IN THIS ISSUE
Floor collapses at student apartment; damages total $200K
ARTS & LIFE
SPORTS
OPINION
Spoken word poet discusses women empowerment pg 5 National Poetry Slam Champion Melissa Lozada-Oliva visited UNT to perform her works that focus on feminism and female empowerment.
Volleyball faces off against Marshall Friday pg 7 After winning the Conference USA regular season championship, the North Texas volleyball team has its sights set on the NCAA tourney.
Bigots run free on Twitter pg 8 Twitter has memes, moments and more, but unfortunately, that includes white people that praise Nazi memorabilia and a bad suspension policy.
By Celeste Gracia and Sean Riedel Staff Writers A party at a student apartment complex caused the floor of a thirdstory apartment to collapse this past Sunday. Forty-eight residents from The Ridge at North Texas were displaced as
a result of the incident, with damages exceeding $200,000, according to a report from the Denton Fire Department. Residents were able to return to their units Monday evening, with many staying at temporary housing offered by Best Western Hotel and The Gateway student apartments. Structural engineers and city
officials deemed the building suitable for occupancy after an inspection Monday. A statement from the apartment complex said “residents of the three units directly affected by the incident will be permanently moved to other
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The Trilogy
VOL. 111 No. 12
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 16, 2017
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North Texas squares off against Army for third time in 13 months By Matthew Brune Senior Sports Writer For the first time this season, North Texas will not be traveling the week after winning a home game. The Mean Green (7-3, 6-1) take on Army (8-2) at 5:30 p.m. Saturday night at Apogee Stadium looking to avenge a 38-31 OT loss in last year’s Heart of Dallas Bowl. What to watch for The saga continues These two teams could not be more familiar with each other. This will be their third meeting in the last 13 months, and some bowl projections are already pitting them against each other in the postseason again this year. Army averages 29.4 points per game while controlling the time of possession battle (more than 34 minutes each game). While North Texas’ offense has more weapons this year, the spread attack with senior running back Jeffery Wilson as the hammer is the same general theme. “It helps a lot [that we’ve played them], because we have a feel for them,” senior safety Kishawn McClain said. “We’re not just jumping into something we’ve never done before. We faced them twice last season, and they don’t change too much of what they do.” The infamous triple-option Army’s senior quarterback Ahmad Bradshaw and his three primary running backs all average over 5 yards per carry, which is even more impressive when you consider the fact that the Black Knights have completed just 17 passes all season. Everyone knows it’s coming. Whether it’s a wingback or receiver in motion, Bradshaw can fake or give to the fullback with the option of taking off on an option to the outside. It’s incredibly difficult to stay disciplined for an entire game against Army, but the Mean Green have shown success against the Black Knights before.
North Texas then-junior running back Jeffery Wilson (26) runs for a touchdown against Army in the 2016 Heart of Dallas Bowl. Wilson’s touchdown put the Mean Green ahead 7-6. North Texas lost in overtime. Colin Mitchell | Visuals Editor “You better be extremely disciplined and extremely physical when defending the triple-option,” head coach Seth Littrell said. “Those are the two things they pride themselves on.” Senior night North Texas is projected to have six senior starters playing their final game at Apogee Stadium Saturday night. That list includes Wilson, McClain and defensive lineman Andy Flusche among others.
While it’s not the primary motivation for the Mean Green, the team would certainly enjoy sending their seniors out of Apogee Stadium with a win one last time. “That’s huge, but we just play as hard as we can,” sophomore wide receiver Michael Lawrence said. “They know we won’t let them down, and that’s the mentality going into every game.” Some new motivation Now that the Conference USA West
Division is clinched, the Mean Green’s motivation shifts to a few different things. One of the team’s goals coming into the season was to go undefeated at home. With this being the final home game, North Texas certainly knows it’s attainable. The Mean Green are also still bitter about the Heart of Dallas Bowl loss last year, which in and of itself is enough to motivate the team this time around. “They took something big from us,” Wilson said. “They took something we
16th annual Pistons & Paint Car Show honors antique automobiles
A worker for one of the vendors, Pan Ector Industries, spreads the paint to create the print of a T-shirt. Dana McCurdy | Staff Photographer
By Slade Meadows Staff Writer The family opened the rear-hinged doors of the grey convertible 1962 Lincoln Continental — easily fit for a music video — and piled into it. The car took off into a slow roll around the North Texas Fairgrounds, and the passengers began to
perform mock pageant waves to the young kids who chased them. The Lincoln circled around the Bud Light stage and welcomed an award in the form of a small gold engine into its passenger seat. The 16th annual Pistons & Paint Car Show took place Saturday and brought hundreds of classic cars to the streets of Denton. The show featured over 450 classic
cars from 1964 and beyond as well as music from bands such as Junior Brown, Slobberbone and Dylan Bishop. Aside from cars, the fairgrounds were filled with food, beer, souvenirs and, most importantly, families. “It actually started because back then there weren’t really a lot of local car shows that we wanted to go to,” event organizer Scott
“Bubba” Turner said. “There are a lot more that have sprung up since then.” The show started in Dallas and was there for four years until they lost their venue. Turner lived in Denton, and he felt it was the perfect location. “I was like, ‘Hey man, there’s a fairground right by my house — we should go talk to them,’” Turner said. “We’ve had a great relationship with Nancy and Glenn at North Texas Fairgrounds ever since. It’s just been great.” Turner books all the bands, hires the police, reserves the venue and “pretty much hires everybody to hire.” He has worked with the annual car show since day one. The first show featured around 25 cars and has grown massively in the last 15 years. Turner took a majority role about five or six years ago when the head coordinator stepped down. Since Turner lives two miles from the fairground and has experience with booking shows, his role as event coordinator made sense. Aside from the good music, food and beer, the event featured souvenirs and activities for
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worked for all [last] season. To have that taste in our mouth; it’s been a game we’ve been waiting for.” Score predictions: Senior Staff Writer, Matt Brune: Army 42, North Texas 38 Sports Editor, Brady Keane: North Texas 38, Army 34 OT
@mattbrune25
UNT announces partnership with Texas Motor Speedway
NASCAR driver Austin Dillon and UNT President Neal Smatresk view the university’s College Of Engineering race car.. Dana McCurdy | Staff Photographer
By Jackie Guerrero Staff Writer UNT will partner with Texas Motor Speedway (TMS) to try and enhance educational opportunity for students, a UNT spokesperson said. The partnership was announced Nov. 1 by UNT President Neal Smatresk at the Library Mall. UNT News Manager Leigh Anne Gullett said UNT is a proud higher education partner of TMS. The partnership was agreed on shortly before the announcement was made on a panel, titled “The Science of Speed.” The panel consisted of Smatresk, NASCAR Camping World Truck Series and Nationwide Series champion Austin
Dillion, USA Luge competitor Gordy Sheer and Dow Chemical Company Lead Research and Development Manager Sam Crabtree. Gullet said TMS offers a great opportunity for UNT to gain exposure through signage that can be viewed by travelers on I-35W and on national TV. TMS is also offering mutually beneficial opportunities for students, such as being able to hear from industry experts in a variety of disciplines, participate in class projects and lectures from TMS’ highly experienced professionals and have hands-on experiences through internships, Gullet said.
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NEWS Page 2
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 16, 2017
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North Texas Daily Residents returning to apartments after floor collapses Editorial Board 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 Visuals Editor Colin Mitchell @CJHMitchell ColinMitchell@myunt.edu 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 Designer/Copy Editor Kayla Davis @kaylajeann19 KaylaDavis@my.unt.edu 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
APARTMENT CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 housing — most likely a nearby property — as those three units are restored.” The Ridge will also give affected residents seven days’ rent credited to their account, according to an email. Bryan Cose, public information officer for the Denton Police Department, said there appears to have been 50-100 people at the party based off video footage, but there is no confirmation on the exact number of people there. UNT ecology sophomore Carley Carroll was one of the displaced residents. Her apartment was below the unit that collapsed. “We’ve been in a hotel for the past three nights, which The Ridge has completely paid for,” Carroll said. Business finance freshman Wallace Chalmers estimated there were around 100 people in the apartment. “They started jumping,” Chalmers said. “After one song, I started feeling the ground wave a little bit like [it could] cave in. They were really jumping hard.” Chalmers said the DJ played another song, and after people began dancing and jumping, that’s when the floor gave way. “We fell through the water pipelines and then we fell to the actual second floor,” Chalmers said. “It happened so quickly. I closed my eyes. There was a bunch of screaming. I felt water hit my face.” Business marketing freshman Kyre Adesanya said after the fall, he felt stranded, surrounded by debris and dust. “People were on my legs,” Adesanya
said. “People were in the water. As soon as we hit the ground, the water was like eight inches off the ground.” Carroll said she had only ever briefly encountered the four males who lived above her who threw the party that resulted in the floor collapse. She was at her parents home when the collapse occurred, while her roommates were at the police station making a noise complaint. “What we were first told was that the sprinklers were on for two-and-ahalf hours and not to expect to salvage anything,” Carroll said. “We actually went in yesterday and cleared everything out.” The incident report from the Denton Fire Department (DFD) states the occupants jumping up and down caused the subfloor trusses to collapse into the second floor below. “Heavy amounts of water from broken water pipes and fire sprinkler system increased the load on the second floor and soaked the first-floor sheetrock,” the report stated. “Water and electrical were disconnected from the building to prevent fire hazards and additional flooding.” The incident report from the DFD estimated the damages will cost roughly $210,000. Carroll said the most affected area was the living room of the apartment and that while many of her personal items where in her room and less damaged, there is still “hundreds of dollars of stuff to replace.” One of her roommates laptop had $750 worth of damage. A fire alarm at the complex went off around 1:43 a.m. DFD arrived
on the scene at approximately 1:50 a.m., according to the incident report. Narrations in the report state when first responders arrived, there were “approximately 100 people outside in full-scale panic.” The two apartments directly under the unit hosting the party were directly affected, according to the report. The other nine apartments were indirectly affected due to the fire sprinkler, electrical and water systems being cut off. DFD displaced all occupants of the building, a total of 48 residents. Carroll said she and two of her roommates will be moving into a new apartment complex, which will be the same price as they were paying at The Ridge. She said that upon moving, she and her roommates do not plan on moving back to The Ridge, and one of her roommates from The Ridge will be
moving back home. “I don’t think any of us plan on going back [to The Ridge],” Carroll said. “It’s nothing against them, they’ve been great. It’s just now that we’re going to a new place I think we’re going to stay there.” Carroll did not want to say where exactly she and her roommates would be moving so they would be able to move in with privacy. Fourteen injuries were reported in the incident, one of which was a sprained ankle of a fireman who responded to the emergency. Cose said nobody was transported by ambulance. A spokesperson for The Ridge said the apartment will “be looking at possible additional steps to take in order to prevent another such incident.”
