Torres’ hat trick leads soccer past Middle Tennessee State PAGE 7
VOL. 111 No. 10
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 2, 2017
NTDAILY.COM
Distinguished Lecture Series brings Reddit co-founder to UNT By Sean Riedel Staff Writer Alexis Ohanian, co-founder of the website Reddit, spoke about his career as an entrepreneur on behalf of UNT’s Distinguished Lecture Series in the university’s auditorium Wednesday evening. Reddit is a social news aggregate and discussion board with numerous channels and online communities for
people to be a part of. The 34-year-old co-founded Reddit in 2005 with his friend from college, Steve Huffman, who now serves as the company’s sole CEO. The two attended the University of Virginia and originally pitched an idea for a website called MyMobileMenu, or MMM, to startup accelerator Y Combinator. The pitch was declined, but Y Combinator co-founder Paul Graham encouraged the duo to come up with another idea.
Enter Reddit. “It’s because of the internet that we even started,” Ohanian said. “It’s because the world is not flat, that the world wide web exists. [That’s how] we were able to compete on the global stage and actually win.” Ohanian talked about the struggles of striving for perfection early on in the process of creating Reddit. “So many founders get caught up over perfection because we
were trained to worry about our grade when we submit the test, or submit the paper,” Ohanian said. “Entrepreneurship is like that paper that you get to submit infinity number of times, which is both horrifying and wonderful.” Ohanian spent time talking about the nature of social media sites in the last decade and people’s online façades.
SEE REDDIT ON PAGE 3
Cirque du Horror runs successfully spooky ninth annual performance
Reddit co-founder Alexis Ohanian talks to students and guests during the Distinguished Lecture Series. Reddit is currently the fourth most trafficked website in the U.S. Rachel Walters | Staff Photographer
TAMS budget cut in half, adds arts to program By Julia Falcon Senior News Writer State officials made budget cuts this summer to the Texas Academy of Mathematics and Science (TAMS), an academy for 11th- and 12th-grade students. Jennifer Evans-Cowley, provost and vice-president of Academic Affairs, announced the cuts at the Faculty Senate meeting in early October and said the STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) prominent academy will begin to focus on arts as well. The decision for the cuts was decided in a state Senate meeting, where government officials cut the budget in half. Funding for the TAMS program comes from a variety of sources with the main source of funding coming from the Texas Education Agency, along with the UNT budget and funding from families. TAMS Dean, Glênisson de Oliveira said funding from those sources goes to operations, cost of running, infrastructure, vans, computer maintenance and salaries. “The largest expenditure by far is scholarships,” de Oliveira said. “All TAMS students receive a significant amount of scholarships.” Each student in the TAMS program receives a scholarship to cover all tuition, regular university fees and books.
SEE TAMS ON PAGE 2
New exhibit reflects on late Musicians perform during the horror-themed performance, Cirque du Horror, at Dan’s Silverleaf. Cirque du Horror is meant to portray a simpler time of youth and make-believe. Dan’s Silverleaf hosts this performance during October. Victoria Nguyen | Staff Photographer
By Austin Wagner Staff Writer A mysterious man with his face painted red comes out to the stage, reciting frightening lines. The genius and mastermind with sharp horns sent shivers down spines as the show began to start. David J. Pierce introduced himself as the composer and director of the Cirque du Horror show at Dan’s Silverleaf, marking the ninth year of the production. The show kicked off with
the iconic character, Grampula, reciting jokes and witty banter. “Why didn’t the skeleton cross the road?” the fanged marvel asked. “He didn’t have the guts.” The joke sent the observing crowd into a fit of laughter as the first act of the performance commenced. Members of the audience seemed to be discerning differences between this year and last year, while others were in awe, watching the play for the first time. “We’ve come four or five times,
each year consecutively, and here we are this time too,” said Steve Hamlen, an attendee and Denton resident. “There are different scenes and skits each year. It’s like old theater style.” Hamlen is friends with some of the cast and Pierce, and he knows a few behind-the-scenes secrets about the play that was still unfolding. “There are some new things this year, and one of those is the crank,” Hamlen said. “It’s [basically] this big contraption that spins and
shows a bunch of spooky art done by some really talented artists in the area.” The crank showed a chilling representation of children being trapped in a snow globe after envying the carousel inside. The art was terrifying yet beautifully enticing, and the audience couldn’t help but gawk at the spectacle. “Pierce is a genius,” Hamlen said. “This is his show. He writes and directs it, and he changes it every year.”
20th century AIDS epidemic By Camila Gonzalez and Joshua Cassidy Staff Writers UNT Special Collections put together an exhibit on the AIDS epidemic of the late 20th century, with a focus on the NAMES AIDS Memorial Quilt and other quilts memorializing those who lost their lives to the virus. The exhibit, entitled “Threads of Remembrance,” traces its roots in two ways. The first through the NAMES AIDS Memorial Quilt that was put on display at the National Mall in Washington, D.C. 30 years ago. The other is through North Texas’ response in the early and middle stages of the AIDS epidemic under the leadership of the Dallas and Fort Worth chapters of the NAMES Project Foundation. The quilt is composed of over 49,000 panels displaying 96,000 names, each a victim of the AIDS virus.
SEE HORROR ON PAGE 5
SEE QUILT ON PAGE 3
Parker House lures in thrill-seeking Freshman star Teakell thriving for Mean Green volleyball By Matthew Brune Senior Sports Writer visitors for haunting Halloween fun By Ashlee Winters Staff Writer Down a long gravel road and hidden among a patch of trees looms a tall house with a dark past. Haunted by its history of murder, torture and black market activity, former residents and victims of the Parker House still roam the property today waiting for people to visit the eerie grounds. Parker House is a haunted house attraction that opens every year during the month of October, bringing in large crowds of eager visitors each weekend. “We have so many different attractions and such a strong storyline, and I think that really makes us stand out from other haunted houses,” Parker House actress Adrienne Jones said. The main attraction, the Parker House Mortuary, was a family-run morgue until the death of Mr. and Mrs. Parker due to a plane crash. The tragedy left their daughter, Mary
Parker, to continue the family business on her own. However, her actions soon turned dark when she began to realize business was plummeting. “The mortuary started going downhill, so Mary Parker decided she would have to make money somehow and began selling body parts and organs on the black market,” Jones said. Also featured is the Ratliff Sanitarium, where hundreds of patients experienced abuse, neglect and corrupt treatments from the doctors. Near the house is a cemetery haunted by Mary Parker’s victims, and the surrounding forest hides a family of cannibals waiting for people to wander into their clutches. “We have our graveyard where all the zombies are,” Jones said. “Then you head up the trail, and that’s where you get to meet all the sadistic backwoods hillbillies. Then you come up to the sanitarium, where we have these doctors doing all sorts of crazy
SEE HOUSE ON PAGE 5
Freshman outside hitter Barbara Teakell hits the ball in a game against Rice University. The Mean Green won the game 3-1. Rachel Walters | Staff Photographer
IN THIS ISSUE
NEWS
ARTS & LIFE
UNT’s College of Education receives grant of almost $3 million pg 2 The College of Education at UNT received a 5 year, $2.7 million grant to help improve language and English services within the Carrollton-Farmers Branch Independent School District.
Denton’s Day of the Dead Festival celebrates fall holidays with coffins and culture pg 4 The Square was filled with games and attractions Saturday during one of the city’s most anticipated yearly events.
In her first recruiting trip to UNT, freshman Barbara Teakell went on a tour of the campus with her family. She did not enjoy herself. Rain poured down on the family and intense winds rendered umbrellas almost useless. It led Teakell to doubt whether or not it was meant to be. “I don’t know about this,” Teakell said to her parents at the time. As someone who loves and embraces her faith, it almost felt like a sign pointing the Celina High School star away from North Texas. But head coach Andrew Palileo insisted on her giving the university another chance. “It just wasn’t a very good vibe [my first visit],” Teakell said. “Then I talked to [Palileo] on the phone, and he said he wanted me to come in [again] and tour the campus. I said,
SPORTS Preview: Mean Green look to spoil homecoming in Ruston pg 7 After an exciting 45-38 win over Old Dominion last week, the Mean Green are in the C-USA West again. A road win over La. Tech would do wonders for the team’s chances.
