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Volleyball, movies provide break from finals

Pack it up: Raisha Lidell, left, a nursing sophomore, receives her MavPack finals kit from Christina Nguyen, a pre-med biology senior.

Take a break from studying for final exams with some physical activities or maybe a movie.

There are plenty of shows along with $2 movies at The Planetarium.

Blow off a little steam at the open volleyball games. Alpha Tau Omega leadership fraternity hosts games starting at 8 p.m. tonight, Wednesday, Dec. 9, at the Maverick Activities Center.

Many students received MavPacks last week that included snacks, Scantrons, study tips and more. The packs were sold by the Student Alumni Association.

Other students took advantage of the traditional Late Night Breakfast Monday and Tuesday nights in the Connection Café. Bowling and billiards also provided discounts while a movie was shown in the Rosebud Theatre.

Commencement ceremonies begin Thursday

An allotment of guest tickets has been reserved for each graduating student, in quantities set by your school or college. Print those tickets now through the ticketing system. Each guest to commencement must have a ticket in order to be seated. Print only the number of tickets you intend to use. Unused tickets can be donated for a general ticket pool, which becomes available to fellow graduates who need more guest tickets.

Specific information about the commencement is at www.uta.edu/commencement.

All ceremonies are at Texas Hall.

Thursday, December 10

Friday, December 11

Saturday, December 12

9 a.m.		College of Engineering
12:30 p.m.		College of Engineering
4 p.m.		College of Liberal Arts
7:30 p.m.		College of Liberal Arts

Sunday, December 13

Monday, December 14

Free H1N1 influenza vaccination available

The Health Services Center is offering free H1N1 flu shots to students at the campus clinic, 605 S. West St.

Cold carols Choir member Kirsten McCormick braved the cold last week to sing carols at Deck the Mall. The University's choir led holiday visitors from the E.H. Hereford University Center to the Central Library mall for the lighting of the Christmas tree and the mall.

Tarrant and Dallas county health officials have free H1N1 vaccinations available at area public health clinics. The Arlington Public Health Center, 536 W. Randol Mill Road, near North Cooper Street, is open 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday-Friday. A storefront clinic at 5415 S. Cooper St., Suite 125, south of campus, is open 10 a.m.-7 p.m. Tuesday-Saturday.

The University encourages students, faculty and staff to remain vigilant in taking precautions to fight the spread of flu, including frequent hand-washing, staying home or getting a ride home from campus if you are ill and considering getting the H1N1 vaccine.

Health officials have said that pregnant women, very young children, those with chronic health conditions and those age 24 and younger are particularly at risk of contracting the H1N1 flu strain.

For other locations, call 2-1-1 or go online to:

• Tarrant County Public Health

• Dallas County Public Health

• Participating pharmacies in Dallas County

• Texas Department of Health

More information is available on the University's H1N1 Web site.

Police comment session set for Monday

Members of the public and the University community are invited to comment on the UT Arlington Police Department's compliance with the highest professional standards during a 6 p.m. session Monday, Dec. 14, in Room 200 at the Wetsel Service Center.

The hearing is part of an on-site assessment that will be conducted Monday by the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies Inc. The commission requires agencies to comply with state-of the art standards in four basic areas: policy and procedures, administration, operations and support services.

The assessment team also will accept comments by telephone at 817-272-8601 between 1 and 5 p.m. Monday or at 817-272-8600 from 6 to 7 p.m. Appearances at the public information session and telephone comments are limited to 10 minutes and must address the agency's ability to comply with CALEA's standards.

Ransom Hall renovations to begin over winter break

UT Arlington will begin a $2.3 million renovation of Ransom Hall during the winter break to remake the three-story building in the heart of campus into a one-stop service center for retention efforts, academic advising, counseling, tutoring and other essential academic support services.

The project is expected to be complete by mid-summer.

The goal is to concentrate academic services for freshman and first-time UT Arlington students in a way that improves student retention and ultimately helps more students earn their college degrees in a timely fashion.

The renovation is part of UT Arlington's strategic efforts to recruit and retain a high-quality student body and to become a nationally recognized, Tier One university.

The University has not made a final decision about where computer labs, the computer store, lounges and other resources now housed in Ransom Hall will be relocated. The University is working to ensure that students have adequate computer resources, including printing stations.

