02.01.17

DW

Students sue city, ABOR for hit and run

BY RANDALL ECK @reck999

DAILYWILDCAT.COM

Wednesday February 1, 2017 ­ Thursday February 2, 2017 VOLUME 110 ISSUE 53

NEWS | PAGE 2

Against the odds, Parks finds NFL success

TUCSON J BEGINS LECTURE SERIES FOR COMMUNITY MEMBERS ABOUT CANCER

pg. 6

COURTESY ERIC LARS BAKKE

DENVER BRONCOS’ WILL PARKS on defense during first quarter action against the Indianapolis Colts in the NFL game at Sports Authority Field in Denver, Colorado, Sept. 18, 2016.

SPORTS | PAGE 14

ARTS & LIFE

UA students Alyssa Belder and Sydney Schneider are suing the Arizona Board of Regents, the City of Tucson, Gerald Taylor and others for a hit and run that occurred at a crosswalk for the intersection of Fifth Street and Euclid Avenue around 5:55 p.m. on Sept. 5, 2015.

Taylor, who at the time of his arrest was suspected for driving drunk, hit four pedestrians in the incident. Three individuals, including Schneider, were released after short stays in Banner-University Medical Center Tucson.

Belder remained in the hospital under critical care with life-threatening injuries. It was reported she spent 24 hours in a medically-induced coma and suffered head trauma and a broken pelvis.

Taylor, who reportedly had three children in the vehicle at the time of the collision, fled the scene and called the police from a WalMart parking lot where he was later taken into custody

by Tucson police.

At the time of the incident, Belder and Schneider were both freshmen on campus and lived in the Coronado Residence Hall.

The lawsuit, filed Aug. 25, 2016, claims “the lights for the new lighted crosswalk were installed but not operating.

Belder, Schneider and their friends had never used the crosswalk before, but Katherine Dufficy

LAWSUIT, 3

SCIENCE

WILDCATS HEAD TO OREGON IN HOPES OF CONTINUING PAC-12 WINNING STREAK, BESTING DUCKS

Gem and Jammin’ with art and music

Finding six traits for evolutionary success

The annual Gem and Jam Festival is coming to Pima County Fairgounds from Feb. 2-5. The event will feature performances by electronic musical groups, art gallery installations, visual performers, food vendors and workshops.

READ MORE, 10

What came first: the chicken or the egg? The answer to this adage may never be known, but a team of UA researchers are trying to figure out if animals first developed eyes then walked on land, or the other way around.

READ MORE, 9

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Wednesday — Thursday Feb. 1 ­­— Feb. 2 Page 2

NEWS

Editor: Nick Meyers news@dailywildcat.com (520) 621-7579

Tucson J presents lecture series on cancer

BY MARISSA HEFERNAN @_mheffernan

The Tucson Jewish Community Center and the UA Cancer Center have teamed up to put on a four-month educational lecture series called “Bear Down. Beat Cancer.”

The series, which is free and open to the public, will cover topics from head and neck cancer to a preventative diet. The lectures will be at the Tucson J, 3800 E. River Road on the first Thursday of each month, February through May. Each lecture will be will be 45 minutes, with time for questions after, starting at 6:30 p.m.

Amy Dowe, fitness director at the Tucson J, said this lecture series is part of the Tucson J’s long-term goal to bringing people together and provide education and awareness in all areas of health.

“Primarily, we really want to be able to educate the community, make them aware of the knowledge that’s out there,” Dowe said. “We’re always looking to educate the community on different topics, and this one is going to apply to so many people.”

The Tucson J did a lecture series with the Pima Council on Aging, ran a series called “Brain Matters in Neurology” on cognitive topics and worked with the Tucson Orthopaedic Institute for a series on bones, joints and the spine, but Dowe said this series on cancer will be of interest to many more people.

“I’m feeling very optimistic about the turnout, being that this is something that really affects everybody,” Dowe said. “You’re going to be able to get a lot of information, whether you have cancer or a friend or family member does.”

Cody Cassidy, director of communications and public affairs at the UA Cancer Center, agreed this topic is broad in its scope.

“Cancer directly affects one in three people,” Cassidy said. “Since a lot of people are affected, it’s a relevant topic,

but there’s not a whole lot of information available to the public for those not affected. The idea is to share on a general level what cancer is and what research and treatments are happening.”

Cassidy said the Cancer Center chose to partner with the Tucson J because they saw it as a great way to connect their researchers and clinicians to the community.

“They are a well-respected organization in the community,” Cassidy said. “They do a lot of health and wellness programs, so we’re really working with their efforts.”

Dowe said the Tucson J prides itself on just that.

“A lot of people know the J as being a great center for community, and there’s a lot of knowledge and education here,” Dowe said.

“A lot of people come to us to partner with us, to have a place to host these programs.”

The first lecture, on Feb. 2, is called “From Bench to Bedside: Translating Cancer Research into Clinical Patient Care” by Andrew Kraft, director of the UA Cancer Center and associate vice president for UA health sciences oncology programs.

It will focus on how knowledge can be turned into clinical application. Cassidy said getting information about new treatments out to the public is very important, especially with the vast improvements since 1971, when then-President Richard Nixon started his “war on cancer.”

“If you think about how far both science and technology have come along in the past 40 or 50 years, it’s the same thing with cancer treatment and research,” Cassidy said. “We now have a deeper understanding of what cancer is, that cancer is not just one disease but a hundred different diseases.

We’ve identified treatments, we’ve developed drugs that can target specific cancers, we’ve developed screening measures and also preventative measures.”

Partnerships like this start when different organizations reach out to the Tucson J,

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Dowe said. From there, it’s just planning and logistics.

“We met with the UA Cancer Center, along with their marketing team, to find times and days and decide what room would work best for this kind of lecture,” Dowe said. “Then they put together who’s going to be speaking when.”

Cassidy called the Tucson J “a great partner,” saying everything has been going smoothly and easily.

Some of that is thanks to Dowe’s experience hosting these type of events.

She said the key to a successful series is consistency—doing the lectures on same night, time and location, so people become familiar with it.

“A lot of people come to the first one and then they want to keep coming,” Dowe said.

“The only thing we’ve changed with this series is we’re hitting the evening hours as opposed to the early morning hours we usually do, to reach those who have to work.”

