INSIDE Preview the 2020 baseball and softball seasons, see page 8 THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT ARLINGTON NASA funds hypersonic research, see page 5 Wednesday, Since 1919 theshorthorn.com How to make a Valentine’s February 12, 2020 Volume 101, No. 4 Day bouquet, see page 7 HEALTH AND WELLNESS It’s (still) football time in Texas University, county take precautions in wake of coronavirus UTA and Tarrant County Public Health department are following recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention as the virus spreads. BY COLBY FARR The Shorthorn staff As a new coronavirus named 2019- nCoV spreads from its origin point to different countries, efforts by Tarrant County Public Health department and UTA have aimed to prepare and protect locals if the virus were to arrive. According to the Centers for Dis- ease Control and Prevention website, the virus is a respiratory illness first identified in Wuhan, China. Since its detection, the coronavirus has been con- firmed in 26 countries, including the The Shorthorn: Elias Valverde II U.S., Spain, Russia and Canada as of Fans watch the inaugural Dallas Renegades game against the St. Louis BattleHawks on Feb. 9 at Globe Life Park. More than 17,000 people attended the game. Tuesday. There have been over 1,000 deaths worldwide as well. More than 300 people are under Globe Life Park debuts as the home stadium for the Dallas Renegades investigation across the U.S., with 12 cases confirmed positive in six states, in- BY BRAYDEN GARCIA cluding California, Washington, Illinois The Shorthorn staff anybody’s talked to us about or that we’ve explored that I don’t and Wisconsin. An unfamiliar cheer rang have some level of interest in,” The CDC website states that patients through Globe Life Park on he said. with the coronavirus will display Sunday. Decker said the renovations symptoms including fever, shortness of “Let’s go Renegades, let’s go took around 100 days and in- breath and coughing. Renegades, let’s go Renegades.” cluded demolishing 18 rows of The coronavirus hasn’t directly im- The match marked Globe seats on the third base side of pacted the campus, but several offices Life Park’s transition from the dugout and adding 4,000 have been involved in monitoring the baseball field to football stadi- grandstand seats in what used to latest guidance, coordinating activities um, as 17,206 fans greeted the be left field. and planning, chief communications of- Dallas Renegades, one of eight Other renovations include re- ficer Joe Carpenter said. Offices involved XFL teams, kicking off its sea- placing the dirt and grass field include Student Affairs, Academic Af- son against the St. Louis Battle- with turf and the removal of the fairs, International Education, Health Hawks at the former home of the foul poles. Services and Emergency Management. Texas Rangers. The BattleHawks “The facility looks fantastic,” According to a previous Shorthorn beat the Renegades 15-9. said Rob Carolla, Dallas Ren- article, UTA suspended all universi- The XFL originally ran for one egades communications and ty-related travel to China on Jan. 31. season in 2001 and discontin- media relations director. “It real- The announcement came after three ued after losing $70 million. The ly looks like a great place to play major airlines announced the suspen- joint-venture from NBC Sports football.” sion of flights to and from China’s main- and the World Wrestling Feder- Arlington resident John Burg- land. ation emphasized fun, featuring dorf said he was happy to see The UTA International Oversight players-selected nicknames on The Shorthorn: Elias Valverde II Globe Life Park still being used Committee will review any universi- the back of their jerseys and a rather than demolished. ty-related travel requests to China, Dallas Renegades punter Drew Galitz signs a ball for Oklahoma City resident Aiden Casaz according to the article. Each request more violent style of play. There after the game against the St. Louis BattleHawks on Feb. 9 at Globe Life Park. Casaz is “It’s such a beautiful building,” were storylines for players and also a kicker and Galitz was the one person he was looking to get an autograph from. he said. “When I think of Arling- will be informed by the CDC and U.S. coaches and commentary from ton, I think of the ballpark, and I Department of State’s latest recommen- wrestling personalities. Instead with a few changes aiming to “I mean, football in February, think a lot of people do too.” dations before being evaluated on a of a traditional kickoff, there was increase the pace of play, includ- that’s pretty cool,” he said. Burgdorf said he’s happy that case-by-case basis, Carpenter said. a scramble where players ran at ing a shorter halftime, no kicked The Texas Rangers’ new hosting events like XFL games Faculty and staff who previously each other to get the ball at mid- extra points after touchdowns stadium, Globe Life Field, opens will help continue the stadium’s planned to attend conferences or field, eventually resulting in one and modifications to kickoffs. across the street in March. The legacy. recruitment activities in China have player separating his shoulder Created by Vince McMahon, move left some intrigue on “It was kind of like my second canceled or postponed their trips, and being out for the remainder WWE chief executive officer, the what would happen to their old home,” he said. Carpenter said. of the season. football league aims to capitalize stadium. The Renegades’ next game is “UTA’s top priority is to protect the This time around, the nick- on fans’ interest in the game after A $10 million renovation an away game against the Los health and safety of students, faculty, names are gone and there will the NFL season concludes. later, and the stadium is ready Angeles Wildcats on Feb. 16. The staff and visitors,” he said. “The university be no crossover with World Dallas resident Chris Hen- to host all kinds of events, said team’s 10-game regular season will continue to implement processes Wrestling Entertainment. Both derson said he’s a football fan, Sean Decker, Texas Rangers concludes April 9. that are consistent with the latest UT former NFL and college players but didn’t know much about the executive vice president for System, CDC and state department are present in the league. Most XFL. That didn’t stop him from sports entertainment. @BJGARCIA27 protocols and as the situation develops.” rules resemble the NFL rules, enjoying the game though. “There’s not a single event that [email protected] VIRUS continues on page 5 STUDENT AFFAIRS UTA to introduce multisemester registration system Incoming freshmen and lowing summer, fall and spring level courses would have been it a whole year,” Aswath said. check at the end of fall, if a stu- persistence and graduation rate. sophomores will be able semesters all at once, said included for the 2020-2021 ac- “Because then we lose a whole dent doesn’t pass a prerequisite Typically, 20% of first-time to register for 1000- and Pranesh Aswath, senior vice ademic year. At the time of the year, and the students coming class, registration for the next college students drop out of 2000-level classes multiple provost for Academic Planning meeting, early February was the in this fall will not benefit from course will be canceled. UTA by the end of their first semesters in advance. and Policy. deadline for faculty to submit that.” While multiterm registration year, Aswath said. Plans for a multiterm regis- freshman- and sophomore-lev- Schedules for 1000- and is recommended, it will not be UTA’s six-year graduation BY MEGAN CARDONA tration system were announced el schedules, with upper-level 2000-level courses will have mandatory, Aswath said. rate for first time in college The Shorthorn staff at the Jan. 29 Faculty Senate schedules following a couple of to be in place by Feb. 21, he Students registered for a students in 2018 was around UTA will implement a mul- meeting. According to a previ- months later. said. The multiterm registration multiterm will still pay a se- 49%, he said. However, when tisemester registration system ous Shorthorn article, the year After feedback from the will be available for students to mester at a time, he said. The comparing UTA’s rate to other for incoming freshmen and registration would require fac- Faculty Senate meeting, it was register by April 6. drop period will also remain the urban schools with similar sophomores this spring. ulty to have all three semester decided to change the strategy Aswath said students can same. demographics, their graduation These students will have the schedules put in place for sum- to only 1000 and 2000 level register for classes requiring a Aswath said the multiterm rates are higher. ability to register for 1000- and mer. courses. prerequisite for the following registration is in response to 2000-level classes for the fol- Aswath said originally all “We didn’t want to delay semester. Using a prerequisite the university’s focus on student REGISTRATION continues on page 5 Page 2 The ShorThorn Wednesday, February 12, 2020 The Shorthorn: Elias Valverde II From left to right: Troy Aikman, former Dallas Cowboys quarterback, speaks to reporters on the sidelines Feb. 9 at Globe Life Park; The Dallas Renegades enter the field prior to the game; Bob Stoops, Dallas Renegades head coach, waves to the crowd as he runs onto the field. FOOTBALL IN FEBRUARY The Shorthorn: Elias Valverde II Cameron Artis-Payne, Dallas Renegades running back, evades defense during the game against the St.