MavWire 2015 Archive » MavWire — Monday, March 30, 2015

Doug Garner

Governor's Committee on People with Disabilities recognizes Movin' Mavs head coach

The Texas Governor’s Committee on People with Disabilities has named Doug Garner, head coach of the Movin’ Mavs wheelchair basketball team, to its “ADA25 Texas Trailblazers: Past, Present, Future” list.

The recognition is given to individuals who have demonstrated a passion and commitment to full inclusion of people with disabilities and to those who protect and defend the Americans with Disabilities Act, which will mark its 25th anniversary this summer.

Garner is assistant director of campus recreation for adapted sports and recreation at UT Arlington. He also serves as commissioner for the National Wheelchair Basketball Association Junior Division, developing programs around the country. Since 2005, he has served as an adviser for the USA Men’s and Women’s Paralympic teams and National Junior Team. He served as the head coach for the USA Under 20 team that won gold medals in 2001 and 2003 at the Australian National Games for the Disabled.

Read more about Garner's honor.

Dr. Pranesh Aswath

Associate dean named fellow of Society of Tribologists and Lubrication Engineers

Pranesh Aswath, associate dean for Graduate Studies and professor in the Materials Science and Engineering Department, has been named a fellow of the Society of Tribologists and Lubrication Engineers.

He will receive the award  May 19 at the organization’s annual meeting in Dallas. Society fellows are recognized for outstanding personal achievement in the field of tribology or lubrication engineering.

Dr. Aswath’s research focuses on a new class of lubricant additives for engines that is environmentally friendly.

Read more about Aswath's honor.

Dr. Chris Conway

Conway talks about comics Wednesday at Focus on Faculty lecture

Discover how comic books promoted Mexican nationalism when Chris Conway discusses "Viva Mexico! A Comic Book History of Mexico" for the next Focus on Faculty event.

The presentation is at noon Wednesday, April 1, in the sixth floor parlor of the Central Library.

Dr. Conway traces the formulaic and nationalist themes of many different types of comics in the second half of the century, with a special emphasis on the ways in which Mexican history was told and retold through the graphic arts.

The lecture opens with a discussion of the rise of inexpensive, illustrated pamphlets in 19th-century Mexico and the resounding success of daily comic book digests in the 1930s, which featured syndicated strips of U.S. characters like Superman and Dick Tracy. These digests saw the birth of Mexican-themed strips and characters, which came into their own in the 1950s.

The lecture coincides with the exhibit of the same name in Special Collections at the library. The exhibit runs through Aug. 8.

Urban investment Former San Antonio Mayor Henry Cisneros says the growth and prosperity of cities is a complex mix of providing for residents and businesses, education, and investing in the next generation. The former secretary of housing and urban development spoke at Thursday night's Maverick Speakers Series event at Texas Hall. Bob Costas closes the 2014-15 series when he discusses "Sports in America: Is it Still Only a Game?" on Monday, April 13, at College Park Center.

Dispose of e-waste at these locations

Use the e-waste drop-off locations across campus to recycle your electronic items.

Items accepted include computer processors, monitors, and peripherals; printers; fax machines; keyboards/mice/presenters; photocopiers; scanners; TVs; projectors; VCR, DVD, and CD players, tapes, cassettes, CDs, and DVDs; cables, wires, and connectors; microwaves; stereos, speakers, and peripherals; phones; consumer electronics; ink and printer cartridges; batteries; electric motors; and electronic components (resistors, capacitors, transistors, etc.).

Unacceptable items are UT Arlington computing devices or computers and light bulbs.

Direct questions to Meghna Tare, executive director of the Institute for Sustainability and Global Impact, at mtare@uta.edu or 2-0753.

Evening at Six Flags to benefit Student Emergency Assistance Fund

Enjoy an evening at Six Flags Over Texas with discount tickets that help Arlington schools. The theme park hosts Education Celebration 6-11 p.m. Friday, April 17, benefiting UTA and AISD.

Tickets are only $20 plus tax. Advanced tickets are limited. No tickets will be sold at the gate. Special discounted parking is $10 per car at the gate.

With each ticket, $5 goes directly to the UTA Student Emergency Assistance Fund. See the gift codes on the website. Use the code UTA to donate to the AISD Education Foundation.

UTA hosts Texas Digital Humanities Conference

The three-day Texas Digital Humanities Conference looks at combining traditional humanities aspects with the latest technology. 

The second annual conference is Thursday-Saturday, April 9-11, at the Central Library.

Digital humanities scholars throughout Texas will present information on everything from resources, applications, funding, and projects in different humanities disciplines.

The event includes a tour of UTA Libraries' Special Collections and the FabLab as well as a "hackfest," where participants can try the technology illustrated in presentations.

Keynote speakers include Adeline Koh of Stockton University, Alan Liu of UC Santa Barbara, and George Siemens, executive director of the Learning Innovation and Networked Knowledge (LINK) Research Lab at UTA.

