have no doubt in my mind that we can definitely accomplish it and make it very successful.” SG’s priority is to approach the fee committee to appropriate funds for the development of the app as it already has approval from the administration. Previously, senators consulted Oohlala Mobile Inc. to develop and maintain an app for UTD, however, the new consensus is to have IR develop the app instead of a third party vendor. SG hopes that this will set the app’s design apart from those of the other UT System schools. “We want our app to be unique,” Knudston said. “The apps that they’ve created for other universities have been very cookie cutter, and I don’t think that’s UT Dallas. We have our own sense of community that should be brought out in the mobile app.”

Flyer Kiosks

Discounted Toll Tags SG is also trying to work with the North Texas Tollway Authority, or NTTA, to secure a student discount for toll tags because two of the three highways surrounding campus are toll roads. Communications Committee Chair Molly Vaughan initiated this project during a senate meeting in October. “We’re right next to the highway that has a toll tag access point,” Fairbank said. “So we’d really like to get discounted student rates.” Partnering with Student Affairs Committee Chair Katie Truesdale, Vaughan contacted Texas Christian University and Southern Methodist University about their discounted toll tag programs. By learning from their strategies in reaching an agreement with the NTTA, SG hopes to design a proposal that will secure the same benefit for UTD students. “Our timeline has been set to see this benefit come to fruition by this fall, if not next spring,” Vaughan said. “It’s definitely a long-term goal, and we just want to make sure it’s implemented right.”

his command, McRaven oversaw counterterrorism operations worldwide, including the raid on Osama bin Laden’s compound in 2011. He is a veteran of several military operations, including Desert Shield, Desert Storm, Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom. He has advised the president, secretary of defense, secretary of state and other U.S. leaders of defense issues. He worked routinely with both the Bush and Obama administrations during his time in the Navy. McRaven has also advised the heads of state in Afghanistan, Iraq, Jordan and Yemen on counter-

ETA: MARCH 2015

construction between the two lots. This may take anywhere from six to eight weeks, Tomlinson said. “I don’t know the exact date of transition,” he said. “We’ll have to see what the weather does, how fast they can get in there, how well it goes and if they run into any problems.” Facilities Management will shut down lots A and B during the early stages of summer to restripe them and do repairs to the pavement, which will be the biggest challenge of the project, Tomlinson said.

Long-Term Goals SG noticed that the only outdoor areas to advertise student organizations and services were on the clockwall and on the deck on the Plinth. So, senate chose to add three flyer kiosks to make communication more widespread around campus. These will be installed by late February at the Jindal School of Management chess plaza, directly across from Hoblitzelle Hall and on Rutford Avenue, close to the Science Learning Center. Ads still must be taken down once the event has occurred.

Another noteworthy project SG initiated is revamping the homecoming tailgate. Last year, it took place in a larger parking lot where people were able to bring their cars out. “We really want to make a long-lasting homecoming tradition that will be celebrated every year,” Fairbank said. “We had a large attendance (last year) even though it was particularly cold that weekend.” In addition to the change in location, SG has also tried to modify the tailgate by campaigning for a system similar to UT Austin’s, where Bring Your Own Beer, or BYOB, tailgates are allowed as long as certain safety measures and proper approval are in place. For example, groups attending the tailgate would need to formally register with the campus police and administration by filling out request forms. “I think that one thing that our campus lacks is a sense of spirit,” Fairbank said. “People right now feel that UT Dallas doesn’t have real tailgates. They have friends at other universities, and they compare our tailgates to theirs when they say ours aren’t as spirited.” Fairbank wrote a proposal to submit to the administration in early spring regarding alcohol on campus. If approved, BYOB tailgates on campus could be allowed. A corollary to the proposal also discusses the expansion on the drink limit in The Pub from two to four alcoholic beverages a day after 5 p.m.

A long-term project that may be handed over to the next president and vice president is fixing the discrepancy between the number of credits offered to International Baccalaureate students compared to their Advanced Placement counterparts. “We noticed in Student Government that IB students receive significantly less credit,” Fairbank said. “They weren’t receiving core credits and lab credits while their AP equivalents were.” SG, with the help of Undergraduate Dean of Students Andrew Blanchard, has asked all of the schools on campus to look into this issue and hopes to resolve it in the upcoming semesters. In addition, SG plans on phasing out the free blue book service by the end of this semester. What started as a marketing tool for SG has now become a burdensome expense due to the increase in enrollment. Last semester, SG depleted its $5000 yearly budget for blue books by October because of how quickly they were used up. “SG uses student fee money to provide blue books, but the benefit isn’t extended to all students,” Fairbank said. Senate decided that the burden of providing blue books should fall on the faculty who require students to buy them. With Vice President of Student Affairs Darralene Rachavong, and UTD President David Daniel, SG will transfer the responsibility to the various schools of undergraduate studies. SG has also requested that the Bookstore and Auxiliary Services set up another blue book and scantron vending machine in the Founders building by next fall to accommodate for students in that region of campus. The senate dealt with a broad range of issues on campus last semester, and its main aim in doing so was to tie up loose ends and ascertain progress. “I think if we’re able to follow through on all the projects we started in fall then I would consider it a successful year for Student Government,” Fairbank said.

