University Communications » Internal Communications » MavWire » MavWire 01-31-2011

Concussion experts: Dr. Jacob Resch, left, and Chris Nowinski lead the discussion during a concussion clinic at the Maverick Activities Center on Saturday.

Concussion clinic features researchers, NFL players

Just one day before Super Bowl XLV and less than three miles from where the action will play out at Cowboys Stadium, researchers at UT Arlington will tackle hard-hitting questions about the risk of concussions in sports.

The University's Center for Healthy Living and Longevity and the Sports Legacy Institute of Boston are hosts for a free, 90-minute concussion clinic at 10 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 5, in the Lone Star Auditorium at Maverick Activities Center.

The clinic features research and technology presentations by Jacob Resch, an assistant professor of kinesiology, and Chris Nowinski, president and co-founder of the Sports Legacy Institute and author of the 2006 book Head Games: Football's Concussion Crisis. Guests of Nowinski's expected to attend the clinic include current and former professional football players such as legendary Dallas Cowboys star Randy White, Hall of Fame cornerback Mike Haynes, and former running back Kevin Turner.

Dr. Resch says the presentation will provide a unique opportunity for the general public, athletes, coaches, parents, certified athletic trainers, physicians, and other health care professionals to learn about concussions, the risks of injury, and what may be done to prevent them.

See more information on the concussion clinic.

Click for larger map (pdf)

Some campus parking and streets to close on Super Bowl Sunday

Here are the most recent details about the relatively minimal impact that Super Bowl XLV will have on the campus this week.

NFL Charities will stage a news conference at 11 a.m. Thursday, Feb. 3, at the Maverick Activities Center to officially announce the newest location of a Youth Education Town sports center at the Salvation Army headquarters just north of UT Arlington.

The Center for Healthy Living and Longevity is co-hosting a concussion clinic at 10 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 5 (see story above).

The Maverick Activities Center will be closed Sunday, Feb. 6.

Also on that Sunday, some parking lots on the west side of campus will be closed as UT Arlington accommodates personnel for the Super Bowl event. Texas Hall is the check-in site for approximately 2,000 volunteers.

Parking lot closures that start at 7 a.m. Sunday are:

• Lot 33 east and west, on UTA Boulevard, north of the Maverick Activities Center

• Lot 30 on Greek Row Drive

• Lot F-9 at Davis Hall

Additionally, Nedderman Drive between UTA Boulevard and Cooper Street will be closed beginning at 9 a.m. that Sunday.

• Vehicles parked in or adjacent to Nedderman Drive after 9 a.m. will be towed at owner’s expense.

• Residents of Cooper Chase and Forest Glen apartments will be permitted to exit, but upon return will have to enter Lot F-7 off of Cooper Street.

• Trinity House access is allowed from Summit Avenue or Davis Drive at Greek Row Drive.

• Access will not be granted to Architecture Building metered parking; Fine Arts Building turnaround; and Texas Hall fire lane, metered parking, and turnaround.

For information on road closures in and around the city of Arlington on Super Bowl Sunday, go online to northtexassuperbowl.com and arlingtontx.gov/superbowl.

Successful research: Materials science and engineering Associate Professor Seong Jin Koh's work on DNA detection is just one example of research highlighted in the 2010 President's Report, Extraordinary Success.

Extraordinary Success: 2010 President's Report now online

The 2009-10 academic year was one of tremendous growth and accomplishment for UT Arlington. By every measure, the University became bigger, better, and more productive than ever before.

The 2010 President’s Report, titled Extraordinary Success, details the many achievements of UT Arlington as it advances toward becoming one of America’s next great research institutions. Highlights include unprecedented increases in research activity that are fostering groundbreaking discoveries in the medical and energy fields, as well as award-winning academic initiatives that are preparing students to thrive in the global marketplace.

You’ll also read about record-setting philanthropic support, construction of the Engineering Research Building and College Park District, and partnerships that enhance the quality of life locally, nationally, and worldwide. In the student arena, you’ll find coverage of the University’s record enrollment and the launch of University College, which pulls a range of services under one roof to help students succeed.

“We continue to set the bar higher and higher,” writes President James D. Spaniolo in the report’s opening message. “Each day, each milestone fuels our mission to become a major national research university, a Tier One institution in every respect.”

Read the report online.

Dr. Vassilis Athitsos

Engineering professor lands NSF grant to continue American Sign Language work

The National Science Foundation has awarded computer science engineering Assistant Professor Vassilis Athitsos a five-year, $513,000 Early Career Development grant to further develop a computer recognition system that will become a visual dictionary for American Sign Language.

It is the second major NSF award for the sign language recognition work of Dr. Athitsos.

