Shambhu Sharan

Written by Shambhu Sharan, The Shorthorn staff   

Monday, 05 October 2009 08:39 PM

Information

Eligible: Undergraduate students who are Texas residents
Rate: $10/hour
Apply online:
http://www.uta.edu/employment

Source: Luis Rosado, Center for Bilingual Education director

Undergraduate Texas residents can soon help neighborhood high school students while making money, thanks to the new grants from the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board.

UTA’s Center for Bilingual Education and the P-16 Regional Council obtained the two grants in collaboration with Arlington ISD.

One purposes of the UTA-AISD College Readiness Program grant is to provide paid mentors and encourage minority students to complete high school and prepare for college, said Carla Amaro-Jiménez, bilingual education visiting assistant professor.

Amaro-Jiménez said Latinos are the largest minority group in the nation but at the same time the most underachieving and undereducated group. The college going rate for Latinos is one of the lowest in the nation, 9 percent, and in Texas, 6.5 percent.

To address these gaps, the university’s P-16 Regional Council proposed the creation of a program to increase the college-going rate for Latinos in two high schools in Arlington ISD. The second grant, P-16 Regional Councils Grant Award, will focus on Latino students.

Luis Rosado, Center for Bilingual Education director, said students interested in mentoring need to go to UTA’s Web site to apply for the jobs directly through the university’s SNAP Job Web site. The center plans to hire 25 first-generation undergraduate students part-time, 20 hours a week maximum, from different majors to work in local schools. The pay rate starts at $10 an hour.

“I want to get students from all colleges and programs,” Rosado said. “Any Texas resident college student can apply for the job. The proposed program is designed to support first-generation, minority students at Arlington High and Lamar High in AISD.”

Amaro-Jiménez said the Family College Readiness Program will create Go Centers in two AISD high schools, empowering parents to become their children’s advocates.

In the Go Centers, high school students will receive information UTA interns from colleges and programs such as engineering, science and education.

Amaro-Jiménez said mentors will help high school students prepare for the SAT and ACT examinations, apply for financial aid, programs and university selection, and learn strategies to cope in high school and college and college life in general.

Another component of the grants is to provide parents of these high school students with the tools and knowledge they need to get further support to the children, she said.

Rosado and associate vice president for K-16 Initiatives Jeanne Gerlach were the principal investigators of P-16 Regional Councils Grant Award of $50,000 for one year. Amaro-Jiménez and Rosado were the principal investigators of the UTA-AISD College Readiness Program award. It will provide $270,000 for two years.

John Smith, Department of Curriculum and Instruction chair, said one of the challenges is to make sure every young person has an opportunity to succeed.

“This grant will focus on disadvantaged students and help them to see they can succeed in school and the university,” he said. “It will greatly strengthen connections between UTA and local school districts and school business communities.”

Written by Shambhu Sharan, The Shorthorn staff   

Monday, 05 October 2009 08:39 PM

Information

Eligible: Undergraduate students who are Texas residents
Rate: $10/hour
Apply online:
http://www.uta.edu/employment

Source: Luis Rosado, Center for Bilingual Education director

Undergraduate Texas residents can soon help neighborhood high school students while making money, thanks to the new grants from the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board.

UTA’s Center for Bilingual Education and the P-16 Regional Council obtained the two grants in collaboration with Arlington ISD.

One purposes of the UTA-AISD College Readiness Program grant is to provide paid mentors and encourage minority students to complete high school and prepare for college, said Carla Amaro-Jiménez, bilingual education visiting assistant professor.

Amaro-Jiménez said Latinos are the largest minority group in the nation but at the same time the most underachieving and undereducated group. The college going rate for Latinos is one of the lowest in the nation, 9 percent, and in Texas, 6.5 percent.

To address these gaps, the university’s P-16 Regional Council proposed the creation of a program to increase the college-going rate for Latinos in two high schools in Arlington ISD. The second grant, P-16 Regional Councils Grant Award, will focus on Latino students.

Luis Rosado, Center for Bilingual Education director, said students interested in mentoring need to go to UTA’s Web site to apply for the jobs directly through the university’s SNAP Job Web site. The center plans to hire 25 first-generation undergraduate students part-time, 20 hours a week maximum, from different majors to work in local schools. The pay rate starts at $10 an hour.

“I want to get students from all colleges and programs,” Rosado said. “Any Texas resident college student can apply for the job. The proposed program is designed to support first-generation, minority students at Arlington High and Lamar High in AISD.”