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UNT-Texas Motor Speedway Denton County Judge partnership brings internships Mary Horn won’t be SPEEDWAY CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1
“The partnership will directly benefit our students, specifically those studying sports management and marketing, hospitality and event management and business,” Smatresk stated in the press release. TMS is among the largest sports stadiums in the U.S. The venue originally opened in 1997 and can hold a crowd of 200,000 people. It features a variety of amenities and is owned and operated by Speedway Motorsports Inc., a leading marketer and promoter of motorsports entertainment in the U.S. Jason Wonderly, vice president of sales at Texas Motor Speedway, said they are looking forward to a formal internship program with UNT. Students will have the educational opportunities to have on the job training or experience in whatever capacity aligns with their degree. “We were glad that UNT saw the value in with being associated with our organization,”
Wonderly said. “We certainly do as well, and we feel like this gives UNT a good foot mold in the market from an advertising and promotional perspective but it also provides the students at UNT...[the opportunity] to engage and interact with one of the top facilities in all of sports.” TMS President Eddie Gossage stated in a press release the speedway is excited to have a partnership with UNT, which he considers to be a leader in education. This partnership is an opportunity to get “young men and women ready for the workforce, involved with Texas Motor Speedway.” “This partnership is mutually beneficial and one that we believe has the ability to drive value from a lot of different perspectives,” Gossage stated in the release. “For us, it’s all about tapping into a younger generation of fans as well as possible future employees...We are very proud to be aligned with a university that shares the same mission and values as we do.”
seeking re-election By Julia Falcon Senior News Writer
At a Commissioners Court meeting Tuesday morning, Denton County Judge Mary Horn announced she will not seek re-election in 2018 and endorsed Commissioner Andy Eads. Horn, who took the seat when she was elected in 2002, replaced then-Judge Scott Armey, who resigned. The county judge serves as the chief executive officer for the county, with four commissioners at their side. As the first female Denton County Judge, Horn has emphasized her commitments to improving public facilities and infrastructure in the ever-growing Denton County. At a Commissioners Court meeting in August, Denton resident and activist Willie Hudspeth announced he plans to run for the seat as well. This story is developing.
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Kayleigh Bywater chosen as the Daily’s new editor-in-chief By Zaira Perez Staff Writer A committee of 19 faculty, students and university administrators selected current Copy Chief Kayleigh Bywater to be the editor-in-chief of the North Texas Daily beginning in January. Bywater is a digital and print journalism senior and has worked for the paper since November 2014 when she was a freshman. Since joining the staff, Bywater has held a number of positions, including senior staff writer for arts and life, arts and life editor and copy chief.
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
Over 50 students were displaced after a party caused a third-floor apartment to collapse on the morning of Nov. 11 at The Ridge at North Texas. The damages are expected to total over $200,000. Sara Carpenter| Senior Staff Photographer
Kayleigh Bywater was announced as the Daily’s new editor-in-chief for spring 2018. Colin Mitchell | Visuals Editor
“I always thought it would be cool, but I never really thought I’d [become] editor-in-chief,” Bywater said. “I just kept working towards [it] and finally got there.” Bywater said she knew she wanted to be editorin-chief when she was a senior staff writer. She said the editor-in-chief at the time, Nicholas Friedman, encouraged her and helped her reach her full potential. Her experience in classes at the Frank W. and Sue Mayborn School of Journalism offers also encouraged her to seize the opportunity. Bywater applied for editor-in-chief for this fall semester but was not chosen. “Not getting the position pushed me to work harder and try for the position again,” Bywater said. Current Editor-in-Chief Reece Waddell, who has worked with Bywater since spring 2015, said she has the right experience working at the Daily along with a “winning personality and drive to succeed.” “I think, without question, Kayleigh was the right choice to lead this paper moving forward,” Waddell said. “I believe Kayleigh will bring a level-headed demeanor to the newsroom and be able to engage our audience and the community of Denton and UNT in an exciting, effective way.” One of the main things Bywater wants to work on next semester is digital integration. “I really want to incorporate more visuals, both online and in the paper, instead of just a header
[image],” Bywater said. “People are going to be more inclined to read then.” Bywater said she wants stories to have at least two visual elements. Taking it a step further, Bywater wants to add a new position to make up for the lack of videos in the Daily in order to draw people into stories and articles. “I’m creating a new position for a videographer,” Bywater said. “My goal is to have at least three videographers who will produce three videos together each week — one for sports, one for news and one for features.” Bywater also wants to work with broadcast journalism majors at North Texas Television (NTTV) to learn more about videos, expand the Daily’s pop culture section, The Dose and work with the staff to continue to improve the paper and content. While she said this experience has been nervewracking and stressful, Bywater is excited for what the new semester will bring and what everyone on staff can accomplish. “I also hope to really portray how important the Daily is for student journalists,” Bywater said. “Every journalist has to start somewhere, and I hope to help grow and support future journalists.”
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NEWS AROUND CAMPUS UNT partnering with Indian Institute of Technology for bioimplant research Sundeep Mukherje, UNT associate professor of materials science and engineering, looks to expand his current bioimplant research in partnership with Indian Institute of Technology, according to a press release from the university. Due to the population growth of people age 65 and older, there is a need for bioimplants, such as artificial knees and hips. “There are a lot of very pertinent issues surrounding bioimplants that need to be remedied,” Mukherjee said.
UNT’s Student Money Management Center earns three awards from national nonprofit The Student Money Management Center at UNT will be recognized on Friday, Nov. 17 by the Association for Financial Planning Counseling and Planning Education — a nonprofit dedicated to the education and support of personal finance professionals, according to a press release from the university. One of the achievements includes UNT’s Financial Counseling Center for its impact in educating North Texas students and spreading its success to other universities.
UNT researchers study news coverage and president’s priority of income inequality
A recent study done by UNT researchers suggests Republican presidents, unlike Democratic presidents, are not likely to make discussion of income inequality a priority. The researchers, Matthew Eshbaugh-Soha, chair of the UNT Department of Political Science, and doctoral candidate Ronald J. McGauvran, examined weekly news coverage of income inequality from 1999 to 2013, and weekly mentions from former U.S. presidents. They said federal policy response on income inequality is unlikely if the president and the news media don’t put the same priority on the issue.
UNT’s Fine Arts Series features poetry night Nov. 29 Poetry Night with Karla Morton and Edyka Chilomé presented by UNT’s Mary Jo & V. Lane Rawlins Fine Art Series will be held at 7 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 29 at the University Union Lyceum, according to a press release from the university. Event tickets are not required and is free to attend. Poet Karla Morton is described as “one of the more adventurous voices in American Poetry,” and is the 2010 Texas Poet Laureate.
By Jackie Guerrero
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THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 16, 2017
UNT celebrates International Education Week across campus
Only four percent of Denton voters participated in general election By Julia Falcon Senior News Writer
UNT International marches in the Homecoming Parade. International Education Week takes place Nov. 13-17 and events will be held across campus. Mallory Cammarata | Staff Photographer
By Joshua Cassidy Staff Writer Monday marked the beginning of International Education Week at UNT and will consist of events throughout the week that will look to celebrate international education and exchange worldwide, an official from UNT International said. International Education Week is an initiative jointly developed by the U.S. Departments of Education and State for the sake of preparing the United States for a global environment and enticing future leaders to come here to study, learn and exchange experiences. The event has been a yearly occurrence since it began in 2000, and UNT has taken part in the event since its inception. UNT International helped organize the week. Beyond the events, Nicole Conant, assistant director of departmental marketing for UNT International, said their main goal was to help UNT’s 2,500 international students feel more welcome and enrich campus life. “International Education Week helps to highlight the importance and value of international education and exchange,” Conant said. “So, really go
all-out and host a number of events during the week to help bring the world to UNT.” Conant explained UNT International worked alongside various student groups like the Political Science Student Organization and departments like the Department of Linguistics to put together the events for the week. Some of these events included Italian and Arabic movie nights, Arabic and South Asian language symposiums and an open house on Guatemalan fashion, though each day features a number of sponsored events. In addition to the above events, dining halls served themed lunches throughout the week. Some of those include Brazilian and Irish food at Kerr and Latin street food at Mean Greens, though there were five other themed menus at the halls scheduled throughout the week. Peter Balabuch, director of resident dining for UNT cafeterias, said many of these themes were decided on by the cafeteria staff at each hall. “We leave the menus up to the onsite chefs,” Balabuch said. “A lot of times it really depends on the student workers working with us. Sometimes we are really fortunate to have student
workers from, say, India, that can really bring great authentic recipes in for the week. It helps to have a chef from Puerto Rico and Germany to make our Puerto Rican and German food. It really plays well.” Between the international food and the various events of the week, students like journalism major Oriana Valderrama are expressing positive reactions to the week. “I think it is a very good program,” Valderrama said. “Most international students know about these events, but a lot of other students do not, so it provides a good way to help expose those cultures.” Valderrama, an international student from Venezuela, is encouraged by the week. She hopes the week could have a positive, clique-breaking impact on both international and noninternational students at UNT. “Not a lot of people are really aware of everything that is going on outside of their own bubble in general,” Valderrama said. “It is good to have one week of appreciation of other cultures and perhaps encouragement to explore outside of our own bubbles.”
