University Communications » Internal Communications » TrailBlazer » TrailBlazer 04-24-2012

Sign up today for 22nd annual Oozeball tourney Friday

Your last chance to register for the dirtiest game on campus—the 22nd annual Oozeball tournament—is today, Tuesday, April 24. Register online.

Teams compete in mud volleyball until only one team remains Friday, April 27. The first game starts at 1 p.m. at the Oozeball lot at the corner of Summit Avenue and Fourth Street, just south of Greek Row Drive.

Oozeball benefits the Student Alumni Association sophomore scholarship fund and is sponsored by the Alumni Association and Campus Recreation. Spectators are welcome.

Speak up in student feedback survey

Invitations to fill out Student Feedback Surveys are waiting in student MyMav email accounts. Your voice is essential in UT Arlington's ongoing mission to bring the best possible academic experience to students.

Students will be emailed separate invitations for each lecture, seminar, or lab course in which they are enrolled.

All surveys must be completed during the time frame specified in the invitation emails. Surveys are brief and are kept anonymous. Professors will not receive SFS results until after final grades have been posted in mid-May.

For more information, including a list of Frequently Asked Questions, visit the Student Feedback Survey website.

Order MavPacks care package for finals, flower bouquets and leis for Commencement

Take part in UT Arlington traditions by ordering MavPacks, flower bouquets, or leis for students as finals and Commencement approach.

Study for finals with a MavPack care package loaded with school supplies, spirit items, snacks, and study tips. A UT Arlington T-shirt, a Scantron, and a bluebook are included. Order by Monday, April 30, for delivery the first week of May. Cost is $25. Order from the Alumni Association.

Flowers and leis are available for order through Friday, May 4, and can be purchased before and after each Commencement ceremony. Order now and your gift will be waiting for you at the ceremony. Proceeds benefit the Alumni Association Scholarship Fund. For more information, contact the Alumni Association at 817-272-2594.

Reaching out More than 1,000 students used a little elbow grease in a day of community service Saturday. The Big Event 2012 included everything from spring cleaning to reading and crafts with children, as well as Special Olympics registration at Maverick Stadium to dinosaur digging at the Arlington Archosaur site. See more photos.

Commencement guest tickets available

Guest tickets for Commencement are available now for graduation candidates.

Commencement activities include formal ceremonies in College Park Center and Texas Hall. See the Commencement schedule.

Five guest tickets have been reserved for each graduate. Students can print guest tickets.

Claim only the number of tickets you intend to use. Donate your unused tickets to a general ticket pool to be made available to fellow graduates who need more guest tickets.

Additional guest tickets are available online on a first-come, first-served basis.

'The Vagina Monologues' features women and their experiences

The Vagina Monologues, an award-winning, humorous, and honest play about women’s bodies, pleasures, experiences with violence, and ability to survive, hits the stage at 7 p.m. Thursday, April 26, and Friday, April 27, in the Studio Theatre of the Fine Arts Building.

Featuring an all-volunteer cast and crew of faculty, staff, and students, the play is based on V-Day founder/playwright Eve Ensler's interviews with more than 200 women.

The play contains strong language and is intended for mature audiences only. Tickets are $5 for faculty, staff, and students, and $10 for the general public. Tickets may be purchased online at V-Day events or with cash only at the door.

Sponsors are the Relationship Violence and Sexual Assault Prevention Program, Women's and Gender Studies Program, and the Department of Theatre Arts. Proceeds benefit The Women’s Center of Tarrant County and V-Day.

Outstanding African American students honored at Sunday banquet

Larry Kemp ('80 BBA), vice president of operations at Kemp & Sons General Services Inc. in Fort Worth, is the featured speaker for the third annual African American Faculty Staff Association banquet. The luncheon is at 2 p.m. Sunday, April 29, in the Bluebonnet Ballroom at the E.H. Hereford University Center.

Provost Ronald Elsenbaumer and African American Alumni Association President Timeka Gordon ('01 BA) will offer remarks before the Kente cloth stoles are presented to each outstanding student.

Lunch will be served. RSVP by Wednesday, April 25, to Carter Bedford at cbedford@uta.edu. For more information, see AAFSA banquet.

UTA-HOSTS peer mentors needed

Become a UTA-HOSTS (Helping Others Students To Succeed) peer mentor and positively impact the lives of incoming freshmen by helping them adjust to University life. Requirements include a minimum GPA of 2.0, at least two fully completed semesters at UT Arlington, and attendance at a short training session. Apply at mavorgs@uta.edu.

