University Communications » Internal Communications » TrailBlazer » TrailBlazer 11-02-2010

Cast your vote today

Your last chance to vote for local, state, and national elections this fall is today, Tuesday, Nov. 2.Check with your county's elections office for precinct polling locations.

UT Arlington hosted an early voting site for today's last week, however, there is no polling place on campus today.

Major races include those for governor, lieutenant governor, attorney general, United States representatives, state representatives, and sevearl judicial posts.

More about the ballot is available through the Texas Secretary of State office. Local election issues are available online for Tarrant County and Dallas County.

Fall election campaigns start today for campus positions

Campaigning starts today for fall campus elections, but candidates have one more hurdle to clear before their name appears on the ballots.

Candidates must attend an information session this morning to confirm their candidacy, says Carter Bedford, interim director for the Office of Student Governance. The list of candidates will appear in the Nov. 9 issue of TrailBlazer.

Fall elections are set for Monday-Tuesday, Nov. 15-16. Positions up for election include Student Congress senators, UT Ambassadors, and Homecoming King and Queen.

Student Congress positions are for one representative each from the colleges of Business, Education and Health Professors, Engineering, Honors, Liberal Arts, Nursing and Science, and the schools of Architecture, Social Work, and Urban and Public Administration

UTA Ambassadors are all at-large positions. The group promotes campus pride and traditions.

The top three candidates for the Homecoming positions will be announced, with the winners named at Homecoming in the spring

Positions elected during the spring semester include Student Congress president and vice president and Mr. and Ms. UTA.

Nursing students to simulate disaster Friday

Students from the College of Nursing are participating in a simulated disaster drill 1-3 p.m. Friday, Nov. 5, at the Campus Recreation Fields Complex.

Participating in the drill are UT Arlington Police, Arlington Medical Response, Arlington Police, Arlington Fire Department, and PHI Helicopter. Decontamination equipment is provided by a local hospital.

Simulated patients will be used in the exercise, which includes more than 100 community health nursing students as well as RN-BSN students, says Susan Cherry, clinical instructor in the College of Nursing.

Jacked up Rodney Hawkins of Colombia draws a design for his jack'o'lantern at the English Language Institute's fall festival Wednesday. The event introduced ELI students to American autumn events, such as Halloween. ELI is in its 30th year of helping students improve English and academic skills and enhancing cross-cultural understanding.

Applicants sought for UT System student regent position

The University of Texas System is seeking applicants for the student regent position on the UT System Board of Regents. The term for the position runs from June 1, 2011, to May 31, 2012.

The nonvoting student regent is an ex-officio member on each board committee. The student regent will participate in approximately a dozen official board meetings and frequently visit with student leaders, administrators, faculty, and staff at the 15 UT System institutions across the state.

In 2005 the 79th Texas Legislature authorized the governor to appoint a nonvoting student regent for each public university or university system.

Applicants must be enrolled at UT System institutions and in good academic standing. Up to five applicants may be chosen from UT Arlington to be considered. The chancellor will recommend two or more applicants to the governor, who ultimately makes the formal appointment.

Submit applications to the Office of Student Governance in the lower level of the E.H. Hereford University Center. Call 817-272-2293 for more details.

Student regent application forms and details are available online.

Haunting hand Keith Hause, an undeclared sophomore, concentrates on his blackjack hand at Halloween Casino Night on Thursday at the E.H. Hereford University Center.

McNair program deadline is Friday

Deadline to apply for the McNair Scholars program is Friday, Nov. 5.

The program works with talented undergraduates who want to attend graduate school, earn a Ph.D., and have an interest in teaching at the university level. Program activities are geared to help participants gain entry to the graduate program of their choice and make a successful transition to advanced study.

Learn more about the McNairs Scholars program at www.uta.edu/mcnair, by e-mail at mcnair@uta.edu, or by calling 817-272-3715.

