T H E
U N I V E R S I T Y
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T E X A S
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A R L I N G T O N
Tuesday March 29, 2011
Volume 92, No. 95 www.theshorthorn.com
Since 1919
Keeping it glassy
INDEX
Art department will hold its annual glass art sale this Friday to raise funds for its renowned glass program. SCENE | PAGE 4
Calendar 2 Police report 2 World View 3 Classifieds 5 News 3,5,6
ENGINEERING
UTA to match $550,000 in alumni endowments The donations will help pay for scholarships and professorships. BY JOHN HARDEN The Shorthorn senior staff
UTA will double two engineering alumni’s donations of a combined $550,000, which
will be used to help finance the college’s efforts and services. Alumnus Jeff Smith, ’88, donated $50,000 and Mike Greene, ’69, donated $500,000 to the college. The university will use the Maverick Match program to double donations more than
$25,000, bringing the total to $1.1 million. Smith and Greene were the first to provide gift commitments to the college, and Engineering Dean Bill Carroll said it is working on securing more gifts that will help fund the college. “Endowments provide a
source of funds for the college that can help fund scholarships, professorships and our distinguished speaker series,” Carroll said. The gifts can be used to help free an institution from dependency on external DONATIONS continues on page 5
Communication assistant professor hopes to become a US citizen today
The Shorthorn: Aisha Butt
JUGGLING MORE THAN CLASSES Biochemistry junior Michael Ivison juggles pins between classes Monday on the Central Library mall. Ivison said he saw a juggling act at Scarborough Fair two years ago and decided to try it and has been doing it ever since. “I can pretty much juggle three of anything at a reasonable size. I’ve even juggled knives once,” he said.
SCIENCE
New crocodile species found at local dig site A high school student discovered the bones while using a tractor. BY ASHLEY BRADLEY The Shorthorn staff The Shorthorn: Sandy Kurtzman
Communication assistant professor Sasha Grant holds her son, Dominic, as she studies for her citizenship test at home on Monday. Grant says family is important to her, and being closer to her sisters, who live in the U.S., was a deciding factor for her move.
TEST OF A LIFETIME What might seem like an ordinary Tuesday to some people could be the day Sasha Grant can call herself an American citizen, if she passes her U.S. citizenship exam. The communication assistant professor has been waiting 19 years, since first applying for her visa to become a U.S. citizen in 1992. “There are thousands of people applying every day for visas, which is why the waiting list is so horrendous,” she said. “But I’ve had a great experience so far.” The number one problem is the length of time the total process takes, she said. A part of the process includes paperwork, fees, interviews, medical examinations, shots and extensive background checks. Prospective citizens must live in the U.S. for five years before they can apply
“The right to vote is what I’m most excited about. I have to wait for the next elections coming up, but as soon as I have the right to do so, I will,” Sasha Grant,
Communication assistant professor
to be a lawful permanent resident. Grant was born in Suva, Fiji, a Southern Pacific island. Because her mother worked for Canadian Pacific Air Lines and her father worked for the New Zealand Embassy, she grew up in a travel-loving and culturallyaware family. “I was exposed to people from all parts of the world,” she said. “[My sisters and I] CITIZEN continues on page 3
SPECIES continues on page 3
CAN YOU PASS THE TEST? As part of the process to become a citizen, applicants must answer up to 10 civics questions. Six out of 10 questions must be answered correctly to pass the test. See if you would pass the test with the sample questions below. 1. What is the Supreme law of the land?
6. What is the highest court in the United States?
2. Name one branch or part of the government.
7. What are the two major political parties in the United States?
3. How many U.S. Senators are there?
8. Name one right only for United States citizens.
4. We elect a President for how many years?
9. What is one reason colonists came to America?
5. In what month do we vote for President?
10. Who lived in American before the Europeans arrived? Source: Uscis.gov
6. the Supreme Court 7. Democratic and Republican 8. Vote in a federal election, run for federal office 9. freedom, political liberty, religious freedom, economic opportunity, practice their religion, escape persecution 10. American Indians, Native Americans
The Shorthorn staff
Answers 1. the Constitution 2. Congress, legislative, President, executive, the courts, judicial 3. 100 4. 4 5. November
BY STEPHANIE KNEFEL
Without even knowing it, Austin Motheral, Richland High School junior, uncovered a new species of crocodile at the Arlington Archosaur Site. “We were just out there to move dirt out of the way with the tractor,” he said. “I hollered at my dad to stop
moving the tractor because I started to see bones.” Motheral said he started to uncover bone after bone until he felt overwhelmed. “It got to be too much for me to handle so we called Derek,” he said. Derek Main, geology lecturer and the Arlington Archosaur dig site’s director, is currently working to publish a paper naming the new species, which will be named after its finder, Mo-
ARLINGTON
Resident discusses issues with natural gas wells near home Energy president and education council refute concerns. BY ALI AMIR MUSTANSIR The Shorthorn senior staff
Arlington resident Jane Lynn didn’t know much about gas well drilling until it started two blocks from her home about two years ago. Chesapeake Energy operates the well site near High-
way 360 and Sublett Road, close to the Lynn household. Lynn said she vividly remembers the first time the site affected her. She said the neighborhood children, including her daughter, were outside playing when they began complaining about a smell. “It was choking,” she said. “I felt like I was choking on fumes.” GAS continues on page 5