‘OK, that sounds good.’” On the following visit, there was better weather, and Palileo made sure she got a much-improved North Texas experience. “I came in with an unsure mindset because I already got the weird vibes,” Teakell said. “Then I got here and fell in love with it. I fell in love with the campus, then we went out to eat with the girls and the coaching staff.” After having played for assistant coach Vinh Nguyen on the North Point club team, the young outside hitter easily caught the eye of the North Texas coaching staff with her athleticism and 6-foot-1-inch frame. “When we first started recruiting Barbara, she did well with her team, and it was fun to watch her play,” Palileo said. “We talk a lot about high character kids and integrity, and she fit that mold.”
SEE VOLLEYBALL ON PAGE 6
OPINION UNT’s Thanksgiving break isn’t very filling pg 8 Thanksgiving break is too short. It does not accommodate for out-of-state students or provide enough time for students to enjoy time with their families.
NEWS Page 2
North Texas Daily Editorial Board
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 2, 2017
NTDAILY.COM
UNT offers bus-tracking app for students, considers app for e-ride
Editor-in-Chief Reece Waddell @ReeceWaddell15 ReeceWaddell@my.unt.edu News Editor James Norman @JamesTNorman_WL JamesNorman@my.unt.edu Arts & Life Editor Abby Jones @abbyfjones28 AbigailJones3@my.unt.edu Sports Editor Brady Keane @BradyKeane BradyKeane@my.unt.edu
A UNT student uses the transportation services app. UNT Transportation Services launched the app and the beginning of the semester. Kelsey Shoemaker | Staff Photographer
Visuals Editor Colin Mitchell @CJHMitchell ColinMitchell@myunt.edu
By Jackie Guerrero Staff Writer
Opinion Editor Alec Spicer @Spicer_Alec AlecSpicer@my.unt.edu
Production Team Design Editor Julia Contarelli @ContarelliJ JuliaPaschoal@my.unt.edu Copy Chief Kayleigh Bywater @kayleighnic0le KayleighBywater@my.unt.edu Designer/Copy Editor Circe Marez @CirceMarez CirceMarez@my.unt.edu
A new bus-tracking app launched in late August aims to help UNT students track their bus along its route. The university has also been considering a new tracking app for the e-ride shuttle service, a UNT spokesperson said. The app, called UNT Transit, is available for Android and iPhone, said Leigh Anne Gullett, UNT News media manager. The application was in testing during this past summer and went live on Aug. 28, the first day of fall semester. The app is free and tracks buses throughout the day. “It started as an idea to have regular tracking on the night buses so that students waiting for the buses could see the expected arrival time and track the bus along its route,”
Gullet said. “This would allow the student to wait in his/her car or a building on campus until the bus drew near or just to give them information so they weren’t waiting and wondering when it would arrive.” There are talks about having an app that follows the late night e-ride shuttles as well. These “call-ahead shuttles” don’t take students on a fixed route. Rather, it takes riders directly to the designated destination on campus, Gullett said. “That would operate similar to the way Lyft or Uber do – you schedule a ride and you can see the shuttle en route,” Gullett said. “Plans on this have not yet been finalized. It’s too soon to say when this may be put into effect.” Gullet said the purpose of the e-ride service is to have a transportation option for
students toward the end of regular bus route service or during times when bus routes don’t run. “This provides students with secure transit between various points on the UNT campus,” Gullett said. The Mean Green Night Rider bus runs a regular route overnight until 7 a.m. as well. E-ride is for student riders only and is free. Students must show their UNT ID to the driver to verify they are a current student. Each UNT student pays a transportation fee as part of their tuition and this fee pays for transit services such as e-ride and the Mean Green Night Rider bus. The difference between the two transit services is e-ride is an on-demand service that transports students wherever they need to go on campus. The Mean Green Night Rider Route
is a fixed route. The on-demand service runs Monday through Thursday from 7 p.m. to 2 a.m. and Friday through Sunday from 4 p.m. to 2 a.m. To schedule a ride, students should call 940-565-3014, the e-ride on-demand phone number. UNT I-Transit director Christopher Phelps, said from 2002 to 2006, the police department operated a van that circulated on campus and performed the same function as e-Ride does. Phelps called it a program that provided a secure, safe ride home. “The e-ride program, as it currently exists has expanded from that humble beginning to address the needs of the increased student population on campus,” Phelps said. “However, e-ride is still operated as a safe ride program to get students around campus safely.” Criminal justice junior Josselyn Jimenez thinks an e-ride app is a great idea, saying being able to know the location of the bus would help students at night. “This app would help students not stand around waiting forever for the bus to come,” Jimenez said. “They will know exactly where it is and when to be at the bus stop. The Mean Green Night Rider would also help students when they have to stay on campus late and maybe not want to walk all the way to the parking lot, they can get a lift to the parking lot.”
@gagaart1
College of Education receives $2.7 million grant
Designer/Copy Editor Kayla Davis @kaylajeann19 KaylaDavis@my.unt.edu
By Jackie Guerrero Staff Writer
Designer/Copy Editor Kelly Fox @kellythefox1 KellyFox2@my.unt.edu Social Media Manager Alec Spicer @Spicer_Alec AlecSpicer@my.unt.edu Illustrator Max Raign @maxothelioma MaxRaign@my.unt.edu
Business Director Adam Reese 940-565-4265 Adam.Reese@unt.edu
Faculty Adviser Gary Ghioto 940-891-6722 Gary.Ghioto@unt.edu
To pitch a story, or contact the Editor-in-Chief, please email northtexasdaily@gmail.com
UNT’s College of Education received a $2.7 million grant to help improve the language and literacy for English language learners in the Carrollton-Farmers Branch Independent School District, a UNT spokesperson said. UNT applied for the Title III National Professional Development Project SUCCESS grant back in March. On Sept. 1 the department was notified they received the award. The grant is for five years and will help around 20 elementary schools in the CarrolltonFarmers Branch Independent School District (CFBISD), allowing 15 UNT students to engage with Project SUCCESS in Language and Literacy Instruction. Rossana Boyd, director of the Bilingual/ESL Teacher Education Program and project director, said the grant was difficult to write. “It was very comprehensive,” Boyd said. “It was Region 10 [Education Service Center] who was one of our partners, but primarily Carrollton-Farmers Branch. We met with the administrators there....We came up with the needs of Englishlanguage learners.” UNT teamed up with CFBISD because the school district had contacted UNT in the past. Boyd described them as being very vocal and asking for help with both English as a second language (ESL) and bilingual teachers. There are 7,112 ESL students enrolled at CFBISD, the majority of them being Latinos. Project SUCCESS will try to help improve students’ academic achievement in reading, literacy and bi-literacy, Boyd said. They will use results from the State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness (STARR) and other measures the school district has to see if the students are progressing. Ricardo González-Carriedo, UNT assistant professor in the Department of Teacher Education and Administration, said all the training from this program will eventually pass on to the students in the program. At the end of the five years, the program will have trained a total of 290 teachers. “The final beneficiary for this program will be for the students in the schools,” González-Carriedo said. “All the teachers trained will have the potential to influence other teachers around them and pass on all the things they are learning —all the strategies and techniques. So all that initial impact is huge.” There are two main goals of the project. The first is preparing bilingual and English teachers to meet the needs of ESL students in grades preschool through sixth grade. The second is to improve literacy instruction and family engagement skills of certified
teachers serving ESL students in CFBISD, according to the project abstract document. Student teachers and certified teachers, as well as 15 UNT students and parents from 15 schools, are all involved in Project SUCCESS. The teachers teach certain portions of ESL with focuses on content, literacy and dual language. The 15 UNT students were selected on Oct. 25 and were required to obtain at least a 2.75 grade point average, as well as be admitted to the bachelors program of interdisciplinary studies, Boyd said. To seek bilingual or ESL teacher certification and be able to participate for a full academic year (fall, spring and summer semesters), the 15 students will receive a tuition scholarship with five classes paid for plus $300 for travel expenses. Darrell Hull, associate professor in educational psychology and an evaluator for Project SUCCESS, said this will become a fairly large trial study. “It will actually be a cluster trial study,” Hull said. “In other words, we will be looking at how the students perform. Specifically in third grade with the teachers that were trained versus the teachers that did not participate in the training. The study’s sample size ramps up from year to year.”
@gagaart1
Rossana Ramirez Boyd is the director of Project SUCCESS in Language and Literacy Instruction. Ricardo González-Carriedo is co-principal investigator in the project. Mallory Cammarata | Staff Photographer
CONSTRUCTION AROUND CAMPUS Hickory Street capital improvement
Coliseum
Streets starting on Hickory Street between Bonnie Brae Street and Carroll Boulevard are going to be obstructed until Jan. 30, 2019, according to the university’s Construction Obstruction Report. These infrastructure improvements and road reconstruction have been in the works since late March. Various streets and sidewalks will be closed until project is completed.
