LA Tech,
LA Tech Basketball,
Photos,
University of North Texas,
University of North Texas Basketball,
UNT Basketball,
UNT Mens Basketball
UNT Men's Basketball vs. Louisiana Tech | January 23, 2015
3:11 PM
articles,
dance,
North Texas dance,
North Texas Emeralds,
University of North Texas,
UNT dance,
UNT dance team
North Texas Emeralds sparkle bright
9:30 AM |
| Photo courtesy of the North Texas Emeralds Facebook page. |
By Kristen Watson
It was the summer of 2013 when
Andrea Allen, University of North Texas dance sophomore, and a few other fellow
students noticed there was a lack of a multi-genre dance organization that was
open to students outside of the dance major.
The North Texas Emeralds dance team
was born.
The North Texas Emeralds are an
all-student run dance organization that meets three times a week to practice
and performs at various campus events. Unlike the other dance organizations on
campus, they practice and perform various dance styles including, jazz,
hip-hop, kick, and contemporary.
“Originally, the name of our team
was Emerald Fusion,” North Texas Emeralds Director Shadi Layegh said. “But, the
group as a whole did not really like the name, so we voted and changed it.”
As a student-run organization, each
fall new officers are selected that work tirelessly to maintain the team and
continue to make the team a possibility for future members. Everyone on the
team has input in all that they do with the officers having the final approval.
“My dance team…is quite diverse
from other dance teams, including the North Texas Dancers, because we do all
types of dance,” Layegh said. “We usually perform jazz and hip-hop dances
because they are more…exciting for the crowd to watch.”
 |
| Photo courtesy of the North Texas Emeralds Facebook page. |
Members of the team join for all
types of reasons including, wanting to continue dancing without having to major
in it, needing a place to let off steam, or to just be a part of an
organization on campus. But, no matter why they joined, they are all connected
by their love of dance.
“I joined the team because I used
to be in drill team back in high school,” Social officer Carol Cubias said. “Dancing
has become a big part of my life and it is a great stress reliever.”
Andrea Allen, the team’s president
for this year, reminisces on the bond the team made throughout the year.
“My favorite part of being on the
North Texas Emeralds team is the sisterhood that forms between the members,”
Allen said. “We’ve become so much more than teammates, which makes everything
that much more enjoyable.”
The team holds a special event
every Tuesday called Technique Tuesday from 7:30-9 p.m. where each week a new
dance technique is taught. The event is open to former members as well as the
public.
There will be tryouts for the
spring semester, but the time and location has yet to be announced.
“As a team, we are open to having
dancers who can bring something different to the table,” Layegh said. “So, if
you are an experienced dancer and want to be a part of our team, please do not
hesitate to try out.”
To stay informed and up to date on
upcoming performances and tryout information, follow the team on Twitter@UNTFusion or like them on Facebook by searching North Texas Emeralds.
articles,
Max Quimby,
Photos,
pot,
pothead,
University of North Texas,
University of North Texas pothead,
UNT,
UNT pot,
UNT pothead
Your friendly university pothead
7:10 AM |
| Max Quimby poses with his holiday-themed balancing prop on UNT's campus on October 31, 2014. |
By Kristen Watson
Bright-eyed
and full of wonder, a group of eager University of North Texas hopefuls slowly
walked slowly through the winding paths of campus.
A tall,
young man with a planted pot balanced perfectly on his head almost passed them
when one hopeful's father stopped the man to ask what he was doing.
The man in
question spun around with a friendly grin on his face and spoke with cheer in
his voice.
“I'm just
your friendly university pothead.”
Wholehearted,
gut laughter erupted from the father, as the grin on Max Quimby’s face grew as
large as his face would hold.
Max Quimby,
your friendly university pothead, is a 21-year-old biology junior who started
balancing things on his head when he was a kid.
 |
| Quimby routinely poses with other UNT students on campus as they pass by. Photo courtesy of Max Quimby's Facebook page. |
During
the ample downtime between his swim meets as a child, Quimby started with coke
cans and now can balance almost anything. Among the list of items he’s attempted include: pizzas, books, pumpkins
and even a bowling ball on top of another bowling ball.
