Undergraduate UT System students whose families make $100,000 or less for the tax year will qualify for tuition-free education starting fall 2025, according to a UT System press release Wednesday. As an expansion of the Promise Plus program, the initiative is used to help support UTA’s Blaze Forward Program, introduced in 2022. As of Wednesday, UTA has not officially determined how it will adopt the threshold requirements. Currently, the UT System’s program covers 100% of tuition and mandatory fees for families who make less than $65,000 and partially supports tuition costs for families who make $125,000. When UTA adopted the program, it adjusted to fully cover tuition and mandatory fees for families making less than $85,000. To be eligible, students must be Texas residents, full-time undergraduate attendants and be able to receive federal and state grants. There is no required application for the program, but students must complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, FAFSA, or Texas Application for State Financial Aid, TASFA. The UT System Board of Regents’ Academic Affairs Committee preliminarily approved the introduction of $35 million across all nine academic institutions. The board will officially vote Thursday morning. “To be in a position to make sure our students can attend a UT institution without accruing more debt is very important to all of us, and as long as we are here, we will continue our work to provide an affordable, accessible education to all who choose to attend,” said Kevin Eltife, chairman of the Board of Regents, in the press release. The plan makes the UT System the first in Texas to offer such a sweeping financial aid benefit, according to the release. The $35 million campus investment will derive from endowment distributions, the Available University Fund and other resources. This article is ongoing. @amandaLaldridge news-editor.shorthorn@uta.edu

Arlington City Council approved several items, including road safety plans, veteran support initiatives and funding for new police vehicles at Tuesday’s meeting. The council unanimously approved the consent agenda, including a $400,000 general assistance grant from the Texas Veterans Commission to fund homeless veteran outreach services and events in the Arlington Entertainment District. The city's convention and event services requested the initiative aims to meet veterans where they are, outside of traditional shelter locations. The entertainment district, which includes landmarks like AT&T Stadium, Globe Life Field and the Medal of Honor Museum, was chosen due to its high traffic to raise visibility for veterans’ needs, according to the city staff report. The initiative aims to draw community support, foster a sense of belonging and encourage local businesses and residents to contribute. The council also passed the Safe Streets Arlington Plan, which aims to eliminate deaths and serious injuries from Arlington roadways by 2050. The city used crash data from 2018 to 2022 to create a High Injury Network and to inform existing conditions analysis. The plan was prepared with specific actions, policies and other recommendations, including discussion with stakeholders and community input. Once the plan is adopted, the city will be eligible to apply for additional funding through the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Safe Streets and Roads for All grant program to support implementation. The consent agenda also included the purchase of 29 new vehicles for the Arlington Police Department, with a budget not to exceed $1,679,935. The new vehicles will replace ones that have exceeded their useful service life, which can risk increased annual maintenance costs if not replaced. @fluffsjourney news-editor.shorthorn@uta.edu

If traveling isn’t in the cards for you this Thanksgiving break, don’t count yourself out of the deliciously gratifying festivities, just yet. UTA’s annual Thanksgiving dinner invites university and community members for a feast 5 to 8 p.m. Tuesday at Connection Café. Students with meal plans can enter with a meal swipe, otherwise, entry is $10.89 plus tax at the door. Created in 2017 by the Office of International Education, the event began as a potluck to introduce international and study abroad students to the American holiday. Global Engagement director Adam Sichta said the event aimed to share a slice of American traditions while recognizing that holiday breaks can be difficult for those not from the U.S., considering a majority of the university leaves campus. The feast, however, has evolved. “I definitely have a lot of empathy for that and I think that’s why it’s such a great thing for them, but that quickly changed,” Sichta said. “In 2018, there was recognition like, ‘Hey, why are we just doing this for international students? Shouldn’t we have everybody else included there too?’” The event is advertised as an “all you care to eat” buffet, and Sichta said menu options have grown to be more inclusive of vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free diets. Some Native American cuisines will be available as well. While they want people to enjoy the food, Sichta highlighted the importance of understanding its origins and history by ensuring the event has an educational component. Attendees can write down what they’re thankful for and add it to the “cornucopia of gratefulness,” later collected and kept by the department. The tradition began as a “gratefulness wall,” eventually sprouting into a “gratefulness tree” before becoming what it is now. “It’s just a great reminder of what it means to be grateful and reflect on in our lives, and that’s also very significant,” he said. “I think the foundation of a really great tradition has been started.” Unsure if there’s any other UTA event like it, Sichta said watching the community unite to enjoy each other’s presence despite the world’s stress is what makes it one of his favorites. “It always just leaves a warm feeling in my heart, and I don’t say that to be cheesy. It genuinely does,” he said. “I’m proud of that event and I think it’s something that a lot of other people really appreciate and look forward to as well.” @hjgarcia0 news-editor.shorthorn@uta.edu