Both the Tucson J and the Cancer Center advertise the events, Dowe said.

“They make their flier and we send them our logo to put on it, and we publish it from our end and blast it out to the community,” Dowe said. “They advertise it, we advertise it, it’s a great partnership.”

Dowe said one of the best parts about these lectures is how they build on each other.

“The way the Cancer Center laid the series out is that you can drop into any of the lectures, but it’s also progressive,” Dowe said.

“You won’t find the same information twice.”

The rest of the lecture schedule can be found online.

THE DAILY WILDCAT • SPRING 2017

Editor-in-Chief Sam Gross editor@dailywildcat.com

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AMBER RAMIREZ/THE DAILY WILDCAT

A VIEW OF THE UA Cancer Center located on campus on Jan. 27. The first talk of the Tucson J’s “Bear Down. Beat Cancer” series will feature UA Cancer Center Director Andrew Kraft.

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The Daily Wildcat • 3

News • Wednesday, February 1-Thursday, February 2, 2017

UA Army ROTC wins 5th Brigade award

BY JORDAN TREECE @DailyWildcat

BRANDI WALKER/THE DAILY WILDCAT

A UA STUDENT CROSSES at the site where Alyssa Belder and Sydney Schneider were hit by a drunk driver on Euclid Avenue in 2015. Two other girls were injured in the accident.

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Ebell was also nominated and awarded the Kilbourne Award for Leadership, which is awarded to the second lieutenant in each course who demonstrates excellence in leadership and strong potential for service in the U.S. Army.

Two other cadets in the class of 2015-2016 were distinguished military graduates ranked in the top 10 percent of the nation. All of the cadets who helped contribute to the award are now commissioned in the Army.

The Wildcat Battalion has plans to win this prestigious award in the future.

“We wish to uphold this form of excellence in the years to come by producing great officers for the U.S. Army,” Barnett said. “We hope to take the award home again next January.”

pressed the button to illuminate the lighted crosswalk and the group attempted to cross the street, according to the lawsuit.

The lawsuit says Taylor was driving north on Euclid Avenue and “failed to operate the vehicle in a reasonable manner and did so carelessly, recklessly, and negligently operate the vehicle as to strike the plaintiffs while in the crosswalk, causing a collision and catastrophic injuries.”

The lawsuit claims the City of Tucson and the regents failed to adequately warn the public the new crosswalk was not functional, thereby causing unreasonable danger to drivers and pedestrians.

“The City of Tucson has a non-delegable duty to maintain its crosswalks in a reasonable safe condition,” the lawsuit claims.

Belder and Schneider are asking the court to, in a trial by jury, require the lawsuit’s defendants to pay compensatory damages for inquiries, emotional distress, general damages, medical bills, legal fees and a list of other damages.

The board of regents received a summons Aug. 25, 2016, and issued an answer to the lawsuit to the court on Oct. 10, 2016.

The regents claim they were not part of the crosswalk project and the crosswalk was “owned and controlled exclusively by the City of Tucson.”

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They also dispute the nature and extent of Belder and Schneider’s inquiries, as well as calls into question whether negligence on their part contributed to the incident.

The board also claims the damages in whole or in part were by the fault of Taylor.

The City of Tucson admitted in their response to the lawsuit filed Oct. 14, 2016, they funded and approved the crosswalk and “had the right to maintain some control over the project.”

They also admit the crosswalk was indeed not functional at the time of the incident.

The Ashton Company was contracted to improve the crosswalk and had the overall responsibility for design and construction of the crosswalk, according to the City of Tucson.

The City of Tucson will argue the negligence of Belder and Schneider contributed to the incident, dispute the extent of their inquiries and claim the damages were a result of their assumption of risk.

Taylor, through an attorney, submitted an answer to the lawsuit on Oct. 31, 2016, which stated he plans to argue a defense centered on the negligence of the two students and comparative fault.

The lawsuit is ongoing within the Arizona Superior Court in Pima County and is being presided over by Judge Catherine Woods.

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COL. JASON HALLOREN (LEFT), the 5th Brigade commander, and Command Sgt. Major of the 5th Brigade ROTC units, Roderick Hodo (right) present Lt. Col. Dale Barnett (center) of the Wildcat Cadre with the Cochise Award at Joint Base Sam Houston in San Antonio.

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The UA Army ROTC program was awarded the Cochise Award for the 2015-2016 academic year at Joint Base Sam Houston in San Antonio, Texas, at the 5th Brigade’s annual training conference earlier this month.

The award was bestowed to the Wildcat Battalion for being the best medium-sized battalion in the 5th Brigade, which covers much of the Southwestern United States.

This is the first time the UA’s Army ROTC has won the award in its 126-year history.

“It’s a great representation of our program, of our cadre and of our cadets, and it reflects on the quality of officers that we produce for the U.S. Army,” said Lt. Col. Dale Barnett, the Wildcat Battalion’s Commanding Officer.

Barnett, who accepted the award at the conference, went into further detail of the achievements made by the Wildcat Battalion.

“We were assigned a mission to commission at least 19 second lieutenants into the U.S. Army.” Barnett said. “We exceeded that mission and were able to commission 22.”

Criteria for being the best battalion includes achieving the desired number of office commissions, having higher percentages of cadets who pursue STEM degrees and optimal Outcomes Metrics Scores. The Wildcat Battalion competed for the award against units from 24 other universities from eight different states.

According to Barnett, 18 percent of the battalion is majoring in a STEM subject, has an average GPA of 3.4 and OMS scores in the top five of the 25 units in the brigade.

Second Lt. Regina Ebell played a crucial role in helping to secure the battalion’s award.

Ebell is a Tucson native who is now stationed at Fort Hood, Texas, with the 11th Signal Brigade, she won multiple awards, including having the highest physical fitness scores in the Signal Corps and first place in the

4 • The Daily Wildcat

News • Wednesday, February 1-Thursday, February 2, 2017

Tucson protests Trump’s immigration ban

BY ELIZABETH O’CONNEL @_eoconnell

Protesters lined West Congress Street outside of Sen. John McCain’s Tucson office on Jan. 31 to stand against President Donald Trump’s recent executive order on immigration.

