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Wednesday October 14, 2009

Volume 91, No. 30 www.theshorthorn.com

Since 1919 INDEX News Calendar Opinion Classifieds

2,3,6 2 4 5

Order in the Court

Association prepares students for the real world of practicing law. NEWS | PAGE 2

STUDENT ORGANIZATIONS

Community figures to hold equality discussion The GSA-sponsored talk will highlight author’s publications concerning the subject. BY JOHNATHAN SILVER The Shorthorn senior staff

A UTA professor and a local newspaper owner will join in today on a growing conversation about Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender equality. At the event, sponsored by UTA’s

Gay-Straight Alliance chapter, Douglas Klahr will speak about his book The Nature of Prejudice: Thoughts of a Gay, German-American, Jewish Professor. Also, Robert Moore will speak on his work titled “Civil Rights: Then and Now.” Moore is the publisher and owner of Dallas Voice, a weekly newspaper geared toward Dallas’ gay community. Although his concentration is architecture, assistant professor Klahr said his book was more of a personal

account on a social issue. His talk will focus on his childhood during the post-World War II era and the persecution of gays under Adolf Hitler’s Nazi Germany. Klahr said he would also talk about his coming-out during a time when the Holocaust and Nazism were a consistent conversation topic in his house. “It’s a pretty dark and dramatic presentation,” he said. GSA continues on page 3

PERFECT SPIRAL

WEATHER

Umbrella sales go up with the unceasing rain When the rain comes down, umbrellas go up. While unseasonably-wet weather resulted in campus-wide cancellations and postponements, the Maverick Market and UTA Bookstore are seeing an increase in umbrellas sales. The exact number of umbrellas sold over the last few weeks at the bookstore was unknown at press time, but bookstore personnel recently placed an order to fill a depleting display. “The small ones sell real fast,” said general merchandise coordinator Mariana Reyer. The bookstore sells umbrellas, ranging in price, size and colors reflecting Maverick pride, “... if you’re into the school spirit,” Reyer said.

The least expensive umbrella in stock on Tuesday cost $9.95 and didn’t have a university logo. The larger, branded umbrellas cost anywhere from $16 to $24. Bilingual education senior Maria Castruita purchased an umbrella from the bookstore last spring. “It’s been awhile, when the weather was like this,” she said. Cumulative rainfall totals for the Dallas-Fort Worth area have surpassed the normal precipitation levels through Oct. 13 by 2.37 inches. The National Weather Service forecasts a chance of rain through Wednesday, with clear conditions and highs returning to the mid-’70s on Thursday.

— Mark Bauer

FACULTY

Professor receives award for work in inorganic chemistry Dias and his team authored more than 140 papers and received grant from the NSF. BY VINOD SRINIVASAN The Shorthorn staff

A university professor was recognized by the American Chemical Society for his body of work specializing in synthetic inorganic chemistry. Chemistry professor Rasika Dias received the American Chemical Society Southwest Regional Award. The Dallas-Fort Worth section of the ACS was able to nominate Dias for the award after he won the Wilfred T. Doherty Award in September, which recognizes the Metroplex’s premiere inorganic chemists. According to an ACS report, Dias and his group have authored more than 140 papers and received numerous grants from sources like the National Science Foundation and the Welch Foundation. Dias said he is thankful for the national recognition for his body of work. “It is very humbling and surprising at the same time to be recognized by your colleagues,” he said. He said that a bulk of the credit must go to his team and graduate students that worked with him. “The award is given to me but mostly represents all the hard work that my groups have done over the years,” Dias said. Dias specializes in the creation of catalysts, which he compared to a car factory where an expert, or catalyst, takes raw parts and puts everything together creating the final product. “I like making things by creat-

ing these catalysts that help create useful materials from cheap materials in an efficient way,” he said. Dias said he also worked to create light absorbing and emitting materials, which can be found in watches, and to create chemicals that help disinfect water. Prashanth Ramesh, material science graduate student, who has worked with Dias for more than a year, said he is worthy of the recognition. “He has always deserved it, and I am glad to be part of the group and gaining valuable experience under him,” Ramesh said. David Smith, ACS Southwest Regional Meeting awards and publications chair, said the award is competitive and he was impressed with Dias’s work. “He is an extremely productive scientist and it is remarkable that a school that is not as well known as UTA received this award when it generally goes to professors at larger schools such as UT or Texas A&M,” Smith said. Dias said he was particularly happy because the award would bring attention to the university’s aspirations of becoming Tier One, or a nationally-recognized research institution. “Awards like this will help outsiders and prospective students notice UTA,” Dias said. “It lets people know that we can compete in the big leagues with places like UT and Rice.” The official presentation of the award will take place during the Southwest Regional Meeting in El Paso on Nov. 4-7. VINOD SRINIVASAN news-editor.shorthorn@uta.edu

The Shorthorn: Rasy Ran

Biology senior Emmanuel Obeng-Mensah tosses the football to architecture sophomore Emeka Nnaji, not pictured, Tuesday in front of the University Center. Obeng-Mensah, a native from Kumasi, Ghana, carries a football with him and throws it around almost every day with Nnaji.

“Awards like this will help outsiders and prospective students notice UTA.” Rasika Dias

chemistry professor

SAFETY

Night Out attempts to curb crime Event approaches raising ing graduate student, said the prevention groups make her feel safe on awareness of issues through free food, sanitizer and music. campus. BY NICOLE HINES The Shorthorn staff

UTA Police “threw campus crime a going away party” celebrating National Night Out on Tuesday in the University Center Palo Duro Lounge, said crime prevention officer Ron Cook. Groups came together from 6 to 8 p.m. to provide the campus with information about programs designed to keep the university safe. Amruta Khot, electrical engineer-

“The experience is too good, and the people are too nice,” Khot said. “It’s beyond what I expected. I don’t feel threatened or scared. If I feel so, then I call an escort whenever I feel lonely or when I’m alone.” Atalo Araujo, Sam Houston High School sophomore, said the event made him feel comfortable with the campus. “I’ve been wanting to come here since a long time ago,” Araujo said. “It looks like this is a pretty safe university.”

