TrailBlazer 2015 Archive » TrailBlazer — Tuesday, April 14, 2015

Block Party breaks out on Thursday

Gather with all your Maverick neighbors at the Block Party, which starts at 6 p.m. Thursday, April 16, on Moritz Plaza in the College Park District. Spaniolo Drive will be blocked off between First and Third streets for the end-of-year celebration.

The Block Party is free for all students.

Enjoy music from the Good Question Band and video DJ, The Throwback Time Machine. Partake of carnival-style treats, games, and activities, such as video games, a photo booth, and airbrush tattoos. Free hot dogs are available, and 26 student organizations and residence halls will have booths for games.

If it rains, the whole shebang moves to the Bluebonnet Ballroom of the E.H. Hereford University Center.

University Events, Apartment and Residence Life, and EXCEL Campus Activities host the shindig. For more information, contact EXCEL Campus Activities at 817-272-2963 or excel-universityevents@uta.edu.

Cheerleaders win third NCA title

The UTA Cheerleading Squad successfully defended its national championship with another victory at the National Cheerleading Association and National Dance Association Collegiate Cheer and Dance Championship in Daytona Beach, Fla.

This is the third all-time national championship for the Mavericks, who competed in the Small Co-ed division.

The UTA Dance Team finished sixth in the Challenge Cup of the Dance Open Division I.

Win-win: Members of UT Arlington's winning GeoInstitute teams are, from left, Jorge Jimenez, Manaf Refai, Santiago Caballero, Raju Acharya, Aritra Banerjee, and Minh Tran.

Civil engineering teams first, second in national competitions

Two UT Arlington civil engineering teams took first and second places in the American Society of Civil Engineers’ GeoInstitute’s national competitions that predicted soil impact on foundation loads and showed strength and stability in geo-wall design and construction.

The contests are considered the premier competition events at the national ASCE-GI conference, which was held in San Antonio this month.

Raju Acharya, doctoral candidate, led the geo-prediction team, and Santiago Caballero, doctoral candidate, served as captain of the geo-wall team. Team adviser was Anand Puppala, Distinguished Teaching Professor and associate dean for research for the College of Engineering.

Read more about the civil engineering teams' honors.

Phone scam continues to target students, demands payment

A telephone scam first reported in October continues to target students and has resulted in nearly $16,000 in fraudulent payments, the UT Arlington Police Department reports.

A caller claims to be from the University, a government agency, or a police department and tries to collect money for unpaid debt. The caller requests payment with the purchase of a gift card or MoneyGram. The caller threatens the individual with arrest and solicits immediate payment for the alleged debts.

The telephone number used has been cloned from a legitimate agency or University office.

University officials, law enforcement, and government officials will not contact you in this manner or threaten arrest for non-payment of debts.

Always be cautious about providing your personal information over the phone especially to individuals who initiate the call. In such cases, always verify the nature of the call and offer to hang up and to call them back at a number they provide. Seek out the organization's official number and contact it directly. If you suspect attempted fraud or fall victim, contact your local law enforcement agency.

If you encounter this or similar scams or have information about them, contact the UT Arlington Police at 817-272-3381.

Use good judgment and caution when clicking Web or email links or opening attachments. If you receive an email that appears suspicious, send it to security@uta.edu. Do not click on the links or open attachments.

Student elections today

Vote today for Student Congress president, vice president, and senators, Mr. and Ms. UTA, UTA Ambassadors, and Student Service Allocation Committee representatives.

Polls are open 9 a.m.-6 p.m. today, Tuesday, April 14, in the University Center Gallery in the E.H. Hereford University Center. Students need to bring their UTA student ID to vote.

Contact Jennifer Fox at jdfox@uta.edu for more information.

It was Big About 800 volunteers participated in The Big Event, UTA's day of community service Saturday. Projects ranged from cleaning up property to assisting nonprofit programs with sorting and organizing. See more photos.

Change name in MyMav to your preference

During the upgrade of the Identity Management System, you may have noticed changes in the names that display when you send an email.

The Office of Information Technology has enabled a feature in MyMav that will allow you to update your email display name.

This option in MyMav will update the Global Address Book to show the changes in your name on your email.

To update your display name, visit the How to Update Your Display Name webpage. 

Starbucks coming to UTA Bookstore, renovations affect parking

Parking is limited at the UTA Bookstore during its renovations, which include a new Starbucks Café.

