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
Wednesday September 30, 2009
Volume 91, No. 23 www.theshorthorn.com
Since 1919
Start Your Mattresses Annual Bed Races take place Thursday. NEWS | PAGE 6
A New Peril International student comes out of coma but needs funds for treatment. NEWS | PAGE 2
STUDENT LIFE
Ransom Hall proposed for freshman center The transformation would make the computer lab a first-year student help facility. BY JOAN KHALAF The Shorthorn senior staff
University officials are looking at Ransom Hall as their first choice for a freshman success center. By Aug. 1, 2010, the entire building would be transformed into a one-stop shop for freshman for advising, test-
ing, tutoring and most services firstyear undergraduates would need. The 24-hour computer lab and UTA Computer Store on the first floor, and the computer labs for classes on the other two floors, would be removed, said Donald Bobbitt, provost and academic affairs vice president. “In my office, we have this moral obligation to make sure every student is successful,” Bobbitt said. A temporary university officials group will draft a recommendation for
President James Spaniolo, outlining the estimated renovation cost of where they choose to put the center, among other project details to be finalized. Bobbitt said Ransom Hall’s central location, across from the University Center, made it the first choice. After monitoring the hall’s use, officials determined the labs were underused. English graduate student Matt Navy said he thought a better location RANSOM continues on page 6
FLU
More than 1,000 shots received in September Health Services administers vaccine for $15 to combat the widespread infection in Texas.
The Shorthorn: Rasy Ran
Education senior Monica Dorsey works on a science project Tuesday at Ransom Hall. The university is considering Ransom Hall to be converted into a freshman success center, slated for completion August 2010, with no finalized 24-hour computer lab site replacement in mind.
Smoke Out
Students discuss pros and cons of proposed tobacco ban BY MICAELA TITUS The Shorthorn staff
T
he university community has until Oct. 19 to comment on the proposed tobacco ban by e-mailing the Office of Human Resources. If President James Spaniolo approves the recommendation the campus will be tobacco-free by 2011. The Tobacco Free Campus Initiative committee made the recommendation, along with three others, which follows a trend of colleges like University of Florida and Tarrant County College with tobacco-free campuses.
BY JOHNATHAN SILVER The Shorthorn senior staff
Health Services administered more than 100 shots during its flu outreach event Tuesday in the University Center Palo Duro Lounge. Health Services held stations around campus this week to reduce the spread of flu and flu-like symptoms. Another outreach event will be held for students, faculty and staff today in Davis Hall from 10 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Shots cost $15. FLU continues on page 3
The Shorthorn: Stephanie Goddard
Health Services registered nurse May Tam injects a patient with an immunization Tuesday afternoon in the University Center Palo Duro Lounge. Flu shots cost $15 and are available today in Davis Hall and during most business hours at Health Services.
FOR THE PROPOSED TOBACCO BAN
M
usic media freshman Sara Baker said it’s a good idea. Most of the smokers she knows want to quit but they can’t. She smoked for a year and felt a health change in a short period of time after quitting. “With this new ban, it will be too much of an effort to get off-campus to smoke,” she said. “People will be able to stop this addictive and unhealthy habit.” Film freshman Haley Hinshaw said a tobacco ban would be amazing and will help the university become more popular outside Texas. “When I tell people that I go to UT Arlington, they automatically think I am talking about the University of Texas,” she said. “This tobacco-free ban can make UTA a major school if we are the first people in the UT systems to do it.” Mechanical engineering sophomore Michael Wallace said a ban would create a positive environment on campus. He said he doesn’t like smoke and when people are smoking on campus it catches his attention. “This ban would show that the university is initiative,” he said. “It will shed a positive light on the university and show that they care about students’ health.” Spanish senior Alejandra Maese said that when students are smoking 50 feet away from buildings it still bothers her when she has to walk by them. “I have seen people try to quit and they relapse because they can’t do it on their own. This ban will help people stop,” she said.
AGAINST THE PROPOSED TOBACCO BAN
E
ducation graduate student Jason Harding said if the university enforced the rules that are in place now then a ban wouldn’t be necessary. “When the university just starts banning things that are legal, it makes me wonder what else will be banned,” he said. English junior Erica Peterson said she understands that smoking is bad for her health and second-hand smoking is bad for others, but she doesn’t smoke in places where it affects non-smokers. “I can understand the reasoning behind the ban but it favors non-smokers,” she said. “Where do smokers’ rights end and non-smokers’ rights begin. I think that smokers deserve respect too.” Accounting senior Ghenwa Sleiman said a ban is a bad idea and smokers would stop taking advantage of campus facilities and just stay at home if they can’t smoke. “When I am studying at the library and it’s late, I go outside to smoke and come right back into the library,” she said. “If I have to go off-campus late at night then I will just stay at home. It’s not worth coming to campus.” Finance senior Haseeb Ramzan said that students who want to smoke will do so regardless of a ban. “This ban could hurt the school,” he said. “When students are looking for a place to go they may not consider the university because of this. We need to focus on other things like getting a football team.”
SAFETY
Students trapped in library elevator for 45 minutes The glitch was repaired in the Central Library and all involved escaped uninjured. BY JASON BOYD The Shorthorn news editor
A Central Library elevator malfunctioned Tuesday afternoon, leaving more than 10 students stuck for about 45 minutes. The elevator, headed for the basement, wouldn’t open and the occupants couldn’t exit. University police responded ELEVATOR continues on page 6
VOICE YOUR OPINION
TOBACCO TALK
GO ONLINE
E-mail university administration at hradministration@uta.edu
Check out Opinion on page 4 for more reactions to the proposed tobacco ban.