@jcassidy1996
The city of Denton experienced some of its lowest voting numbers during the early election and on election day this year. Oct. 23, the first day of early elections, roughly 700 residents in Denton County went out to vote. After polls had closed on election day, there was not much more of a difference. On the ballot this year was a constitutional amendment vote to amend the city charter. In the city of Denton, a total of 4,826 out of 99,054 registered voters cast their votes. The total amount of ballots cast on election day throughout Denton County was 20,533 out of 466,646 registered voters, or four percent of voters. Denton County Elections Administrator Frank Phillips said the normal turnout for an election is six to 10 percent of the population. “For a constitutional amendment election, numbers are pretty generally low,” Phillips said. “But four percent is really low.” There were five propositions to amend in the charter, all passing except one. The lone amendment that did not pass was to change the requirement for a petition for a recall election to be 35 percent instead of 25 percent. The new Denton County Republican Chairman John Dillard also said the turnout from this election was disappointing. “We just saw a terrible turnout, it’s like it was not that important of an election,” Dillard said. “People don’t turnout. If you don’t get in the habit, like church or other things, you don’t do it. You won’t get the government you deserve.” For Denton resident
Deborah Armintor the most important part of this election was voting for an ethics ordinance, which she expressed when she previously ran for city council in 2016. Since not everyone can go vote and miss work or responsibilities on Election Day, Armintor said she encourages her friends who can to go vote early. “A pet peeve of mine is when people get on the cases of busy people who can’t go vote,” Armintor said. “But, of course, I think they should vote. Voters benefit from that.” The following propositions were present on the ballot on Nov. 7 and will be part of a city charter revision. Proposition A clarified council member residency qualifications in regards to the council member’s domicile (principal residence), where the council member must have resided for at least one year prior to the election. This passed with 95.09 percent of the vote. Proposition B was to increase the percentage of petitioners required to trigger a Recall Election from 25 percent to 35 percent. This did not pass with 58.86 percent voting against it. Proposition C was to clarify the Internal City Auditor shall be a permanent, fulltime position and clarify the
responsibilities. This passed with 84.93 percent of the vote. Proposition D was to repeal a City Charter and replace it with a provision requiring the adoption of an Ethics Ordinance by the City Council. This passed with 87.02 percent of the vote. Proposition E was to add to the City Charter providing for council members to receive an initial monthly stipend of $750.00. It also included the mayor to receiving an initial monthly stipend of $1,000.00 during their respective terms of office, as well as providing for restrictions on subsequent increases to the stipend amount. This passed with 56.93 percent. Despite the low voter turnout, this election was also the first to initiate the use of the new voting equipment, Hart InterCivic’s Verity, the first in the nation to use it. No major issues were reported with counting this year, unlike in last years election, which required three recounts. “We got a lot of good comments from the public,” Phillips said. “Poll workers also adapted to it very quickly.” The next election is the Texas Primaries on March 6, 2018.
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Reported general election voting in the city of Denton was around four percent, a lower than average rate. File.
Denton County GOP elects new chairman By Julia Falcon Senior News Writer The Denton County GOP has a new face after a special election was called last month to elect a new chairperson for the party. John Dillard, the former mayor of The Colony, was elected as the new chairman on Oct. 11, effective immediately. Dillard will succeed Lisa Hendrickson, who originally announced in June she would not be seeking a re-election in 2018. In early October she resigned due to health issues and a ruptured appendix. Denton real estate agent Jayne Howell was Dillard’s opponent in the special election. Dillard won the final vote 48-44. “I won, and it was a great feeling, but also I had to get to work,” Dillard said. “I got sworn in that night, Wednesday, and started on Monday. I have been busy as all get-out ever since.” A chairman is elected every two years in the Republican primary election. However, when a Chairman resigns in the middle of a term there is a process in place to fill the vacancy, said Jennifer Harris, publicity chairman for the Denton County Republican Party. Harris said the process involves a meeting of the party’s executive committee being called. This committee consists of precinct chairs from across the county. At this meeting, they elect an interim chairman to serve until the next election. Dillard was elected as chairman of the Denton County Republican Party at that meeting. Executive director of the Denton County Republican Party, Deon Starnes, is present at all meetings and said from the time Hendrickson resigned until Dillard was elected, the chair remained empty. “As soon as she resigned, we took immediate action [for an election],” Starnes said. “The secretary of the party called for the special meeting, which corresponds with the bylaw and state laws.” Dillard said the job is different every day, but not glamorous. The chairman runs meetings, works as the chief executive of the committee, andcomes up with programs and policies that helps the party win elections. With a background in politics, Dillard said being the county chair is an interesting job because he is trying to keep focused and manage the Denton County Republicans’ activities. Being involved in local politics for the past 20 years, Dillard has been attending state conventions as a voting delegate. In 2016, he was the elector for the electoral college for congressional district 26, which he said was an interesting feat. “Very few people get to do it — no one understands electoral college,” Dillard said. “I have also been assistant precinct chair.” Dillard said Hendrickson has a lot of innovative ideas and wants to keep things stable within the party.
John Dillard, a local Denton County politician, was elected chair for the Denton County Republican Party. Madiosn Gore | Staff Photographer His two focuses include keeping Republicans in office up through the primary and in many cases to candidacy. He also wants to start working on more things for voter turnout for the general election November 2018. A low voter turnout is something he would like to fix. However, his main goal is to is to keep Denton County and Texas red. “The change I am going to do is more grassroots stuff,” Dillard said. “I’m not a guy who believes in big fundraisers, except for the Lincoln Reagan [dinner] and the volunteer banquet.” Getting residents to go out and vote is another main focus Dillard will have, as well as recruiting more volunteers. He said he will accomplish this by communicating with people of all types. “I retired last December as district manager, basically a sales guy,” Dillard said. “So you look at your products and see common goals, I sell you something and you are happy with it. You want to see that your side offers certain things they agree with, and they vote for it. One way to get people to go out and vote is to organize a walk, where volunteers knock on doors and educate residents about people on the ballot. Dillard said it is about what motivates the voters. “It’s about what the people want,” Dillard said. “You have to get people to show interest in what is going on. Your vote is important. If you don’t vote then someone you don’t like may win the election. Right now there is an excellent group of people running for office. People need to educate themselves.” The Denton County Republican Party office is comprised of three paid staff members and hundreds of part-time volunteers. The volunteers are the driving force of the party, who Dillard said there needs to be more of in any organization. “I am very proud of my state and my country,” Dillard said. “I wanted to make things right. If you want things to be right for your kids and grandkids, you need to get involved and do things. It is not about me. I don’t get paid. I’ll do the job, get thanked and go home.”
