The dream took center stage as the Black Theater Society’s rendition of Cinderella sprang to life in the Rosebud Theater on Sunday afternoon, offering audiences a fresh, heartfelt retelling of the classic fairy tale. Gabrielle Malbrough, Black Theater Society president and scene designer for the play, said the organization centers artists of color. It focuses on advocacy, education and celebration within the theater world, and aims to create a safe space for artistic growth, mentorship and community. Malbrough said theater often isn’t catered toward minorities, so the play provided an opportunity to represent Black culture in a unique space. “I'm happy to be able to have a space like this, and to have people be on the stage and feel themselves and learn,” Malbrough said. “I'm just happy I could be a cultivator of that.” The Black Theater Society played a significant role in the production, with many members involved onstage and behind the scenes, she said. Nearly half the cast were members, and several students on the executive board held production roles. Malbrough said that the decision to produce this particular play, a reimagining of Cinderella, was largely influenced by London Crawford, the playwright and associate director, who saw a need for more Black voices in the department. “I think London did a really beautiful job of trying to integrate culture into this story, and having a story where Black people can look there and kind of see themselves,” she said. T’niyah McLaughlin, actress executive producer, production manager and interim costume designer for the production said their work came at a critical time. The Black theater community was pushing for a show reflecting their identity and were tired of being overlooked, she said. This production ensures every detail, from costumes to crew, was rooted in shared cultural experience and feeling. “We're gonna do our own thing, and we're gonna make it as Black as possible,” McLaughlin said’ “And that's exactly what you see up here.” GeCamri Amberay, who stars as Cinderella, said representation means feeling included and seen. She said it's about being visible from a young age and not being restricted or hidden for who we are. Crawford said what sets this version of Cinderella apart is the emotional depth given to characters overlooked in other renditions. Characters like the prince and stepmother, who tend to be flat in traditional tellings, were given backstories and growth. “I wanted to show a positive relationship between a Black boy and his father, but also that Black boys can also get wishes,” he said. “So, I think those things make it stand out.” Seeing the show come to life was a deeply emotional experience for Crawford. He said he cried through the first few numbers, overwhelmed by hearing his words brought to life on stage. The journey from script to stage took several months. Crawford completed the script in October, then casting followed in November and full rehearsals began late February. One of the most powerful shifts in this reimagining is the redemption of the stepmother Mona. Crawford said no one is inherently evil in this version. This layered portrayal of McLaughlin, who played Mona. While she’s played many villains in the past, Mona was one of the few characters where she felt the audience could truly sympathize with, she said. McLaughlin said portraying Mona was a challenge because her cruelty stems from deep pain. She’s a wounded woman whose harshness stems from misplaced attempts to protect Cinderella from the world. “London did not want the ‘angry Black woman, mother’ to be portrayed. Although that is her character, I didn't want it to fall into that stereotype,” she said. McLaughlin, who stepped in as interim costume designer just three weeks before the show, said the team had to be resourceful with their tight $1,200 budget, relying on collaboration and creativity to make costumes work. She worked closely with director co-choreographer Jess Anoruigwe to reflect the characters' emotional journeys through their clothing, especially Cinderella’s transformation, while encouraging actor input to ensure authenticity. “A lot of those costumes you see from their closets and ensemble members, they created, their own name, their own story, their own everything,” she said. “You see the costumes kind of reflect that.” Anoruigwe, described the production as a blend of play and musical, with dance replacing traditional song. Movement was used as a storytelling tool to express the characters’ internal emotions — desire, conflict and longing — especially where words fell short, she said. She said in one scene the lack of synchronicity in the choreography between the king and queen physically represents tension in their relationship. Kalumbu Tshibangu, who plays King Marcellus, said he begins with breathwork and warmups, then mentally steps into the role by doing dialogue with the character until the lines blur and he fully embodies the the role. A collective favorite memory among the cast