Visit THE SHORTHORN .com for a video about the situation and to submit your view on the matter. Photo Illustration: Tim Crumpton
STUDENTS VOICE THEIR OPINIONS ABOUT THE PROPOSED SMOKING BAN “They should ban chewing gum if the idea is to clean up the campus.” Harvey Ellis, Business
finance junior
“I always seclude myself when I smoke so I don’t bother other people, and where will they draw the ‘off-campus line’ anyway?” Nidal Jabri,
geology senior
“I think tobacco is disgusting and I try to avoid it, but I still breathe it in when I’m walking around campus.” Annie Donovan,
photography junior
Page 2
Wednesday, September 30, 2009
THE SHORTHORN
INTERNATIONAL
CALENDAR Calendar submissions must be made by 4 p.m. two days prior to run date. To enter your event, call 817-272-3661 or log on to www.theshorthorn.com/calendar
TODAY Mostly Sunny • High 89 °F • Low 72°F
Profit 101: 8:30 a.m.-noon, ARRI, 7300 Jack Newell Blvd. S., Fort Worth. Price is $49. For information contact Jennifer Wilson at 817-272-5909 or tmacevents@ uta.edu. Art Exhibition in The Gallery at UTA: Tommy Fitzpatrick/Margo Sawyer: 10 a.m.-5 p.m., The Gallery at UTA. Free. For information contact Patricia Healy at 817-272-5658 or phealy@uta.edu. Flu Shot Outreach - Davis Hall: 10 a.m.1:30 p.m., in front of the Bursar Services. Shots are available for UTA students and faculty for $15. For information contact the Immunization Clinic at 817-272-2771 or healthservices@uta.edu. Drop-in Advising and Info Table: 11 a.m.-2 p.m., University Center first floor, booth near Starbucks. Free. For information contact Blake Hart at 817-272-1120 or studyabroad@uta.edu. Study Abroad Info Session: Noon-1 p.m. Pecos Room, UC. Free. For information contact Blake Hart at 817-272-1120 or studyabroad@uta.edu. Green Screen: Student Films about the Environment: Noon - 1 p.m., Central Library sixth floor parlor. For information contact Roxanna Latifi at 817-272-6107 or roxanna@uta.edu. Mindful Moments: 12:15 p.m., 235 Business Building. Free. For information contact Marie Bannister at 817-272-2771 or bannister@uta.edu. Exhibiting Artist Talk by Tommy Fitzpatrick: 12:30-1:30 p.m., 148 Fine Arts Building. Free. For information contact Patricia Healy at 817-272-5658 or phealy@uta.edu. Intramural Ultimate Frisbee 5 vs. 5: 6 p.m.- midnight., Campus Recreation Fields Complex, at the intersection of Fielder Road and Mitchell Street. Free.
PERSONAVACTION by Thea Blesener
Student comes out of coma Lijing Liu ruptured blood clots in brain and has been in the hospital since this summer. BY SHAMBHU SHARAN The Shorhorn staff
When Lijing Liu’s father asked his daughter to move her head, she moved it. Liu, an electrical engineering graduate student, formerly in a coma, can now move her head, eyes and eyelids, recognize faces and understand people talking to her. She still cannot talk. Texas Health Harris Methodist Hospital Fort Worth doctors took out her respiration tube and she is able to breath on her own. After an upcoming surgery she will have to be moved, doctors said. But her parents said they can’t afford it. Two blood clots in Liu’s brain ruptured and began to bleed in July, which caused her to fall into a coma. Her father, Jun Liu, said doctors will arrange Liu’s surgery on Oct. 5 to remove the last of her blood clots. The doctors asked Liu’s parents to move her out of the hospital after the surgery and find one in China or a rehabilitation center in the Metroplex. “The situation in China is very hard,” Liu’s father said. “If people have no money, they can’t stay in the hospital.” Doctors are trying to find a rehabilitation center, which is expensive. Liu’s insurance ran out and doesn’t cover the expenses of rehabilitation. Liu is not a U.S. citizen and doesn’t qualify for special support programs, Liu’s father said. Deputy Consul General Yu Boren, with the Chinese Consulate, came from Houston to meet with Liu’s family along with Wang Dong, cultural and press affairs consul, and Yu Haiying, science and technology consul. “I am worried about Liu’s major operation. Going back to China is a long trip. If she can stay here until
The Shorthorn: Shambhu Sharan
Lijing Liu’s father Jun, center, caresses Lijing’s head as her mother, Ling Liu, right, and physics graduate Yuebin Li look on Sunday at Texas Health Harris Methodist Hospital in Fort Worth. Liu, formerly in a coma, can now move her head, eyes, recognize faces and understand speech. She is still unable to talk but is breathing on her own.
she recovers it would be better,” Boren said. “Liu’s family has spent all of their money. They are from an ordinary family and they need help.” In the meantime, Liu is still considered a UTA student. “Lijing Liu has a medical reason for not being enrolled,” said Judy Young, Office of International Education executive director. “As long as there is medical reason the office can give [her] medical waiver to stay in the university.” A medical waiver was filed for her this semester and was approved. Liu needs to file another waiver at the end of fall or beginning of the spring semester to continue keeping her status as a student. Young
said she hopes Liu can recover and complete her degree. The office is keeping in touch with Friendship Association of Chinese Students and Scholars, the organization of which Liu is a member, about her situation, Young said. The association raised donations for her in front of the library for two weeks in September, built a Web site for her and helped shuttle her parents to and from the hospital. If she has to go back to China, Boren said he will make sure the local government would help her.
