University Communications » Internal Communications » MavWire » MavWire 11-18-2010

Creative scholar: Dr. Richard Florida, founder of the Creative Class Group, lectured on campus as part of the Maverick Speakers Series in 2009.

Florida, Pedigo bring Creative Class project as visiting scholars

Two world-renowned economic development experts are coming to UT Arlington with plans to make North Texas their urban and economic development laboratory.

Richard Florida and Steven Pedigo join UT Arlington as visiting scholars in the School of Urban and Public Affairs during the next two years. Dr. Florida is director of the Martin Prosperity Institute at the University of Toronto and founder of the Creative Class Group, a global advisory services firm. Dr. Pedigo is director of Research and Communities for the Creative Class Group.

“North Texas is one of the fastest-growing areas in the country, and it’s been left relatively unscathed from the economic turmoil that much of the rest of the country has endured,” Florida says. “UT Arlington has played a significant role in helping the region sidestep some of those economic pitfalls.”

Florida and Pedigo plan to collaborate with UT Arlington faculty, researchers, and students, as well as regional leaders, to identify a series of research initiatives that the local community can launch. The goal of the selected initiatives will be to leverage the existing assets and talents in North Texas to move the community forward.

Read more about Florida and Pedigo.

Great American Smokeout shares info on tobacco-cessation programs, options

Tobacco use, cancer, and how to quit smoking or dipping are covered in the Great American Smokeout 10 a.m.-2 p.m. today, Thursday, Nov. 18, in the Palo Duro Lounge of the E.H. Hereford University Center.

A Relay for Life mini-walk starts at 2 p.m. at the Health Services Center. To sign up, contact Donielle Smith at dnsmith@uta.edu or 2-2619.

Following the walk, a candlelight vigil honors cancer survivors and the memory of lost loved ones.

In preparation for the UT Arlington campus to become smoke-free in August 2011, smoking cessation classes are offered to faculty and staff. The Fresh Start From Tobacco program offers four classes at the Health Services Center. Participants are encouraged to attend all four classes. For more details on free tobacco-cessation programs, contact Latoya Oduniyi at latoya.oduniyi@uta.edu or 2-2716.

Coral care: Corals, such as these infected by yellow-band disease, are the focus of an NSF-funded study by Dr. Laura Mydlarz.

Biology prof receives NSF grant to study disease in Caribbean coral

Biology Assistant Professor Laura Mydlarz received a $409,537 grant from the Organism-Environment Interactions Program of the National Science Foundation to study disease in corals, particularly disease caused by environmental stress.

The study, “Assessing the Effect of Environmental Stressors on Invertebrate Innate Immunity using a Coral Pathosystem,” is a collaboration among Dr. Mydlarz, Ernesto Weil of the University of Puerto Rico at Mayaguez, and John Bruno of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

“We are working to describe the basic innate immune responses of reef-building corals,” Mydlarz says. “Specifically, we are characterizing how environmental stressors such as temperature affect the corals' ability to fight pathogens.”

Their research will focus on corals in the Caribbean that are affected by many bacterial and fungal diseases. One particularly destructive disease is known as yellow-band disease, which attacks colonies of coral at a time when the coral is stressed by pollution, overfishing, and climate change. It is characterized by large blotches or patches of bleached, yellowed tissue on Caribbean scleractinian corals, also called stony corals.

The study will examine the effects of environmental stressors on the Montastraea coral, one of the more important species of reef-building coral in the Caribbean. Specifically, the work will look at how coral immune and self-defense mechanisms are affected by temperature, nutrient, and pathogen stress.

Read more about the coral study.

Tickets still available for Lisa Ling

Tickets are moving steadily for the appearance of international journalist and TV show host Lisa Ling for the Maverick Speakers Series lecture Tuesday, Nov. 23, at Texas Hall. The lecture begins at 7:30 p.m., followed by a book signing.

Ling's message is about positive social change as she discusses "Open Heart, Open Mind." She has covered timely topics around the world as a host for the National Geographic Explorer series. The former co-host of The View is the co-author of Mother, Daughter, Sister, Bride: Rituals of Womanhood, and Somewhere Inside.

Tickets are free and required. Download tickets from utatickets.com.

OneBook for Jordan Dana Canedy, author of A Journal for Jordan, this year's OneBook selection, lectured Monday at the Bluebonnet Ballroom about the story behind her book, which involved combining her late husband's journal and her memories for their son, Jordan.

Deadline is today to add your department's holiday tree to lounge

Trim your own tree for the University Center Tree Lounge, a holiday tradition Nov. 30-Dec. 21 in the Palo Duro Lounge of the E.H. Hereford University Center.

Departments or groups can purchase a potted artificial 6-foot pre-lit tree for $105. Submit requests by 5 p.m. today, Thursday, Nov. 18, so trees can be ordered in time.

