LEARNING BY PLAYING Professors are WARRIORS AGAINST CANCER Breakthroughs in HOUSE OF LOVE Romance swirls throughout capitalizing on the popularity of video games tissue engineering and optical imaging have UT Arlington’s oldest residence hall, where by transforming their make-believe worlds propelled bioengineers to the forefront of the numerous married couples began their into educational opportunities. p. 18 battle against America’s No. 2 killer. p. 26 courtships as students. p. 30 UTATHE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT ARLINGTONrlington MAGAZINE | SPRING 2012 Color It Amazing Never before has an event captivated the UT Arlington community like the opening of College Park Center. They came, they saw, they marveled at the striking venue hailed as one of the best of its kind in the nation. LOUD AND PROUD The Maverick Wranglers, a new student spirit group, raised the decibel level during the basketball games on opening night at College Park Center. Watch a video at uta.edu/utamagazine. Contents Spring 2012 Message from the Vice President for Student Affairs Features CRASH COURSE 9 Nancy Roper Willson’s UTArlington GAMING GETS SERIOUS 18 popular Forensics for Nursing Vol. XXXIV • No. 2 • Spring 2012 Video games are making the course explores the interplay Infusing a Spirit to Dream Big EDITOR transition from leisure activity between nursing and the law. Mark Permenter to the educational arena, by Frank Lamas where UT Arlington research- FACULTY 10 ASSISTANT EDITORS ers use them to train nurses Award-winning physics A new day has dawned at UT Arlington, one full of Maroon 5, and Ludacris, and The Big Event, through Jessica Bridges and battle substance abuse. Professor Ramon Lopez is a energy and promise. The opening of the transforma- which more than 900 volunteers completed 3,600 Jim Patterson space weather expert. tional College Park Center, record-breaking enroll- hours of community service in one day. The Parent Amber Scott ment, the upcoming move to the Western Athletic and Family Association has grown steadily from its Conference—all are dreams becoming reality. As the founding in 2006 to a membership of more than 700 ART DIRECTOR University continues its unprecedented progress, pro- families. The Leadership Center, Multicultural Affairs, Joel Quintans viding an enriching experience for our growing stu- New Maverick Orientation, Office for Students with EDITORIAL CONTRIBUTORS dent population takes on greater importance. Disabilities, and the Relationship Violence and Sexual Herb Booth Monumental advancements in campus life have Assault Prevention program have increased in size and John Dycus made UT Arlington a popular destination for students scope, offering vital resources for a fulfilling student Bridget Lewis seeking the traditional college experience. A recent experience. Teresa Newton Traci Peterson orientation survey showed UT Arlington as the first or During this unparalleled period of growth, Kristin Sullivan FUTURE 13 second choice of 85 percent of our full-time freshmen. UT Arlington also has maintained its commitment Danny Woodward SPARKING A With funding from Intel Corp., A vibrant campus scene translates into more of our to excellence. The Texas Intercollegiate Press Asso- TRANSFORMATION 22 Taiwan native J.-C. Chiao nearly 33,500 students wanting to live here. This ciation named The Shorthorn Best Daily Newspa- UNIVERSITY PHOTOGRAPHERS The much-anticipated College coming fall, we will have 5,000-plus campus residents per and theshorthorn.com Best News Website. Our Robert Crosby is developing a telehealth Beth McHenry Park Center enthralled system that invokes a science and more than 10,000 students living in private Greek community raised more than $100,000 in Maverick fans at its debut and fiction movie. housing within five miles. donations from chapter philanthropies last year. The ASSOCIATE VICE PRESIDENT FOR promises to forever change A strong connection to the campus community seven-time national champion Movin’ Mavs continue COMMUNICATIONS AND MARKETING the face of the University. GALLERY 14 carries over to academics, where surveys indicate that their rich history of wheelchair basketball eminence. P. David Johnson Julie Gould’s documentary 8 retention and four-year graduation rates are higher for Last year the Off Campus Mavericks lounge and VICE PRESIDENT CANCER CRUSADERS 26 reels in national recognition. our freshmen and transfer students who participate commuter center opened for students who live off in Student Affairs initiatives. At UT Arlington, campus and those who use the Maverick Activities FOR COMMUNICATIONS The research of Greece native Jerry Lewis George Alexandrakis and SPORTS 16 substantial learning happens beyond the walls of Center. The MAC, incidentally, debuted in 2007 and two other bioengineering Former baseball standout our state-of-the-art classrooms and cutting-edge now provides health and wellness activities for 4,500 PRESIDENT professors shows promise in Hunter Pence looks to lead research laboratories. We understand the