Trump’s executive order bans all refugees and citizens of seven Muslim countries from entering the United States.

The protest in Tucson brought together activists, both young and old, whose message was in agreement with McCain’s public statement opposing the ban.

McCain and Sen. Lindsey Graham, D-S.C., released a statement on Sunday saying that “our government has a responsibility to defend our borders, but we must do so in a way that makes us safer and upholds all that is decent and exceptional about our nation.”

Joel Feinman, a co-organizer of the demonstration, said he was expecting 30 to 50 people. But within an hour and a half, he said there was about 400 to 500 people.

But by the end of the night, more than 1,000 people came out, according to a Tucson Police Department officer.

Trump’s ban on immigration wasn’t the only thing protesters took issue with.

“Everything,” Feinman said. “Everything Trump has done. His executive orders, the fact that he is banning immigrant brothers and sisters from war-torn countries, the fact that he is discriminating against Muslims in favor of Christians, the fact that all of his policies, almost all of his policies, go against who we are as Americans and what we represent.”

The protest ran from 4-7 p.m. and the crowd stretched on both sides of Congress Street, from McCain’s office to the district courthouse and the Arizona Supreme Court’s Administrative Office of the Courts.

“People united will never be divided,” activists chanted. “No hate, no fear, refugees are welcomed here.”

The Gloo Factory of Tucson set up tables and sold signs, T-shirts, buttons and stickers with slogans in opposition of President Trump. Others were gathering signatures for protesters to register to vote.

Mahasin Alyosef, an interpreter for the International Rescue Committee, is from Iraq. She came to the U.S. on a special immigrant visa, an SIV. She previously worked for the U.S. Military as an interpreter. She has now been with the IRC in Tucson for a year and a half.

Alyosef said Tucson will be directly affected by the ban. She said refugees are working in Tucson and, by bringing a new culture from the Middle East, Tucson will become more progressive.

She explained how happy she is from seeing the protest’s turnout. It was nothing

REBECCA NOBLE/THE DAILY WILDCAT

LENA HAYWOOD (CENTER), 7, participates in chants on Congress Street with hundreds of other protesters outside of the Arizona State Building on Tuesday, Jan. 3. Haywood went to the Women’s March in Tucson with her mother, Natalie Haywood, and came back out today because she, “doesn’t agree with anything Trump says—the things he says are really bad,” but also said she is still hopeful for the future.

like she imagined, and she appreciates everything the protesters are doing.

“I just want to say to all the Americans, not just in Tucson, but in all the states, we are all together,” Alyosef said. “We are not separate. We are human.”

She said her family lives in Iraq and she’s been trying to bring them to America, but now she cannot.

“We want to live in peace as you want to live in peace,” Alyosef said. “We couldn’t find that peace in our country, but maybe we can find it here.”

Alyosef said the next step is to talk and support each other and that we need to reach some solution for the families affected.

“We want to change the political system from the top down and the bottom up and to elect political leaders who will institute serious progressive political reform and live up to the Constitution of the United States of America,” Feinman said. “Let in immigrants. Let in Muslims and actually live by the best principles that made this country great.”

REBECCA NOBLE/THE DAILY WILDCAT

A PROTESTER RAISES A fist to the sky while chanting “hey hey, ho ho, Donald Trump has got to go!” with hundreds of other protesters outside of the Arizona State Building on Tuesday, Jan. 31.

The Daily Wildcat • 5

News • Wednesday, February 1-Thursday, February 2, 2017

POLICE BEAT

BY JESSICA BLACKBURN @hotbread33

How not to evade arrest The University of Arizona Police Department was called to ManzanitaMohave Residence Hall around 9 a.m. on Jan. 29 to check on a male sleeping in the fifth-floor hallway.

An officer found the male with his pants partially down, exposing his underwear, which was wet, as if he had urinated himself.

After police woke him, he said he went out the night before and his friend who lived in the hall had his belongings. After identifying himself, UAPD advised him he had an outstanding warrant.

Officers knocked on the friend’s door and when a male student answered, officers asked if he knew the male. He stated “no” and closed the door.

They knocked again and the resident handed police a backpack and some articles of clothing, which belonged to the male.

Police took the male downstairs where he asked if they were going to arrest him.

When the officer said yes, the male attempted to run away and slipped and fell on his own. Officers restrained him.

“I was just trying to run, not to get into anymore trouble,” he said.

Police questioned him about a pipe they found in his backpack.

“It’s not even my pipe,” he responded. “I don’t use pipes, I roll blunts.”

The male was arrested and transported to Pima County Jail where he was booked.

Not sure where the assault happened A UA officer responded to the emergency department at St. Mary’s Hospital at 6 p.m. on Jan. 28 in reference to a report of an incident that potentially occurred on campus.

When the officer arrived, a nurse told him the male victim claimed he was assaulted at the Student Union Memorial Center.

The male told police he worked at one of the restaurants in the student union and had no other affiliation with the UA. Three days prior, the male encountered two men fighting on a staircase around 4 p.m. in the SUMC. When he went to diffuse the situation, one of the males punched him in the chest.

The male said there were no witnesses around but police noted there were usually hundreds of people in and around the student union at 4 p.m.

Police asked to see the injury and when the male lifted his shirt, there was no visible injury to his chest.

When an officer told the male the security footage would be viewed, the male changed the location of the incident multiple times.

The male told the officer he did not want to speak about it anymore because he said he had post-traumatic stress disorder from a previous incident where he was shot with an AK-47.

1ST 3RD

2ND

6 • The Daily Wildcat

Advertisement • Wednesday, February 1-Thursday, February 2, 2017

Wednesday — Thursday Feb. 1 ­­— Feb. 2 Page 7

OPINIONS

Editor: Scott Felix opinion@dailywildcat.com (520) 621-7579

Taking back the rights to terms of endearment

BY JULIAN CARDENAS @DailyWildcat

L

anguage consumes our lives.

Think about it. Language is one of the very elements of humanity that we claim is unique to us, although many scientists argue that some animals use languages as well.

As human beings, we utter certain sounds that have been accepted to mean certain things in certain areas. This is the essence of language, and we often fail to acknowledge the raw nature of communication, an ability many see as extremely fundamental or basic to human life.