is their water gun rehearsal. Tshibangu said it not only helped the actors understand their characters' intentions in the scene, but also gave them a chance to let loose and have fun. Amberay said the cast grew close while working. It started with a simple ritual where the cast would go around sharing what they’re thankful for, and over time, they started saying each other. She said that even though she was pre-casted as Cinderella, she still auditioned to keep the process fair. She worked hard to differentiate the character from other meek characters she's played, focusing on making her quirky, yet strong. Even while nearing opening night, Amberay continued to discover new aspects of her character. Prince Williams, who plays the Emcee, said her character process draws heavily from her love of Dungeons & Dragons. She builds each role from the ground up — crafting traits, flaws and even objects the character would carry. “I always have an objective for the character in each scene and also throughout the show,” she said. “Even though the character might not have lines, the character still has an objective.” Williams said performing with the cast required a lot of trust and energy-sharing, especially in big ensemble scenes like the buzz drumline. She said moments like that worked because the cast supported each other and gave energy when others needed it and to create space to lead or follow as needed. Williams said she hopes audiences walk away knowing this shouldn’t be the last all-Black reimagining of a classic. She said the show is a reminder that traditions can be reshaped, and now is the time to change things for the better. “For some of the people who are in the audience that have a dream to dance, have a dream to write, have a dream to tell stories like these. This is to show that things are possible,” she said. @taylor._.sansom news-editor.shorthorn@uta.edu

UTA’s Student Senate members appointed a new Chief of Staff, passed two resolutions and said their goodbyes Tuesday during the final meeting of the semester. The body unanimously confirmed Lya Lang, External Relations Committee chair, as the new Chief of Staff with 20 votes. Lang will succeed incumbent Effua Jordan, who nominated her. Jordan said Lang is a strong leader, a frequent volunteer at local organizations, like Mission Arlington, and helped raise $15,000 for the Arlington Boys and Girls Club. “I want to focus on strengthening our internal structure to make sure that each member of Student Government feels supported, organized and empowered in their role,” Lang said. “At the same time, I want to increase our focus on community service — giving back to the city that has given us so much.” During the meeting, senators passed Resolution 25-10, “Speed Cuisine,” and Resolution 25-11, “Recognition Resolution Act,” after brief deliberation. Resolution 25-10, “Speed Cuisine,” aims to add up to three new microwaves in the University Center and passed unanimously with 19 votes. The resolution states that budget-conscious students who bring food to campus can’t wait in the food court’s lines due to time constraints. Marcus Otero, College of Nursing and Health Innovation senator, authored the resolution and said the new microwaves would not be limited to the University Center. Locations like Pickard Hall, Trimble Hall and the library are also being considered as the center’s renovation begins. Resolution 25-11, “Recognition Resolution Act,” proposes the creation of a Maverick Legacy Walk, a pathway to honor faculty and staff with over 20 years of service and a formal induction ceremony. The resolution passed with 18 votes in favor and one against. Gaven Lopez gave a heartfelt speech to sign off his last meeting as the Speaker of the Senate. Academic Affairs chair Austin Palacios was elected as the next speaker April 15. Lopez thanked his mother for her guidance and support during his tenure and the senators for their continuous work. “I have found each and every one of you truly amazing people,” Lopez said. “I thank you for your commitment to show up, to give into something larger than yourself and to give into the opportunity that gives you a chance to grow as a person with a new experience.” Before Lopez’s final comments, every senator stood from their seats — some atop their desks — and began applauding. “It’s been an honor, it’s been a pleasure serving y’all, and I hope that y’all continue to serve your people,” he said. @PMalkomes news-editor.shorthorn@uta.edu