Araujo is with Upward Bound, which is part of the TRIO Programs to help certain individuals enter college and graduate. Through Upward Bound, Arlington and Sam Houston high schools students attended the event. The local band Escaping Gravity, whose bass player is UTA officer Andy Davis, provided music. Police captain Jay Tillerson said he hoped the event would create a relationship between police and the university community. “This is one of our core values, NIGHT continues on page 6

The Shorthorn: Stephanie Goddard

Chemistry professor Rasika Dias won the American Chemical Society Southwest Regional Award.

Page 2

Thursday, October 14, 2009

THE SHORTHORN

CALENDAR Calendar submissions must be made by 4 p.m. two days prior to run date. To enter your event, call 817-272-3661 or log on to www.theshorthorn.com/calendar

TODAY 50% chance of storms • High 88 °F • Low 70°F

The Hermanns Lecture Series: All Day. For information visit www.uta.edu/ english or contact Roxanna Latifi at 817-272-6107 or roxanna@uta.edu. Engineering Ethics Seminar: 7-8 a.m., 100 Nedderman Hall. Price is $20. For information contact Anthony Nagy at 817-274-4297 or Iggienagy@att.net. GRADFest ’09: 10 a.m.-3 p.m., University Center. Free. For information contact Office of Graduate Studies at 817-272-2688 or gradservices@uta. edu. Mindful Moments: 12:15 p.m., 235 Business Building. Free. For information contact Marie Bannister at 817-272-2771 or bannister@uta.edu. TechnoScholar-Introduction to Adobe Illustrator: 2-4 p.m., Ransom Hall TBA. Free to the UTA community but has limited seating. For information contact UT Arlington Library. Selected 2D Works: 2-6 p.m., Santa Fe Station. Free. For information contact Christina Graves at 817-272-5988. UT Arlington Fort Worth Center Alumni Board Meeting: 4-6 p.m., Santa Fe Station. Free. For information contact Megan Topham at 817-272-5988. $2 Movie - Ghostbusters: 5:30-8 p.m., the Planetarium. Tickets are $2. For information contact the Planetarium at 817-272-1183 or planetarium@ uta.edu.

PERSONAVACTION by Thea Blesener

CORRECTIONS Tuesday’s calendar should have stated the Strut for a Cause Fashion Show will take place at 7:15 p.m. Wednesday in the Kalpana Chawla Hall courtyard. Wednesday’s story, “El Niño to bring more seasonal rain to Arlington,” misstated rain totals for the months of September and October. While the area weather is more wet than usual, all cumulative totals in the story should have started on Jan. 1 and stated the rain amount through Oct. 11 was 32.8 inches.

News Front Desk ......................... 817-272-3661 News after 5 p.m........................ 817-272-3205 Advertising ................................. 817-272-3188 Fax ............................................. 817-272-5009 UC Lower Level Box 19038, Arlington, TX 76019 Editor in Chief ............................ Marissa Hall editor.shorthorn@uta.edu Managing Editor .......................... Mark Bauer

Moot court is in session

A DOUBLE SHOT OF RAIN

Law students are prepping for upcoming competitions in the future and make my first year of law school a bit easier,” The Moot Court Association Smith said, “I have learned a lot undergraduate members are pre- of cases.” She said she spends about one paring to argue Supreme Court cases at the law-student level for hour each week working on her a tournament at Texas Wesleyan arguments outside of the time spent at the group practices. Law School later this month. Moot Court is a simulation Association members meet to of an appellate court. While the practice every week on Saturday, presented cases are not real, Tuesday and Thursday. Students are preparing for the students use real court cases to support their arguments, said Oct. 31 tournament on a case Charles Knerr, Moot Court As- that involves a 15-year-old with his third criminal conviction, sociation adviser. The American Collegiate uncovered during the investigaMoot Court Association chooses tion of another crime. The arguone case for the students to argue ments’ focus is the constitutionality of a high-cost per academic year. surveillance device Jeffery Nevarez, used in the investiMoot Court AssociTOURNAMENTS gation. ation president and Oct. 30-31 Local TourDuring the English senior, said nament-Texas Wesleyan practice session Wesleyan is one Law School-Fort Worth held Oct. 10, memof the better tourbers presented naments because Nov. 6-7 Southwestern their prepared there is local supRegional Tournamentcases before a video port from attorneys Texas Tech Universitycamera. and retired judges Lubbock This was the who come because first time the camof the undergraduJan. 15-16 ACMA 2010 era was used. The ate students’ level National Tournamentassociation started of work. Florida International filming Saturday Nevarez said University College of practice to have a after competing at Law-Miami, Fla. visual aid when crione of his first Westiquing members’ leyan tournaments, orating skills, Nea defense attorney varez said. approached him and his mother. Members not orating act as “One of the [tournament] judges was impressed with my judges. They interrupt the preargument,” he said. “She told my senter, who is role playing as a mother that she would write a lawyer, to ask questions that a judge may ask at the tournarecommendation ment, Nevarez said. letter.” “Although the He said the club HOW TO GET case is moot, if feels teaches life skills like I am arguing needed in any busiINVOLVED before a real Suness or school, like The Moot Court Assopreme Court,” he how to take a large ciation is accepting new said. packet of informamembers. There are no The top 64 tion and break it fees or charges to join teams are invited down to an oral arthe organization. For to the national gument. more information about tournament based “The experijoining, contact Presion their regional ence is something dent Jeffery Nevarez tournament scores. an undergraduate techlaw@beatthebar. UTA has won the doesn’t normally com or adviser Charles national tournahave,” Nevarez said. Knerr crknerr@uta. ment once, Knerr “It really reaffirms edu. said. that this is what I In 2004, Anwant to do.” drew Stubblefield Economics and Mark Melton transfer student Samuel Angueira said doing sec- students at the university won ond year law student work is a the national tournament, according to the American Col“piece of cake.” “It will show you if you have legiate Moot Court Association the stamina to stay in when they Web site. Knerr said that Stubblefield try to derail you,” he said. is in his third year of law school Moot Court is the second-year law student focus because first- and Melton is a tax attorney in year students focus on classes Dallas. and third-year students focus on internships, said Isabelle Smith, history pre-law junior. LATAISHA JACKSON news-editor.shorthorn@uta.edu “I hope it’s going to benefit me BY LATAISHA JACKSON The Shorthorn staff