Planting for the future Emily Cunningham, left, administrative assistant in the Center for Community Service Learning, hands a rosemary plant to Ivette Gonzalez, an international business junior, during Earth Day activities Wednesday on the University Center mall. Earth Day participants received herb plants and other giveaways from various environmental groups.

Voter registration deadline is Monday

Voter registration applications are available through Monday, April 30, in the Student Congress office, Suite B150, in the E.H. Hereford University Center. Voter registration information and links to local election offices are available through the Texas Secretary of State office at votexas.org.

UT Arlington is an early voting polling site 7 a.m.-7 p.m. May 21-25 for the May 29 primary elections. The polling site has been moved this year to the Maverick Activities Center.

Take survey on behavior, alcohol, drugs

Students are encouraged to take the University AOD (alcohol and other drugs) survey. Use the code 18363 to start the survey, which asks questions about attitudes and behaviors regarding alcohol and other drugs and takes about 10-15 minutes to complete. The survey is available through April.

Tickets available for All-Sports Banquet

Student-athletes will be honored for a variety of achievements at the All-Sports Banquet at 6 p.m. Thursday, May 3, in College Park Center.

Deloss Dodds, director of athletics at UT Austin, is the keynote speaker. Tickets are $10 for students and $15 for adults. Make reservations by contacting Lorraine Palmer in the Athletics Office at lpalmer@uta.edu or 817-272-7170.

Discount tickets available for Texas Rangers' home games

To claim discount tickets for Texas Rangers' home games, visit www.texasrangers.com/grouptickets, click on University of Texas at Arlington, and use the password MAVS12.

Special offer for UT Arlington license plates

A buy-one-get-one-free deal is available for the official UT Arlington license plate. The bargain is offered through June 30. Go to www.myplates.com/go/uta. For assistance, call 888-7MY-PLATES.

University College to open late on April 30

On Monday April 30, University College will open late. Normal operations will resume at 1 p.m. Students should plan ahead to ensure that they are able to make use of any services needed. The next late opening date is Monday, May 21.

Registration continues for summer and fall terms

Priority registration has opened for summer and fall. MyMav is your gateway to the Schedule of Classes and the Registration Timetables for making registration plans for the summer and fall terms.

To determine if you need adviser clearance, check your portal page at MyMav and click on Student Center. You will see a section on the right titled Holds. Click the details link for specific hold information. If your academic department requires advising, you will see an academic department service indicator (hold). Your registration dates can be found under Enrollment Dates on the right side of your Student Center.

A list of academic advising offices is online.

Apply now for next year's financial aid; complete the FAFSA for grants, loans

Students applying for financial aid for the summer and fall 2012, and spring 2013 terms should complete the 2012-13 Free Application for Federal Student Aid. FAFSA will help UT Arlington determine your eligibility for traditional financial aid programs.

Students and their parents who have already filed their 2011 federal income tax returns may use the IRS Data Retrieval function available online through FAFSA. The tax returns must have been filed with the IRS electronically two weeks before they are available through the IRS Data Retrieval process.

The U.S. Department of Education selects a certain number of applications for a verification process. This means UT Arlington will be required to collect some additional information to compare to the data reported on the FAFSA. These documents will include the 2012-13 Verification Worksheet. If the IRS Data Retrieval process was not used during the initial application process, UT Arlington will need to collect copies of the 2011 IRS tax transcripts for students and parents, if parent information was used to complete the FAFSA.

Signed photocopies of federal tax returns are no longer acceptable for documentation. This is a change from prior years.

Summer intersession begins May 14

Summer intersession begins Monday, May 14. For a listing of summer intersession classes, click on Additional Search Criteria on the Schedule of Classes page. Summer intersession classes are held May 14-18, 21-25 and 29. Finals are May 30.

Share at Open Mic Coffeehouse tonight The Open Mic Coffeehouse offers an open environment to express yourself through spoken word, song, instrumental, or another form. Students, faculty, and staff can participate at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, April 24, in the Palo Duro Lounge of the E.H. Hereford University Center. Enjoy some free coffee and refreshments, too. Emanuelee “Outspoken” Bean, above, hosts the event. A poet, playwright, writer, and performer, Bean incorporates comedy, true conversations, alter egos, and spoken word that engage the audience. Check the guidelines and sign up online. EXCEL Campus Activities sponsors the evening.

