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Thursday December 9, 2010
Volume 92, No. 60 www.theshorthorn.com
Since 1919
Holiday shenanigans From seeing the ‘Santa Claus Vs. The Martians’ play to riding a slide made of ice, there is plenty to do this winter break. PULSE | SECTION B
TEXAS
UTA expects more budget cuts The university plans to return 2.5 percent of its state funding, while keeping top goals in mind. BY J.C. DERRICK The Shorthorn senior staff
Even as UTA prepares to return 2.5 percent of its state funding for
the current fiscal year, departments across campus are bracing for additional budget cuts for the coming biennium. The budget for fiscal year 2012-13 could include cuts of historic size as the Legislature faces an estimated shortfall of as much as $25 billion. The shortfall’s exact amount will
not be known until Susan Combs, Texas comptroller of public accounts, releases the state’s revenue report, which should be filed before the Legislature convenes Jan. 11 in Austin. University spokeswoman Kristin Sullivan said the university is in the process of preparing for multiple scenarios.
“Our senior leaders are looking at several contingency budget plans for the next biennium based on various possible funding outcomes in the legislative session,” she said via e-mail. “It’s important that we evaluate the options we may have to face in the months ahead.” Liberal Arts Dean Beth Wright
said keeping priorities in order is important when making budget plans. “It’s important always to have a clear sense of mission,” Wright said. “With the emerging Tier One competition, as well as huge growth in enrollment, we need to be thinking BUDGET continues on page 3
Purple Reign
SUSTAINABILITY
TCEQ forms $1.2M plan Proposed agreement with UTA would purchase four air quality testers to sit near gas sites. BY SARAH LUTZ The Shorthorn senior staff
The university and an environmental state agency have made steps to partner together on an air quality-monitoring project. The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality plans to give UTA $1.2 million to purchase four Automated Gas Chromatography samplers (AutoGCs.) The instruments will stay on the Barnett Shale near gas well sites for a year or more and continuously measure air quality. There are six others already operating, and TCEQ has yet to decide if one of the new monitors will sit at UTA’s gas well site, TCEQ spokeswoman Andrea Morrow said via e-mail. The TCEQ has AutoGCs in Houston, Dallas, El Paso, Corpus Christi and Odessa that collect 40-minute samples every hour and automatically analyze them on site according to its website. When a citizen makes a complaint about air quality at a gas well site, the TCEQ sends a representative to the site within 12 hours to take a sample for a short time period. This long-term type of monitoring is an improvement from the way the TCEQ previously made air collections, because it will collect data continuously for large periods of time, said Melanie Sattler, civil and environmental engineering associate professor. Sattler, who specializes in air quality, said the variation of pollutants emitted and meteorological conditions can seriously affect the picture painted by
The Shorthorn: Aisha Butt
Freshman forward Desherra Nwanguma falls to the ground as she struggles to grasp hold of the ball during the game against the TCU Horned Frogs Wednesday evening in Fort Worth at the Daniel-Meyer Coliseum. The team fell to 3-6 for the year while TCU improved to 5-4.
Mavericks get dominated by Horned Frogs in 81-39 Metroplex massacre Heading into Wednesday’s crosstown showdown against TCU, the Mavericks had won two of their last three, with the lone loss coming at the hands of unbeaten Arkansas last week. But the team experienced a setback Wednesday night. The Mavericks scored 11 points in the first half and were dominated by the Horned Frogs 81-39 in a game that puts the Mavericks back at square one. For full coverage of the Metroplex massacre, turn to page 6.
TCEQ continues on page 3
– Sam Morton
STUDENT SERVICES
Head coach Samantha Morrow gives the team a pep talk during a time-out in the second half of the game against the TCU Horned Frogs Wednesday evening in Fort Worth at the Daniel-Meyer Coliseum. The Mavs struggled to keep up with the fast-paced Horned Frogs who blew them away with an 81-39 victory.
ALSO INSIDE SPORTS Holiday Hoops Guide — Take a look at the men’s basketball team’s treacherous schedule over the winter break as we determine which games will be naughty or nice for the Mavericks. Movin’ Mavs Tournament — The Movin’ Mavs host a pair of top wheelchair basketball teams in a tournament this weekend while also playing to benefit injured military veterans. Southland Conference Standings — A complete list of the current SLC standings for men’s and women’s basketball along with upcoming games.
The Shorthorn: Aisha Butt
STUDENT LIFE
Graduating students Students receive finals relief struggle for tickets Martensen said she is stressed out about taking her finals next week. “I have a 10-page paper and extra credit assignments due this week,” Martensen said. “It is easy to get beBY NATALIA CONTRERAS hind when I have to balance school, The Shorthorn senior staff work and my personal life.” To help students loosen up a bit, Students stressed out about their finals can look forward to activities Campus Recreation is hosting Predesigned to help students relax and Exam Jam tonight in the Maverick blow off a little steam before next Activities Center. The Pre-Exam week. The University For the finals schedule, visit Jam will begin at THE SHORTHORN .com 5:30 p.m. in the Center will extend MAC Room 135. The its hours in Connection Cafe, host free bowling and event is free and open to all stubilliards and give free massages, dents, membership services coordimanicures and haircuts with some nator Lindsay Lookingbill said. “It is a one-hour class combinaactivities beginning today. Social work junior Tashia Mar- tion of kickboxing, Latin fusion and tensen takes 15 credit hours at UTA and three at Tarrant County College. FINALS continues on page 4
The university will offer events and extended hours for students to de-stress.
Seniors are asked to wait until Dec. 14 when leftover tickets will be available. BY ASHLEY BRADLEY The Shorthorn staff
A flier requesting graduation tickets hangs on a University Center billboard. Though 2,664 out of 4,330 students have already completed the ticket-claiming process and received their tickets for the fall commencement ceremony, some students are having problems. Each student is supposed to receive up to five tickets, but some students haven’t received
any. “Several other people and I didn’t get our mailings to be able to request our tickets,” business management senior Shannon Hartman said. “I just wish there was a provision for mistakes.” Hartman said she turned in her application for graduation in July, then received an e-mail from the university saying she would receive an e-mail and packet in the mail on Nov. 17 with instructions on how to download her tickets. She said she never received that second e-mail, or the packet. TICKETS continues on page 3
EXTENDED HOURS DURING FINALS WEEK THE PLAZA 8 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. MondayThursday 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Friday CONNECTION CAFE Late Night Breakfast 9:30-11 p.m. Monday and Tuesday BOWLING AND BILLIARDS Free Bowling and Billiards 9:30– 11:30 p.m. Monday and Tuesday Sponsored by Centennial Court apartments CENTRAL LIBRARY Open 24 hours – Saturday-Thursday