T h e
u n i v e r s i T y
o f
T e x a s
a T
a r l i n g T o n
Tuesday october 27, 2009
volume 91, no. 37 www.theshorthorn.com
since 1919
a living Celebration
index News Calendar Scene Classifieds Sports
2,3 2 4 5 6
Dia de los Muertos will be honored on campus and by families. Scene | pAge 4
Technology
MyMav errors on holds resolved The online system was rebooted Monday and the problems were corrected by noon that day. By AndreA SilverS The Shorthorn staff
Spring registration suffered a setback Monday when the MyMav system placed previously removed holds on students’ accounts. The newly redesigned MyMav
system was online for student use Sunday night at 7:30 p.m. with the problem occurring Monday morning between 9 and 9:30 a.m. The system displayed an incorrect message, telling 3,600 students they had academic advising holds, university spokeswoman Kristin Sullivan said. “The Office of Information Technology took the system offline and rebooted it once they knew there
was a problem,” Sullivan said. “The problem was corrected by noon.” Many noticed the problem before it was fixed and went to advisers for answers. “Students have been calling, e-mailing and even dropping by wanting to know why they have holds on their accounts and wantMyMav continues on page 6
regiSTrATion dATeS students can begin registering at different times, depending on academic status. Continuing graduate, graduating seniors, honors college, Mcnair scholars and athletes — Oct. 26
Undergraduate continuing and former students 90 plus hours — Oct. 28 60 plus hours — Nov. 2 30 plus hours — Nov. 5 One through 29 hours — Nov. 9 Undergraduates on academic probation — Nov. 9
new Uta students — Nov. 9
TexAS
AdminiSTrATion
Early voting continues, focus on Proposition 4
Feedback for tobacco ban returns split Final e-mail responses showed 109 against and 107 for the proposal. By JoAn KhAlAf The Shorthorn senior staff
A nearly split response from the community’s final word on a tobacco ban is being reviewed by President James Spaniolo, who said he will make the decision within the next few weeks. The committee studying the issue solicited a last round of feedback via e-mail and committee chair Jean Hood summarized the 216 responses — 109 against and 107 for the ban — Friday.
Most for the ban cited potential health risks, while those against voiced concerns about personal rights, Hood said. She said at least four of the responses appeared neutral — saying that they were for the ban, but only if designated smoking areas were built on campus. Hood counted those as against the ban since designated areas was a hinging factor. She said the feedback was a small sample of the population. “I believe that people who are for something often don’t come out and respond in comsMoking continues on page 3
The Shorthorn: Chris Hudson
nonstudents, Meg and Jason Weber take part in early voting Monday in the University Center Palo Duro Lounge. The UC is a temporary early voting location and will only be available until 5 p.m. today.
On first day 74 voters came to the polling site, low turnout expected, clerk says. By Ali muSTAnSir The Shorthorn senior staff
During the first day of early voting at the university, 74 voters participated, lead clerk Brad Browne said. Student Congress sponsored early voting in the University Center Palo Duro Lounge on Monday and will again Tuesday. SC President Kent Long said the important thing about early voting is getting university stakeholders’ voice heard. Browne said he was in Dalworthington Gardens last week, where 63 peo-
ple participated over three days. He said the likely reason is Dalworthington Gardens is smaller. Political science junior Anthony Flores said he likes early voting because voters can avoid the lines that comes with voting in the regular session. “People trying to talk you one way or another,” Flores said. “This way you just get to come in and vote.” Browne said turnout depends on what is voted on. He said no names on this ballot draw in voters. In 2008, site volunteers reported that 835 people voted in the presidential election during the university’s first early voting day, according to a previous Shorthorn article. “Nobody expected this to be a big
To voTe eArly Where: University Center Palo Duro Lounge When: 8 a.m.–5 p.m. today
turnout,” Browne said. University President James Spaniolo sent an e-mail to students Thursday reminding them to vote early, focusing on Proposition 4. Proposition 4 is part of House Bill 51, or “the Tier One bill.” HB 51 was written to assist the seven Texas emerging research institutions: UTA,
heAlTh
H1N1 emergency, no vaccines on campus yet About 3,000 shots available for only most at-risk people, county spokesman says. By rAchel Snyder The Shorthorn staff
President Barack Obama declared H1N1 a national emergency late Friday. University spokeswoman
Kristin Sullivan said UTA requested doses of the H1N1 vaccines in the spring when they were first being developed, but has not yet received them. She said she does not know when the university will receive the vaccines. The university community has H1n1 continues on page 3
voting continues on page 3
WeATher
DFW to feel El Niño, could reach rain record With the cyclical climate change coming every two to seven years, the area is up for another round. By vinod SrinivASAn The Shorthorn staff
The Dallas-Fort Worth area may be approaching near record amounts of rain for October because of the El Niño climate effect. El Niño is a climate anomaly in the western Pacific Ocean due to a general warming of the sea surface temperature. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration expects belowaverage temperatures and aboveaverage precipitation across Texas and increased tornado activity in the gulf coast region this winter, according to its Web site. The National Weather Service proj-
ects rain from Wednesday night to seven years. He said the last major effect the U.S. felt was 1997 to Friday. to 1998. “We had about 6.5 “The effect usually inches of rain in Seplasts anywhere from three tember, which was about to six months,” Winguth 4 inches more than the said. “It probably started mean from 1970 to 2000,” around mid summer this said Arne Winguth, earth year and could last until and environmental scilate winter or even early ences assistant professor. spring.” He said the record Under normal condiamount of rain in October was 14.18 inches in 1981, arne Winguth, earth tions, warm air rises in followed by 9.44 inches and environmental the eastern side of the Pacific closer to Indonein 1919 and 9.32 inches sciences assistant sia and Japan, resulting in 1991. The National professor in more precipitation Weather Service reports nearby, Winguth said. 7.2 inches of rain so far for October. Winguth said we may But under El Niño effects, the reach the third most amount of warm air rises closer to the westrain since 1899, when the earliest ern coast of the U.S., resulting in more rain for North and South records are available. Winguth said the El Niño efel niño continues on page 3 fect is cyclical occurring every two
The Shorthorn: Jacob Adkisson
communiTy college lana Wolff, City of arlington District 5 councilwoman, discuses the importance of the merging of the City of Arlington and the university Monday night in the Arlington Municipal Building. “UTA is no longer that commuter college it once was that we passed by driving down Copper Street,” she said.
For the full story, visit The ShorThorn .com