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ARTS & LIFE THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 16, 2017
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Denton Pistons & Paint Car Show continues art and hot rod tradition AUTO CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 all ages. Rahr & Sons Brewing Company created custom designed pint glasses which sported the Pistons & Paint logo and onsite silkscreeners produced unique event shirts. Access Bank sponsored a coloring book designed by local artists and tattoo artists, whose proceeds benefited the Kiwanis Club Children’s Medical Clinic. A local art teacher also donated used crayons so that kids would be able to color during the event. Coordinators put so much into the event because the registries — the people who bring their cars to be shown at the event — put so much into their automobiles. Some
of the registries have spent over a decade working on what many refer to as their “babies.” “To get your car done, you have to become completely obsessed,” said Mark Ford, a fabricator and barber from Austin. “The last two months, I was trying to get this thing on the road. I practically just lived at my shop. I brought a little gas grill down there and just ate lunch and dinner down there. I just kept going, and you just have to become obsessed. It’s just fun, and it becomes an obsession.” Ford owns a 1931 Ford Model A Coupe featuring numerous modifications. His car is Turner’s favorite car in the show and is featured this year on the poster for Pistons & Paint. Ford was not able
Spectators of the car show add their signature to an early ‘50s Chevrolet Bus. The owner of the bus allows people to make their mark on his vehicles each time he goes to an event. Dana McCurdy | Staff Photographer
to make it to several of the previous shows, but he felt he needed to find a way to attend this year since his “baby” was featured. “It could cost you a marriage,” Ford said. “It costs a lot of money, you know? It’s like raising a child. I don’t have kids, so this and my dog are my kids.” Obsession with the hot rod seems to be a trend among the registries. Joe Strittmatter spent around 10 years working on his 1962 Lincoln Continental, which won Turner’s award. “It’s very gratifying to see it come all the way through,” Strittmatter said. “You see it and start it when it’s just a pile of rust, and you think some days it’s never going to get done. I literally went a few years where I didn’t even want to look at it. I would work on it for awhile and [be] like, ‘I’m sick of looking at that car,’ and then I would take it back up. Starting fall of ‘16, man, I just started slogging at it. I pushed through and got it done.” Sometimes the cars are not the “kids,” but rather a way to connect with actual children. “The biggest deal about working on the car is doing it with the kids,” Strittmatter said. “My wife helps me too, and the kids are in the shop helping me. It’s just something we do together where you’re not just staring at a screen, or [you’re] not just sitting there mindlessly on the couch. I always have to be active and do stuff, and seeing the project move forward is the biggest deal.” Many families attended the
The 16th annual Pistons and Paint Car Show was held Saturday, Nov. 11 at the North Texas Fairgrounds. The event lasted from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. and featured food trucks, live music, an awards ceremony and several local vendors. Dana McCurdy | Staff Photographer event to show support for their loved ones who entered while others attended just to enjoy the show for themselves. “It’s definitely a family atmosphere,” said Alison McClendon, who works in tech support for defense contractor company Raytheon. “A lot of people are here with their families, dogs and kids. It’s nice. Everybody’s really friendly, too.” McClendon enjoyed the day with her husband and young daughter. It was their first time attending the event. The car owners were very friendly, and some even allowed McClendon’s daughter to pretend to drive the antique cars. “Food was good, cars were
better — nah, the food might have been better,” McClendon laughed. “I like food. Love it, love it. We will definitely be back next year.” Even with inevitable car troubles the registries face, the show must go on. “Everything is good until the actual show weekend, and then I freak out,” Turner said. “I’m just worried that things are going to go wrong, you know? I don’t sleep the night before because I’m worried about what have I missed. What have I forgotten? What could possibly go wrong? I used to not have grey hair until I started doing this, and now I hardly have hair, and what I do have [is] white.” Ironically, Turner’s car broke
down on the way to the Pistons & Paint Car Show. “Having an old car is definitely a commitment,” Turner said. “Like today, when it didn’t get me to my own car show.” However, Turner persevered, and arrived to organize the show at 5:30 a.m., running on little to no sleep. “I wonder every year why I do this to myself,” Turner said. “But then I come out here, and everybody high fives me, hugs me and tells me it’s their favorite day of the year, so I torture myself for them.”
@SladeSe7ens
Denton Pagan Meetup creates welcoming social space for all believers By Amy Roh Senior Arts & Life Writer When Jennifer Robinson held the first Denton Pagan Meetup, one person came. And it wasn’t fun. “[The one person] basically said, ‘Good luck, this is Texas. Nobody’s going to admit that they’re a Pagan and it’s just going to be you,’” Robinson said. “But by the time I had left, we had around 400 members.” Robinson is the founder of Denton Pagan Meetup, a group where Pagans in the Denton community gather to socialize, learn about the religion and talk about their experiences. She said she took initiative after seeing a lack of Pagan communities in the area. “I moved from California, which has a thriving Pagan community with a very open practice,” Robinson said. “I came to Texas and there was one group and it wasn’t a very good fit for me.” Now led by Bret M. Thomas, a Dentonite and self-proclaimed professional wizard, the group invites believers and nonbelievers alike to explore all that the religion has to offer. “We don’t want to force you into the religion if it’s not right for you,” Thomas said. “That said, we also try to be open to people who, in a spiritual crisis, turn to us.” Modern Paganism is an umbrella term for numerous ideologies, beliefs and traditions that can vary from person to
person. According to the Pagan Federation, the Pagan outlook can be seen as threefold: a veneration of nature and its cycles, the feminine face of divinity and polytheism. “Paganism is very fluid,” Thomas said. “There are lots of different types of us in the group itself. We have witches, druids, shamans [and more].” Paganism includes a pantheon of gods and goddesses, ancestral deities and elements of magic that can be interpreted in multiple ways. Paganism has different branches of beliefs and identities that people identify with like Bards, Shamans, Wiccans, Hellenists and more. “It is a very participatory religion,” said John Beckett, Pagan author and Denton Covenant of Unitarian Universalist Pagans Coordinating Officer. “It’s a religion that has a strong gender balance. There are gods and goddesses.” For those who want to socialize or explore more of the religion, Thomas leads Cackling Caffeination, a monthly meeting that brings members and non-members together in a casual setting. “We invite Pagans and non-Pagans alike because some people are curious, and they don’t necessarily want to go to a high function,” Thomas said. Thomas said the group does not perform rituals as much, but members still attend for the social aspect of it. “Everyone is growing, and there are [many] new members,” member Jessica Rickards said. “That keeps things exciting
and interesting, and the meetup has always been very welcoming of newcomers.” As eclectic as the group may be, members say they feel comfortable in the accepting environment that the group creates. “Whatever people want to bring is welcome, and I miss having that amazing space where you could bring your true self and be loved,” Robinson said. Members of the group say they discovered and began to follow the religion, often on their own. “I grew up Methodist, but had been reading about other religions [like] Buddhism and Taoism,” member Danna Getske said. “Something about [Paganism] rang true and I have been a witch and Pagan ever since.”’ For many Pagans, the path is not something that is introduced to them early on. Rather, many eventually find their own way to the religion. “Like many other Pagans, I just happened on the path,” Thomas said. “Very few of us are exposed to it from the get-go.” Thomas said to him, Paganism affirmed a belief he had had since he was young. “I’ve always believed in magic,” Thomas said. “It was a lifelong search for something that affirmed that belief. A lot of spiritual paths either frowned on it or didn’t acknowledge the idea of magic.” Those who have found their way to the religion often have to battle a skewed perception of what Paganism is. Thomas
Professional wizard Brent Thomas conducts a sample tarot card reading. His business, The Wimzy Wizard, also offers guided meditations, massage therapy, and more. Mallory Cammarata | Staff Photographer said there are many assumptions people make about the religion that misrepresent their core beliefs. “One of the biggest misconceptions is that we are Satanists,” Thomas said. “You kind of have to believe in the devil to worship it.” In the near future, Thomas said he wants the group to become more actively involved in the Denton community. He has already taken community garden classes so members can hopefully cultivate a plot together. “We honor nature and are very natureoriented,” Thomas said. “We could have our own crop and grow our own food
and donate to the homeless. I want to do more stream cleans and help clean up the messes because it’s sad to watch our earth struggling the way it is. This is a goal that Thomas has set so that people in the community can look past the stereotype. “I want to build the presence of our community,” Thomas said. “I want to destigmatize us. I want us to be seen as valid humans who have valid beliefs.”
@rohmyboat
Communication studies department explores race issues in social commentary play By Amy Roh Senior Arts & Life Writer Like a heralding song, startling sentiments were shouted, sung and performed by cast members at the Lyceum on Nov. 8. “Prejudice plus discrimination plus power equals oppression. Break the silence. Racism involves everyone.” A cast of communication studies students and professors performed their play, “What We Talk About When We Talk About Race,” which started at 7 p.m. and ended with a Q&A session. This was the cast’s encore performance after showings at the Black Box Theatre last month. “This was a public event, so we didn’t have any idea what the audience was going to look like and how they were going to react,” communication studies senior Kennedy Wilks said. In a series of scenes, the cast collectively tackled issues like white privilege, prejudice, discrimination and oppression
through powerful personal narratives and adaptations from literature. Cast members visually and vocally performed their own experiences of race, leaving the audience enraptured. “I’ve got two strikes in a three strike world, and I’ve only got one chance to get it right,” communication studies senior Shannon Johnson said, referencing her mother’s advice on being a black woman. “I can’t afford to miss.” The production resulted from a year-long discussion among cast members over home-cooked dinners hosted by performance studies professor Jay Allison. Slowly over time, cast members began to share their stories and dialogues about race, which are portrayed in the scenes. “I was really committed to doing this over meals because I thought that that was the way to get people engaged,” Allison said. “Breaking bread was an important part of this process.” The idea for the production
was sparked by Toni Morrison’s concept of “American-Africanism” which details that even today “the habit of ignoring race is understood to be a graceful — even generous — liberal gesture” that affects victims of racism but also those who perpetuate it. “In the time we got to know each other, [we became] a family because you’re very vulnerable in that space,” communication studies senior Krysta Overton said. “Being able to tell that much about yourself is part of the process and part about growing.” Allison said this type of production felt foreign to him since he often works with fictional adaptations. However, he said he does not regret the new experience. “This is so out of my comfort zone that it made me insane, but I also think it’s the most important work I’ve done,” Allison said. Each scene contained a compelling story around themes of racism, white privilege, oppression and much more that left guests snapping in agreement or, for
some, squirming in their seats in discomfort. In one scene, a projection of Fox News broadcaster Geraldo Rivera speaking animatedly about Trayvon Martin’s death was shown. “I think the hoodie is as much responsible for Trayvon Martin’s death as George Zimmerman,” Rivera said. Then, it cut to a hooded figure walking carefully along a tightrope on the stage. “My hoodie read as dangerous, furtive, untrustworthy,” communications studies graduate student Kevin Howard said. “And so does the color of my skin.” Another scene showed a group of friends excitedly clutching red solo cups on election night. As Barack Obama is announced as the president-elect of the United States, they shriek, “GoBama! GoBama! GoBama!” But soon, the characters were twisting its meaning as an end to all racism and discrimination. “So you’re telling me that I can walk into a mall and not be
followed by security guards,” Johnson said skeptically to an overzealous consensus. “I never have to feel weird about slavery again,” Wilks said in feigned excitement. Soon, cast members were being wrapped up in glittery American flag vests. One cast member was adorned in green fabric with a Pepsi in hand to resemble a makeshift Statue of Liberty. “It’s important for students to see plays like this that is provocative enough to make them think,” psychology professor Yolanda Flores Niemann said. “If we have the courage to come face to face with the discomfort, we’re better people for it and it makes us grow.” Many in the audience related to the issues while others walked away with more insight about the topic. “Trying to connect with it and really seeing racism was really big for me because I come from a sheltered community,” education sophomore Cristina Garza said.