The east and west sides of the Coliseum are closed due to project construction, according to the university’s Construction Obstruction Report. These sides have been under construction since late July because of the renovation and addition of ticket booths, office space and restroom areas to the Coliseum. The project is scheduled to be completed on April 28, 2018.
New residence hall and Welcome Center A new welcome center and residence hall are being built southeast of the Kerr Hall block, according to the university’s Construction Obstruction Report. Parking lot 1 and the grounds east of Kerr Hall will be blocked because of these construction projects until their scheduled completion on Feb. 26, 2018
Track and field complex
DME power improvements
The sidewalks near the south end of the Waranch Tennis Complex will obstruct pedestrian traffic until completion of the new track and field complex, according to the university’s Construction Obstruction Report. The construction started on Oct. 1 and is scheduled to finish on Sept. 30, 2018.
The street parking and sidewalks on the north side of Maple Street between Bernard and Welch Streets are obstructed due to Denton Municipal Electric Power Improvements by the City of Denton, according to the university’s Construction Obstruction Report. The infrastructure improvement is set to be completed by Nov. 29.
TAMS program sees changes TAMS CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 Students receive $9,500 in scholarships a year or $19,000 for two years, and are eligible to apply for the Free Application for Student Aid to fulfill any other costs, TAMS recruiter Mary Collins said. The most important priority for the TAMS budget is the students and making sure everyone has an equal opportunity to attend the academy, de Oliveira said. “With this cut, we have to eliminate expenditures,” de Oliveira said. “Our scholarships will be generous still, but will be in a fixed amount that may not necessarily cover tuition and fees.” Even though the TAMS budget was cut, it wasn’t specifically targeted. Beginning in September, the budget was reduced from around $2 million to $1 million, cutting it nearly 51 percent, de Oliveira said. “What happened was in a broader effort, to decrease the cost of a category of expenses of line items,” de Oliveira said. “When you have these special line items, they try to reduce them. One of the budget streams from TAMS is the special line item.” A line item refers to a budget and how the government will budget funds for the line item based on a good or service. TAMS is considered a special line item because it is the only program like this in the state of Texas. Because TAMS is a program created by the Texas government, only students who reside in Texas can apply. De Oliveira said the academy receives calls from all around the world for students to apply. In the faculty senate meeting where the cuts were announced, UNT President Neal Smatresk noted what he called fierce competition for high school students to come to UNT. “Right now, our admission rate is over 30 percent, which makes it selective,” de Oliveira said. “If we increase the pool, we want to make sure there is room for more students.” There will not be a full transition from STEM, to STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Mathematics,) de Oliveira said, but he wants to fuse the two different foundations together by creating tracks that take advantage of strengths in the arts. He also said the small addition should not be affected by the budget cuts. “What we want is to take advantage of areas of UNT, fantastic music and visual professors to work with some of these students and help them develop several of their talents and have unique opportunities,” de Oliveira said. “We are going to create opportunities connected to arts but still remain STEM.” As for the future of TAMS, de Oliveira said despite the budget cuts he is excited to see what the future holds. “Hopefully we get the attention from legislature again,” de Oliveira said. “Considering opportunity and maybe increase funding again. Even with funding as it is I see the academy flourishing and is a fantastic place to thrive. Best education in the country for a high school aged student.”
@falconjulia22
Maple Street Pedestrian traffic on the south side of Maple Street between Bernard Street and Central Street will be blocked until Nov. 29 due to new street lighting being installed, according to the university’s Construction Obstruction Report.
By Jackie Guerrero
NTDAILY.COM | PAGE 3
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 2, 2017
Reddit co-founder talks about failure, social media at UNT event REDDIT CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 “As humans, what we really connect on are the things that are underneath the surface [things] beneath the crust that take time,” Ohanian said. “So much of what we’ve seen in the age of social in the last 10 years is incredibly superficial. It’s people taking pictures, perfect photos of their soup to make their friends jealous.” Ohanian said he thinks Reddit is distinct from other social media platforms in the way it allows users to interact. “It’s not the level of real connection I think we as humans need, and that’s the reason why 300 million people use Reddit every month,” Ohanian said. “Because it’s not a connection to your best or most perfect or filtered self. It’s a connection to your true self.” Ohanian is the author of the bestselling 2013 book: “Without Their
Permission: How the 21st Century Will Be Made, Not Managed.” He is also engaged to professional tennis player Serena Williams, with whom he has a daughter. The event’s audience consisted of UNT students, faculty members and Denton community members. Computer science senior Guthrie Schoolar said Ohanian’s insight and experience were reassuring to hear as he plans to graduate in the spring. “He’s a really introspective guy and kind of peering into his life [and seeing] how he started where most students here are now...and then ultimately seeing him fail and then make something better was just really cool to hear,” Schoolar said. “As a programmer myself, [I know] I can make as many things as I want until something sticks.” Community member Charles Kunene said he identified with Ohanian and that he hit on important aspects of entrepreneurship.
UNT announces partnership with Texas Motor Speedway
With only 100 days until the Winter Olympics, UNT President Neal Smatresk, NASCAR driver Austin Dillon and Olympic medalist Gordy Sheer gather after the announcement of the school’s new partnership with Texas Motor Speedway on Wednesday. Dana McCurdy| Staff Photographer
By James Norman News Editor UNT announced a higher education partnership with Texas Motor Speedway Wednesday afternoon and hosted a panel in the Library Mall titled “Science of Speed” to celebrate, according to a press release from the university. The purpose of the partnership is to help provide educational opportunities to students in a variety of different fields. The panel consisted of NASCAR driver Austin
Dillon, luge Olympic medalist and CEO of USA Luge Gordy Sheer, materials engineer for the Dow Chemical Company Sam Crabtree and UNT President Neal Smatresk. The conversation consisted of topics such pre-race routine and the science and similarities between racing and luge. Afterwards, the panel answered questions from students. The event ended with Dillon unveiling his car’s Winter Olympics paint scheme that he will race with this Sunday in the AAA Texas 500.
“I’m a start-up founder, and one of the biggest things I learned for myself is that it is hard and part of it is about making something that actually has value and that’s what really gets you over the hump,” Kunene said. “Nothing makes him special, you just have to have the idea and then execute it.” Ohanian said college students should take advantage of their time and experiences. “You’re surrounded by people who are also hungry, who are also curious, who probably have different backgrounds and experiences,” Ohanian said. “Take advantage of that, you might find your partner, you might find your co-founder, but either way, you’re going to find a lot of new experiences here during this time.”
@SeanRiedel
UPC introduces new rewards system By Zaira Perez Staff Writer University Program Council (UPC) recently started a rewards system called UPClub to attract new crowds and make their events more enjoyable, a UPC representative said. “When I applied to be president, that was one of the first things I wanted to do,” UPC President Cam Johnson said. UPClub was in the works this summer. Details were finalized at the UPC retreat this semester and the program rolled out in October. “It’s a great way to get the new students involved in campus activities,” psychology freshman J.T. Robinson said. All UNT students are eligible to be a part of UPClub. To get started, students can pick up a UPClub card from UPC. A UPC member will punch a hole in the card every time someone attends an event. Once students get all five punches from one card, they fill out the information on
the card and give it to a UPC member. “Once you turn in that card, you’re in the club,” Johnson said. Rewards for those in the UPClub include access to meet and greets at special events and exclusive giveaways. There is also a movie upgrade where club members are eligible for a bigger bag of popcorn and their choice of candy and drinks. “I think it’s a fun idea,” journalism freshman Tierani Bryan said. “But certain events will still attract certain people.” Along with regular membership in UPClub, there is also VIP membership. VIP membership will still give students the opportunities for meet and greets as well as exclusive giveaways. The bonus is their name will be placed twice in the drawing. Johnson said there is a bigger reward for VIPs in UPClub. “Once you’ve reached your VIP status, the ticket will allow you to skip the line at UPC events,” Johnson said.