Language is a contract that we all agree on. It’s something we all participate in, regardless of what we use it for. Whether we are writers, actors, engineers or doctors, we are all constantly communicating.

We all manipulate words. We change our words depending on our environment or situation. We choose our words specifically. We are masters of language, regardless of our expertise or knowledge of grammar. We use language for great things.

We say great things.

However, in addition to the great things we say, we also say bad things.

The words we say reveal everything there is to know about our opinions. The way we choose to express ourselves about politics, culture, religion, life in general, often reveals our background, or our own personal experiences with such themes.

Thus, one must be aware of how they choose to express themselves and the signs that such expressions reveal.

Recently, I have seen more and more of the same words used as negative labels for myself or for others like me. I see words like “snowflake” and “social justice warrior” used as negative labels for liberals sprinkled in just about everywhere.

I honestly wasn’t even aware of the popularity they had gained online. I saw people affected by these words, as if it was universally agreed that these words signified something negative. I was honestly a bit perplexed, I didn’t really understand how these things could be seen negatively.

PAT BEGLEY/ SALT LAKE TRIBUNE

Snowflakes are unique and extremely intricate. Social Justice is a valid idea to strive after. Warriors bravely fight for what they believe in.

I’ve realized that the power of words is very significant. Words have the power to affect. We may say that words can’t hurt us, but they truthfully really can. So, instead of pretending that words don’t hurt us, why can’t we just interpret them differently? Of course the intent of the person insulting one another is always there, which is in itself something negative, but we can choose to allow these words to get to us or not.

This is why it is important to reclaim the meaning of words. Only by reappropriating the terms that insult us will we be more

The Daily Wildcat Editorial Policy Daily Wildcat staff editorials represent the official opinion of the Daily Wildcat staff, which is determined at staff editorial meetings. Columns, cartoons, online comments and letters to the editors do not represent the opinion of the Daily Wildcat.

likely to let them wash off of us.

Reclamation or reappropriation refers to the redefining of words and the inversion of their meaning. It’s claiming the word that haunts you and using it to define yourself, removing the negativity and sting off of it, instead of letting it insult you.

We have seen this process adapted by many groups, such as the use of the word “queer” by some LGBT groups, the word “bitch” by feminist groups or the use of the word “Chicano/a” as a positive title instead of a derogatory one by Chicanx groups.

Movements adapt these words not only to create a sense of unity and belonging, but to show what exactly they’re fighting against.

Words are words, and it is up to us

to define how to interpret them. That’s language. Of course, there are words that ultimately always will sting and insult us, but there are also words that we can take back, words that we can redefine as something positive, as something which reveals the history and essence of our own specific group.

We can strive towards a new standard reaction towards negative language, one that is defined and interpreted individually.

We can learn how to let insults wash off us, and to continue with our goals without resorting to insulting our opposition. This is something that is easier in theory than in reality, but it is definitely something that we can work towards achieving.

Contact Us The Daily Wildcat accepts original, unpublished letters from readers.

Email letters to the editor to opinion@dailywildcat.com. Letters should include name, connection to the university (year, major, etc.) and contact information. Send snail mail to: 615 N. Park Ave. Tucson, AZ 85719. Letters should be no longer than 350 words and should refrain from personal attacks.

8 • The Daily Wildcat

Opinions • Wednesday, February 1-Thursday, February 2, 2017

Let’s talk about privilege, culture

BY TALYA JAFFE @ talyaj4

I

n a country that has been rapidly deteriorating since a racist, misogynistic Cheeto walked on the scene, talk about privilege has been rampant.

White privilege, male privilege and wealth privilege are the main targets of the conversation.

Wealthy white males are generally perceived as being impervious to economic or social oppression. This is true, in many cases. The vile president, for example, is the obvious, perfect example of the wealthy, white male using his privilege in abhorrent ways.

However, when unification across every social and economic class is literally vital for survival—as it now is— we must stop using “he’s just privileged” as a way to shut down conversations. There is a very accusatory implication when you call someone “privileged.”

The labeler feels as if the labeled cannot understand the situation, while the labeled feels that the labeler is just lashing out due to their potentially more unfavorable circumstances. Both parties can be partially correct in their assumptions, but there are also many faults in allowing these conventions to even exist.

The original purpose of creating the concept of privilege was to provide clarity regarding how different issues affect different people, depending on their respective circumstances.

Yet now, “privilege” has devolved into an insult strong enough to halt all conversation.

A parallel can be drawn between the downward spiral of “privilege” talk and the downward spiral of PC culture— both originally evolved for the purpose of improving crossclass understanding, support and respect.

PC culture is now so extreme (in certain respects) that people are afraid to speak up, afraid to challenge unfair practices and afraid to point out certain wrongs due to fear of being unfairly labeled as racists, homophobes, Islamophobes, etc. Sometimes things are just innocent observations or requests, sans malice, but PC culture has billowed into a monster that keeps people hushed far too often.

Similarly, calling someone “privileged” now halts conversation, rather than starting it, the way it was first intended to do. The world is painfully complicated right now, so it is more important than ever that we don’t overcomplicate things further. The privileged ought to be offered clarity, not disdain, from the less-privileged, and the less-privileged ought to be offered support for change by the privileged who can use their place in society to incite revolutionary action.

Misunderstanding proliferates across classes when conversation is bitterly shut down by both the privileged and the lessprivileged. I’m not proposing that every privileged person is going to be willing to help every less-privileged person; I am

COURTESY REBECCA NOBLE

PROTEST SIGNS LEFT BEHIND on the National Mall after the Women’s March on Washington on Saturday, Jan. 21. Social Justice movements have been blamed for throwing support to the alt-right voting block.

merely saying that the first step to enacting change is unification.

Unification is not going to come from both sides dismissing everything with “you just don’t understand.” It’s true, many of us do not understand the other side of the spectrum, but without open and honest conversation, this will never improve.

Many activists preach the importance of people of different races and religions coming together. While this is imperative, we should be encouraging the stigma against “privilege” to subside a bit, so as

to allow for communication that will lead to change.

If one is born into privilege, that’s not something she or he has any control over. If one works to reach a privileged position, then she or he obtained that level through perseverance and ought to be respected for his or her success, not regarded with contempt. In either case, a privileged person is often in the most apt position to enact change, but they cannot do so until they understand the dilemmas facing other members of society.