GET INVOLVED Send donations to: Lijing Liu (or Friendship Association of Chinese Students and Scholars) P.O. Box 190835 Arlington, Texas 76019 Please make checks payable to: On Behalf of Lijing Liu To volunteer to help contact: uta_ facss@yahoo.com Web site in honor of Lijing Liu: http://soundmap.org/Lijing/
SHAMBHU SHARAN news-editor.shorthorn@uta.edu
SCIENCE
Constituency Council hosts inter-university cup Students can competitively represent their colleges or schools today in the University Center Bowling and Billiards. The Science Constituency Council, representing the College of Science, is holding their annual Constituency Council Cup, known as C-cubed. The cup is awarded based on total number of points earned in games and competitions, with each team’s participants representing their college or school.
WHEN AND WHERE What: Constituency Council Cup When: 6 - 9 p.m. Today Where: Bowling and Billiards in the University Center Students, faculty and staff are encouraged to come eat free food, bowl, play billiards and sing karaoke in order to help their college or school earn points toward winning
the cup. SCC President Natalia Vargas said it is a great way for students to come out and meet new people. “C-cubed is a tradition that the SCC has been hosting for a while,” Vargas said. “The main goal is to unite the colleges and encourage everyone to gain some school spirit along the way.” For example, 10 points will be awarded per team for every karaoke song completed. Attendees are asked to support the university by wearing universityaffiliated clothing, which will go
toward each individual college’s or school’s point total. Administrators like Greg Hale, College of Science assistant dean, and Beth Wright, College of Liberal Arts dean, will be at the event. Vargas said it’s a great way for students to meet administrators in an informal setting. College of Engineering and College of Science had the same number of points last year, but College of Science won because it had more students in attendance.
– Vinod Srinivasan
POLICE REPORT
CORRECTION The caption under Tuesday’s Oozeball photo on page 5 of participants rinsing themselves should have read: Pre-med graduate student Fahed Abdelaty, center, joins others in scrubbing away remaining mud Friday during the Oozeball tournament.
News Front Desk ......................... 817-272-3661 News after 5 p.m........................ 817-272-3205 Advertising ................................. 817-272-3188 Fax ............................................. 817-272-5009 UC Lower Level Box 19038, Arlington, TX 76019 Editor in Chief ............................ Marissa Hall editor.shorthorn@uta.edu Managing Editor .......................... Mark Bauer
This is a part of the daily activity log produced by the university’s Police Department. To report a criminal incident on campus, call 817-272-3381.
MONDAY
TUESDAY
Warrant Service- Misdemeanor Police arrested a nonstudent for outstanding Fort Worth warrants at 6:11 p.m. at 300 Cooper St.
Assist Agency Campus police assisted Arlington Police Department with a sexual assault call at 1:56 a.m. at 501 Nedderman Drive. The victim said she was forced into a black truck and assaulted at an unknown location.
managing-editor.shorthorn@uta.edu News Editor ................................. Jason Boyd news-editor.shorthorn@uta.edu Assistant News Editor .................. Sarah Lutz assistant-news.shorthorn@uta.edu Design Editor ..........................Shawn Johnson design-editor.shorthorn@uta.edu Copy Desk Chief .......................Anna Katzkova copydesk-editor.shorthorn@uta.edu
Injured Person Medical Assist A student fell while indoor rock climbing at 3:42 p.m. in the Maverick Activities Center and was transported to Arlington Memorial Hospital.
Scene Editor .......................... Dustin L. Dangli features-editor.shorthorn@uta.edu Sports Editor ..................................Clint Utley features-editor.shorthorn@uta.edu Opinion Editor........................ ........Cohe Bolin opinion-editor.shorthorn@uta.edu Photo Editor .........................Andrew Buckley photo-editor.shorthorn@uta.edu Online Editor ...................... Jennifer Cudmore
Investigation A student said another student directed threatening comments toward her at 12:35 p.m. at 701 Nedderman Drive. FRIDAY Harassment A student reported she had received harassing text messages from another student at 7:14 p.m. reported at 701 Nedderman Drive.
online-editor.shorthorn@uta.edu Webmaster ........................... Troy Buchwalter webmaster.shorthorn@uta.edu Student Ad Manager ....................... Mike Love admanager@shorthorn.uta.edu Marketing Manager .................... Kevin Green Production Manager................ Robert Harper
FIRST COPY FREE
Disturbance A student reported an argument she had with a parking garage employee at 10:59 a.m. in the Maverick Parking Garage.
ADDITIONAL COPIES 25 CENTS THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT ARLINGTON 91ST YEAR, © THE SHORTHORN 2009 All rights reserved. All content is the property of The Shorthorn and may not be reproduced, published or retransmitted in any form without written permission from UTA Student Publications. The Shorthorn is the student newspaper of the University of Texas at
For a crime map, visit
THE SHORTHORN .com
Arlington and is published in the UTA Office of Student Publications. Opinions expressed in The Shorthorn are not necessarily those of the university administration.
Wednesday, September 30, 2009
Page 3
The ShorThorn
AcAdeMics
2010 summer classes will begin on a Thursday Students will have a few more days to sleep in next summer. The Undergraduate Assembly approved a change to the 2010 academic calendar that will start classes on Thursday — as opposed to the Monday it starts on every year. This will also mean that classes will end in the second week of December, as opposed to the first week. Donald Bobbitt, Provost and Academic Affairs vice president, said that the Housing Office requested the extension so that they would have more time to prepare the residence halls before classes started. Some assembly members were concerned because of lab-scheduling conflicts. Melanie Johnson, Student Congress vice president, said she thought that students would be less likely to attend class because it starts later in the week. Sonia Kania, Department of Modern Languages assistant professor, was the only opposing vote. Kania said she doesn’t see why school can’t start instead the following Monday, a week late, instead of three days late. “I like symmetry,” she said, “and that just doesn’t make sense to me.” Economics junior Adedoyin Omidiran said the later ending date would make final-exam time worse. “It’s just extending a hellish situation for all students,” she said.