The 2024 presidential election result was definitive: Not her, either. In 2016, Americans didn’t vote for Hillary Clinton. In 2020, women couldn’t get the nod. This year, President-elect Donald Trump beat the second woman to ever win a major-party nomination for president — eight years after he beat the first. In their climbs to shatter the highest glass ceiling for a female leader, Clinton and Vice President Kamala Harris have persisted and resisted. They delivered promises and policies. They had hopes that America was ready to help them achieve the historic feat. And one by one, America proved them wrong. “There’s just no doubt about it, that there’s an inclination amongst American voters, male and female, to hold women to different standards than men,” said Stephanie Cole, chair of the history and geography department. Throughout history, many reasons have been given for why women can't achieve the highest political peak: She doesn’t have the personality. She doesn’t have the experience. Or, just simply, she’s a woman. Even if she plays the game, rides the momentum and is willing to be subjected to sexist remarks, it still wasn’t enough. She played the game Political science professor Rebecca Deen said that after women earned the right to vote, there wasn’t an immediate shift in behavior. Women didn’t rush to the polls, and social structures still reinforced the view of women as the property of men. This cultural inertia slowed the full impact of the legal victory. The 1960s and 1970s marked the rise of second-wave feminism, pushing for greater gender equality in all areas of society, including politics. Among those who took advantage of that rise was U.S. Rep. Barbara Jordan, the first Black woman elected to represent Texas in Congress in 1972. Jordan was a smart politician who chose her battles carefully, Cole said. Her relationship with Lt. Gov. Ben Barnes put Jordan as the vice-chair of the redistricting committee, allowing her to draw her district in Houston in 1970. After the passage of the 1965 Voting Rights Act, once the state had to create districts to make sure that Black voters were represented in the voting districts, Houston was an obvious place to do that, Cole said. “She was from there. She was able to run successfully for Congress,” she said. Jordan never gave up, said Janet Mattern, president of Texas League of Women Voters of Tarrant County. Jordan lost her bid for the Texas House of Representatives twice before winning a seat in the Texas Senate in 1966. But the game wasn’t set up for a woman to win. Harris shares many of the same personalities with Shirley Chisholm, the first Black woman elected into Congress in 1968. She also became the first Black woman to run for a major party’s presidential nomination in 1972. The bid enhanced Chisholm’s national profile but also stirred controversy among her political colleagues, who believed that her campaign heavily favored women, people of color and the poor. “Black male politicians are no different from white male politicians. This ‘woman thing’ is so deep. I’ve found it out in this campaign if I never knew it before,” Chisholm said of her presidential run. Ericka Roland, a higher education assistant professor whose research focuses on Black women and leadership development, said racism, sexism and patriarchy will maintain their place in society. Many people would categorize Black women voting for Harris as identity politics, she said, but people rarely have that conversation about white people voting for white candidates. “It’s less of what Black women have to do,” Roland said. ”I think we’ve done all the things we can do.” She rode the momentum Ann Richards put herself in the spotlight following her keynote address to the 1988 Democratic National Convention. That moment carried her to become the last woman — and only elected in her own right — and Democrat to serve as Texas governor, serving from 1991 to 1995. Cole said Richards was elected in a different moment of partisanship when some conservatives still identified as Democrats before shifting to Republicans. She was an incredibly gifted “retail politician” who spoke well, understood how to talk to voters and worked her way through the Democratic Party in Texas when it was still possible for a Democrat to be elected statewide, Cole said. That, however, was not enough for her to win a second time against George W. Bush, Republican nominee and future president. She was the last incumbent Texas governor to lose reelection. But a new wave of momentum for women may be coming. In 2025, 148 women will serve in Congress, with five more races still too close to call. A record 13 women have been elected to be governors. She was subjected to prejudice When state Sen. Wendy Davis rose to prominence in June 2013, people were expecting big things. That month, she performed a filibuster to block a Texas bill that proposed to ban abortions after 20 weeks of pregnancy. The success was short-lived, as then-Gov. Rick Perry called for a special session and successfully signed abortion restrictions into law in July 2013. What stuck, though, was a nickname for Davis: “Abortion Barbie.” In a crushing landslide, Davis lost her 2014 gubernatorial race against Greg Abbott. When she ran for Congress in 2020, she lost by over six percentage points. The name-calling and subjection of women to stereotypes is not unfamiliar in the political world. Dustin Harp, communication associate professor — whose research explores the intersections of women, gender and intersectional identities and journalism and mass media — said two women with proven qualifications have lost twice to a politician who slurred his words, rambled and emulated a sex act with a microphone at one of his rallies. “Had a woman done those things, behaved that way, illustrated the competence that that man had, she would never be elected,” she said. “Because even when she is completely competent and articulate, she’s not elected.” People have a binary idea of gender, Harp said. A leader is strong, logical, not too emotional — and only allowed to be angry if he is a man. Women, however, are expected to be kind, loving, submissive and nurturing — none fit the description of a president, she said. “So they’re damned if they do and damned if they don’t,” Harp said. But she doesn’t exist Women have held powerful positions in U.S. history, whether it’s as vice president, U.S. House speaker or secretary of state, Cole said, but she believes the presidential ceiling will be broken by a conservative female candidate. “Until there’s a Margaret Thatcher, in the American political context, I have my doubts as to whether or not we’ll ever elect a woman president,” she said. Black women are not angry, Roland said. They are tired but still embrace so much joy in existing possibilities. Roland said she wants Harris to get a good rest after having done her part. “Sometimes it’s getting us closer and closer,” she said. “We’re building on this momentum. Maybe in the next two or three, it won’t just be one, we will finally be elected the president of the country.” Deen said that progress toward a woman president is not linear, with setbacks and advances along the way. A decade ago, she didn’t believe a woman would become president in her lifetime, but she now feels it’s possible. The question, then, is whether Harris’ run in the 2024 presidential election marks the beginning of a new era, in which women can ascend to the presidency, or whether the barriers to the ultimate political office will persist. Cole doesn’t find deficiencies in Clinton and Harris as candidates, she said. They campaigned well. While Clinton made a few mistakes, on the whole they did not embarrass themselves. Clinton was a senator. She became the secretary of state. She helped her husband, former President Bill Clinton, design policies during his eight years in the White House. Harris is the vice president. Plenty of men in her position and with her experience were perceived to be enough to become president. Their hopes, however, will remain in the history books as the candidates who couldn’t quite ascend to the nation’s highest office. @DangHLe @taylor._.sansom news-editor.shorthorn@uta.edu