Annual Night Walk scheduled for Nov. 9

Students, faculty, and staff are invited to participate in the annual Night Walk at 6:15 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 9, to help identify potential safety issues around campus. The walk is sponsored by Student Congress. Participants should meet outside Starbucks at the E.H. Hereford University Center. For more information, contact Jeff Hazelrigs at sc-prog@uta.edu or 817-272-0556.

Seminar aimed at future attorneys

Interested in a career in law? Student Legal Services hosts a law seminar a 7 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 11, in the Concho Room of the E.H. Hereford University Center.

Keisha A. Ware, UT Arlington's attorney for students, current law students, and practicing attorneys will answer questions about taking the LSAT, getting into law school, and practicing law. Refreshments will be served.

For more information, contact Student Legal Services at legalservices@uta.edu or 817-272-3771.

The right prescription Jayavani Nagireddi, left, business graduate student, listens as Latoya Oduniyi, health promotions and substance abuse educator for Health Services, provides information during Prescription Drug Awareness Day on Friday in the Palo Duro Lounge. Representatives from Health Services answered questions about prescription drug use and abuse.

Exchange those old school rags for Maverick designer duds at MavSwap

Show your Maverick enthusiasm next week at MavSwap and Spirit Friday.

For MavSwap, bring another university’s apparel and receive a free UT Arlington T-shirt. MavSwap is at noon Wednesday, Nov. 10, on the Central Library mall and is a new tradition that aims to make Maverick gear every season's No. 1 fashion item.

The swap meet is part of a basketball pep rally that includes team introductions, coach interviews, cheer and dance team performances, and giveaways.

Later in the week, join in for Spirit Friday at noon Friday, Nov. 12, on the E.H. Hereford University Center mall. Spirit Friday tests student organizations' knowledge of UT Arlington's history, fight song, and trivia.

MavSwap and Spirit Friday are hosted by the UTA Ambassadors, a group that promotes Maverick traditions.

Tickets available for journalist, activist Lisa Ling in Maverick Speakers Series

Tickets are available for journalist, TV host, and activist Lisa Ling for the next Maverick Speakers Series lecture. She will discuss "Open Heart, Open Mind" at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 23, in Texas Hall.

Ling is host of National Geographic Explorer and former co-host of The View. Since joining Explorer as host in December 2002, she has covered the looting of antiquities in war-torn Iraq and investigated the increasingly deadly drug war in Colombia. She serves as a contributing editor for USA Weekend and has produced eight documentaries for PBS, several of which have won awards. Ling co-wrote the books, Mother, Daughter, Sister, Bride: Rituals of Womanhood and Somewhere Inside.

Tickets are free, but required for admission. They are available at utatickets.com.

Breakfast bargain Bryant Lopez, international studies senior, writes on a sign-up sheet amidst morning munchies during Thursday's Commuter Appreciation Breakfast outside the Maverick Activities Center. The Off Campus Mavericks Center hosts a lunch-and-learn session Wednesday at the MAC. Go to Learn More section below for details.

Routine warning system test Wednesday

UT Arlington conducts the monthly test of its Outdoor Warning System at 12:30 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 3. 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.

Check smoke alarms to aid fire safety

You have smoke alarms in your home, but are they working? Fire safety is the focus of the Environmental Health and Safety fall newsletter. Meet new Fire Marshal Melissa Jones and find fire prevention tips for work and home. Now you can follow EH&S on Facebook.

MyMav system outage scheduled for Nov. 23

MyMav will be unavailable Tuesday, Nov. 23, for a system upgrade. Be sure to register on your priority registration date, and plan to take care of all business that requires access to MyMav on days other than Nov. 23.

Finding fault: College of Science Dean Pamela Jansma, left, and earth and environmental sciences Professor Glen Mattioli are members of a research team that found that the Haiti earthquake was caused by a previously unmapped fault.

Science faculty members conclude that unknown fault caused Haiti earthquake

A new study co-authored by College of Science Dean Pamela Jansma, earth and environmental sciences Professor Glen Mattioli, and researchers at several other universities presents strong evidence that the Jan. 12 Haitian earthquake was caused by a previously unmapped fault and not the one experts first suspected.