@JamesTNorman_WL
UNT students talk to mixed media artist Giovanni Valderas at the Union Art Workshop on Oct. 26. The artist gives instructions and demostrates how to make a piñata banner with tissue paper, glue and brushes. Brigitte Zumaya | Staff Photographer
However, there will be some exceptions to skipping the line. Johnson said UPC’s annual drag show will most likely be one of those exceptions. Skipping the line will most likely be available at events like Canvas Creations. Members of UPClub will also get “special treats” at the end of the spring semester as a thank you from UPC for a great year. “We would really like to reward students that come time and time again,” said Eleonor Jackson, human resource management sophomore and UPC member. “They can get back from UPC what they put in.” Since becoming president, Johnson said one of his focuses was on student attendance at UPC events. “This semester, there’s been a bump in attendance all across the board,” Johnson said. Johnson said UPC has had to turn people away from events from every category. Events like their Live Music Series, Canvas Creations and UPCinema get the most attendance. Attendance varies with other events. Johnson’s view is wanting to know how many people actually enjoyed the event and not just the amount of people that attended. Since this is a new program, Johnson said there hasn’t been a lot of feedback yet, but UPC checks social media to see what students are saying. “I truly hope that UPClub will be another thing that students get excited about when they think about UPC,” Johnson said. “In the coming semester I’m hoping to get more people involved in the program...I’m also excited to hear from students about the program and to find more ideas for cool prizes.”
@zairalperez
AIDS quilt exhibit featured in library QUILT CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1
i’ve gotta go!
940.535.5555
...because even the best of us can be a DICK
The quilt, which serves as one of the driving forces behind the exhibit, helps contextualize those who have lost their lives to the virus in both its size and spirit, said Alex Sylvester, student services coordinator for the UNT Pride Alliance. “The AIDS quilt shows the humanity of those who have been lost,” Sylvester said. “When we look at the quilt, rather than seeing numbers and statistics, we see people who had lives, families and who were not and are not alone. The size of the quilt when we view it fully assembled is also staggering, which shows the degree of the issue while humanizing those who have died.” Threads of Remembrance was developed and researched by Special Collections Exhibits Coordinator Jaimi Parker. Parker was particularly inspired to pursue the AIDS Quilt topic due to the continued prevalence of AIDS in our society. “There’s not as much conversation about the AIDS epidemic, and AIDS and HIV as a current issue,” Parker said. “It still is a growing problem. Look at Dallas. It is one of the fastest growing cities for new cases of HIV. It is a big deal and nobody is talking about it.” According to the 2016 Texas HIV Surveillance Report, Dallas County has one of the highest rates of HIV diagnosis in the state, with 31.7 people out of every 100,000 diagnosed. Highlights of the exhibit include a memorial quilt loaned for display in the exhibit by the Turtle Creek Chorale. The Chorale
is a Dallas based men’s chorus. The group was formed in 1980 with 30 members and has since grown to as many as 200 in 2013. The men of its ensemble have dealt and battled with AIDS over the years, as Parker said 197 choristers have lost their lives to the virus. For Parker, the Chorale and its experience with AIDS serves as a poignant reminder of what the virus can to do a community. “By 1993 the Chorale had lost 90 members to the disease,” Parker said. “This is staggering, They usually have a membership of 200 each year, so they have basically lost an entire chorale worth of friends to the disease.” Parker hopes the exhibit will help raise awareness for the deadly disease at its core.
“I think our main goal in doing this exhibit is to educate and start that conversation [about HIV and AIDS],” Parker said. “Our main audience is the UNT student body. There is not that much of a conversation about HIV and AIDS, so just being able to start that conversation and maybe help people learn something through it would be great.” The exhibit will continue to be available for viewing from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday until Dec. 15 in Willis 437 as well as online.
@camila_deville @jcassidy1996
The AIDS Memorial Quilt Exhibit can be viewed from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday in room 437 in Willis Library. Dana McCurdy| Staff Photographer
ARTS & LIFE THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 2, 2017
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Members of Mariachi Quetzal play at Denton’s Day of the Dead Festival. Mariachi Quetzal played traditional mariachi music to a crowd on Industrial Street. Rachel Walters | Staff Photographer
Festival celebrates fall holidays with coffins, costumes and culture The crowd held their breath as Cleopatra pointed her gun at the sky. At the sound of the gunshot, two coffin boxcars raced down E. Hickory Street, wheels swiftly gaining speed. They flew past Queenie’s Steakhouse, past the parking lot and crash-landed into bales of hay at the finish line. “It’s our first crash of the day,” the commentator said gleefully into the microphone. Denton hosted its seventh annual Day of the Dead festival Saturday along E. Hickory and Industrial Streets. The festival included elements of Día De Los Muertos, Halloween and fall festivities into a day-long celebration starting at 11 a.m. “There are a lot of people in this community that just absolutely love [it],” founder and director David J. Pierce said. “Denton is multicultural, and there’s such a strong artistic presence that there’s a community that’s rooted itself here.” The festival included a twilight parade, live music performances, a pumpkin patch and a matinee of Cirque du Horror, Denton’s very own Halloween musical. But one of its most popular events is the coffin boxcar race. Denton’s businesses and groups craft specialized coffins and race to win the championship. This year, Pierce said a record number of 71 teams signed up for the race. “You have a concept of what it’s
going to look like,” said Josh Piers, West Oak Coffee Bar manager. “But actually seeing it happen the way you wanted to or even better than you thought it would felt good.” Coffins donned names like “The Winona Rider” and “Evil Knievel” to reflect their unique personalities. Greenpoint Technologies, which specializes in aircraft, made their coffin resemble a jet, and it drew a large crowd. “We had an engineering team to help us design it, so it’s well-designed,” Greenpoint Technologies employee Cody Nissen said. “And it’s just to have fun and bring our work team together.” Dentonites at the event didn’t spare the scare on their own individual designs. A giant loofah, Donald Trump, the Ghostbusters and even a family of terrifying clowns were just a few of the standout looks. “The whole fact that we do it as a family and that we get to scare [is great],” attendee Julie Lastovica said, whose family dressed as clowns. “We just think it’s funny, and we get a kick out of it. There’s five of us in the house, so we’re all clowns basically.” Starting early in the morning, vendors from local organizations set up their tents for attendees to shop and eat. Many vendors made specific Day of the Dead products for the event. Others aimed to provide info and spread awareness for their organizations. “Day of the Dead is not associated with Halloween,” said Bellanne Morales Hyten, Hispanic
Chamber of Commerce president. “They’re two different, distinct holidays, but people dress up and embrace the whole thing.” The festival itself incorporates multiple themes and elements. Hyten said she meets with the committee behind Day of the Dead to talk about different Hispanic traditions. “For Mexico, it’s a very solemn
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For Mexico, it’s a very solemn occasion. There’s the festive side to it. It’s [also] a time of remembrance of your loved ones.
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By Amy Roh Senior Arts & Life Writer
occasion,” Hyten said. “There’s the festive side to it. It’s [also] a time of remembrance of your loved ones.” Hyten said celebration of the holiday varies between families, and her goal is to grow awareness of the culture to attendees. “We like to say ‘look’ just to teach people about some of the traditions that we have throughout the Hispanic community,” Hyten said.
Vendors Esmeralda Lopez and Omar Morales Europa said they have been handcrafting jewelry and crafts for years. In their Europa Marketing & Design booth, there were colorful necklaces, handmade crosses and bracelets made of coffee beans and seeds. Lopez and Europa both come from artistic families. “I started the company in 2012, but my husband and his family in Mexico have been doing crafts since he was a child, so it’s been about 45 years [of experience],” Lopez said. The two said they use the craft as a creative outlet away from their day jobs. “I’m a licensed clinical social worker Monday through Friday, and [Omar] is an electrician, so this gives us a break from our 9-to-5 jobs,” Lopez said. “It’s just to do something different, meet people, look at what’s out there culturally and just collaborate with folks.” In the evening, the festival celebrated with the Twilight Parade — upbeat music, giant sugar skulls and glowing lights
abounded. Karen Bravo, a UNT adjunct professor in the College of Visual Arts and Design, was one of the volunteers for the PattersonAppleton Arts Center. She said the parade was a way to remember her loved ones. “The whole point of the parade and the Day of the Dead is about the heritage of those that have passed on,” Bravo said. “So for me, my mother passed away, so I was thinking about her.” This is Bravo’s second year at the festival and said it’s a source of community and fulfillment. “It’s all a day to remember your loved ones and celebrate culture,”
Bravo said. “And it’s artsy, creative fun.” The Day of the Dead Festival, with its infamous coffin races, crazy costumes and live music, was sure to bring Dentonites together in many ways. “It’s meant for the community,” Pierce said. “It really is for people of all ages, and it’s meant for people to take whatever they want to take out of it.”