Amaro-Jiménez said the Family College Readiness Program will create Go Centers in two AISD high schools, empowering parents to become their children’s advocates.

In the Go Centers, high school students will receive information UTA interns from colleges and programs such as engineering, science and education.

Amaro-Jiménez said mentors will help high school students prepare for the SAT and ACT examinations, apply for financial aid, programs and university selection, and learn strategies to cope in high school and college and college life in general.

Another component of the grants is to provide parents of these high school students with the tools and knowledge they need to get further support to the children, she said.

Rosado and associate vice president for K-16 Initiatives Jeanne Gerlach were the principal investigators of P-16 Regional Councils Grant Award of $50,000 for one year. Amaro-Jiménez and Rosado were the principal investigators of the UTA-AISD College Readiness Program award. It will provide $270,000 for two years.

John Smith, Department of Curriculum and Instruction chair, said one of the challenges is to make sure every young person has an opportunity to succeed.

“This grant will focus on disadvantaged students and help them to see they can succeed in school and the university,” he said. “It will greatly strengthen connections between UTA and local school districts and school business communities.”

Written by Shambhu Sharan The Shorthorn staff   

Wednesday, 21 October 2009 10:08 PM

Douglas Rushkoff, social and media theorist, author, and professor of media studies New School University, brings a unique and animated style of speaking to UT Arlington’s Focus on Technology series Wednesday in the University Center, Bluebonnet Ballroom. In his lecture, From Sputnik to MySpace: The New Education Race, and How to Win IT, Rushkoff argues that we need to begin teaching technological skills to students, not just using technology to teach. (The Shorthorn: Tim Crumpton)

Douglas Rushkoff, social and media theorist, spoke on how evolving technology changed the way society communicates.

The bestselling author and New School University media studies professor said that as media technology evolved from print to broadcast to internet, people changed from passive investors to active doers. He called this transition a media renaissance.

“When we have media renaissance that happens in all area of the society,” Rushkoff said.

About 300 faculty, staff and students attended the lecture on Wednesday in the Bluebonnet Ballroom.

Rushkoff said the beauty of the Internet is its ability to connect people separated by long distances, but that the Web has a specific role. For example, students need to keep Facebook out of the classrooms so they follow along with the professor. He said students spending hours on Facebook are not creating anything, while bloggers publish information for almost anyone to see.

Finance major graduate student Philip Oilepo said he enjoyed Rushkoff’s presentation, which related humans to technology.

“Human beings must not be blinded by the technological advancement,” Oilepo said. “I agree with him regarding getting back from the technology. The technology makes life easier.”

Rushkoff said the economic crisis has taught people to find a long-term business strategy, to share resources and see the people’s value. Businesses should care about human values instead of profit alone, he said.

“There are many human values that are not reflected in GDP and shareholder values,” he said.

Computer science freshman Jason Houghstow, said he liked Rushkoff’s talk.

“I liked the ideas he gave to educators, some of the current ideas and problems going on,” Houghstow said. “I can use some of his ideas and keep in mind some of the problems he pointed out as I’ll approach my own education.”

Pete Smith, distance education assistant vice president, said Rushkoff’s presentation was intellectually challenging.

“We brought topics of technology and ideas and Douglas was that perfect mix,” said Smith.

Suzanne Montague, information technology vice president, said 22 departments displayed tables to hand out information to the faculty, staff and students. The event was organized to raise awareness about the available departments’ resources. The UTA Bookstore sold books autographed by Rushkoff.

Rajat Mittal, electronic research administrator director, gave information about her department at the event.

“It was a good opportunity to learn and collaborate among the departments so that we are not reinventing the wheel,” she said.

Written by Shambhu Sharan, The Shorthorn staff   

Monday, 19 October 2009 09:28 PM

Collaboration is the key to Texas education, said Rep. Diane Patrick, R-Arlington.

Patrick, representing the area the school resides in, hosted the third annual Educational Policy Summit on Monday in the Rosebud Theatre and Bluebonnet Ballroom. She worked in the university’s College of Education and Health Professions from 1999 to 2003. The summit’s purpose was to provide educators and business communities a way to give input on the state’s educational policy.

President James Spaniolo said he is delighted to have the event at the university.

“No institution can be successful without working hand-in-hand,” Spaniolo said. “We all represent a variety of educational institutions, and we rely on each other. Academic successes of students are important for the university. We have challenges working with diverse group, changing technology and we have to find ways to deal with it. Kindergarten, middle schools, high schools and community colleges — all are important for us. I am confident we’ll work together.”