The new project, “Large Vocabulary Gesture Recognition for Everyone: Gesture Modeling and Recognition Tools for System Builders and Users,” will automatically annotate, recognize, and index large vocabularies of gestures.

To find the meaning of a particular sign, the user would form the sign in view of a camera atop a computer. The recognition system would compare the gesture with thousands of images stored in the computer’s database, display a selection of similar images, and allow the user to select the most appropriate meaning.

“I’m happy if we can get it down to 10 selections,” Athitsos says. “It’s kind of like a Google search for gestures that are used in sign language.”

He hopes to eventually team with producers of American Sign Language dictionaries to make a sign recognition system widely available and downloadable from the Internet. Future generations of the online sign language dictionary could reflect regional "dialects," he says, because signs can vary from region to region.

See more information on Athitsos' Early Career Development grant.

Darryl Lauster

Art professor wins national grant

Darryl Lauster, an assistant professor of art, has been awarded a prestigious Joan Mitchell Foundation grant for painters and sculptors, one of 25 artists to receive the honor this year.

The $25,000 award is to assist artists who are under-recognized for their artistic achievements and whose careers would benefit from the grant. The Joan Mitchell Foundation is named for an acclaimed second-generation, abstract expressionist painter who died in 1992.

“Joan Mitchell was one of the best of contemporary American artists; this is quite an honor,” says Lauster, who plans to use the grant for various projects, including interviews for a film he began during a summer 2010 residency at the Wassaic Project in New York’s Hudson Valley near his hometown of Wawayanda, N.Y.

Lauster’s work incorporates digital media, printmaking, sculpture, and installation, and it often reflects his interest in American history and mythology. His depiction of the runners-up for president on ceramic plates will debut in March at the Houston Center for Contemporary Craft. He created an artificial archeological dig highlighting local history for the Wassaic Project.

See more information on Lauster and the Joan Mitchell Foundation grant.

Maverick Bike Program, RecycleMania set to roll today

Start this year's RecycleMania competition by rolling out with the Maverick Bike Program 10:30 a.m.-2 p.m. today, Monday, Jan. 31, at the E.H. Hereford University Center mall.

Free bike repair is available at Monday's event for those bringing their own bikes. Pick up a map of the bike racks across campus and tips on safety regulations while biking.

The day's events include Goldsprint racing, a bicycle rollers racing and social event featuring riders on stationary bikes competing against each other in front of spectators. Live music and free food are part of the event.

A bike shop has been set up at Cooper Chase apartment #109 for the semester to provide free repairs with cost only for replacement parts. This service is available to faculty, staff, and students.

Bring paper, plastic, or cans to recycle for RecycleMania, a friendly competition among colleges and universities.

Buyer's market Prizes in the Purchase Green Contest, sponsored by the Office of Sustainability, were presented Thursday. From left are Michelle DePorto, Summus Industries; Carleen Dolan, administrative manager for the Library, who won first prize; Louella Carpenter from Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, the third-prize winner; and Lance Heldt, 3M Office Supplies Division. Not pictured is second-prize winner Clifford Goff from Enterprise Development. Prizes are awarded to the top three buyers in the fall and spring with a grand prize awarded in May to the top buyer. All offices are encouraged to participate in the Staples/3M Buy One, Plant One Contest.

Show your pride on Spirit Friday

Show your Maverick pride, wear your UT Arlington apparel, and take advantage of some great contests on Spirit Fridays, starting Friday, Feb. 4.

Faculty and staff groups can participate along with student organizations during contests Feb. 4, March 4, and April 15. Wear your most spirited blue and orange apparel, sing the fight song in the most creative way, and win prizes. Contact the UTA Ambassadors at 2-2293 to register your group.

Upload a photo of you or your group in your Maverick gear to Blaze's Facebook page every Friday in February, March, and April. The most spirited winner chosen at the end of each Friday receives a special prize.

Visit Maverick Spirit for more information and to receive a 10 percent off coupon to the UT Arlington Bookstore. Or shop online for UT Arlington gear.

Routine warning system test Wednesday

UT Arlington conducts the monthly test of its Outdoor Warning System at 12:30 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 2. The test, held the first Wednesday of every month, will not be conducted in the event of bad weather.

Heard campus-wide through strategically placed loudspeakers, the test includes electronic chimes and is followed by the test announcement. At the conclusion of the test, an announcement will be broadcast to resume normal operations.

The City of Arlington's outdoor weather warning system has 51 sirens that alert people who are outdoors to seek shelter. Weather permitting, the city's system is tested on the first Wednesday of every month at 1 p.m.

