T H E
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Monday February 28, 2011
Volume 92, No. 82 www.theshorthorn.com
Since 1919
Demon’s inferno
GOP violates rights
Women’s basketball team falls to Northwestern State, but still keeps SLC tourney hopes alive. SPORTS | PAGE 6
Attack on Planned Parenthood is an attack on women’s OPINION | PAGE 4 rights, guest columnist says.
HOMECOMING
STUDENT GOVERNANCE
Officials weigh in on concealed controversy Student Congress votes Tuesday on concealed carry, following last Thursday’s forum
THE BILL • The bill would allow citizens with a concealed handgun license to carry weapons on college and university campuses. • 81 of 150 Texas House members have signed on as co-authors.
The Shorthorn: Aisha Butt
Homecoming king mechanical engineering junior Omar Rosales and queen Ms. UTA Miriam Zehaie share a look after accepting their crowns Saturday afternoon in Texas Hall.
Weekend keeps traditions alive Homecoming 2011 started with a Boom at Noon and ended with the Women’s Basketball game and the Movin’ Mavs’ Alumni Game. Mechanical engineering senior Omar Rosales and Miriam Zehaie, Ms. UTA and interdisciplinary studies education junior, are this year’s Homecoming king and queen. The two were crowned during half time during Saturday’s Homecoming basketball game against North-
western State. See page 6 for the recap. Check out page 2 for quick hits and photos covering some of this year’s events, like the Golf Cart Parade, Step Show and The Bash. The complete stories and videos are available at TheShorthorn.com. Also online are our photo galleries of the Golf Cart Parade and Chili Cook Off. Were you at the events with your camera? Share your Homecoming experiences at TheShorthorn.com.
ENGINEERING
Officials aim to improve black enrollment Trend isn’t just at UTA, also reflects nationally, says official. BY JOHN HARDEN The Shorthorn senior staff
The number of black students pursuing an engineering degree continues to stagger, making up about 5 to 6 percent of the college’s enrollment for the last five years. This trend for blacks in en-
gineering is fueling the state and country to place more emphasis on math and science in grade schools. Out of the 3,683 students in the College of Engineering, about 250 black students make up about 6 percent of the college’s enrollment. This isn’t just a UTA trend, but a national trend, said Calvin Phelps, National Society of ENGINEER continues on page 3
CAMPUS SAFETY
BY BIANCA MONTES The Shorthorn staff
An interactive photo exhibit will capture the different faces of Mavericks at the fourth annual Diversity Week today. Hosts Multicultural Affairs, the Office for Students With Disabilities and cohost EXCEL Campus Activities in-
.25 PER 100,000
per 100,000 citizens over the same period.
75
19
Students are times more likely to have their cars stolen away from campus than on campus.
“The purpose is personal protection. They’re not carrying so they can act like amateur one-man SWAT teams.” Scott Lewis,
Legislative Director for Students for Concealed Carry on Campus
PERCEPTIONS OF CRIME AT UTA Last March UTAPD released findings based on an e-mail survey sent to 25,000 campus wide. The 250 respondents said the following:
49% of respondents are more fearful of crime on campus than off, but overall most respondents expressed a low level of fear.
64% of respondents felt safe on campus, generally - most noticeably during the day (80%).
55% do not feel safer on campus than in their home neighborhoods.
81% of respondents claimed they do not have a concealed handgun license.
Of those licensed, 53% say they would carry on campus if allowed.
30% say they feel safer if citizens who are licensed to carry were allowed to carry on campus.
WHAT DO YOU THINK? What are your views on concealed carry on campus? Let us know by commenting, writing letters to the editor and taking our poll. It’s all online at theshorthorn.com.
Exhibit to capture diverse faces vite students, faculty and staff to have their pictures taken during the week in the University Center Gallery. “We didn’t want diversity to be divided based on race and ethnicity,” Multicultural Affairs director Leticia Martinez said. “We wanted to encompass as many aspects of diversity as we could.” Groups of two or three are welcome to demonstrate their cross-cultural friendships and relationships, she said. “We wanted to encompass
1.6 ROBBERIES PER 10,000 students. The rest of Arlington averaged 174.53
the students, compared with 5-6 per 100,000 nvited m i s s e r ong foru C people across the country. a t o n t e Stud mmunity dents u t s o c UTA d to inform of allowe y Students are times more likely design e possibilit uns to be to be victims of an aggravated assault h g t about cealed hand off campus than on campus. n . ing co on campus um panelr carried hursday, fo ted speakT s llot On heir a ing variou QUOTEWORTHY t t n e t p s a n t e s s s ist y re me p mpus safet 750, i t g a in B “We do not want bout c s of H facts a egal analysi ealed Hand guns on campus. l c e tistics, Texas Con es compar There are too n w n li and ho ense guide audience i c n e i many risks gun L r states. Th re was the , t s e a n h e t o h i o involved.” T est to osebud submit qu nt Conthe R e Chidinma Ike d to he y Stud allowe ere read b swered by t of Nursing junior and Student w n Congress Nursing senator which aders and a 30 minutes re e e gress l or the final , senators w d f panel m. Afterwar ues on page 5 u tin r n o o the f ALED c CONCE
orth The Sh
STUDENT LIFE
Faculty, staff and students can pose in groups to showcase differences.
From 2007 to 2009, UTA averaged
According to the U.S. Department of Education, in 2008 the homicide rate on college campuses was
DERRICK BY J.C. orn senior staff
Statistics presented at the forum
as many aspects of diversity from gender and religion, ability, socioeconomic status and sexual orientation,” Martinez said. The gallery will be open for viewing from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. until Sunday. The photos will also be available for viewing on the Multicultural Affairs’ website. Multicultural Affairs did something similar last year when the Diversity Lecture Series hosted an appearDIVERSITY continues on page 5
JOIN THE EXHIBIT Photographers will be on hand, per schedule, to take pictures of pairs or a group of three for the exhibit at the University Center Gallery. 1-4 p.m. Today 12:15-3:30 p.m. and 5:307:30 p.m. Tuesday
CAMPUS RECREATION
More options spur increased involvement Movin’ Mavs Adapted Sport program offers swimming, hand-cycling. BY CHRIS BATES The Shorthorn staff
3-4:30 p.m. Wednesday 12:30-5:30 p.m. Thursday 11:45 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Friday Source: Multicultural Affairs website
Movin’ Mavs Adapted Sport program grew to 150 students from last year. The number is an increase from the year before, said Doug Garner, Movin’ Mavs head coach. Garner said participa-
tion has increased because of new options like adapted swimming and handcycling events. The program was created to give students with disabilities more opportunities for university involvement. It is open to students with or without disabilities. Garner said the program gives able-bodied students who are looking at careers working with SPORT continues on page 3