Wednesday, April 25

$2 Movie: The Muppets Rated PG. 5:30 p.m.; also 5:30 p.m. Friday, April 27, and 2:30 p.m. Saturday, April 28. Planetarium.

Faculty/Staff vs. Students Basketball Game Free. 6 p.m., indoor basketball courts, Maverick Activities Center. UTA Ambassadors.

Wind Symphony Concert Concert features a student saxophone solo by Derek Ficken. $3 students, $5 others. 7:30 p.m., Irons Recital Hall, Fine Arts Building. Music.

Friday, April 27

Small Works Art Sale Advanced painting students offer works for sale. 5-7 p.m., Studio Arts Center.

Softball Mavericks vs. Sam Houston State. Free with student ID. 6 p.m., also 2 p.m. Saturday, April 28, Allan Saxe Field. Athletics.

Swift Center Open House Watch demonstrations of dance and exercise classes, meet the instructors, and enjoy the newly renovated dance studio. Register for a class to receive a 10 percent discount, and enter a drawing for a gift certificate for any Continuing Education course, a $100 value. 6-7:30 p.m., Swift Center.

Friends of the Library Author and rancher Joe Bax is guest speaker. Free. 7:30 p.m., sixth floor parlor, Central Library.

Saturday, April 28

Downtown Front and Center Front Street between Center and Mesquite streets in downtown Arlington transforms into a vibrant streetscape, and the adjacent vacant city-owned lot becomes a park for one day. Free. 11 a.m.-3 p.m., Saturday, April 28. School of Urban and Public Affairs, School of Architecture, Downtown Front and Center.

UTA Symphony Orchestra Concert $3 students, $5 others. 7:30 p.m., Irons Recital Hall, Fine Arts Building. Music.

Sunday, April 29

A Cappella Choir Spring Concert $3 students, $5 others. 3 p.m., Irons Recital Hall, Fine Arts Building. Music.

Tuesday, May 1

Baseball Mavericks vs. Dallas Baptist. Free with student ID. 6 p.m., Clay Gould Ballpark. Athletics.

Wednesday, May 2

$2 Movie: Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol Rated PG-13. 5:30 p.m.; also 5:30 p.m. Friday, May 4, and 2:30 p.m. Saturday, May 5. Planetarium.

Ongoing

Impressions of the West: Works of Art from Special Collections More than 30 paintings, sculptures, and prints. Free. 9 a.m.-7 p.m. Mondays, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Tuesdays-Saturdays. Through Saturday, April 28. Special Collections, sixth floor, Central Library.

India Unveiled Images by photographer and author Robert Arnett. Free. 9 a.m.-7 p.m. Mondays, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Tuesdays-Saturdays. Through Saturday, May 26. Special Collections, sixth floor parlor, Central Library.

Novus Ordo Seclorum Anthony Thompson Shumate uses the design that appears on the reverse of the Great Seal of the United States in his works. Free. 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Tuesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays; 2-6 p.m. Wednesdays, Fridays. Through Thursday, May 31. Gallery 76102, Fort Worth Center.

Planetarium Enjoy a '60s style laser light show set to the music of Pink Floyd. 7 p.m. Saturdays. Planetarium.