importance students, faculty, and staff each day. James D. Spaniolo battling America’s No. 2 killer. the Philadelphia Phillies back of offering co-curricular activities that foster a rich Spurred by the expansion in student program- UTArlington Magazine is published to the playoffs in 2012. educational environment for our students. ming and services, a contagious passion to bleed blue Complementing UT Arlington’s strategies to and orange is permeating campus. Several groups fuel three times a year by University LOVE SHACK, BABY 30 Communications for all alumni, as Married couples from as far become a major national research university, we have the excitement, including the Maverick Wranglers, well as for faculty, staff, and friends away as Calgary, Alberta, Alumni News significantly increased opportunities for students a spirit section that debuted at the grand opening of of the University. Reproduction in still return to historical Brazos to embrace the Maverick community. Established College Park Center in February. Joining the Wran- whole or in part without written House, where their courtships SUCCESS IN HAND 34 traditions have been enhanced and fresh ones glers are mascot Blaze and the cheer squad, which permission is prohibited. began as undergraduates. Alumni Association scholar- started. This surge has created a campus that won the 2010 National Collegiate Cheerleading buzzes with activity, enabling more students Association competition. The comments and opinions ships help students like Eliza- expressed in this magazine do beth Lepe of Mexico achieve to acquire the leadership skills to thrive at Our students are our future, and we are not necessarily represent Columns their academic goals. UT Arlington and succeed in the global determined to provide a robust environment those of The University of Texas marketplace. that nurtures and challenges them to at Arlington or the staff of FACEBOOK 4 We are setting attendance records at be next-generation leaders. By creating UTArlington Magazine. More than 50 students braved many of our signature campus events and opportunities for meaningful involvement, Copyright © 2012, The University of reaching new heights in numerous pro- we can have a greater impact on the student Texas at Arlington. An equal oppor- near-freezing temperatures tunity/affirmative action employer. in November to spend the grams. Consider the Fall Concert Series, educational experience. We will forever dream night on the library mall as which has welcomed big-name big and reach for the stars in our quest to ON THE COVER part of an event to raise entertainers such as Rihanna, make UT Arlington one of the best On opening night, College Park awareness of homelessness. universities in the nation. Center had the glow of success as more than 6,200 Maverick fans descended on the game-changing TALK 7 DAY TRIPPERS 35 special events venue. While in field school in Italy Joe Gumm ’01 won an Emmy last summer, archaeology award for his Traveling With graduate student William Nutt the Tribe TV show. As vice president for student discovered a ceramic vessel affairs since 2005, Dr. Frank Lamas has helped UT Arlington that is more than 2,600 years JESSICA CARRILLO 37 become a first-choice university old and is thought to be the The 2009 alumna rubs elbows for students seeking a traditional earliest representation of with Hollywood stars in her college atmosphere. childbirth in Western art. job as Acceso Total host. CAMPUS CAMPUS Facebook Email Tweets PHOTO IDENTIFICATION student body did not want a Tom J. Vandergriff was an an- country and its people, and @Drake Seeing a doctor about The back cover of the fall commander. We had been told nouncer for the school’s foot- the rights of Nicaraguans were this stomach flu...UTA gave me life! Sorry to all my family 2011 magazine had a picture we were going to get some ball games from the 1950s until compromised and restricted. It at Club Zouk that I won’t be of a student protest circa nice and needed new buildings 1985. Actually, his announcing was then that I began to appre- seeing tonight. Be back soon. 1963 about Arlington State on our campus, but these plans of football began even earlier. ciate the level of security and @fireharejenny Dallas College possibly joining the were scaled back for improve- Several years ago I asked David openness the United States Cowboys Cheerleaders at the Texas A&M University System. ments to TAMU animal facili- Naugle ’42, whose wonderful offers. Despite a few years of College Park Center opening. I first noticed my friend Eddie ties. Thus, the protest. voice was known then and democratic rule, Nicaragua UTA went all out! :) Saylors (now deceased) on later on radio and TV, who his has gone back to its old ways @Breiana_Brownie Dancing in the front row. I then noticed WES CRENSHAW ’65 co-announcer was for North of communism with Ortega. the packed College Park Center myself in the middle of the Forney, Texas Texas Agricultural College On Jan. 6 he assumed the tonight was one of the best ONE NIGHT WITHOUT pack.