The UT System Board of Regents met with UTA President Jennifer Cowley and other stakeholders to discuss updates to UTA’s Campus Master Plan, the new University Center, UTA West funding and more during its Wednesday and Thursday meetings. The board approved the updated Campus Master Plan after a presentation from Cowley. The Campus Master Plan helps UTA re-examine physical campus improvements every 10 to 20 years and prioritize near, medium and long-term capital improvements. UTA has been following a road map to revise the master plan since fall 2023, using community feedback, data and analysis. Cowley said the plan is tightly aligned with UTA’s strategic plan, which leads to five main campus initiatives: enhancing the sense of place, aligning the student experience and mission, investing in academic and research space, building infrastructure and connecting with North Texas and beyond. The university is seeking funding for three near-term initiatives: a performing arts center, more student housing and an improved library mall. Cowley said the Fine Arts Building’s orchestra performance space isn’t big enough to fit UTA’s orchestra. Building a performing arts center is an “urgent need” that would address deferred maintenance and provide modern performance spaces, she said. The new library mall aims to reimagine the space as a plaza with outdoor gathering areas and a shade structure. “The spaces between our buildings, they create living rooms across our campus, and so we’re focused on the library mall,” Cowley said. With the growing need for student housing, she said she hopes to present a project to the board in the fall adding 770 apartment beds. “We need to have a mix of both the residence hall style [housing] and apartments to support our student needs,” Cowley said. The updated master plan also focuses on improving deferred maintenance for aging buildings, which for the main campus brings an estimated cost of more than $136 million. Replacing outdated buildings often improves energy efficiency, according to Cowley’s presentation. “Deferred maintenance is something we have to pay attention to, so a number of the buildings I talked about are ones that are reaching that point. It’s time for major renewal,” she said. Cowley also displayed a map highlighting the oldest buildings. The most at-risk structures are those on the immediate west side of the University Center such as Woolf Hall, the Earth and Environmental Sciences building and Science Hall. Later in the meeting, the board approved the new University Center project after Cowley presented key details surrounding the $175 million building. The oldest parts of the building will be demolished and replaced with a larger addition, she said. The building will have about 148,562 gross square feet demolished, with 96,220 gross square feet undergoing renovations and 166,444 gross square feet in new construction. The new addition will include meeting and event spaces, a computer lab, shared dining and common spaces, enhanced student engagement spaces and collaborative spaces. “This is helping to advance our goals around student success, making sure that we’re helping support a positive student experience and promoting community engagement,” Cowley said. On Thursday, the regents approved the City of Fort Worth’s $4 million reimbursement to UTA for the various infrastructure improvements resulting from the incoming UTA West campus. Two million dollars will be provided within 90 days of the contract being signed and the remaining $2 million within 90 days of UTA providing a copy of the Final Completion Report showing the completion of infrastructure work. @PMalkomes news-editor.shorthorn@uta.edu

The UTA Planetarium and College of Science celebrated the one-year anniversary of their space-cultivated Moon Tree on Tuesday afternoon at the Planetarium, teaching attendees about the sapling’s off-Earth history. The Planetarium received the sweetgum sapling from NASA and the United States Department of Agriculture Forest Service on April 24, 2024, and planted it outside the Chemistry and Physics Building the next day, according to previous Shorthorn reporting. The sapling received its nickname Moon Tree after being one of several seedlings to orbit around the moon during Artemis I, an uncrewed lunar orbit mission. Since its arrival at UTA, Planetarium coordinator McKenna Dowd said in an email the Moon Tree has grown to be 54 inches tall. “I’m so thrilled that we’re a part of history in a sense,” Dowd said. Dowd gave a presentation about Artemis I’s mission during the event. Five different tree species seedlings orbited the moon: Douglas Fir, Loblolly Pine, Giant Sequoia, American Sycamore and Sweetgum. The seeds were sent into space for two reasons: to continue understanding how seeds can be taken into space and grow upon their return – a vital role for the future of human space exploration – and to give communities a living connection to space exploration, she said. NASA’s Orion spacecraft carried the seeds, performing a half revolution of six days in an orbit 43,730 miles from the surface of the moon. “It went farther than any human has ever travelled in space,” Dowd said. Researchers measured the seedlings’ growth after their return to Earth, and their findings suggest that if the seeds are stored in sub-optimal conditions for a short period, they will continue to grow despite space travel, she said. “This is huge for space exploration,” Dowd said in her presentation. Artemis I saplings have taken root at 236 locations across the United States and organizations are cultivating more than just trees, she said. They are sparking curiosity about space, nurturing community connections and fostering a deeper understanding of NASA’s missions. Once the show ended, guests enjoyed refreshments and participated in activities such as making a space souvenir and building a small, personal herb garden. Ashley Garza, College of Science special events and alumni coordinator, said she wanted to help Dowd celebrate the Moon Tree through the “build a herb garden” activity, as it was a great way to connect outer space with environmental science. “I think we’ve had a great turnout,” she said. “It’s simple, it’s also a study break for the students to do something.” Nursing juniors Jackie Rodriguez and Carolina Trevizo participated in building their own herb garden. Trevizo said she chose cilantro because she uses the plant often, and Rodriguez said she chose borage because of the beautiful picture of the plant shown at the event. “We were just walking in here and we saw everything set up and so we just came back when it started,” Trevizo said. “We were just interested by the plants and stuff.” Looking forward to next year, Dowd said she hopes more UTA students will get involved with the Moon tree and NASA research, whether they are an art major, environmental science major or pursuing any other field of study. “I’m super excited to just have a way for the community to learn about the Moon Tree and connect,” she said. “And hopefully get super excited and more involved with its presence on campus.” news-editor.shorthorn@uta.edu

