Igloo Vision simulation room opens in School of Social Work and Smart Hospital
The College of Nursing and Health Innovation made history Monday at its ribbon cutting ceremony for the Igloo Vision, making UTA the first in the U.S. to use this technology for nursing simulations. The Center for Rural Health and Nursing brought the new 13x13-foot interactive simulation room to the college, giving nursing students the chance to simulate both urban and rural nursing situations. Elizabeth Merwin, CONHI dean and Center for Rural Health and Nursing executive director, said one of the school’s unique opportunities is continuously improving education to provide future nurses for rural populations. With the igloo, students have access to high-quality rural health care instruction. President Jennifer Cowley said UTA is known for its innovation, and having the igloo is an example of that. It will create a better simulation environment for students who have lived in urban communities to experience what it's like to be a nurse in a rural area. She wants to make sure people have great health care regardless of location, and this is the next step to make sure they’re preparing the “practitioners of the future.” “We’re preparing the next generation of nurses across the state, whether they serve in rural or urban environments,” Cowley said. Aspen Drude, Center for Rural Health and Nursing manager, said the center’s main goal is to provide additional resources to rural communities, eliminating the stigma that rural nurses don’t do as much due to a lack of patients. Drude said so far, they have 12 virtual reality scenarios that can be projected on a 360-degree view on the igloo walls. Jennifer Roye, assistant dean for simulation and technology at CONHI, said her favorite part about the igloo is the ability to make any scenario or environment they want to be displayed and worked on. She said their next objective to tackle is making an operating room simulation in the igloo, made to be a perioperative elective for students learning OR training. @_.amandaaldridge._ news-editor.shorthorn@uta.edu
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- Warm weather and rain in the Dallas-Fort Worth area this weekDallas-Fort Worth residents can anticipate storms and warm weather, with highs in the 90s and lows in the 70s this week. Monique Sellers, National Weather Service meteorologist, said this week will bring another busy pattern, beginning with storms. “We’ve got a front and a dry line that’s going to be moving into the area,” she said. “It’s going to bring us another round of severe weather potential.” Tuesday’s storm is expected to have damaging hail and winds, while the rest of the week teeters on rain chances and high heat. “Usually we do see a pretty active pattern into a good part of June before we finally do start to dry out,” Sellers said. @wall035203 news-editor.shorthorn@uta.edu
- Summer 2025 hours of operationAs Mavericks settle into the summer semester, several university facilities have adjusted their hours to accommodate the seasonal schedule. Maverick Activities Center 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday through Friday. Closed Saturday. 2 to 10 p.m. Sunday. Connection Café Breakfast from 7 to 9 a.m., lunch from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. and dinner from 5 to 8 p.m. Monday through Friday. Brunch from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. and dinner from 5 to 8:30 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. The Market in the University Center 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Thursday. 7:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Friday. Closed Saturday and Sunday. The UC Starbucks Closed during the summer. The UC Subway 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday through Friday. Closed Saturday and Sunday. University Center The UC has adjusted hours of operation until June 21. 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday through Saturday. 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Sunday. 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. June 18 and closed June 19. Central Library 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. Monday through Friday. 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Closed June 19 and July 4. Health Services Available by appointment 8 a.m. to 5 p.m Monday through Friday. The pharmacy 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. Closed one hour for lunch. @samip.parajuli.54 news-editor.shorthorn@uta.edu
- Tarrant County Commissioners Court to vote on redistrictingAfter weeks of deliberation, the Tarrant County Commissioners Court will vote on controversial redistricting maps that could split Arlington into multiple precincts on Tuesday in Fort Worth. The proposed maps could shift Precinct 2, Arlington’s main precinct represented by Democratic commissioner Alisa Simmons, to lean more Republican, according to county data. Simmons’ term ends in 2026, and she will have to run for reelection to keep her position. Seven maps that will affect parts of north, east and west Arlington are in consideration, determining whether areas are part of Districts 1, 2 or 3. Plans to redistrict moved into motion early April when the commissioners court approved an agreement with the Public Interest Legal Foundation. The foundation is providing legal guidance on potential changes to district boundaries for the 2026 primary and general elections. The redistricting is seen as a political and partisan issue by several stakeholders. In a statement, Republican Commissioner Manny Ramirez said he leads