Bookstore to close for annual inventory

Plan ahead for your Maverick gear shopping. The UT Arlington Bookstore will be closed Saturday, Feb. 12, for annual inventory.

Submit feedback in OIT survey

The Office of Information Technology is conducting a study to ascertain user satisfaction with OIT services. Submit your feedback by completing the client satisfaction survey at uta.edu/oit/survey.

Information station Lashonda Jimerson, right, a counseling specialist in the Office for Students with Disabilities, listens to a question from Kevin Smalls, computer science and engineering junior, during the Activities Fair on Wednesday in the Palo Duro Lounge at the E.H. Hereford University Center. Organizations—from academic and social clubs to recreational, athletic, and community endeavors—shared information on who they are and what they do.

Today is the deadline to scan computer to protect confidential information

If you have not scanned your computer with Identity Finder, you should do so by today, Monday, Jan. 31. All computers should be scanned, and individuals assigned to more than one computer must scan all their computers.

All faculty and staff members are responsible for preventing the disclosure of sensitive or confidential information and, therefore, are requested to use Identity Finder as soon as possible to locate sensitive or confidential information.

For instructions on how to access the software and scan a PC or Mac computer, review the information on the Identity Finder webpage.

If you have questions or need additional assistance, contact the OIT Help Desk at 2-2208 or e-mail helpdesk@uta.edu.

University Club buffet features European flavor Thursday

A Taste of Europe highlights the monthly buffet special Thursday, Feb. 3, at the University Club on the lower level of Davis Hall.

Executive Chef Steve Vincent is preparing baked stuffed chicken breast with broccoli and pepper cheese topped with a zesty orange sauce, individual vegetable lasagna rolls with a tangy arrabiata sauce, Italian stick cut ratatouille, Venetian roasted garlic and herb-spiced rice, grilled garlic toast, hail Caesar salad, pasta fagioli, baked flan with strawberry sauce, and crumb-topped cherry cobbler.

Lunch is from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. and is $8 per person plus tax. The regular menu is not be available Thursday. Feel free to check out with the host or hostess instead of waiting for the server if you are in a hurry.

Announcements issued if bad weather causes delays, closure

Winter weather can change drastically, and the University is prepared to communicate any campus delays or closures.

All announcements will be communicated via University e-mail in MavWire EXTRA (faculty and staff) and TrailBlazer EXTRA (students). Notices will be posted on the University's home page, as well as Twitter and Facebook pages. Recorded information will be available on the University's Emergency Information Hotline at 1-866-258-4913. Announcements will be sent to local media outlets.

UT Arlington is open and operating on normal schedules unless faculty, staff, and students are notified otherwise.

Food For Thought

Are organics healthier and worth the cost? Learn the facts about what you need to know about this controversial topic. Bring a sack lunch. Free. Noon-1 p.m., Wednesday, Feb. 2, Room 213, Maverick Activities Center. See a complete listing of HR training classes.

Power Point 2010

Create presentations based on Word outlines, import slides from other presentations, create customized shows, and learn presentation tips and techniques. Join the OIT Training listserv for weekly class reminders. Free. 2-4 p.m., Monday, Feb. 7, Room 123, Hammond Hall. See more information on OIT training.

Mindful Moments

Take a break from stress with Mindful Moments. Mindfulness draws on one's internal resources to cultivate awareness and to practice being present in each moment of our lives. 12:15-12:45 p.m. Wednesdays, Room 235, Business Building. Health Services, Marie Bannister, 2-2771.

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.

Monday, Jan. 31

Thermal Transport Modeling and Simulation in Semiconductors Cristina Amon, right, dean of applied science and engineering at the University of Toronto, outlines the challenges to model nano-scale thermal transport and to integrate solutions across multiple length scales ranging from nanometers to macro scales. RSVP. Free. 5 p.m. reception, Room 601, Nedderman Hall; 6 p.m. lecture, Room 100, Nedderman Hall. College of Engineering.

Monday, Jan. 31-Tuesday, Feb. 1

Link International Friendship Session The Link International Friendship program pairs an international student with an American community member who is interested in having a deeper understanding of another culture and creating a lasting friendship. 6 p.m., Swift Center. International Education.

Wednesday, Feb. 2

Architecture Lecture Series French architect Pascal Quintard Hofstein is guest lecturer. Free. 4 p.m., Room 204, Architecture Building. Architecture.

Thursday, Feb. 3

Concealed Handgun Forum Learn how future concealed handgun legislation could affect the campus. Speakers include criminology professors Sarah Phillips, Randy Butler, and Jaya Davis with Alex del Carmen, chair of the Department of Criminology and Criminal Justice, as moderator. Free. 6 p.m. Bluebonnet Ballroom. Student Congress, Jennifer Fox, sc-extr@uta.edu.