@rohmyboat
Participants race down Hickory Street during Denton’s Day of the Dead Festival Coffin Race. Rachel Walters | Staff Photographer
HALF-OFF
Participants race down Hickory Street during Denton’s Day of the Dead Festival Coffin Race. Rachel Walters | Staff Photographer
PRESENTS
EVERYTHING SALE
OCTOBER 27|NOVEMBER 10|NOVEMBER 24 1701 BRINKER ROAD–NEXT TO WALMART MON-SAT 9AM-8PM | SUN 11AM-7PM
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 2, 2017
NTDAILY.COM | PAGE 5
Top: David J. Pierce was the composer and director of the horror-themed performance Cirque du Horror at Dan’s Silverleaf. Victoria Nguyen | Staff Photographer Bottom: Musician performing during Cirque du Horror, a macabre show written by Denton local David J. Pierce. Victoria Nguyen | Staff Photographer
Dan’s Silverleaf hosts thrilling Halloween performance HORROR CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 Jackie and Bret Fenster were both enjoying the show for the first time on a whim. They were so captivated that they ended up watching the entire production. “We’ve been to the Day of the Dead festival a few times, but this is our first time watching this show,” Bret said. “For $30 — why not? We got here and quickly realized we couldn’t leave. The show had our attention.” The acoustics of the venue were perfect for the orchestra playing along with the production. The Fensters were happy with the noise levels. “[Dan’s Silverleaf] always gets really good talent, and the sound is always impeccable,” Bret said. “A lot of bars are too loud, [but] here you can actually enjoy the show and have a good time. The music isn’t painful here.” Grampula entered the fray again, interacting with
the audience and keeping everybody occupied while the cast reset the stage. “What did the little girl say to the leaving vampire?” Grampula asked, pausing to build up to the punchline. “So long, sucker.” When the show drew to a close, the actors and several of the musicians took off into the crowd, speaking with their audience and being showered with praise. Actor Jeffrey Barnes, a friend of the Fensters, took the stage for the first time in the show this year. He played the god of the dead, Anubis. “This is my third year with the show, but most years I sing with others in the pit,” Barnes said. “I had not been on stage until now. I loved it — being on stage was marvelous.” Barnes is a fan of Pierce’s work and enjoys getting to work so closely with him.
“The show is always different because David Pierce is brilliant,” Barnes said. “This is his baby, and he does a terrific job. He’s a wonderful composer.” Barnes usually sings at the Holiday Lighting Festival on the Square — another project Pierce has worked on in the past. Creative inspiration can be drawn from any facet of an individual’s life. However, being limited to certain boundaries — such as themes of a holiday like Halloween — can sometimes hinder the creative process. “In the conception of the event, I tried to write a new show every year,” Pierce said. “You get older and things happen and suddenly I realized I don’t have the time for anything anymore like I used to.” Pierce is a new father to an eight-month-old baby. Becoming a parent has opened a new realm of
inspiration that he had never experienced before. “I didn’t know how much being a dad would consume me,” Pierce said. “I’m lucky enough to live in an area with such talented musicians and dancers. They really help me out, too.” And while a bar might not be first place one would expect to go to see a play, Dan’s Silverleaf is the perfect venue for how Pierce envisioned his show. “A place like Dan’s is great not only because of my love for [owner] Dan Mojika and the people here, but he gave me a venue when I barely had a show,” Pierce said. “So until I get a red and white striped circus tent, I’m not moving.”
@wagskeez
Haunted house uses dark past to KXT 91.7 visits Dan’s Silverleaf attract viewers for a night of fright By Grace Cottingham Staff Writer
HOUSE CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 treatments on the patients.” One of the main reasons people find Parker House so entertaining is the elaborate story behind it. While some haunted houses may just have various scary characters thrown together to frighten people, Parker House creates a mood that transports the visitors into the eerie story and terrifies them to the core. “We come up with our own ideas and put them into action, and we bring them to life,” Jones said. “We don’t just have the cliché clowns come out and hack people up. We have a whole story and a theme. It’s more practical than most things — almost like it could happen.” Parker House lures plenty of spooksearching customers in every year to
provide them with a good scare and help them celebrate the Halloween season. “People love being scared,” volunteer Brooklynne Langston said. “People in Denton have been coming here for years, and they tell their friends all about it. It really helps them get into the Halloween spirit.” Parker House gains more and more visitors each year thanks to their own efforts to improve their business as well as the positive messages their customers pass on. Word-of-mouth helps their exposure. “We really work on getting our name out there, and we’ve been very busy this year,” Langston said. “One night, we had up to six or seven hundred people show up.” Frequent visitor Hunter Johnson
The Parker House main entrance features a gargoyle welcoming and spooking visitors to the haunted house. The show ran every weekend from Sept. 30 until Halloween night. Kelsey Shoemaker | Staff Photographer
appreciates the realistic acting and costumes from all the workers at Parker House, and the quality of their performances continues to attract him. “They have dedicated actors that always put on a fantastic show,” Johnson said. “Their makeup is another thing that makes it seem so real. All the actors spend hours getting ready each day, and they do not disappoint.” Like most visitors, he also enjoys feeling immersed in the story and seeing the theme of the Parker House come to life around him. “It’s really intense learning what Mary Parker did to people in the building you willingly walk through,” Johnson said. “It’s sure to get in your head and impress you.” Parker House works hard to ensure guests feel satisfied with their experience. With a parking lot labeled “victim parking” and the creepy, labyrinthine layout of the property, customers are enveloped in the frightening aura of the attraction. Even for the most seasoned of haunted house enthusiasts, the organizers of the Parker House guarantee unique frights for all visitors. “I definitely think the atmosphere we portray is what really scares people,” Jones said. “You come out here in the middle of nowhere, you have no idea where anything is, you don’t know where you are and you don’t know what you’re going to see next. There’s always a twist — no matter what.”
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For residents of Dallas-Fort Worth seeking a fix of alternative rock and independent music, radio station KXT 91.7 has become the go-to source. The station headed north of their home base in Dallas on Saturday for a special, Dentonfocused showcase at Dan’s Silverleaf off the Square. Since 2002, Dan’s Silverleaf has been a hot spot for both local and touring musical artists to perform, and it has served as the perfect venue for KXT to host a night dedicated to the Denton music scene. With a lineup consisting of Summer Dean Band, Right Raised Men, Tony Ferraro, Ryan Thomas Becker and The Southpaw Preachers, the showcase successfully highlighted just a sliver of the local talent Denton has to offer. KXT recently announced the month of October as Local Music Month. They not only broadcast more music from bands and artists based in the metroplex during the month, but they also held events in the area to feature them in live performances. Amy Miller, host of “The Local Show” on KXT, said the goal is to highlight and focus on the music that comes out of North Texas. “This is the first year doing Local Music Month,” Miller said. “We focus on showcasing bands and artists from DFW.” With Denton being known as a city centered around music, hosting a live music event in the city was a no-brainer for the organizers. This is the first event KXT has hosted in Denton. The performance served as great exposure for the local, up-and-coming artists on the lineup for the evening. “Denton has such a great music scene,” Miller said. “This is a great and well-respected venue, which is why we ended up here.” Dan’s Silverleaf has withstood the test of
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time while other notable live music venues in the area — including Hailey’s Nightclub, Rubber Gloves Rehearsal Studios and the basement of J&J’s Pizza — have permanently shut their doors. Raised Right Men drummer Grady Sandlin had only positive words about Dan’s Silverleaf, but he noted the unfortunate closing of so many other venues in the area. “The only issue is there should be more venues in Denton,” Sandlin said. “A lot have closed through the years.” Raised Right Men, a country group who originated in Denton, has been playing in the area for about three and a half years. They have played patio sessions with KXT before and often perform at Dan’s Silverleaf. “I think the room is great and the stage has the best sound to perform on,” Sandlin said. “Absolutely the best venue in Denton.” Raised Right Men shared the stage with singer Summer Dean. She also expressed a concern in the closing venues, but explained how Dan’s Silverleaf is always a great location to count on for a quality show. “Denton is known to have a thriving music scene,” Dean said. “As a country music artist, it’s slim pickings for venues, which is another reason I enjoy Dan’s Silverleaf so much.” Dean has been performing in Denton for about a year, but she has been seeing shows in Denton for almost 15 years. She can testify to the timeless essence of the music scene, despite limited live music locations. “Dan’s is one of the best places to play in DFW,” Dean said. “I always look forward to playing there. The sound techs and gear is top notch, the staff is friendly and cool and the patrons are attentive and ready to have a good time.”