When retired professor Allan Saxe died in June, the community united to honor his boundless civic generosity. With over a dozen locations in his namesake throughout Arlington, from dental clinics to football fields, being in the city and having never heard the philanthropist’s name would be a difficult task. But it wasn't a legacy he built alone. Some locations use another name alongside his: Ruthie Brock. “Ruthie was the calming force behind that giant that was Allan Saxe,” said Joseph Carpenter, history and geography department oral historian and multimedia coordinator. Brock worked in UTA Libraries for over four decades, retiring in 2021. “She was quiet. She was in the background, but she had a powerful impact on the outcome of the work of the library and the community,” said Richard Greene, former Arlington mayor and retired UTA professor. Before cementing herself into Arlington’s community, Brock said she aspired to be a nurse growing up in north central Iowa. Her hometown of Eagle Grove had around 4,000 residents. “I think my graduating class had about 100 [people], and during my high school years, I was a cheerleader,” she said. “In those days, they had one group of cheerleaders and they cheered for all the sports.” As she grew older, Brock saw relationships grow with her siblings too. She said she was closest with one of her older sisters whose birthday was three days prior to hers. “Two of the kids in my family had the same birthday, which was kind of unique, and so they thought it’d be really neat if three of us had the same birthday,” she said. In high school, Brock spent most of her time working to become a nurse. The summer after graduation, she married her first husband, a member of the U.S. Air Force. With her husband being stationed near Panama City, Florida, Brock ended up moving in with him and working while he went to college. Once he graduated, Brock attended college as he worked. Losing faith in her nursing degree, she took a class to help with her research papers, which required library resources. That class would ultimately spark the passion for her life’s work. “Once I took that class, it just opened up this whole world of libraries to me, and that’s what I decided to be,” she said. After finding her passion, Brock got a bachelor’s degree in history with a minor in library science. Eventually, her husband got transferred to Texas, and the pair moved to Arlington, allowing Brock to pursue a master’s degree in library sciences — an option that was unavailable at her previous institution. While living in Arlington, Brock said she got a part-time job with UTA Libraries Special Collections. To continue focusing on her master’s degree, she quit after one semester, but new opportunities followed. “A job opened up at UTA Libraries for a professional librarian. Somebody with a master’s degree in library science,” Brock said. “I applied because I thought, ‘That would be great, wouldn’t have to commute to Dallas or Fort Worth. It’d be right here in Arlington, where I had a house.’” Though not required for the job, it was preferred that business librarians had business degrees. Since Brock did not, she took it upon herself to learn as much as possible when she got the position, even joining an investment club after being offered a spot by another faculty member. Brock said becoming a member drastically expanded her understanding of business, with the club meeting weekly to discuss investments and different companies’ stocks. “It was helping me educate myself to be a little more business-friendly with the faculty and the students,” she said. “I wouldn’t feel like I’m on a different wavelength, and that’d be foreign to me.” As she familiarized herself with staff around campus, helping students in the library also became one of her priorities. “I would just tell them, ‘Ask for me when you come to the library, at the desk, whenever you come in the building,’” she said. “‘If you need help, I’d be happy to sit down with you and show you some of our databases and things like that.’” Carpenter said Brock’s tenure spanned an era of evolution. With new technology and the digitization of media, Brock adapted frequently during her time as a librarian. “It takes a real gift to be able to navigate through all those things successfully and not lose your mind,” he said. One of the substantial changes over time was the building’s organizational structure, Brock said. Before, certain types of information were limited to certain floors. UTA changed this by making a combined reference desk where students could ask questions about any subject of information instead of having to navigate various floors. Brock said when co-workers began working the new desk, she became a go-to source when they struggled with student questions. “They’d say, ‘I’ll call Ruthie,’” she said. Brock was passionate about her job, and Greene said she was knowledgeable in UTA Libraries’ entire range of operations and, beyond that; even the city’s public library. “Ruthie was one of these people who went beyond the expectations of her assignment,” he said. “She brought in fresh and new ideas and suggestions that actually worked out in the long run to be an improvement.” The knowledge stored in the Central Library and Special Collections extends beyond Tarrant County or even Texas, and Greene said much of that information is a direct result of Ruthie’s years of commitment. “The evolution of the UTA library, over the decades, has occurred in many ways because of her leadership and her ideas coming to fruition to make it better and to make it more of a resource for the community, way beyond just the campus,” he said. Brock’s legacy, however, isn’t constrained to UTA, with a lot of her inspiration stemming from Saxe. When the two met, they were both divorced, and Brock said she wasn’t ready to date again. She was still figuring out what to do after her separation. “Another librarian told me she had taken Allan's class. She said, ‘I’ve got to introduce you to him, you’ll just love him,’” she said. When the two first met, they didn’t hit it off immediately. However, Brock said the more she got to know Saxe, the more she liked him. “He was different, and Ruthie kind of brought a soothing effect to him,” Greene said. “He was very lucky to have her.” When the two went to the courthouse to sign their marriage papers, even then the ordeal was treated casually. “After she finished, [the officiant] said, ‘You can now kiss the bride,’” she said. “We had people getting their driver’s licenses and paying fines and stuff. It’s not exactly a wedding environment. And so, we looked at each other and both burst out laughing.” Saxe’s philanthropy began when he received over half a million dollars through his mother’s inheritance, Brock said. Instead of spending the money on himself, he started fulfilling the needs of the community, from helping the homeless to donating to local charities. “I was happy just being around him and watching him do his thing,” she said. “Sometimes I ended up making some of the pledge payments, so I did start getting involved.” One day Brock asked Saxe why he never considered giving the library any money. “I thought, you know, ‘All these organizations that you’re helping are very good organizations,’” she said. “‘I’m not saying that they’re not, but libraries are good organizations too, and I think they’re important.’” Saxe took her words to heart and donated a large sum of money to the Arlington Public Library as it was being built. Brock said his actions “hooked” her, inspiring her to similarly contribute to the community. Brock eventually joined the city’s library board to give back outside of UTA. She was always around Saxe when he had his time in the limelight, but her contributions weren’t driven by other motives. “I wasn’t out to become well known or anything like that,” Brock said. “It was just, I liked my job, and I wanted to do it well, and if people appreciated that and so forth, that made me happy.” Greene said it was Saxe who insisted Brock start being recognized, despite her already long list of accomplishments. Brock’s impact is one of the reasons UTA has grown into what it is now. “One of the best days for our city was when Ruthie Brock decided to join us,” he said. “Her role in the community is going to have a permanent, lasting tribute to her and what she has done for us.” @PMalkomes news-editor.shorthorn@uta.edu

Civil rights leader Benjamin E. Mays’ words have stayed with Relius Johnson for years. “I have only just a minute / Only sixty seconds in it / Forced upon me, can’t refuse it / Didn’t seek it, didn’t choose it / But it’s up to me to use it.” Johnson always asks: What are you doing with those 60 seconds? In the past two years, his 60-second moments have been as the New Maverick Orientation director. Before that, his 60 seconds were as the assistant director for Multicultural Affairs, now known as the Intercultural Student Engagement Center. Throughout his time at UTA, he spent multiple 60 seconds supporting faculty and staff, inspiring generations of students and creating a welcoming space for everyone. That journey, however, is coming to an end, as Johnson departs from UTA on Dec. 31. “I’ve learned so much on how to support students, crisis management, budget management. I think this has prepared me for things in ways I didn’t even know,” he said. “It’s just so much learning. That’s why I’m grateful for my experiences at UTA.” “I had a lot of other choices and could have left a long time ago, but I was like, ‘No.’ Something keeps pushing me to stay at UTA.” Johnson said he doesn’t have his next destination yet, but he’s not stressing. After his last in-person day Nov. 15, he’s spending time with family and his grandmother. Shabaz Brown, director of the Intercultural Student Engagement Center, said Johnson’s passion for serving students goes beyond the typical faculty or staff members. When campus resources became limited, Brown said he used his own money to support struggling students. When the pro-Palestine encampment happened in May, Johnson was on campus from 6 a.m. and wouldn’t leave until around 10 p.m. to make sure students were safe and had everything they needed. He spent more time on campus than at his own house, she said. “I saw him moving out of his office. I said, ‘Why did you have an air fryer in your office?’ Because he literally would cook in his office. That’s how much he lives here,” Brown said. “An air fryer and a blender.” Johnson started leading New Maverick Orientation in 2022, making him one of the Division of Student Affairs’ youngest and first few current Black directors. The Division of Student Affairs doesn’t have many Black male directors, so figures like Johnson give Andre Clay, Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. membership director, someone to admire. “It just really gives you someone to look up to and keep you inspired as you’re trying to get through your college journey,” Clay said. He called Johnson his biggest accountability partner who has been in his life from freshman year to his current senior year. Clay goes to Johnson not to feel good but to hear what he needs to achieve his goals, he said. Lowell Davis, vice president for Student Affairs, said Johnson has had a wonderful impact at UTA, from his role at orientations and mentoring Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. members to going to India to engage with 400 students, families and individuals coming to the university. “Dr. Johnson has made a tremendous impact at the University of Texas Arlington,” Davis said. Brown and Johnson were the dynamic duo supporting and checking in on one another, she said. They’re not the spokespersons of the culture — they just want to represent and show students the culture and demonstrate to students what they can achieve. “We’re both first-generation college students. We’re both the first people to go to college in our families. We’re both the first people in our families to even be at administrative levels, and we both were very fortunate to become directors before the age of 30, but that still comes with this set of intimidations,” Brown said. At Johnson’s farewell party Nov. 14 in the University Center, more than a hundred students, faculty and staff stopped by to say goodbye. Some had to leave early. Some stayed the entire time. But everyone had so many memories to share with Johnson, publicly and privately. As each person shared their testimonials at the podium, they all had different memories of Johnson — how he saved them at their lowest points, how he had been a difference maker, how he helped them be comfortable taking up space and how he had impacted a faculty’s son who isn’t even a UTA student yet. They all had their own story of Johnson, but one thing stood in common: He changed their lives. There were hugs. There were smiles. There was weeping. These people stayed with Johnson for hours — and some “threatened” to be in his life forever. All because he spent his 60 seconds with them. Editor-in-chief Christine Vo contributed to this report. @DangHLe news-editor.shorthorn@uta.edu