Mayor Robert Cluck attended the summit. He said it was important for public and business leaders, along with educators. About 200 representatives from public and private schools, community colleges, four-year institutions and business leaders attended.

“UTA is the most important thing in the city,” Cluck said. “This is the place where people are getting education, and they become part of the society.”

Commissioner of Higher Education Raymund Paredes and Raymond Glynn, Texas Education Agency deputy commissioner, were the keynote speakers.

Paredes said the university has so much energy in the community, but Texas higher education is slightly underfunded compared to California and other states.

“We have to compete in the global economy,” he said. “We have to improve quality in education. Faculty quality is important. National education of science, research and engineering are important for us.”

Paredes said institutions need to collaborate and provide whatever options students want. If students need to work after high school, institutions should prepare them to get jobs.

“The faculty, superintendents, presidents and college deans need to work in collaboration,” Paredes said. “UT Arlington is a leader in that regard.”

Written by Shambhu Sharan, The Shorthorn staff   

Monday, 26 October 2009 05:53 PM

Jeff Guinn told a cautionary tale, the story of Dallas-natives Bonnie and Clyde, to 125 people, including two newly presented McNair Scholars.

The Friends of the UTA Library invited faculty, retired faculty, community members and students to attend Friday night. The event included a presentation of the McNair Scholars Award based on research completed by undergraduates. The McNair Scholars program is designed to prepare qualified undergraduates for graduate study. Guinn waved his honorary monetary amount, asking it be shared between the award’s recipients.

Before Guinn’s talk, interdisciplinary studies senior Juandell Parker and physics senior Crystal Red Eagle received the award, including $500 scholarships. The two also received an additional $100 each because of Guinn’s waiver.

“I am very happy,” Parker said. “I worked very hard this summer doing my summer research. It was nice to receive the award.”

Joan Reihardt, McNair Scholars Program director, said it is wonderful that the Friends of Library supports the undergraduate research program.

Tommie Wingfield, UTA Friends of Library president said Jeff is well known and an old friend of the library because he wrote for the Fort Worth Star-Telegram.

“I liked his topic,” Wingfield said. “This time, different people came to listen to Jeff. He is the first one who gave his honorary back to students.”

Former President Wendell Nedderman said he enjoyed the event. The Bonnie and Clyde story is a classic example for the community, he said.

“We must be endurable, we must follow honorable path and we should not give it up in any circumstances,” Nedderman said. “It also shows when once crime life starts it gets worse. My message is to live an honorable life.”

The UTA Bookstore sold out of Guinn’s 40 autographed books Go Down Together: The True, Untold Story of Bonnie and Clyde.

http://www.theshorthorn.com/content/view/18035/265/

Written by Shambhu Sharan, The Shorthon staff   

Monday, 05 October 2009 07:21 PM

Local Children perform a traditional Indian dance Sunday on the stage at Parking Lot 10 of the Cowboys Stadium during Diwali, the Indian festival of light. The festival was held for the first time at the stadium featuring events such as elephant rides, traditional Indian music and a closing fireworks show. (The Shorthorn: Shambhu Sharan)

The weather may have been cloudy and chilly, but the Diwali celebrations went on as scheduled at the Cowboys Stadium this weekend.

Elephant and camel rides, traditional dances, Kailash Kher’s Bollywood music, a fashion show and an Indian food court topped the list of attractions.

Satish Gupta, DFW Indian Cultural Society chair, said the Diwali event was the largest outside of India.

“It was my pleasure to organize the event,” Gupta said. “Local talent worked very hard.”

The event’s volunteer coordinator, Rajan Aggarwal, said the university’s Hindu Students Council volunteers played a major role in the event. A total of 125 UTA students volunteered.

“Students were very dedicated, worked continuously from the start to the end of the event,” Aggarwal said. “I wish them good wishes and
success in their lives. Hope to see them next year,” he said.

Physics graduate student Karthik Shastry transported the elderly, disabled and children from the parking lots.

“I was happy to see people of different backgrounds,” Shastry said. “I was tired but it was fulfilling.”

Written by Shambhu Sharan, The Shorthorn staff   

Monday, 05 October 2009 08:39 PM

Information

Eligible: Undergraduate students who are Texas residents
Rate: $10/hour
Apply online:
http://www.uta.edu/employment

Source: Luis Rosado, Center for Bilingual Education director

Undergraduate Texas residents can soon help neighborhood high school students while making money, thanks to the new grants from the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board.

UTA’s Center for Bilingual Education and the P-16 Regional Council obtained the two grants in collaboration with Arlington ISD.

