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T E X A S
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Wednesday February 16, 2011
Volume 92, No. 76 www.theshorthorn.com
Since 1919
Easy on the breaks
Setting her own course
A tax break on textbooks may be helpful, but the state needs the money more, columnist says. OPINION | PAGE 4
Public relations junior Liz Bartelson’s love for volleyball drives her to overcome setbacks and bring back the volleyball club. SPORTS | PAGE 6
ENROLLMENT
Quality upheld despite growth BY JOHN HARDEN The Shorthorn senior staff
Laura Garcia uses University College’s tutoring resources twice a week to help her with schoolwork. The nursing sophomore has to maintain a 3.0 GPA or higher to be accepted into the
university’s nursing program and relies on student services to help. President James Spaniolo said in a university forum Friday that University leaders have made it their mission to keep student services strong, benefiting students like Garcia amidst record enrollment and the unknown future of Texas’ 2012-13 budget. On Tuesday, the university reported an enrollment record
of 33,788, a 17.3 percent increase from spring 2010, a record achieved through increased retention and distance education classes, said Provost Donald Bobbitt. In a statement issued to the State Finance Committee in Austin last Wednesday, Spaniolo said rapid enrollment, reduced state funding and reduced financial aid is a toxic combination for students. However, with the 82nd
Legislature still in session, and the budget projection not definite, the university remains optimistic about its enrollment growth. “Enrollment in all class levels is up, which is a result of our retention and recruiting efforts,” Bobbitt said. “I don’t know if you’ve ever walked around the campus, but it’s popping.” ENROLL continues on page 3
Students school faculty, staff Students win, 32-28, in friendly game BY BIANCA MONTES The Shorthorn Staff
With less than 10 seconds on the board, Dannie Moore, Multicultural Affairs assistant director, made his last attempt across the court with the ball in his hands. As he went for the shot, business graduate student Everett Walker stole the ball and the buzzer rang. Students beat faculty and staff, 32-28, Tuesday night at the Maverick Activities Center basketball courts as a part of a face-off for Spirit Week. Zack Kulesz, Alumni Membership and Marketing assistant director, said the game was a good way for students to get to know faculty and staff. “It should have been part of homecoming,” said Lauren Miller, conference and marketing services coordinator. Miller, who was joined by colleagues, spent the game rooting for faculty and staff and playing defense from the SPIRIT continues on page 5
40,000 30,000 Enrollment totals
Spaniolo: UTA will not compromise resources because of new records.
33,788 28,813 24,167
20,000 10,000
2009
2010 2011 Spring semesters
Pell Grant availability could see reductions BY J.C. DERRICK The Shorthorn senior staff
Traivs Boren, Athletics Marketing and Promotions coordinator, dives to keep possession of the ball in the Faculty and Staff vs. Students Basketball Game at the Maverick Activities Center on Tuesday. The students won 32-28.
“I didn’t know they were going to put up such a fight.”
Spring 2011 enrollment has jumped 17.3% from spring 2010. Provost Donald Bobbitt attributes the growth to increased retention and distance education classes.
FINANCIAL AID
Recipients would have to find more sources for education funding.
The Shorthorn: Sandy Kurtzman
A GROWING TREND
The Federal Pell Grant program plays a critical role in students’ pursuit of degrees. Computer engineering junior Brent Burns said he wouldn’t have been able to enroll at UTA without the help of the grant because his family’s combined income is less than $20,000. “I think it’s a right to have a free education if your family can’t afford it,” he said. Under a new proposal by President Barack Obama, students like Burns may find college education tougher to
fund. Obama introduced his budget draft for fiscal year 2012 this week and includes financial aid reforms that could eliminate summer Pell Grants. The budget would end a program that subsidizes loans for graduate students. If the proposal is approved, interest would accrue while students complete graduate studies. “All of this is significant,” said Karen Krause, financial aid executive director. “It’s going to be up to the individual student, but they’ll have to look at the award we’re able to make and see if [attending summer classes] is something they feel like they can do.” GRANTS continues on page 3
Everett Walker,
business graduate student
STUDENT LIFE MORE SPIRIT WEEK EVENTS WEDNESDAY Blue Out Game: Men’s Basketball vs. Stephen F. Austin • 7 p.m. at Texas Hall. • The UTA Ambassadors will be decked out in UTA gear Wednesday night at the Blue Out Game in Texas Hall. • Mr. and Ms. UTA will sing the fight song and pass out free Tshirts to the first 250 students at the game. THURSDAY MAVmazing Race [Also known as the Amazing Race] • 6 p.m. at The Gallery. • The UTA Ambassadors will host a race throughout campus, where contestants work their way to the finish
1 year later: Memories and tears
by answering questions about UTA trivia. • There is no need to sign up, just show up before 6 p.m. FRIDAY Spirit banner signing • Noon University Center mall. • Students are encouraged to come out to the University Center mall Friday to add their signature and legacy to the Spirit Banner that will be displayed during Homecoming weekend. The Shorthorn: Allyson Kaler
Sources: Mr. UTA Ricky Irving and Ms. UTA Miriam Zehaie
Jeff Hazelrigs, Student Congress Program director, right, helps up Melanie Johnson, Student Governance and Organizations graduate intern, at the Faculty and Staff vs. Student Basketball Game on Tuesday evening in the Maverick Activities Center. Students won the game by a final score of 32-28.
RESEARCH
Departments collaborate on research Proximity of professors will foster cooperation, engineering dean says. BY JOHN HARDEN The Shorthorn senior staff
When Chaoqun Liu needed help understanding the cause
and effects of turbulence on aircrafts during flight, the mathematics professor sought help from the College of Engineering. He turned to the mechanical and aerospace engineering department to help fill in the missing details his numbers
could not solve. “Every department has weaknesses. I’m a numbers man. I know numbers,” he said. “Departments have to rely on another if it wants to fill in missing data.” Liu is the Center for Numerical Simulation and Mod-
eling director, a research group of mathematics, biology, mechanical and aerospace engineering faculty members, that provides services to organizations like NASA, the Air Force and Navy. RESEARCH continues on page 3
the paper scraps folded between the pages, reading her daughter’s old notes even more carefully than the author’s words. BY SARAH LUTZ “Her writing from those The Shorthorn staff books are amazing, and Every indication shows that gives me some comGladys Barrientos still lives fort, being in her room in her old bedroom on gives me peace,” Rosa the second floor Barrientos said. of her family’s “Little things like home on Armthat, it’s the only strong Drive. Her thing we have.” dresser drawers Among the deremain unkempt, tails of the room, her clothes scatit’s clear that the tered about and 21-year-old is her books tucked not returning to on the top shelf of her room or her her closet. mother’s life. The Gladys Barrientos, Her moth- psychology student emptiness creer, Rosa, often who died Feb. 4, ated by Gladys’ spends time there 2010 death on Feb. 4, reading the UTA 2010, may never psychology student’s cop- be filled her, mother said, ies of Tuesdays with Mor- but she hopes her family rie and Randy Pausch’s lecture series, pulling out MEMORIES continues on page 5
Feb. 4 marks the anniversary of Gladys Barrientos’ death.