See the schedule.

Register online. Cost is $60 due by Wednesday, April 8. Student tickets are $25 by Thursday, April 9.

La Blue Casa grand opening Wednesday

La Blue Casa, a popular food truck in Fort Worth, opened its first restaurant on Friday in the College Park District. The venue features authentic, gourmet Mexican food made from scratch.

A formal grand opening is set for Wednesday, April 1.

The name refers to the home of Mexican painter Frida Kahlo, which is painted a bright cobalt blue.

See the menu. Follow La Blue Casa on Facebook.

Homerathon seeks readers, performers

The University Classics Club's annual Homerathon needs readers and performers for the event Wednesday, April 8.

"The Odyssey" was composed in Greek around 700 B.C. The marathon recitation, mostly in English translation, runs 7 a.m.-10:30 p.m. on the University Center mall.

Register to volunteer. Texts in English translation will be provided and will be available prior to the event in the office of the Philosophy and Humanities Department, Room 305 of Carlisle Hall. Recitation in Greek and other ancient languages is encouraged.

Homerathon T-shirts and coffee mugs will be on sale during the event.

For details, contact Charles Chiasson at 2-2764 or chiasson@uta.edu.

Discount deadline extended for HBO's boxing championship at College Park Center

Receive a 20 percent discount on tickets to the World Junior Welterweight Championship through Tuesday, April 7.

Undefeated WBO world lightweight champion Terence Crawford, the BWAA 2014 Fighter of the Year, will take on top contender Thomas Dulorme in an HBO After Dark rumble Saturday, April 18, at College Park Center. Doors open at 5:30 p.m.

For discount tickets, use the promo code UTAHBO at utatickets.com or call 2-9595.

Performance reviews due Tuesday

Annual performance reviews for employees must be completed by Tuesday, March 31. The reviews do not include faculty members and graduate assistants. Evaluation forms are online.

For questions, email hrperformreviews@uta.edu or call 2-5554.

Finalize activity disclosures by Tuesday

Finalize your disclosures for the 2014 calendar year in the Outside Activity Portal by Tuesday, March 31.

Significant interest in a business or gifts received are required to be disclosed. Disclosure may be required for your spouse and dependents. To request approval for outside activities, use the Request Approval tab.

If you have any questions, contact Jennifer Chapman in University Compliance Services at 2-2080 or uts180conflictsofinterest@uta.edu.

Tuesday, March 31

Safe Zone Ally Training Learn to create a visible network of support for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, questioning individuals, and their allies. Register online. 9 a.m.-noon, Concho Room, E.H. Hereford University Center. Also, 1-4 p.m. Thursday, April 16, Neches Room, University Center. LGBTQA Program.

Wine Appreciation Explore the history of wine in a four-course food and wine pairing. Call 2-2581 for faculty, staff discount fee of $80. 7-9 p.m. Continuing Education.

Wednesday, April 1

Arlington Technology Series Brian Huff, associate professor of industrial and manufacturing systems engineering, explains why "Your Next Co-pilot Will Be a Robot," how unmanned systems are not truly unmanned, and offers predictions on how future systems of all kinds will interact with human activities. Light breakfast provided. RSVP. Free. 7-8 a.m., Room 100, Nedderman Hall. Arlington Technology Association.

CAAS Power Hour Anne Nordberg, assistant professor of social work, discusses “The Audacity of Injustice: Power and Contemporary Acts of Violence.” Noon-1 p.m., sixth floor parlor, Central Library. Center for African American Studies.

Anderson Sports Performance Lecture Series Eric Nadel, lead voice on the Texas Rangers radio broadcasts and 2014 National Baseball Hall of Fame inductee, will speak on “Changes in the Way a Baseball Announcer Does His Job.” Free. Noon, Lone Star Auditorium, Maverick Activities Center. Kinesiology. 

National Relativity Tour: Jeffrey Bennett Astrophysicist and educator Jeffrey Bennett discusses "What Is Relativity? An Intuitive Introduction to Einstein’s Ideas and Why They Matter.” The tour marks the 100th anniversary of Einstein’s publication of his "General Theory of Relativity." Bennett also will help you understand the movie Interstellar. Free. 7:30 p.m., Planetarium. Planetarium.

Thursday, April 2

Qualitative Research Networking Taryn Ozuna Allen and Leaf Zhang of Educational Leadership and Policy Studies present "Dedicated to the Degree: Adult Learners in Engineering Baccalaureate Programs." Noon-1 p.m., Room 415, Central Library. Also, Alexa Smith-Osborne of Social Work discusses "The Student Veteran Project and Military Youth Resilience Project," Thursday, April 16. Qualitative Research Networking.

