A decade’s worth
Work the core Columnist recommends sampling and completing core classes before settling on a major
The top Maverick baseball players from 2000 to 2009 SportS | paGe 3 T h e
opinion | paGe 4
u n i v e r s i T y
o f
T e x a s
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a r l i n g T o n
friday January 29, 2010
volume 91, no. 66 www.theshorthorn.com
since 1919 GreeK life
Quinton Thompson, UTA’s Omega Psi Phi chapter president, chose to brand his arm with two Omega symbols out of honor for his fraternity. Thompson said it was wrong for Amon Carter IV, a Kappa Sigma member at Texas Christian University, to be branded after heavy drinking.
Awareness raised over ‘branding’ A possible hazing incident involving a TCU fraternity brings attention to a controversial tradition. By Joan Khalaf The Shorthorn senior staff
For one UTA fraternity, branding — or burning the organization’s symbols onto a member’s skin — is a sign of dignity. It isn’t forced or shameful. For Amon G. “Chance” Carter IV, one of Texas Christian University’s Kappa Sigma fraternity members, his botched branding reportedly happened during heavy drinking and while passed out. Carter said he consented while intoxicated to being branded with his fraternity’s letters on his buttocks during a Colorado ski trip with some of TCU’s
Delta Delta Delta sorority members two weeks ago. The sorority’s symbols were also branded while he was passed out, according to a Jan. 27 Fort Worth StarTelegram article. For UTA’s Omega Psi Phi fraternity chapter president Quinton Thompson, his branding experience was a completely different story — one of tradition, honor and a sober choice. “It’s not something they make you do,” the criminal justice senior said. “It represents where we come from.” Thompson and one other fraternity member had the Omega symbol branded on their bodies. Thompson has two Omega symbols on his left shoulder and another symbol on his chest. He said the symbols took six months to heal and were treated like an open
wound. “It’s not something everybody chooses to do,” he said. “It’s respectable and understandable if you don’t want to do it.” Robert-Thomas Jones, Greek Life and University Events program coordinator, said branding was an optional ritual in his fraternity when he was in college. He chose to get a tattoo instead, but branding has become a phenomenon typically done by multicultural fraternities. Jones said what happened with Carter was an unfortunate hazing incident. “Am I going to pretend hazing doesn’t happen? No,” he said. “It’s a phenomenon and it doesn’t just happen in fraternities and sororities. It happens everywhere, and I think if we start looking BrANdING continues on page 6
The Shorthorn: Rasy Ran
weather
Science
Research data predicted quake
Falling temperatures, rain forecasted The National Weather Service predicts freezing temperatures today and a slight chance of ice accumulation on the roads. “I don’t think we’ll see any major problems as far as ice on the roads,” said Dan Shoemaker, National Weather Service meteorologist. “We may see some freezing drizzle, but it won’t accumulate too much.” Weekend temperatures will continue to hover between the mid-20s and low-40s, he said. The university will send a notification to each student, faculty and staffs UTA e-mail address in case of weather-related closings, said university spokeswoman Kristin Sullivan said.
Science Dean to speak on research that forecasted a possible earthquake in Haiti nearly two years before it happened. By JuStin Sharp The Shorthorn staff
– John Harden
online FOr updates about closings visit The ShorThorn .com
forecaSt Friday high 41°F low 26°F Saturday high 41°F low 26°F Sunday high 46°F low 35°F Source: The National Weather Service
The Shorthorn: Will LaVoncher
Advertising and public relations senior Chau Nguyen shares his umbrella with public relations senior Cindy Salmeron on Thursday afternoon at the University Center mall. Due to the rain, many students scrambled to their classes and used other methods to keep dry.
On April 10, 2008, nearly two years prior to the earthquake in Haiti, Science Dean Pamela Jansma contributed to a paper stating the likelihood of such a quake. “We said that it was likely, but we didn’t predict Jan. 12, 2010,” Jansma said, adding that it wasn’t a prediction but rather an interpretation of the data collected. According to a summary of the paper written with colleagues from Purdue University, The University of Arkansas, the Bureau of Mines and Energy and the Institut de Physique du Globe in Paris, a magnitude 7.2 earthquake was possible in the northeastern Caribbean, according to the team’s research findings in 2008. Jansma learned of the quake Pamela Jansma, minutes after it occurred. Science Dean “I was sitting at my desk looking at Yahoo, and it said an earthquake had occurred a few minutes ago in Haiti,” she said. The preliminary report she read estimated the strength of the quake to be 7.2. “I was very upset, because I knew the destruction was going to be severe,” she said. “It’s one of those times that you don’t really want to be right.” Though the news of it was saddening, she said the implications for her research were immediately recognizable. “It was good to know that the research methodology was correct and that the science worked,” JANSMA continues on page 6
Multicultural affairS
Safety
Black History Month features bigger events this year
City’s water is nation’s cleanest
The university’s Black History Month celebration will include less programs, but on a larger scale this year. It starts with a Night at the Gallery at 6:30 p.m. Monday featuring art and live jazz at the University Center Carlisle Suite. Other events include A Crystal Stair, which gives students a “journey through oppression” in a museum-like structure at 6:30 p.m. Feb. 4 at the University Center Bluebonnet Ballroom. Finishing off the month is Empowering Our Future, which gives Fort Worth Dunbar Middle School students a day to learn the importance of attending college. The volunteer sign up deadline for that event is today. The event is from 8 a.m. to noon Feb. 20 at University Hall. It’s important for students to attend the events because they will showcase black history in a positive light, said Dannie Moore, Multicultural Affairs assistant director. “We want to educate the community on important issues,” he said. “There’s also a social component, so hopefully everyone can have fun as well as learn.” The Evolution of Hip Hop, which was scheduled for Feb. 11, was canceled because of Magic Johnson’s speech taking place around the same time. — Joan Khalaf
Black
History
MontH
UTA and Arlington are celebrating throughout February. Look for this icon highlighting holiday related stories.