Other
than a combination of a “mildly-flat head” and the classic marching band
roll-step technique, walking without moving your upper-body, Quimby swears
there’s no special trick to his talent.
Many have
speculated Quimby’s reasoning behind the pots, or pumpkin, depending on the
holiday. His reasons are far more levelheaded than the rumors would lead one to
believe.
 |
| Max Quimby, Biology junior, poses with his perfectly balanced pumpkin in front of the Biology complex on October 31, 2014. |
“When I
got to college, I'm also a big fan of puns, so I thought being your friendly
university pot-head would be pretty good,” Quimby said. “I did it to kind of
put myself out there and to meet new people…it makes people happy and I like
that."
Quimby
keeps a list on his phone of all the people who have stopped to get to know
him. Quimby estimates there are over 150 names on the list and admitted he hasn’t
maintained it very well in the past months.
Quimby’s
pots and quirkiness sparked a multitude of rumors. He is doing it for a charity
and people can pledge money to his cause. His brother went to UNT and balanced
pots and Quimby is just carrying on family tradition. He’s a hardcore marijuana
activist and that is his statement to the world. And the latest, found on the
new anonymous chat app Yik Yak: he has scoliosis and he started balancing pots
as a way to help correct it.
 |
| Example of the outlandish rumors surrounding Quimby's pot balancing. Screenshot courtesy of Max Quimby's Facebook page. |
“There
are all kind of rumors about me,” Quimby said. “I've never caught them written
down until now. I can't for the life of me understand why scoliosis and they
talked with such authority. They talked with authority like they knew me."
Besides
the rumors, Quimby has also experienced a few physical and cyber threats.
“One time
I got assassinated,” Quimby said. “That was funny. Okay, it wasn't very funny.
It was pretty tragic actually.”
After pausing to check his cell
phone, Quimby felt a swift smack to his perfectly perched pot and watched it
crash to the concrete.
As it turns out, Quimby said a
fraternity had placed a “bounty” on his head and as he later found out, the
whole stunt was filmed.
 |
| Quimby likes to balance all manner of items and frequently poses for photos around campus. Photo courtesy of Max Quimby's Facebook page. |
But in Quimby’s naturally positive
nature, he chose to focus on the new relationships he made during the
experience. After his pot fell, several people came over to help pick up the
pieces.
“There
was even one girl named Destiny,” said Quimby. “And I thought that was pretty
funny. She came and helped me pick up my pot. It was destiny.”
Despite all
of the excitement, Quimby says he has no plans to stop balancing pots, or anything
for that matter.
"It kind of reminds me to always be kind to everybody," Quimby said. "Because you don't really know what they're about. There are a lot of people who think that I'm just doing it for attention or just being stupid, but I just do it because it's something I enjoy."
2014 Election,
articles,
Early Voting,
Live Tweeting,
University of North Texas,
UNT,
UNT Early Voting
Early Voting at UNT
8:22 AM
After a technical issue and a rocky start with the voting machines, University of North Texas early voting is still underway at Sycamore Hall.
Endless "vote for" whoever signs were scattered all along the entrance and sides of Sycamore Hall in hopes of influencing last minute voters.
Supporters from both sides of the fracking ban were in attendance. Both sides have large visuals for students walking past to look at, sometimes sparking debates between the two sides.
UNT graduate Niki Chochrek spoke to another student about the fracking ban, attempting to bring her to the other side.
"These fracking sites are sometimes 150 feet from people's backyards," Chochrek said. "People don't even consider the sound and pollution fracking causes. I know someone who if they let their kids outside to play for longer than an hour, they will get nosebleeds."
Another student, UNT electrical engineering senior, Bobbye Gentry had another opinion.
"I want to talk to both sides, but I am against the fracking ban," Gentry said.
With one day remaining for early voting, UNT hopes to draw as many students in to vote despite the long lines.
Early voting at UNT will continue in Sycamore Hall room 142 from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., the last day to vote early being tomorrow.