his work with a strict focus on conservative policies and values, giving limited attention to political noise. “However, there is one distinct responsibility of this job that is, in my opinion, very political and that is redistricting,” he said. “Conservative policies and values continue to make Tarrant County the greatest and most successful county in the nation.” On May 23, 10 Tarrant County mayors signed a letter opposing redistricting. In the document they voiced concern that the data used from the 2020 census is outdated and won’t effectively represent demographics due to recent growth in the county. The letter urges the commissioners to wait until the 2030 census is released, when data will be more representative. Since the letter was sent, the mayors of Dalworthington Gardens and Pantego have requested their removal from the statement, now in support of the redistricting, according to a Facebook post from County Judge Tim O’Hare. Simmons said in a press release that the mayors are right to speak out. “This is not just a minority issue, it’s a community issue,” Simmons said. “It’s an attack on our values, on good governance and on the wallets of hardworking families across our county.” Texas Rep. Chris Turner, D-Grand Prairie, said the redistricting proposals violate the Voting Rights Act of 1965. “A mid-decade redistricting is a completely unnecessary, foolish endeavor that will undoubtedly expose Tarrant County taxpayers to costly litigation,” he said. On May 26, the Arlington city council voted 8-1 on a resolution opposing the redistricting. Other councils in Tarrant County have voted on similar resolutions, with varying outcomes. Fort Worth’s council passed its resolution in a 6-4 vote. Dallas County last redistricted in 2021, when the census data was just a year old. It has been more than a decade since Tarrant County changed its voter maps. @wall035203 news-editor.shorthorn@uta.edu
- Downtown Arlington Classic Car Show to bring communityDowntown Arlington Management Corp. will host its fourth annual Downtown Arlington Classic Car Show from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. June 7 at the Vandergriff Town Center. This event will showcase over 150 classic and antique cars from the ’20s through the ’70s, representing half a century of restored, maintained and beloved vehicles from the past, according to the event listing. The free event features a live DJ, food from Prince Lebanese and Chick-fil-A and the new Rotary Dream Park. General car registration is $25, and vehicles must be registered separately and be built on or before 1979. Registration ends at noon Thursday, and all entry fees will be donated to the Arlington Police Foundation. Car owners must arrive between 7 and 8:30 a.m., with no entries allowed after 8:45 a.m. All cars must be pre-registered, and there are no walk-ups due to limited space. Maggie Campbell, Downtown Arlington Management Corp. president and CEO, said the car show resonated with the community when they first did it after the pandemic. Since then, the car show has consistently drawn between 2500 and 3000 people per event, Campbell said. “It keeps growing and getting better year after year,” she said. Ten judges will select first and second place from each of the five decades at 2 p.m. The winning cars will be given trophies for best of show, best story, best club participation, mayor’s choice, best hometown car and people’s choice. The top 10 cars will also receive a commemorative license plate, and other winners will receive gift certificates. The winners of the best story and best hometown car will be featured in an Arlington Today Magazine issue about the 2025 car show. Best of show will receive two free Texas Rangers home game tickets and a one-night stay at the Loews Arlington Hotel. Seniors, first responders and veterans receive a discount for registration. For the promo code, contact damc@downtownarlington.org or call 817-303-2800 for more information. “[The event] instills a sense of civic pride and a sense of community, and that is something that is very important, but it’s hard to measure,” Campbell said. “You know it when you see it and you feel it when you’re there.” news-editor.shorthorn@uta.edu
- Meet The Shorthorn’s summer 2025 editor teamYou’re reading Meet The Shorthorn, a series of short articles explaining our processes and providing clarity for our readers. During the summer semester, The Shorthorn has about 20 staff members, and nine of them are editors. The editors assign and edit content, as well as hire and manage their staff members. Get to know the summer 2025 editor team below. Pedro Malkomes is the incoming editor-in-chief and a journalism senior with a technical writing minor. He manages the entire newsroom and is responsible for the publication’s content direction. Malkomes enjoys playing video games, reading sci-fi books and manga and playing soccer with his friends. He also enjoys biking and listening to a superfluous amount of music. @PMalkomes | editor.shorthorn@uta.edu Leslie Orozco is the incoming managing editor and a criminal justice and psychology junior. She helps wherever needed as she manages daily production cycles and newsletters and supports fellow section editors. In her free time, Orozco tries to enjoy some peace and quiet before needing something to do again. She also enjoys playing video games, rewatching comfort shows, reading psychological thrillers, drinking coffee and watching Formula 1. @_.lexlie_ | managing-editor.shorthorn@uta.edu Rachel Kenealey is the incoming copy desk chief and an English junior with creative writing and technical writing