when and where Night at the Gallery When: 6:30 p.m., Feb. 1 Where: UC Carlisle Suite A Crystal Stair: “Journey Through Oppression” When: 6:30 p.m., Feb. 4 Where: UC Bluebonnet Ballroom A Place at the Table for Minority Students at Traditionally White Institutions When: noon, Feb. 12 Where: Central Library sixth floor The African-American Experience Panel When: noon, Feb. 17 Where: UC Concho Room Empowering Our Future When: 8 a.m.-noon, Feb. 20 (deadline for volunteering signup: today) Where: University Hall
Percentage of pollutants found in Arlington’s water was 15 compared to country average of 300. By John harden The Shorthorn senior staff
Arlington’s water department and other water supply agencies have partnered with a Colorado research group to discover ways to remove unwanted chemicals from drinking water. The city partnered with Water Research Foundation to conduct a study to further enhance the treatment of drinking water in the city by removing inorganic contaminants, including personal care products and pharmaceuticals, said Julia Hunt, Arlington’s water utilities director. The city will use the research findings to make decisions for future treatment procedures, she said. In early November, Arlington’s tap water ranked best in the nation, according to a study conducted by Environmental Working Group. The group conducted a five-year study to test tap water in 100 major cities in
the U.S., including Fort Worth, Austin and Dallas — ranking No. 3, 7 and 12 respectively. “We were not aware of the rankings of the cities until the day before the working group publicized the data,” Hunt said. “The database includes five years of data from 45 states and Washington D.C.” The percentage of pollutants observed in the water included pesticides, human waste and fertilizers. The group found 15 pollutants in Arlington’s drinking water compared to 300 different pollutants found throughout national tap water. Arlington resident Eugene Boles usually buys his water from the local grocery store. “I’m always reading about how tap water isn’t as clear as it looks,” he said. “I think I drink bottled water because it makes me feel safer about what I’m putting into my body.” Boles said he found the results of the study surprising. “I never thought Arlington would be ranked as number one,” he said. “Any WATEr continues on page 6
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Friday, January 29, 2010
THE SHORTHORN
CALENDAR
BUSINESS
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
Management graduate class receives online feature
STUDENT LIFE
Fort Worth Center to hold success conference
TODAY
Web material, self-evaluation techniques help students learn alternative leadership styles in the workplace.
Freezing Drizzle • High 41°F • Low 26°F FRIDAY PHC Formal Recruitment (Preference Night): All day, Sigma Epsilon House on Greek Row Drive. For information, contact RobertThomas Jones or Julie Murphy at 817-2729234 or greeklife@uta.edu. Greek Life Recruitment: All day. For information, contact Robert-Thomas Jones or Julie Murphy at 817-272-9234 or greeklife@uta. edu. Art Exhibition in The Gallery at UTA: Robert Grame & Robert Hower: 10 a.m.-5 p.m., The Gallery at UTA. Free. For information, contact Patricia Healy at 817-272-5658 or phealy@uta.edu. A Smooth Migration to Unfield, All IP Networks : 11 a.m.-noon, 413 Woolf Hall. Free. For information, contact Sajal Das at 817272-7405 or das@uta.edu. Introduction to SAS: Noon-2 p.m., 004 University Hall. The Whitehawk Community Experiment: Noon-1 p.m., sixth floor Central Library parlor. Free. For information, contact Roxanna Latifi at 817-272-6107 or roxanna@uta.edu. Transition from Employee to Graduate Student: 12:30-2 p.m., B17 Davis Hall. For information, contact Lisa Berry at lberry@ uta.edu. Studies of Transverse Jet Injection for Scramjet Applications: 1:30-2:30 p.m., 105 Nedderman Hall. Free. For information, contact Debi Barton at 817-272-2500 or dbarton@uta.edu. A Smooth Migration to Unified, All IP Networks: 2-3 p.m., 413 Woolf Hall. Free. For information, contact Sajal Das, Ph.D. at 817-272-7405 or das@uta.edu. Opening Reception for Robert Grame & Robert Hower Art Exhibition: 6-8:30 p.m., The Gallery at UTA. Free. For information, contact Patricia Healy at 817-272-5658 or phealy@uta.edu. SATURDAY
Women can now sign up for the Fort Worth Center’s first success conference. It will have activities and speakers, designed specifically with professional women in mind. “There’s something in it for any woman who’s out there and trying to advance her career at any level,” said Megan Topham, Fort Worth Center operations director. The center will hold the conference from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. March 11 in the Sheraton Fort Worth Hotel and Spa across from the Fort Worth campus. The conference is open to the public and costs $95, Topham said. The cost will include lunch. She said the conference will focus on information beneficial to women in all areas of work and leadership, from corporations to non-profit organizations to volunteer roles. “We’re going to have really good panelists and I think everyone will find something that they can get from it. We’re asking people to leave work, during the work week and we want to make sure people feel like they got something out of it for taking that time out,” Topham said. Having panelists, the director said, is a way to allow attendees and guests to have the most productive day they can. “I think it’s important for us to make it interactive and that’s why we chose the panel set-up,” Topham said. — Sharayah Sherrod
BY JOHNATHAN SILVER The Shorthorn senior staff
A business management course now has an online component that addresses emotional leadership and helps students channel emotions to understand employees. Organizational behavior professor James Campbell Quick wants his effective leadership course students to be both leaders and managers in the workplace. There’s definitely a difference between the two terms, he said. “Managers keep the train on the track,” Quick said. “Leaders build the track and lead the train.” Quick and Prashant Ranade, former Siemens senior executive, will use Web material and self-evaluation techniques to help students learn the alternative form of leading. Ranade said he met Quick last year and liked his teaching approach. He then introduced the online material for the professor’s course, revamping it. “It provides practical and business experience,” he said. “I use this program with clients in the business and corporate world.” Andy Oppong, business graduate student, said he previously had Quick as a professor, liked his teaching style and decided to take this class. “I hope to get a lot more insight in leadership styles and how to be a good leader,” he said. Quick said he will teach his students that emotions — not learning how to give orders — move people into action. Their intelligence quotient, or IQ , is important in school but it only gets you to the table, he said. “What really makes a great leader is EQ , emotional quotient,” he said.