As the holiday season approaches, the City of Arlington brings German Christmas traditions in celebration of its sister city with a Bavarian-themed market. The 14th annual Texas Christkindl Market returns to Arlington from Friday to Sunday, and Nov. 29 through Dec. 23. Hosted by the Arlington Convention and Visitors Bureau, a tree lighting ceremony will kick off the grand opening Nov. 29 at 6:30 p.m. Admission is free. The market is located at the North Plaza of Globe Life Field and is open daily from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Free parking can be found in Lot B of the stadium, however, there will be fees on Dec. 7, 9 and 22 due to ticketed events taking place in the adjacent facilities. According to its press release, the market was inspired in 2011 by Arlington’s almost 70-year sister city relationship with Bad Königshofen, Germany. Bringing authentic Bavarian Christmas traditions, the event also partners with the city of Rothenburg ob der Tauber, Germany. Exclusive Käthe Wohlfahrt merchandise will be imported from the Rothenburg Christmas Village in Germany. Handcrafted gifts, collectibles and traditional German treats will be available for purchase. The event also includes live German music, opportunities for children to visit Santa and festivities like a marionette theater and market train rides. Vendors include Texas Rib Rangers, JJ’s Schnitzel Haus, New York Puzzle Company and several more. @wall035203 news-editor.shorthorn@uta.edu

Ian Gillies, UTA alumni and artist, said UTA has been instrumental in getting him to where he is today as a musician. Students gathered for Gillies’ acoustic EP release party for The Practice Room Sessions, at Brazos Park from 7 to 9 p.m. The concert was held by UTA Student Records, UTA’s music label, and featured Gillian Jolie along with Abigail Hill, who opened for Gillies and performed their own songs. Amy Franco, music business and biology major, said that UTA Student Records is a class that brings music students together to produce music. In order to achieve this, she said their class has a regular lecture and has conversations about the music business industry. “It’s all student-run. It’s all student-motivated,” Franco said. “The professor assigns a CEO of a group, and we all basically collaborate together with our ideas,” Franco said. She said that so far, they’ve signed two artists. Jarod Silverio, UTA Student Records president and audio production major, said that in the class, students learn about what goes into managing a record label, like copyright law, marketing and publishing. “I’m overseeing the operations of our marketing, distribution, artist and repertoire and our contracts team, where we take in artists and consider them as projects for our semester,” Silverio said. In this position, he said he's had to learn new organizational skills and what it’s like to spend time in a studio with artists. “Having a taste of that really excites me for what I want to do after school,” he said. “Now, I see artists and label management as something I want to get into.” As someone who’s trying to make his way in the industry, Gillies said that UTA Student Records has helped him release his new EP. “They've been a massive help in terms of just advertising and producing and helping with so many different facets of, especially the show, putting it all together,” Gillies said. “I couldn’t have done any of this without them.” @mn.alansari news-editor.shorthorn@uta.edu

Residents can expect clear nights with low temperatures in the Metroplex this week. Daniel Huckaby, National Weather Service meteorologist, said the week will start with rain, potentially severe thunderstorms and a cold front which will, later, bring clear skies along with dry weather. “We’ll have a stronger front coming in Tuesday night, and Wednesday may be our coolest day so far this season,” he said. “We may only have a high in the 50s on Wednesday, but things will gradually moderate and we’ll be back up around 70s for next weekend.” news-editor.shorthorn@uta.edu

School of Social Work students built 200 I See You Boxes on Thursday for Hagar’s Heart, a nonprofit domestic violence support organization. At the beginning of the semester, students enrolled in an intimate partner violence class taught by Jessica Sánchez, social work assistant professor, decided to do a service learning project instead of traditional assignments. After months of raising funds, tabling on campus and marketing, the students put together boxes full of 16 self-care items for Jennifer Jones, founder and CEO of Hagar’s Heart. “I’m so proud of my class,” Sánchez said. “It was a small vision, and they brought it to life.” While the students aimed to raise $800 for the boxes, they ended up raising about $1,800, enough for a month’s worth of them. “I had no idea the impact that you guys were going to make,” Jones said to the students. “Just to see the impact on Instagram and the growth, that’s how you start doing something you’re passionate about.” Jones said next month they will deliver about 300 boxes to domestic violence shelters, with two-thirds of the donations coming from students. One hundred boxes are planned to go to The Family Place and 100 to the Genesis Center. The donations will help for the next month, Jones said, as the holidays are often really difficult with many victims leaving their abuser right before or after the holiday season. Products such as face masks, hand sanitizer, chocolate and handwritten notes lined the tables, and Sánchez gave each student a task to efficiently build the boxes. It took them less than an hour to fill all 200. “No matter who you are, whether you’re a client, whether you’re a volunteer, whether you’re in a class that requires you to do this, the hope is that everybody feels that they seem worthy enough,” Jones said. Social work junior Simone Corbett was the manager of the marketing team, working to spread word of their project and the nonprofit. With every week bringing a new milestone, she said it feels amazing to be at the finish line. “Doing this project and knowing that there are different resources for women, and people in general, to obtain in the Arlington area is just amazing,” she said. Corbett said she looks forward to doing more volunteer work for Hagar’s Heart. “It’s just an amazing feeling that my whole class was able to do that and that I was a part of that change,” she said. “The little things do matter and this is definitely a great example of that.” @amandaLaldridge news-editor.shorthorn@uta.edu