Park at the College Park District garages or retail parking lots for the next two months.

The bookstore will be open regular hours with east and west entrances open.

Immigration attorneys available to students April 22

Student Legal Services now provides immigration attorneys for consultations with students each month.

Experienced immigration attorneys will waive their fee for an initial consultation. Students will be allowed to have one free consultation each year.

The next consultation day is 10 a.m.-noon and 1:30-3:30 p.m. Wednesday, April 22. Email keishaware@uta.edu to reserve a session.

Complete the required form by noon Tuesday, April 21. The forms are available by email and in the Student Legal Services Office, Room 216, Davis Hall.

A little Mav music The Main Stage at Main St. Fort Worth Arts Festival sounded off with jazz from UT Arlington musicians Saturday. Alumni and other Maverick fans enjoyed the tunes during the Jazz Brunch in the VIP tent. Those curious about UTA's offerings found answers at the booth, where volunteers provided information and handed out freebies. See more photos.

New policy concerns space heaters, small appliances on campus

A new policy—Space Heaters and High-Current Small Appliance Use in UT Arlington Facilities, HOP 5-310—has been added to the Handbook of Operating Procedures.

The policy provides a process for obtaining permission for their use and protocol for their safe use and operation.

Questions? Contact the Office of Facilities Management at 817-272-3571.

UT Press offers 45 percent off, free shipping during spring sale

The University of Texas Press is holding a spring online book sale for all campuses in the UT System.

All titles on the site already are 33 percent off. Faculty, staff, and students will receive a discount of 45 percent off the full retail price.

The sale will run through midnight Friday, April 17, on the UT Press website. To receive 45 percent off and free shipping, use the code UTPS15.

Starting an 'Odyssey' Charles Chiasson, director of classical studies, reads the first passage of "The Odyssey" by Homer at the annual Homerathon on Wednesday. The event is a daylong reading of the Greek classic tale with faculty, staff, students, and community members as volunteer readers and performers. Dr. Chiasson is an associate professor of philosophy and humanities.

Campus tour guides needed

The Office of University Recruitment is hiring MavElite tour guides. Tour guides manage the Dan Dipert University Welcome Center, work recruitment events, and give tours to prospective students, school and community groups, VIP guests, and others.

The position is posted on Snap Job as ID 8125. Applications are due Friday, April 24.

Submit your creative design and paint a spirit horse

The UTA Ambassadors are looking for a creative student to repaint one of the fiberglass spirit horses.

If your design is chosen, you will receive painting supplies and a $500 stipend for the project, which must be completed by July. The horse will then be displayed in a prominent location on campus.

The deadline to submit a proposal is Thursday, April 16.

Visit uta.edu/ambassadors for more information. Contact Jennifer Fox at jdfox@uta.edu with questions.

Be a mentor to new students

Become a UTA-HOSTS! mentor to a new freshman or transfer student this fall. Share your memorable experiences and pass on the knowledge you learned here in UTA.

Apply online and attend a mentor meeting 4-5 p.m. Thursday, April 16, in the Student Congress Chambers in Room B150 of the E.H. Hereford University Center.

To become a mentor you must have attended UTA for two semesters and have a cumulative 2.5 GPA.

Enjoy Texas Rangers games with discounted tickets

UT Arlington students, faculty, staff, and alumni can enjoy selected Texas Rangers games with discounted tickets. Visit texasrangers.com/grouptickets, click on University of Texas at Arlington, and use the password GOMAVS to get your discounted tickets.

Howdy, stranger Youngster Jack Lehane virtually visits with Jonathan Kretz via a robot at the National Robotics Week event at the UT Arlington Research Institute. Kretz is director of business development and marketing for UTARI. Similar robots are available for rent in the Central Library.

Dance-a-Thon raises cash for emergency assistance fund

Help fellow students get back on their feet at the 10-hour Dance-A-Thon on Wednesday, April 15, at the indoor soccer field in the Maverick Activities Center.

Register a team of six-10 people to raise a goal of $250 per team, then dance the day away. At least one team member must be on the dance floor at all times.

All proceeds will be donated to the UTA Student Emergency Assistance Fund. The Freshmen Leaders on Campus sponsors the event.