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

Tuesday, April 24	Employment Workshop for Students with Disabilities Strengthen your job search strategy. Free. Noon-1 p.m., Red River Room, E.H. Hereford University Center. Office for Students with Disabilities, Career Center.
Wednesday, April 25	Communication Skills Pertaining to Teaching and Learning Examine various forms of communication from the perspective of the student and the perspective of the teacher/tutor. Free. Noon, Room 101, College Hall. University College, University Tutorial and Supplemental Instruction. Safe Zone Ally Training Learn about heterosexual privilege, community and campus resources, and how to be supportive to members of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender community. Register. Free. 1-4 p.m., Room 303, Ransom Hall. University College. Physics Colloquium Physics undergraduates give presentations. 4 p.m., Room 101, Science Hall. Physics.
Thursday-Friday, April 26-27	David Dillon Symposium The inaugural David Dillon Symposium honors Dillon's prolific career as an architectural critic. Speakers investigate the changing role and venues for architectural criticism today. The Dallas Museum of Art and Nasher Sculpture Center, downtown Dallas. David Dillon Center for Texas Architecture, Architecture.
Thursday, April 26	Biology Colloquium Series Phil Stewart, director of the Center for Biofilm Engineering and professor of chemical and biological engineering at Montana State University, discusses "Genetic Basis of Antibiotic Tolerance of Pseudomonas Aeruginosa in Bioflims." Free. 4 p.m., Room 124, Life Science Building. Biology. Educational Leadership and Policy Studies Speaker Series Linda Skrla, professor of educational administration at Texas A&M, discusses how K-16 educational policy influences educational equity. Free. Student presentation 4:30 p.m., University community presentation 5:30 p.m. Both open to everyone. Palo Duro Lounge, E.H. Hereford University Center. College of Education and Health Professions, Rhonda McClellan, rmcclellan@uta.edu.
Monday, April 30	Invisible Children Learn about the victims of the Lord's Resistance Army, a Christian militant group in central Africa that is accused of widespread human rights violations, including murder, abduction, mutilation, sexual slavery, and forcing children to participate in hostilities. Speakers include a woman who grew up during LRA abductions. The film Kony 2012 will be shown. Free. 7 p.m. Rosebud Theatre. UTA Chapter of Invisible Children, stephanie.stylianou@mavs.uta.edu.
Wednesday, May 2	The Future of the College of Engineering Dean of Engineering Jean-Pierre Bardet shares plans to continue the growth and enhance the reputation of the college's research and teaching efforts. Light breakfast provided. Register. Free with student ID. 7 a.m., Room 601, Nedderman Hall. Engineering. Food for Thought: Super Foods Get a grasp on specific foods that pack a powerful nutrition punch. Free. Noon-1 p.m., Room 213, Maverick Activities Center. Major Exploration Free. Noon, Room 303, Ransom Hall. University College, Success Series.
(For an expanded list of events, see the UT Arlington Calendar.)

Hit man: Ryan Walker had two hits in each game as the Maverick baseball team swept three from Northwestern State last weekend. Walker leads the team in batting with a .377 average for the season.

Baseball Mavs sweep Northwestern State

The baseball team swept a three-game series from Northwestern State at Clay Gould Ballpark last weekend, climbing into a second-place tie in the Southland Conference.

The Mavericks, now 13-8 in the SLC and 26-14 overall, play at Baylor on Wednesday, April 25, before traveling to Stephen F. Austin this weekend.

Golfers tied for fifth after first day of SLC

Cameron Hollek shot a one-over-par 73 and UT Arlington is tied for fifth after Monday’s opening round of the Southland Conference Men’s Golf Championships at Stonebridge Ranch Country Club in McKinney.

The Mavericks are 11 strokes off the lead as they seek their second straight SLC title in the tournament, which concludes Wednesday.

Tennis teams seeded third in conference championships

Both the women’s and men’s teams are seeded third for the Southland Conference Tennis Championships, which begin Thursday, April 26, at Nacogdoches.

The women, who are seeking their second straight SLC title and seventh overall, face Lamar at 11 a.m. Thursday, while the men begin play against Nicholls State at 10 a.m. Friday. Championship matches are Saturday.

Tracksters compete in top national events

The men’s and women’s track teams competed against some of the nation’s top performers at the Mount SAC Relays in Walnut, Calif., and the Beach Invitational in Long Beach, Calif., last week.

For the men, Emil Blomberg won his heat in the 1500 at the Beach Invitational and was sixth in the 3000-meter steeplechase at Mount SAC. Isiah Clements was sixth in the high jump at Mount SAC.

On the women’s side, Lindsey Putman was sixth in the top flight of the 800 at the Beach Invitational.

The Mavericks compete in the Track-It Buster Invitational this weekend in Wichita, Kan.

Softball team drops pair at UTSA

Runs were scarce as the softball team lost 1-0 and 2-1 in 10 innings at UT San Antonio last weekend. Erica LeFlore hit her fifth homer of the season for the only Maverick run in the series.

The Mavericks play a doubleheader at Central Arkansas today, Tuesday, April 24, before returning home for games this weekend against Sam Houston State and Nicholls State.

Events next week close out intramural season

The poker tournament on Tuesday, May 1, and the FIFA_12 video game tournament Wednesday, May 2, are the final intramural events for the spring semester.

Both tournaments are in the second floor lounge at the Maverick Activities Center.

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