The Shorthorn: Andrew Buckley
Organizational Behavior Professor James Quick lectures on the ethical dilemmas that people in management positions face and where they come from on Wednesday at the Business Building. Quick’s class focuses on teaching the value of emotional leadership in management and encourages students to learn from real world experience.
At the end of the semester, students should be able to identify their strengths and weaknesses to explain their leadership approach, and be able to sense others’ strengths and weaknesses. Some ways they will go about it include interviewing a leader and writing a self-assessment paper. Business graduate student
Bethany McGuire said she’s taking the advanced graduate elective, to improve her leadership skills at her current position as an assistant controller in manufacturing.
Greek Life Recruitment: All day. For information, contact Robert-Thomas or Julie Murphy at 817-272-9234 or greeklife@uta.edu. Hispanic Nursing Center Grant Applications Due: All day. For information, contact Donelle Barnes at donelle@uta.edu. Free Ladies Self-Defense Course: 9 a.m.-6 p.m. Maverick Activities Center. Free. For information, contact Ron Cook at 817-27253902 or rwcook@uta.edu. Alpha Kappa Alpha Zeta Mu Formal Rush: 9-10 a.m. For information, contact Ella Williams at 817-907-5631 or rtjones@uta.edu. Free H1N1 Vaccinations offered: 11 a.m.-2 p.m., Six Flags Over Texas. First come, first serve. PHC Formal Recruitment (Bid Day): 11 a.m., Cooper Street central bridge. For information contact Robert-Thomas Jones or Julie Murphy at 817-272-9234 or greeklife@uta. edu. Art Exhibition in The Gallery at UTA: Robert Grame & Robert Hower: Noon-5 p.m., The Gallery at UTA. Free. For information, contact Patricia Healy at 817-272-5658 or phealy@uta.edu.
CORRECTIONS Bring factual errors to The Shorthorn’s attention via e-mail to editor.shorthorn@uta. edu or call 817-272-3188. A correction or clarification will be printed in this space. 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 ............................. Mark Bauer editor.shorthorn@uta.edu Managing Editor ........................... Laura Sliva managing-editor.shorthorn@uta.edu
Conference sessions are set to include: - How to Achieve Success - Look of Success - Creating a Successful Brand - A Balancing Act: How to Success fully Manage Your Person and Professional Lives - Generation Women - Share Your Success Expo and Reception To register, go to www.uta.edu/fortworth and click on the Success conference button on the lower left side. With questions, call 817-272-5988.
JOHNATHAN SILVER news-editor.shorthorn@uta.edu
STUDENT AFFAIRS
POLICE REPORT 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.
THURSDAY Warrant Service – Misdemeanor Officers responded at 12:44 a.m. on a report of a male drinking alcohol at the Fine Arts Building on 700 Greek Row Drive. The student was arrested for an outstanding warrant and a disciplinary referral was issued. The case was cleared. WEDNESDAY Disturbance Officers investigated at 7:39 a.m. the report of a loud music disturbance at Meadow Run apartments on 507 Summit Ave. The occupant complied with the officer’s request to keep the noise level down. The case was cleared. Criminal Mischief or Vandalism Officers were dispatched at 10:23 a.m. to a report of vandalism at Pickard Hall on 411 Nedderman Drive when a staff member reported graffiti on the building. The case is active.
News Editor ........................... Dustin L. Dangli news-editor.shorthorn@uta.edu Assistant News Editor ............. Alanna Quillen assistant-news.shorthorn@uta.edu Design Editor .............................. Marissa Hall design-editor.shorthorn@uta.edu Copy Desk Chief ...................... Bryan Bastible copydesk-editor.shorthorn@uta.edu Scene Editor ................................ Jason Boyd
SUCCESS: A WOMEN’S LEADERSHIP CONFERENCE
Suspicious Circumstances An officer met with a student at 2:11 p.m. at the Zeta Tau Alpha house on Greek Row Drive in regards to an incident when the student’s vehicle made contact with another vehicle stopped on 1200 Mitchell St. with no damage to either vehicle. The case was cleared. Criminal Mischief or Vandalism Officers responded at 4:11 p.m. to the Maverick Activity Center to take a report of criminal mischief. The student reported someone keyed his vehicle the previous day in Lot 47, by Pickard Hall, on 901 Oak St. The case is active. Drugs/Narcotics Officers were dispatched at 6:35 p.m. to investigate the smell of marijuana coming from a dorm room at Kalpana Chawla Hall on 901 Oak St. Officers were unable to establish contact with the residents and did not detect the smell of marijuana in the process. The Resident Advisor was notified and the case was cleared.