terrorism policy. After graduating from Roosevelt High School in San Antonio, he went to UT Austin on an ROTC scholarship. He graduated in 1977 with a degree in journalism. After his time in college, McRaven earned his master’s degree from the Naval Postgraduate School. “I would be honored to have the opportunity to serve The University of Texas System and the people of Texas,” McRaven said in a statement. “My wife Georgeann and I are excited about returning home to our family and friends. I thank the Regents for their trust and confidence in my lead-

ership, and I look forward to this extraordinary responsibility with enthusiasm and gratitude.” McRaven will be touring UT system campuses later this semester, including a stop at UTD. “We’re looking forward to welcoming Chancellor McRaven to our campus in coming days, and to sharing the UT Dallas story with him,” UTD President David Daniel said in an email to The Mercury. “We look forward to helping him get to know our outstanding students and our highly qualified faculty and our hardworking staff. We’re also eager to hear his thoughts and impressions regarding our campus.”

Homecoming Tailgate

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NEWS

THE MERCURY | JAN. 12, 2015

Studying with a purpose

Behavioral brian sciences professor breaks down the science, study methods that make students most successful LINDA NGUYEN Mercury Staff

With a new year, comes a new semester and a new challenge for students to make those coveted A’s in their classes. As students, studying is a natural part of the lifestyle, but the reaction many students have to the thought of spending hours hunched over a textbook learning material for exams is likely not positive. In the process of racking up those study hours, students have attempted to find and use shortcuts or develop bad study habits that affect their studying as much as the time they spend actually learning and retaining information. “Memory is very abstract, very selective,” said James Bartlett, a professor in behavioral and brain sciences who teaches cognitive psychology. “Simply, we are not designed to have total recall about things that happened. We were designed to get the meaning out of experiences and to plan for the future as much as to remember the past.” He said one of the key things to keep in mind regarding memory is it doesn’t work like a camera or a recorder. In order to learn and remember better, students must find meaning in what they’re studying, rather than memorizing a list of unrelated facts. When it comes to studying, Bartlett said, it is important to learn the big idea and then learn the details in order to build a more complete picture using the big idea as the framework for learning the smaller details. “If you understand, then you know what are the important details and what are the trivial details you don’t need,” he said. “Without the understanding, you just have an infinity of details. There are too many to remember … (and) without the framework that your understanding gives you, you won’t be able to remember the details.” Besides misconceptions about memory, students often also have poor study habits such as passively reading their material. “One of the worst things you can do — the worst thing you could do is not study — but the next step up is to simply read over the material in a passive way,” Bartlett said. Being actively engaged in the material through utilizing the study aids built into most textbooks or to write and look through important concepts at the end of each chapter are some of the best ways to

YANG XI | MERCURY STAFF

Behavioral and brain sciences professor James Bartlett says the best way to retain information is to find meaning in the study material. Memorizing lists and trivial details usually doesn’t work in the long run.

retain information more efficiently. While sometimes it can be tempting to look at a question and within seconds look up the answer, Bartlett said, utilizing cognitive effort to remember is also a good way to process material, even if students don’t remember what they read right away. Listening to music with lyrics can also cause a distraction that can prevent students from actively being involved with the reading material they are studying. “It’s kind of like sitting in the back of the classroom,” Success Center coach Mary Kaye Adams said. “If you sit in the very back of the room, everything that everybody does between you and the professor is a distraction.” She said listening to lyrical music or watching TV

while studying introduces more interferences to what the brain is taking in. Listening to instrumental music or static white noise, however, is a more complex issue. “All else equal, I’d probably say silence is best, but we don’t live in a world where all else is equal,” Bartlett said. “If there’s noise in the hallway of your dorm room, partying going on, some quiet music or some sort of noise might help you from being distracted.” Adams cautioned that instrumental music, while better, does have a beat or rhythm that could become distracting to students as they study. The best gauge as to whether the music is helping or deterring studying, Bartlett said, is if the person

studying can remember the music after he or she is done. If the person can, it means the attention was divided between the lecture material and the music. Bartlett said another bad habit college students tend to have is their lack of sleep and reliance on caffeine. He said the use of caffeine to the point where students aren’t sleeping is detrimental to their retention because studies have shown sleep to be related to consolidation of information. “I would try, if you possibly can, to get the ordinary amount of sleep you normally get so your brain is functioning at its best when you study,” Bartlett said. “I realize we live in a real world, you might not have been doing the studying you needed to be doing all semester long. We all compromise with reality in one way or another.” Adams and Bartlett both said diet is important, especially the consumption of slow-burning carbohydrates, which include most fruits and nonstarchy vegetables, that keep students fueled longer than sugary foods. They also said one of the best habits students can develop is distributing studying to where they study a little each day. “Your fourth grade or your fifth grade teacher or whenever they started teaching you how to actually study probably told you don’t cram because you won’t retain,” he said. “That’s actually probably one of the best established facts in the entire field of memory research over 100 years.” It is also important for students to break up their study sessions so they aren’t sitting down for hours, Adams said. “Usually when we read, we retain what we read first and at the end, so if we read for several hours, we have a big gap there in the middle that we don’t recall,” she said. One of the first things Adams said students should do if they don’t get the grades they desire is to talk to their professors or TA to identify what they were missing. Bartlett said ultimately students should find some enjoyment in what they’re studying. “Don’t be too miserable,” he said. “Learning should be fun. I’m not saying it’s the most fun thing you could do, but I’m saying there should be a kind of fun aspect to it, and you’re going to learn more effectively if it’s feeling good at least some of the time that you’re hunched over that book.”