Other campus buildings offer labs with desktops and printing stations, including Sam's Click Café of the first floor of the Central Library and the Maverick Activities Center Computer Lab. Go online for other on-campus computer stations.

Student input needed for master plan survey

Your thoughts on parking, public places and shuttles on campus are needed for the University's master plan. Go online to take part in the brief survey.

Holiday design Tiffany Kaminski, a marketing junior, touches up a holiday ornament during craft sessions last week at the Palo Duro Lounge of the E.H. Hereford University Center. Crafts, caroling and snacks were part of the Deck the Mall festivities.

Screen videos by film students this week

Enjoy two evenings of films by UT Arlington students at Overcranked '09 Fall Film Screening, the first event of the new Student Film and Video Organization. Films roll at 7 p.m. Wednesday-Thursday, Dec. 9-10, in the Lone Star Auditorium in the Mavericks Activities Center. Tickets are $7 per night or $12 for both nights. Advance tickets are available in Room 157 in the Fine Arts Building.

Six Flags Holiday in the Park
discounted tickets available

The Alumni Association has discounted tickets for the Six Flags Over Texas Holiday in the Park, which features more than one million lights, holiday-themed shows, amusement rides and toasty seasonal treats.

Single park tickets are available for $29.99 (regularly $34.99).

Package includes a single park ticket and a meal coupon for $39.99 (regularly $47.98).

Parking passes are available for $10 (regularly $15).

Tickets are valid through Sunday, Jan. 3. To purchase tickets, contact the Alumni Association at 817-272-2594 or uta_alumni@uta.edu.

Think green for the holidays

UT Arlington and Air North Texas, a regional clean air partnership, offer tips for a green holiday season, such as:

• Send e-cards instead of paper cards.

• Avoid shopping during rush hour to save time and gas.

• Buy locally made items, such as arts and crafts at the Arlington Farmers Market open 7 a.m.-1 p.m. Friday in downtown Arlington.

Other tips are online at the Mavericks Go Green Web site.

Student tickets available for
'The Nutcracker' at Texas Hall

The Metropolitan Classical Ballet offers discounted tickets to students for performances of "The Nutcracker." Show a student ID at the Texas Hall box office on the day of the performance and receive $5 off the ticket price. The box office opens two hours before performances, which are:

• 7:30 p.m. Friday, Dec. 18

• 2 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 19

• 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 19

• 2 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 20

TrailBlazer takes a holiday break

This will be the final issue of TrailBlazer before the holidays. TrailBlazer will resume Tuesday, Jan. 19.

Preorder final transcript

Students can preorder transcripts online. Mark requests to hold for grades or degree information if you are graduating. The last date to order transcripts to be mailed by U.S. Postal Service or express service before the holidays is noon Monday, Dec. 21.

Fall semester final grades

Winter Intersession grades are scheduled to be available after noon Thursday, Dec. 17. View grades by logging in at www.uta.edu/mymav. Click on Student Center and then click on the drop-down box under Other Academic. Grades will be the sixth item in the drop-down list.

The Admissions, Records and Registration Office will be closed for the holidays Wednesday, Dec. 23-Sunday, Jan. 3, 2010.

Winter Intersession last day to drop classes

The last day to drop courses for both undergraduate and graduate students is 5 p.m. Monday, Jan. 4. After this date, students may not drop a course except with special permission. All students must meet with their academic advisor or designated representative in the major academic unit in order to drop one or more courses or to withdraw (resign) from all courses. Go online for a list of advising offices.

Undergraduate students who entered college for the first time in fall 2007 are limited to a total of six dropped courses during their undergraduate career.

Financial aid recipients should meet with a financial aid officer to see how dropping will affect their financial aid package. For details, call 817-272-3561 or go to Room 252 in E.E. Davis Hall.

Winter Intersession important dates

Special hours set for campus facilities for December, winter break

Dining Services

• Dec. 11 — Last day of service

• Dec. 14-18 — Starbucks open 8 a.m.-5 p.m., Mav Market open 8 a.m.-3 p.m.

• Dec. 21 or 22 — All areas will be closed.

Central Library

The Central Library is open 9 a.m. Sundays-8 p.m. Fridays and 9 a.m.-8 p.m. Saturdays. It will be closed Thursday-Friday, Dec. 24-25, and Friday, Jan. 1. Hours for Winter Intersession and winter break are online.