Aashna Ratnani, Indian Mavericks Society general secretary, said she wanted to bring the spirit of Indian celebrations directly to UTA. The Indian Mavericks Society partnered with various sponsors and organizations including the Department of Global Engagement to host the UTSAV Diwali Celebration, also known as the festival of light, Thursday evening in the Bluebonnet Ballroom. Ratnani said the event gives UTA’s international Indian students a way to celebrate the festivity away from their hometowns, bringing the celebrations to them. The event began with a diyas painting contest, focusing on traditional Indian clay lamps. The Indian and U.S. national anthems played before traditional dances and performances drew cheers from attendees. “Since my childhood in India, I’ve always seen Diwali celebrated all across India so I’ve celebrated it myself,” Ratnani said. “We light firecrackers, we have sweets. It’s basically a new year too.” Mechanical engineering freshman Suyog Koirala said Diwali is like the “win of good against the evil” and focuses on spirituality and a celebration of happiness. Koirala said the festival is always full of colors and lights. Civil engineering sophomore Harshdeep Singh said he came on behalf of Singh Real Estate Group and Super Important Cars Inc., two companies that sponsored the event. Singh said celebrating at UTA is not only important because of the school’s diversity, but also to celebrate triumphs over darkness. Diwali reminds him to hold good morals and respect others, he said. “These celebrations are important for us to continue because they connect us to our roots and remind us of what good morals and principles we should live by,” Singh said. “It helps us celebrate diversity and inclusion of different cultures, which UTA is great at.” @reyyhankilic news-editor.shorthorn@uta.edu

Amanda Perez, Fraternity and Sorority Life director, won a spot on Arlington’s 40 Under 40 class of 2024 list, highlighting her professional achievement and community impact. 40 Under 40 is an award presented by the Greater Arlington Chamber of Commerce and Arlington Today Magazine to honor 40 people under 40 years old, in or around Arlington, who demonstrate great leadership, professionalism and community contribution. Perez joined UTA in 2023 to oversee the function and operations of Fraternity and Sorority Life, including the Greek Life Community Center and alumni engagement, events, programs and outreach. She has had nearly 10 years of experience working in a Fraternity and Sorority Life environment, according to previous Shorthorn reporting. The award showcases the next generation of Arlington business and community leaders, said Michael Jacobson, president and CEO of the Greater Arlington Chamber, on the organization’s website. “This new program enables us to showcase these up-and-comers with everyone in greater Arlington,” Jacobson said. After deterring from a career in the curation of historical archives, Perez’s husband inspired her to give higher education a try. She earned her master’s at UT-San Antonio and has since found purpose in Student Affairs. “I needed something that at the end of the day or the end of the week, I felt like I accomplished something that benefits other people,” Perez said. “I think that’s what Student Affairs does for me.” But with a new purpose came new challenges. Moving from San Antonio, Perez said everybody knows everybody in Arlington. She has found it easier to connect with people but said it was challenging to learn and understand different cultures. Many people within the community have attended UTA and still feel that sense of connection, she said, which allows her to take a different approach to engaging with the city. “Trying to rework how I approach people has been a barrier by learning what matters to them, what’s important to them,” Perez said. “Why did they stay here? Why do they want to feel connected?” As the Fraternity and Sorority Life director, Perez focuses on alumni re-engagement and growth in Greek Life membership, hoping to create a sense of belonging and community on campus. “For students to feel that not only are you welcome here, but that you belong here, and that this is your home. Whether you live on campus or off campus, what is that belonging that you feel?,” Perez said. “Greek Life can be such a proponent for that.” A job in Student Affairs, especially one so student-facing, is a 24/7 job, she said, and at times does not come with recognition. Only having been at UTA for a little over a year, winning the 40 Under 40 was a surprising and exciting honor. “Having something like this so early in my tenure here at UTA, I just feel really valued. I feel really seen,” Perez said. “It was something that I never, ever expected whether it was year two or year 22.” Now as an official homeowner, Perez said she feels closer to Arlington and is ready to learn more about the city. “One thing I appreciate about Arlington is it really pours back into its city and recognizes the people that are here, and the programs are so intentional to serve the population,” she said. Perez said she hopes to continue making an impact at UTA and become more involved with the community while cultivating a welcoming environment. “I always want to be that person, when somebody’s new here, to be able to make whatever their journey is less burdensome and also make them feel like they belong here and welcomed here,” she said. @arj3395 news-editor.shorthorn@uta.edu

This is a crime wrap up from Nov. 3 to 10. Unlawful transmission of explicit visual material On Nov. 6, officers investigated a report of unlawful transmission of explicit visual material, UTA Police Capt. Mike McCord said in an email. Unlawful transmission of explicit visual material is a class C misdemeanor punishable by a fine up to $500. Reckless damage or destruction of property On Nov. 7, a female student reported damage to her vehicle while it was parked, McCord said. On Nov. 10, an unaffiliated male reported damage to his vehicle while it was parked. Reckless damage or destruction of property is a class C misdemeanor punishable by a fine of up to $500. The Nov. 7 case is still active. Possession of drug paraphernalia On Nov. 10, an officer stopped a vehicle for a traffic violation, McCord said. The driver, an unaffiliated male, was found to be in possession of drug paraphernalia. He was issued a citation and released. First offense of possession of drug paraphernalia is a class C misdemeanor punishable by a fine up to $500. @PMalkomes news-editor.shorthorn@uta.edu

On Monday, the Division of Student Affairs will replace the UTA Mobile app with the launch of MyUTA, a new platform where students can easily manage their day-to-day campus experience by accessing essential tools, resources and information. With a redesign of the interface for better visuals and functionality, MyUTA will link multiple platforms with information to a single location. Students can access MyUTA by downloading the mobile app or going online to my.uta.edu, which will replace mymav.uta.edu. Liz Richter, senior director for the Division of Student Success, said the platform will help keep students aware of what’s happening on campus. There will be campus notifications like MavAlerts and personal ones like Canvas or student account fee notifications. The Office of Information Technology’s roadmap for the app lists four pillars: improving academic journeys, increasing student engagement, enhancing the student experience and increasing the mobile app’s adoption rate. “Our goal is, especially when students are walking on campus and have access to their mobile phones, that they can use the app to take quick action,” Richter said. One of their goals is to allow certain colleges and departments at UTA to push notifications to students in specific majors, she said. The platform also aims to give users the same experience whether they are on the mobile app or at home using their computers. Tamara Brown, Academic Affairs provost and senior vice president, said MyUTA can streamline tasks like advising, class registration, account payments and deadlines. “Up pops a message while you're on there, ‘Hey, did you know that your registration window is open? You want to go ahead and get started on registration right now?’”Brown said. “You click yes, and you're in the tool registering for your classes.” She aims to keep students connected to everything university related through their phones. With how busy students are, they don’t always have time to go to an office in-person, so the app can make it easier, she said. “Our goal is, especially when students are walking on campus and have access to their mobile phones, that they can use the app to take quick action,” Richter said. Brown said the app will offer more personalized reminders, which will prevent mass emails from being sent to students who don’t need them. UTA Mobile was originally created in 2009 with fewer features and was updated in 2020 to aid student success during the COVID-19 pandemic, according to the Office of Information Technology’s website. The project’s current team decided to rename the application to MyUTA to better promote the platform as a mobile app and a website. The rebranding aims to leverage student engagement, retention and graduation more effectively. @reyyhankilic news-editor.shorthorn@uta.edu