Decorate the tree to represent your group or department or UT Arlington in general. The trees will be ready to decorate Tuesday, Nov. 23, and the official tree lighting is 1 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 30.

The trees will be stored by the University Center and available to reuse every year at no additional charge. To participate, contact Lauren Miller at lauren@uta.edu.

'Tragedy' in last weekend; watch video roundup of remaining season's shows

Get tickets now for the final weekend run of Tragedy: a tragedy in the Mainstage Theatre of the Fine Arts Building. Showtime is 7 p.m. Thursday-Saturday and 2:30 p.m. Sunday. Call the box office at 2-2669 for tickets, which are $7 for faculty and staff.

Check out the rest of Theatre Arts’ season lineup and scenes from last month’s Cabaret.

Faculty, staff organization registration procedure revised

Registration forms for faculty and staff organizations are now routed to the program coordinator in the Office of the Vice President for Business Affairs and Controller. Registration renewals are due annually at the beginning of each fall semester.

Recently revised registration procedure 13-2, Registration of Faculty and Staff Organizations, and form 13-1, Faculty or Staff Organization Registration, are available in the procedure and forms indices. A list of currently registered faculty and staff organizations is online.

For more information, contact Joyce Hood at 2-5420 or hood@uta.edu.

Check MyMav accounts regularly to review charges, make payments

Owe a fee or a fine? Faculty and staff should check their MyMav accounts regularly to see if they have any charges that need to be paid.

Charges shown on your MyMav account include library fines, parking citations, ID card replacement fees, or Health Center charges.

Log in to MyMav at uta.edu/mymav to see charges, which are shown in the upper right. If you have a charge, go to View My Account and Make A Payment. For your convenience, there is also a MyMav link at the top of the UT Arlington home page.

For more information and a training tutorial, see MyMav Training.

War hero honored Alumnus Col. Neel E. Kearby was honored Saturday with a memorial at the George W. Hawkes Central Library in downtown Arlington. Kearby was a decorated World War II fighter pilot killed in action. He received the Medal of Honor posthumously and is a member of the UT Arlington Military Science Hall of Honor. With the statue are his grandson, Corey Kearby, left, and Jason Landrem, Arlington Parks and Recreation project manager.

Bring your nonperishable items for Golden Can Food Drive by Monday

There's still time to donate nonperishable food items for the second annual Golden Can Food Drive. Donations will be picked up Monday, Nov. 22.

Preferred food items, which support healthy eating habits, include canned foods such as beans, tuna, ham, soup, fruit, chili, stew, and peanut butter; and packaged foods such as energy bars, pudding cups, fruit rolls, crackers, and granola bars.

The Golden Key International Honour Society, in partnership with the Staff Advisory Council’s Outreach Committee, sponsors the drive to aid the hungry in North Texas. The goal is to surpass last year’s collection of 464 pounds. Every 10 pounds of food feeds a family of four for a day.

Contact Kevin Schuck at 2‑3313 or keschuck@uta.edu if you have items to donate. For information on donation locations, see the SAC webpage.

SAC of Joy needs toys for Cook Children's Medical Center

The SAC of Joy toy drive Nov. 30-Dec. 17 needs help providing toys for children confined to hospital rooms at Cook Children's Medical Center. The drive is sponsored by the Staff Advisory Council’s Outreach Committee.

See the list of donation sites and the Cook Children’s Medical Center wish list at uta.edu/sac or contact Linda Olson at lolson@uta.edu.

Compliance training due this month

UT Arlington is committed to ethical conduct and compliance with all applicable laws, rules, regulations, policies, and procedures. As part of this commitment, the University has established a compliance training program. Completing the annual compliance training requirements is important for all faculty and staff.

Access the University's training website at uta.edu/training using your Net ID and password. Your training curriculum will appear after you log in. The deadline for completing the training is Tuesday, Nov. 30.

If you have questions or need additional assistance, contact the compliance helpline at 2-5100 or compliance@uta.edu.

Health Services survey continues through Friday

Take a few moments to complete the quick and anonymous patient satisfaction survey for Health Services through Friday, Nov. 19. Health Services is committed to meeting and exceeding your expectations. Feedback on your impressions of the facility and experiences of care, service, and staff are important and encouraged.

Deck the Mall, have a very merry Holiday Extravaganza, and adopt an angel

This week's campus holiday celebration forecast includes lights, followed by cookies, karaoke, and Kris Kringle.

Deck the Mall lights the way at 6:30 p.m. today, Thursday, Nov. 18, on the Central Library mall. Join carolers in songs and indulge in free hot chocolate and treats while Allan Saxe, associate professor of political science, turns on the lights decorating the tree and mall. Sing more holiday tunes with karaoke. EXCEL Campus Activities sponsors the event.