— Joan Khalaf
The Shorthorn: Stephanie Goddard
sAfety
Pizza Inn CEO Charlie Morrison speaks to marketing students Tuesday afternoon at the Business Building. Morrison emphasized the importance of having quality products and a familiar feeling associated with one’s company.
Nonstudent sexually assaulted near UTA Arlington Police Department and UTA Police assisted a female nonstudent who came to campus for aid after being sexually assaulted off campus at 8 p.m. Monday. Police are looking for the suspect. The victim was walking west on West Abram Street when a man called her by name and forced her into his vehicle. The suspect took her to an unknown off-campus location on South Cooper Street and sexually assaulted her, university spokesperson Kristin Sullivan said. The victim escaped from the suspect’s vehicle and ran to the campus for assistance, Sullivan said. “This is serious and we are very concerned,” Sullivan said. “The police department is urging the campus community to be vigilant about their surroundings and to be cautious about approaching vehicles.” The victim described the suspect to police as a Hispanic male with short dark hair in his late teens to early 20s. He is between 5 feet 9 inches and 5 feet 11 inches tall and between 130 and 160 pounds with a thin build. He was wearing jeans and a blue polo with a small oval cowboy belt buckle at the time of the assault and is tattooed on his arms and face. The vehicle is described as a black regular cab pickup with tinted windows and gray cloth interior. The victim said it might have been a Ford F-150 or a similar model. She noticed a faint air freshener hanging from the rearview mirror. There have been six forcible sex offenses at UTA since 2005, according to campus crime statistics. Any unwanted physical contact is described as sexual assault, including forcible sex offenses. Sexual assault and aggravated sexual assault are felony crimes and UTA considers it imperative to provide sexual assault awareness programs aimed at the prevention of such crimes, according to the UTA Police Web site. Rape Aggression Defense is a self-defense class for women. Students can register online by contacting Ron Cook at reynolds@uta.edu or 817-272-3902.
Guest lecture
Old values can rebuild past companies Market research, original success strategies help build brand, says Pizza Inn CEO. By Ali MustAnsir The Shorthorn senior staff
Five people in a full lecture hall raised their hand when Pizza Inn CEO Charlie Morrison asked how many people had eaten at Pizza Inn in the past month. Morrison, who took Pizza Inn’s reins in 2007, spoke to marketing students and American Marketing Association members Tuesday. Morrison called Pizza Inn a real-world challenge of re-building a forgotten brand and a work in progress. Several students raised their hands when Morrison asked who thought Pizza Inn was out of business. Morrison said a business will fail if it does not take care of a brand and remember the things that made
— Nicole Hines
Flu continued from page 1
For the week ending Sept. 26, the Texas Department of State Health Services classified the flu as widespread in Texas. The widespread classification is used when confirmed flu cases span across at least half the state. “This year we especially advise students to get flu shots,” said Jason Peralta, a Health Services administrative assistant. Also prevalent, influenza type A
H1N1 virus, also known as swine flu, reached pandemic status last summer. The Department of Health and Human Services will release the vaccines available during the first week of October, said Kathleen Sebelius, Health and Human Services Department secretary. Peralta said it is unknown when the university will receive the vaccines. Flu shots given at outreach events on campus won’t protect from the H1N1 virus. The health center ordered enough H1N1 virus vaccines for the entire campus, Pevalta said. From Sept. 4 to 21, Health Ser-
vices gave 697 shots and as of Tuesday, more than 1,000. Biochemistry freshman Jordan Benson said he got his shot in the Palo Duro Lounge because it would cost less than seeing a doctor. “I thought it would be the smart thing to do,” he said. “I didn’t want to get sick.” Nursing junior Dhruti Derasari said she got a flu shot because it is mandatory for nursing students. Many School of Nursing students interact one-on-one with hospital patients who may have the flu or flu-like symptoms, she said.
it successful. Pizza Inn disconnected from the elements customers knew and it hurt the company, he said. Morrison said Pizza Inn is making efforts to re-build the company by re-introducing elements that initially made it a success, including returning to the original mascot and delivering on customer’s expectations. “To build a great brand you need to focus on what you do well and do it very well,” Morrison said. AMA president Bharath Tejasvi, marketing research graduate student, worked with Morrison in his international marketing class. Tejasvi said he realized the importance of building on the brand and quality of a company, which includes collecting data about customers. “It is important to do a lot of marketing research on who customers are,” he said. Marketing senior Malcholmn Lewis said he learned a lot about
find vAccines Seasonal Flu: When: 10 a.m. - 1:30 p.m. Today Where: Davis Hall Swine Flu: The first doses of vaccines for influenza type A H1N1 virus, or swine flu, will be released during the first week of October, according to the Department of Health and Human Services.