Their paper, “Transpressional rupture of an unmapped fault during the 2010 Haiti earthquake,” is in the November issue of Nature Geoscience and is available online.

The researchers concluded that the previously unmapped Léogâne fault caused the quake.

Read more about the research on the Haiti earthquake.

Purnendu Dasgupta

Focus on Faculty features problem-solving Dasgupta

"Solving Problems" is Purnendu Dasgupta's topic for this month's Focus on Faculty lecture series at noon Wednesday, Nov. 3, in the sixth floor parlor of the Central Library.

Dr. Dasgupta is the Jenkins Garrett Professor of Chemistry and Biochemistry and chair of the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry. He was honored recently by the American Chemical Society for pioneering advances in the field of chromatography, a process used in water quality studies, air pollution monitoring, and drug development.

Nicknamed "Sandy," the renowned researcher is a published poet in his native language of Bengali, but is best known for his work in analytical chemistry. He has 17 U.S. patents, including the electrodialytic reagent generation and suppression technologies on which current ion chromatography is based. He is a chemistry journal editor and recipient of numerous chemistry awards.

The free lecture will be followed by a reception at 1 p.m. Light refreshments will be served. If you need special accommodations to fully participate in this program, contact Tommie Wingfield at 817-272-2658 or wingfield@uta.edu.

Picture this Pulitzer Prize-winning photographer Brad Loper ('93 BA) was one of several alumni sharing career tips with students at Communication Day last week. Loper is a photographer and photo editor for The Dallas Morning News.

Researcher expounds on foundation and future of tissue engineering

Arthur J. Coury, a leader in novel biomaterials research, discusses "Medical Devices and Tissue Engineering: A Time of Transition" for the College of Engineering Distinguished Speaker Series at 6 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 3, in Room 100 at Nedderman Hall. A reception precedes at 5 p.m. in Room 601 in Nedderman Hall.

Dr. Coury's career focus has been polymeric biomaterials for medical products such as implantable electronic devices, hydrogel-based devices, and drug delivery systems. He holds more than 50 distinct patents and has been widely published in the field of polymeric biomaterials for medical products. He was inducted into the National Academy of Engineering in 2009.

Tissue engineering involves the systematic control of the body’s cells, matrices, and fluids. For example, skin regeneration therapies can treat burn victims. Scientists and engineers are modifying cells to regenerate the electrical function of the heart to replace electronic pacemakers. Tissue engineering can also limit scarring.

Register online for the free lecture. For details, contact Tracey Kocher at 817-272-3679.

Health Services survey continues through Nov. 19

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.

Friday is last day to drop a class

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

• Impact of dropping on freshmen and sophomores: 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. Read more about this state law and procedures for its implementation at UT Arlington.

• Impact of dropping if you receive financial aid: 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 Davis Hall. Read about the federal regulations.

Grade exclusion site closes Friday

All grade exclusion requests submitted for the fall semester must be submitted by the last day to drop a course, which is Friday, Nov. 5.

Open registration starts Nov. 9

View the registration timetable for priority registration date for the winter intersession and spring term. Open registration begins Tuesday, Nov. 9, when all new and returning students will be able to register. Register early. The schedules of classes are online.

To determine if you need adviser clearance, check your portal page at uta.edu/mymav and click on Student Center, then Holds and Details. If your academic department requires advising, you will see an academic department services indicator, or hold. Check the list of academic advising offices.