President Donald Trump has made one thing clear since his first day of his second term in office: his administration would make drastic change. As of April 19, the president has signed well over 100 executive orders, many of them immediately following his inauguration, resulting in the implementation of various historically unseen policies and changes to the government and nation. With April 30 marking Trump’s 100th day in office, here is a breakdown of some of the key actions his administration has taken and reactions from students and community members. Education On March 20, Trump mobilized a plan dismantling the U.S. Department of Education with Executive Order 14242, which seeks to have the Secretary of Education take steps to return authority over education to the states and local communities. The DOE serves over 50 million students and provides grant, loan and work-study assistance to more than 12 million postsecondary students. The action followed Trump’s long-term campaign to close the department due to concerns about diversity, equity and inclusion policies and financial management, according to the order. A 23-year-old college student in Tarrant County, who chose to remain anonymous due to safety concerns, said they have already seen the order’s effect on campus. “The intercultural festival at my school has been canceled. Student emergency fund for students who are experiencing financial crisis has been canceled because they are afraid of being identified under all these rules and getting things like funding eliminated,” they said. Arlington resident Matthew Lucci said that as someone who attended and taught at a UT System school, he values education and advocates for the DOE’s removal. Lucci was also a District 25 candidate in the last U.S. House of Representatives primary election. “If you move that money down to the state level instead of funneling it through the [DOE], you’ll actually see much better local control, and that’s something that I would definitely appreciate rather than having some unelected bureaucrats 2,000 miles away in Washington, D.C., make a lot of those administrative decisions,” he said. Tariffs On April 2, Trump imposed a 10% tariff on all international imports and specialized “reciprocal tariffs” on nations with larger trade deficits, such as China. The tariffs were imposed to ensure national security and economic resilience and independence, according to a statement from the White House. Trades were paused after over 75 countries inquired about new deals, with the exception of China, which retaliated and now faces up to a 245% tariff on imports, the statement read. Austin Boyd, business economics and political science double major at the University of North Texas, said free trade helps keep prices down, and continuing to raise tariffs does not benefit anybody. “Basically every economist that you’ll find is like, ‘Free trade is good,’” Boyd said. “There’s small exceptions to it, but it does not benefit anybody in either country whenever we start a trade war with other countries.” Lucci said Trump’s policy on tariffs highlights restoring American jobs and keeping nationwide industries competitive in the global market. “When you have adversaries like China that will intentionally subsidize their own product so that it is much less than the cost of the product in the United States,” he said. “That might not be a big problem if we’re talking about a T-shirt or a children’s toy, but it is a huge problem when we’re talking about raw materials like steel and aluminum.” Immigration On Jan. 20, Trump signed Executive Order 14159, which laid out his key stances on immigration. The order declared illegal immigrants “significant threats to national security and public safety” and mobilized several immigration agencies, like U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, to tighten immigration laws. In three other orders signed the same day, Trump designated cartels as foreign terrorist organizations, establishing plans to build physical barriers to prevent illegal migration and terminating immigrant parole programs. Following the immigration policies, Trump’s administration gave federal officers a national quota to arrest a minimum of 1,200 undocumented immigrants per day, according to The Texas Tribune. The quota was not met, but ICE’s daily arrest reports showed a significant increase from the previous administration. The Tarrant County student said it’s unfair that people are being scrutinized despite living in the U.S. legally. It’s especially pressing given the county’s diverse population, the student said. “We need to protect the people who live here with us, who give us our culture and everything that makes this place special,” the student said. Meanwhile, political science senior Jacob Wernette said he does not see the Trump administration’s crackdown on immigration as inhumane. The U.S. has legal factors that define a citizen and for the democracy to succeed, those citizens must be enfranchised through the terms the Constitution sets, he said. “If we have open borders, we are essentially taking out the right of a nation to execute its own laws,” he said. Diversity, equity and inclusion On Jan. 21, Trump signed Executive Order 14173, targeting decades-old affirmative action policies and preventing diversity, equity and inclusion and accessibility initiatives within federal programs. The order states DEI and accessibility policies “threaten the safety” of Americans by diminishing the value of individual merit within jobs and services. The