With commencement for the spring semester coming up May 9 at Globe Life Field, here is everything graduates should know about the ceremonies. Graduates do not need commencement tickets, but must print and present their GradPass at the ceremony. GradPasses will be available through Tassel. Guest tickets will be released Thursday through the MLB Ballpark App or the My Rangers Tickets mobile browser. Printed or screenshotted tickets will not be accepted at Globe Life Field and seating is first come, first serve. All bags and purses must be soft-sided and not exceed 16-by-16-by-8 inches. Prohibitions include, but are not limited to: banners or items that may obstruct view, glitter or confetti, noisemakers, or drones. Backpacks are not allowed, even clear ones. Parking is free for ticketed guests, who can park at four nearby lots. Parking shuttles and wheelchair escorts are available upon request. The Globe Life Field parking map can be found online. Graduates should plan to arrive at Globe Life Field at least 75 minutes before their ceremony start time. Doors open 60 minutes before each ceremony for guests. UTA commencement ceremonies last about two to two and a half hours. Flash Photography will be present at all UTA commencement ceremonies and will take two photos of each graduate as they walk the stage. Complimentary proofs will be mailed to graduates one week after the ceremony. A live stream will be available at go.uta.edu/commencement. news-editor.shorthorn@uta.edu

All 27 UTA students who had their Student and Exchange Visitor Information System records terminated have had them reinstated after a federal reversal, university spokesperson Joe Carpenter confirmed Tuesday in an email. The changes come following an announcement by the U.S. Department of Justice on Friday, which notified the reinstatement of thousands of international students whose visa registrations were revoked due to minor, and often dismissed, legal infractions, according to Politico. The revocations were scrutinized by courts, with many judges deeming the mass terminations of students from a federal database as flagrantly illegal. As of April 11, 176 students across the UT System had their visas revoked by the federal government, according to the Austin American-Statesman. Nationwide, The New York Times analyzed that more than 1,500 visas at 222 schools were canceled. The terminations caused concern for many international students who feared they might lose their legal immigration status and could be quickly deported. An immigration lawyer told The Shorthorn that many people in these cases tend to self-deport voluntarily without contacting an immigration attorney. “This remains a very fluid situation, and the UTA Office of International Education continues to work directly with all affected students to keep them updated on their individual statuses and to assist in supporting their individual needs,” Carpenter said. Multiple Texas universities have confirmed that their students’ visas have been restored, including UT Austin, University of North Texas and Texas A&M University. Information on international students, scholars and exchange visitors is maintained in the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System record. The record is distinct from a student visa, but it does contain the student’s visa number, its issuance and expiration dates. The U.S. Department of State can revoke a student’s visa if they fail to maintain its terms, which include an insufficient course load or working without authorization, according to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. In recent attempts to strip student visas, President Donald Trump’s administration did not provide specific reasons for most cases. When UTA confirmed the 27 students impacted by the efforts to terminate visas, President Jennifer Cowley said the university did not have specifics behind the decisions to revoke visas. During an April 16 campus event, Cowley said students were allowed to continue enrollment even if their status was revoked. The Department of Justice said that the Immigration and Customs Enforcement is working on a new policy regarding students studying in the U.S. on F-1 visas granted to noncitizens studying full-time in the country, according to Politico. The policy will provide a “framework for SEVIS record terminations.” @DangHLe news-editor.shorthorn@uta.edu