This Friday and Saturday, UTA’s Musical Theatre Cabaret will take the stage at Theatre Arlington for its Club Cabaret series. Held once every other year, this event serves as a fundraiser for the musical theater students’ educational trip to New York City. Doors open 6:30 p.m. with drinks and concessions available. The show starts 7:30 p.m. both days and tickets can be purchased online or at the door. Music director Vicky Nooe said Austin Eyer, theatre arts and dance professor, organized the event. Eyer worked with Theatre Arlington to arrange the dates and made the production order for the evening. She said they worked with students on selecting which songs to perform. The students will perform solo and duet pieces, with a few larger numbers reprising roles from their recent theater production, On The Town. Most of their songs are about New York City and chasing dreams. Because of the high theater density that New York has, it’s a common place for actors to move. Nooe said the May trip to New York is a newer aspect of their program, giving juniors and seniors a chance to take master classes, explore the city and get an idea of what living there would look like. Moving to New York is common in the profession because of the theater culture. The department is focused on building more partnerships with organizations and companies in the area, this event being a step in that direction. “It also allows students to learn how to perform for not only their peers, but also for different demographics,” Nooe said. “Theatre Arlington has an audience space and is welcoming of our students, and so it’s a good experience for them.” news-editor.shorthorn@uta.edu

The Department of Global Engagement and the Office of International Education are teaming up to bring Global Mavericks International Education Week from Monday through Nov. 22. To celebrate international students and the importance and benefits of international education, there will be eight fun and educational events meant to attract students who would like to study abroad, learn and exchange experiences with each other. International Education Week is a great opportunity for all students to gain and share cultural experiences, said Magdalena Ibarra, Global Engagement international program coordinator, in an email. “Whether they are interested in getting involved on campus via a student organization, thinking about studying abroad, or simply connecting with another student sharing a different culture, our IEW events will be able to provide these opportunities,” she said. Below is a breakdown of events scheduled throughout the week: See the Unseen Photo Gallery This exhibition features photography submitted by UTA students and will have an opening ceremony 10 a.m. to noon Monday in the University Center Art Gallery. Free food and prizes will be available. The exhibition will be available for viewing 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Dec. 6. Learn and Lounge: A Language and Cultural Exchange Program and Global Mavericks Award Program Mixer The Office of International Education is hosting a mixer for students participating in the Language and Cultural Experience Program and the Global Mavericks Award Program from noon to 1:30 p.m. Monday in the UC’s Red River room. The event will be an opportunity to share program updates and will offer free food. International Food Fair The International Food Fair, one of Ibarra’s favorite events, will be held 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Tuesday at the UC Palo Duro Lounge, featuring dishes from participating cultural student organizations that represent their culture and respective countries. “It is great to see cultural student organizations share a piece of their culture with the rest of the UTA community and seeing how those exchanges create connections and reflections of one’s own culture,” she said. “The food is always so yummy and this is one of the few events on campus that you can get a taste of the world.” Curricular Practical Training Seminar The Curricular Practical Training seminar is an opportunity for Mavericks to learn from International Student and Scholar Services staff members 10 to 11 a.m. Nov. 20 at the Nueces room in The Commons. International Student and Scholar Services staff will explain the application process and qualifications, answering any other questions students may have. Fulbright U.S. Student Program Group Information Session Led by the Fulbright team, this virtual information session will be 1 to 2:15 p.m. Nov. 20 and will inform students about the program which provides grants for research projects and English teaching assistantships in over 140 countries. Preregistration is required and the information session will be followed by a breakout session for UTA applicants. Applicants must be U.S. citizens and have a conferred bachelor’s degree by the start of the grant. Global Grounds Take a break with some free chai, coffee or snacks during Global Grounds from 4 to 5:30 p.m Nov. 21 at the UC’s Palo Duro Lounge. The event will be an opportunity to network with Global Mavericks and learn more about campus resources. We Share the Sky Explore the myths and legends behind constellations observed by cultures all over the world 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Nov. 22 at the Planetarium, where planetarium storytellers will guide attendees through tales of space and starlight. The event is free to attend, ending with a showing of Atlas of a Changing Earth. Optional Practical Training Seminar This event will be an opportunity for Global Mavericks to learn from International Student and Scholar Services staff members 2 to 3:30 p.m. Nov. 22 at the Nueces room in The Commons. The staff will explain the application process and qualifications and be available to answer students’ questions about global engagement programs. news-editor.shorthorn@uta.edu

The Student Senate voted on four resolutions, gave updates on ongoing ones and heard from the University Center design team during Tuesday’s meeting. Collin Ward, assistant director of capital projects, said the contractor and design team for the new UC have been selected. The building’s construction is set to begin in 2026, with the project expected to be completed by mid-2028. The team is hosting a workshop 5 to 6 p.m. Wednesday in the Bluebonnet Ballroom to gather student feedback regarding the UC's new design. “This is [the students’] building. This is something that [the students] know far more than we know,” said SmithGroup architectural designer Justin Johnson. “Getting that input, hands on input, is extremely valuable.” After discussion, the body failed to pass Resolution 24-14, “Leading the Way: Early Registration Leaders,” which asks the university to extend early class registration policies to include select student leaders on campus. Senator Sawar Gupta said the proposal aims to provide students committed to serving the university with a chance to receive priority registration without being hindered by scheduling conflicts. Only students who have been involved in a university organization for at least one semester and are recommended by an advisor would be eligible. Andres Morales, College of Business senator, said that as student leaders, it's their responsibility to set an example and advocate for their constituents. In opposition of the bill, he questioned its fairness, as senators would be able to secure class spots while many students couldn't. Following discussion, the body failed to pass Resolution 24-04, “¡Vamos a Votar!,” which asks the university to implement ride services for early voting and election day polling locations. The senate discussed and passed Resolution 24-09, “Mavs Move Fast,” which aims to expand MavMover services by adding stops at international food stores and extending service hours until 11 p.m. Resolution 24- 20, “Fire Up Tradition,” was passed, aiming to reinstate the use of the Reserve Officers’ Training Corps ceremonial cannon on campus. Additionally, updates were given on Resolutions 24-16, “Level Up: A Level Classes,” Resolution 24-18, “Test Ready,” Resolution 24-15, “Locker Drop,” Resolution 24-17, “Easy Access Theater,” Resolution 24-19, “Pedal Power” and Resolution 24-13, “Valedictory Victory,” with committee members noting that further research and discussions are required before they can be voted on. @taylor._.sansom news-editor.shorthorn@uta.edu

