Meet Mr. Sirianni
A HELPING HAND Find out more information about Haiti after the earthquake and how to help.
The Mavericks pitching coach talks about the loneliest place in sports.
NEWS | PAGE 12
SPORTS | PAGE 8 T H E
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Tuesday January 19, 2010
Volume 91, No. 60 www.theshorthorn.com
Since 1919 FACULTY/STAFF
MAVERICK SPEAKERS SERIES
First sustainability director named Meghna Tare was hired Jan. 4 and will take over in leading the university toward conservation. BY JOHN HARDEN The Shorthorn senior staff
To continue its commitment to environmental awareness, the university hired its first sustainability director to help the university bleed blue, orange and green. Meghna Tare was hired Jan. 4 after a previously named director resigned before the job began last fall. As director, Tare said she will coordinate programs geared toward conservation. Tare received her master’s degree in environmental studies from San
Jose State University. Her knowledge in environmental sustainability made her a strong candidate for the position, said John Hall, administration and campus operations vice president. Hall, a President’s Sustainability Committee member, said the university could become a leader in conservation with Tare’s leadership. Amy Schultz, communications and community relations associate vice president, said Tare’s appointment will further the university’s name in sustainability. “Having a sustainability director at UT-Arlington, especially one the caliber of Meghna will not DIRECTOR continues on page 5
“Magic” Johnson to speak at Texas Hall Basketball legend will discuss his new book as part of the Maverick Speakers Series. BY JOAN KHALAF The Shorthorn senior staff
Los Angeles Lakers partial owner and HIV education advocate Earvin “Magic” Johnson will share his tips for success 6 p.m. Feb. 11 at Texas Hall. Visitors to the university’s Web site saw promotional material last week, but it was removed over the weekend because of miscommunication between Johnson’s
team and the university. University spokeswoman Kristin Sullivan said the university wasn’t clear on news release approval processes for Johnson’s speaking events. She said the university sent the material for approval by Johnson’s team and expects it to return to the Web site today. Earvin “Magic” Johnson is visiting as part of his 32 Ways to Be a Champion in Business book tour and the Maverick Speakers Series. “He’s got star power,” Sullivan said. “We have no doubt that we’ll pack out the house.”
TICKET INFORMATION Cost: Free (ticket required for entrance) Get them at: utatickets.com
The book covers Johnson’s transition from athlete to business MAGIC continues on page 5
RANSOM HALL
Renovations spread computers around Ransom Hall construction begins next month while computers are given new homes throughout campus libraries. BY SHARAYAH SHERROD The Shorthorn staff
The Shorthorn: Aisha Butt
Music media freshman Jake Kirby shops at the relocated Computer Store on Friday at the University Center.
The Shorthorn: Raziq George Brown
Business junior Amanda Davis and education sophomore Karen Osinski used the printer Thursday on the Central Library second floor. Since the closing of Ransom Hall, students can print at the Maverick Activities Center, the Architecture, Fine Arts Library and Central Library.
Science and Engineering Library Cooper Street
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Computer Store
Architecture and Fine Arts Library Student Parking Faculty Parking Housing
Central Library
Housing
Electronic Business Library
Recreational sports Buildings Buildings
Nedderman Drive The Shorthorn: Marissa Hall
WHERE TO FIND COMPUTERS Computers and printing stations are available at most libraries. The Computer Store has relocated to the University Center. Digital Media Studio workshops have moved to the Central Library.
Students look for alternatives to fill void left by Ransom Hall’s computer lab closure over break.
The Shorthorn: Aisha Butt
Alumnus Nick Jacobs edits his headshots to send to local acting agencies Friday afternoon in the Central Library. Students had the option of using the library computers after Ransom Hall closed.
previously housed the Computer Store and a 24/7 computer lab and print station. Students, faculty and staff can find other locations to help with projects spread around campus.
BY RACHEL SNYDER The Shorthorn staff
Over the winter break, renovations began to turn Ransom Hall into a student success center. Ransom Hall
Computers and Printing
over where to find computers or printers for assignments. Librarian Karen Hopkins said during the busiest periods, the morning and afternoon, 87-98 percent of computers in the Central Library were in use in November. She said the libraries are expect-
With Ransom Hall closed, many students may find themselves in a jam
Chair-less desks and cord-free electrical outlets are all that’s left of the Ransom Hall computer center as renovations continue to turn the building into University College. The student success center, also known as University College, will focus on helping students get past freshman year and all the way to graduation — something that will move the university closer to Tier One status, said university spokeswoman Kristin Sullivan. “A measure of the success of a university is its graduation rates and its retention rates. This university wants more students to earn their undergraduate degrees in six years than currently do,” she said. “So, to make that happen, we’re working to attract more academic scholars, but once you’re here we want to give you all the advising, tutoring, and counseling that you need.” Administrators are completing the bidding process to decide who the university will hire to do the renovation. Sullivan said she does not know how far along officials are in the selection process. Construction will begin in February and end in August in time for the fall 2010 semester, according to the Facilities Management blog. However, preparation work must be completed before the actual renovation can begin. As facilities crews rolled carts of equipment and fixtures out of Ransom Hall Friday, they said it took most of the break to transfer computers out of the three-story building. Chief Information Officer Suzanne Montague said that of approximately 130 computers in Ransom Hall, about half of them have been moved to RANSOM continues on page 9
LOCATE CAMPUS COMPUTER LABS 1.Go to: http://www.uta.edu/oit/. 2.Under ‘Services,’ click on ‘Computer Labs.’ 3.From there, click the orange links below the horizontal picture to view the maps or the real-time computer accessibility charts.
COMPUTERS continues on page 9
STUDENT LIFE
Sushi rolling into UC food court today Sushic offers seafood alternatives, with prices starting at $4.99 for options like California Rolls. BY DUSTIN L. DANGLI The Shorthorn news editor
Dining Services welcomes the spring semester with sushi and more Japanese cuisine at the University Center food court. Sushic The Sushi Company has replaced Mav Salads in the UC food court and now is available as a lunch option alongside Subway, Chic-fil-A and Panda Express. Sushi will be available during
lunch hours, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., but sushi will continue to be served throughout the day in coolers. David Ok, Dining Services marketing manager, said sushi will be available at the Maverick Market, the Market at the MAC and the Central Library. Sushic operations director Joon Kim said Sushic’s trained chef will prepare the sushi. The chefs are state certified and trained at Sushic’s corporate kitchen. The Sushic chef assigned to the university will prepare sushi in the morning and sushi not sold will be discarded at the end of the day.
YOUR VIEW Share your thoughts on Sushic at www.theshorthorn.com.
Customers can pick up sushi at the cooler, but special requests like allergy concerns can be made to the chef. Sushi starts at $4.99 for options like California Rolls and goes up to $9.99 for specialty rolls, like the Dragon Roll. The menu also notes a small and large order of California SUSHI continues on page 3
The Shorthorn: Michael Minasi
BALLS OF FURY Undeclared freshman Vail Lyke, left, and architecture freshman Josh Hand both attempt to hit an incoming ping pong serve in the Great Room of Kalpana Chawla Hall on Monday evening. KC Hall residents could check out supplies to play ping pong, billiards, watch television or cook in the kitchen.