So, the next time your distant middle-aged, white relative comments on your Facebook status proclaiming that “we need the wall,” or something of the like, don’t dismiss him by saying he is “just privileged.”

Open that conversation.

Discuss what is going on, and explain how people are feeling.

Forget PC-ness, forget using “privilege” as an insult and just converse. There is a lot to be learned from both sides, and as aforementioned, our country needs cross-class support and understanding more than ever.

Wednesday — Thursday Feb. 1 — Feb. 2 Page 9

SCIENCE

Editor: Logan Nagel science@dailywildcat.com (520) 621-7579

Biologists tie handful of traits to species success

BY MARISSA HEFFERNAN @_mheffernan

Usually, the “what came first” question refers to the chicken and the egg, but that’s not the case for UA researchers John Wiens and Tereza Jezkova, professor and postdoctoral researcher in the department of ecology and evolutionary biology, respectively.

For Jezkova, it means asking if species first developed eyes then left oceans to live on land, or if it happened the other way around. It’s just one question she was left with after completing her latest study, headed by Wiens.

The study tested 18 traits to determine what makes species successful in an evolutionary sense, looking at everything from having eyes to living on land or in water.

Wiens said out of the 18 traits, 12 didn’t matter. But six did.

Of that six, five traits explained 74 percent of variations—having a skeleton, having eyes, living on land, being a parasite and having separate sexes. Just three of the five traits accounted for 67 percent of variations in species proliferation, meaning that the recipe for success includes having a skeleton, living on land and being a parasite.

For Wiens, the most surprising aspect of those results was how obvious traits “didn’t do anything for you.”

“The things you think would matter, like having a head or a digestive system, don’t really do anything for you,” Wiens said.

“But it’s not necessarily the case that all successful species have all three of those successful traits.”

Jezkova went into the study without expectations, so she was not surprised with the results.

“There wasn’t much in the literature, and what there was was controversial,” Jezkova said. “Some said eyes were important, some said they weren’t. So we didn’t know if everything would be important or if nothing would. Some things I was hopeful for, like having a digestive system, but it turned out to not be important.”

Wiens had a few ideas about why the top three traits were so important. Living on land might provide a little more protection from extinction, and having a skeleton provides support and perhaps also some protection.

While those explanations “aren’t 100 percent clear,” according to Wiens, he did have an explanation for why being a parasite is key to success.

“Being a parasite—well, think of this:

COURTESY JOHN WIENS

Amphibians’ internal skeletons are associated with species’ success, as are invertebrate exoskeletons.

Birds have feather mites,” Wiens said. “One feather could have seven species of mites, and the whole bird could have 40. And when host species split, so do the parasites.”

Most of the data for the project came from textbooks and other literature, Wiens said. The study aggregated the data and ran it through a multiple regression analysis to predict the value of each trait based on the value of two or more other traits.

“A lot of this could be done with other people’s data,” Wiens said. “Really, the money came in to pay for all of Tereza’s time.”

As Jezkova is a postdoctoral fellow, the study was funded by UA’s Postdoctoral Excellence in Research and Teaching program, through UA’s Center for Insect Science.

Wiens said the Center of Insect Science was interested because, while they knew insects are the most populous creatures on

earth, they didn’t know why.

Beside asking what came first, Jezkova is also interested in what else could help researchers understand why some phyla, or broad categorizations of species, are more successful than others.

“All animals are divided into phyla but differ in number of species,” Jezkova said.

“Some phyla have thousands of species, and some just have one or two. It’s interesting that in the ocean the extinction rate is higher, considering that it covers over 80 percent of the globe but only has a small percentage of the earth’s species.”

That same question got Wiens interested in the first place.

“I got introduced to this by asking why there are more successful species on land than on water,” Wiens said. “First, I only looked at that one trait. It turns out that that trait was very important, but it only explained 33 percent of species proliferation.

I wanted to know what explained the rest.”

Now, after this successful study, he’s going even deeper to see if the same traits are important on a smaller level, within phyla.

“Our overall goal is to look over the entire tree of life and find some general rules about what’s really important to be successful,” Wiens said.

With his continued research, Wiens hopes to gain a deeper understanding of what makes species successful but also what makes them vulnerable.

“Look across all the phyla and understand that, while species in oceans have been successful, they also have fewer species left to lose,” Wiens said. “And if that happens on our watch, because of humans, that’s shameful. Oceans are particularly vulnerable.”

The study can be found in the American Naturalist.

Wednesday — Thursday Feb. 1 ­­— Feb. 2 Page 10

ARTS & LIFE

Editor: Jamie Verwys arts@dailywildcat.com (520) 621-7579

Gem and Jam Fest to showcase art and music

BY AVA GARCIA @ava_garcia1

The annual Gem and Jam Festival is coming to Tucson. The event, spanning from Feb. 2-5, features performances by jam and electronic musical groups, art gallery installations, visual performers, food vendors and workshops. The festival is held during the Tucson Gem, Mineral and Fossil Showcase.

Last year’s festival drew 3,500 people each day. This year the festival is expected to draw in even larger crowds according to Josh Pollack, one of the festival’s producers.

The increase in attendance is just one of the changes to the festival in this, its 11th year. The Gem and Jam Fest has a new home at the Pima County Fairgrounds, 11300 S. Houghton Road.

According to Pollack, the new venue has more space for additional programming, whereas in the past, late night events, workshops and the event’s pre-party have been offsite. This year, the entire lineup will be in one location.

“The bigger venue allows us to book bigger acts and a more diverse lineup,” Pollack said in an email interview.

In addition to the various entertainment events, the venue will also be home to different camping options during the festival.

Attendees can choose between four different options for camping: car, walk-in, RV and boutique camping.

Car camping passes are good for up to four people in one vehicle and cost $85. Walk-in camping, where guests must hike in with their gear, is $30 per person. RV camping, which includes hookups for electrical and water, is $179 and each RV can hold up to six people.

Boutique camping options are making their debut this year and include Shift Pod tents, made to stay cool during the day and warm during the night, with mattresses, linens, decor and other furniture. Tickets for boutique camping range from $899 to $999 for two people.