Students, faculty, and staff are invited to bring their children to the annual Holiday Extravaganza for crafts, cookie decorating, and a visit from Santa Claus. The event is 10 a.m.-noon Saturday, Nov. 20, at the Palo Duro Lounge in the E.H. Hereford University Center. Freshmen Leaders On Campus provides the day's fun.

Be an angel to a child in need for the Salvation Army Angel Tree project. To choose a child to sponsor, go to the Student Activities office in the lower level of the University Center. Gifts should be returned on Thursday, Dec. 2, to the UTA Volunteers office in Student Activities. For more information, contact Bonnie Rodriguez at bonnie@uta.edu or 2-2963.

Oh, say, can you sing the national anthem?

Be a part of the UT Arlington game experience by performing The Star-Spangled Banner at one of the Mavericks home athletic events. Interested performers should be:

• A UT Arlington faculty, staff, student, or a dependent of a UT Arlington employee

• Available to practice in the venue the week of the game performance

• Available 45 minutes prior to the beginning of the game performance

Send a message with contact information to Travis Boren at tjboren@uta.edu.

Holiday Lights Parade entry deadline is Friday

Entry deadline for Arlington's Holiday Lights Parade is Friday, Nov. 19. Use the online application to sign up your group or department for the parade, which is set for 6 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 11. Entry fee is $35. For more information, send questions to info@holidaylightsparade.com.

OIT maintenance scheduled for Sunday

The Office of Information Technology will perform system maintenance 2-7 a.m. Sunday Nov. 21. The following services may be impacted: departmental shared drives (Sweeper, ARRI, Social Work), student drives and websites (quartz, students), departmental application servers (Civil Engineering, IRP), mailing lists (listserv) MavSpace, Ad Astra, print servers, and web servers (www, wweb).

Middle Level Research Conference

Session themes include behavioral interventions, digital pedagogies, and family and community outreach. Sponsored by Middle Level Education, Department of Curriculum and Instruction, College of Education and Health Professions. Free. 9:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m., Monday, Nov. 29. E.H. Hereford University Center. Middle Level Research Conference, Kim Ruebel, kruebel@uta.edu.

Introduction to Adobe Photoshop

Bring an image into Photoshop and be amazed at how you turned a dull photo into a masterpiece by scaling, adding text, saturating it, and more. Register. Free. 10 a.m.-noon, Thursday, Dec. 2, Digital Media Studio, Room B 29, Central Library. See more OIT training classes.

Employment Information

Check out employment opportunities at uta.edu/jobs. Have questions? Call Human Resources/Employment Services at 2-3461 or TDD 2-8139, or e-mail employment@uta.edu. The University of Texas at Arlington is an equal opportunity and affirmative action employer.

Outreach: Senior Bianca Sauls totaled 11 kills and 15 digs against UT San Antonio on Saturday for the 24th double-double of her career.

Volleyball Mavericks seeded fourth in SLC

After closing the regular season with a seven-match winning streak, the volleyball team captured the No. 4 seed in the Southland Conference Tournament, which opens Friday, Nov. 19, in Huntsville.

The Mavericks will face tournament host and No. 5 seed Sam Houston State in the first round at 6:30 p.m. Friday. The tourney continues through Sunday. See the tournament schedule.

Coach Diane Seymour’s squad closed out the home season Saturday with a 3-0 win over UT San Antonio, which is seeded second in the tourney.

Movin' Mavs win three of four in Jim Hayes tourney

The Movin’ Mavs went 3-1 for the weekend in the Jim Hayes Memorial Tournament, winning two games over the University of Alabama and splitting a pair with defending national champion University of Illinois.

Senior David Wilkes and sophomore Jorge Sanchez each averaged 17 points per game in the four contests.

Men's basketball begins season on a winning note

Freshman Brandon Edwards scored 20 points and grabbed 13 rebounds as the men’s basketball team opened the season with an 88-45 win over Texas Lutheran on Friday at Texas Hall. The Mavericks dropped a 71-56 decision at Oregon State on Sunday, before rebounding to top UT Tyler 96-56 on Tuesday.

Following a trip to Houston Baptist on Saturday, the Mavericks host Hardin-Simmons at 7 p.m. Monday, Nov. 22, at Texas Hall.

Koenig finishes 21st at cross country regional

Freshman Emily Koenig finished 21st in a field of more than 100 runners at the NCAA South Central Region Cross Country Championships on Saturday at Waco. The regional closes out the season for the Maverick cross country squad.

Women's basketball loses two, plays at UMKC on Saturday

The women’s basketball team opened the season last week with road losses to Oral Roberts and Houston.

