T h e
u n i v e r s i T y
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T e x a s
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a r l i n g T o n
Thursday april 2, 2009
volume 90, no. 93 www.theshorthorn.com
since 1919
Under the Needle
indeX
Pulse has advice on how to go about getting that first tattoo. puLSe | SeCtion B
Your Day World View Sports News
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ConStruCtion
Parking changes may reduce green space Some locals oppose UTA’s proposal to add spaces on top of greenery. By Sarah Lutz The Shorthorn staff
The university’s preliminary parking expansion plans
consider the long-term environmental issues, but some local residents and student environmentalists are concerned about the short-term plans. The plan consists of lot expansions and a new parking lot, both in the southern part
Computing and teChnoLogy
Ineffective server causes ‘Net, Web site to fail twice OIT fixed the glitch that caused students to lose access to UTA URLs. By duStin L. dangLi The Shorthorn staff
The Office of Information Technology said it has completely fixed errors that left visitors unable to access the university’s Web site, and related sites like MyMav, for several hours on Monday and Tuesday. OIT only partially corrected problems with the Domain Name Server on Monday and while working on it
42 and some of Lot 40 to add the special events center and parking garages. The expansions in the southern part of campus will accommodate parking until the last garage opens in 2012. Hall said the temporary parking expansion will allow
of campus, to give students a place to park when the university eliminates some lots on the east side of campus, said John Hall, Administration and Campus Operations vice president. The university will eliminate the Arlington Hall parking lot, lots 45 and
By Johnathan SiLver
The Classics Club revisited wars, blood lust, infidelity and petty gods in Homer’s The Odyssey for more than 15 hours Wednesday. The club hosted its annual Homerathon 7 a.m.10:30 p.m. on the University Center mall and sold Classics Club T-shirts and mugs. Nearly 60 spots of 15-minute recitations were filled by more than 25 peo-
Should the university add a parking lot and compromise green space that already exists? Answer online at
The ShorThorn .com
parking continues on page 3A
Tuesday, the servers malfunctioned again, said Suzanne Montague, OIT vice president and chief information officer. From 4:30 to 8 p.m. Monday and 4:30-6:30 p.m. Tuesday, students in residence halls and those trying to access the Internet wirelessly on campus lost all service. “We do not expect further difficulties,” she said. “Even though it appeared to be two separate incidents, it was a single problem that occurred over two days.” The Shorthorn: Meghan Williams
oiT continues on page 6A
Marsha Baylor and her husband, UTa alumnus Mike, make their final bids at a silent auction Tuesday in the Studio Arts Center. The auction was part of the annual glass sale.
Glass sale and auction showcases the works of glass art students, faculty
Homerathon journeys back to ancient Greece Contributor to The Shorthorn
What do you think?
A ‘Clear’ View of Glass Art
CampuS Life
The event included readings of the epic poem, “The Odyssey.”
for parking needs during the special events center’s construction, and green spaces can be added afterward. He said 26.5 percent of the university is designated for surface parking, and ac-
ple from the club, Texas Christian University classics students and faculty and students from nearby grade schools. Americans could learn from the way ancient Greeks acted, classical studies program director Charles Chiasson said. “In these hard economic times, people are running around like chickens with their heads cut off,” he said. “The Greeks experienced drought, relatively few natural resources, lived on rocky land, and poor peasants had to scratch a living HoMEr continues on page 6A
By CaroLine BaSiLe The Shorthorn staff
The Shorthorn: Meghan Williams
art graduate teaching assistant Matthew patterson smoothes a glass piece on a marver table Tuesday in the Studio Arts Center. Patterson and others demonstrated glass blowing techniques at the annual glass sale.
dining
UTA, Middle East universities to collaborate their programs
Flooding causes cafeteria evacuation
By Bryan BaStiBLe The Shorthorn staff
Liberal arts associate dean kimberly van noort recites part of a French translation of Homer’s “The Odyssey” for a small crowd Wednesday on the University Center mall. The University Classics Club presented the daylong recitation.
gLass continues on page 6A
internationaL eduCation
The university may also establish a Jordanian study abroad program.
The Shorthorn: Chris Hudson
The annual glass sale and auction For video coverage and on Wednesday gave a clear view of work and dedication to art. more photos, visit The sale, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., The ShorThorn .com featured works by glass art professor David Keens, students and visiting glass artists. During the sale, students performed four glass demonstrations for the public. A silent auction was open until 1 p.m. Items and prices at the sale varied from $2 small glass flowers to $150 vases. Works at the silent auction went up into the thousands in price. Proceeds from the sale and auction are divided so the artist receives half the money, and the rest goes to the glass studio, Keens said. He said more than 30 students participated in the annual show, which drew a steady crowd of students, faculty, staff and local residents. “It’s a hard thing to learn and practice. There’s a pretty steep learning curve,” he said. “Our students have worked so hard to do so well and it shows in their work here.” Keens said participation was optional but many jumped at the
The university is looking into collaboration with Jordanian universities after the Provost and the Office of International Education executive director visited the Middle East country last month. The university signed an agreement with Yarmouk University similar to
existing agreements with Hashemite University and Tafila Technical University. The agreement covers a variety of possible collaborations, including student and faculty exchange and research collaboration, Judy Young, OIE executive director, said. Under that general exchange, the schools can establish program agreements specific to what they want, she said. jordan continues on page 6A
Connection Café evacuated diners at 12:30 p.m. due to flooding, but opened an hour later Wednesday. Water began seeping from floor drains at noon due to food backing up in the drainage system, said David Albart, University Center operations director. It was the first time this kind of flooding happened in three to four years, he said. Dining Services Director Elizabeth Cheong said staff evacuated the cafeteria because it was slippery and, therefore, unsafe. She said diners who paid received refunds and diners already in the cafeteria received to-go
boxes for their food. The cafeteria continued service at first because the flooding seemed minor, Connection Café service manager Michael Holloman said. Visitors had to watch their step as they walked to get food because the flooding was uneven. Maintenance began working on the issue at about 12:20 p.m. Anthropology senior Andrea Russell said she had finished eating when she was, along with her friends, rudely evacuated. “They said, ‘Get up and get out,’ ” she said.
— Dustin L. Dangli