Digital Media Studio at Central Library

• Saturday-Sunday, Dec. 12-13 — closed

• Monday-Thursday, Dec. 14-17 — 10 a.m.-4 p.m.

• Friday, Dec. 18 — 10 a.m.-noon

• Saturday, Dec. 19-Sunday, Jan. 3 — closed

• Monday-Friday, Jan. 4-8 — 10 a.m.-4 p.m.

• Saturday-Sunday, Jan. 9-10 — closed

• Monday-Friday, Jan. 11-15 — 10 a.m.-4 p.m.

• Saturday-Monday, Jan. 16-18 — closed

• Tuesday, Jan. 19 — regular hours resume

Maverick Activities Center

• Dec. 14-Jan. 15 — 6 a.m.-10 p.m. Monday-Friday; closed Saturdays; 1-8 p.m. Sundays.

• Thursday-Friday, Dec. 24-25 — closed

• Friday, Jan. 1 — closed

Winter Intersession final grades

Winter Intersession grades are scheduled to be available after noon Friday, Jan. 15. View grades by logging in at www.uta.edu/mymav. Click on Student Center and then click on the drop-down box under Other Academic. Grades will be the sixth item in the drop-down list.

Spring 2010 important dates

Food donations reap discounts during holidays at Planetarium Help a family in need by donating a non-perishable food item and receiving a special discount at the Planetarium through Wednesday, Dec. 30. The Planetarium will give a $1 discount for one ticket when a food item is donated. Bring a canned or boxed donation for each member of the family for discounts for everyone. Holiday shows include Season of Light and Holiday Music Magic. Go to www.utaplanetarium.com or call 817-272-1183 for showtimes. Season of Light recounts the historical, religious and cultural rituals practiced during the time of the winter solstice—not only Christian and Jewish, but also Celtic, Nordic, Irish, Mexican and Hopi. The show looks at traditions from gift-giving and kissing under the mistletoe, to songs about lords a-leaping and ladies dancing, and the custom of decking the halls with greenery and candles. St. Nicholas, Sinterklaas, Kris Kringle, Father Christmas and Santa Claus all drop by for a visit as well. Holiday Music Magic is a music entertainment show featuring a variety of holiday songs from Mannheim Steamroller, Burl Ives, Brenda Lee and Kurt Bestor. The soundtrack is visually choreographed with 3-D artistic animation, real-time performance elements and all-dome scenery.

Wednesday, Dec. 9

$2 Movie: Polar Express 5:30 p.m., Planetarium. 817-272-1183, planetarium@uta.edu, www.utaplanetarium.com.

Open Volleyball All students, faculty and staff are welcome to join in on volleyball play hosted by Alpha Tau Omega leadership fraternity. 8 p.m., Maverick Activities Center. Aaron Resendez, aaron.resendez@mavs.uta.edu.

Friday, Dec. 11

$2 Movie: Polar Express 5:30 p.m., Planetarium. 817-272-1183, planetarium@uta.edu, www.utaplanetarium.com.

Saturday, Dec. 12

$2 Movie: Polar Express 2:30 p.m., Planetarium. 817-272-1183, planetarium@uta.edu, www.utaplanetarium.com.

Wednesday, Dec. 16

$2 Movie: How the Grinch Stole Christmas 5:30 p.m., Planetarium. 817-272-1183, planetarium@uta.edu, www.utaplanetarium.com.

Open Volleyball All students, faculty and staff are welcome to join in on volleyball play hosted by Alpha Tau Omega leadership fraternity. 8 p.m., Maverick Activities Center. Aaron Resendez, aaron.resendez@mavs.uta.edu.

Friday, Dec. 18

Downtown Arlington Farmers Market 9 a.m.-1 p.m., 215 E. Front St. 817-303-2800, info@downtownarlington.org.

$2 Movie: How the Grinch Stole Christmas 5:30 p.m., Planetarium. 817-272-1183, planetarium@uta.edu, www.utaplanetarium.com.

Saturday, Dec. 19

$2 Movie: How the Grinch Stole Christmas 2:30 p.m., Planetarium. 817-272-1183, planetarium@uta.edu, www.utaplanetarium.com.