Final SGO director candidate speaks at forum Laké Laosebikan-Buggs said position by saying, “Why not she wants to be the next Stu- now?” “You’re doing some big dent Governance and Organizations director because now is things,” she said. “If I waited for something else, what else the perfect time. would I wait for? This is Laosebikanthe position that I think Buggs, former Stuis right for me. So defident Union and Acnitely now.” tivities director at She said the top three Florida A&M Univerthings she would do in sity, spoke at a public her first six weeks would forum Thursday afbe getting to know the ternoon. She is one students, the operations of three candidates and assessing programs vying for the post and to determine how to under the Division of Laké Laosebikanmove forward. Student Affairs. Buggs, former Laosebikan-Buggs About 20 attend- Student Union and also disagreed with the ees listened to Laose- Activities director notion that participation bikan-Buggs and at Florida A&M in activities outside the filled out surveys at University classroom negatively imthe end of the presentation, which will be consid- pacts grades. “When you get involved with ered in choosing the next SGO the university, you do better,” director. Laosebikan-Buggs respond- she said. ed to an attendee’s question on why she wanted the director — Johnathan Silver
For an interactive crime map, visit THE SHORTHORN .com
features-editor.shorthorn@uta.edu Sports Editor.................................. Clint Utley sports-editor.shorthorn@uta.edu Opinion Editor........................ ..... Ali Mustansir opinion-editor.shorthorn@uta.edu Photo Editor .................... Stephanie Goddard photo-editor.shorthorn@uta.edu Online Editor ............................... Scott Snider online-editor.shorthorn@uta.edu
Webmaster ........................... Troy Buchwalter webmaster.shorthorn@uta.edu Student Ad Manager ....................... Mike Love admanager@shorthorn.uta.edu Marketing Manager .................... Kevin Green marketing@shorthorn.uta.edu Production Manager................ Robert Harper
Attorney James Mallory
Traffic Tickets Defended
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For stories on the other two candidates, visit THE SHORTHORN .com
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is the student newspaper of the University of Texas at Arlington and is published in the UTA Office of Student Publications. Opinions expressed in The Shorthorn are not necessarily those of the university administration.
IN CASE YOU MISSED IT... Read about a 23-year-old Marine sniper who is back to earn his degree. READ THE STORY AT .com
your life. your news.
about sports Clint Utley, editor sports-editor.shorthorn@uta.edu Sports publishes Tuesday, Thursday and Friday. Friday, January 29, 2010
SPORTS
remember Check out TheShorthorn.com for live blogging from every men’s basketball home game for the rest of the season. Page 3
The ShorThorn
women’s BaskeTBall
men’s BaskeTBall
Mavs look to make roadkill of Bobcats
Team seeks to tame Bobcats, keep cool
The Texas State team has dropped seven straight, is winless on the road. By Travis DeTherage The Shorthorn staff
The Mavericks’ latest loss came against Sam Houston State, a team they expected to beat. They look to return to the win column Saturday when they host Texas State at Texas Hall. After an impressive 85-79 win over Stephen F. Austin, the Mavericks (7-11, 3-4) followed that with the loss against a SHSU team that had only four wins so far this season and had lost 15 straight against the Mavericks. Losers of seven straight, TSU (4-13, 0-6) comes into this game with zero road and zero conference wins this season. TSU’s leading scorer Kelsey Krupa averages 9.0 points a game. The Mavericks have already beaten the Bobcats earlier this season by a score of 66-60. In that game, senior guard Meghan Nelson scored 17 points and senior guard Kiarra Shofner scored 10 points. The Mavericks shot 42.3 percent and held the Bobcats to 36.6 shooting from the field. The Mavericks now return home where they have a record of 3-4. They have won five straight home games against TSU by an average of 17.8 points, and have won six of the past seven games. TSU has lost 11 straight road games. In addition to TSU’s struggles on the road, they now have to contend with Nelson, who is the thirdleading scorer in the Southland Conference, averaging
head.” Texas State’s leading scorer and rebounder, junior forward Cameron Johnson, grabbed 10 rebounds but was held to seven points at Texas Hall earlier this season. Cross said the key to defending Johnson is to keep him away from the glass. “The big key with him is to keep him off the boards and not give him anything easy,” Cross said. Senior guard Brandon Long scored 25 points Monday night against Houston Baptist University. It was a notable improvement from his previous two games in which he totaled 19 points. Long said he’s feeling confident before the game against the Bobcats. “I’ve just got to repeat the process of getting focused before the game,” he said. “I’m focused and ready for the game.”