“It’s really eye-opening in that you just have to talk about it.” For some students, this was not their first viewing of the production. “I was just amazed at my lack of education on the topic and how little I had known about racism and how little my family talked about it,” communications studies senior Kaelah Davis said. “It’s not just something, as a white person, I should stay out of.” “What We Talk About When We Talk About Race,” cast members advocated to audience members that people must break the silence on race and oppression in order for future growth and progress to happen. “Despite the fact that none of us built the racial system, we are complicit in it but we don’t have to be complacent,” adjunct professor Anna Marsden said.
@rohmyboat
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 16, 2017
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Art students venture into introspection with ‘Autopraxeology’ exhibit By Anna Orr Staff Writer If the word “autopraxeology” doesn’t sound like a real word to you, that is because it isn’t. The term was created when UNT studio art students in their capstone class voted on the idea of self-reflection for their next art exhibit. The students crafted the title themselves, with “auto” meaning “self” and “praxeology” meaning “the study of human action.” This topic was completely dependent upon the students themselves and their own inspirations. Every piece of art shown in the exhibit was different from the next, including pieces by Anika Major and Melissa Bradley, both of whom are seniors double majoring in ceramics and drawing and painting. “We spent a lot of the semester preparing in different ways,” Major said. The idea was chosen in mid-September and presented on Nov. 8-11. The Lightwell Gallery on the first floor of the College of Visual Arts and Design building housed the variety of students’ creations, each one of them showing the individuality of the artist. Major and Bradley were just two of the students involved in the show. Although Major and Bradley have known each other since high school, they both have developed a preference in different forms of media. Major is primarily specializing in figure art, and she considers people her main inspiration. “As a figurative artist, I look to people, and I try to look at people I know and meet,” Majors said. “There’s enough difference in all of us that I don’t need to make it up.” For the Autopraxeology exhibit, Major said her piece is self-reflexive as it tells her habits about needing to fuss with skin. She chose to represent a part of the body which may often be overlooked in art—the ears. Her work touches on small habits people may not even realize they have. “It was a habit I had as a kid, and I would
do all the time — rolling and folding my ears,” Major said. “My mom thought it was endearing and saw it as a habit of mine.” Majors’ knowledge and interest in art began when she was young, and her mom painted as a hobby. “Whenever me and my sister showed an inclination for art, she really encouraged us to pursue it,” Major said. “All throughout middle school and high school I entered a lot of art-related positions. I was encouraged to enter into all the art-related things possible.” Bradley has developed a preference for working with ceramics and crafting abstract pieces of art. She said she particularly likes working with geometric forms. “I was thinking about how people interact with each other,” Bradley said. “I work pretty abstractly, and I’m really attracted to round forms.” Bradley’s contribution to the Autopraxeology exhibit shows three rounded forms connected by string as a light radiates from inside them. She said her work deals with the connection — or the absence thereof — between people. “What I think about when I make things is that I have trouble communicating with people I’m close with,” Bradley said. “I keep things hidden.” Major and Bradley have been involved in art the entirety of their lives. This is their second-to-last semester at UNT, and they look forward to turning their passions into careers. Studio art senior CJ Porras is another student contributing to Autopraxeology. His artwork is the largest installment in the room, although it is not always easily seen. Porras’ work involves augmented reality. For his work, people must stand in front of a television and observe the room they are standing in. As the 360-degree camera pans over, it shows the tower of colorful blocks hovering above the gallery reaching for the sky. Porras’ concentration in studio art is new media, which is technology-based. “I’m really interested in working with cutting-edge technology,” Porras said. “I’ve
Top: Melissa Bradley, a senior double majoring in ceramics and drawing and painting, exhibits a piece titled “Be Gentle With Me” displayed in the Lightwell Art Gallery in the College of Visual Arts and Design building for the Autopraxeology art exhibition, hosted by UNT New Media. Bradley’s piece is made from mixed media ceramics. Right: Bradley and Anika Major, also a senior double majoring in ceramics and drawing and painting, are featured in the Autopraxeology art exhibition. The exhibit was put together by the 2017 Fall Professional Practice class. It focused on aspects of one’s self, internal reflection and interaction with the world. Photos by Sarah Schreiner | Staff Photographer been working in the virtual reality and augmented reality realm.” He uses technology like Google tilt brush VR, 360-degree cameras, game engines and various other types of new media. After being introduced to the technology last year, he began investing in new equipment and began brainstorming ideas for his project. “There’s really a lot of pressure to figure out what you want to do,” Porras said. “You’ve made a lot of projects over the year, and now you have to choose what you’re into and how you define yourself as an artist.” Porras’ artwork was a deconstruction
of his past three years at UNT. The blocks represented different elements and acted almost as a connect-the-dots. Porras likes to work with different environments and spaces, like the Lightwell Gallery. He said the whole world feels like his canvas. “That’s what artists want to do,” Porras said. “They want to paint the world, and now we can kind of do it.”
@AnnaMOrr97
UNT alumna lands movie deal with debut novel Gone are the days of serving frappuccinos and regulating bank deposits for UNT alumna Kayla Olson. Instead, she now spends her time typing away on her computer to transform her thoughts into novels, gaining the attention of publishers and producers. After working a series of minimum-wage jobs for places like Starbucks and Bank of America, Olson eventually quit her life of customer service and pursued her passion for writing. “I was not feeling very creatively fulfilled, so one day, I just had an idea and started writing, and I never really looked back,” Olson said. Her debut novel, The Sandcastle Empire, earned her a two-book deal with Harper Collins and attracted the attention of Leonardo DiCaprio’s production company, Appian Way, as well as Paramount Studios. “The day after I got a book offer from Harper Collins, my agents called me and said, ‘You might want to sit down, we have some news,’” Olson said. “They told me Leonardo DiCaprio’s company was interested in getting something going with the book. Then a month later, we had an offer from Paramount for the rights to the film.” Olson’s excitement at hearing this news before her book had even been published was overwhelming, especially since she had to keep it under wraps a few months after making the film deal. “It was unbelievable,” Olson said. “I never thought something like that would happen. It felt so surreal to just sit on this giant secret until everything was official, and it took four months before we could
announce it.” “The Sandcastle Empire” is set in the year 2049 and focuses on a young woman named Eden who flees to Sanctuary Island to escape the Wolfpack, a ruthless group that has overthrown the government. However, once she arrives, she encounters an unexpected danger that may be worse than what she left behind. Olson had trouble getting this novel published because she finished writing after the wave of dystopian books like “The Hunger Games” and “Divergent” made the genre popular. When initially showing her book to her agents, they deemed it “too dystopian to sell.”
“
I eventually decided that I was going to keep writing because I loved it, not because I wanted people to love me for it.
“
By Ashlee Winters Staff Writer
“At the time I wrote The Sandcastle Empire, dystopian books had become so popular that publishers were receiving too many of them,” Olson said. “If a book had even a tiny bit of a dystopian feel to it, they would reject it.”
Since she had such high hopes for this novel, hearing so many publishers turn it away made Olson contemplate quitting, but she fortunately chose to continue her passion. “I eventually decided that I was going to keep writing because I loved it, not because I wanted people to love me for it,” Olson said. “I realized I could control what I made, I couldn’t control if others liked it, and my goal simply needed to be that I was proud of what I made.” Instead of giving up, she revised “The Sandcastle Empire” until she felt she improved enough to send to more publishers. Her edited version sold quickly and paved the way for great success in her career. “I definitely had some setbacks and disappointments along the way, but that just made it so much sweeter to finally hear a yes,” Olson said. When Olson began writing, she read countless books and blogs about how to write and how to get published. Although her first novel was not profitable, she utilized the lessons she gained from her this attempt and her research in her later works, finally succeeding with “The Sandcastle Empire.” “I worked on my first book for two years because I really had no idea what I was doing,” Olson said. “I think of it as my ‘practice book,’ which is now in a drawer. Over the years, I wanted to apply what I learned from all my reading to every project I tried.” Olson’s literary agents, Holly Root and Taylor Haggarty, are proud of how far Olson has come with her writing and are impressed with how dedicated she is to her work. “We were drawn to Kayla’s novels because she writes fast-paced,
compelling, atmospheric pageturners that simultaneously reflect the emotional intensity of the teen experience,” Root said. “She also has a gift for tackling timely and important issues in a really smart, nuanced way and we think that will keep readers turning the pages on her work for years to come.” Alison Cherry, a fellow writer who also has Root as her agent, met her in 2014. The two began critiquing each other’s manuscripts, becoming close friends in the process. “Kayla’s a beautiful writer,” Cherry said. “Her books are always action-packed, and every sentence is lyrical, lovingly crafted, and full of emotional detail in a way I rarely see in speculative fiction. I’m so proud of all she’s accomplished!” Olson’s second book, “This Splintered Silence,” is scheduled to come out November 2018 and will be a standalone novel unrelated to “The Sandcastle Empire.” “I have another young adult science-fiction book called “This Splintered Silence” that will come out next fall, and I am very anxious to see what the response to this one will be since ‘The Sandcastle Empire’ was so successful,” Olson said. Work on the film production of “The Sandcastle Empire” is currently in development, and the novel is in the process of getting translated into thirteen languages. Olson hopes that her future novels will receive the same positive reactions as her debut book and intends to work hard to ensure they do.