Oct. 15 is the deadline for nursing students to get their seasonal flu shots. “Hospitals have their own rules [regarding vaccinations],” said Glad-
www.theshorthorn.com
repositioning a brand. “Even if you think it is time to cut your losses and quit, there is still time to bring it back,” Lewis said. Lewis said it was interesting to hear about the original founder selling Pizza Inn to a larger company, which went bankrupt a few years later. “It’s important to remember what made you successful and why people like you,” Lewis said. Morrison held executive roles at Steak and Ale, Ponderosa Restaurants, Kinko’s, Boston Market and Pizza Hut. He advises students to get experience working with a wellestablished brand. Companies can be good at recognizing talent and presenting better opportunities, he said. “Learn to be a sponge,” Morrison said. “I learn new things everyday.” Ali MustAnsir news-editor.shorthorn@uta.edu
ys Maryol, School of Nursing undergraduate programs director. “We expect that any [nursing student] who has contact with patients and does not have a flu shot will have to wear masks.” Aerospace engineering senior Paul Sitler said he got his flu shot sometime last week. He suggested that all students be vaccinated before there’s a rush. “It’s a small cost for a big benefit,” he said. JohnAthAn silver news-editor.shorthorn@uta.edu
about opinion Cohe Bolin, opinion editor opinion-editor.shorthorn@uta.edu Opinion is published Wednesday and Friday. Page 4
OPiniOn The ShorThorn
Editorial/our viEw
With the use of Second Life, students can avoid the long drives to class
— The Shorthorn editorial board is Marissa Hall, Jason Boyd, Mark Bauer, Dustin Dangli, and Cohe Bolin
discombobulation by Houston Hardaway
The
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it’s one thing to get along with neighbors, another to collaborate with enemies
i
’m between committed romances an hour for three hours, but the sitter wants $12. You agree, if the sitter will right now. Let’s compromise! i’ll date your do the dishes and laundry. if the baby significant other on alternating week- sitter agrees, compromise saved the day. Anne likes Bob’s painting hanging in ends until i find my own. his living room and offers him That’s fair, right? Or are $100 for it. He explains that it you a greedy hoarder? isn’t for sale, but she throws the And another thing! money on the coffee table, pulls We all know the country the painting down and heads needs more medical care, so out the door. That’s theft, not why don’t we allow associates compromise. degrees in surgery? Compromise is one of the i’d like to play doctor and bywords of tolerance and sensiall that medical degree jazz tivity in the mainstream media takes so long and is so hard! and education. Another is seOf course, these are ridiccliff HalE mantics. Where compromise is ulous ideas. But they serve to used almost exclusively to inillustrate the point that comdicate a positive thing, semantics is one promise is not always a good thing. Compromise works when it is volun- of the longest four-letter words some social engineers and pundits know. tary and mutually-beneficial. The two terms are related when Three coworkers want to have lunch together and have different ideas of George Stephanopoulos, ABC pundit where to go. One suggests a fourth op- and former Clinton administration tion that all three agree on and reach a staffer, reads the dictionary definition of “tax” to President Barack Obama compromise. You plan to pay your baby sitter $8 during a taped interview, and Obama
guEst column
cries semantics. Obama does not refute the clear definition presented to him, but he says it is not applicable to his topic, and that Stephanopoulos was “stretching” by looking up the word in the first place. The implication here is that semantics is a refusal to play nicely and compromise on meanings of terms. So, what is the compromise between excellence and failure? Mediocrity? Where is the middle ground between life and death? Zombies? What is the moderate position between individual freedom and enslavement? Citizenship in a socialist welfare state? The antonym for inappropriate compromise is standards. What is the compromise between metric and English measurement? A house that collapses because the pieces don’t fit.
— Cliff Hale is a columnist for The Shorthorn and an interdisciplinary studies junior
Smoky Issues Smoking is my choice, not an addiction
i
Freedom and the acquiobject to the campus being made tobacco- sition of knowledge are inseparably related. We can free. “Universities across the grow only when we are procountry are moving toward vided the freedom to think tobacco-free campus poli- what we please. i understand the issue of cies,” Jean Hood said in the university newsletter the second-hand smoke. The the dangers TrailBlazer. So of second-hand what? Just besmoke are a matter cause everyone of much debate. else does it doesn’t The fact that make it right. smoking is harminfringing ful influences the upon my right to public perception of use public space tobacco in negative to smoke is not a ways and people asdebate. sume they have the A university stands for knowl- vidwan ragHavan right to control others’ use of tobacco edge and freewith the attitude dom. Freedom is not attained by defining it. of wanting to help smokers The more we are told what quit. i am a smoker, not a we cannot do, the more chain smoker, not an adfreedom is taken away.
dicted-smoker, rather a habitual smoker. i smoke on occasion because i want to. if i am with people, i ask them if i may smoke. if someone asks me to put out my cigarette, i acquiesce. So when someone offers to help me quit, they are insulting my intelligence. i am fully aware of the health risks and i have made the choice to smoke. How can they assume i want to quit? The university’s solution would ban tobacco on campus, helping all those poor, ignorant, dumb, idiotic, worthless people quit. Look at us, so concerned about everyone. The university should create clearly-marked designated smoking areas to address second-hand smoke.
My solution is a compromise to stop a dictator-like approach to the problem. A dictator with a smiley face is still the dictator. The issue here is greater than smoking bans. it is that the mass seems to consider itself rightfully able to manipulate the individual. i strongly believe that my liberty ends where yours begins, and have therefore suggested that above solution is a way to keep all the individuals happy. Whether or not the university can put in its catalog that it is committed to a tobacco-free lifestyle is not my concern. My university should not forsake me for a few PR points.