After the last game against Texas State University, the men’s basketball team knows the Bobcats have a tendency to play dirty. “You just got to be ready to keep your composure,” senior guard Marquez Haynes said after practice. “Last game, a couple of their guys took a couple of cheap shots on our guys.” The Mavericks, 9-9 and 1-4 in Southland Conference play, will play Texas State in San Marcos on Saturday. When the two teams played on Jan. 9, they combined for a total of 59 fouls and 56 turnovers. Head coach Scott Cross said he has already informed the officiating crew of the teams’ previous matchup for this weekend’s game. “Texas State is going to play the way they play, which is really tough and aggressive,” he said. “We’ve got to match their intensity but not get carried away, not lose our
—Clint Utley Senior Guard Tommy Moffitt drives the ball to the baseline during practice on Thursday afternoon. The men’s basketball game will be in San Marcos this Saturday at 2 p.m.
The Shorthorn: Will LaVoncher
Junior guard Tamara Simmons breaks away from freshman forward Erica Paskell during practice on Thursday. The next game will be held in Texas Hall at 4 p.m. against Texas State.
16.5 points per game. She had 14 points on 3-of-11 shooting in a 77-75 overtime loss to SHSU on Saturday. Junior forward Shalyn Martin, who is second in the SLC in rebounding, has led the Mavericks in nine of 18 games in rebounding.
Junior guard Tamara Simmons has had recent success in her last two games. She had a career-high 27 points against SHSU. She also had 19 points against SFA. Nelson talked about the play both Martin and Simmons. “It’s real helpful to me be-
cause you know it doesn’t seem like its all on me,” Nelson said. “Its good to have my teammates putting in their points.” Travis DeTherage
The Shorthorn: Will LaVoncher
sports-editor.shorthorn@uta.edu
BaseBall
UTa all-DecaDe Team (2000s)
UTA All-Decade team announced
(285-274 // .510)
PosiTion
Player
years
career sTaTs
C adam moore 2006 .350/.445/.563, 10 Hr, 50 rbI Led 2006 team to SLC Championship and NCAA Tournament appearance, made MLB debut with Seattle Mariners on Sept. 17, 2009 1b Darrell preston 2001-2004 .313 ba, 15 Hr, 166 rbI, 230 games played Part of 137 victories, first-ever Freshman All-American, owns school records for games played, at-bats, hits and RBI, most during any four-year span in UTA history 2b Craig martin 2000-2001 118 games, 35 2b, 13 Hr, 88 r Provided the biggest hit in Maverick history, launching a walk-off home run to give UTA its first-ever NCAA tournament victory, top five in numerous school records. ss K.J. Hendricks 2001-2002 .340 ba, 21 2b, 120 r, 69 sb “The Pest” was possibly the best leadoff hitter in school history, had consecutive 82-plus hit seasons and swiped 69 bags in 83 tries. 3b ryan roberts 2002-2003 .393/.484/.695, 26 Hr, 129 rbI, 42 2b Arguably the best hitter in school history, Roberts owns or is tied for six single-season UTA records oF michael Choice 2008-present .396/.469/.618, 18 Hr, 103 rbI, 13 sb The only current Maverick to earn All-Decade honors, Choice has put up monster numbers in his first two seasons, enters the 2010 season as UTA’s career batting leader oF Hunter pence 2003-2004 .371 ba, 23 2b, 11 3b, 16 Hr, 77 rbI Possibly the most well-known Maverick alumnus, Pence blasted into the MLB in 2007 with the Houston Astros, named to the MLB All-Star Game in 2009 as a reserve outfielder.
The Shorthorn: File Photo
Sports Information selected 15 of the best UTA players from the last decade. Of these 15, outfielder Michael Choice is the only athelete currently playing.
Michael Choice makes the list as the only current Maverick. By sam morTon The Shorthorn Staff
With a new decade of UT Arlington baseball right around the corner, the UTA Sports Information Office has quelled the Maverick fans’ thirst, announcing the 15 players named to its 2000s All-Decade team this past week. The decorated junior outfielder Michael Choice highlights the All-Decade team as the only current Maverick on the list. Choice is the first Maverick to ever play for the USA Baseball National Team, and he represented UTA proud hitting
.350 with 3 home runs and 13 RBIs. It was enough to earn him a place on the World Baseball Challenge All-Tournament team last summer. According to The College Baseball Blog, Choice is the 13th best player in college baseball and he enters the 2010 season being counted upon to provide fireworks and leadership for the club. The All-Decade list features 12 players who have played professionally, including five who have made it to the major leagues. Ryan Roberts and Hunter Pence top that list, with Roberts filling in nicely as the Arizona Diamondbacks’ second baseman, and Pence remaining an elite outfield-
er with the Houston Astros. The 2000s were kind to Maverick baseball as they posted 285 wins, two Southland Conference titles and two NCAA regional appearances. They also recorded their first-ever NCAA tournament victory in 2001, powered by Craig Martin’s walk-off solo home run to scratch the Houston Cougars 7-6. According to the press release, the players were chosen based on their onfield performance, statistics, career and singleseason records, as well as awards, honors and recognitions. sam morTon sports-editor.shorthorn@uta.edu
oF Daniel ortmeier 2000-2003 .308 ba, 32 2b, 13 3b, 20 Hr, 130 rbI, 46 sb Helped lead the 2001 team to the NCAA tournament, hitting .322 with 4 homers and 37 RBIs, made his MLB debut with the San Francisco Giants in 2005 DH andrew Kainer 2008-2009 .373 ba, 34 2b, 8 Hr, 72 rbI Made history in 2009 with his record-breaking 36-game hit streak, stretching two months without a hitless game, received All-SLC honors and currently pitches in the Florida Marlins organization util. matt otteman 2008-2009 .345 ba, 26 2b, 10 3b, 11 Hr, 113 rbI 7-4, 80 K Hit .432 in 2009, the highest by any hitter this decade, and third highest average in SLC history, received All-SLC honors and is currently in the Seattle Mariners organization sp aaron pullin 2001-2004 24-7, 4.07 era, 294.2 Ip, 117 K His 24 wins are the most wins by any pitcher this decade, also a two-time second team All-SLC selection. sp pierce Loveless 2000-2003 16-11, 3.97 era, 290.2 Ip, 202 K, 7 CG With 202 strikeouts and only 75 walks, there’s no question Loveless deserves this honor, named first team All-SLC in 2001, leading UTA to the NCAA tournament sp Nathan Long 2006-2009 14-16, 4.82 era, 271 Ip, 229 K, 37 Gs Nathan’s 104 strikeouts in 2009 set the school record, while earning him first team All-SLC honors, drafted by the Oakland A’s in the 25th round of the 2009 MLB Draft sp Dillon Gee 2005-2007 15-25, 5.16 era, 298.1 Ip, 198 K, 42 Gs, 8 CG Dillon pitched more innings and more games than any other pitcher this decade, after throwing three complete-game shutouts in his Maverick career, the New York Mets drafted him in the 21st round of the 2008 MLB Draft. rp mike snapp 2001-2004 17-18, 3.27 era, 131 app, 23 sV, 156 K Snapp holds the SLC records for appearances and saves, after serving as the team’s closer during his four-year tenure at UTA, Snapp had a 1.42 ERA and 12 saves in 2004, earning him a contract with the Boston Red Sox.