“We wanted to provide a high-end, convenient camping option, especially for people traveling from long distances that don’t want to deal with the hassle of bringing all their gear and show up to the festival with everything already set up for them,” Pollack said in an email.

All campers must purchase a festival ticket in addition to their camping passes.

Tickets for the event vary. On Thursday, tickets cost $25, but day passes for Friday, Saturday and Sunday are $65 each. Thursday’s festivities run from 3 p.m. to 1 a.m., while the rest of the days begin at 9 a.m. and end at 4 a.m.

While the festival offers a variety of different performances and art forms, it also features different workshops. Here are just a few of the workshops that will be available during the festival: Sacred Thai Massage: Friday, Feb. 3, 4-5:30 p.m.

This workshop, led by Meera Hoffman, guides participants through techniques for Thai Yoga

COURTESY SAGE THOMAS

A FESTIVAL ATTENDEE USES a Tibetan singing bowl during a past Gem and Jam Fest. This year’s festival has moved to a new location, the Pima County Fairgrounds.

Massage, which works to release tension and alleviate pain. Participants can bring a partner or can attend alone, and all are encouraged to bring something comfortable to lay on.

Acro Yoga Flow for All – Beginner and Advanced: Saturday, Feb. 4, 2-3:15 p.m.

Local grassroot artists collective Cirque Roots is hosting a class that combines yoga and acrobatics. Participants can learn partner acrobatics, counterbalances and partner stacks, though no partner is necessary. There are options for both beginners and more advanced participants.

Minerals of AZ: Specimens, History and Rockhounding: Sunday, Feb. 5, 2-3:15 p.m.

Jose Ramirez, the owner of a local consulting and prospecting corporation, Global Geologic Ventures, LLC, will speak to attendees about minerals in Arizona and the corporation’s geologic extractions. Ramirez holds a geosciences degree from UA ith an emphasis in geology. Rockhounds can also learn some extraction techniques.

For more information and a full schedule, visit www.gemandjamfestival.com.

COURTESY SAGE THOMAS

A MAN BALANCES ATOP a hoop structure at a previous Gem and Jam Festival. The event features many diverse types of art forms and guests.

The Daily Wildcat • 11

Arts & Life • Wednesday, February 1-Thursday, February 2, 2017

‘Proof’ opens Feb. 8

BY VICTOR HERRERA @DailyWildcat

The Arizona Repertory Theatre will be performing their first play of the year Feb. 8 with the showing of “Proof,” a play by David Auburn.

The play will also mark the first time students will be able to take advantage of lower ticket prices. Tickets were reduced for students at the beginning of the year from $19 for plays and $21 for musicals to just $15 for both. If the reduced ticket price still isn’t enough, there is also a rush option open to UA students where they will be able to put down $10 at the box office but will not be allowed to choose their own seats.

The story follows the daughter of a recently deceased math genus as she struggles with loss, mental illness and her manipulative sister.

There will be two preview nights for “Proof” before opening night on Feb. 5 at 1:30 p.m. and Feb. 6 at 7:30 p.m.

There will also be a pre-show discussion before the performance on Feb. 12 at 12:45 p.m. and a post-show discussion on Feb.24.

Read the full version of the story online, at:

DW DAILYWILDCAT.COM

86% of UA students indicated that they party one night or less per week.

(2016 Health & Wellness Survey, n=3,113)

Does alcohol make depression worse?

COURTESY ARIZONA REPERTORY THEATRE

THE ARIZONA REPERTORY THEATRE’S first play of the season is “Proof” by David Auburn. The show runs Feb. 8-26.

A Series of 5 Lectures Exploring Our World and Ourselves The University of Arizona College of Science, Spring 2017 Series Begins 7PM, Monday, January 30, 2017

Rethinking Reality

Our intuitive understanding of reality comes from what we see and experience, but modern physics tells us our world is actually stranger than the one we see, hear and touch every day. We must rely on new ways of thinking and experimenting to probe the principles which underlie everything. Join us as five University of Arizona physicists explain their role in rethinking reality.

Monday, January 30 Rethinking the Rules of Reality Monday, February 6 The Journey to the Extreme Monday, February 13 Space, Time and Gravity Monday, February 27 A Myriad of Particles Monday, March 6 Domesticating the Quantum

Free!

Yes, it can. Research informs us there is a link between depression and alcohol but there’s often the question of which came first. Do you drink to feel better or do you become depressed with excessive drinking?

A number of studies have shown that alcohol abuse increases the risk for depression. This connection may be because of the effects of heavy alcohol exposure to the brain. We’ve all had friends who tried to drink away the hurt of a breakup only to have alcohol make it worse. While it’s tempting to self-medicate with alcohol, the data suggests it’s not a useful strategy or long-term solution.

Using alcohol regularly to deal with your problems can have the opposite effect and lead to feeling worse.

So, what’s one to do? When you’re feeling depressed it’s hard to want to do anything at all. If you’re finding you have little interest or pleasure in doing things you used to enjoy or feeling hopeless more often

than not, then it’s time to get that check-up you’ve been putting off (start with a self-assessment at mentalhealthscreening.org). You’ll also have to ask yourself a tough question; is it worth it to cut back on drinking in order to feel better?

If that doesn’t work, stop by Counseling and Psych Services (CAPS) on the 3rd floor of the Campus Health Services to get a confidential consult with a counselor to help you sort things out. In the meantime, here are some helpful hints to feel better: • Exercise at Campus Rec – physical activity can lift your mood • Socialize, don’t isolate yourself • Have a heart-to-heart with a parent or good friend • Find ways to have fun without alcohol or other drugs You don’t have to do it alone.

CAPS is just a phone call away.

Got a question about alcohol? Email it to redcup@email.arizona.edu

Join us at UA’s Centennial Hall with pay-per-use parking in the Tyndall Ave Garage. Lectures are free and begin at 7PM. For more information call 520-621-4090. For complete series information, and podcasts of previous lectures, please visit:

uascience.org

www.health.arizona.edu

The Red Cup Q&A is written by Lynn Reyes, LCSW, LISAC, David Salafsky, MPH, Lee Ann Hamilton, MA, CHES, Spencer Gorin, RN, and Christiana Castillo, MPH, in the Health Promotion and Preventive Services (HPPS) department of the UA Campus Health Service.