One purposes of the UTA-AISD College Readiness Program grant is to provide paid mentors and encourage minority students to complete high school and prepare for college, said Carla Amaro-Jiménez, bilingual education visiting assistant professor.

Amaro-Jiménez said Latinos are the largest minority group in the nation but at the same time the most underachieving and undereducated group. The college going rate for Latinos is one of the lowest in the nation, 9 percent, and in Texas, 6.5 percent.

To address these gaps, the university’s P-16 Regional Council proposed the creation of a program to increase the college-going rate for Latinos in two high schools in Arlington ISD. The second grant, P-16 Regional Councils Grant Award, will focus on Latino students.

Luis Rosado, Center for Bilingual Education director, said students interested in mentoring need to go to UTA’s Web site to apply for the jobs directly through the university’s SNAP Job Web site. The center plans to hire 25 first-generation undergraduate students part-time, 20 hours a week maximum, from different majors to work in local schools. The pay rate starts at $10 an hour.

“I want to get students from all colleges and programs,” Rosado said. “Any Texas resident college student can apply for the job. The proposed program is designed to support first-generation, minority students at Arlington High and Lamar High in AISD.”

Amaro-Jiménez said the Family College Readiness Program will create Go Centers in two AISD high schools, empowering parents to become their children’s advocates.

In the Go Centers, high school students will receive information UTA interns from colleges and programs such as engineering, science and education.

Amaro-Jiménez said mentors will help high school students prepare for the SAT and ACT examinations, apply for financial aid, programs and university selection, and learn strategies to cope in high school and college and college life in general.

Another component of the grants is to provide parents of these high school students with the tools and knowledge they need to get further support to the children, she said.

Rosado and associate vice president for K-16 Initiatives Jeanne Gerlach were the principal investigators of P-16 Regional Councils Grant Award of $50,000 for one year. Amaro-Jiménez and Rosado were the principal investigators of the UTA-AISD College Readiness Program award. It will provide $270,000 for two years.

John Smith, Department of Curriculum and Instruction chair, said one of the challenges is to make sure every young person has an opportunity to succeed.

“This grant will focus on disadvantaged students and help them to see they can succeed in school and the university,” he said. “It will greatly strengthen connections between UTA and local school districts and school business communities.”

Written by Shambhu Sharan, The Shorthorn staff   

Thursday, 01 October 2009 09:32 PM

Diwali Mela Schedule of Events

When: Sunday
Cost: $8 online and $10 at the gate, free for children under 10,
Parking: free
Tickets online:
meraTicket.com, DFWDiwaliMela.com

Event Schedule

Kids Corner, petting zoo, rides-slides, elephant and camel rides
When: 4 p.m.-midnight
Where: Outside Cowboys Stadium

Magic Show
When: 6-9 p.m.
Where: Parking Lot 10

Indian regional folk dances
When: 6-9 p.m.
Who: 40 local organizations
Where: Community Stage, Parking Lot 10

Ramleela, a drama, based on the Hindu epic Ramayana
Who: Metroplex artists
When: 7:30 p.m.-8 p.m.
Where: West Plaza

Music concert
Who: Kailash Kher, a renowned Bollywood singer and his team
When: 8:30 p.m.-midnight
Where: West Plaza

Ras-Garba
Who: Brij Joshi and his party
When: 8 p.m.-11 p.m.
Where: East Plaza

Ravan Dahan
When: 11:30 p.m.-midnight
Where: Outside Cowboys Stadium

End of the festival with fireworks and fire crackers
When: Midnight
Where: Outside Cowboys Stadium

To volunteer with the Hindu Students Council,

e-mail hindustudentcouncil@yahoo.com or call Prasad Joglekar 817-272-1866

Source: Volunteer coordinator Rajan Aggarwal

The new Cowboys Stadium will house the expected 100,000 attendees for Diwali Mela, an Indian lights festival, for the first time from 4 p.m. to midnight on Sunday.

Events include elephant and camel rides, petting zoo, an Indian dance-music concert and light and firework displays. Indian food and culture information will be available. Non-Indian attendees are welcome.

“The purpose is to promote and educate Hindu culture to the Metroplex residents and Hindus born and brought up here,” said Ramesh Gupta, DFW Indian Cultural Society media relations officer. “The festival is a way to unite all the Indians in one platform.”

Because UTA’s Hindu Students Council is going to have its own booth at the Diwali Mela, many people, especially those who are coming to participate from remote places will get to know about the university, said physics lecturer Nila Veerabathina. UTA’s Fine Arts Society of India is also volunteering for the event.

