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Friday February 5, 2010
Volume 91, No. 70 www.theshorthorn.com
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Columnist Jacob Beeker explains what he doesn’t understand about fraternities. OPINION | PAGE 4
STUDENT ORGANIZATIONS
A somber journey though history
PARKING
Save time by using shuttle The UTA Shuttle Service operates free to students, faculty, staff and visitors Monday-Friday from 7:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m. BY SHARAYAH SHERROD The Shorthorn staff
While throngs of drivers played vehicular musical chairs in parking lots Thursday, Erika Ware relaxed under the
cover of the shuttle stop, waiting for her peaceful ride to school. “I’d rather just take the trolley than waste my gas or try to fight for a parking spot,” the kinesiology junior said as she waited for the shuttle by Maverick Stadium where she parked her car. She said taking the shuttle is quick, easy and a good option for students, especially with the special events center
Students look at different aspects of black history as part of A Crystal Stair: “Journey Through Oppression.”
construction drawing closer. The UTA Shuttle Service operates at no charge to students, faculty, staff and visitors Monday through Friday from 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. “I’m surprised more people don’t ride the trolley,” Ware said. “It’s pretty quick because it’s every 15 minutes. It may be PARKING continues on page 6
FINDING THEIR WAY
BY DUSTIN L. DANGLI The Shorthorn news editor
It began with a slave being sold on a podium. Business finance freshman Chris Cheek, dressed in tattered clothes and ripped jeans, was the first sight for students walking through a gauntlet of black oppression. Psychology senior Chassidy Young said seeing Cheek portray a slave on sale set the somber tone right for the second Black History Month event on campus. The African Student Organization, National Association for the Advancement of Colored People UTA chapter and Black Student Association collaborated to put together A Crystal Stair: “Journey Through Oppression.” Cheek said he was uncomfortable about playing a slave but decided it was worth it for people to see the value of human life. The event had visitors walk through a path that showcased three segments of black oppression in history. The eras were the Ku Klux Klan and the Lynching Era, Jim Crow and The Little Rock Nine, and police brutality and the L.A. race riots. The event flowed in chronological order, all were major times that defined black oppression. Carla Christle, NAACP UTA chapter president, said the groups chose the time periods for various reasons. The first was for people’s lack
University Corps of Cadets learn the ropes of land navigation during a lab at River Legacy Park.
CRYSTAL continues on page 6
Top left: Cadets took a written exam to prepare themselves for land navigation in College Hall Thursday afternoon. History senior Travis Hallman announces the time is up for cadets to find their given plot points Thursday evening at River Legacy Park. Cadets were given a map and compass and required to find five locations within the woods of River Legacy.
U The Shorthorn: Will LaVoncher
Kinesiology senior Ijeoma Onwuchekwa is a victim to the Ku Klux Klan during a re-enactment performed for Black History Month on Thursday. The African Student Organization drama team demonstrated the oppression of African-Americans during the Lynching Era, when groups such as the Ku Klux Klan killed over 2,000 people.
sing only maps, compasses and protractors, cadets trudged through mud and under dripping branches in River Legacy Park Thursday. Some had pants soaked up past their knees from puddles. Others were mudstained. Despite the cold and rainy weather throughout most of the day, the Corps of Cadets held their first land navigation lab at the northern Arlington park from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. The cadets put to practice the map-reading skills and techniques they learned in class, making the move
from classwork to field training. Seniors plotted points on three different courses for the freshman, sophomore and junior cadets to locate with only a map and basic navigational tools. Water and first aid were available throughout the lab. Earl Thomas Simpson, junior cadet staff sergeant, who participated in one of the courses, said he was positive about the experience in spite of the cold and rain. “If we can learn how to find points even
“I haven’t done this before. Now I’m getting my feet wet.” Louie Glanton, Senior Battalion S3
ROTC continues on page 3
STORY BY ALYSIA R. BROOKS | PHOTOS BY AISHA BUTT
CRIME
EVENTS
Five bicycles reported stolen
Tickets for Magic Johnson’s speech are sold out
The thefts occurred during the first three weeks of the semester, and police urge students to register their bikes. BY CHASE WEBSTER The Shorthorn staff
Five bicycles have been reported stolen on campus within the first three weeks of the semester, according to UTA Police. Three of the bikes were reported stolen from bike racks outside of student dorms, one was reported stolen from the bike rack outside of the health center, and one was reported missing after the student returned from winter break. None of the five bicycles have yet to be recovered. Assistant Police Chief Rick Gomez said none of the bikes
were properly secured. Gomez said recovered bikes are usually found in pawnshops after the thief has sold them. He said not everyone on campus is affiliated with the university, and it doesn’t take much to steal a bike. “Students should make sure they are locking their bikes with suitable locks,” he said. “Lock your bike to a fixed object and the odds of it getting stolen go down.” Electrical engineering freshman Colton Sessler said he had his first bike stolen in November when it was locked to a bike rack outside Trinity Hall. He said the theft would not have happened if he had a better lock. “People warned me that someone could THEFTS continues on page 6
Tickets for Earvin “Magic” Johnson’s Sullivan said an autograph or bookFeb. 11 speech have sold out. signing portion isn’t planned The free tickets, which are with the speech. required for most Maverick She said the university has Speaker Series speeches, had all seen other speakers and events been called for earlier this week, sell out within four weeks like university spokeswoman Kristin Johnson’s, and it shows how imSullivan said. portant events like this are for Johnson will be speaking to the community. a full Texas Hall, which houses Tickets for the next speakers 2,700 seats. in the series are still available. “He’s a popular speaker, and Earvin “Magic” Sally Ride, the first American people want to hear what he has Johnson woman in space, will speak on to say,” Sullivan said. Feb. 15 followed by legal analyst The NBA Hall of Famer will Jeffrey Toobin on March 24. speak about his book 32 Ways to Be a Champion in Business, and copies will be available for purchase. – Dustin L. Dangli