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Wednesday august 5, 2009
volume 90, no. 124 www.theshorthorn.com
since 1919 INDEX Your Day News Opinion Scene
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emotional Rescue
puBlIcAtIoN schEDulE
Mental Health Services attempts to destigmatize disorder issues.
scENE | pAgE 6
This is the last issue of The Shorthorn this summer. Check out our Back to School issue Aug. 18. We resume publishing four times a week Aug. 25. Go to www.theshorthorn.com for breaking news coverage.
stuDENt sErvIcEs
Many textbook rentals are ready, but few takers so far Students will be responsible for full used prices for items not returned by Dec. 21. By AlI MustANsIr The Shorthorn staff
The UTA Bookstore began renting books Monday during a slow sales period, but is still preparing for the program and answering students’ questions. Bookstore director Bill Coulter said that, as of 2:30 p.m. Tuesday,
UTA’s Baseball Son Rises Michael Choice prepares to take over as team leader amid a busy summer
nine textbooks were rented and 99 purchased. There were no rentals Monday. Coulter said few students have been in the store for books since the new semester is a few weeks away. UTA’s and UNT’s bookstores, run by Follett Higher Education Group, are the only ones in North Texas participating in the trial program. Coulter said he is trying to get a list of books available for rent online, installing three new registers for checkout and planning to place a
station on the second floor for rental applications, he said. “We got shelf tags [Monday] at noon,” Coulter said. “It is still in its infancy.” Coulter said several thousand students are on an e-mail list and will soon receive information about the rental program. The bookstore receives 20 to 30 phone calls per day from students inquiring about the program. Common questions concern book selection and the rental period’s length, he said.
Undeclared freshman Jasmine Jones rented her English book for about $25, which would have cost about $60. Rentals prices are 42.5 percent of a new one. To rent, students must be 18 years old and present a driver’s license, Mav ID and credit card, Coulter said. Jones said she found out about the rental program while looking for her books online Monday and is glad she doesn’t have to pay full price for something she is going to sell back at the end of the semester.
ReNTAls continues on page 3
fAcIlItIEs
ERC plaza complete, ready for fall semester
choIcE’s AccolADEs Named to the All-Tournament Team in 23 games played with: .350 batting average 13 runs scored 21 base hits 13 RBI 3 home runs
Additional building space brings whole bioengineering department under one roof.
Career accomplishments: • World Baseball Challenge Home Run Hitting Award • Current UTA record with a .396 batting average • 10th on UTA’s all-time home run list with 18 • Southland Conference Freshman of the Year in 2008 • UTA freshman record with a .376 batting average
By JohNAthAN sIlvEr The Shorthorn staff
After all the dust, drilling and detours, some of the Engineering Lab Building’s occupants appreciate their extra space. The third floor addition completed July 27 and lab equipment and furniture installation began. The lab building will be fully operational by Aug. 24, the first class day. Renovation costs totaled $22 million. The Engineering Research Complex’s plaza, on the south end of the lab building, completed Tuesday. The entire Bioengineering Department will now have room to fit in one building with the addition of 22,000 square feet. The new plaza, which replaced a busy street and sidewalks, has been well received, said Bioengineering Department chair Khosrow Behbehani. Bioengineering administrative
By ANNA KAtzKovA The Shorthorn staff
Starting as an unassuming freshman two years ago, junior outfielder Michael Choice is partway into the break before he takes the reins as the baseball team’s leader next season. While playing with the USA Baseball National Team on July 26, he was named to the All-Tournament Team with a .350 batting average, 13 runs scored, 21 base hits, 13 RBI and three homers in 23 games played. His home runs also earned him the World Baseball Challenge Home Run Hitting Award. “It felt good winning the award because I didn’t really expect it,” Choice said. “I guess the key role was staying focused.” Choice has also excelled at hitting during his time at the university, setting a school freshman record .376 batting average, earning Southland Conference Freshman of the Year in 2008, holding the current school record with a .396 batting average and ranking 10th on the school’s all-time home run list with 18. Good friend and former outfielder Andrew Kainer, who signed as a free agent with the Florida Marlins this summer, remembers Choice in his first semester. ChoiCe continues on page 3
“Renting is easier, I mean it’s not like you are going to do anything with it afterwards,” Jones said. Coulter said the number of available books started at 325 but has since increased to about 340. Not all core curriculum books are included in the list. Depending on the success of the program, most books could be available for rent in the future, he said. Rentals are due back Dec. 21. Students will be reminded by phone
PlAzA continues on page 3
ENgINEErINg rEsEArch coMplEX DAtEs engineering lab Building Completion date: July 27 (operational date: Aug. 24) official Ribbon Cutting Ceremony: Sept. 2 engineering Research Building Completion date: January 2011 The Shorthorn: Morganne Stewart
Junior outfielder Michael Choice played with the USA Baseball National Team this summer. During the 23 games played, Choice hit three homers that earned him the World Baseball Challenge Home Run Hitting Award.
engineering Research Complex Completion date: January 2011
spEcIAl EvENts cENtEr
New design improves energy efficiency, renderings show Plans may be presented to the struction in spring 2010. The UT System Board of ReUT System Board of Regents gents must approve all designs in November for approval. before the university can move By JAsoN BoyD The Shorthorn news editor
The university released updated concept renderings of its planned special events center late last week. While the renderings are not final examples of the center’s look and design, they do reflect administrators ongoing discussion with project architects at HKS, said Kristin Sullivan, Media Relations assistant vice president. The 190,000-square-foot center will cost $73 million and seat 6,500. The university begins con-
tAKE A looK For more photos of the Special Events Center visit www.theshorthorn.com
forward, she said. The next regents meeting is in August, but Sullivan said she doesn’t expect the designs to be ready for review by then. The likely date to submit designs for board review is during the Nov. 11 and 12 meetings, she said. In particular, the renderings illustrate administration’s desire to blend the exterior’s brick and stone with existing campus architecture, she said. Also, the exterior’s overhanging ceiling, as shown in the Courtesy art: HKS Inc./UT Arlington renderings, provide shade and energy efficiency, Sullivan said. The first renderings were re- Above: Project architects have been working with administrators on special events center renderleased in February. These are the second batch released to the pub- ings. The center is expected to seat 6,500 people. lic. Right: The special events center’s design is inJAsoN BoyD news-editor.shorthorn@uta.edu
tended to be energy efficient, for example by blocking out direct sunlight with an overhanging roof’s shade. Courtesy art: HKS Inc./UT Arlington