ABOUT OPINION Ali Amir Mustansir, editor opinion-editor.shorthorn@uta.edu Opinion is published Wednesday and Friday. Page 4
OPINION THE SHORTHORN
EDITORIAL/OUR VIEW
Like Two Peas in a Pod City council’s approval for College Park brings city, university closer Thank you, Arlington. The Arlington City Council unanimously voted Tuesday to further the city’s partnership with the university’s College Park project. The city and university will split the $36 million cost of the parking garage portion of College Park. College Park is the mixed-used project that includes a parking garage, a wrap-around residence hall space and a office/retail space. It will also include a satellite campus police station. The unanimous support from the city council on this project exemplifies the city’s solidarity with the university to build the college town atmosphere needed to further develop the university and downtown Arlington. University spokeswoman Kristin Sullivan said partnership is important because two public entities are working together to make the area more vibrant. She said this is the first partnership between the university and the city of this size. Deputy City Manager Trey Yelverton, a university alumnus, spoke to the city council about what he hopes the partnership will do to help the university. “We’ve talked before in our Champion Arlington meetings about what can the city do to help UT Arlington reach its aspirations,” said Yelverton in a previous Shorthorn article. “That is help them create a college town environment around their campus, to be strong for their researchers, their students and we believe this investment will go a long way toward supporting those efforts.” The projects benefits can be immense. The retail space in the multi-use center will provide jobs for both community members and students, and will provide a place for area residents to shop. Its residence area will create more space for students who want to live on campus. The center will also have a satellite police station, which will provide faster security response for the eastern edge of campus. The biggest advantage to students will be parking. The new center will have 1,800 parking spaces built around the residence center, according to Sullivan. College Park will be built in conjunction with and next to the special events center, which is a 6,500-seat venue for university basketball, volleyball, commencement ceremonies, convocation, concerts, and community events. With the Levitt Pavilion, College Park and the special events center, UTA and the city are poised to create a new eastern perimeter for the university and add a new attraction for central and downtown Arlington.
DISCOMBOBULATION by Houston Hardaway
Since 1919
REMEMBER The Shorthorn invites students, university employees and alumni to submit guest columns to the Opinion page. Friday, January 29, 2010
Degree Detours Delaying major may help explore options
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t’s the age-old college story: you enroll with your ideal degree in mind, whether it’s engineering or nursing or any number of majors. But reality hits when you find yourself struggling to pass the classes of your major. At this point, many find themselves in need of direction when the academic road they were traveling hits GPA gridlock. Luckily the university provides a road map for a detour, if you catch it in time. The university’s core curriculum requirements are supposed to give you a healthy taste of the variety our university has to offer, and provide a balanced education in the process. After all, the point of college is to learn who we are, what we’re good at and what it is we want to do as educated adults. So why do we have to know these answers going into college? It’s easy to blow off the core classes, but if you really dedicate yourself to them, you may discover in the first few semesters that your interests in major-related classes have changed. The university offers 180 bachelor’s, master’s and doctorate degree programs across the 10 colleges and schools, with course options that would take a day and a half to read through. We all have passions and this university has excelled in trying to provide degree plans that fit all who are willing to look for them. While I know many dive into college wanting to jump into their major courses, I recommend taking your core classes early in your academic career. This will help to avoid being stuck on a degree path you find is not to your liking, that way you are able to test your academic horizons while securing necessary credit hours in the process. Certainly it is not always appealing for a math or science major student to have to take a liberal arts course such as history, but who knows what passion might be sparked with the right professor striking at the course’s issues. The problem is evident. Of the freshmen entering in the fall of 2003, an astounding 69 percent graduated in more than the desired four years, according to the UTA Fact Book. With 50 percent of UTA students changing majors at least once, one can’t help but think maybe we have an issue in wasted time with degree confusion. If you withhold from taking major
JACOB BECKER Jacob is a history freshman and columnist for The Shorthorn. Join the discussion by commenting at theshorthorn.com. courses until you have to, it provides you with a safety net against falling into that 69 percent of extended stay students. We all may love the idea of college life with no end, but there are few that would enjoy the stress of finals forever. By all means, do a little wandering in career ideas and enjoy a little degree sight seeing across semesters of core classes. And when asked what you are studying, reply, “a little bit of everything”, because that is exactly what we are meant to do as underclassmen. You might be accused of being indecisive, but the more of the academic world you experience now, the better you will know in which sphere you belong later. The Shorthorn: Thea Blesener
Where the heart is International student feels right at home in her new country
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tudy abroad. The buzzwords ring in many expectations and concerns. Anything ringing yet? I’m in a new country, a new education system, adjusting to new weather and atmosphere, meeting new people and adjusting to them, college life, freedom, fun and learning. When I decided to pursue higher education, I was making a change that would affect my whole life. I uprooted myself and adjusted to a new soil. But when I came here, I was not the only one overwhelmed by what I saw. There are so many international students, and each one is dealing with the same dilemmas while learning everything, going through changes — sometimes good and sometimes not so good. But I guess every learning and adjusting process was made more easy by the staff at UTA, who helps every student however they need. There was a fun element involved in learning this new culture as well as comparing it to what we were used to in our home countries. Being an international student, I often worry about leaving behind everything I knew, but let me share a story that happened at the Big Howdy event.