Admission is free before 5 p.m. and $5 per person afterwards. Join the Facebook page to help spread the word.

Sign up for Involvement Fair

University departments and student organizations may sign up for a table at the upcoming Involvement Fair at New Maverick Orientation for transfer students. The fair starts at 10:45 a.m. Friday, April 17.

The fairs are an opportunity for you to speak with incoming students regarding your organization, program, or service. Visit uta.edu/sao to sign up your group and for detailed information.

Sign-ups for the Involvement Fairs during summer will open Monday, April 27.

Evening at Six Flags fun Friday

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.

University College seeks peer educators for fall term

Motivated students are needed to become peer educators with TRIO-Student Support Services and University Tutorial and Supplemental Instruction.

Peer educators are students who are successful in their courses and have completed at least one semester at UTA. All students must have an A or B in the course for which they are applying. Positions include one-on-one tutors, small group tutors/mentors, and Supplemental Instruction leaders.

If you think you would be a good peer educator, go to uta.edu/tutoringjobs.

The application deadline for all peer educator positions is Thursday, April 30.

Tickets required to attend Commencement ceremonies

Graduates participating in Commencement and their guests must have a ticket to attend the ceremony. Children age 2 and younger do not need a ticket.

Look for instructions on claiming tickets in your UTA email accounts Monday, April 20. Visit the Commencement website for details on ticket quantities and availability.

Commencement ceremonies are Thursday-Saturday, May 14-16, in College Park Center.

Registration now open for summer and fall 2015

Priority registration for summer and fall terms has begun. Advising is available in your academic department.

Check for your appointment time on the registration timetable, which is available in your MyMav Student Center, along with information on whether you need to see an academic adviser before you’re eligible to register. A list of academic advising offices is online.

The MyMav schedule of classes is being updated daily. Plan to validate your course selections when registration opens.

Transcripts available in PDF format

UT Arlington now offers transcripts in PDF format. Students can send PDF transcripts by email to another university, a potential employer, or themselves. Read more about ordering transcripts.

MavPlays showcases theatre students' talents MavPlays 2015 theatre festival features iconic works, edgy new talent, and emerging playwrights with artistic vision. Theatre Arts students direct, perform, and, in some cases, write the plays. The Studio Series performances are Trifles and Waiting for Lefty. Showtimes are 8 p.m. Wednesday, April 15, and Saturday, April 25, and 2:30 p.m. Sunday, April 19. Wrong Turn at Lungfish is 8 p.m. Fridays, April 17 and 24, and 2:30 p.m. Sunday, April 26. All are in the Studio Theatre of the Fine Arts Building. The Collected One-Acts are Homebound, Musical Chairs, and Next Time Let's Go Out To Dinner. Showtimes are 8 p.m. Thursday, April 16, Saturday, April 18, and Thursday, April 23, and 2:30 p.m. Sunday, April 26. Performances are in Stage 143 of the Fine Arts Building. Tickets are $7 for UTA faculty, staff, students, and seniors and $10 for the public. For tickets, contact the Theatre Arts Box Office at 817-272-2669 or uta.edu/theatre.

Tuesday, April 14

MFA Art Exhibit Master of Fine Arts candidates present a culminating exhibition demonstrating excellence in their chosen fields. Morgan Chivers, Gabriel Duran, Brendan Feltrup-Exum, Christine Heimerman, Emily Nicastro, Maryam Rezaei, and Joshua Wilson showcase their work in film/video, glass, intermedia, and visual communication. Hours 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Mondays-Fridays, noon-5 p.m. Saturdays. The Gallery at UTA, Fine Arts Building. Through Saturday, April 25. The Gallery at UTA.

Baseball Mavericks vs. TCU. Tickets $5-7; $3 students. 6:30 p.m. Clay Gould Ballpark. Athletics.

One Mic Stand Comedy Series: Sheng Wang Comedian Sheng Wang does stand-up comedy. Free. 7 p.m., Bluebonnet Ballroom, E.H. Hereford University Center. EXCEL Campus Activities.

Clavier Piano Recital Piano students perform. Free. 7:30 p.m., Irons Recital Hall, Fine Arts Building. Music.

Wednesday, April 15

Housing Fair The Shorthorn's Housing Fair brings together apartment communities and housing resources highlighting housing options and how to successfully live on- and off-campus. 10 a.m.-2 p.m., Palo Duro Lounge, E.H. Hereford University Center. The Shorthorn.