order also pressured the private sector to stop DEI policies. The attorney general was given 120 days since its signing to submit recommendations for enforcing federal civil rights laws and taking appropriate action to push DEI and accessibility out. The report will identify the most “egregious and discriminatory” DEI practitioners. “We believe that whether you are a doctor, an accountant, a lawyer or an air traffic controller, you should be hired and promoted based on skill and competence, not race or gender,” Trump said in a joint address to Congress on March 4. Wernette said the Republican Party has always pushed for the equality of opportunity over the equality of outcome, and Trump’s stance on DEI puts people’s skills and qualifications first. “I definitely believe that, as a businessman, somebody who has been in the private sector, somebody who has promoted people based on certain things, this has probably reinforced a lot of how Trump sees DEI,” he said. The Tarrant County student said DEI is important, and many people aren’t aware of how many groups fall under its umbrella. It helps keep society equitable, the student said. @PMalkomes news-editor.shorthorn@uta.edu

Arlington residents can participate in the May 3 special election to vote for the bond program, charter amendments and to elect new members to the Arlington Independent School District Board of Trustees. Early voting is from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday to Friday, 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday and 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. April 28 to 29. Arlington has seven polling locations. Over $54 million of the $136.9 million proposed in the bond Proposition A: Public Works - Streets, will go into the reconstruction of West Randol Mill Road, encompassing North Fielder Road to North Cooper Street. It will obtain new gutters, curbs, streetlights and a variety of other additions, according to previous Shorthorn reporting. Propositions B, C, D and E aim to improve city parks and libraries, replace major systems in Arlington City Hall and rebuild Fire Station Six on South Collins Street. Amendments to the city charter include changes to how city council meetings are scheduled, an annual election for deputy mayor pro tempore, how runoff elections are conducted and other propositions relating to the city and its council. The AISD Board of Trustees election will fill the vacant spots four and five. David Wilbanks and April Moore are running for place four, and Justin Chapa is running for place five. @wall035203 news-editor.shorthorn@uta.edu

No. 2 UTA men’s tennis season came to an end Friday at the hands of No. 3 Abilene Christian University at the Arlington Tennis Center. The Mavericks headed into the Western Athletic Conference Men’s Tennis Tournament semifinals in hopes of advancing to the championship match and claiming a three-peat. In the regular season, the Mavericks defeated the Wildcats twice, dismantling them 6-1 on the road and escaping 4-3 at UTA Tennis Center. The third time was the charm at 4-2 for Abilene Christian University. UTA got off to a strong start in doubles, earning two victories to clinch the early point. Duo sophomore Meethre Barot and senior Pedro Sasso struck first, winning their match 6-3. Senior Daniel Pérez-Caraballo and freshman Federico Garbero sealed doubles with a 6-4 win. “[We] came with some really big energy and it was tough,” head coach Diego Benitez said. “We won the doubles point and it seemed like we were gonna have another one in the bag.” The downward spiral for the Mavericks began in singles. Sophomore Andres Medus was the lone bright spot for UTA, earning a win in straight sets. His win regained the lead for the team 2-1. With three matches ongoing, UTA needed two to secure the victory and earn their spot in the championship match. However, Barot, Garbero, Sasso and freshman Mattia Ricci all dropped their matches, resulting in the loss. Medus said, despite the loss, the team is grateful for the opportunity to play in front of a pro-UTA atmosphere. In addition to the challenges of beating a team three times in one season, Barot said the opportunity for a three-peat was in the back of the team’s minds. “We were favored in this match too, so they came out with nothing to lose,” he said. “Maybe we got tight at some moments, but it was tough overall.” Although coming up short of the ultimate goal, the team’s overarching theme was a sense of pride in each other. “I just want to make sure that we go back to basics, drawing board, and start working hard for next year. Get a good offseason, work hard in the summer and then get ready for the next year. That’s all we can really do,” Benitez said. “I’m proud of them and I think that it was a very successful season.” @tdreevess sports-editor.shorthorn@uta.edu