Through Dec. 22

Selected 2D Works Five accomplished artists from the Fort Worth area share their works. Free. 11 a.m.-3 p.m., Tuesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays; 2-6 p.m., Wednesdays, Fridays. Gallery 76102, Fort Worth Center.

Wednesday, Dec. 23

$2 Movie: Elf 5:30 p.m., Planetarium. 817-272-1183, planetarium@uta.edu, www.utaplanetarium.com.

Saturday, Dec. 26

$2 Movie: Elf 2:30 p.m., Planetarium. 817-272-1183, planetarium@uta.edu, www.utaplanetarium.com.

Through Dec. 31

UT Arlington Planetarium programs Check the Planetarium Web site for the schedule, which includes Season of Light and Holiday Music Magic. 817-272-1183, planetarium@uta.edu, www.utaplanetarium.com.

Through Jan. 9

Everything Is Interrelated Special Collections' fall exhibit features "Alexander von Humboldt and Our Nineteenth-Century German Connections." Free. 9 a.m.-7 p.m. Mondays, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Tuesdays-Saturdays, sixth floor, Central Library. See Special Collections.

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

Friday, Dec. 11	Engineering Lecture Series Peter C. Searson, professor of materials science and engineering at Johns Hopkins University, and J.W. Morris, professor of metallurgy, materials science and mineral engineering at the University of California-Berkeley, are guest speakers. Reservations required. Free. 9 a.m. and 2 p.m., Room 100, Nedderman Hall. Amber DeGelia, 817-272-0074, adegelia@uta.edu.
Tuesday, Dec. 15	Fresh Start from Tobacco 11:30 a.m., Pecos Room, E.H. Hereford University Center; 3 p.m., Pecos Room. Nekima Booker, 817-272-2716, nekimab@uta.edu.
Wednesday, Dec. 16	Fresh Start from Tobacco 10:30 a.m., Blanco Room, E.H. Hereford University Center; 3 p.m., Blanco Room. Nekima Booker, 817-272-2716, nekimab@uta.edu.
(For an expanded list of events, see the UT Arlington Calendar)

Movin' on up: James Patin is a senior for the Movin' Mavs.

Movin' Mavs host wheelchair basketball tourney

The Movin' Mavs host the ABC Medical Invitational Friday-Sunday, Dec. 11-13, in P.E. Building. Movin' Mavs games are:

6 p.m. Friday, Dec. 11, vs. Uro-Sports Texans
10 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 12, vs. Dallas Wheelchair Mavericks
3 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 12, vs. Arkansas Rollin' Razorbacks
9:30 a.m. Sunday, Dec. 13, vs. LA Fast Breakin' Lakers.

Women resume play Saturday at SE Missouri

Following a break for final exams, the women's basketball team will play at Southeast Missouri on Saturday, Dec. 12.

The Mavericks stand 3-4 following a loss to Oklahoma last week. Coach Samantha Morrow's squad will be on the road during the holiday break, playing in a tournament at St. John's University in Queens, N.Y., along with games at Arkansas State and Houston Baptist. Following a Jan. 5 game at UT Austin, the Mavericks open Southland Conference play Jan. 9 at Texas State before returning to Texas Hall Jan. 13 to face Lamar.

Men's basketball team off until Dec. 20

Men's basketball action resumes Sunday, Dec. 20, when the Mavericks play at Baylor. The men are 3-3 for the season after taking the runner-up trophy in the Drake Hy-Vee Classic last weekend.

Following the game at Baylor, the Mavericks will host Texas Wesleyan at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 22, before playing at nationally ranked Michigan State on Dec. 30.

(For more sports news, go to www.utamavs.com)

Editors: Jim Patterson, Teresa Newton Web Developer: James Barberousse Photographers: Beth McHenry, Robert Crosby Executive Director for University Publications: Mark Permenter Associate Vice President for Communications and Marketing: David Johnson Vice President for Communications: Jerry Lewis Published by University Communications © 2009 The University of Texas at Arlington	TrailBlazer is published by the Department of University Communications on Tuesdays. To submit items for possible inclusion in TrailBlazer, e-mail trailblazer@uta.edu. Items must be received three working days before distribution. Inclusion of events and activities in TrailBlazer does not necessarily constitute an endorsement by the University. Read the TrailBlazer Guidelines.