“The experience is something an undergraduate doesn’t normally have. It really reaffirms that this is what I want to do.”

managing-editor.shorthorn@uta.edu News Editor ................................. Jason Boyd news-editor.shorthorn@uta.edu Assistant News Editor .................. Sarah Lutz assistant-news.shorthorn@uta.edu Design Editor ..........................Shawn Johnson design-editor.shorthorn@uta.edu Copy Desk Chief .......................Anna Katzkova copydesk-editor.shorthorn@uta.edu

The Shorthorn: Jacob Adkisson

Biology pre-med junior Kayla Simpson walks through the University Center mall on Tuesday evening shielding herself from the evening’s showers. Students, faculty and staff can purchase umbrellas on campus at either the Maverick Market or the UTA Bookstore.

TRADITIONS

POLICE REPORT

Two tentative dates for Bed Races negotiated

This is a part of the daily activity log produced by the university’s Police Department. To report a criminal incident on campus, call 817-272-3381.

Three weeks after Bed Races was initially postponed due to rain, EXCEL Campus Activities and the Campus Recreation Department have two tentative dates for the event’s rescheduling. Angie Mack, EXCEL Campus Traditions director, said talks between EXCEL and Campus Recreation began Wednesday and two tentative dates were discovered. Mack wouldn’t say the tentative dates because EXCEL is working to ensure there are no event conflicts before deciding, she said. One obstacle is to make sure the location, Maverick Stadium, isn’t being used on a potential date. “We have a lot of other things going on for us, and we don’t want to have conflicts with our other events on campus,” Mack said. “But we’ve made progress.” Amid the postponements, students are still on standby for the event. Mack said questions about the event have been coming in frequently. Students and competitors will be notified when the entities come to agreement on the date. Bed Races is an annual event featuring teams that race down the Maverick Stadium field, competing for the fastest time. Amenities and festivities change year-by-year based on the event’s theme. This year it is The Running of the Beds.

MONDAY Disturbance Officers investigated a report of a fight at 7:34 p.m. at the Central Library. A student stated two people approached him and tried to start a fight, but no physical contact was made. Theft Officers issued two citations, theft under $50 and criminal trespass, to a student at 5:01 p.m. at the 7-Eleven, 600 S. Center St. A clerk told police that the individual took a box off the shelf and left without paying for it. Accident- Hit and Run A student reported someone struck her vehicle and left without providing insurance information at 2:15 p.m. in Lot 49, 1101 Cooper St. The case is still active. Theft A student reported his bicycle was stolen over the weekend at Arlington Hall. He called police at 5:45 p.m. and informed them of the location. The case is open. FRIDAY Criminal Mischief or Vandalism Officers investigated damages reported to the Trinity House’s gate arm at 3 p.m. The case is active.

For a crime map, visit

Jeffery Nevarez,

Moot Court Association president

Scene Editor .......................... Dustin L. Dangli features-editor.shorthorn@uta.edu Opinion Editor........................ ........Cohe Bolin opinion-editor.shorthorn@uta.edu Photo Editor .........................Andrew Buckley photo-editor.shorthorn@uta.edu Online Editor ...................... Jennifer Cudmore online-editor.shorthorn@uta.edu Webmaster ........................... Troy Buchwalter

— Andrew Plock webmaster.shorthorn@uta.edu Student Ad Manager ....................... Mike Love admanager@shorthorn.uta.edu Marketing Manager .................... Kevin Green Production Manager................ Robert Harper

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THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT ARLINGTON 91ST YEAR, © THE SHORTHORN 2009 All rights reserved. All content is the property of The Shorthorn and may not be reproduced, published or retransmitted in any form without written permission from UTA Student Publications. The Shorthorn is the student newspaper of the University of Texas at Arlington and is published in

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the UTA Office of Student Publications. Opinions expressed in The Shorthorn are not necessarily those of the university administration.

Wednesday, October 14, 2009

Page 3

The ShorThorn

texas

Rep. Marc Veasey will discuss health care Author of several house bills regarding health care will present pros and cons on the hot button topic and other issues. By Bryan BastiBle The Shorthorn senior staff