No. 3 UTA women’s tennis upset No. 2 Tarleton State University to clinch a 4-2 win Friday at the Arlington Tennis Center. The team secured its spot in the Western Athletic Conference Women’s Tennis Tournament championships final Saturday against No. 1 seed Grand Canyon University. After dropping a hard-fought doubles point, the Mavericks clawed their way back in singles play with gritty performances. Head coach Diego Benitez said he appreciates the battles against in-state rival Tarleton and looks forward to representing Texas in the tournament final. “Tarleton is such a tough team. Every time we play, it’s just big battles,” Benitez said. “We’re very glad to have a rivalry with them so close from home, so it’s a great team. Big respect for the coaches and the players.” UTA’s room for error shrank after a 1-0 finish in doubles. The Mavericks came back with three thrilling singles victories. After a difficult opening round in doubles, senior Ana Paula Jimenez rebounded in singles to set the tone for her teammates. She was the first to complete her matchup en route to a victory in straight sets, securing UTA’s first point. Jimenez said playing under the windy conditions the day prior helped prepare her to take advantage of the conditions during Friday’s match. Junior Valeriia Ivanovskaia followed Jimenez’s lead, boasting two 6-3 wins, furthering the lead for the Mavericks. However, Tarleton freshman Maria Castano won the team’s lone singles victory, tying the match at 2-2 in straight sets over UTA senior Nika Novikova. The dropped point shifted the pressure to the three remaining Mavericks. After UTA freshman Maria Lucia Araoz-Gosn won her first set 6-1, she said physical ailments took a toll in the second set. “I was getting very tired, I couldn’t breathe,” she said. “I also started cramping in both of my legs. My game is very physical also, so that affected me a lot, but I brought myself back together because I did not want to play a third set.” Despite the setbacks, Araoz-Gosn’s determination to avoid a third set carried her to a 6-3 win, with UTA needing one more point for the victory. All eyes shifted to senior Ioana Dumitrescu. After Dumitrescu took the first singles set 6-1, TSU’s junior Ximena Morales had other plans, storming back to win the second set 6-3. The struggles continued for Dumitrescu to begin the third set. She dug herself into a 0-2 deficit with all focus on her match. However, with her teammates rallying behind her, Dumitrescu reignited her fire from the opening set and battled back to win six straight games, bringing home the victory for UTA 4-2. Benitez awarded Dumitrescu the match’s “MVP” chain for closing the deal for the Mavericks. “Having people to hold you from the back and give you that extra motivation and support that, maybe in the moment, you don’t have the energy to do it, it gives you better wins,” Dumitrescu said. The team will face Grand Canyon University in the title game at 10 a.m. Saturday at the Styslinger/Altec Tennis Complex at Southern Methodist University’s campus due to impending weather. The match will be available to stream on Western Athletic Conference International. @kaleivie_ sports-editor.shorthorn@uta.edu

The Texas Rangers (12-7) defeated the Los Angeles Angels (9-9), 5-3 on Thursday at Globe Life Field, sweeping the season’s first home division series. Aside from an opening day blimp against the Boston Red Sox, the Rangers have been unbeatable at home, improving to 9-1 at Globe Life Field to start the season. Pitcher Kumar Rocker got the start Thursday, looking to secure his first win of the season. After allowing a run in the first inning, Rocker settled in for the remainder of the game. Manager Bruce Bochy said Rocker had good command with his pitches and was pleased with his ball placement. “He hit the outside corner very well with [breaking ball],” Bochy said. “That’s the biggest thing, I talk about it all the time, his location. He had really good location tonight.” It didn’t take long for the Rangers to even up the game. Second baseman Marcus Semien scored a run from a sacrifice fly from outfielder Adolis García, tying the game at one apiece by the bottom of the first. Texas added a few runs in the second inning ignited by outfielder Leody Taveras’ double that rang in fellow outfielder Dustin Harris and infielder Jake Burger. The Rangers would maintain the lead the rest of the game. García nuked the first of two Rangers home runs in the first at-bat of the third inning, extending their lead 4-1. While momentum pointed in the Rangers’ favor, Rocker struggled to maintain control of the game in the fifth inning, and allowed two runs, both with two outs on the board, on four hits. The Angels drew closer, 4-3. In the seventh inning, shortstop Corey Seager’s 100th home run as a Ranger sealed the deal. Seager took advantage of an Angels’ pitching change, bombing the very first pitch 427 feet into center field. The score gave Texas more breathing room, leading 5-3. “He’s one of the best hitters I’ve seen,” Bochy said. “He’s fun to watch. He’s simple and he has an incredible ability to get a good part of batting the ball. Tremendous power, uses the whole field too. He’s a special