— Vidwan Raghavan is an advertising junior
lEttEr
Tobacco a major annoyance on campus Justin Sharp’s column starts by his assertion that smoking is a personal choice, then states studies show second-hand smoke is not harmful, which
Since 1919
The Shorthorn invites students, university employees and alumni to submit guest columns to the Opinion page. Wednesday, September 30, 2009
the puzzling Side of Compromise
Commute from Bed to the Web imagine if you didn’t have to drive to school, deal with traffic and parking — you could just stay at home to go to class. This could be the future for the UT-System campuses, with many facets that would benefit students and faculty. This could be the next step in distance learning — a new way to conduct classes online and utilize technology. This would be Second Life – a virtual world where an education trend is gaining traction. Second Life is a virtual world where people can make avatars, electronic images representing and manipulated by computer users, and take them through real-life tasks like owning businesses, buying land and meeting others. More than 300 universities and colleges across the country are using the virtual reality world to interact and meet for class, according to a USA Today article. The UT-System is the first Editorial to start a statewide experiment rounduP with Second Life, funded by a The issue: $250,000 grant, according to Second Life could be Sarah Jones, Digital Library the wave of the future for universities and colServices information architect, leges everywhere. The who is the project leader on university is introducing our campus. a nursing class for a test drive. next week, a course in the School of nursing will have We suggest: If the class is successful, the first class at the university this could be a great in Second Life. Jones said this opportunity for our camis still a new technology but pus to utilize this virtual education system, poshopes more departments and sibly benefiting students, colleges express interest in the faculty and staff. program. “i’m in the process of making contacts around the campus. There has been interest from liberal arts and distance education.” Jones said. “i hope this year is a success so that it will lead to a second year. it would be wonderful if there was participation from every school.” The UT-System purchased islands on Second Life for classes to virtually meet, interact and collaborate with other UT-System universities. Each school has three 16-acre islands. Program objectives include increased access to courses, office hours and discussion. UT-Austin senior lecturer Leslie Jarmon, Division of instructional innovation and Assessment faculty development specialist, has been working on this program for four years. She was the recipient of the grant, which is funding the first-year UT-System experiment with this technology. Jarmon said nursing programs at five universities are already collaborating. Universities working together, not just in nursing or medical programs, will benefit all students, she said. A group project could look a different if members would be located across Texas and meet as avatars online. Jones said Second Life would provide different aspects than WebCT, the current online class application. She cited issues such as driving time, fuel costs, parking issues and traffic that would be alleviated if the program were a success. The program would be beneficial to many students and faculty on campus who commute, nontraditional students and faculty teaching several classes. We hope the Second Life initiative will be successful so that the campus can explore options with the program.
remember
Editor-in-chiEf Marissa Hall E-mail editor.shorthorn@uta.edu
The Shorthorn is the official student newspaper of the University of Texas at Arlington and is published four times weekly during fall and spring semesters, and twice weekly during the summer sessions. Unsigned editorials are the opinion of thE Shorthorn Editorial Board and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of individual student writers or editors,
is a contentious point based on other studies. The point he misses is to many non-smokers, tobacco smoke is a major annoyance. I like breathing clean air. I get aggravated when I leave a building and have no choice but to smoke, if even it is only second-hand. It would be the equivalent of me
Shorthorn advisers or university administration. lEttErS should be limited to 300 words. They may be edited for space, spelling, grammar and malicious or libelous statements. Letters must be the original work of the writer and must be signed. For identification purposes, letters also must include the writer’s full name, address and telephone number, although the address and tele-
lightly pushing him every time I saw him. Since I am not causing him harm, only annoying him, it must be OK.
—J Branden Helms, City and Regional Planning graduate student
phone number will not be published. Students should include their classification, major and their student iD number, which is for identification purposes. The student iD number will not be published. Signed columns and letters to the editor reflect the opinion of the writer and serve as an open forum for the expression of facts or opinions of interest to The Shorthorn’s readers.
Wednesday, September 30, 2009
Page 5
ANNOUNCEMENTS
EMPLOYMENT
EMPLOYMENT
EMPLOYMENT
EMPLOYMENT
HOUSING
HOUSING
MERCHANDISE
EGG DONATION
CHILDCARE ENERGETIC, OUTGOING, PATIENT student needed to work with a 12 year old boy with autism, approx. 20/hrs week. $10/ hr 817-733-8561. leave msg
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GENERAL HIRING IMMEDIATELY Nice family looking for energetic, creative, focused & fun young woman to work w/ our lovely daughter w/ disabilities. Exp. preferred but will train, pt or ft, flex hrs. Very close to UTA. You will work w/ other fantastic UTA students. $10/ hr. Call for interview Mr. & Mrs. Phillips (817) 265-6009 EXCELLENT PART TIME JOB! - Bellmen - Valet drivers - Lot Attendants $8-14/ hr w/ tips. Call Darren (469)323-2126 darren@belclaire.com
TEACHING/TUTORING NEEDING MATH TUTOR SPANISH TUTOR NEEDED, teaching 15 years, AP SPANISH $35/ hr. 3 miles from campus. Please call Lily (972) 670-8285
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DR. RUTH Q: I’m an 18-year-old male. My you really wanted to do it, you girlfriend and I recently talked could find a safe and comfortabout the removal of pubic hair. able way. But if you don’t want She has been shaving hers for a to do it -- which is perfectly fine few years, and she talked me into -- and are using these excuses, shaving mine. I like the my advice is to just tell idea but am unsure if it your girlfriend that you is a safe thing to do. I don’t want to do it, and mean, it must be there leave it at that. for a reason! I shaved a small patch off just Q: My boyfriend ento see what would hapjoys lovemaking every pen, and a number of night. Why is it that I red pimples appeared. lack the energy or stimSo, I was wondering if Dr. Ruth ulation for lovemakyou could tell me if this Send your ing? is a safe thing to do, questions to and also how to remove Dr. Ruth Westheimer A: There could be c/o King Features the hair in the safest lots of reasons, includSyndicate and most convenient ing relationship issues, 235 E. 45th St., manner. outside psychological New York, NY pressures (problems 10017 A: While I’m not enat work, for example), couraging you to do inner psychological isthis -- it’s entirely up to you sues, your level of ability to have -- the idea that it is there for a orgasms, physical issues or even reason probably doesn’t stop you a combination of these. There’s from shaving your beard, so it no way that I could give you an shouldn’t stop you from shav- answer unless I knew a lot more. ing your pubic hair. On the other So try thinking about this more hand, you’ve been shaving your to see if you can pinpoint the face for a while, so the skin on cause, and then talk about it with your face has gotten accustomed your boyfriend. If you’re really to this process, but that’s not true at a loss, then you should find a of the area around your genitals. therapist to speak with about this I don’t know much about this problem. particular subject, but I’m sure if
OFFICE/CLERICAL ADMIN ASST. This position involves helping the office manager with Purchase Orders, Invoicing and customer relations. Exporting/ Logistics experience is an advantage. Strong writing communicaiton skills is a must. Please fax resumes to (817) 887-1904 or email them to afs3120@yahoo. com. Located 10 minutes from UTA!