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FREE TALK “HOW God’s love can change your life and the world” Saturday, Feb 4, 11am.

Christian Science Church 7355 Paseo del Norte

CHARTER SCHOOL VAN Driver Part Time. Pick up and drop off students for charter high school.

Afternoon and Evening. $13/hr.

520-741-4383 DIVVEE IS HIRING. Get paid to rate apps. Great income for students. Send interest and contact info to: highincome@hotmail.com

!!!UTILITIES PAID, walk to UA. Mountain/Adams. $430/$440 1 room Studio. No kitchen, refrigerator only. No pets, quiet, security patrolled. www.uofahousing.com 299-5020 or 624-3080

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Classifieds • Wednesday, February 1-Thursday, February 2, 2017

Attention Classified Readers: The Daily Wildcat screens classified advertising for misleading or false messages, but does not guarantee any ad or any claim. Please be cautious in answering ads, especially when you are asked to send cash, money orders, or a check.

1 BD 1 BATH triplex apartment, within walking distance from the University. Near 1st St. & Euclid.

Fireplace, kitchen, hardwood floors, on-street parking. No pets. $475/mo.

Call 520-886-1569 or email msstucson@gmail.com Studios from $400 spacious apartment homes with great downtown location. Free dish TV w/top 120. Free internet WiFi. 884-8279. Blue Agave Apartments 1240 N. 7th Ave. Speedway/ Stone. www.blueagaveapartments.com

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Studio, 1, 2, 3, & 4 BD houses & apartments. 4blks north of UofA. $400 to $1,500. Some with utilities paid. Available now & August. No pets, security patrolled. 299-5020, 624-3080. www.uofahousing.com ******Wildcat Properties is Renting for 2017. Over 25 properties to choose from. 1-6 Bedroom homes avail. All within walking distance to UofA. Check us out at www.wildcatrentalproperties.com or call 520-870-1572 for more info.

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2/01

Publisher’s Notice: All real estate advertised herein is subject to the Federal Fair Housing Act, which makes it illegal to advertise any preference, limitation or discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, handicap, familial status or national origin, or intention to make any such preferences, limitations or discrimination. We will not knowingly accept any advertising for real estate which is in violation of the law. All persons are hereby informed that all dwellings advertised are available on an equal opportunity basis.

***4BEDROOM HOME, LARGE fenced yard, big bedrooms, lots of private parking, A/C, DW, W/D. $2000 mo. Available 8/2017. Call 520-398-5738 2BEDROOM 2BATH HOME Available Now. Split floor-plan, AC, DW, W/D, fireplace, fenced, pets, parking. Call 520-398-5738 4 Bedroom 2 Bath Home For A Great Price and at a Great Location. Located at the corner of Water St. and Fremont. $450 Per Bedroom, $1,800/MO. 1100 E Water Street.

Check Out Our Website: www.UofAAreaRentalHomes.com for more pictures and homes available August 1st 2017 Call 520-404-8954 to schedule a showing.

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LARGE HOUSES AVAILABLE FOR 1718 SCHOOL YEAR! Next to Campus. Call 520-398-5738 8+ bedrooms DIRECTLY ACROSS FROM ELLER!! Spacious home with bonus rooms, and LOTS of parking!!! Call TAMMY today at 520-398-5738 AAA 5BD., 3BATH homes avail.

Fall 2017. Large bedrooms, fenced yards, private parking, spacious living areas. Call 520-3985738 Adjacent 4 Bedroom Houses.

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PARTICIPATE IN A BRAIN IMAGING STUDY! Have you experienced a head injury or “concussion” within the past 18 months? You could qualify to participate in one of our concussion studies. Eligible participants can earn up to $1000 for full completion of all study activities: Call: (520)428-5131 Web: psychiatry.arizona.edu/research/ua-scan-lab PARTICIPATE IN A TRAUMATIC STRESS STUDY Have you experienced a traumatic event in the last 10 years? You could qualify to participate in our ongoing study and receive up to $1200. The study has been approved by the UA Institutional Review Board.

Call: (520)428-5141 Web: UASCANLab.com

Comics • Wednesday, February 1-Thursday, February 2, 2017

The Daily Wildcat • 13

ENTER TO WIN TICKETS MCDOWELL MOUNTAIN MUSIC FESTIVAL | MARCH 3-5, 2017

Enter at DailyWildcat.com/MMMF All entries must be submitted by February 10th, 2017 by midnight. Winners will be randomly drawn. No purchase necessary.

14 • The Daily Wildcat

Sports • Wednesday, February 1-Thursday, February 2, 2017

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TYLER BAKER/THE DAILY WILDCAT

ARIZONA’S KADEEM ALLEN FALLS during a game against Oregon on Jan. 28, 2016. The Wildcats lost in both matchups against the Ducks a season ago.

Wildcats look for

payback in Oregon

BY SAUL BOOKMAN @Saul_Bookman Arizona head coach Sean Miller won’t say it, but he knows that this weekend in Oregon is perhaps the biggest two-game set of the season. It essentially means the Pac-12 regular season championship.

With only three more games after the weekend against potential NCAA tournament teams (UCLA, USC, Cal), the Wildcats can run away with the conference. A sweep this weekend would put Oregon two games behind Arizona, virtually making it impossible for the Ducks to catch the Wildcats without a rematch this season. With only one more weekend road trip left to the Washington schools and a home matchup with UCLA as the marquee home game remaining, it would be hard to fathom Arizona tripping up three times along the way.

Even with a loss, all is not lost for Arizona as Oregon still has a road trip to Los Angeles on the schedule.

However, it would be wise for the Wildcats not to overlook Oregon State as no player on the Wildcats roster has ever beat the Beavers in Corvallis. The Beavers have been known to pull off an upset or two dating back to the Lute Olson days against ranked Wildcats teams, and Thursday sets up as another prime opportunity with No. 13 Oregon on the horizon.

“It’s not about who or where we are playing,

it’s about us,” Miller said. “We don’t have a player on our roster that has won at Oregon State … a lot of times the first game sets the tone for the second game.”

For now, Arizona is at the top of the conference with a 9-0 record.