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Mark Bauer E-MAIL editor.shorthorn@uta.edu
DEEPIKA SANON Deepika is a business administration master’s student and guest columnist for The Shorthorn. Join the discussion by commenting at theshorthorn.com. There were so many people around from all over the world. It was so much fun, dressing up for the party, meeting peers, dancing and eating free food. But there was a common feeling to mingling with each other, trying to get to know the new culture and making new friends. I could feel the fun and frolic in the atmosphere with people dancing and getting a chance to just be themselves. I stood there enjoying all sorts of world music, then I heard Indian music. Slowly a small group started forming and people started dancing to Bollywood music. I was amazed by
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,
the people of this country. Not only Indians, but people from all over the world were dancing to the same tunes that I danced to in India. And while the disc jockey played the hottest tracks, one American guy asked me, “Is this a Punjabi beat,” and I said “Yes.” He knew so much about Punjabi songs. I was delighted as I explained what the song was about. As a friend and I were eating, an American girl started talking to us. She had gone to India to study Indian music and she spoke in flawless Hindi, my native language. She missed my home country more than me. She loved my country, the warmth and hospitality that she received while she was there. The feeling was mutual. I feel the same for my new country. Talking to her made me so nostalgic and I started wondering — am I out of my country, or is my country everywhere? I realized then that I am part of huge family called UTA. The world is shrinking and we all are sharing same platform for learning and growing. For me, no matter what country we belong to or what language we speak, we can always be one and stay in one place and be a big, happy family.
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-
phone number will not be published. Students should include their classification, major and their student ID number, which is for identification purposes. The student ID number will not be published. Signed columns and letters to the editor reflect the opinion of the writer and serve as an open forum for the expression of facts or opinions of interest to The Shorthorn’s readers.
Friday, January 29, 2010
Page 5
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1/29/10 1/30/10
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Instructions:
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Q: People lie, so before you sleep with a new partner, should you ask to see his or her STD test papers that prove he or she is clean, or just take the person’s word on it? Seems risky.
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Friday, January 29, 2010
The ShorThorn
Faculty/staFF
For associate professor, teaching is in the bones Rhonda Prisby came to the university after studying in France. by rachel snyder The Shorthorn staff
The Shorthorn: Rasy Ran
Thompson’s Omega symbols took six months to heal. “It’s respectable and understandable if you don’t want to do it,” he said.
Branding
sity of what went on. TCU’s policy doesn’t allow harming students. “It’s too early to tell if continued from page 1 this incident was related to at it as a cultural phenom- a student-sponsored activenon, we can start to de- ity,” the statement said, “but the health and safety of our construct hazing.” UTA has a zero-toler- students is of utmost imance hazing policy. If haz- portance to TCU.” TCU’s hazing policy ing were to happen at the university, everyone in- states that branding is volved would be held ac- prohibited. Hazing is also countable, Jones said. UTA against Texas state law. Sheila Johnson, Carter’s presents the hazing policy clearly to every student cousin, told The Shorthorn who goes through orienta- that she considers Carter’s tion and enters greek life. injury to be the result of a The university also holds crime. She said TCU isn’t liable for the inNational Hazing cident. Prevention Week. “Nobody deWith rush and “It’s not serves that,” she recruitment cur- something said. “No kid ever rently happening everybody deserves to be for the Panheltreated that way.” lenic Council and chooses to do. Johnson said other councils It’s respectable that by the docwithin the next tor’s estimate, at few weeks, par- and ents can review understandable least four to five people had to the policies on- if you don’t have held Carter line or with the down, as severe Parent and Fam- want to do it.” as his burns were. ily Center. “ Te c h n i c a l l y Jones said Quinton thompson Omega Psi Phi this qualifies as a if education fraternity chapter hazing incident,” on hazing was president she said. “I don’t brought forth know what you earlier in grade school, he thinks college would call it, other than students would be better sheer brutalization. We just hope that he’ll be able to off and more informed. “Hazing is often sys- move on with his life.” Thompson said what tematic,” he said. “It’s the hardest to deconstruct. happened to Carter was If you asked anyone why wrong. “Hazing is not acceptthey hazed, they probably couldn’t tell you much more able,” he said. “It’s very than that’s what was done unfortunate for this young to their brothers before man. He can’t take that back. He will have that them.” TCU Communications burn for the rest of his life.” director Lisa Albert released a statement saying that TCU is investigating the incident after Carter’s Joan KhalaF news-editor.shorthorn@uta.edu family informed the univer-
Water continued from page 1
