The Daily Texan 2022-04-19

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VOLUME 122, ISSUE 64 TUESDAY, APRIL 19, 2022

making solidarity an everyday practice The Gender and Sexuality Center hosted Black and Asian panelists to discuss solidarity between communities.

kara hawley

/ the daily texan staff


PERMANENT STAFF Editor-in-Chief Sanika Nayak Managing Editor Phoebe Hayes Assoc. Managing Editors Nathan Han, Fiza Kuzhiyil Digital and Projects Director Addie Costello Director of Diversity & Inclusion Abhirupa Dasgupta Asst. Diversity & Inclusion Directors Rachael Hatchett, Megan Tran Assoc. Editors Faith DuFresne, Julia Zaksek, Mia Abbe, Sruti Ramachandran Forum Editor Safa Michigan Illustration Coordinator Abriella Corker News Editor Anna Canizales Assoc. News Editors Skye Seipp, Samantha Greyson News Desk Editors Sheryl Lawrence, Tori Duff, Kevin Vu Beat Reporters Mackenzie Sullivan, Leila Saidane, Hope Unger, Joelle DiPaolo, Katy Nelson, Hannah Ortega Life&Arts Editor Zoe Tzanis Assoc. Life&Arts Editors Sofia Treviño, Reya Mosby Sr. Life&Arts Film Columnist Noah Levine Sr. Life&Arts Reporters Angela Lim, Kaiya Little Sports Editor Hannah Williford Assoc. Sports Editor Matthew Boncosky Senior Sports Reporters Ethan Ferguson, Amsal Madhani, Jordan Mitchell Newsletters Editor Trinity Smith

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Ketanji Brown Jackson’s confirmation inspires Black law and pre-law students.

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Softball legend Cat Osterman’s jersey retired at recent upset of No. 1 Oklahoma.

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ART

Oscar Muñoz’s: Invisibilia offers thought-provoking invitation to look through eyes of legendary artist

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TODAY Apr. 19

Opinion

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Art routinely rewards those who are patient in their evaluation and appreciation, those who linger long enough to see what others overlook. Visitors of the Blanton’s major exhibition of the spring semester, Oscar Muñoz: Invisibilia, require these virtues to fully immerse themselves in Muñoz’s detailed creations. Invisibilia will be at the Blanton Museum of Art until June 5, inviting students and outside visitors to peer into the mind and 50-year-long career of the Colombian visual artist. The exhibition revolves around Muñoz’s response to the environment and events of his life, specifically the violence he witnessed in Colombia during La Violencia and the cartel wars. Muñoz’s central motif — overlooked moments of war — highlights the delicate intersection between the tangible and intangible. The Blanton showcases this mentality at the entrance of the museum with the installation Ambulatório. This installment showcases a black and white scrambled map of Muñoz’s hometown of Cali, Colombia. The rearranged sections serve to make it impossible for the audience to recognize any part of the city, mimicking Muñoz’s feelings of being lost in Cali in the wake of violence. One of the more unique installations, Pixeles, is a reconstruction of anonymous faces who lost their lives in modern Colombia’s conflicts, and sends a broader message about the trivialization of death. Muñoz

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recreated the faces using sugar cubes stained by coffee, representing the pixelation of these individuals. The piece stands out visually amongst the exhibit’s many black and white images. Inviting onlookers to attempt to make out the nine anonymous faces, Muñoz offers a surreal understanding of these lives and the many other lives lost during these conflicts. Inspired by the idea of constant change, Muñoz attempts to capture specific moments from any given point in time, further emphasizing the need to watch, wait and take in the details of each piece. Standout piece Re/trato, a 28-minute uninterrupted video of Muñoz drawing self-portraits with a wet brush on sun-warmed cement, prompts the audience to examine the subtle differences between portraits. In the video, all progress is lost seconds after each

/ the daily texan staff

stroke touches the cement, leading to a never-ending process in which Muñoz attempts to replicate his own image. Re/trato showcases the difficulty of capturing specific moments and is mesmerizing to viewers. A similarly remarkable section, Horizonte, Serie Impresiones débiles, showcases a series of documentary photos, mostly taken from history books and then altered to shift the focal point of each. This series conveys the liberation of time. Drawing focus to the different individuals is a genius way to bring more attention to the many distinct and unique perspectives of major moments throughout history. Effortlessly thought-provoking, Oscar Muñoz’s Invisibilia deserves a long walkthrough and an open mind willing to explore the many details that come with the visionary’s work.