JAN. 12, 2015 | THE MERCURY | UTDMERCURY.COM

LIFE&ARTS

Local film highlights Aussie actress shines mystery surrounding in time travel drama human trafficking

SONY | COURTESY

Sarah Snook plays a multifaceted character in the sci-fi film based on a short story by Robert A. Heinlein.

“Predestination” offers standard plot but emotional performances MIGUEL PEREZ

COMMENTARY

MIGUEL PEREZ | EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

According to the SumAll Foundation, the global average price for a person in the modern slave trade is $90. PABLO ARAUZ Mercury Staff

Amber Stevens was just a normal girl who, like many teens, would sneak out of her parent’s house to find a good party. Her world is suddenly shrouded in violence when she’s kidnapped for eight days while her community searches for her. These true events formed the plot of “8 Days,” a film produced by Dallas-based After Eden Pictures. It premiered in September 2014 and will be shown in local theaters in the next few weeks for Human Trafficking Awareness Month. “I think this story is just so important to be told because not many people realize that things like this happen,” said Nicole Smolen, the lead actress in the film. Smolen plays the main part of Stevens, a 16-year-old middle

class girl who goes to a party where she gets drugged and sexually assaulted, then sold to human traffickers. Bill Holston, UTD alumnus and president of the Human Rights Initiative in Dallas, said human trafficking is the transportation of human beings against their will for illegal purposes. Essentially, he said, it’s an aspect of modern slavery. “It’s been said that there’s more slavery today than there was in the 19th century, and the statistics bear that out if you count all of the people that are being exploited in the labor market,” he said. While the problem is seemingly rampant in the country, statistics are muddy. One estimate by the U.S. State Department stated there might be 20 million victims to account for. Around the past year, 44,000 survivors have been identified.

PIN POSSIBLE

A report released in June 2014 by the State Department titled “Trafficking In Persons Report” bears the heavy facts of the issue. For one, there are several types of human trafficking and individual stories vary. It also says that sex slavery and prostitution are not the same because those who are trafficked are sold against their will, and one of the most vulnerable populations to sex slavery is the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community. Another common form of human trafficking is in the labor context, Holston said. Victims are promised a certain type of job in order to immigrate to the United States. Then, they’re forced into labor upon arrival and have their passports taken away to live as slaves because their ability to

→ SEE TRAFFIC, PAGE 8

Time travel in films is always a tricky ordeal. Unlike most scifi fare, these movies often play with our minds using paradoxical situations rather than striking us with visual and technical splendor. Sometimes, films let the plot stumble over its own contrived complexities. “Predestination” is no different, even a bit one-toned in its procession of looped, supposedly mind-bending plot twists. But, the real treat here is the dialogue-rich, emotional performances by Ethan Hawke and newcomer Sarah Snook. Hawke, simply known as the Bartender, plays the time-traveling agent tasked with stopping large-scale crimes before they happen. For most of the film, he’s stuck in a perpetual hunt for the Fizzle Bomber, a terrorist who plans to bomb thousands in ’70s New York City. On this final mission, the Bartender meets the Unmarried Mother (Snook), a transgender columnist who writes magazine confessionals, at the bar.

Betting the Unmarried Mother a full bottle of liquor in exchange for the most interesting story he’s ever heard, the Bartender listens as the columnist details his life story, beginning with his abandonment as an infant in an orphanage in 1945. At this point in his backstory, the Unmarried Mother is known as Jane, at the time identifying as a woman. The film devotes a good chunk of runtime to developing Snook’s character, with good reason too, considering Snook’s performance here is somewhat of a saving grace for the film. With a demeanor that so effortlessly expresses the resentment and anger that becomes central to the movie, Snook illuminates the film’s central theme. Adapted from a short story, “—All You Zombies—,” by Robert A. Heinlein, “Predestination” uses time travel in its traditional role as a way to highlight escapism and that desperation to use the past and future to avoid the present. Jane, who viewers eventually learn was born with female and male reproductive organs, spends most of her life feeling dissociated from what she craves most: love, family and acceptance. So much so, she eventually reaches a point where she convinces herself