Fulbeck asks, answers 'What Are You?' Kip Fulbeck—filmmaker, author, and artist who explores multiracial identity—divulges “What Are You? The Changing Face of America” for the Diversity Lecture Series as part of Asian Heritage Month. Fulbeck speaks at 7 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 3, in the Bluebonnet Ballroom of the E.H. Hereford University Center. A book signing follows. Admission is free, but tickets are required. Go to utatickets.com. A professor and director of arts at the University of California Santa Barbara, Fulbeck has garnered critical acclaim for his books Part Asian, 100% HAPA; Permanence Tattoo Portraits; and Mixed Portraits of Multiracial Kids. He captivates audiences with his unique monologues and multimedia shows that combine comedy with a politically charged edge, leading audiences to honestly consider “Who Am I?” More than 450 students, faculty, and staff participated in the UTA Identity Project in early October. The exhibit and a documentary film about the project will be on display during the lecture. The exhibit and video are online. Fulbeck’s appearance is sponsored by the Office of Multicultural Affairs and the Division of Student Affairs.

Tuesday, Nov. 2

Open Mic Night Do you have something to say, sing, or shout out? Sign up for performance time through EXCEL Campus Activities. Walk-up performances accepted as time permits. Free. 7 p.m., Palo Duro Lounge, E.H. Hereford University Center. EXCEL Campus Activities, excel-entertainment@uta.edu, 817-272-2963.

$2 Movie: Iron Man Because of his superhero alter ego, Tony Stark must contend with deadly issues involving the government, his own friends, and new enemies. 5:30 p.m. Also 5:30 p.m. Friday, 2:30 p.m. Saturday. Planetarium, 817-272-1183.

Wednesday, Nov. 3

Angel Tree Kick-Off Celebration Celebrate the start of the Salvation Army Christmas Angel Tree season. Enjoy free treats and help a less fortunate child. 11 a.m., Palo Duro Lounge, E.H. Hereford University Center.

Thursday, Nov. 4

Guest Pianist Recital Andrey Ponochevny, bronze medal winner of the 2002 International Tchaikovsky Piano Competition and silver medal winner of the 2010 New Orleans Piano Competition, performs. Free. Noon, Irons Recital Hall, Fine Arts Building. Music, music@uta.edu, 817-272-3471.

Volleyball Mavericks vs. Southeastern Louisiana. Free with student ID. 7 p.m. Texas Hall. Athletics, 817-272-2261.

Saturday, Nov. 6

Volleyball Mavericks vs. Nicholls State. Free with student ID. 2 p.m. Texas Hall. Athletics, 817-272-2261.

Women's Basketball Mavericks vs. East Central. Exhibition game. Free with student ID. 6 p.m. Texas Hall.

Sunday, Nov. 7

Faculty Cello Recital Elizabeth Morrow of the music faculty performs. Free. 3 p.m., Irons Recital Hall, Fine Arts Building. Music, music@uta.edu, 817-272-3471.

Monday, Nov. 8

Saxophone Choir Recital Saxophone students perform. Free. 7:30 p.m., Irons Recital Hall, Fine Arts Building. Music, music@uta.edu, 817-272-3471.

Tuesday, Nov. 9

Music Honors Recital Faculty and students perform in solo and chamber music settings. Free. 7:30 p.m., Irons Recital Hall, Fine Arts Building. Music, music@uta.edu, 817-272-3471.

Wednesday, Nov. 10

$2 Movie: How to Train Your Dragon Young Viking discovers there's more to dragons than smoke and fire. Rated PG. 5:30 p.m.; also 5:30 p.m. Friday, 2:30 p.m. Saturday, Planetarium. 817-272-1183.

Guest Jazz Recital Guest jazz bassist Linda Oh is joined by the graduate jazz combo and jazz faculty. Free. 7:30 p.m., Room 115, Fine Arts Building. Music, music@uta.edu, 817-272-3471.

Thursday, Nov. 11

Mav Book Club Book club members review The Forgotten Garden by Kate Morton. Upcoming books on the Mav Book Club blog. Open to students, faculty, and staff. Free. 5:30 p.m., basement, Central Library. Diane Shepelwich, dianec@uta.edu, 817-272-7521.

Volleyball Mavericks vs. TAMU-Corpus Christi. Free with student ID. 7 p.m. Texas Hall. Athletics, 817-272-2261.