LOCATION Spacious 3/2 Condo Covered Parking, Pool Students Welcome $845 mo. 214-803-3108
AUTOS
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Los Angeles Times Daily Crossword Puzzle Edited by Rich Norris and Joyce Lewis ACROSS 1 Used a spade 4 “Look what I did!� 8 Accident 14 Fertility lab eggs 15 Baghdad’s country 16 Francia neighbor 17 *Evil Asian doctor in Sax Rohmer novels 19 Contaminates 20 Blow, as one’s lines 21 “There oughta be __� 23 South American mountain chain 24 Second largest planet 26 Scalawag 28 Seek damages 29 Category 30 Polish Nobelist Walesa 33 Workout aftereffects 36 “We’ll always have __�: Rick, to Ilsa, in “Casablanca� 38 “Get off the stage!� 39 Satisfied laugh 41 Transfers to a central computer 43 Whisperer’s target 44 Smooths, as wood 46 Wetlands bird 47 Compact __ 49 Sheet on the road, perhaps 50 Cartoonist’s frame 51 Like steamy prose 53 Ogden native 57 Alexander of “Seinfeld� 59 Truth stretcher 61 Daffy 62 Thunderstruck 64 Each answer to a starred clue is a type of this 66 Wall Street worker 67 Yemen coastal city 68 “__-Tiki� 69 Tijuana snooze 70 Lean to one side, at sea 71 Lay down the lawn
Instructions: Fill in the grid so that every row, every column and every 3x3 grid contains the digits 1 through 9 with no repeats. That means that no number is repeated in any row, column or box. By Chuck Deodene
DOWN 1 Tips in a gentlemanly manner 2 Soft palate dangler 3 Full range 4 Main element in pewter 5 Mysterious 6 Wonka’s creator 7 Sea-life displays 8 Queens ballplayer 9 Violinist Stern 10 __ cord: chiropractor’s concern 11 *Scooter feature 12 Pot starter 13 Student’s permission slip 18 Maligning sort 22 *Tusked mammal 25 Deteriorates, as iron 27 Hop along happily 31 Programmer’s output 32 Emcee 33 Served perfectly 34 Indian spiced tea 35 *Trotter’s footwear item
Solution Solutions, tips and computer program at www.sudoku.com
9/30/09 Tuesday’s Puzzle Solved
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Wednesday’s Puzzle Solved
1 and 2 bedroom units $550-675 a month. Water and lawn paid. Clean and ready, on Elm St. Call Jason (817) 4725455
10/1/09
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TRANSPORTATION
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ATTN: STUDENTS $14 Base-appt. All ages 18+, flex hours, customer sales/ service, no exp. nec. Conditions apply. Arl 817-6498200, Mid Cities 817-2850060
MEDICAL NEED P/T ASSOCIATE, friendly, professional, and efficient person to join our fast paced family owned pharmacy in Arlington. Evenings & Sat. approx. 30/ hrs. Apply within at: Randol Mill Pharmacy 1014 N. Fielder Rd.
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APARTMENTS LARGE 2 BDRM/1BATH, 4-PLEX for lease, on campus, newly remodeled, washer/dryer connection, ceiling fan, downstairs unit, excellent condition. $625/mo. 817690-5848 TAKE OVER MY LEASE @ Johnson Creek Crossing. 1 of 2 bedrooms with own bath. $200 reward on signing. Call Luisa 401-368-4783
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THE SHORTHORN is currently accepting applications for the following positions for the Fall Semester;
SERVICE DIRECTORY
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UTACATHOLICS.ORG thanks Golden Chick on Cooper St. for their support of our charity fundraiser! They have friendly workers and great food! More Rolls!
CAREGIVER NEEDED
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EARLY CHILDHOOD ED. MAJORS- P/ T & F/ T Toddler and preschool teachers needed. Experience Preferred. Call to set up interview. (817)417-8955
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PERSONALS HI ACORN AND HUGH Thanks for being awesome and cool with me. I appreciate your support, you guys Rock!<3yall!
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36 *Eyebrow cosmetic applicator 37 Hard rain? 40 CafĂŠ lightener 42 Dakota Native American 45 Point in math class? 48 Froggy chorus 50 Foiled villainâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s shout 52 First stage
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Wednesday, September 30, 2009
The ShorThorn
TradiTions
Spots still open for annual Bed Races
The Shorthorn: File Photo
Ready, set, go! Students still have time to prepare for the 29th annual Bed Races that will be held on Thursday at the Maverick Stadium. The admission is free and the event will be sponsored by EXCEL Campus Activities and the Campus Recreation Department. Early registration ended at 5 p.m. Tuesday, but teams can register late for the event up until 3 p.m. today, by returning their entry forms to the University Center lower level, Room B14. Anyone registering at this time will be charged a $50 fee, which includes a $10 late charge. Registration is free if sign up is done through a residence hall. Angie Mack, EXCEL Campus Tradition director, said that this year students can expect to see variety of activities. Those activities include a mechanical bull, bungee, a live disc jokey, fieldgoal-kicking contest and games. Concessions and memorabilia will also be available. Each team will consist of five members and 100 teams will be accepted for the race. If that number isn’t reached, teams will still be accepted until the start of the event. A mandatory meeting for all team captains will take place at 6:45 p.m. and the races begin at 7 p.m. Students will attempt to break the current Texas collegiate pillow-fight record during half-time. Participants will race in three categories: men’s, women’s and coed. Awards will be given for a field-goal-kicking contest, most creative costume and a team wearing a costume with the most school spirit. “It’s so much fun because all the teams are so creative with coming up with their costumes,” Mack said. Prizes will include gift cards along with medals for the first- and secondplace winners. “It’s really fun to be out there and to see all the teams,” Mack said.