@GraceCottingham
SPORTS THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 2, 2017
Page 6
NTDAILY.COM
UPCOMING GAMES Friday • Women’s golf: @ Battle at the Beach (Cabo San Lucas, Mexico) – All Day through Sunday • Volleyball: @ Marshall – 6 p.m. Saturday • Football: @ La. Tech – 2:30 p.m. • Women’s basketball: vs. TWU – 3 p.m. Sunday • Volleyball: @ La. Tech – 1 p.m.
CONFERENCE USA STANDINGS
Left: North Texas senior defensive end Joshua Wheeler hits the University of Alabama at Birmingham’s quarterback late in the game. Colin Mitchell | Visuals Editor
Conference USA West Team Conf. Overall N. Texas
4-1
5-3
S. Miss
3-2
5-3
UAB 3-2 5-3 UTSA 2-2 5-2 La. Tech
2-2
4-4
Rice 1-3 1-7 UTEP 0-4 0-8
Conference USA East Team Conf. Overall FAU 4-0 5-3 Marshall 3-1
6-2
FIU 3-1 5-2 WKU 3-2 5-3 MTSU 1-3 3-5 Charlotte 1-3
1-7
ODU 0-4 2-6
ALL-CONFERENCE USA AWARDS Sophomore defender Dominique James was voted First-Team All-Conference USA by the league’s soccer head coaches. Aaliyah Nolan (second-team) and Brittnye Lawson (third-team) were also honored.
Right: North Texas senior defensive end Andy Flusche (99) rushes Old Dominion University’s quarterback. Flusche caught his first interception of the year after tipping a pass. Colin Mitchell | Visuals Editor
D-line key to defensive improvement By Matthew Brune Senior Sports Writer
Head coach Seth Littrell has said numerous times the key to success on both sides of the ball starts up front, which doesn’t come as much of a surprise. The defense as a unit has given up over 37 points per game, but the secondary has already been discussed at length – it’s time to see what the defensive line has done thus far. Defensive coordinator Troy Reffett runs a 3-3-5 scheme with a “jack” linebacker shading to the strong side of the formation. That spot is currently held by senior Joshua Wheeler, who acts as a more flexible defensive end to aid the three linemen. Junior defensive tackles Roderick Young and Ulaiasi Tauaalo, senior Andy Flusche and sophomore defensive end LaDarius Hamilton have all had their moments to shine through the first
eight games of the season. “Those guys are doing really well, and coach [Marc] Yellock has them working very hard,” junior linebacker Brandon Garner said. “They’re executing their movements and stunts, and they’re penetrating on run plays.” They started off the season as a more-than-capable run-stopping front line. The Mean Green always stress filling their gaps, and in the first half of the year, the group gave opposing running backs trouble — making life easier on linebackers. In its first four games of the year, the North Texas allowed just 3.1 yards per carry. “The biggest thing is that we focus on stopping the run,” Yellock said. “I think the strength [of this unit] is the kids work hard. About half the guys on the D-line are leaders on the team and that holds well for what we’re trying to do.” Since then, the defense has
allowed 5.9 yards per carry in four games — a major spike for opposing rushers. The defensive line struggled at times against the University of Texas at San Antonio and especially against Florida Atlantic University. FAU put up 447 rushing yards on 48 carries and completely dominated the Mean Green up front. The game against FAU brought glaring run defense issues to light, but the talented defensive front is more than capable of getting back to doing its part in the run game. “We’ve done some really good things with our run defense,” Littrell said. “The [FAU game] was not a reflection upon that. We have to make sure guys are fitting their gaps, and we should be gapped out.” The pass rush from the line has been more consistent from start to finish as far as production goes. North Texas has 14 sacks as a defense and has shown an ability to get to the quarterback, opening up gaps for linebackers to twist and stunt to confuse the offensive line. Although the run defense remains the most proud part of the unit, the pass rush has been exceptional at times as well. However, they know they can still do a better job of squeezing the
pocket late in the season. “We need to get better,” Yellock said. “We have to get in better situations where we know the team is going to pass the ball. In this type of scheme, we’re slanting or doing something exotic.” Yellock went on discuss how opposing quarterbacks have found some success against North Texas with quick throws and three-step drop-backs, forcing the Mean Green to change their approach. In response, the defensive line has attempted to look for more opportunities to bat down balls at the line of scrimmage. The group has broken up six passes this year and three have been by Flusche, who intercepted a pass against Old Dominion University last week. “We work on batting the ball down almost every day,” Yellock said. “On three steps, you’re not going to get pressure on the quarterback unless he holds it. If he resets we need to be there and those are the situations we have to continuously [create].” The defensive front has had its share of success without the services of redshirt sophomore Bryce English, who has been out the entire season after getting injured in fall camp. The return of
sophomore defensive end Tillman Johnson against UTSA helped bolster the group from top to bottom. North Texas is getting some players back, but Flusche doesn’t see the depth as a strength just yet. “We haven’t been very deep,” Flusche said. “We’ve played with four guys for a couple weeks in the middle of the season, but we are getting guys back. When you can have your wind in the fourth quarter, it makes everything easier.” Now the task for the front three, along with Wheeler at jack, is to return to their earlier form of run defense and irritate quarterbacks even more with either pressure or batting down passes. The defense’s ability to stop anyone starts up front. It’s a lot of pressure to put on three guys, but it’s a challenge the group continues to embrace. “It’s the leadership of that group [that makes them good],” Littrell said. “Coach Yellock does a great job with that group, continuing to develop and get better every week. We have to get back to making sure we dominate the line of scrimmage.”
@mattbrune25
Bad first trip to North Texas almost deterred Teakell from Mean Green VOLLEYBALL CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1
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After graduating early, signing with the Mean Green and arriving on campus in the spring, Teakell immediately started learning and adjusting to the new pace of play. But despite her accomplished high school career and years of playing club volleyball, it still took time for her to get comfortable in a Division One setting. “When I first got here in the spring, it was rough adjusting to the speed of the game,” Teakell said. “But I’m glad I [came here early] because I think it gave me an advantage.” Her performance this season certainly backs up that sentiment. Twenty-four matches into her career, Teakell has played in 74 of 87 sets and has an attack percentage of .266. She is averaging 2.7 kills per set. Teakell has set career highs in two of the last four matches, tallying 20 kills against Florida Atlantic University and 21 kills Rice University just two matches later. In her past four matches, she has averaged a team-best 16.5 kills per match. But it’s been her vocal presence that has grown the most since arriving on campus at the beginning of the year. On a team with several proven upperclassmen, carving out an immediate leadership role is not an easy thing to do. “She was kind of quiet when she came in the spring, which is expected,” senior middle blocker Holly Milam said. “She’s already picked up her role, and she’s not afraid to talk to the upperclassmen and keep everyone accountable. Her voice has grown a lot.” As a freshman on a team filled with capable attackers, defenses have struggled to deal with the Teakell’s ability on the pins. The
experience on the court with her at all times has been a huge part of her early success. “I like to think [the seniors] helped her out,” senior right side Alexis Wright said. “Since there’s usually about four upperclassmen out there with her, [I hope] we can relieve some of that pressure off of her so she can play free and score.” While her offensive production is what has made headlines recently, it was actually Teakell’s defensive play that got her on the court in the first place. She has totaled 140 digs as a freshman, ranking sixth on the team. That, along with her passing abilities, has led to more trust from Palileo. “Everybody loves the kills, but I look at the defensive side of [her play],” Palileo said. “She’s been getting better and better on the defensive end, and that’s what’s getting her some good playing time. She’s balanced that with her offense.” In her first season for the Mean Green, she’s a part of a 22-2 team that is having one of the best seasons in school history. It has been a great experience for her
first go-around. “It’s amazing,” Teakell said. “It’s such a blessing to come in with such a strong set of upperclassmen because that’s very rare. We’re a big class of freshman so that is really nice [to have].” Everyday Teakell is sent a Bible verse from her dad, Randy. Her faith is what led her to the UNT on that rainy and cold day and back again the second time. After those experiences, she again turned to her faith when it came time to make a college decision. Now, both Teakell and Mean Green volleyball are reaping the benefits after it seemed like a rainy day would cause the partnership to never be. “The biggest thing for me and my family was trying to figure out what God wanted me to do,” Teakell said. “When I decided to play college volleyball it wasn’t because of me, it was because I felt led to play volleyball to glorify Jesus Christ, [and] it has definitely worked out. We’re really a sisterhood [here].”