player and we’re lucky to have him.” Rocker’s night ended after seven innings pitched, finishing with eight strikeouts while only allowing five hits and three runs. He earned his first win of his career. “That’s a great way to get your first win, to go seven innings,” Bochy said. “We were all happy for him, how he threw the ball. He’s got the stuff to be a really nice major league pitcher and can be a dominant one, and he showed that tonight.” Bochy also marked a milestone, notching his 2,183rd win in his career as a manager. He is now tied seventh all-time with Dusty Baker, former Houston Astros manager. The Texas Rangers will be back to host the Los Angeles Dodgers for a three-game series starting 7:05 p.m. Friday at Globe Life Field. The game will be available to stream on CW33 and Victory+. @babyboimatt sports-editor.shorthorn@uta.edu

UTA women’s tennis swept No. 6 Utah Tech University 4-0 in their quarterfinal matchup of the Western Athletic Conference Women's Tennis Championships on Thursday at the Arlington Tennis Center. A warm, windy day set the scene at the hub of WAC tennis for the weekend. The Mavericks entered the tournament as the No. 3 seed. Head coach Diego Benitez said he was proud of the team’s performance, despite noticing nerves. “I think that it’s always a little bit tough to play the first round because it’s a lot of nerves that you gotta deal with,” Benitez said. “I think we got our feet wet in that department today, and hopefully tomorrow we can play a little more relaxed.” UTA got off to a hot start, earning the first point of the match with two doubles victories. Junior Valeriia Ivanovskaia and senior Mialy Ranaivo made quick work of their opponents, winning their doubles match 6-1. Soon after, senior Nika Novikova and freshman Maria Lucia Araoz-Gosn won 6-3 to clinch the doubles point for the Mavericks. Both teams duked it out in singles, fighting tooth and nail on all six courts. The duo, Novikova and Araoz-Gosn, continued their dominance in singles, beating their opponents in straight sets. Despite the team’s overall dominance, senior Ana Paula Jimenez struggled to gain momentum against UTU’s sophomore Mariana Zurita. After losing the first set 6-4, a talk with Benitez strengthened the senior’s efforts, finding herself tied 3-3 in the second set. However, the match was halted with the Mavericks claiming the victory. “It was really windy today and her game, it was kind of tricky because she was hitting flat and so short and low, so with the wind it was even worse,” Jimenez said when talking about her singles opponent. “I couldn’t figure out how to play her, but I feel like with time, I got more adapted to the conditions and I was finding my way.” Senior Ioana Dumitrescu’s match was the last one counted, defeating her opponent in decisive fashion. After winning the first set 6-4, Dumitrescu took control of the second with a 5-1 lead. Despite her opponent’s effort to make a comeback, Dumitrescu put the match away 6-3, throwing her hat to the ground in triumph and letting out a victory cry. “It’s a huge deal in my last year, and the intensity is over the sky,” Dumitrescu said. “To get the team to move over on semifinals, it means a lot.” Benitez presented an “MVP” chain to Novikova for her dominance in singles and doubles. With the chain on her neck, she led her team to stamp their place in the semifinals on the WAC bracket. The team will face No. 2 seed Tarleton State University at 11 a.m. Friday at the Arlington Tennis Center for a chance to advance to the championship match. The teams split the regular season series, 1-1. @kaleivie_ sports-editor.shorthorn@uta.edu

The aromas of Twiggy’z Mangonadas y Mas fill The Park nearly every Wednesday afternoon. Situated between Trimble Hall and the UTA Planetarium, The Park hosts local food trucks weekly for students and staff to enjoy during lunch rush. While the university offers various dining options, Jennifer Lookenbill, Maverick Dining director of operations, compared the feeling to searching a fridge full of food and still finding “nothing to eat.” “When you see the same variety day in and day out, you almost become numb to what the offerings are,” Lookenbill said. Twiggy’z owner Frank Leija first brought his business to The Park last fall, quickly becoming a fan favorite. The business’ staples include elote with Flamin’ Hot Cheetos, tacos, homemade marinated bistek, nachos and more. The name Twiggy’z is inspired by Leija’s 13-year-old daughter, whose nickname growing up was “Twigz” due to her petite frame. His logo incorporates a rainbow unicorn horn in place of the ‘i,’ another nod to his daughter, who loves the magical creature. Leija’s wife fell ill a few years ago, leaving her unable to work. This left the family in a difficult financial situation as they faced homelessness. In the midst of it, his daughter asked him for a snow cone machine. Leija said he purchased one off of eBay and got two deep freezers from Facebook. His children made cardboard signs displaying his