no one can love her but herself. It was surprising to see how casually director pair Michael and Peter Spierig incorporates Jane’s intersex condition, using it as a device to further the story rather than an issue to address. It’s not a bad thing. Jane, who is forced to undergo a female to male transition after a pregnancy compromises her female reproductive organs, validates her fears of detachment when viewers learn her true purpose and origin. Some viewers might find the extended discourse between only two characters to be a little prolonged, even unnecessary, but the ending provides context. It makes this film — billed as a sci-fi thriller — unsettlingly poignant, almost heartbreaking, with no sense of redemption for the characters. It’s impossible to connect Jane’s story and the Bartender’s hunt for the Fizzle Bomber without spoiling the film, but rest assured the plot comes full circle like a snake eating it’s own tale, and despite its predictable scifi plot twists, “Predestination” is worthwhile if only for Jane/ John/The Unmarried Mother’s introspective finale.

Every issue, The Mercury’s craft connoisseurs will scour Pinterest and craft blogs in search of the best and worst DIY projects. Show us your results on social media using #pinpossible.

@utdmercury DIY Sharpie Mugs

LINDA NGUYEN

1. Draw your design or quote using the oil-based sharpie markers.

COMMENTARY

As a college student and as a journalist, I consume entirely too many calories drinking coffee and tea. I love drinking coffee and tea out of cute mugs, and my Instagram feed probably enjoys them as well. But, I cannot stomach paying $12 for one of Anthropologie’s adorable mugs. Plus, I can never find a mug that I absolutely love. So, one day while I was scrolling through my Pinterest feed, I came across a DIY tutorial for designing my own mugs. I was sold immediately. There was a small problem, however. There were many different variations and versions of these sharpie mugs, and I wasn’t sure which ones would produce lasting cups where the design would not rub off from washing. So the researcher in me devised a couple of experiments. The first question I wanted to test was whether oil-based sharpie markers were necessary or if normal colored sharpies could be used. The second question I had was whether it was necessary to oven bake the mugs once I was done.

2. Bake in the oven for 20 minutes at 200 degrees. Don’t forget to tear the paper price stickers off or they’ll melt to the bottom of the cup.

LINDA NGUYEN | MERCURY STAFF

The key to having designs stick to the mug is oil-based permanent markers — rather than regular permanent markers — and baking the mug.

WHAT YOU’LL NEED

white coffee mug

oil-based permanent markers

oven

Six mugs later, I came to the conclusion that yes, oil-based sharpie markers are necessary and yes, you should bake them in the oven to prevent the marker from rubbing off. This really isn’t a difficult project, but depending on if you used normal sharpie markers or didn’t bake the cup, the lasting results of your project could be very limited. It’s definitely a fun way to spend a couple hours and a great way to have unique-looking cups.

LIFE&ARTS

UTDMERCURY.COM

THE MERCURY | JAN. 12, 2015

MUSIC

WHAT’S COMING UP IN 2015 MIGUEL PEREZ ESTEBAN BUSTILLOS

B4.DA.$$ JOEY BADA$$ JAN. 20 New York hip-hop may have found a messiah in this young MC from Brooklyn, and his debut album (pronounced “Before the Money”) will be his first testament. With a slew of producers, including Statik Selektah, DJ Premier, Hit Boy and J Dilla set to cook up beats for the Jan. 20 release — which also happens to be Joey’s 20th birthday — look for this project to be an early bar for which all other rappers have to set themselves by in 2015.

WIKIMEDIA COMMONS | COURTESY

UNTITLED KANYE WEST TBD

UNTITLED KENDRICK LAMAR TBD

Most Kanye fans were giving up hope of seeing a surprise album drop as 2014 came to a close, but in true fashion, he released “Only One” on the brink of the new year. The single — a collaboration with Paul McCartney — is a beautifully poignant ballad that sees the respected rapper trading in the aggressive sound of his last release for a softer, more stripped down sound. Having become a father and a husband since Yeezus hit the world in 2013, the big question is how will family life influence Kanye’s next endeavor?

Critics and hip-hop heads alike fell in love with Kendrick Lamar’s sophomore LP, a concept album rife with rich narrative craftwork that harkened back to a bygone era of West Coast rap, and more than two years later, the public anxiously awaits the follow up to “good kid, m.A.A.d city.” The first single off of the yet-to-be-titled album, “i,” surprised listeners with its upbeat tone and positive message, and he performed a powerful untitled track with the help of Thundercat and Bilal on the Colbert Report in December.

T.V.

FRESH OFF THE BOAT FEB. 4 Based on chef Eddie Huang’s “Fresh Off the Boat: A Memoir,” the new ABC sitcom follows 11-year-old Eddie, played by Hudson Yang, as he tackles his family’s move from D.C.’s Chinatown to Orlando in the ’90s. Margaret Cho was the last Asian American to front a network show in “All-American Girl” in 1994, and that program was criticized heavily for its flimsy portrayal of Asian-American families. Hopefully, “Fresh Off the Boat” will have more finesse tackling race in suburban America.