As Texas results rolled in on election night, the answer to a long-pressing question came swiftly: Can Texas turn blue? By 8:12 p.m. Nov. 5, a little more than an hour after polls closed, now President-elect Donald Trump had won Texas. He eventually won over Harris by 14 percentage points. U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz defeated U.S. Rep. Colin Allred by nine points. The numbers reaffirmed the Republican Party’s dominance of Texas. Democrats didn’t just underperform — they lost by bigger margins than in previous election cycles, and former strongholds flipped red. What’s left is a continuously weakening case that Texas is a battleground state. Democrats also lost three seats in the Texas Legislature and nearly every contested state appellate court race and saw Republicans win 10 countywide judicial races in Harris County — reversing several years of Democratic dominance in Texas’ largest county. “What seems clear to me from the 2024 results is that Democrats don’t seem to have a clear message that the voters are buying,” said Mark Hand, political science assistant professor. Every election cycle, the state is seen as a potential flip for Democrats although Texans haven’t elected a Democrat to a statewide position since 1994. The last time Texas went blue for a presidential candidate was in 1976 for Jimmy Carter. “The Democrats probably have a lot of soul searching to do here on what is the message that is as clear and as strong as the message that Donald Trump and more MAGA-leaning conservatives have offered to voters,” Hand said. Texas Democrats need a real rebuilding cycle if they want to be competitive, he said. The process has already begun. Gilberto Hinojosa, the Texas Democratic Party chair, announced his resignation Nov. 8, three days following the election. He will step down in March when the party’s governing executive committee is scheduled to meet. “In the days and weeks to come, it is imperative that our Democratic leaders across the country reevaluate what is best for our party and embrace the next generation of leaders to take us through the next four years of Trump and win back seats up and down the ballot,” Hinojosa said in a statement. ‘The nation’s biggest battleground state’ At the Democratic National Convention in August, Hinojosa declared Texas as “the nation’s biggest battleground state.” In 2016, Trump won Texas by nine percentage points over Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton. When President Joe Biden overperformed four years later, he still lost Texas by over five percentage points. Even when former U.S. Rep. Beto O’Rourke almost won over Cruz in 2018 and built further hopes that the Lone Star State may turn blue, that’s all it was — almost. O’Rourke lost by fewer than three percentage points. That year, however, Texas Democrats flipped state House districts, local government seats and state appeals courts. Republicans still controlled the Legislature and occupied every statewide office, but Democrats saw that year as the beginning of a new era. The data points in 2018 and 2020 may have led people to think Texas might flip to blue, Hand said. Nationally, 2018 was a bloodbath for Republicans, and O’Rourke was one of the politicians who rode and powered the Democratic wave. Four years later, Republicans performed well in Texas and Democrats didn’t, including O’Rourke’s loss to Gov. Greg Abbott by double digits, Hand said. Tarrant County is on ‘the redder side of purple than blue’ Texas Democrats saw certain bright spots in this election. In Tarrant County, considered a key battleground area in the state, Allred received over 1,000 more votes than Cruz. In 2020, Biden also won the county by less than 2,000 votes. Trump flipped it back in 2024 with more than 42,000 votes over Harris. Texas Rep. Chris Turner, D-Grand Prairie, was reelected for his seventh term in Texas House District 101, which covers UTA. Overall, Republicans had a good Election Day in Tarrant County, Turner said, but he saw the Senate race as an encouraging sign: Cruz has lost the county twice in a row, and voters are willing to split their ticket. “Since 2018, it is clear it is a purple county,” he said. “It’s still obviously a little on the redder side of purple than blue objectively, if you look at the results in this election, but purple nonetheless.” More Republicans moved from Tarrant County to Parker County in 2020, and more Democrats moved from Dallas County to Tarrant County in that time frame, said Jay Popp, one of Tarrant County’s GOP precinct chairs in west Arlington. “We kind of recognized that and thought, ‘OK, well, we need to start getting engaged, or we really need to get those efforts out and be more grassroots-oriented,’” Popp said. Since the Biden administration started, Tarrant County Republicans have worked together in trying to recruit people, said Jan Brand, longtime board member of Republican Women of Arlington. She sent letters to 100 local pastors and held social events like luncheons for recruitment efforts and community relationship building, Brand said. “Once you create those relationships, then it’s more likely that they’re going to get involved,” she said. ‘They're not grassroots. They're definitely top-down’ Texas Republicans are well-funded and well-organized, Hand said. The party has a handful of massive donors, including West Texas oil billionaires Tim Dunn and Farris Wilks. Influential billionaire Elon Musk may contribute to state-level elections in 2026. Abbott is also one of the best fundraisers in the country, Hand said. That type of consistent fundraising machinery is what Texas Democrats need to stay competitive and distance themselves from the national party. Texans are more conservative than national voters, and that hasn’t changed, Hand said. People believe that as the state becomes more diverse, it will become more liberal, but that also doesn’t seem to have played out. Turner disagreed that it’s a matter of organization. Instead, it’s a resource situation, with the Republican Party always well-funded, he said. He believes the Democratic Party in Tarrant County and Texas have to raise more money, start earlier and communicate with a broader segment of the electorate to build out bigger and faster campaigns — like Republicans, he said. Popp’s party has been effective in understanding the importance of turning the area from the roots up rather than being a top-down organization, he said. “That’s actually where the Democrats are failing right now,” he said. “They’re not grassroots. They’re definitely top-down. They’re kind of being told what to do and what to believe and how to believe it and I think that never worked.” The question of border, economy Democrats did not get the needed turnout from big urban counties, Turner said. The party also needs to confront a major challenge in South Texas from Rio Grande Valley to El Paso. Once a Democratic stronghold, South Texas border counties, where most voters are Hispanic, shifted to Trump. The switch is part of a national trend of Hispanic voters embracing Trump and Republican candidates, from rural communities to large cities like Miami and parts of states like New York and New Jersey. Nationwide this year, 55% of Latino voters supported Harris, and 45% voted for Trump, according to the Associated Press. In 2020, President Joe Biden got 63% while Trump received 35%. In 2024, Trump won 12 of 14 South Texas counties. In 2016, he won five. “We need to figure out why that is and do the work necessary to reverse those trends,” Turner said. AP VoteCast, a survey of the American electorate conducted by NORC at the University of Chicago, found that 41% of Texans listed the economy and jobs as the most important issue facing the country in 2024. Nearly three-quarters of Americans believe the country is on the wrong track, Turner said. That is a difficult number for the party in power to overcome, but there’s still plenty of room to look at strategies, tactics, messaging and get-out-the-vote operations. “There really has to be an in-depth, reasoned analysis done of this election, and we have to look at things top to bottom,” he said. The future Hand said he expects to see very conservative policies nationally, but even more so in Texas, when the Legislature starts in January. Turner said he hopes Texans will be engaged in the Legislature. “​​I hope Texans will let the Legislature know when Republicans are going off on some wild partisan tangent instead of addressing the real issues facing our state,” he said. The Tarrant County GOP’s goal is to elect conservative candidates to city councils and school boards, Popp said. “I feel great,” he said. “I feel really optimistic, with a lot of hope and enthusiasm about the momentum that’s behind our party.” On election night, Popp was at a watch party in Tarrant County when he noticed a big group. Popp chatted with them. They told him they weren’t happy with the nation’s direction nor school boards and city councils. They wanted to be part of the Republican Party and voted for Trump. He is used to hearing that. The GOP usually attracts older groups of people. This group, though, was different. There were more than a dozen guys. Different races. All under 30. Popp said he is hopeful for the future of the Republican Party in Texas. @DangHLe news-editor.shorthorn@uta.edu