phone number, and soon, the family was getting calls and selling $0.50 snow cones from their Dodge Caravan. “We were in neighborhoods, and then we were in taco shops, tire shops, warehouses. Then, going into that first year, we got our first party,” he said. Gaining momentum in their second year of business, COVID-19 caused traction to slow down as Leija got sick as well. Soon after getting up and running again nearly two years ago, the family lost their home to a fire. Close to being put out of the hotel they were staying at, a customer he catered a quinceañera for remembered his kindness and offered them a house for rent in Lancaster, Texas. Leija began working again, selling snow cones and tacos on an empty acre of land bordering the city and Red Oak, Texas. While working out there, Leija said a customer’s parents heard he was going through a rough patch and asked him to name three things he needed help with. Among the three wishes, he said he wanted a trailer. “About two weeks later he took me out to Tyler, Texas, to a ranch, and the trailer was sitting just rusted. No windows, no tires, animals living in it and trash all in it,” Leija said. “He said, ‘Can you do something with that?’ I was like, ‘Man, I told you, if I had a trailer, I’d be unstoppable.’” After taking the trailer to a body shop and adding Leija’s desires — three windows, a grill and a cooler — he said the rest is history. “It went beyond my expectations. Not in my wildest dreams I thought I’d be here,” Leija said, gesturing to the UTA campus. “When I got invited here, I’m still in awe.” Growing up with six brothers and two sisters, Leija said he spent a lot of time in the kitchen with his mother and grandmother when visiting México in the summer. Sharing his culture’s food with people from all walks of life and seeing them enjoy it is an amazing feeling, he said. “Not only you get to tell your friends, and they get to now experience what you grew up with or a delicacy for your culture,” Lookenbill said. “It’s fun because that’s building relationships. It’s building foundations. It’s building memories.” Molly Baggett, Maverick Dining marketing manager, said bringing food trucks of different cultures speaks to what UTA offers as a whole. With a stout international student population, bringing ethnic cuisine to campus allows university members to fully immerse themselves. Because the space used for The Park is small, Lookenbill said there can only be two food trucks at once. Though quickly becoming a weekly staple, she said they had to allow other businesses in the rotation. His first week absent from campus, Leija said he received around 60 messages from concerned UTA students. “The week we didn’t have Twiggy’z, it was a big uproar,” Lookenbill said. Support from the UTA community has been intense, but Leija said he couldn’t ask for more. “I just thank everybody, thank them all from the bottom of my heart,” Leija said. “My family, my kids, we all pray together. We say ‘Thank you.’ We’re beyond blessed to have y’all.” @hjgarcia0 news-editor.shorthorn@uta.edu

With western-style rodeos, outdoor yoga and stand-up comedy, there’s an abundance of activities to do in Arlington this week. Sports Attend the multi-event American Rodeo featuring western sports and performances from country music stars 7:15 p.m. Friday or 1 p.m. Saturday at Globe Life Field. Attendees can see steer wrestling, bull riding, team roping and more. Tickets are available starting at $34.97 on their website. Doors open 6 p.m. Friday and 11 a.m. Saturday. Residents can come together for a free yoga class in a garden bed from 8:30 to 9:30 a.m. Saturday at the Lake Arlington Native Plant and Pollinator Garden. The class works to highlight the conservation and restoration of native prairie flowers and wildflowers on 2.75 acres of land adjacent to the Lake Arlington Dam. Watch the Texas Rangers bat against the Los Angeles Angels at 7:05 p.m. April 15 at Globe Life Field. Tickets are available on their website and start at $13.86. Those who purchase a theme night ticket through the website will receive a limited edition #42 Jackie Robinson cap honoring his legacy. Comedy Enjoy a night of laughs with Chad Prather and his unique southern style standup 8 p.m. Saturday at Arlington Music Hall. Known for his quick wit and stories, the comedian blends comedy, music and motivation. Tickets are available online starting at $26. Doors open at 6 p.m. Music The Aretha Franklin tribute concert, “R.E.S.P.E.C.T.- A Celebration of the Music of Aretha Franklin” will show attendees the journey of the music artist featuring a live band and vocalists performing some of her greatest hits. The event starts 7 p.m April 13 at the Majestic Theater in Dallas. Tickets are available online and start at $59. news-editor.shorthorn@uta.edu