BOOKS

ABC | COURTESY

GOD HELP THE CHILD TONI MORRISON APRIL

PARKS & RECREATION JAN. 13 Leslie Knope and the gang return for one last hoorah in the final season of “Parks and Recreation.” Since its second season in 2009, the show has been well received for its subtle, quirky approach to sitcom comedy and played a large part in catapulting Amy Poehler and Chris Pratt to “household name” status. The seventh season will presumably pick up with Leslie tackling triplets and her job running the Midwest sector of the National Parks Service.

American author Toni Morrison will release her 11th novel, “God Help the Child,” in the spring. The 83-year-old novelist, who is most well known for her magnum opus “Beloved,” is one of the most celebrated contemporary writer having won almost every literary award including the Nobel and the Pulitzer. No doubt the lit world will devour every word of this novel about how childhood trauma affects adulthood.

UNCHARTED 4: A THIEF’S END TBD

WIKIMEDIA COMMONS | COURTESY

THE AVENGERS: AGE OF ULTRON MAY 1 Marvel has taken comic book films where few thought they could go. They rack in hundreds of millions of dollars at the box office and consistently break sales records, but they’re all-around great films. “Age of Ultron” looks to be another step in that progression of acclaimed superhero fare. Robert Downey Jr., Chris Evans and Scarlett Johansson will reprise their roles, and James Spader stars as the titular Ultron.

INSIDE OUT JUNE 19

After a period of wild success from 2007 to 2010 that saw Pixar set the bar for animated films with stories including “Ratatouille,” “WALL-E” and “Up,” the animation studio hit a rut with subpar fare like “Cars 2” in following years. Its newest release, “Inside Out,” is geared to put them back on track with a story about a young girl navigating a new home with help from the anthropomorphized emotions living in her head.

The fourth installment in a hugely successful adventure series, “Uncharted 4” takes place several years after the last game with protagonist Nathan Drake going on a journey to uncover a historical conspiracy. With the second game in the series being widely considered one of the greatest video games of all time, “Uncharted 4” has a lot to live up to, but I don’t think Naughty Dog will disappoint.

NAUGHTY DOG | COURTESY

GAMING

STAR WARS: THE FORCE AWAKENS DEC. 18

FILM

Anybody who has blood running through their veins has already seen the trailer for the latest episode in this classic space opera. Not much more can be said about the anticipation that comes with this project. Director J.J. Abrams has the ability to either make or break the dreams of millions of fans around the world who have waited what seems to be a lifetime just to see a new tale of Jedis, lightsabers and starship battles on the silver screen once more. Carrie Fisher, Harrison Ford and Mark Hamill will all reprise their iconic roles.

WALT DISNEY STUDIOS | COURTESY

LIFE&ARTS

THE MERCURY | JAN. 12, 2015

UTDMERCURY.COM

Dull script weakens WWII story SHYAM VEDANTAM COMMENTARY

“Unbroken” tells the unbelievable true story of Louis Zamperini, an Olympic long distance runner who was captured by Japanese troops during World War II after his plane was shot down, in a surprisingly lackluster fashion. Adapted from the biography by Laura Hillenbrand of Louis Zamperini (Jack O’Connell), “Unbroken” is the third directorial effort by Angelina Jolie. As a young Italian during the Depression era, Zamperini was bullied. He acted out by stealing and drinking alcohol. In an effort to turn his life around, his brother trains him to be on the track team. Instead of running away from the cops, he runs in long distance marathons. Zamperini’s hard work and talent eventually pay off when he becomes an Olympic athlete who gets to run in the 5,000-meter race. He eventually enlists in the Air Force as a bombardier. His plane crashes into the Pacific Ocean, leaving Zamperini and two fellow soldiers, Phil (Domhnall Gleeson) and Mac (Finn Wittrock), stranded at sea in a life raft. Sharks, the sea, hunger and psychosis attack them. Finally, after a grueling 47 days at sea, they are rescued. Unfortunately, it’s by Japanese troops. Here, Zamperini must try to survive as a prisoner of war in a prison camp run by a sadistic officer known as The Bird (played by Japanese musician Miyavi). This makes for an amazing story that borders on being too unbelievable. Yet, “Unbroken” forsakes this inherent drama, going instead for a bland and

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CONTINUED FROM PAGE 6

leave is prohibited by the trafficker. The traffickers can be pimps, laborers and contractors in agriculture as well as manufacturing, Holston said. Public affairs senior Aysha Khan is a member of Ignite, a national group that empowers women with political ambitions and is the cofounder of the UTD chapter. While the group is not actively