Election day is November 4, with polling places scattered across the county. To find your polling place, click here.
Alan Turbeville,
Piano,
Terry Scholarship,
University of North Texas,
UNT,
UNT College of Music,
Video
Alan Turbeville Feature
11:45 AMMeet Alan Turbeville.
articles,
disability,
disability awareness,
disability awareness month,
october,
Photos,
University of North Texas,
UNT
October: dispelling disability myths
9:26 AM.jpg) |
| Devin Axtman poses in his office at UNT's Office of Disability Accommodation after his interview on October 16, 2014. |
By Kristen Watson
When October comes around, for most
it means the arrival of fall and Halloween with Christmas on its heels. But for
two University of North Texas students, October holds a more significant
meaning.
October is National Disability
Awareness Month, a time when schools, organizations and ordinary people take
the time to educate others and themselves about different disabilities.
According to a 2012 U.S. Census Bureau report, nearly 1 in 5 people in the United
States live with a disability.
Devin Axtman is a 23-year-old
rehabilitation counseling graduate student who works at UNT’s Office of
Disability Accommodation.
Armed with humor, Axtman spends his
days counseling UNT students with disabilities, helping them to improve their
college experience.
He also happens to have cerebral
palsy, a neurological disorder that has caused him to become a wheelchair-user.
Axtman looks at Disability
Awareness Month as a time when he can help spread knowledge about not only his
disability but also the effect it has on the human experience.
“I like to look at it [Disability
Awareness Month] as an opportunity to shatter some of the myths and stereotypes
about disabilities,” Axtman said. “I think a lot of times people think that
people with disabilities can’t be successful, and I think it’s a good
opportunity to kind of dispel that a little bit.”
Having cerebral palsy has given
Axtman a different view on life and wants others to know is there are many
stereotypes to be broken.
Axtman recounted a story where
someone praised him for being a good person just because he was using his
wheelchair on campus. They went as far to say that if they were him, they don’t
think they would have gotten their education.
“It didn’t offend me,” Axtman said.
“I just laugh stuff off, but if you think about what [she] just said, [she]
basically said, ‘Yeah. You’re kind of messed up. Congrats on living your life.’
I joke about it, but I have a friend who has cerebral palsy too, and someone
once said to her, ‘Oh you’d be really pretty without those crutches.’ You know,
and that sucks.”
In lieu of Disability Awareness Month,
Axtman shared his best advice for people who are unsure of how to treat someone
with a disability.
“I guess just the first thing is to
relax,” Axtman said. “And if you have questions, just ask them. I think that’s
the biggest thing…Get to know me first and then talk to me about my
disability.”
Janelle Van Benthem is a
20-year-old social work junior who works as a host at LSA Burger. She is also
involved in an all-girls organization called North Texas Sweethearts that
organizes spirit, social and service events for its members.
She also happens to have
achromotpisia, an eye condition that has left her legally blind.
Van Benthem said Disability
Awareness Month doesn’t affect her much personally, but she is glad there is a
time where people become more aware that not everyone can function the same.
Even though Van Benthem is legally
blind, she is not fully blind. When she was in eighth grade, she got her first
pair of contacts that allowed her to feel more confident. Like Axtman, Van Benthem
too has had her fair share of ignorant comments.
“This has happened more than once,”
Van Benthem said. “People, who can even be people close to me, will say
something as simple as, ‘oh she’s blind,’ or call me blind in a way. It really
hurts my feelings and can offend me because I’m not blind.”
Van Benthem said she is comfortable
with people asking her about her disability. In fact, she prefers it.
“Personally, I think the best way
to approach it is instead of staring at them and treating them different, just
ask them about their disability,” Van Benthem said. “I would much rather have
someone ask me instead of just watching me and judging me. It makes me feel
more comfortable and it will make them feel more comfortable.”
Lauren Tracy, a political science
senior, lives a life that is also touched by a disability. Her aunt has a form
of Alzheimer’s disease that stops the transfer of signals between her eyes and
brain, essentially leaving her blind.