“Like Christmas, Diwali has religious, cultural, social and historical roots,” Veerabathina said. “It is an excellent way for UT-Arlington students to get connected with the DFW Indian and International community and vice versa.”

Almost 140 students have registered to volunteer at the event, said council President Prasad Joglekar. The group is accepting more volunteers, who will receive a free ticket, T-shirts, certificates and food. The council will raise money to give scholarships to international students, he said.

Finance major Chetan Kanadia said the event will give the council a platform to showcase the Indian culture and social activities at UTA, and a chance to meet local Asian-Indian population.

Electrical engineering graduate Swanand Phadke said he sees this festival as a special occasion to get connected with India and Indian families and friends.

Marketing graduate Darshan Shah said people clean and decorate their home with lights in India during Diwali.

According to Ramayana, a Hindu epic, the festival symbolizes Shri Rama’s return to Ayodhya, one of the seven sacred cities of the Hindus, after 14 years in exile and victory over Ravana symbolizing victory of good over evil. People welcomed Rama by organizing the light festival.

The epic describes Diwali’s inner-meaning as the attempt to shed light on ignorance through knowledge.

Diwali is also known as the Festival of Lights, celebrated all over the world by Hindus. People celebrate the festival on the new moon day, which this year will fall on Oct. 17. The society decided to celebrate earlier due to space availability reasons.

Written by Shambhu Sharan, The Shorthorn staff   

Tuesday, 29 September 2009 09:25 PM

Lijing Liu’s father Jun, center, caresses Lijing’s head as her mother, Ling Liu, right, and Physics graduate Yuebin Li look on Sunday at Texas Health Harris Methodist Hospital in Fort Worth. Lijing Liu, formerly in a coma, can now move her head, eyes, recognize faces and understand speech. She is still unable to talk but is now breathing on her own without a respiration tube. (The Shorthorn: Shambhu Sharan)

When Lijing Liu’s father asked his daughter to move her head, she moved it.

Lijing Liu electrical engineering graduate student, formerly in a coma, can now move her head, eyes and eyelids, recognize faces and understand people talking to her. She still cannot talk. Texas Health Harris Methodist Hospital Fort Worth doctors took out her respiration tube and she is able to breath on her own.

After an upcoming surgery she will have to be moved, doctors said. But her parents said they can’t afford it.

Two blood clots in Liu’s brain ruptured and began to bleed during the summer, which caused her to fall into a coma. Her father, Jun Liu, said doctors will arrange Liu’s surgery on Oct. 5 to remove the last of her blood clots.

The doctors asked Liu’s parents to move her out of the hospital after the surgery and find one in China or a rehabilitation center in the Metroplex.

“The situation in China is very hard,” Liu’s father said. “If people have no money, they can’t stay in the hospital.”

Doctors are trying to find a rehabilitation center, which is expensive. Lijing’s insurance ran out and doesn’t cover the expenses of rehabilitation. Lijing is not a U.S. citizen and doesn’t qualify for special support programs, Liu’s father said.

Deputy Consul General Yu Boren, with the Chinese Consulate, came from Houston to meet with Liu’s family along with Wang Dong, cultural and press affairs consul, and Yu Haiying, science and technology consul.

“I am worried about Liu’s major operation. Going back to China is a long trip. If she can stay here until she recovers it would be better,” Boren said. “Liu’s family has spent all of their money. They are from an ordinary family and they need help.”

In the meantime, Liu is still considered a UTA student.

“Lijing Liu has a medical reason for not being enrolled,” said Judy Young, Office of International Education executive director. “As long as there is medical reason the office can give [her] medical waiver to stay in the university.”

A medical waiver was filed for her this semester and was approved. Liu needs to file another the waiver at the end of fall or beginning of the spring semester to continue keeping her status as a student. Young said she hopes Liu can recover and complete her degree.

The office is keeping in touch with Friendship Association of Chinese Students and Scholars, the organization of which Liu is a member, about her situation, Young said.

The association raised donations for her in front of the library for two weeks in September, built a Web site for her and helped shuttle her parents to and from the hospital.

If she has to go back to China, Boren will make sure the local government would help her, he said.

Donate

Lijing Liu (or Friendship Association of Chinese Students and Scholars)
P.O. Box 190835
Arlington, Texas 76019

Please make checks payable to:
On Behalf of Lijing Liu

If you would like to volunteer to help in any other way please contact:
uta_facss@yahoo.com

Web site in honor of Lijing Liu:
http://soundmap.org/Lijing/