unoriginal message about faith, determination and forgiveness. O’Connell gives a fine performance as Zamperini. He’s imbued the character with bravado, charm and unwavering determination. Unfortunately, he’s onedimensional. The performance is too respectful of Zamperini, who was alive during the production of the film but died in 2014. This characterization of Zamperini doesn’t include any weakness in fortitude or character. He’s too perfect, so it feels fake. This problem doesn’t seem to stem from O’Connell but from a one-note script. “Unbroken” is written by a platoon of writers (Joel and Ethan Coen, Richard LaGravenese and William Nicholson). The Coen brothers are known for their films keeping emotions at arm’s length, and this is largely the case in “Unbroken.” Somehow, the emotional depth is only filled to the level of unoriginal aphorisms — lines such as “a moment of pain is worth a lifetime of glory” and “if you can take it, you can make it” are delivered as if a new scripture has been unearthed. The Christ comparisons are laid on in a heavy-handed manner as well, and it makes the climax feel a little too on the nose. Furthermore, supporting characters aren’t given much to work with. Gleeson, who is given the most screen time and material to work with, is great. Gleeson and O’Connell have a natural chemistry that makes you believe they are brothers in arms. Jai Courtney and Garrett Hedlund are other brothers in arms, but aren’t given any material to use to flesh out their characters. This extends to Miyavi. He does something interesting with the character, which is written as the effeminate and psychotic villain stereotype. Miyavi finds a quirky angle to grab hold of. However, in the end, the villain doesn’t get beaten by cunning or wit but by witnessing

O’Connell withstand abuse, which undercuts his character entirely. This also speaks to Jolie’s pacing of the film. She’s turned it into one of Zamperini’s long distance marathons. Other than in the ocean scenes, the movie lacks any forward energy. At 137 minutes, it is a film that frequently allows audiences to check their watches. The film, though, is unquestionably gorgeous. From scenes in a bomber, the open sea, a mountain top and a racetrack, director of photography Roger Deakins gives this film scale, but Alexander Desplat’s score is unoriginal and force-feeds emotion into scenes. There’s no directorial flair here either.

Jolie’s fingerprint isn’t found anywhere on the celluloid. Almost every scene uses a fade out transition — it’s distracting even in the first act and downright bothersome in the third. Ultimately, Jolie’s supposedly inspirational film falls flat. The true story here keeps “Unbroken” from being a complete skip. There are some moving scenes of determination in the face of punishment, but since this interpretation of Zamperini doesn’t feel breakable, many of the scenes in “Unbroken” lose their heft.

holding an event for January, she said that Rolando Lopez, a former FBI agent, came to speak in November about the clandestine world of sex slavery. “I think the biggest thing I learned was that human trafficking is everywhere,” Khan said. “It’s in Dallas, it’s all over America and just because we don’t see it doesn’t mean it’s (not) happening.” Lopez told students about his experience with uncovering human trafficking operations, Khan said. He founded a nonprofit called Orphan Se-

cure that works with local and federal authorities to save children from human traffickers. He also brought to the lecture a survivor, who chose not to have her name revealed, Khan said. The survivor told students her story about how she thought she was just in a relationship with a man who ended up selling her in the sex trade. Now free from servitude, she has a job, goes to school and has a family. “It’s not like you always see in the movies, and the victims of human trafficking sometimes don’t

even know they’re being trafficked,” Khan said.

LEGENDARY PICTURES | COURTESY

Jack O’Connell’s performance as a bombardier in World War II is the highlight of “Unbroken,” which suffers from a script that overglorifies the protagonist and leaves secondary characters underdeveloped.

If you or someone you know is in a situation where your life is being threatened by human trafficking, call 911 or the Human Trafficking Resource Center at (888) 373-7888 or text “HELP” or “INFO” to 233733. For more information on Ignite, see the group’s Facebook page at “Ignite – UTD.” For more on Orphan Secure, go to the website at orphansecure.com, and for information on “8 Days,” see findamber.com.

Dance the night away

YANG XI | MERCURY STAFF

New and current students danced the night away at the Spring Kick-Off Dance Party on Jan. 9 in the Galaxy Rooms. Hosted by Intercultural Programs, the event featured hits from around the world.

UPCOMING EVENTS TEA TUESDAYS

HEALTHY VEGETARIAN MEALS

AMERICAN FOOTBALL AND THE SUPERBOWL -

Jan. 28, 3-4 PM, SSB 3.107

10 AM - 4 PM, Galerstein Women’s Center

Jan. 20, 2-3 PM, SSB 3.107

“SEX, BRAIN AND CULTURE”

iFRIEND PROGRAM AND MIXER

EMPOWER AND CONNECT WOMEN’S SERIES

Jan. 29, 7:30 PM, Jonsson Performance Hall

Feb. 6, 3-5 PM, SU Galaxy Rooms

Feb. 4, 5:30-8 PM, SU Galaxy Rooms

JAN. 12, 2015 | THE MERCURY | UTDMERCURY.COM

F AF ST Y UR

EM ILY

GR AM SI

ME R

SPORTS

PASSING ON THE PIGSKIN Athletic Director confirms: UTD is not interested in starting a football team in the near future, other UT system schools toil to start their own programs