@ashwinters221
Denton Event Radar November 16, 2017
Grocery Bingo Where: Emerald Eagle Ballroom When: 11 a.m. - 1 p.m. Free
November 20, 2017 Open Mic Night Where: Syndicate Pub When: 7 - 9 p.m. Free
November 17, 2017
November 20, 2017
November 21, 2017
November 21, 2017
Free Beer Friday Where: Discover Denton Welcome Center When: 7 - 9 p.m. Free
Art Workshop: Henna Tattoo Where: Jade Eagle Ballroom When: noon - 2 p.m. Free
Syndicate Sessions Where: Syndicate Pub When: noon - 1 p.m. Free
One O’Clock Lab Band Fall Concert Where: UNT Murchison Center When: 8 p.m. $15 adults, $10 students
Spoken word poet discusses women empowerment By Grace Cottingham Staff Writer As the topic of women empowerment has taken a spotlight seat in the media recently, students and faculty gathered Tuesday in the Jade Eagle Ballroom to witness a literary expression of the issue. UNT’s University Program Council (UPC) invited nationally recognized spoken word poet Melissa Lozada-Oliva to give a thought-provoking performance focusing on the power of feminism. Lozada-Oliva, a National Poetry Slam Champion, has had her work featured on websites like Buzzfeed, Huffington Post, Upworthy and more. Using her art to focus on topics like women empowerment, being a Latina woman and other social issues, Lozada-Oliva delivers her voice in an inspiring way through poetry. Lozada-Oliva got her bachelor’s degree at Simmons University in her hometown of Boston. She is currently studying poetry as a graduate student at New York University. “I think I’ve always liked writing and liked attention,” Lozada-Oliva said. “The validation slam poetry gave to me was like nothing else.” Presenting entirely original work, Lozada-Oliva’s performance was candid, compelling and moving. She discussed personal anecdotes like former loves, dating boys in bands and — ironically — being catcalled in front of an anticatcalling mural in New York City. Her poetry left fellow females in the crowd feeling uplifted and encouraged to use their voice. “Her poetry struck me because it’s not every day that you come across someone who writes poetry that I can relate to from a Hispanic girl perspective and a general girl perspective,” biology senior Griselda Pulgarin said. “[LozadaOliva] seems like a really nice person.” Lozada-Oliva’s work mainly focuses on personal issues that she has faced as a woman, especially being a Latina woman. She said the majority of her work can be traced back to that identity as she enjoys sharing her story and discussing issues pertaining to those demographics. She aims for her work to inspire people similar to her. “There’s so much hope and discussion constantly being churned out in classrooms and after-school programs,” LozadaOliva said. “It’s always exciting and invigorating to be around
a crowd like that. When people hear me talk, I want them to come away being like, ‘I want to go home and write,’ or, ‘I want to call my grandmother.’” With topics like sexual assault becoming an increasingly prevalent issue in the media, Lozada-Oliva hopes to help progress society to the point where women’s voices are heard and not pushed away or ignored. “I believe that in a society that gaslights women, it’s our responsibility to care for and respect one another,” Pulgarin said. “We are all struggling together, in different ways.” She expressed the importance of uplifting other women even if you are not struggling as much or at all, which is another theme Lozada-Oliva focuses on conveying through her poems. Many attendees of the event seemed to be able to relate to at least one of the poems LozadaOliva performed. “My favorite part was her poem about all the world’s problems and how she still couldn’t get her mind off a boy that didn’t text her back,” said Janrose Samson, a second-year Texas Academy of Mathematics and Science (TAMS) student. “It’s hard to focus on the bigger picture and listen to your brain when we as humans are inherently selfish.” With her array of poetry, Lozada-Oliva urged the audience members to not only think about the big social issues in society today, but also address smaller problems that humans face daily and often blow out of proportion, such as grades and relationships. With so many negative matters in the limelight recently, LozadaOliva hopes her work makes it more bearable. “I want to encourage empathy and encourage creation,” LozadaOliva said. “I truly feel like we only have art and each other.” With her poems, Lozada-Oliva appeared to do just that. She left listeners wanting to use their voice and speak up for their beliefs — much like she did during her performance. “Women empowerment to me means empowering and uplifting other women,” Samson said. “It’s not just empowering myself and making sure I succeed, but helping my fellow sisters do the same.” Lozada-Oliva’s book of poetry, Peluda, can be found online.
@GraceCottingham
SPORTS THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 16, 2017
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UPCOMING GAMES Thursday • Men’s basketball: vs. BethuneCookman – 7 p.m. Friday • Volleyball: @ Conference USA Championship tournament (Bowling Green, Kentucky) vs. Marshall – 5 p.m. Saturday • Football: vs. Army – 5:30 p.m. • Volleyball: Potential secondround matchup in C-USA tournament vs. TBD – 4 p.m. Sunday • Women’s basketball: vs. Kansas State – 3 p.m. Monday • Men’s basketball: vs. UT - Rio Grande Valley – 7 p.m. Wednesday • Men’s basketball: vs. Rogers State – 7 p.m.
McCasland brings exciting style to Mean Green basketball By Matthew Brune Senior Sports Writer
CONFERENCE USA STANDINGS
Conference USA West Team Conf. Overall N. Texas
6-1
7-3
UAB 5-2 7-3 S. Miss
4-2
6-4
UTSA 2-4 5-4 La. Tech
2-4
4-6
Rice 1-5 1-9 UTEP 0-6 0-10
Conference USA East Team Conf. Overall FAU 6-0 7-3 Marshall 4-2
7-3
FIU 4-2 6-3 MTSU 3-3 5-5 WKU 3-3 5-5 ODU 2-4 4-6 Charlotte 1-5
1-9
Left: Head coach Grant McCasland yells at the team during practice. McCasland took over after former head coach Tony Benford’s contract was not renewed. Colin Mitchell | Visuals Editor
Grant McCasland started his coaching career in 2004 when he was 27 years old at Midland College. After making the climb from junior college to Division II, he moved on to Baylor and Arkansas State – now, McCasland is in Denton leading the Mean Green. While it’s still early, McCasland has started the process of instilling what he wants his program to look like. His efforts so far are based off multiple experiences and learning moments in the past. “Because I was so fortunate to be a head coach at such a young age, a majority [of my style] is through experience,” McCasland said. “Every person I’ve worked for has an imprint in what I do. Even coaches I’ve coached against have had an impact on what I value and what I think helps win basketball games.” As McCasland continues to evolve as a coach, his tendencies have already made their impact on the team – even before the third game of the season tips off.
His preferred pace of play has fluctuated as he continues to learn more about his personnel with every passing day. However, he is a coach who values both half-court offense as well as getting out on the break when possible. “I think we’re probably medium paced right now,” McCasland said. “We want to push on misses and then try to do a better job of managing the clock on makes. [But] it’s mainly going to be based on [our] personnel.” When the team gets in transition, sophomore guard Ryan Woolridge is often the one who has the ball in his hands making decisions. Against Nebraska, Woolridge had five turnovers and the team had 17. While some coaches would pounce on the opportunity to bench their players to learn, McCasland has let the young players play through a lot of their mistakes early on. “He’s had a lot of leniency,” Woolridge said. “In the second game I had more turnovers, but he still wanted me to push the ball. So he’s pretty lenient [because] he’s wanting me to push the [pace].”
Offensively, the Mean Green have a good number of shooters who can space the floor for Woolridge in the half-court. One of those scorers is sophomore guard Roosevelt Smart, who can hit the open three while also being adept in scoring in one-on-one situations. The isolation scoring that Smart did last season in the junior college ranks has been minimized because he can work off ball more. This plays into another one of McCasland’s points of emphasis – shot quality. “He definitely gets on us about taking quick shots,” Smart said. “We can work the shot clock down so the defense has to guard us. It’s something I’m still getting used to [taking better shots] because in [junior college] I was an isolation player, so I’m trying to be more careful with my shot selection.” The shooters have taken clean looks so far as they’re shooting over 38 percent from three in two games. Of their 18 3-pointers made, six have come from the corners – a spot McCasland likes to see shots go up from. “Space the floor [by] running to the corners, basically,” Woolridge
said. “That gives us a lot of space so we can penetrate and kick and get people open shots.” When it comes to transitioning from offense to defense, some coaches prefer crashing the offensive glass while others make it a point to get back in transition defense. It can be a tough line to balance if a plan isn’t installed early. The first-year coach wants the Mean Green to be aggressive and that includes when trying to get extra possessions on the offensive glass. “We have some guys that are getback guys and some guys that are offensive rebounders,” McCasland said. “Most of the time we’re sending three to the glass and two back, but it changes depending on personnel.” The team’s base defense is a man-to-man look this season which they have drilled hundreds of times in practice. However, they also have a zone scheme which is malleable to their players and the opponent. McCasland went to the zone in the second half of their game against Nebraska, but Smart does
Right: North Texas sophomore guard AJ Lawson shoots a floater during practice at the Super Pit. Lawson averaged a team-high 11.4 points per game last season. Colin Mitchell| Visuals Editor
not expect it to be a staple for North Texas moving forward. “I feel like we’ll put it in in certain times,” Smart said. “But I think we’re going to stick with man right now [as our base].” McCasland wants to get a solid rotation of 10 guys in the coming weeks of non-conference play. As players begin to prove their worth on the courts rotations will change – for now though, the focus is on cutting down on fouls. The final quirk for McCasland’s style as a coach is his preference to sit or stand on the sidelines during each game. In the first few games for the new head coach, he’s been up, waving and yelling. As the season goes on, though, he feels he’ll be a little more relaxed as the team becomes more comfortable in the new system. “As the season goes on I’ll sit more,” McCasland said. “Just early in the season there are so many things you have to be involved in, and they have to hear me, so I think I’m a little more aggressive.”