Rep. Marc Veasey, D-Fort Worth, will speak about health care among other things at noon Wednesday in 25 University Hall. A Q-and-A segment will follow his lecture, which is hosted by the UTA chapter of Pi Sigma Alpha, the National Political Science Honor Society. The free event will also include refreshments. Veasey’s district is adjacent to Arlington and includes parts of Tarrant County, including Fort Worth, Forest Hill and Everman. “We want every student at UTA to be there,” said society Vice President Cody Ward. “The student has to know what the government is doing because it affects your life in some way.” Society member Jason Naumann said that anyone who is not up-to-date with the news on health care, needs to take any opportunity for education. “So they’ll know what to do when it’s polling time and be able to walk in there and make the right decision,” he said. Political science junior Bhavik Pradipkumar plans to attend. “I’m always open to anyone’s opinion,” he said. In the last state legislative session, Veasey wrote some bills regarding higher education and health. “We wanted a representative in the area whose policies are going to affect UTA students,” Ward said. He said Veasey is an “up-and-coming legislator” who is relatively new and students will be able to relate to him. Veasey’s positions before becoming an elected

veasey has authored the followinG Bills from the last state leGislature: House Bill 380 “Relating to tuition and fees charged to employees of public instituRep. Marc Veasey, tions of higher education and D-Fort Worth a spouse, child, or dependent of those employees.” HB 1502 “Relating to tuition exemptions at public institutions of higher education for dependents of certain military personnel deployed in combat zones.” HB 2190 “Relating to an adult diabetes education program in certain county hospital systems and hospital districts.”

Source: Texas Legislature Online

official were working at Polytechnic High School in Fort Worth and the Star-Telegram. Veasey is from Tarrant County and lived in Fort Worth for most of his life. He graduated from Arlington Heights High School in Fort Worth and Texas Wesleyan University with a degree in Mass Communications. Ward said that Veasey will also give his perspective on the upcoming gubernatorial election. In the future, the honor society plans to have a Republican representative to come speak some time this semester also, Ward said. Naumann said he trusts the society’s intuition in selecting lecturers. “Usually the speakers at the meetings are insightful,” he said. Bryan BastiBle news-editor.shorthorn@mavs.uta.edu

Health bill clears hurdle with support from Snowe the associated Press

WASHINGTON — Historic legislation to expand U.S. health care and control costs won its first Republican supporter Tuesday and cleared a key Senate hurdle, a double-barreled triumph that propelled President Barack Obama’s signature issue toward votes this fall in both houses of Congress. “When history calls, history calls,” said Maine Republican Olympia Snowe, whose declaration of support ended weeks of suspense and provided the only drama of a 14-9 vote in the Senate Finance Committee. With her decision, the 62-year-old lawmaker bucked her own leadership on the most high-profile issue of the year in Congress, and gave the drive to remake health care at least a hint of the bipartisanship that Obama seeks. At the White House, Obama called the events “a critical milestone” toward remaking the nation’s health care system. He praised Snowe as well as Sen. Max Baucus, D-Mont., chairman of the committee, and declared, “We are going to get this done.” There were fresh challenges. Within minutes of the vote, labor unions and large business organizations both demanded changes in the bill, which was an attempt at a middle-of-the-road measure fashioned by the committee under Baucus’ leadership. Still, nearly nine months after the president pledged in his Inaugural Address to tackle health care, legislation to expand coverage to millions who lack it has now advanced further than President Bill Clinton’s ill-fated effort more than a decade ago — or any other attempt in more than a generation. The next move in the Senate is up to Majority Leader Harry Reid, whose office said the full Senate would begin debate on

GSA

fine Print

continued from page 1

Shankar Gomathi Balasubramanian, electrical engineering grad student, sorts through university housing brochure folders Tuesday at the University Center. Balasubramanian went through more than 300, designating misprints due to color or streaking problems and sending the affected back for reprints.

The Shorthorn: Rasy Ran

student Governance

Alliance President Joshua Little said because National Coming-Out Day was Sunday, he wanted to extend on the celebration by maintaining awareness about LGBT rights. At the talk, Little will begin the lecture with a reading of a fellow alliance members’ coming-out story and end the program with the speakers answering about five audience questions for about 10 minutes each. The event is scheduled for noon. Klahr gave the same presentation two years ago at the Central Library. GSA adviser John Hillas said a large crowd attended when Klahr spoke and today’s gathering in the University Center Rosebud Theatre won’t be a modest one. “They’ve done a great job of spreading awareness about the group’s existence and bringing people to meetings,” he said. Klahr said he will also draw a line between the Nazi persecution of gays and the Matthew Shepard case. Shepard was a University of Wyoming student targeted for being gay and was subsequently kidnapped, robbed, tortured, tied to a fence and left. He died later in a Colorado hospital from head injuries. Homophobia is a more acceptable form of prejudice than any other expressed opposition, Klahr said. “It shows the potential for anyone to be a murderer based on prejudice, and it’s frightening,” he said. “Because gay people are still getting murdered for being gay, giving this talk again is necessary.” Equal rights campaigns have sprung out across the country including a National Equality March on Sunday held on Capitol Hill, in Washington, D.C. Johnathan silver news-editor.shorthorn@uta.edu

Alumna removes sponsorship of sustainability resolution after extensive amendments The amended resolution that first would have required The Shorthorn to go online only was removed from Student Congress after the author withdrew her name. Although the resolution did not die, no further action can be taken. Before her authorship was removed, the resolution was scheduled to come up for a vote by the general body Tuesday. Bess Alvarez, former SC vice president and alumna, wrote three sustainability-related resolutions including Resolution 09-15 “Mavs Go Green and use Web 2.0,” which originally intended for The Shorthorn to stop printing daily and encouraged The Shorthorn to use Web 2.0 more.

the issue the week of Oct. 26. Nominally, Reid must first blend the bill that cleared during the day with a version that passed earlier in the Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee. But in reality, the majority leader — with the participation of the White House — has a virtual free hand in fashioning a measure to wind up gaining the 60 votes needed to overcome a threatened Republican filibuster. “The bottom line here is we need a final bill, a merged bill, that gets 60 votes,” Baucus said. “Our goal is to pass health care reform not just talk about it.” Reid’s most politically sensitive decision revolves around proposals for the federal government to sell insurance in competition with private industry. The Senate bill approved in committee during the day omits the provision, while the one passed earlier includes it and many House Democrats support it as well. In general, bills moving toward floor votes in both houses would require most Americans to purchase insurance, provide federal subsidies to help those of lower incomes afford coverage and give small businesses help in defraying the cost of coverage for their workers. The measures would bar insurance companies from denying coverage on the basis of pre-existing medical conditions, and for the first time limit their ability to charge higher premiums on the basis of age or family size. Expanded coverage would be paid for by cutting hundreds of billions of dollars from future Medicare payments to health care providers. Each house also envisions higher taxes — an income tax surcharge on million-dollar wage-earners in the case of the House, and a new excise levy on insurance companies selling high-cost policies in the case of the Senate Finance Committee bill.