ESTEBAN BUSTILLOS Managing Editor

College football may be the king of Texas sports. With millions of fans claiming allegiance to schools such as Texas and Texas A&M and tuning in on Saturdays to cheer on their teams, it’s easy to see how the game is so big. For the first time this year, the NCAA held the college football playoffs between the top four teams in the country, with the championship game played Jan. 12 at AT&T Stadium in Arlington between Oregon and Ohio State. Unfortunately for fans of UTD, the chances of seeing the Comets participating in such an event at the Division III level is slim, at least for the foreseeable future. Athletic Director Bill Pettit said the department is more focused on getting better at the sports they have for the time being. “Right now we’re extremely happy with where we are in Division III and in the American Southwest Conference,” he said. “Football is a major undertaking, and I would just think a lot of things would have to change before we even consider adding football at this time.” He said the athletic department currently lacks several key components necessary for the addition of a football team, such

as a strength and conditioning coach and the facilities needed to field a squad. The athletic department, founded in 1998, is one of the youngest departments in the school. Major milestones, such as winning a national championship in at least one sport, have yet to be accomplished, something Pettit said he would want to do before considering adding football. There hasn’t even been a discussion about how much it would cost to start a football program and a timeline on how long it could take, he said. Because of these reasons, Pettit said he doesn’t think football will come to UTD anytime soon. For other schools, however, the costs and challenges to starting a football team from scratch have not kept them from pursuing gridiron aspirations. UT Tyler, one of UTD’s rivals in the ASC, has been open to the possibility of starting a football program for several years. Howard Patterson, Tyler’s athletic director, said he has been asked when they will get a football team about once a week since he’s worked there. Football would help attract potential students to come to Tyler, Patterson said, even if they are not directly involved with the program. He said adding the sport could increase enrollment anywhere from 6-8 percent because it would attract people who want to watch their school play on the weekends. He also said it would add more discretionary funds for the school through state

reimbursements for the increase in tuition and student fees. The increase of students is where most of the money would come from with football, Patterson said. Most of the money would not be generated from ticket and memorabilia sales, he said. Along with that, he said it would help to improve campus life and possibly improve the donor base for the school. “There are people in this community that are very philanthropic, as there are in the Dallas area, people that are wonderful for our school and have helped us in a lot of ways, but there are other people out there that want to support athletics,” he said. “They don’t want money to go to a music building or a pharmacy college; they want to give their money to athletics. They want to see the athletic program grow at UT Tyler.” Despite these upsides, he said the school is still years away from starting a football program of its own. He said the Board of Regents does not want to increase tuition for students at this time despite student interest, something that has put a major hold on any ambitions the school might have to add on another team. Amy Carlton, commissioner of the ASC, said the process of adding a sport at a public campus in particular can be difficult

→ SEE FOOTBALL, PAGE 10

Senior captains lead the way Senior guards top team in scoring, grow as teammates, become friends over four year career for women’s basketball team

Madi Hess (left) Christina Brosnahan (center) and Amber Brown (right) have been playing together since their freshman year at UTD. Off the court they enjoy watching TV shows together such as “Grey’s Anatomy.” MICHAEL GORDON Mercury Staff

With less than three minutes left on the clock the women’s basketball team was down by double digits against sixth ranked UT Tyler. Senior guards Maddi Hess, Christina Brosnahan and Amber Brown banded together to devise a plan to grind out a win. “We got off to a really slow start, so I just told them our goal should be to be up by halftime, and we just took it one play at a time and slowed things down,” Hess said. “We played our game and stuck to the plan to get out of the hole.” The girls combined for 29 total points, accounting for over 50 percent of the team’s total offense. “The whole UT Tyler game, we had ups and downs, but there wasn’t one moment in that game when we weren’t working together. Even if we made a mistake, we still figured out how to come back as a team,” Brown said. The three seniors, who are also captains, are the spark that has initiated a promising season for the women’s basketball team. They lead the team in scoring, with Hess picking up 13.4 points a game.

Brown is the second leading scorer on the team with 9.9 points per game, while Brosnahan contributes a healthy 7.9 points a contest. After playing multiple seasons with one another, the trio is determined to make a lasting impression during their senior year. The growth of their bond is evident both on and off the court, Brosnahan said. “I think freshman year was just getting to know each other, and now we are like sisters. I just love seeing them everyday,” she said. Since their first season, the trio has come a long way, leading the team to three winning campaigns. They are determined to stay on track and make a deep run in the postseason. “In my sophomore year, we won a championship. So, we got a taste of what success feels like, and we knew how to get there. So, now there is no turning back,” Brosnahan said. Hess, Brown and Brosnahan each provide their own unique variation of leadership to the team. “For me, sometimes I am more outspoken, and I don’t say it so nice sometimes. In the Louisiana game, when things started going downhill, Christina and Amber brought me together,” Hess said.

Brosnahan and Brown approach leadership in a less vocal manner, relating to teammates through action. “I express leadership by providing nourishment to my teammates,” Brosnahan said. “If someone needs me I will be available.” Brown strives to lead by example, using her play and effort to inspire. “As far as in practice, I always try to be the one that is working the hardest and always pushing each other to make everyone better,” Brown said. The self-proclaimed “Big 3” said they can see the strides the team has made over the course of the year. “We can see improvements from each game,” Hess said. “I think the best thing is we are all working towards one goal and taking it game by game and that helps out a lot.” Practice has proven vital to the prosperity of the Comets this season. The team practices four hours a day during the season, doing everything from on-the-court workouts to weight training. This season, the team has emphasized a family atmosphere that lacked in the past, something the girls said has improved practice time together.