steps taken to make the water better would probably convince me to start drinking from my tap.” The data collected for the study was the largest of its kind, said Jane Houlihan, vice president for research for the environmental group. Houlihan said it was necessary to look into the nation’s tap water closely because regulations are not as thorough as they should be. The city’s recent partnership with Water Research Foundation will lead to better water treatment, Hunt said. The city uses ozone purifiers as a primary disinfectant and biological filtration
to remove contaminants from water. The biological filters are comprised of sand, gravel and granular activated carbon that allow growth of specific organisms to help remove organic contaminants. Pharmaceuticals and personal care products found in tap water are difficult to remove because they don’t break down as easily as organic substances, said Ron LeBlanc, Water Research Foundation project manager. The city is looking into reverse osmosis as an alternative technique, he said. Reverse osmosis pushes pressurized water against a permeable membrane that contains microscopic pores, allowing only clean water to pass through. Arlington continues to regularly test and develop ways
Kinesiology associate professor Rhonda Prisby started her undergraduate degree in 1992. Eighteen years and several degrees later, she’s teaching at UTA. Prisby started at the university last semester and teaches introduction to exercise science while continuing her research in bone microcirculation. Her research looks at how blood flow to the bone is associated with disease states. Prisby said she originally wanted to go into physical therapy, but started as an art student at Hiram College in Ohio where she grew up. Her love of physiology and sports, particularly basketball, drew her into kinesiology. But she said she still enjoys oil painting and sculpting. Prisby earned a master’s degree in exercise physiology from Kent State University in 1997 and received her doctorate at Louisiana State University in 2002. While completing her master’s degree, she looked at bone micro-circulation in humans. She began working with rats while working on her doctorate because she could observe and collect more measurements from rats than from humans. Afterwards, she did two post-doctoral fellowships, one at Texas A&M University in bone micro-circulation and one at the Université de Lyon in Saint Étienne, France, where she studied bone remodeling for 2 1/2 years. Prisby said she chose France because she wanted to learn more about skeletal tissue after studying micro-circulation. She found training opportunities at the French university that expanded her research skills in skeletal tissue and micro-circulation. “The two post-docs I did were very critical to my development as a scientist,” she said. She said after the two postdoctorates, she was ready for a faculty position, and the previous Kinesiology Department
The Shorthorn: Raziq Brown
Kinesiology associate professor Rhonda Prisby was hired last semester in the Kinesiology Department. She teaches introduction to exercise science and researches bone biology.
chair encouraged her to apply at UTA. Nursing junior Nargis Ali attends Prisby’s introduction to exercise science class and said it’s interesting and helpful for students wanting to go into health care. Ali said she’s already learned why exercise is so important and how to accurately take blood pressure. “Dr. Prisby is very understanding and wants you to interact with her,” she said.
“She recaps the notes she just stated and always asks if we have any questions.” Kinesiology Chair Louise Fincher said Prisby’s uniqueness to the department is that she was the first to set up an animal lab to study bone micro-circulation in rats. She said that some of what Prisby is studying could affect the future treatment of osteoporosis in humans. Prisby is one of six faculty members in the department
to complete a post-doctorate fellowship, she said. Fincher said Prisby has already submitted three large grant applications since September to help the department’s efforts to increase research and its ability to obtain grant funding. “She has a bright future in the University, as well as in our department,” Fincher said. rachel snyder news-editor.shorthorn@uta.edu
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to monitor its water in compliance with Environmental Protection Agency guidelines, Hunt said. The Shorthorn: Aisha Butt
John harden news-editor.shorthorn@uta.edu
Accounting junior Joshua Sherrill drinks from the water fountain Thursday night at the University Center. Arlington’s tap water ranked number one among 100 cities in the nation.
Jansma continued from page 1
she said. Jansma is scheduled to speak on Feb. 11 at UTA about her research. Her talk will focus on Haiti, how they knew a magnitude 7.0 was likely and what they know now. The methods used included data collected from 1994 to 2005 at GPS sites throughout the Caribbean region where GPS receivers are installed. Researchers also look through historical documents for descriptions of the ground shaking and how much destruction was caused. Accounts from different locations help scientists locate the epicenter of a past seismic event. This is one way they were able to estimate the location of the impending quake. These accounts are often sketchy, according to Jansma, but help determine the
severity of quakes in the past, and also to triangulate the approximate location of the epicenter. Based on these accounts, the last major quake in Haiti was in 1751 and was estimated to be 7.5. The paper states that a period of 570710 years would be needed to accumulate the tension necessary for a similar event, but that a quake of 7.2 magnitude or less was possible at that time. Much of the post-quake devastation in Haiti is due to economic and cultural factors, said geology department chair John Wickham. “The problem in Haiti, and in many undeveloped countries, is that people are living at a subsitence level and cannot afford to protect themselves from natural disasters,” he said. “No one who is familiar with earthquakes in poor countries is surprised at the Haitian devastation.”
Justin sharp news-editor.shorthorn@uta.edu