Last week the Community Affairs committee amended the resolution. It struck out the part stating The Shorthorn no longer print on a daily basis and changed words from “reprinting” to “printing.” “I understand why the Community Affairs committee made their decisions and I respect them,” Alvarez said. “Their research must have demonstrated a need to amend the resolution.” She said she removed her name last week because she felt the original intention of the resolution was lost after the changes. “In short, I do not have any plans at this time,” she said. Community Affairs committee co-

chair Jamilah James said after the committee’s work and research, she considers the time spent on the resolution a part of the job. “I completely understand why Bess remover her authorship, because it took the action out,” she said. Marissa Hall, The Shorthorn editor in chief, said she is relieved the original version of the resolution didn’t pass. “What happened is best for the university and The Shorthorn readers,” she said. “It’s our job to inform the community and be a forum for them, and we wouldn’t be able to do that without a print edition.”

—Bryan Bastible

about opinion Cohe Bolin, editor opinion-editor.shorthorn@uta.edu Opinion is published Wednesday and Friday. Page 4

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We’re number One!

remember The Shorthorn invites students, university employees and alumni to submit guest columns to the Opinion page. Wednesday, October 14, 2009

all crimes are created Equal

Arlington eats the most fast food in the nation, according to Men’s Health magazine. Arlington needs to go on a diet. We need more fruits, vegetables and less fast food with tons of calories. The city’s residents love fast food. A lot. What’s not to love? it’s convenient, and not having to cook full meals for yourself or for a family frees up time. Try to avoid fast food whenever possible and when that isn’t an option, some fastfood chains offer healthier alternatives, realizing the trend toward healthier living isn’t going away. Use these options if possible, it will improve how you feel and how your body performs. Trying to maintain a healthy lifestyle while in college is tough with little time to decide what to eat, let alone what healthier alternatives are available. Due to Arlington’s passion for fast food, it tops the list of citEditorial ies with people who rounduP dine the most at fastThe issue: food establishments, Arlington has the largaccording to Men’s est usage of fast food magazine. Health restaurants per capita, according to Men’s Out of the entire Health magazine. country, Arlington We suggest: was selected based on Take care of your health the number of fastnow. Utilize farmers food restaurants per markets and grocery stores that stock capita, percentage of healthier food and people who visit fastspeak out for healthier food places and those choices on campus. who consume fast food seven or more times a month. Of course, in some instances, it is much less expensive to eat fast food. Working all day to make dinner is much more time-consuming and a lot more work than stopping to grab some fast food on the way home. Many don’t want to search for all the ingredients to make their grandmother’s homemade recipes for dinners, pies, casseroles, when a lot of those ingredients are scarce. On the other hand, fast food has been proven bad if eaten on a regular basis. it will affect your waistline and your health. The use of high-fructose corn syrup is prevalent in fast food. This rise in consumption of which has been linked to diabetes and other health problems. A survey is being taken on campus asking if there is interest in different choices in the eateries that are available now. The survey is available online a www. college-survey.com/uta/. Use this chance to voice your opinion about what dining options are available and to suggest alternative, healthier choices. So go and voice your opinion in the survey, and maybe we will soon have the option of more healthier choices. – The Shorthorn editorial board consists of Marissa Hall, Mark Bauer, Dustin L. Dangli, Jason Boyd and Cohe Bolin

discombobulation by Houston Hardaway

Since 1919

The Shorthorn: Thea Blesener

Labeling certain offenses as hate crimes is attempting to legislate emotion

There are other concerns regarddefense appropriations bill made it through congress with ing the logical inconsistency of hate a rider attached, which is how crime legislation. it’s far too broad. Labeling crimes all ridiculous legislation gets passed. That legislation is an addition to as hate crimes is meaningless. So many crimes are fueled by hate federal hate crime laws, extending that have nothing to do with protection against hate crimes to ethnicity or social grouping. homosexuals. Should men who sleep with “The provision would broaden other men’s wives, or women the current definition of federal hate who sleep with other womcrimes to include attacks based on en’s husbands be protected gender, sexual orientation, gender under hate crime laws? i’m identity or disability. it would also sure most cuckolds feel a create a new federal crime to cover deep, seething hatred for the attacks against U.S. military personother man in his woman’s life nel because of their service,” accordand vice versa. ing to an article in The Washington Justin sHarP And how does one deterPost. mine empirically that a crime The problem here isn’t that federal hate crime laws now extend to ho- was motivated by a specific hatred? if mosexuals and androgynous folks. The a black person kills a white person and problem is that hate crime laws should not the detectives find a copy of Malcolm X and the DVD of Amistad in the suspect’s exist and should never have existed. The idea that the reason for a crime apartment, shouldn’t it, by necessity, be makes a crime more or less severe flies in classified as a hate crime? Second, there are already laws against the legal code. By this reasoning, all crimes should the crimes to which these excess penalties have categories of penalties based on apply. Assault is already illegal. Homicide the motivation of the offender. Robbery is already illegal. And hatred for the varishould now be okay as long as the assail- ous people groups already plays a part in the legal system; it’s called motive and it is ant is poor and hungry. one of the ways in which police and prosObviously, laws don’t work this way.