The University Center’s Rosebud Theatre was transformed into a colorful display of culture Monday evening during One Night in Asia, bringing various traditions from food to song and dance performances. Hosted by the Intercultural Student Engagement Center as part of its Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month celebrations, the annual event saw individuals and student organizations take the stage, with some donning cultural attire. Aysia Nguyễn, Intercultural Student Engagement Center student development and outreach coordinator, said the event’s goal is to celebrate and teach Mavericks about AAPI culture, bringing awareness to it and giving attendees a good time. “As an AAPI first-gen myself, it’s always been really important for me when I was in school and now as a professional, to bring exposure to students from my community, but also bring in students from different communities to be a part of that,” Nguyễn said. Students arriving at the theater were greeted by a diverse platter of meal options from Prince Lebanese Grill, ranging from falafel to burma baklava. Signage at the entrance showcased prominent Asian figures in activism, music and science. The crowd held their breath when the first performers, a duo from the Nepalese Student Association, took the stage for their traditional dance. The pair wore the clothing of the Magar, one of Nepal’s largest ethnic groups, according to Britannica. Eyes across the auditorium were drawn in as their red and blue dresses flowed in synchronization with their dances. Sparsha Acharya, Nepalese Student Association president, performed with event manager Isuna Bhusal. Acharya said they wanted to showcase their culture and religion and found the event a good outlet to do so. Practicing for the performance brought them closer. “I love dancing and I love showing my culture,” Bhusal said. “So to make friends through the culture and dance is like an experience that connects both things that I like.” Following a few individual performances, several members of the Indian Mavericks Society dance team took the stage. It highlighted different states in India, representing all the Indian languages spoken at UTA. The crowd erupted in cheers as dancers transitioned with the music through each individual state. Yash Ajariwal, Indian Mavericks Society president, said performing at One Night in Asia was a great opportunity to represent Indian culture on a diverse platform while collaborating with other Asian communities on campus. During their performance, he said he felt a mix of excitement and pride seeing the community engaged and enjoying their performance. Multiple Asian organizations took to the stage and performed throughout the night. Between performances, attendees participated in raffle giveaways and trivia games. Anthony Danh, vice president for the Korean Culture Association and the Thai, Lao & Cambodian Association, said while he wasn’t participating in the performances, he attended the event with his clubs to show support and celebrate Asian culture. Danh said sharing his Lao culture felt liberating, especially since it isn’t expressed as much on campus. “It’s really beneficial to students, not only just to come out and socialize and see what’s on campus, but to also learn more about the cultures and how they’re presented on campus,” he said. The Korean Culture Association was the last organization in the spotlight. KCA Elite, one of the organization’s dancing groups, made the crowd roar after finishing their performance with multiple solo dance segments. KCA Elite member Rhythm Butler said it’s always fun to be on stage with friends, and while their performance took a lot of practice and days spent drilling in the hot sun, it was worth it in the end. “You get to exist in a different world when you get to perform,” Butler said. “It’s just so nice to put on a show, especially with other people that you work so hard with.” @PMalkomes @samip.parajuli.54 news-editor.shorthorn@uta.edu

This spring, The Shorthorn was recognized by various student media organizations, including the Texas Intercollegiate Press Association, Society of Professional Journalists Region 8 and Associated Collegiate Press. Laurie Fox, Student Publications assistant director and Shorthorn newsroom adviser, said the conventions allow student journalists to connect with other college newspapers and have their work examined by professional journalists. They also provide opportunities to learn and network. “We don’t know what twists and turns their careers will take when they leave from here,” Fox said. “Sometimes it’s just one thing a professional said to them in a convention that really landed with them, and that’s really powerful.” The Texas Intercollegiate Press Association hosts annual statewide conventions, offering workshops, live competitions, guest speakers, awards and scholarships. The organization aims to equip and empower Texas college students. Live competitions simulate real-world journalistic situations, including the feature writing competition, which sent students to downtown San Marcos, Texas, to find a feature article and then write it within an hour. James Ward, English junior and Shorthorn news reporter, received an honorable mention in the feature writing competition. While most competitors went in one direction toward downtown shops, Ward decided to walk in the opposite direction until he found an independent bookstore to write about. After gathering the information he needed, he said he got back onto the bus and wrote his story in 30 minutes. Student Publications director Kevin Cummings and Fox judged different writing competitions at the convention. “It shows that they have a grasp on those abilities, and that they can, at the end of the day, be confident in themselves, even if they don’t necessarily know it going into it,” Cummings said. At this year’s Texas Intercollegiate Press Association conference, The Shorthorn took home 58 awards. Christine Vo, journalism senior and Shorthorn editor-in-chief, received the editor/news director of the year award, which recognizes her comprehensive leadership qualities. “In my portfolio, it was mostly work that our staff did because I think that’s the most important thing about being a leader, is making sure your staff is growing and is exploring new opportunities and being pushed out of their comfort zone,” Vo said. The Associated Collegiate Press is a national organization that hosts events, competitions and journalism education services advancing student media. In March, The Shorthorn won eight awards during the spring convention in California. The publication won the association’s preeminent award, the 2025 student media business pacemaker, which recognizes student media business and operations teams that ensure student media is supported financially. “It does represent a huge feather in the cap of our advertising students,” Fox said. The Society of Professional Journalists is a nationwide organization dedicated to protecting the free practice of journalism, high ethical standards and promoting the free flow of information. The Shorthorn received 10 winners and 15 finalist recognitions in the Region 8 Mark of Excellence awards. Region 8 comprises Oklahoma and Texas. The publication won the Corbin Gwaltney award for best all-around student newspaper and best affiliated website. Awards show the development of Shorthorn staffers and the newspaper itself, offering opportunities to be challenged and grow, Vo said. “This is not about the awards, it’s about the work,” she said. “It’s about what we’re passionate about. It’s about representing our community.” news-editor.shorthorn@uta.edu