Guest Artist Recital Wyeth String Quartet performs. Free. 7:30 p.m., Irons Recital Hall, Fine Arts Building. Music.

Thursday, April 16

Third Thursday Game Night Video and board games are available, but you can bring your own to share. Free. 6 p.m., basement, Central Library. UT Arlington Libraries.

Author Book Signing Author Ben H. Winters reads from his most recent work, World of Trouble, the concluding book in the Last Policeman trilogy. A book signing follows. Free. 7 p.m., Room 100, Nedderman Hall. English.

Spring Jazz Concert UTA's jazz groups perform. $9 adults, $5 students and seniors. 7:30 p.m., Irons Recital Hall, Fine Arts Building. Music

Friday, April 17

Baseball Mavericks vs. Troy. Tickets $5-7; $3 students. 6:30 p.m. Clay Gould Ballpark. Also, 2 p.m. Saturday, April 18; 1 p.m. Sunday, April 19. Athletics.

Friends of the Library James Haley discusses his new book Captive Paradise: A History of Hawaii and the history of Hawaii since its discovery in the late 18th century. RSVP. Free. 7:30-10 p.m., sixth floor parlor, Central Library. Friends of the Library.

Saturday, April 18

HBO After Dark: Crawford vs. Dulorme Undefeated WBO world lightweight champion Terence Crawford, the BWAA 2014 Fighter of the Year, takes on top contender Thomas Dulorme. Tickets $25-$200. Doors open at 5:30 p.m., College Park Center.

Softball Mavericks vs. Georgia State. Tickets $5-7; $3 students. 1 and 3 p.m. Allan Saxe Field. Also, noon Sunday, April 19. Athletics.

Monday, April 20

Percussion Ensemble Concert Free. 7:30 p.m., Irons Recital Hall, Fine Arts Building. Music.

Tuesday, April 21

Jazz Combo Concert Free. 7:30 p.m., Irons Recital Hall, Fine Arts Building. Music.

Wednesday, April 22

Earth Day Learn about the latest in celebrating the Earth at booths for the Environmental Protection Agency, the Fort Worth Native Plant Society, Whole Foods, and many more. The T Master Plan bus will be there. Free plants while available. 11 a.m.-1 p.m., University Center mall. Institute for Sustainability and Global Impact.

Opera Workshop Performance Opera students perform. Free. 7:30 p.m., Irons Recital Hall, Fine Arts Building. Also, Thursday, April 23. Music.

Thursday, April 23

Small Painting Sale Advanced painting students offer small art. Graduating students offer larger works for sale. 5:30-8 p.m., Room 122, Studio Art Center, 810 S. Davis. Art and Art History.

Take Back the Night Survivors and their supporters share their stories of violence, survival, and recovery. Also, poster making, a march through campus, and candlelight vigil. 6-8 p.m., Library mall. Relationship Violence and Sexual Assault Prevention.

Friday, April 24

Friday Night Film: 'American Sniper' Rated PG-13. Free, fresh-popped popcorn while supplies last; other concessions for sale. Tickets $1, $1.50 with credit card. 7 p.m., Rosebud Theatre, E.H. Hereford University Center. EXCEL Campus Activities.

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

Coming up

Concerts and Recitals Free performances: Symphonic Winds and Symphonic Band Concert, 5 p.m. Sunday, April 26; Faculty Violin Recital: Martha Walvoord, Monday, April 27; String Chamber Ensembles Recital, Tuesday, April 28; Guest Artist Recital: Nick Scales, Friday, May 1. Also, UTA Symphony Orchestra, Saturday, April 25, and UTA Choir Concert, Thursday, April 30; tickets $9 for adults, $5 for students and seniors. All 7:30 p.m. unless noted, Irons Recital Hall, Fine Arts Building. Music.

Baseball Tickets $5-7; $3 students. Mavericks vs. Arkansas-Little Rock. 6:30 p.m. Friday, May 1; 2 p.m. Saturday, May 2; 1 p.m. Sunday, May 3. Also vs. Appalachian State, 6:30 p.m. Friday, May 8; 2 p.m. Saturday, May 9; 1 p.m. Sunday, May 10. All at Clay Gould Ballpark. Athletics.      