@mattbrune25
Gibson out for year with ankle injury By Matthew Brune Senior Sports Writer After suffering an ankle injury in Monday night’s game against Nebraska, freshman guard Umoja Gibson is out for the season, men’s basketball coach Grant McCasland confirmed Wednesday night. Gibson went down late in the first half when Nebraska center Jordy Tshimanga came down on top of him while fighting for a rebound. Gibson was helped off the court and could not put any weight on the ankle. “Mo had a significant ankle Umoja Gibson. injury,” McCasland said. “It’s Courtesy | going to require surgery, and Mean Green he’ll miss the season.” Athletics The team will begin the process of applying for a medical redshirt on his behalf in the near future. Gibson averaged 10.5 points and four rebounds in two games, seeing 40 minutes of action before going down with the injury. He was a key part of the starting lineup as a freshman, joining Roosevelt
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Smart and Ryan Woolridge in the backcourt. McCasland pointed to newcomer Jorden Duffy as a player who will have to step up in Gibson’s absence. Duffy is averaging seven points per game so far this year. “It’ll be a team effort honestly,” McCasland said. “Getting Jorden Duffy back from his foot surgery will be a big plus. The more minutes he can play will help in that [role].” After playing four seasons at University High School in Waco, Gibson was ranked as the No. 27 player in Texas according to TexasHoops.com. He averaged more than 22 points and 11 assists as a senior last year. The Mean Green are 1-1 on the season and are set to host Bethune-Cookman University at 7 p.m. Thursday night at the Super Pit. “We’re just sorry that one of our brothers went down [against Nebraska],” Smart said. “We’re just trying to keep him in our prayers and get wins for him.”
@mattbrune25
NTDAILY.COM | PAGE 7
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 16, 2017
Volleyball vying for NCAA Tourney berth By Matthew Brune Senior Sports Writer The North Texas volleyball team was rewarded for its first regular season conference championship, as well as its win over Western Kentucky University, with the No. 1 seed in the annual Conference USA Championship tournament. In the opening round of this year’s tournament, the Mean Green (26-2, 13-1) face Marshall University (11-18, 6-8) at 5 p.m. Friday — a team they swept just two weeks ago on the road. “We did a good job last time we played them,” head coach Andrew Palileo said. “Our matches with Marshall tend to be really exciting, so I’m expecting them to play better. It’s the conference [tournament] so everything kinda gets thrown out the window, and we start a different phase of our season.” While Marshall’s effort will be there, the Mean Green have been on such a roll that their confidence level remains extremely high. Their 14 straight wins have put them in a favorable position. Now, they are aiming to capitalize on it. “There’s no reason we shouldn’t be confident because we’ve beaten every team in the tournament,” junior setter Karley York said. “We swept Marshall, but I don’t think they played their best, so we’re expecting a little bit of a different [match] from them.” If North Texas can dispatch Marshall Friday night in Bowling Green, Kentucky, a semifinal
match would be against the winner of a game between the University of Texas at San Antonio and Florida Atlantic University. The Mean Green beat both teams in four sets in the regular season. While North Texas remains locked in on one match at a time, the match following will be intriguing for them to watch. “I don’t really have a preference,” senior middle blocker Amanda Chamberlain said. “They’re both good, so it’ll be interesting to see who wins that matchup.” A beneficial part of the draw for North Texas is its sole loss in conference play came to the University of Southern Mississippi, which got the No. 6 seed and is on the other side of the bracket. Regardless of who the Mean Green face, from Marshall all the way to a potential rematch against Western Kentucky, Palileo knows the trickiness of being in a win-orgo-home position — especially now as the No. 1 seed. “At this point, if you don’t bring the energy and the efficiency in these tournament matches, you can get bounced pretty easy against all these teams,” Palileo said. “So our main focus is to continue to bring what we brought all year which is our effort, and everything will fall into place.” North Texas is entering a tournament setting for the first time since September and could potentially play three matches in three days. The team’s depth, which Palileo has raved about,
The Mean Green volleyball team defeated Western Kentucky University 3-2. The team won with a 38-game win streak in Conference USA play. Kelsey Shoemaker | Staff Photographer should lessen the tread on his players from game to game. The only real challenge is having a limited time to prepare for their next matchup after each win. “It’s a good thing,” Chamberlain said. “We have a certain amount of time to prepare for each team if we win, and we’ve played tournaments
before so it’s not unfathomable, it’s just who can make the adjustments quicker.” North Texas is entering the tournament having received four votes in the NCAA Top 25 poll and ranks No. 48 in RPI. A loss in one of the first two rounds could hinder the team’s chance of getting a spot
in the NCAA Tournament. A championship appearance should get the job done as far as the selection committee is concerned, but there is real pressure on the team to perform well and win to ensure a trip to the big dance. “It’s something that we put ourselves in a position to have that
conversation,” Palileo said. “Right now we have two opportunities, one through at-large and one through a conference tournament. My players are definitely aware of where we are, and [we] have something to play for.”
@mattbrune25
COLUMN
Littrell’s success draws attention Review clears basketball of
By Brady Keane Sports Editor At the Group of Five level of college football, there is always a caveat to success. For schools in Conference USA — the American Athletic, the Mid-American, the Mountain West and the Sun Belt conferences — attracting successful coaches is a challenge. Smaller programs traditionally have significantly less money to spend than Power Five teams and struggle to compete in recruiting and the facilities’ arms race. But when schools like North Texas find a coach like, say, Seth Littrell, the honeymoon is usually short-lived. Good coaches like Littrell who have had an abundance of success as coordinators come to schools like North Texas to prove they have what it takes to make it as a head coach at the Division I level. By doing so, they aim to punch their ticket to a bigger stage, which leaves the team they turned into a winner frantically searching for a capable replacement. And so the cycle goes. After Hall of Famer Darrell Dickey was fired in 2006, the Mean Green took a chance on
Todd Dodge before hiring Dan McCarney in 2011. Both coaches didn’t last long – and for good reason. Aside from a Heart of Dallas Bowl win in 2013, neither Dodge nor McCarney proved they could win at the Group of Five level. Now, Dodge is back in the high school ranks leading Austin Westlake while McCarney is out of a job. Neither was afforded the opportunity to move up in the college ranks. But after firing McCarney, North Texas finally hit a homerun when it hired Littrell in December 2015. Littrell came over from North Carolina, where he was the offensive coordinator of a team on the verge of making the College Football Playoff. He boldly promised that 2015 would be the last time the Mean Green were sitting at home during the bowl season. It was a claim many laughed at and dismissed as Littrell was taking over a program coming off a brutal 1-11 year. But that wasn’t just “coach speak,” and Littrell made good on his promise. Somehow, he put together a roster that made the jump from 1-11 to 5-7 and qualified for a bowl in 2016 based on a high academic progress rate (APR) score. He followed that magician’s job with a 7-3 start to the 2017 season, clinching a spot in the C-USA championship game with a 45-10 win over the University of Texas at El Paso Saturday. Littrell has North
Texas in a real position to win nine, maybe 10 games this year. Littrell did what every firsttime head coach aims to do at the Group of Five level – win, and win fast. Because of his success, he has worked his way into the conversation for what will likely be several bigger head coaching vacancies at the end of the season. In-state schools like Texas Tech, where Littrell coached running backs from 2005-2008, may be in need of a new coach at the end of the season – and they’d be wellserved to give Littrell a long, hard look. It’s a reality Mean Green fans may not want to face, but Littrell’s ability to turn a 1-11 team into a C-USA West Division champion in less than two full years will not go unnoticed. As unlikely as it may have sounded a short time ago, North Texas will be playing in the C-USA title game Dec. 2. An appearance on that stage
makes it all the more likely Littrell becomes the target of a team looking for a proven young coach. That would leave North Texas again looking for a new face of its program at the end of the year. But Littrell has turned the Mean Green into a dramatically more attractive program and will leave North Texas in a significantly better place than it was in when he took over. His departure, whenever it may be, will hurt the Mean Green faithful. But the pain of watching a successful head coach move up in the world is well worth avoiding the alternative of a team that loses on a consistent basis, and provided the administration finds the right replacement, the Mean Green won’t be going anywhere anytime soon. Thanks to Littrell, the North Texas football program is relevant again.