UTA’s 29th annual Bed Races will kick off at 7 p.m. Thursday at Maverick Stadium with the theme Running of the Beds. Early registration for the races ended Tuesday, but teams can still sign up and pay an extra $10 late fee until 3 p.m. today.
Ransom continued from page 1
could be considered. “I see the whole school as a freshman center with the UC and the Maverick Activities Center,” he said. It has yet to be determined where Ransom Hall computers would go, but Bobbitt said that they may be placed in labs or spaces may be created with casual seating arrangements and a social environment. Spaces in Davis Hall were also considered, but offices, like the Financial Aid Office, cannot be moved. The group is considering placing the UTA Computer Store either in the UC or partnering with the UTA Bookstore. Computer Store manager Pam Tremaine said she would be upset if the store moved to the bookstore, since Follett owns it. “I consider us more of a service than a business,” she said. “They’re [the bookstore] there to make money, and we’re there as a service to students.” Nikhila Kommireddy, an Office of Information Technology employee and computer science graduate student, said she could only foresee a problem if there were no more 24/7 labs that all
students could access. Visual communication junior Mark Larimore, who takes a digital design class on Ransom Hall’s second floor, said he would be for the change if his class would move to where his other classes are located — the Fine Arts Building. “We’re very detached being over here,” he said. Senior Vice Provost Michael Moore headed the Task Force for the First Year Experience and Undergraduate Retention, which analyzed ways to retain students, specifically freshmen. He said the first year is a critical time and the center will help struggling freshmen, instead of making them run around campus for what they need. “I think this will be one of the biggest changes to come to UTA in a very long time,” Moore said. Biology freshman Brent Collins said the center is a great idea. “Being a freshman, you don’t have a feel for the campus yet or know quite where to go,” he said. “Having something like that would be nice.” Biology freshman Laura Cardona said she would rather not have a center for freshmen, because it would increase their dependence. “Since they’re on their own, I think they should have to go around campus and do what they have to do,” she said. “Freshmen should let go of depending on others to help them.” Joan Khalaf news-editor.shorthorn@uta.edu
— Temicca Hunter
sTudenT Governance
SC removes seats, increases each senators constituency The Liberal Arts, Business and Science colleges and the School of Nursing will each lose a senator next semester. Student Congress approved an amendment Tuesday to change the number of students each senator represents. Each senator will represent 850 students instead of 750, which will remove four seats from SC. The colleges of Liberal Arts, Business, Nursing and Science will each lose a senator starting next semester. The amendment was written in anticipation of further university growth after this semester’s 12 percent increase in enrollment. The proposed amendment’s original version called for each senator to represent 1,000 students, which some senators expressed concern for student voices being diminished. The SC chamber only has 38 physical chairs for senators to sit in and four chairs for executive board members. There are 43 members of SC and the amendment would lower it to 39. Senators were also concerned about space. Business senator Bryan Albers said he supported the change to the proposed amendment because increasing the number to 1,000 students per senator would result in less student voice and inadequate representation.
“It was a good balance between keeping the seats competitive and not closing off so many seats,” Albers said. Liberal Arts senator Rebekah Karth said enrollment increases should be addressed as they happen. Karth said she had been the Student Governance Association president at Midland College before transferring to UTA. She said her first two meetings were held in an empty room where they sat on the floor while the Student Center was remodeled. “People were still excited,” Karth said. “They wanted to be there and were willing to sit on the floor.” Business senator Jamilah James didn’t support 1,000 students per senator and said she felt 850 was a good compromise. “Am I going to come in contact with 1,000 students?” James said. Engineering senator Collins Watson was in favor of a 1,000 students per senator change, but is happy with the outcome. Watson said it is important to keep senator positions competitive. “People work harder on things they had to fight for and that is good for the student body,” Watson said.
ali MusTansir news-editor.shorthorn@uta.edu
The Shorthorn: Rasy Ran
The rightmost elevator in the lobby upon entering the Central Library reopens for normal usage after nearly an hour of downtime. A group of more than 10 people was stuck inside when the elevator around noon on Tuesday.
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and got the occupants out, and Otis, a worldwide elevator company, put the elevator back in working order. An Otis employee who helped fix the elevator but wouldn’t give his name said the elevator experienced “a glitch in the system.” He compared it to a computer that needs the occasional reboot but works fine otherwise. Marketing senior Gordon Braley, one of the occupants, said he was headed to the basement to study for an exam when the elevator malfunctioned with 12 occupants inside. “People were starting to get a little upset in there,” he said, describing the scene.
He said people passed the time by telling jokes, trying to relieve the tension. Some had to use the restroom during the stay, but couldn’t, he said. Administrative manager Carleen Dolan said an elevator could jam anytime, anywhere in the world. She said the library calls Otis to fix problems as they arise. She said students shouldn’t worry about chronic problems with the rightmost elevator in the lobby upon entering. “As soon as it’s fixed, it’s fixed,” Dolan said. She suggests students not thrust closing doors open when entering elevators because it wears down the door mechanism. “If you miss the elevator, just wait for another one,” she said. Jason Boyd news-editor.shorthorn@uta.edu
“People were starting to get a little upset in there.” Gordon Braley
marketing senior