Biology Colloquium Series Michael Sadowsky of the University of Minnesota on "Microbial Bile Acid Metabolism Is One Mechanism Behind the Success of Fecal Microbiota Transplantation." 4 p.m., Room 124, Life Science. Also, Rayna Bell of the University of California, Berkeley, Thursday, April 9. Biology.

Engineering Speakers Series Paul Nielsen, director and CEO of the Software Engineering Institute at Carnegie Mellon University, speaks on "Cybersecurity-Global but Personal." Free. 5 p.m. reception, Room 601; 6 p.m. lecture, Room 100; Nedderman Hall. Engineering.

Termini Distinguished Anthropologist Lecture Cemal Pulak, the Frederick R. Mayer Faculty Professor of Nautical Archaeology at Texas A&M University, presents "Excavating the World’s Oldest Shipwreck: Uluburun and Late Bronze Age Trade in the Mediterranean.” Free. 7 p.m., auditorium, Architecture Building. Sociology and Anthropology.

Friday, April 3

LINK Lab Lecture Series Sabrina Habib, assistant professor of communication, presents "Qualitative Video Data Collection and Analysis." Noon, Room 601, Nedderman Hall. LINK Research Lab.

Accounting Research Workshop Anna Costello of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, discusses the contracting role of accounting information, financial reporting quality, debt contracting, contagion, and counter-party risk. Free. 10:30 a.m., Room 609, Business Building. Business.

Coming up

Robotics Week Showcase Today’s most innovative technology by UTA faculty and industry collaborators. To reserve exhibit space, call 2-5900 or email utari-events@uta.edu. A shuttle will run between campuses. Free. 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Wednesday, April 8, UT Arlington Research Institute, 7300 Jack Newell Blvd. S., Fort Worth. UTARI.

Social Works Ethics Forum “Big Data, Privacy, and Your Agency’s Functioning: A Forum on Social Work Ethics in the Age of Electronic Record Keeping and Coordination of Care.” Free but registration required. 1-4 p.m. Friday, April 10, Room 245, Business Building. Social Work.

Walter Prescott Webb Lecture Series Beyond Attics and Activists: Rethinking Family in Disability History" has been rescheduled for Friday, April 24, Rio Grande Ballroom, E.H. Hereford University Center. History, Disability Studies, Office for Students with Disabilities, Women's and Gender Studies, Movin' Mavs Adapted Sports and Recreation.

(For an expanded list of events, see the UTA calendar.)

Monday, March 30

Guest Bassoon Recital Ann Shoemaker of Baylor University performs. Free. 7:30 p.m., Irons Recital Hall, Fine Arts Building. Music.

Tuesday, March 31

Faculty Bassoon Recital Laura Bennett Cameron, senior lecturer of music, performs. Free. 7:30 p.m., Irons Recital Hall, Fine Arts Building. Music.

Tuesday, March 31

Mavs Got Talent Show A showcase of talented students. Free. 7 p.m., Rosebud Theatre, E.H. Hereford University Center. EXCEL Campus Activities. 

Wednesday, April 1

Softball Mavericks vs. North Texas Tickets $5-7; $3 students. 6 p.m., Allan Saxe Field. Also, vs. South Alabama, 1 and 3 p.m. Friday, April 3, and 1 p.m. Saturday, April 4. Athletics.

Guest Flute Recital Megan Lanz, a founding member of Whole Musician collective, performs. Free. 7:30 p.m., Irons Recital Hall, Fine Arts Building. Music.

Thursday, April 2

Women's Tennis Mavericks vs. Louisiana-Lafayette. 2 p.m., UTA Tennis Center. Also vs. Texas State, 2 p.m. Saturday, April 4. Athletics.

UTA Symphony Orchestra Concert Tickets $9 adults, $5 students and seniors. 7:30 p.m., Irons Recital Hall, Fine Arts Building. Music. 

Ongoing

The Gallery at UTA: 'Subject Disability' Nine artists address disability by illustrating the ways art can challenge and inform our experience of others. Gallery hours are 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Mondays-Fridays and noon-5 p.m. Saturdays. Through April 4. The Gallery at UTA.

Special Collections: !Viva Mexico! A Comic Book History of Mexico A rare look inside the rise of comic books in 20th century Mexico, their literary, cultural, and entertainment value, and influence by the Mexican government. Hours 9 a.m.-7 p.m. Mondays, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Tuesdays-Saturdays, sixth floor, Central Library. Through Aug. 8. UT Arlington Libraries Special Collections.

Visual Resource Commons and Gallery The African Art Collection is a multi-dimensional collection of 11th- to 20th-century art and artifacts. Free. 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m. Mondays-Fridays, Suite 2109, Fine Arts Building. Art and Art History.

Planetarium The spring schedule features Black Holes, Dynamic Earth, Pink Floyd, Secret of the Cardboard Rocket, and Spacepark 360: Infinity. Planetarium.

(For an expanded list of events, see the UTA calendar.)