@BradyKeane
North Texas head coach Seth Littrell stands on the sideline during a third down late in the game. Colin Mitchell| Visuals Editor
systemic cultural issues By Brady Keane Sports Editor Six months after three former members of the men’s basketball program were arrested in connection with a prostitution and drug scandal investigation, UNT released the findings of an independent review of the program Tuesday morning. The incident occurred in May when an arrest affidavit identified three UNT students and former members of the men’s basketball team as Derail Green, Rickey Brice Jr. and Brian Johnson. Brice was taken into custody on May 1 on the charge of possession of marijuana less than two ounces, according to Denton County Jail records. Johnson was booked into the Denton County Jail on May 3 on charges of engaging in organized criminal activity and possession of marijuana less than two ounces. Green was booked on charges of promotion of prostitution and possession of a dangerous drug, according to Denton County Jail records. President Neal Smatresk and athletic director Wren Baker hired law firm Bond, Schoeneck & King to conduct an independent, comprehensive review of the culture and climate of the men’s basketball program. Those findings were distributed in a university-wide email around 10:42 a.m. Tuesday morning. According to the email, the significant findings were: • There were no “red flags” or other indicators that individuals outside of those involved in the alleged criminal events were aware of the activity. • The men’s basketball program under the prior coaching staff did not
create, encourage, condone, nor appear to tolerate the type of behavior that was the subject of the arrests. • There were no systemic cultural issues in the men’s basketball program. • There is no indication of any persisting criminal activity with respect to the current student-athletes. • There were no systemic problems with how the men’s basketball studentathletes interacted with female students or women in the university and surrounding communities in general. • There were instances of a lack of discipline and accountability under the previous coaching staff. • A few former student-athletes of the men’s basketball program used marijuana, though the entire team was frequently warned and drug tested as means of deterrence against its use. All three students were no longer associated with the program when the arrests were made and had no association with the current team, which is now led by first-year head coach Grant McCasland. Former coach Tony Benford is now an assistant at Louisiana State University. “I believe this review was valuable and that we will be a stronger athletics program because of it,” Smatresk said in the email. “I have complete confidence in the direction of men’s basketball under coach Grant McCasland and in the leadership of Wren and his oversight of athletics. They, and others in the department, have already made a positive impact on the athletics program and are committed to ethics, integrity and discipline.”
@BradyKeane
Bradley looks to build on preseason accolades in new leadership role By Malik Wright Staff Writer After missing the entire 2015-16 season due to NCAA transfer rules, junior guard Terriell Bradley came into last season hungry after her time off. She quickly proved the wait for her to join the Mean Green on the court was well worth it. Bradley led the team with 12.8 points per game last season, and scored 13.7 ppg in Conference USA action. She finished with the fifth-most made free throws in school history (121) and was fifth in the conference in free throw percentage at 78.6 percent. Bradley’s performance last year led her to being named a member of the preseason first-team All-Conference USA squad. She is the only returning starter this season and is looked at as a team leader on and off the court this year. “Scoring wise, we will look to her a lot – but she’s also a playmaker,” head coach Jalie Mitchell said. “Whenever she speaks, she knows what she’s talking about, and for her, everyone else showing up and playing toward expectations is extremely
important.” While Bradley is a crucial player for Mitchell and the Mean Green now, she originally had no plans to take her talents to Denton. Bradley was the No. 56 ranked player coming out of Mansfield Timberview High School and received McDonald’s AllAmerican honors. She committed to the University of Kansas and appeared in all 32 games as a freshman, but she never found comfort while playing away from Texas. “I’m a homebody, and I missed my mom and my younger sisters,” Bradley said. “My youngest sister plays basketball in high school, and I want to make sure I’m there for her. When I can, I drive down to watch her games as much as possible. I really missed them when I was at Kansas.” Bradley made the decision to transfer to North Texas after her freshman campaign, returning to school just an hour away from her family in Arlington. After redshirting, Bradley was motivated to return to the court and ready to bring her versatility to what was a veteran roster last season. Although she only spent one season
playing with then-seniors Kelsey Criner, Terra Ellison and Candice Adams, the time with them was beneficial and helped mold Bradley into the leader she is for the Mean Green this year. “Each senior brought something a little different,” Bradley said. “Obviously, with Candice it was her heart and determination. She worked as hard as anyone and played as hard as anyone even though people told her she needed to quit because of her knees, and she held everyone to the same standard.” She also gave high praise to Criner for showing her how to play with pride and Ellison for being a great example of what work ethic to exhibit at all times. Now, Bradley is going to be the one who is looked to as the player to follow and learn from for a North Texas team consisting of four new starters and four newcomers. “I definitely look up to Terriell,” freshman guard Lauren Holmes said. “She’s the all-conference player, so she’s one person I look up to.” With all of the attention and press she has gotten in the early part of the season, Bradley has her eyes set on one thing –
earning the first C-USA Championship in school history. The team has improved in each of Mitchell’s three years at the helm. As Bradley and Mitchell enter their second year together, both are looking forward to continuing to take strides toward a title berth. During the offseason, Bradley made it a point of emphasis to improve on her shooting and stamina coming into this season. “Coach Mitchell really wants me to shoot more this season and not pass up an open three or jump shot,” Bradley said. “Physically, our new strength coach has got us in really good shape, and it’s really noticeable how much better all of us are at getting up and down the court – especially in transition.” With Bradley leading the way, the Mean Green women’s basketball team is striving to develop a winning tradition with one of the best players in school history as their head coach. Bradley is now embracing a bigger role with Adams, Criner and Ellison gone, and she may be the type of player who carries the program to the next level. “They left this program better than it
was when they started, and none of us want to let them down,” Bradley said. “They set the bar higher for everyone on this team for years to come.”
@_teammill
Mean Green guard Terriell Bradley (23) dribbles the ball down the court in a game against Texas A&M International. Madison Gore | Staff Photographer
OPINION THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 16, 2017
Page 8
NTDAILY.COM
Twitter’s suspension policy leaves room for bigots By Rachel Herzer Staff Writer
Illustration by Max Raign
Twitter has got it all: Vine threads, memes, news and even those cute little sound effects when you drag down to refresh the timeline. It has “Moments,” collections of related tweets with a little description, which I’m sure plenty of users are familiar with and even read. But one cool feature the site doesn’t have is an effective, fair and sensible reporting and suspension policy. It’s 2017. We’re all on social media and so is every company, political group, news organization and so on. The pandemic nature of Twitter allows for everyone to have a platform to say whatever they want. “Everyone” includes people like Mark Collett, a political activist and author that speaks frequently about fighting against “white genocide.” On Monday he tweeted a picture of a city on fire with the words “Europa Erwache,” German for “Europe, awake.” This hails back to a famous Nazi song called “Deutschland Erwache.”
Another type of Twitter account allowed to express views freely is Agenda of Evil, an account dedicated to distributing biased “news” related to the Islamic faith. The account’s pinned tweet is a link to a video about how Islam is being “enforced globally by stealth via the U.N.” Paul Joseph Watson, editor of “Infowars” does quite a bit of tweeting as well. If you’re familiar with the radio show, you know what topics Watson likes to talk about. He recently tweeted responding to the notion of sexual harassment training as “demonizing an entire gender.” There are a million more accounts where those came from. Accounts like these, so clearly invested in stirring up volatile reactions, oftentimes have large followings. This means their hate is more likely to manifest into realworld violence. Twitter provides these ideas a platform to be shared and expanded, despite having policies in place meant to combat inciting violence and peddling hate speech. Rarely does Twitter take actual steps
to discipline bigoted accounts, in fact, more often than not, users violating much less severe terms of service get punished. One Twitter user’s account was suspended after she tweeted a harmless, admittedlycritical,observation about Taylor Swift. Swift’s fans got wind of the tweet and reported it by the thousands until the woman’s account was suspended. Which one do you think is worse? A joke about a celebrity or the sponsorship of distrust and outlawing of an entire religious group? Which one do you think might yield real consequences? Whether Twitter really is just dropping the ball here or there are ulterior motives, its failure to take action against accounts like these speaks volumes. The U.S. president is using the site to threaten war against North Korea. If that isn’t inciting violence, nothing is. Actress Rose McGowan tweeted it best when she asked Twitter, “When will nuclear war violate your terms of service?”
Sexual assault is the product of rape culture By Rachel Herzer Staff Writer In recent weeks, a collection of different high-profile public figures have been exposed for sexual assault and harassment. Among them are Bill O’Reilly, Kevin Spacey, Mike Halperin and, most infamously, Harvey Weinstein. As horrifying as it is that men in the public eye can get away with abuse like this for so long, what’s even more horrifying is that other people knew about it. This secrecy, protection of predators and intimidation of victims allows sexual violence to happen. This is rape culture. So many aspects of our society reinforce rape culture and some people don’t even realize it. Notice the inherent violence in which we casually refer to sex: “bang,” “smash” and “hit.”
Slut-shaming contributes to rape culture in that it validates the “she was asking for it” mentality, preserving the idea that we can treat people differently based on their choice of clothing or amount of sexual partners. Overly protective dads forbidding their daughters (but not their sons) to date is another example. Like all the other facets of rape culture, this creates a double standard that supports the objectification of women. Rape culture doesn’t mean women cannot commit sexual violence or men cannot be assault victims. It means there is an environment in our society that trivializes sexual assault. According to the Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network, 90 percent of adult rape victims are female. With this in mind, it is clear who rape culture harms the most. The well-known aforementioned abusers
were all dropped from their respective employers or companies but only after the incidents were publicized. A $150,000 settlement is a slap on the wrist to an unimaginably rich man like Weinstein. He could potentially continue abusing women for years, pay them all off and never spend a day in prison. Rich, well-known men have a dangerous amount of power that all but gives them a Get Out of Jail Free card. There are likely thousands more like Weinstein, in the media and elsewhere, abusing power and facing no consequences. The #MeToo tag that trended on Twitter made the sexual assault issue impossible to ignore. It showed us all just how common sexual violence and harassment is. But we shouldn’t need an exhaustive outpouring of assault stories from people we know and love for us to realize the magnitude of
the issue. We shouldn’t need to imagine personal relationships with victims in order to sympathize. “It could have been my daughter.” It is a daughter. It is millions of daughters, millions of sisters, millions of friends. The fact that they have no relation to you doesn’t make their traumas matter less. Start caring about the well-being of all women as much as you care about the well-being of the women in your family. Each week there’s another household name in the headlines being accused of sexual harassment, and for the sake of justice, I hope it never stops. There’s a crack in the foundation of silence and complicity towards sexual assault, and it is only the beginning.
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