ecutors build a case for the likelihood of a defendant’s guilt. Third, these provisions blatantly extend unequal protections to some people and not others. That’s clearly discrimination. The idea that killing non-minorities is any less abhorrent than killing minorities is repugnant and absurd. it stems from the preposterous notion that only white, heterosexual males are capable of being racist or bigoted — somehow, everyone else’s hatred is justified. Finally, you can’t legislate against thoughts and emotions any more than conservatives can legislate morality, which is why sodomy laws have been held unconstitutional. The minute we start differentiating crimes into categories based on thoughts and emotions is the minute we start making thoughts and emotions illegal. By the reasoning inherent in this class of federal laws it should be illegal to have a racist or hateful thought; an Orwellian nightmare if there ever was one. Perhaps, instead of creating harsher penalties for crimes against only certain types of people, we should simply increase the penalties for these crimes in a way that applies to everyone equally.

— Justin Sharp is a staff columnist for The Shorthorn and journalism senior

When to Double Down

Gambling has its place, and it isn’t in government

f an American president decided to double-dog dare a dangerous foreign power to a showdown in the streets, many Americans might see it as a very cool move … something a movie president played by Bruce Willis might do … but most Americans would wonder if the president was out of his or her ever-loving mind. The main function of government is not to gamble with the physical and social lives of its people, but to defend and preserve them. Especially in America, people expect government to be functionally — not politically — conservative. in stark contrast, a business cannot survive without taking risks from the beginning to the end, and Americans want it that way. We want a new movie, a new channel, a new Web site. There aren’t enough new items on the menu of our favorite fast-food joint. The 2010 model had better not look too much like the 2009 or few will want it, even if it is newer. Anyone who starts a business is staring a grim fact in the face: odds are that it will fail. From the start, a business is a gamble. Businesses that do succeed, do so by researching how the business is best done by

Editor-in-chiEf Marissa Hall E-mail editor.shorthorn@uta.edu

When budgets are tight, the riskier, less others and by looking for new ways to do conservative programs stay and faculty may the same business. Competition is risk intensive. if a com- be trimmed away in order to continue the mercial enterprise sticks too closely to the valuable output of the more mainstream tried-and-true ways, a company that suc- degrees and graduates. But for any school, private or public, to move society and cessfully tries something new science forward, the speculative areas will flank them and move bring the innovation. ahead. The cautious products of higher UTA is a strange, mutant education help maintain past progcreature from both worlds to ress. Edgier, more progressive classes, some extent. it is an organ instructors and graduates stimulate of the state of Texas, but the the forward momentum that brings university must also compete positive change. with other schools, public and Without the support of alumni, private, in Texas and out. schools idle at best, or at worst, deteriPrivate investment is a cliff HalE orate and bring down the overall level gamble. of the entire community of humanity. For the educated and successful, there is a profound, tangible invest- As students take advantage of the school to ment that can have a distinct thrill, if not further their own future achievements — quite like that in Las Vegas, and a signifi- which, in turn, boost others — they might cant return, but not so much a tangible or consider the day when they can leverage their investments in themselves by contribfinancial one. Those who have been enriched by col- uting to the achievements of others coming lege often give back by contributing into behind them. the infrastructure of schools, and in grants and scholarships for students and faculty. There is a high rate of charitable contribu— Cliff Hale is a staff columnist at The tion from alumni from most schools, but Shorthorn and interdisciplinary studies in hard economic times, that may taper off. junior

The Shorthorn is the official student newspaper of the University of Texas at Arlington and is published four times weekly during fall and spring semesters, and twice weekly during the summer sessions. Unsigned editorials are the opinion of thE Shorthorn Editorial Board and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of individual student writers or editors,

Shorthorn advisers or university administration. lEttErS should be limited to 300 words. They may be edited for space, spelling, grammar and malicious or libelous statements. Letters must be the original work of the writer and must be signed. For identification purposes, letters also must include the writer’s full name, address and telephone number, although the address and tele-

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Wednesday, October 14, 2009

Page 5

ANNOUNCEMENTS

EMPLOYMENT

HOUSING

MERCHANDISE

EGGÊ DONATION

MEDICAL LVN needed “PRN” occupational health settingSouth Arlington, nights, 5p-5a. Shifts available: Mon-Thurs-some Fridays. Email inquiries/ resumes to lisa@asilcorp.com

APARTMENTS LARGE 2 BDRM/1BATH, 4-PLEX for lease, on campus, newly remodeled, washer/dryer connection, ceiling fan, downstairs unit, excellent condition. $625/mo. 817690-5848

HOMEÊ ELECTRONICS SALE!! LG 50Ó FLATSCREEN model 50pc5d; 7 months old; $880 OBO; Call Luisa @ 401-3684783 for more info

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PAID EGG DONORS for up to 9 donations Expenses. N/ smokers, ages 18-29, SAT>1100/ ACT>24GPA>3.0 info@eggdonorcenter.com

EMPLOYMENT CHILDCARE EARLY CHILDHOOD ED. MAJORS- P/ T & F/ T Toddler and preschool teachers needed. Experience Preferred. Call to set up interview. (817)417-8955 GENERAL SURVEY TAKERS NEEDED: Make $5-$25 per survey. GetPaidToThink.com. STUDENTPAYOUTS. COM Paid Survey Takers needed in Arlington. 100% FREE to join. Click on Surveys. TRIM BRANCHES ON OUR TREES you need a chainsaw. pay $65 contact: Mrs. Hollister (972) 660 1722 THE SHORTHORN is currently accepting applications for the following positions for the Fall Semester; ï Advertising Sales Rep