Kim Jackson loves details to an irritating degree. Her art is meticulous. Jackson starts her portraits by sketching in red, black, gold and white markers. Each stroke is a highlight or shadow. Then comes the intricate work: coloring. She fills the art with pieces of cigar labels — each selected, trimmed and positioned just right. Each label and stroke of ink illustrates inanimate objects like a Texas flag, humans like boxer Muhammad Ali or an eight-bit version of Batman. For about a decade, the Arlington resident has combined her habit of smoking cigars with her love of making art. She has produced over 100 collage portraits made from delicately layered cigar labels. She was one of dozens of national, regional and local artists selected for the 11th annual South Street Art Festival in downtown Arlington. “The more I do it, the more insane I get about the details,” she said. “And I clean it up as I go just because I’m uptight like that.” Jackson picked up the habit in the early ’00s as a theatre major at Hardin-Simmons University in Abilene, Texas, where “the only thing to do was to go smoke cigars and run lines for theater,” she said. She has made art for as long as she can remember. Her father was a political cartoonist, but she wasn’t as good at drawing. Instead, she’s drawn to a more realistic style. Her art business began when she couldn’t figure out a birthday gift for a friend, Jackson said. She took about 150 labels they had collected together and made a portrait of Shakespeare. At her tent for the South Street Art Festival, Jackson’s works seemed disconnected at first glance. Portraits, patriotism and pop culture icons sat next to one another. Upon further inspection, her work’s details subtly shimmer. Every shadow, every expression and all motions are made of tiny paper fragments — the gold-embossed edges of foil stamping on cigar bands. Each piece can take about 100 hours, Jackson said. While most of her work was hung in the tent, one larger piece was laid on a bench. The 2-by-4-foot piece was a commentary on the Food and Drug Administration wanting to take labels off cigars so they would be attractive to children. The piece was made from 1,500 to 2,000 labels, she said. Jackson has learned to master her craft of blending cigar bands’ colors to make a detailed image, said Steve Moya, owner and producer of South Street Art Festival. “I am amazed at how good she is with what she does,” Moya said. “It’s a very unique talent and something you don’t see a lot.” Her art carries both sight and scent. She displays and sells her work at a cigar lounge she co-owns in Burleson, Texas, Jackson said. The bar in the lounge allows her to escape from the business side of selling art, Jackson said. “It just was never a money thing to me. I just like making things, and I cannot stop,” she said. Her work has traveled worldwide, and her commissioned clients include Al Micallef, owner of Micallef Cigars and the Reata restaurants in Alpine, Texas, and Fort Worth. One of the pieces Jackson did for Micallef consisted of 30,000 cigar bands. Yet, Jackson is still processing that she’s selling art. A decade into her business, it’s not second nature to her. She still schedules alarms to make sure she’s promoting her art on Instagram. But the reality is slowly setting in on her. She can now refuse commissioned pieces. She owns 40 66-quart tubs of bands that friends and the cigar community have collected for her, even if she never directly asked for donations, she said. Her art career is no smoke and mirrors — just smoke and glue. @DangHLe news-editor.shorthorn@uta.edu

From opera to spring football, residents have plenty to choose from in the Dallas-Fort Worth area this week. Sports Watch the Texas Rangers take to the diamond against the Tampa Bay Devil Rays at 7:05 p.m. Friday at Globe Life Field. Tickets start at $33 and doors open at 5:05 p.m. The first 15,000 fans will receive a Peagle mascot bobblehead. See the Dallas Stars fight for the No. 1 spot in the central region of the Western Conference as they take on the Vancouver Canucks at 7 p.m. Tuesday at American Airlines Center. Tickets start at $29 and doors open at 5 p.m. Cheer on the Arlington Renegades as they face the Houston Roughnecks on Sunday at 11 a.m. at Choctaw Stadium. Both halftime and post-game will feature a performance from the 1st Cavalry Division Band from Fort Cavazos, Texas. Tickets start at $16 and doors open at 9:30 a.m. Music Enjoy a performance from The Kingston Trio at 2 p.m. Saturday at Arlington Music Hall. Attendees can listen and dance to classic folk music hits, according to the event page. Tickets start at $29 and doors open at noon. Listen to opera as Cherisse Williams, Kaswanna Kanyinda, Lwazi Hlati and Adeniyi Samuel sing at 5:30 p.m. Sunday with accompanist pianist Tao Jiang at Create Texas at Wellspring. Tickets start at $12 for adults, $6 for students and are free for children under the age of 12. Entertainment See street art, oil paintings and spiritual art at the “Come As You Are” art show from 6 to 8 p.m. Saturday at Create Texas at Wellspring. The price of admission is a $5 to $10 donation. Refreshments and appetizers will be served at the event. @wall035203 news-editor.shorthorn@uta.edu