It has surpassed all expectations thus far, especially considering the amount of obstacles that have been in their way. Injuries and suspensions threatened to make the 2016-17 season one to forget. Instead, the Wildcats have persevered and finally reached a point where they are at full strength.

The Wildcats will be able to see where they stand in two weeks when the committee releases the top-16 seeds for the tourney based on the top four for each region. It will be the first inside look as to the committees seeding process.

“I’m excited to see it, I really am,” Miller said. “There’s probably a dozen, maybe eight or six teams you can say could win it all.”

Miller keeps things close to the vest and won’t let any situation get out of hand. He is a poker player, but as he walked out of Monday’s press conference he asked where the Wildcats were ranked.

Upon hearing that they were No. 5, a subtle smirk appeared as he turned and walked away. Perhaps he knows what this team is capable of, or maybe he just likes messing with the media, either way the road for the Wildcats can look more golden should they come away with two in the Beaver State.

Sports • Wednesday, February 1-Thursday, February 2, 2017

The Daily Wildcat • 15

PARKS

FROM PAGE 16

first-hand of the potentially ruthless Philadelphia life.

“At one point in my life, I was living in a two-bedroom home with six people,” Parks said. “My mom was laid off 10-12 years—we lived off bar tips. It was rough, man.”

More so, he has watched countless family members and friends succumb to a life of violence.

“I lost so many childhood friends to violence,” Parks said. “I lost five or six people who got killed, three or four doing life sentences. They are all watching. On my dad’s side, we got about four or five uncles doing life sentences. For me to not go down that route just means so much.”

One of the people who helped bring him out of that life was Arizona head coach Rich Rodriguez. Rodriguez wound up taking a second chance on Parks after he decommitted from the University of Pittsburgh in 2011.

“Rich Rod groomed me in so many ways,” Parks said. “That guy loved me and I loved him. He said, ‘I know you come from a significant struggle, man, and this will be the way out.’ It changed my life the moment I landed [in Tucson].”

Parks was a huge advocate this past season for Rodriguez and the Arizona football team via social media despite their struggles.

“It taught me how to be a better person,” Parks said. “Tucson means so much more to me than anyone can imagine. They always had my back from day one. It is my second home.”

Parks is nothing but thankful for the opportunities he’s been given by the Broncos.

“When I first came in, I was actually here,” Parks said. “I was in the building. I was able to walk around with legends and probowlers. The organization is well-rounded and everybody has a purpose.”

Most rookies rarely see game time in the National Football League, let alone sixthround draft picks. Parks came in with the attitude to succeed starting day one.

“I’m a dog,” Parks said. “I’m a wolf. I’m a savage. I’m a hyena. As long I’m alive, there’s not going to be one person that is going to outwork me. That’s how I approach my life, my bills, my game. That’s how you are going to survive.”

Much of that survival instinct goes back to his obstacles he faced when he was younger.

It’s what pushed him to move his brother out of Philadelphia after he was “locked up” for two months.

“I’m able to take care of my family,” Parks said. “He grew up without a dad, who has been incarcerated since he was little. It brings joy to me that he doesn’t have to live in that situation anymore. He’s doing what he is supposed to do. I’m most proud of him, just to take care of the people you want to take care of.”

For Parks, big things await, least of which include his is second season in the Broncos and some down time with family and friends.

“Excited for more life and more big plays,” Parks said. “We out there vibing with the ‘No Fly Zone.’ That’s what you are going to look forward to.”

COURTESY ERIC LARS BAKKE

ARIZONA SAFETY WILL PARKS (11) takes down USC tailback Ronald Jones II (25) at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on Nov. 7, 2015. Parks was a sixth-round pick, 219th overall, of the Denver Broncos in 2016.

COURTESY ERIC LARS BAKKE

DENVER BRONCOS’ WILL PARKS (34) returns a blocked kick 98 yards for a 2-point defensive conversion that cemented the Bronco’s 25-23 victory over the New Orleans Saints on Nov. 13, 2016.

Wednesday — Thursday Feb. 1 ­­— Feb. 2 Page 16

SPORTS

Editor: Saul Bookman sports@dailywildcat.com (520) 621-7579

COURTESY ERIC LARS BAKKE

DENVER BRONCOS’ WILL PARKS prior to kickoff against the Tennessee Titans at Nissan Stadium in Nashville, Tennessee, Dec. 11, 2016.

Started from the bottom now he’s here Will Parks’ rise to NFL relevancy is a testament to his hard work, family support and Rich Rodriguez

BY MATT WALL @mwall20

Overlooking the city of Philadelphia, Will Parks rested his face on the hotel balcony ledge as tears fell from his eyes. With the 219th pick in the 2016 NFL Draft, the Denver Broncos selected the safety from the UA. “First person I looked at was my dad,” Parks said. “We shed our tears and then we got to celebrating. On that third day, I had a feeling in my mind that somebody was going to call. I wanted to go to the Broncos. I felt like it was already written.”

Surrounded by close to 250 family members and friends, Parks engulfed the excitement in the air.

“Coming from where I come from, it’s crazy,” Parks said at the time in a documentary video. “I don’t even know what’s going on right now.”

Then he got to work. The 6-foot-1 rookie from Philadelphia made a name for himself quickly on special teams and became a part of the Broncos secondary, which goes by the moniker “No Fly Zone.” He finished this season with 22 total tackles, one interception and one fumble recovery.

“The ball bounced right to me,” Parks said.

“I was like, oh snap, I got the ball. I ran down the field as fast as I could, I scored and we won the game.”

The 84-yard, 2-point conversion came against the New Orleans Saints in a 2523 come-from-behind victory. Parks was featured on SportsCenter and the highlight was shown all over the country. While some claim it was controversial, he is adamant that he never stepped out of bounds.

“I was not out,” Parks said. “If I was out, they would have called it.”

For Parks, mantra is everything. He lives by

one: secure the bag.

“Whatever you have to do in that moment, you gotta make sure you secure [the bag],” Parks said.

It’s what has lead him to become one of the key contributors as part of the Broncos secondary.

“Those guys are tremendous,” Parks said.

“Those guys helped me become a better player. I love those guys.”

Yet, nothing has come easy. He knows

PARKS, 15