Fraternity and sorority members will be welcomed into the spring semester with the new Greek Life Community Center. The $5.1 million project spans 8,900 square feet. Located at the corner of Davis Drive and Greek Row, the center creates a place for Fraternity and Sorority Life to gather, create and socialize. The center addresses campus space challenges by bringing together 30 organizations, offering meeting facilities, banquet space, ritual rooms and more. The institution wanted to focus on increasing participation in Greek life programs, said Drew Miller, Student Affairs senior vice president and dean of students. Having a healthy Greek life program adds a significant amount to campus life for institutions, impacting the community through philanthropy and community service projects to the retention and completion rates of Greek-affiliated students. Miller said the space is made for students. They've been involved and vocal about their needs and hopes for the space, as well as resources the university should implement in undertaking this project. “Students have been involved from the early stages of the process, contributing ideas about what the spaces should include and defining the building’s purpose,” Amanda Perez, director of Fraternity and Sorority Life, said in an email. Construction began about a year ago, renovating and adding to a vacant fraternity house, Miller said. The building will be ready for use by the spring semester. “Having a dedicated space for the Fraternity and Sorority Life community is essential, especially given the limited space on campus,” Perez said. This space will support the many programs and events hosted by the community and help alleviate the demand for other student spaces. She said it will also foster stronger community relations, encourage growth and build connections with the chapter houses on Greek Row. The new center offers multiple meeting rooms with flat screen TVs, a library, a lounge and open spaces for students to study and hang out. There will be a kitchen area and a programming space. The craft room will be a place for Greek students to make banners or paint the letters that sit outside their houses. During a tour, Perez said she hopes this space will encourage other houses to spend time together as well. “A big part of Greek life is academics and making sure our students are being academically responsible,” Miller said. “So they were able to incorporate some intentional study spaces to help enhance that aspect of the experience.” What they call the Legacy Hall is fully dedicated to events and meetings. The hall can hold 100 people and can be made into two separate rooms with a sliding door. “We have other socials that we do within the community that we can start to bring over here, which I think will help alleviate some space because the [University Center] is so well utilized,” Perez said. Outdoor seating and a fireplace on the patio will allow events like the Greek barbeque event and other outside gatherings to take place. “This hopefully will create a sense of belonging within our students,” Perez said. “This is one of their homes on campus.” @XenaDulyz news-editor.shorthorn@uta.edu

Ace Azcona is working to give at-risk dogs a second chance. UTA alumna Azcona is the president and founder of Ace’s Place Animal Rescue, a nonprofit organization working to rescue dogs facing medical and behavioral challenges from local shelters around the Metroplex to find them foster and permanent homes. Azcona said she aims to ensure fosters have access to a dedicated support team and necessary supplies. The organization provides free training, medical care, food, crates and support. Ace’s Place receives funding from donors in addition to funding platforms like CUDDLY, the largest online fundraising platform for animal welfare organizations. The organization accepts all dog breeds four weeks and up, typically housing 15 to 20 dogs at a time. Ace’s Place primarily relies on social networking, mainly Facebook, to find dogs in need. People can visit the Ace’s Place Facebook page or their website to adopt or foster. Azcona started the nonprofit in 2021 after she and her husband began fostering dogs from a rescue. She said they struggled with a lack of food, supplies and support and noticed others had similar experiences fostering dogs. “People weren’t going to want to foster. They weren’t going to want to help if they were being treated this way too,” Azcona said. “We wanted to make a rescue that was very supportive to fosters, even if that meant that we had to be smaller.” The organization has eight main volunteers who handle various roles, including medical directors, event coordinators and foster coordinators. Some volunteers focus on providing emotional support to the foster dogs, helping them navigate challenges, especially during the first few nights. Jamie Gowin, UTA alumna and event coordinator for Ace’s Place, missed working with animals when she was a veterinary technician. That’s when she found the organization and began volunteering. As a coordinator, Gowin connects people to meet and play with dogs, encouraging them to adopt or foster. “We’re all friends, there’s camaraderie. We’re always there to support each other,” Gowin said. “I feel like when you don't have that kind of infighting or power struggle within the team, it really benefits the dogs, because that’s what you’re focusing on at the end of the day.” After two years of working for Ace’s Place, Gowin said she has seen significant growth in the organization, with more people adopting dogs, an increase in foster families and more traffic across their website. On one occasion, Gowin said they worked with three sister pups with littermate syndrome. Initially, they were very introverted and relied on each other for comfort, but over time, they became independent. “It’s really hard to adopt three dogs out at once, especially in the same home,” Gowin said. “So Ace really worked hard on those three, and right now, two out of those three have been adopted into their own homes, living their best life.” Azcona said Ace’s Place hopes to one day help educate and fund more on spayed, neutered, microchipped and vaccinated to make a difference in creative ways. The organization aims to fund training sessions, cover pet deposit fees and help people afford mental health care for emotional support animals. She said she wants to leave an impact on the community and to her, that means personally knowing every single foster. With over 200 dogs already placed in great homes, the most important thing for Azcona continues to be finding fosters their permanent homes. @fluffsjourney news-editor.shorthorn@uta.edu