@mattbrune25
Freshman Barbara Teakell is fourth on the team with 200 kills this season. Teakell joined the Mean Green after playing for four years at nearby Celina High School. Rachel Walters | Staff Photographer
NTDAILY.COM | PAGE 7
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 2, 2017
Wilson looks to avoid late letdown By Matthew Brune Senior Sports Writer Jeffery Wilson’s legacy at North Texas is getting closer to being finalized with every passing week. Along with leaving his impression on the thousands of fans, staff members, teammates and coaches, he also will leave his name in the record books for what should be an extended period of time. Currently, Wilson is tied for fourth in school history in rushing touchdowns and fifth in career rushing yards. He is also on pace to be just the fourth running back in school history to lead the team in rushing from sophomore year to senior year. This year, Wilson ranks No. 21 in the FBS in rushing yards with 834. He is tied for 10th in touchdowns with 11 through eight games. But Wilson has never played a complete season and has missed at least two games every year. The injury concerns lead to a cautious approach from the coaching staff this year, demonstrated by coach Seth Littrell’s decision to bench Wilson in Saturday’s win over Old Dominion University. Even so, quarterback Mason Fine is expressing no doubts in Wilson’s physical condition heading into this week’s game against Louisiana Tech University. “No, there’s no concern,” Fine said. “I think Jeffery is good to go. He’s practicing well and looks like the same old Jeffery.” With everything we know about Wilson and his abilities, one concern continues to linger — finishing out seasons. Excluding his freshman season because his playing time was far too erratic, Wilson has shown a trend over the past two years. Each season is broken up into thirds — the first four games, the middle four games and the last four plus a bowl game (if applicable). The table shows a clear regression from the beginning of the season to the end. Wilson missed two of the first four games in the 2015 season and two of the final five games in the 2016 season. A few plausible reasons for his end-ofseason drop-offs come from play calling
and fatigue, which affect every player late in the season. The Mean Green have typically struggled in the final third of the season, which at times has forced the coaching staff to throw the ball more. For example, in three games against teams North Texas was projected to lose this season – Southern Methodist University, University of Iowa and Florida Atlantic University – the Mean Green ran the ball only 39 percent of the time. In the other five games, North Texas ran the ball on 58 percent of its snaps despite trailing in four out of five games at one point. “We really have to get the run game going [because] it gives us a [great] chance to be successful,” offensive coordinator Graham Harrell said. “We always want to get the run game going. [Sometimes] the score gets out of hand so we have to get in a pass happy situation, but it’s extremely important.” The run game last year stalled when Wilson went down, as he had just seven carries in the last three games of the regular season before putting up 81 yards against Army in the Heart of Dallas Bowl. With Wilson’s history of injuries, the coaching staff’s emphasis is to keep him upright in these last four to five games. “We’re always doing everything possible to maintain [his durability],” Littrell said. “A lot of it is nutrition and hydration, but as a running back you’re going to be banged up. You have to fight through it and take care of yourself.” While Wilson’s injuries have never been serious enough for real long-term concern, he has had occasional flare-ups which have resulted in missing games in the past. Fortunately, he’s been able to stay on the field so far this year and looks healthy despite a hiccup against ODU. “I’m fine,” Wilson said. “I’m feeling good. I’m just ready to get back out there and play.” The North Texas offense is geared more towards the air game than in recent years, but Wilson has found himself getting the ball the most in his career as he averages 16 carries per game. He averaged just
North Texas senior running back Jeffery Wilson runs into the endzone and scores a touchdown in a game against Old Dominion University on Oct. 28. North Texas defeated ODU 45-38. Sara Carpenter | Senior Staff Photographer
under 16 touches per game through each of the last two seasons. Wilson ranks No. 41 in the FBS in total rush attempts this season. “Most importantly, you have to keep guys healthy,” Harrell said. “Jeffery’s a special player, but you don’t want anyone taking 40 or 50 hits a game. We’re trying to make sure he’s fresh. The other backs have a different skill set so it’s fun to watch them run, too.” As a top 10 running back in program history, it’s easy to understand why the Mean Green need Wilson’s production to help them against elite competition. He’s averaged 5.6 yards per carry in his career and opens up the game for the entire offense with his play. Entering the final third of the season for the final time, Wilson and the Mean Green will look to end the trend of a late season
drop-off — whether it is due to struggles in the win column or injuries. And after having an unusually quiet game with a fumble against Old Dominion last week, Wilson’s mindset for the rest of the year is as focused as when he was an unproven freshman from Elkhart, Texas.
“I just [need] to stay within the game plan [and] stay within my game,” Wilson said. “I’m ready to redeem myself from the last game. It’s still a bitter taste, but [I’ll] be alright.”
@mattbrune25
Preview: Mean Green look to spoil homecoming in Ruston By Matthew Brune Senior Sports Writer As the sole leader of the Conference USA West division, North Texas (5-3, 4-1) travels to Ruston, Louisiana at 2:30 p.m. on Saturday to take on Louisiana Tech University (4-4, 2-2). Both teams have been pushed to the wire in recent games and for North Texas, this marks the first shot at clinching a bowl berth this season. What to watch for Homefield disadvantage? Let’s start with the flukiest of numbers in this series between two schools that have faced off 15 times in its history. The road team has a 10-5 record, as North Texas is 5-4 in Ruston and Louisiana Tech is 5-1 in Denton. Considering the Mean Green are 1-3 on the road this season, this could be a pivotal game to prove they can win outside of Apogee Stadium. Louisiana Tech is 2-2 at home this season, but it will be their homecoming on Saturday. This is the Mean Green’s first away game since the Florida
Atlantic University throttling, and they’re hoping to learn from that experience. “You can learn a lot from games like that,” head coach Seth Littrell said. “It’s never easy, but I think our team has grown from that in understanding you have to be focused every single week. Playing on the road you have to take it to another level.”
The Bulldogs’ balanced offense vs. North Texas’ defense The Bulldogs have rushed the ball 285 times this year and passed it 265 times. Their offense is extremely balanced with multiple running backs who can move the sticks and a quarterback in J’Mar Smith who is averaging a respectable 245 yards per game. Smith is completing 56.6 percent of his passes. Of 24 Louisiana Tech touchdowns, 13 have been runs and 11 have come through the air. This ability to keep defenses off balance, especially in the red zone, bodes well for the Bulldogs. They enter averaging nearly 30 points per game. “They’re very consistent,”
Littrell said. “They’re able to play fast and make adjustments. We’re going to have to be way more consistent than we’ve been in the past.
Battle of the third quarter While North Texas has not been good in the third quarter this season, Louisiana Tech has actually been worse. The Mean Green have been outscored 84-54 in the quarter following halftime but the Bulldogs have been outscored 58-21. North Texas allows a ton of points, while Louisiana Tech rarely scores in the third frame. This could be the difference in the game so it will be worth keeping an eye on. “It’s just being consistent,” sophomore quarterback Mason Fine said. “I think we lose focus when we get comfortable.” Taking pressure off Fine Fine now has eight interceptions on the season, and he’s thrown three in the last two games. While he has not been bad by any stretch of the imagination in those games, he faces another fairly arduous task of attacking a defense that has
forced 11 interceptions through eight games. Fine will need running back Jeffery Wilson to return to form after a rough week for the senior from Elkhart, Texas. Wilson can easily open up the game for this North Texas offense.
The No. 2 seed North Texas soccer team defeated No. 7 seed Middle Tennessee 4-1 Wednesday behind a hat trick from junior Taylor Torres to move on to the second round of the Conference USA tournament. The Mean Green (13-3-3) advance to the second round for the fourth consecutive year and will face the winner of a game between Florida Atlantic University and the University of Alabama at Birmingham. In just the second minute of the game, freshman Brooke Lampe gave the Mean Green a 1-0 lead over the Blue Raiders (8-10) with her fourth score of the season off an assist from Aaliyah Nolan. Playing in her first career conference tournament game, Lampe could
Sophomore defender Brittnye Lawson kicks the ball to a teammate. The Mean Green tied 1-1 against Rice University after going into overtime twice. Rachel Walters | Staff Photographer
Score predictions Matt Brune, Senior Sports Writer: North Texas 41, Louisiana Tech 35 Brady Keane, Sports Editor: North Texas 49, Louisiana Tech 45
@mattbrune25
North Texas sophomore quarterback Mason Fine (6) receives a snap against Old Dominion University. Colin Mitchell| Visuals Editor
Torres nets hat trick to lead soccer past MTSU By Matthew Berger Staff Writer
“In this conference, everyone is pretty evenly matched,” Wilson said. “It’s just who’s going to be more focused and who’s going to be the aggressor. It can be a bad game for whoever doesn’t come out with their head on straight.”