minors. She leads a team of copy editors that ensure accuracy, clarity and consistency in articles before publication. In her free time, she is usually rewatching a sitcom, reading Brandon Sanderson or Mary Oliver or listening to a musical. She also enjoys crafts and runs a crochet business. @rlkenealey | copydesk-editor.shorthorn@uta.edu James Ward is the incoming news editor and an English senior with business administration and creative writing minors. He is responsible for all content across news and life. Ward enjoys listening to indie and alt music as well as watching foreign movies in his free time. He is also an X-Men superfan. @james_e_ward_ | news-editor.shorthorn@uta.edu Taylor Sansom is the incoming associate news editor and a criminal justice junior. She helps manage the news desk alongside the news editor. Outside the newsroom, Sansom enjoys flipping through a good book, adding to her mini figurine army and listening to music under the ever-watchful gaze of her favorite South Park plushie. @tay._.sansom | news-editor.shorthorn@uta.edu Kale Ivie is the incoming sports editor and a journalism senior. He leads a team of reporters to produce in-depth coverage of local and on-campus athletics. Ivie has a deeply rooted love for all sports, primarily soccer, and spends his time away from the desk playing video games and hanging out with friends or family. A typical day ends with an indoor pickup game at the Maverick Activities Center and heading home to watch a show or read a book. Ivie is also a big DC Comics fan and has a wide range of musical interests. @kaleivie_ | sports-editor.shorthorn@uta.edu Haley Walton is the design editor and an interactive media senior. She leads a team of designers and illustrators to create visuals that complement articles and designs the look of the print edition. Walton enjoys telling stories and educating people through art even in her personal time. She loves legos, video games and immersing herself in Norse mythology. @yasursketches | design-editor.shorthorn@uta.edu Sairam Marupudi is the engagement editor and a marketing and English junior. She oversees every social media platform for The Shorthorn and its daily newsletter. Marupudi loves anything superhero or mythology related, especially if they’re together. She spends her free time catching up on her never-ending list of books to read, hyperfixating on her hobbies, stress baking and collecting Funko Pops. @marupudisairam | engagement-editor.shorthorn@uta.edu Samarie Goffney is the incoming multimedia editor and a journalism senior. She oversees a desk of creative individuals who produce visuals for the publication, including photos and videos. Goffney enjoys music, playing piano and gaming. She also loves a good horror movie or book. @pixaperfect_ | photo-editor.shorthorn@uta.edu news-editor.shorthorn@uta.edu
- UTA, TCC leaders tout success in preparing students for workforce, anticipate growthLeaders of UTA and Tarrant County College see their institutions’ partnership as the way to strengthen economic opportunities in North Texas. “We're united by a belief that when our students thrive, so does our entire region,” UTA President Jennifer Cowley told business and collegiate leaders at the Greater Arlington Chamber of Commerce’s third annual State of Higher Education event Thursday at College Park Center. At the event, Cowley and Elva LeBlanc, Tarrant County College chancellor, touted their colleges’ ability to prepare students to join the workforce. TCC is celebrating its 60th anniversary and UTA its 130th. Combined, the colleges serve more than 100,000 students annually, said Michael Jacobson, president and CEO of the Greater Arlington Chamber of Commerce. They have an economic impact of almost $30 billion within the state and region. LeBlanc said TCC prepares students for high-demand careers, from aviation and automotive technology to education and health care. The college, in partnership with the Fort Worth Film Commission, plans to offer four new certificates in spring 2026 to train production crews in preparation for North Texas’ boom in films and TV shows. TCC will continue to manage funding responsibly, including a move to zero-based budgeting in the upcoming fiscal year, LeBlanc said. The accounting method calls for justifying every expense each period. TCC is also providing free tuition to dual credit students from low-income families. “Our students and their families invest so much in higher education — their faith in us means everything,” she said. “And our taxpayers and partners trust us to use our resources wisely.” Cowley said she sees UTA’s and the City of Arlington’s progress as intertwined and unbreakable. UTA’s Blaze Forward program will fully cover tuition and fees for 65% of more than 5,000 incoming freshmen in the upcoming school year, Cowley said. The university is also serving more than 100 students through the Emerging Mavericks program, which supports those who aged out of foster care or experienced homelessness. The university is preparing for a new aviation innovation and management program in spring 2026, Cowley said. UTA has produced alumni in several fields, from veterans awarded the Medal of Honor to those working at NASA. They've served in the Texas Legislature. They have designed everything from Globe Life Field to a net-zero energy skyscraper, Cowley said. And they’ve worked with Frito-Lay to improve the seasoning of their chips. “Every time you snack on a perfectly seasoned and shaped Dorito, you have a Maverick to thank for that,” Cowley said to the audience’s applause. “You’re welcome.” @DangHLe news-editor.shorthorn@uta.edu