“Just ask them,” Tracy said. “I
think every person has their own relationship with their disability. Have a
conversation with them. Their honesty may surprise you.”
After spending much time with her
aunt, Tracy wants people to understand that everyone has problems and issues to
deal with in life, and for these people, it just happens to be their
disability.
“I think it’s offensive to assume
that people with a disability should be pitied,” Tracy said. “Many people with
disabilities don’t want your pity. Rather, they just want equal footing to
navigate in this world like those without a disability are able to do.”
For more information on UNT’s activities
for Disability Awareness Month, visit: http://calendar.unt.edu/disability-awareness-month-events-october.
Alan Turbeville,
articles,
CJ Durr,
Colton Bigham,
Johnny Sammis,
Meditation Mafia,
Rap,
Roosevelt "Jerome" Campbell,
South By Southwest,
SXSW,
University of North Texas,
UNT
Meditation Mafia takes on South By Southwest
8:32 AM |
| Screen grab via www.meditationmafia.com. |
By Kristen Watson
Click. Click. Enter.
A few clicks later and Meditation Mafia, a hip-hop collective, has officially applied to play at this year’s South By Southwest, one of the largest music festivals in Austin.
Meditation Mafia is comprised of three University of North Texas students and two others. Formed after a wave of creativity and coincidence, the group is catching much attention for their unique sound.
“It wasn’t really planned,” said CJ Durr, Meditation Mafia’s lead vocalist. “We all came together and made a song, and it got people’s attention and people wanted more.”
Originally dubbed Meditation Group, the name has evolved over time. The band’s current moniker, Mediation Mafia, was born out of the group’s dedication to meditation in their own way, or “realistic peace,” Durr said.
The group consists of, rappers CJ Durr and Roosevelt “Jerome” Campbell; writer and guitarist, Colton Bigham; producer and keyboardist, Alan Turbeville; and producer and vocalist, Johnny Sammis.
The group takes influences from The Black Keys, The White Stripes, Wu-Tang Clan and Pimp C, Turbeville said.
“The group is made up of so many musical geniuses,” fan Brittany Johnson said. “It’s amazing to me what they can come up with when they’re all in the same room together.”
When they are not making new beats, the members have a range of jobs. Turbeville and Sammis are full-time students; Durr is a cook at BJ’s; Campbell works with special education students, and Bigham is a waiter at Giuseppe’s.
“My dream for Meditation Mafia is to create a peaceful movement through music that changes people’s mindsets to have an overall positive outlook on the world,” Durr said.
The group frequently posts about upcoming shows and new music at www.meditationmafia.com.
“We just had a show at Quixotic in Deep Ellum and we regularly perform in the DFW area,” Turbeville said.
While they wait on a call from South By Southwest, the group wants their audience to know one thing.
“We make magic,” Durr said.
 |
| Graphic courtesy of The Truth Uncensored. |
By Kristen Watson
After the first confirmed, human case of Ebola hit Texas, University of North Texas students from both the concerned and unconcerned sides are raising their voices.
State and local health officials admitted to monitoring more than a dozen people, including five Dallas schoolchildren, resulting in heaps of local and national media attention, causing many to panic.
“I’m staying away from Dallas to avoid Ebola because of the outbreak…and I don’t want to be any part of that. They need to keep it contained.” UNT public relations major Cleo Armsted, a 22-year-old junior said.
On the other side of the spectrum, others are more nonchalant about the possibility of a large-scale outbreak.
“I’m not concerned because the man who came in contact with allegedly 80 people is not in the same condition that we have in West Africa right now,” UNT journalism major Joshua Oldfather, a 23-year-old senior said. “Their quality of life and their standards for hygiene just aren’t quite the same.”
Others question the ease in which someone from an epidemic-ridden country could travel to the United States.
“Whenever people come over here and they know they’re from a country that has this disease they should probably do some extra screenings or doctor’s appointments to see if they have any of the symptoms.” UNT communication studies major Taylor Bell, a 22-year-old junior said.