→ SEE SENIORS, PAGE 10

THE MERCURY | JAN. 12, 2015

→ SENIORS

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 9

“I actually enjoy going to practice now, where the first two years I dwelled on going to practice,” Hess said. “I’m happy to be a part of a positive environment.” The three seniors have developed a connection on the court, synthesizing each others strengths to provide a positive flow during the game.

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because of the additional committees that have to be dealt with beforehand. The process can be political when it comes to dealing with the Board of Regents, she said. “It’s political from that standpoint. Do they see the value of adding this sport?” she said. “Is it going to be to the detriment of other system campuses? … A lot of people have opinions. A lot of people have a lot of different feelings about football from past experiences … It’s a very emotional issue.” From the conference standpoint, she said, the biggest thing they have to do when it comes to getting a sport off the ground is scheduling. They usually like to have two to three years before the start date to work on getting the schedule ready for the school, she said. Carlton said the conference does not require schools to have stadiums on campus, but that doesn’t account for practice fields and the cost of renting out high school stadiums that might be accrued by a school. Although schools such as UT Tyler have had difficulty getting

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Since the girls came together in 2012, the Comets have experienced consistent success from year to year. “Ever since we have been together here, we have had 20-plus wins,” Brosnahan said. What began as an introduction as teammates evolved into a friendship off the court. “It’s really awesome to see how our friendship has come,” Hess said. When they’re not playing, the girls enjoy spending time together

watching shows such as “American Horror Story” and “Grey’s Anatomy.” They also meet up after class to study at each other’s apartments. When they travel for away games, the girls conduct bible study in their hotel rooms to get their mind right before tipoff. They said this type of friendship off the court has left a lasting impression. “We have become a family, especially this year with myself, Maddi and Amber as captains,” Brosnahan said. “With that as our sole purpose we are confident that the rest will fall into place.”

a program off the ground, others have been more successful. UT Permian Basin, located in Odessa, recently announced it is adding a football team that will start competition in the fall of 2016. Still, the process to get to this point for UTPB, a Division II school, has not been without its challenges. Steve Aicinena, UTPB’s athletic director, said the school had to raise $9.5 million within a year just to start up the program. Part of that money came from repurposing a student fee. He said it took about two years just to get to a starting point. Currently, UTPB is in the process of hiring a coaching staff, something that Aicinena said is time consuming. Along with that, the school has worked on improving its academic programs and increasing housing on campus in preparation for adding football. “It’s a journey that’s going to still take us quite a while,” he said. “We have quite a few people to hire, we have facilities to design as well. There are many challenges.” Adding the team is part of UTPB’s overall plan for growth, Aicinena said. He said UTPB’s goal is to have 8,000 students by 2020. The school currently has approximately 4,426. Adding football may make the school more attractive to students who would possibly pass it up

because of the lack of a program, he said. “The reality is, good, bad or indifferent, football is something that many, many students in Texas expect to have associated with the college that they attend,” he said. Despite the potential for growth seen by other schools, that same benefit is not necessarily presented to UTD. Many schools that add football at the Division III level are small, private institutions that are attempting to grow, Pettit said, a category that UTD does not fit in. “When you have 23,300 students and you’re growing by 9 percent every year, adding a handful of student athletes does not change anything as far as the university is run,” he said. Athletics at UTD is not an enrollment driver, he said, but is more of a way to bring a student body together. He also said it’s a good way to attract students with high academic standards who also happen to play sports. “You have extremely driven, well-focused students that typically do extremely well,” he said. “If you’re going to recruit kids, those are the kind of kids you want on campus. These just happen to play sports … it’s the perfect marriage between having a really good Division III program and a high academic program.”

SPORTS QUICK HITS

Esteban Bustillos

BASKETBALL TEAMS SUCCEED OVER BREAK The men’s and women’s basketball teams both had a busy holiday. The men have posted a 7-1 record since Dec. 4, with their only loss coming against Howard Payne. The women have also had a 7-1 record in that same time, with their only loss coming to Trinity.

SENIOR GUARD RACKS UP ACCOLADES Madi Hess, a senior guard and captain for the women’s basketball team, had a stellar performance the last few weeks. Hess, who averaged 18.8 points per game over a three game stretch during the break, was named the ASC Player of the Week on Jan. 5. Along with that, she nabbed a season high 23 points and posted career highs in rebounds (11) and assists (9) in the Comet’s Jan. 8 victory over East Texas Baptist University. With one more assist, Hess would have been the first player in program history to get a triple-double.

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JAN. 12, 2015| THE MERCURY

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The Christmas Graph Hibernation

by Emily Grams

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by Emily Grams

Life Lesson

by Tim Shirley

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