Friday, Feb. 4

The Hurt Locker and Beyond: Hollywood and War Today A panel discussion about how Hollywood movies are representing our present military conflicts. Free. Noon, Rosebud Theatre, E.H. Hereford University Center. OneBook.

Saturday, Feb. 5

Concussion Clinic Chris Nowinski, co-founder of the Sports Legacy Institute, discusses why concussion and brain trauma matter, how to prevent, recognize, and respond to a concussion, and what coaches, parents, administrators, medical professionals, and athletes should do to provide the safest possible environment for their athletes. RSVP to Jacob Resch at resch@uta.edu. 10-11:30 a.m., Lone Star Auditorium, Maverick Activities Center. Center for Healthy Living and Longevity.

Wednesday, Feb. 9

Sustainability Committee Meeting Speakers include Wes Garwood, Page Southerland Page; Bill Gilmore, Arlington Parks and Recreation; and Alicia Winkelblech, Arlington Community Development and Planning. Free. Open to everyone. 3-5 p.m. Carlisle Suite, E.H. Hereford University Center. Office of Sustainability, 2-9299.

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

Monday, Jan. 31

Combat Narratives: Stories and Artifacts from UT Arlington Veterans Artifacts, memorabilia, and gear on loan from UT Arlington military veterans and objects carried, used, or found by U.S. servicemen and women in Iraq and Afghanistan. Free. Through May 21. Sixth floor, Central Library. Library and OneBook.

Exposure: Photos from the Second Battle of Fallujah Photographs from the Second Battle of Fallujah taken by UT Arlington student and Marine Corps veteran Joel Chaverri. Free. Through May 21. Sixth floor, Central Library. Library and OneBook.

Faculty Percussion Recital Features Michael Varner, associate professor of percussion. Free. 7:30 p.m., Irons Recital Hall, Fine Arts Building, Music, 2-3471.

Tuesday, Feb. 1

Support The Big Event: Hot Dog Sale Grab some lunch (hot dogs, drinks, and chips) and find out how you can participate as a volunteer or site leader for The Big Event on April 16. Open to faculty, staff, and students. 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m.; also Thursday, Feb. 3, and Friday, Feb. 4. Library mall. UTA Volunteers, 2-2963.

Faculty Jazz Recital Music Professor Dan Cavanagh performs original jazz musical pieces. Free. 7:30 p.m., Irons Recital Hall, Fine Arts Building. Music, 2-3471.

Wednesday, Feb. 2

Black History Month Kickoff Old School vs. New School with a fashion show, music, and game reflecting changes in African-American culture. Free. 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m., Palo Duro Lounge, E.H. Hereford University Center. Multicultural Affairs.

$2 Movie: Inception Through dream invasion, a highly skilled thief is given a final chance at redemption. Rated PG-13. 5:30 p.m. Also 5:30 p.m. Friday, Feb. 4, and 2:30 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 5. Planetarium, 2-1183.

Women's Basketball Mavericks vs. UT San Antonio. Pink Zone Breast Cancer Awareness Night. Tickets $8. 7 p.m., Texas Hall. Athletics, 2-2261.

Friday, Feb. 4

Friends of the Library Attorney-turned-rancher-and-writer Joe G. Bax discusses his novel The General and Monaville, Texas. A reception and book signing follow. Free. 7:30 p.m. Sixth floor parlor, Central Library. bwood@uta.edu, 2-7421.

Saturday, Feb. 5

Women's Tennis Mavericks vs. Cameron, 11 a.m.; Mavericks vs. Midwestern State, 3 p.m. Free. Tennis Center. Athletics, 2-2261.

Men's Basketball Mavericks vs. Central Arkansas. Tickets $8. Noon, Texas Hall. Athletics, 2-2261.

Ongoing

Planetarium Register for Valentine's Day's Romancing the Stars and Dinner Under the Stars at the Planetarium. See the complete Planetarium schedule, 2-1183.

The Gallery at UTA "John Hitchcock: Epicenter" showing concurrently with "Impressions: Prints Made in Texas." Free. Gallery hours are 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Mondays-Fridays, and noon-5 p.m. Saturdays. Through Feb. 12. The Gallery at UTA, Fine Arts Building, 2-5658.

Gallery 76102 "A Certain Shade of the Aftermath," an exhibit by Timothy Harding, deals with U.S. history, corporate infrastructure, heavy metal music, terrorism, and popular culture. Free. Gallery hours are 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Tuesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays and 2-6 p.m. Wednesdays and Fridays. Through March 31. Gallery 76102, Fort Worth Center.

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