OFFICE/CLERICAL ADMIN ASST. This position involves helping the ofﬁce manager with Purchase Orders, Invoicing and customer relations. Exporting/ Logistics experience is an advantage. Strong writing communicaiton skills is a must. Please fax resumes to (817) 887-1904 or email them to afs3120@yahoo. com. Located 10 minutes from UTA! SALES/CUSTOMERÊ SERVICE MARKETING DEVELOPMENT ASSISTAN SEEKING CREATIVE WEBSITE AND CATALOGUE PRODUCER. GOOD ON PHOTO SHOT, MARKETING FLIER. PART TIME OR FULL TIME ARE BOTH AVAILABLE. BILINGUAL IS PLUS. Please e-mail to Robert@durableusa.com, including software comprehension. (972) 670-8285

Get a job description and an application TODAY! Student Publications Dept. University Center, lower level. All are paid positions for UTA students. For more information call (817) 272-3188 HOSPITALITY/SERVICE BARTENDER APPRENTICE wanted $$$$$$$$$$$$ Showdown (817)-233-5430 !BARTENDING! $250/ DAY potential No experience nec Training provided age 18+.ok 1-800-965-6520 x.137 MEDICAL MOTIVATED PERSON Seeking a career in dentistry with a highly esthetic dental practice, experience appreciated but not necessary. Contact Mark at Susan Hollar, DDS (817) 261-3392

TAKE OVER MY LEASE $200 reward, @ Johnson Creek Crossing. 1 of 2 bed/bath Apt. Call Luisa 401-368-4783 CENTER CHASE LOFT APTS. Live close, Sleep late, Walk to class. $399 one bedroom loft. $99 total move-in. 201 E. Third St. Arlington Tx 76010 (817) 277-1533 info@centerchaseapts.com Student parking also available $20/ mo. DUPLEX

WALK TO CAMPUS

1 and 2 bedroom units $550-675 a month. Water and lawn paid. Clean and ready, on Elm St. Call Jason (817) 4725455

SERVICE DIRECTORY

Searching for an employee?

CHILDCARE COVENANT ECLC 3608 Matlock Rd Open 5 days 7am-6pm 6 weeks - PreK $99/ wk or $19.60/ day (817)465-1906

e s i t r Adve

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TEACHING/TUTORÊ SERVICE CHEMISTRY GETTING TOUGH? I can provide expert hourly private tutoring. CHEM 1451, CHEM 1446, CHEM 1445, CHEM 1300, or high school students. $35 per hour. Call (682) 552-8506

classifieds

HOMES $8,000 TAX CREDIT First time homebuyers...time is running out! Get under contract by the end of Oct. Call Amy today at (817) 543-0000 or check out barnetthills.com. LOCATION Spacious 3/2 Condo Covered Parking, Pool, Students Welcome $845 mo. 214-803-3108

TRANSPORTATION AUTOS

THE SHORTHORN is looking for motivated salespeople! Want to earn a paycheck while gaining valuable experience? Fill out an application today! U. C. lower level, M-F, 8-5. Paid positions for UTA students. (817) 272-3188 ❘ ID 2856753 TEACHING/TUTORING TUTORING 7 and 9 year old in basic school subject. Please call Joy: 817-2258761

ABC AUTO SALES

BUY-SELL-TRADE Biggest selection of cars in the country at the lowest prices! abcauto535@yahoo.com www.abc-auto-sales.com 817-535-0075 MOTORCYCLES 2006 HONDA CBR 600RR For Sale. 2 Year warranty. New Tires, HID Lights, Carbon Fiber Exhaust, 6000 miles $6000 Call Emmanuel @ 830765-2195

FOR RELEASE OCTOBER 14, 2009

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Solutions, tips and computer program at www.sudoku.com

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Tuesday’s Puzzle Solved

Fill in the grid so that every row, every column and every 3x3 grid contains the digits 1 through 9 with no repeats. That means that no number is repeated in any row, column or box.

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6 7 1 6

10/14/09

Instructions:

5 3 6 2 9 7 4 8 1

24 Jul 05

Q: IÕ m a sufferer of premature gaining this control. So I wouldnÕ t ejaculation. IÕ ve read about the worry about any gap that may come start-stop masturbation method to in between the time you learn to help prolong my staying power. My have control and then use it again, question is, After I have reached the but begin trying to learn how to level of staying power I gain that control right want, will I have to keep now. masturbating or having sexual intercourse from Q: I could manually time to time to keep this stimulate my girlfriend up, or will the level stay until my finger shrivthe same even if I donÕ t eled up and fell off, and masturbate or have sex she would not have an for, say, even six months? orgasm. SheÕ s told me Any help would be apprethat she has never had Dr. Ruth ciated. an orgasm before, with Send your anyone. I really want to questions to A: While you can use please her. Is there anyDr. Ruth Westheimer masturbation as a means thing I can do to remedy c/o King Features of learning to recognize the situation? Syndicate the premonitory sensa235 E. 45th St., tion -- the moment that, if A: There may be nothNew York, NY passed, means you caning you can do, but that 10017 not stop yourself from doesnÕ t mean the situaejaculating -- and gain tion is hopeless. You see, some control, it doesnÕ t always eas- some women need to learn how to ily translate into stopping prema- give themselves an orgasm before ture ejaculation during intercourse. they can teach their partner. They It’s a good first step, but to really many need very specific types of say you have full control, you need stimulation, and until they discover to develop that control during in- for themselves exactly what is retercourse. Since itÕ s a mental prob- quired, they have no way of telling lem, not a physical one, potentially a partner. So my advice is to have you can retain this ability forever, her try masturbation by herself. If whether or not you are having ejac- she can bring herself to orgasm, ulations caused by masturbation or then I think you two will be on the sex with another person. Of course, way to a time when you can give if you do lose it, having once had it, her an orgasm. you should have an easier time re-

Edited by Rich Norris and Joyce Lewis

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DR. RUTH

Los Angeles Times Daily Crossword Puzzle

Page 6

The ShorThorn

AdmiNistrAtioN

Officer Randy Reynolds tells biology sophomore Evelynn Bellavie about Rape Aggression Defense classes at National Night Out on Tuesday evening in the University Center Palo Duro Lounge.