Friday, Nov. 12

Free Movie: Inception Sci-fi corporate espionage puts a high price on happiness. Rated PG-13. Concessions available. Free admission and popcorn. 5 and 8 p.m., Lone Star Auditorium, Maverick Activities Center. EXCEL Campus Activities, excel-traditions@uta.edu, 817-272-2963.

Men's Basketball Mavericks vs. Texas Lutheran. Free with student ID. 7 p.m. Texas Hall. Athletics, 817-272-2261.

Friends of the Library: Don Graham Author and UT Austin English Professor Don Graham discusses his book State Fare: An Irreverent Guide to Texas Movies (TCU Press, 2008). Free. 7:30 p.m., sixth floor parlor, Central Library. Betty Wood, bwood@uta.edu, 817-272-7421.

'Tragedy: A Tragedy' A satire of modern American life examines the absurdity of television news and its goal to package all the world's ills into a neat little bundle. $7 students, faculty, staff, seniors; $10 general public. 8 p.m., Nov.12-13, 18-20, and 2:30 p.m., Nov. 21, Mainstage Theatre, Fine Arts Building. Theatre Arts, Box Office 817-272-2669.

Friday-Saturday, Nov. 12-13

Jim Hayes Memorial Wheelchair Basketball Tournament Movin’ Mavs vs. Alabama, Illinois, and the Dallas Mavericks. See the tournament schedule for details.

Ongoing

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. 817-272-2179.

Gallery 76102: flats and rounds Artist Nicholas Wood works in hybrid forms of painting, drawing, and sculpture. Through Nov. 30. Gallery hours 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.

Planetarium programs SpacePark 360 joins the fall schedule with out-of-this-world amusement rides. Planetarium, 817-272-1183.

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.)

Fast first: Emily Koenig is the first Maverick runner to win the women's Southland Conference cross country race since Frida Rosenberg in 1995.

Koenig captures women's SLC cross country title

Freshman Emily Koenig became the first UT Arlington cross country athlete to win a Southland Conference individual championship in 15 years Thursday morning at the 2010 SLC Cross Country Championships.

Koenig led the women's team to a fourth-place finish behind winner Stephen F. Austin, Texas A&M-Corpus Christi, and McNeese State.

Junior Jennifer Carey crossed the finish line in 15th place, while senior Amanda McMahon was 24th.

Sophomore Cody Widener was the men's top performer, finishing 24th, and led the Mavericks to a seventh-place team finish.

The NCAA South Central Cross Country Regional is next for the Mavericks on Saturday, Nov. 13, in Waco, followed by the NCAA Championships on Monday, Nov. 22, in Terra Haute, Ind.

Volleyball Mavericks win third straight, host two matches

After winning its third straight match with a 3-1 decision over Sam Houston State on Saturday, UT Arlington will host Southeastern Louisiana and Nicholls State in volleyball action this week at Texas Hall.

The Mavericks, now 6-6 in the Southland Conference, will face SLU at 7 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 4, before taking on Nicholls at 2 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 6.

Junior Amanda Aguilera had 17 kills and 16 digs against Sam Houston as the Mavericks avenged an earlier loss to the Bearkats.

SLC commissioner Burnett speaks at Anderson Lecture

Tom Burnett, commissioner of the Southland Conference, discusses the NCAA conference realignment Monday, Nov. 8, for the 29th Anderson Sport Performance Lecture. The free event is at noon in the Lone Star Auditorium in the Maverick Activities Center.

Burnett will explain how the NCAA's change will affect UT Arlington and the Southland Conference, which includes 11 other member institutions.

The event is sponsored by the Department of Kinesiology in the College of Education and Health Professions. For details, call 817-272-3288.

Five intramural events round out fall semester

Upcoming intramural sports offered through Campus Recreation and entry periods or deadlines are:

• 3-on-3 Wheelchair Basketball, Nov. 3-18

• Poker, Nov. 10

• Table Tennis, Nov. 18

• NCAA College Football '10 Tournament, Dec. 1

• College Football Bowl Pick 'Em, Dec. 17

Go online to learn more about intramural sports events, rules, and deadlines.

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