The Mavericks continue their road trip with games at Missouri-Kansas City on Saturday, and Oklahoma State on Monday, before facing Arkansas State in their home opener Wednesday, Nov. 24.

(For more sports news, go to utamavs.com, utamovinmavs.com, or uta.edu/campusrec.)

Thursday, Nov. 18

International Food Fair Taste the world's flavors at the International Food Fair. Part of International Education Week. Free. 11 a.m.-2 p.m. E.H. Hereford University Center mall. International Student Organization, Lauren Cutcher, lcutcher@uta.edu.

Holiday Lunch and Learn UT Arlington Police Department presents crime prevention tips for holiday shopping, and preparing your residence before you leave. Video and a question-and-answer session. Refreshments provided. Free. Noon, Guadalupe Room, E.H. Hereford University Center. Kris Ramirez, ramirezk@uta.edu, 2-0026.

Exhibiting Artist Talk: Seiji Ikeda Assistant professor of art Seiji Ikeda discusses his work on exhibit at The Gallery at UTA. Free. 12:30-1:30 p.m., Room 148, Fine Arts Building. Art and Art History, 2-5658.

'Let's Go With Pancho Villa' A 1936 Mexican movie, shown in conjunction with modern languages colloquium. Free. 6 p.m., Room 200, Trimble Hall. Modern Languages. 2-5539.

Deck the Mall Enjoy hot chocolate, caroling, and the lighting of the tree and mall. Free. 6:30 p.m., Central Library mall. EXCEL Campus Activities, excel-traditions@uta.edu, 2-2963.

Fall Jazz Concert A night of jazz by the Jazz Orchestra and the Jazz Ensemble with guest artist Brian Mulholland on bass. Tickets $5. 7:30 p.m., Texas Hall. Music, 2-3471.

Thursday, Nov. 18-Sunday, Nov. 21

'Tragedy: a tragedy' This lively play satirizes modern American life as seen through television news. Faculty, staff $7. 8 p.m. Thursday-Saturday, 2:30 p.m. Sunday. Theatre Arts, 2-2669.

Friday, Nov. 19

$2 Movie: Clash of the Titans Zeus' mortal son tries to stop the underworld and its minions from spreading their evil. Rated PG-13. 5:30 p.m. Friday, 2:30 p.m. Saturday, Planetarium. 2-1183.

Saturday, Nov. 20

Brass Night Listen to performances by several student brass groups including two brass quintets, one horn ensemble, and a trumpet ensemble. Free. 7:30 p.m., Irons Recital Hall. Music, 2-3471.

Holiday Extravaganza Crafts, cookie decorating, and a visit from Santa Claus for children of students, faculty, and staff. Free. 10 a.m.-noon, Palo Duro Lounge, E.H. Hereford University Center. Freshmen Leaders On Campus.

Sunday, Nov. 21-Monday, Nov. 22

Opera Workshop Performance Students perform songs and scenes from various operas and plays. Free. 3 p.m. Sunday, 7:30 p.m. Monday. Irons Recital Hall, Fine Arts Building. Music, 2-3471.

Monday, Nov. 22

Men's Basketball Mavericks vs. Hardin-Simmons. Tickets $8. 7 p.m. Texas Hall. Athletics, 2-2261.

Ongoing

The Gallery at UTA: Introductions Features the work of assistant professors of art Seiji Ikeda, Ya'Ke Smith, and Tore Terrasi, who are active exhibiting artists, designers, and filmmakers. Through Nov. 20. Free. 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday-Friday, Noon-5 p.m. Saturday. The Gallery at UTA, Fine Arts Building.

Gallery 76102: flats and rounds Nicholas Wood, associate professor of clay in the Department of Art and Art History, works in hybrid forms of painting, drawing, and sculpture. Through Nov. 30. Free. 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Tuesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays; 2-6 p.m. Wednesdays, Fridays. Gallery 76102, Fort Worth Center, 1401 Jones St., Fort Worth.

Charting Chartered Companies The exhibition "Concessions to Companies as Mirrored in Maps, 1600-1900" focuses on maps and how they shaped the histories of chartered companies. Through Jan. 8. Free. 9 a.m.-5 p.m., Mondays-Saturdays, Special Collections, sixth floor, Central Library. 2-2179.

Planetarium programs Travel to ancient Egypt to see how science was used to tell time, make a workable calendar, and align huge buildings in Stars of the Pharaohs. Planetarium schedule, 2-1183.

Downtown Farmers Market Arlington's downtown farmers market features locally grown produce and locally made baked goods, arts, and crafts. Co-sponsored by UT Arlington Dining Services. 8 a.m.-1 p.m., Fridays-Saturdays, 215 E. Front St.

(For an expanded list of events, see the UT Arlington Calendar.)