Board approves fund to give emerging research institutions a leg up The UT System Board of Regents recently approved $10 million in support of the system’s emerging research institutions, including UTA. The UT System Research Incentive Program matches private gifts dedicated to four institutions — UTA, UT Dallas, UT El Paso and UT San Antonio — for research and faculty recruitment. Both are essentials for becoming a top research institution, or gaining national research institution prominence, commonly called Tier One status. University spokesperson Kristin Sullivan said UTA is grateful for the regents’ decision. “This requires action on our part,” she said. “I think what they’re saying is ‘Here’s a challenge to you. You better believe we’re doing everything we can to help the emerging research institutions.’ ” Only gifts from single sources will be matched with $500,000 to $999,999 at 10 percent; $1 million to $2,999,999 at 20 percent; $3 million to $4,999,999 at 30 percent; and $5 million or greater at 50 percent. The program is funded through the Permanent University Fund, which was established in 1876 by the state to give money to some universities. Sullivan said the university received large donations in the past, but isn’t sure any would have qualified for the program. Administrators are evaluating how to take advantage of the fund. Sullivan said the university’s 40-member Development Board, which added 17 new members last month, plays into the university’s ability to raise private gifts. The board includes, among other local and national mem-

The Shorthorn: Stephanie Goddard

Night continued from page 1

closeness to the community, and this brings us closer to the community we serve,” he said. Deanee Moran, Relationship Violence and Sexual Assault Prevention Program coordinator, worked a booth that had posted pictures depicting the harm from physical abuse. The images represented topics the program attempts to tackle, she said. “The best thing is it starts dialogue between students,” she said. “It gets information about these topics that are so taboo and people don’t want to talk about or even know about.” Emergency Management coordinator Cindy Mohat helped distribute hand sanitizer to encourage illness prevention. She also provided information on evacuation, campus emergency plans, sicknesses on campus, disasters and H1N1 vaccinations. Cook, as a Rape Aggression Defense instruc-

Wednesday, October 14, 2009

tHe breAkdowN • Gifts of $500,000 to $999,999 from a single source will be matched at 10 percent • Gifts of $1 million to $2,999,999 from a single source will be matched at 20 percent • Gifts of $3 million to $4,999,999 from a single source will be matched at 30 percent • Gifts of $5 million or greater from a single source will be matched at 50 percent Source: UT System external relations

bers, retired Gen. Tommy Franks and actor Lou Diamond Phillips. The board’s purpose is to foster relationships that will help the university gain donors, Development Vice President Jim Lewis said in a previous interview. The program also complements the main goal of advancing the system’s schools, Chancellor Francisco Cigarroa said in a system press release. “This new program gives us an exceptional opportunity to leverage state support and hasten profound change at our emerging institutions, putting them in the coveted position of being among the most competitive universities in the country,” he said. The state’s other emerging research institutions, as well as the UT System’s, are eligible for the Texas Research Incentive Program fund, which also matches certain private donations specified for research. The Regents were unavailable for comment.

– Joan Khalaf

stArgAzers

relAtioNsHip VioleNce ANd sexuAl AssAult preVeNtioN progrAm Hotline — 817-272-0260 Coordinator’s office — 817-272-9250

tor, promoted his Nov. 14 RAD class. It teaches women how to defend themselves physically and emotionally against an attacker. Health Services provided information about available services. The event’s sponsor, Target, provided hotdogs, cookies and chips. The National Night Out is held on the first Tuesday in August, but Texas recognizes the event later, in October. The sponsor, National Association of Town Watch, gave Texas the permission to hold its night out later because of the heat. Arlington had its event on Oct. 6. Nicole HiNes news-editor.shorthorn@uta.edu

The Shorthorn: Rasy Ran

Aerospace engineering sophomore Mantri Shah, center, converses with English freshman Munteha Pac on Tuesday at the Chemistry and Physics Building. The pair joined others in watching an original Planetarium production, “Unseen Universe: The Vision of SOFIA,” about NASA’s largest airborne observatory telescope housed aboard a Boeing 747SP aircraft and its potential when it starts operation in 2010.

lecture

English teachers to discuss environmental awareness issues This year’s Hermanns Lecture Series, starting today, will focus on English teachers’ response to going green. The series, called Greening English this year, is open to everyone on Wednesday, Friday and Saturday. Thursday is by invitation only for graduate English students. The movie The Last Winter will air at 7 p.m. Wednesday in 148 Fine Arts Building. Friday’s sessions, a series of lectures revolving around the theme, will be from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. in the Central Library’s sixth floor parlor. Saturday’s session, a roundtable discussion, is from 10 to 11 a.m. in the 303 Chemistry and Physics Building. All talks are 40 minutes with a 10-minute block for discussion. “This is a huge event for our department, and the speakers that we have are extraordi-

nary,” said English associate professor Stacy Alaimo, and President’s Sustainability Committee co-chair. Friday’s speakers, include Karen Raber from the University of Mississippi, Robert Markley from the University of Illinois, Ursula Heise from Stanford University, Jennifer Fay from Michigan State University and Cate MortimerSandilands from York University. The series is named after Rudolph Hermanns, a salesman who left part of his estate to UTA after his death in 1985, according to the series’ Web site. The Rudolph Hermanns Endowment for Excellence was founded because of his love for the campus and is used to enhance academics and campus beautification.

— Devon Breen