not contain her excitement waiting for the game. “It was such a rush,” Lampe said. “Before the game, it was a ton of butterflies and feelings of excitement. Once you go on the field it all goes away, and you are just like, ‘Alright, I am ready.’” Torres scored her first goal of the day in the 25th minute off an assist from senior Cat Sebazco. The Blue Raiders responded with a goal of their own just before halftime to cut the North Texas lead to 2-1. Torres believes the preparation going into the game and teamwork gave the Mean Green an advantage in the game. “Before every game, we talk about the other team and how their defense plays, and that really helps us,” Torres said. “The players I was working up top with, like Cat on the outside, I was able to get her balls and score them. I work really well with her.” The second half started similar to the first, as Torres gave the Mean Green a commanding two-goal lead on her second goal of the game off an assist from Natalie Newell. North Texas was able to hold C-USA’s leading scorer, Peyton Depriest (13 goals), in check with solid defensive play. “Defensively we really focused on shutting down No. 12 [Depriest], who was their best player and basically got them into the tournament,” Bradley said. “We stuck someone on her the whole time and basically threw her off her game.” Torres finished off her terrific day by completing the hat trick in the 87th minute, giving her eight goals on the season to take the team lead. “When we get a goal early, it motivates the whole team,” Torres said. “Once we score one goal we know we can get another one and another one, and that’s always how it is for us.” Next up: The Mean Green face the winner of UAB and FAU Friday at noon in Boca Raton, Florida.
@Bergersthoughts
Scoring Summary Player Brooke Lampe Taylor Torres Taylor Hatch (MTSU) Taylor Torres Taylor Torres
Time 2:00 25:11 41:09 61:47 87:00
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OPINION THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 2, 2017
Page 8
NTDAILY.COM
Sexual predators are finally facing the consequences — but there’s still work to do By The Editorial Board For what seems like the first time in recent memory, we are finally starting to see people be held accountable for sexually assaulting others. And not just anyone — wealthy, famous and influential people. People that are on such a national platform others are finally able to see them face their consequences of such grotesque actions. People are — rightfully so — losing their jobs and respect for these horrendous actions. The message being sent is hopefully loud enough and clear enough that when you physically violate someone at work, school or even at home, you can and will feel the repercussions. Combating the rape culture in this country seemed to be a discouraging effort after high profile cases of convicted rapists (see: Brock Turner) were being settled with slaps on the wrist or no conviction at all. While no one should be expected to open up about such a traumatic experience, all it takes is one person to speak out against perpetrators of sexual assault — man, woman, celebrity, transgender or even non-binary victims. It can happen to anyone. After a number of people began speaking out about alleged sexual assault by one of Hollywood’s most powerful men, Harvey Weinstein, the whistle blowing seems to have been nonstop. Even the current president of our country has been accused of sexual misconduct. Since then, it seems that one by one, several people have been accused and exposed for their sexual misconduct. Andy Signore. Ben Affleck. Bob Weinstein.
James Toback. George H.W. Bush. Dustin Hoffman. Kevin Spacey. Brett Ratner. Michael Oreskes — just to name a few. Unfortunately, this cultural dynamic of sexual predators feeling comfortable enough to commit such crimes without any consequence is certainly not exclusive to Hollywood. Many have turned a blind eye and, in turn, allowed this to manifest across the country in all types of environments and industries. In fact, the Rape Abuse & Incest National Network (RAINN) reports rates of sexual violence are higher than any other crime on college campuses, and UNT is no exception. Earlier this year, UNT’s annual security report showed that reported cases of rape nearly double between 2015-2016. Optimistically, we can only hope this is due to more victims finding themselves surrounded by support or in a safe enough environment to feel comfortable enough to come forward against their abusers. Unfortunately, we can’t be too optimistic, as a statistic from RAINN shows over 11 percent of all college students are raped or a victim of sexual assault. And realistically speaking, we still have an embarrassingly amount of ground to cover. We can continue to turn the cheek and keep it business as usual. We have to start empowering victims to feel safe enough to come forward and simultaneously teach sexual predators their vile actions won’t be tolerated. Apologies and prayers are not enough. Justice and accountability are.
@ntdaily
Kevin Spacey was accused of sexually assaulting a 14-year-old boy when he was 26 years old. File
UNT’s Thanksgiving break isn’t very filling
Illustration by Max Raign
By Rachel Herzer Staff Writer Thanksgiving is cherished by many for the opportunity it gives us to spend time with family, eat well and give thanks. At UNT, students get the Thursday of Thanksgiving and the following Friday off of school for the holiday. If you are lucky, you might get that rare email from your professor canceling class the Wednesday before Thanksgiving, but do not bet on it. Two days off school for the holiday seems alright to those of us whose families live in the area, but for out-ofstate and long-distance students, 48 hours is not enough time. In spring 2017, UNT had 1167 outof-state students, according to the current UNT Factbook. Students whose families live far away have a much harder time
trying to make it home for holidays. Costs of plane tickets and travel are substantial, especially for a college student. This is sometimes a deciding factor in whether or not a student is able to visit home. UNT students come from counties all over Texas, a state of more than 260,000 square miles. Even in-state students might have a seven-hour drive to get to their family. Long distance students do not have the luxury of the occasional weekend visit home, so they spend long periods of time apart from loved ones. Additionally, over Thanksgiving break, students often still have assignments and homework to complete, taking from the already short time they have to visit. When the break ends, finals week is right around the corner — a considerable cause for stress for most students. More time
to relax and be with family would be beneficial to students’ well-being and likely their grades. Texas state law determines which holidays universities can close to observe, but these institutions get to decide the start date of each semester. If UNT adjusted start dates of the fall and spring terms to make the month-long winter break a few days shorter, those days could be added to Thanksgiving break. Three days would not make a noticeable dent if removed from winter break but would make a world of difference if added on for Thanksgiving. So, UNT administration: Stop being a turkey and make Thanksgiving break longer. Don’t you know it is rude to gobble and run?
@coolrachdoritos
Denton Event Radar Thursday, November 2
Thursday, November 2
Friday, November 3
Monday, November 6
Tuesday, November 7
Wednesday, November 8
Art Workshop:
Breakfast for Dinner
First Friday Denton
Homecoming Picnic
Discussion at the
Homecoming Comedy Show
Candle Making
Where: BackYard on Bell
Where: Downtown
Where: Library Mall
Sky Theater
Where: Coliseum
Where: Jade
When: 7 p.m.
Denton Square
When: 11 a.m. - 1 p.m.
Where: UNT Sky
When: 8 p.m.
Eagle Ballroom
Free
When: 5 - 9 p.m.
Free
Theater Planetarium
Free
When: 3 - 5 p.m.
Free
When: 7:30 p.m.
Campus cafeterias need to allow to-go boxes By Spencer Kain Staff Writer Campus cafeterias have a strict rule where students are not allowed to take cafeteria food out of their respective halls. No matter what meal you are eating in one of them, it is forbidden for food or drinks to leave the cafeteria area and it must all be consumed while you are sitting there. The cafeterias on campus should allow students to take togo boxes of food out so students can have extra food stored in their dorms or be able to eat it on the go if they are in a hurry. I never eat breakfast because I either have a class to get to or I just never have enough time set aside to go to one of the cafeterias to sit down and eat. For students that always seem to be in a hurry due to classes and other obligations, being
able to just quickly run into a cafeteria and take some food on the go would be such a helpful asset. Students sometimes have very irregular eating patterns in college, including students who may forget to eat entirely. Having this to-go box option could help ensure that students are eating when they need to be. I’m always hungry so if I was able to have some extra food from the cafeteria stored in my dorm, my stomach would likely appreciate it. Instead of reaching for another package of ramen, I could grab a box of that famous West Hall macaroni and cheese. If students were able to take food out, it could also possibly limit the amount of food that is leftover when the cafeterias switch between meals for the day. If there is a considerable amount of food left or even if it just needs to be gone, students should be
able to take what is left to help minimize the leftovers of the food, which in turn would also minimize the waste of it. The signs plastered inside of Kerr Hall that call for the minimization of food waste are almost ironic, as there is an opportunity to actually start practicing what is being preached. Having to-go boxes in the cafeterias would greatly help students who are on the go constantly or those that would just like to have some extra food laying around their rooms. It could not only help students, but it could also help resolve some of the waste problems UNT is so passionate about solving. To-go boxes have the potential to be a very helpful tool in the way that students dine on campus.
@spencer_kain
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