Softball Tickets $5-7; $3 students. Mavericks vs. Texas State, 1 and 3 p.m. Saturday, May 2; noon Sunday, May 3. All at Allan Saxe Field. Athletics.

BFA Art Exhibit The work of 43 Bachelor of Fine Arts candidates includes painting, drawing, sculpture, glass, printmaking, film/video, photography, digital imaging, and visual communication. Hours 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Mondays-Fridays, noon-5 p.m. Saturdays. Monday, May 4-Saturday, May 16. The Gallery at UTA.

Ongoing

MavsArt The semi-annual UTA community art show features 67 works by 25 artists who are UTA students, faculty, and staff. Through May 15. UT Arlington Libraries, MavsArt.

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.

Juneteenth in Texas: 150 Years of Freedom More than 60 photographs explore issues of Texas African-Americans from Emancipation to the Civil Rights era. Hours 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Through Aug. 9. Sixth floor, Central Library. Center for Greater Southwestern Studies.

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.)

A step ahead: The last time the Mavericks played the Horned Frogs, freshman Christian Hollie helped the team post an 8-1 win March 31. UTA and TCU meet again tonight at Clay Gould Ballpark.

Baseball team hosts No. 6 TCU tonight

The Mavericks welcome sixth-ranked TCU to Clay Gould Ballpark at 6:30 p.m. today, Tuesday, April 14. UTA defeated the Horned Frogs 8-1 earlier this season.

The team ended a five-game losing streak Sunday with an 8-3 victory over Georgia Southern in Statesboro, Ga. Sophomore right-hander Joel Kuhnel allowed four hits and three earned runs in eight innings to pick up the win.

The Mavericks are 15-19 overall and 6-9 in the Sun Belt Conference.

They host Troy in a three-game series beginning Friday, April 17, at Clay Gould Ballpark.

UTA to add women's golf for 2017-18

UT Arlington is adding women’s golf to its NCAA Division I intercollegiate athletics programs, with competition set to begin in the 2017-18 academic year.

The addition marks the first sports expansion for Maverick Athletics since women’s tennis in 1983.

The University is beginning a national search for a head coach who will lead the combined men’s and women’s golf programs.

Alumnus George Riba to speak at All-Sports Banquet

Former sportscaster and UTA alumnus George Riba is guest speaker for the All-Sports Banquet at 6 p.m. Monday, April 27, at College Park Center.

The banquet recognizes the successes of student-athletes for their athletic and academic achievement and community involvement.

Tickets are $20 for adults and $10 for students. For table sponsorships, contact Kris Wood at 817-272-9613 or kriswood@uta.edu.

Mavericks win weekend series against ULM

Senior Nina Villanueva’s two-run double capped a three-run eighth inning as the softball team defeated Louisiana-Monroe 11-8 on Sunday in Monroe, La.

The Mavericks split a doubleheader Saturday against the Warhawks, winning the first game 5-3 in nine innings and losing the second 9-5. UTA is 26-19 overall and 7-8 in Sun Belt Conference play. The 26 wins are the most in a season under third-year coach Kristie Fox.

The team plays Texas in Austin on Wednesday, April 15, before returning home for a three-game series against Georgia State beginning Saturday, April 18, at Allan Saxe Field.

Tennis teams prepare for conference tournament

The women’s tennis team completed its regular season Saturday by defeating North Texas 4-0 at the UTA Tennis Center.

The Mavericks are 14-5 overall and 4-0 in the Sun Belt Conference, making it one of their best seasons in the past five years.

The women’s and men’s teams compete Thursday-Sunday, April 16-19, in the Sun Belt Conference Championship in New Orleans.

Sports Shorts

• Next up for the men’s and women’s track teams is the Mt. SAC Relays on Wednesday-Saturday, April 15-18, in Walnut, Calif. The teams also compete in the Michael Johnson Classic in Waco on Saturday, April 18.

• The golf team travels to Miramar, Fla., on Sunday-Tuesday, April 19-21, for the Sun Belt Conference Championship.

Intramural deadlines include FIFA video game

Upcoming entry deadlines for intramural sports include FIFA video game, Wednesday, May 6; and poker tournament, Thursday, May 7.

See the intramural sports schedule. Pick up entry forms at the Services and Information Desk of the Maverick Activities Center. For questions, call 817-272-3277 or email imsports@uta.edu.

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