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LIFE&ARTS

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TUESDAY, APRIL 19, 2022

STUDENT LIFE

Partners in Health strives for health care education, holds upcoming rally By Sarai Cantu @twitterhandle

Sending off the final forms, Hailey Myers breathed a sigh of relief. Reclining against her chair with a somber feeling of accomplishment, Myers launched her journey to bring health care advocacy and change to UT through the creation of an on-campus Partners in Health Engage Chapter in spring of 2020. Partners in Health, a global organization, delivers quality, sustainable health care in underdeveloped countries by helping to foster a strong system from within through training local health professionals, offering housing and financial relief and working with community leaders to distribute resources. Like various chapters all over the world, UT’s branch strives to raise money for the parent organization alongside advocacy work, such as promoting different policies and bills in their community. “Partners in Health actually provides education, hiring locally within that community, and educating the people there,” said Irin Toh, an international relations and global studies

junior and Partners in Health member said. “They establish a long lasting health care system that (those communities will) be able to maintain without relying on us in the future.” On April 27, the organization will hold a rally from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. in the William C. Powers, Jr. Student Actvity Center assembly room. The event will include speakers Samantha Meyer, the founder of ATX mental health fund, Alexander L. Chu, a Dell Medical student, and Dr. Rebecca Cook, a Dell Medical School professor, who will speak to the need for public health care education and global health care equity. “The rally concern(s) the vaccine apartheid and global health disparities,” said Myers, a biochemistry senior. “(We’re) trying to educate our community, work with our peers and educate students. We want to teach them why these things matter.” Because the organization started during the COVID-19 pandemic, Myers said disparities and inequality present in the health care system found their way to the forefront of global politics, prompting membership to increase. Instead of getting bogged down, Myers turned

her frustration into action with Partners in Health, working to educate the public and advocate for health care legislation. “We promote those bills and policies, ask (politicians) to sign (and) write Dear Colleague Letters mackenzie coleman / the daily texan staff to persuade their other representatives to sign on Partners in Health prepares for a rally focued on global health disparias well,” Myers said. “It’s ties, fund for global healthcare equity. not just about educatfundraising money to build the Maternal Cening our community but putting pressure on ter of Excellence, a health facility, which aims our representatives.” to address the high maternal mortality rates in Toh said the group met with Representative Lloyd Doggett to promote the NOVID Act, Sierra Leone. “We fundraise. We community build. Then which supports the allocation of vaccination we advocate,” Parekh said. “We interact with resources to impoverished nations severely legislation, as well as representatives and host impacted by COVID, and PHISLA Act, which workshops where we draft an offense that would allocate funding to public health departwe submit for review. Then, the communiments to help them continue their fight against the pandemic and reconstructing the nation’s ty building aspect is really where we engage. The name says it itself, engages the commuhealth care infrastructure. Public health sophomore Ravi Parekh nity and educates people on the frontlines of said the chapter is currently focused on health inequities.”


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Editor-In-Chief | @TEXANOPINION TUESDAY, APRIL 19, 2022

OPINION

COLUMN

UT must improve their payment system UT should allow students to pay in installments without penalty. By Nadely Requena Columnist

n recent years, UT’s efforts to support low-income students have made headline news. As a first generation and low-income first year student myself, UT’s efforts to help students initially attracted me to attend

This system is not only unfair towards low-income students, but also to those with work-study positions or jobs and essentially any student who doesn’t have a couple thousand dollars to pay at once. Jazive Torres, an international relations and global studies freshman, spoke on her dissatisfaction with the system and the unfair disadvantage for low-income students such as herself. Her financial background places limitations on how she pays for college. “It isn’t fair that I have to pay extra because I want … to be able to know that I’ll be able to pay the payments (on) time. … UT is capitalizing on the fact that some people don’t have the money to pay it all up front,” Torres said. University spokesperson Kathleen Harrison offered resources from Texas One Stop, UT’s office for financial aid resources, but did not comment further on the concerns of students. “The one-time installment plan fee … is used to cover administrative costs associated with the installment process. The installment plan fee has not increased for many years,” Harrison said.

However, just because the charged amount hasn’t risen doesn’t mean it isn’t adding stress to the lives of low-income students. They are already working hard to pay thousands of dollars in tuition and then are being charged for not having the means to pay it all at once. UT should alter the current tuition and housing and dining payment system to be more flexible by allowing students to pay in installments without being charged extra fees. “It’s definitely a disadvantageous system that creates yet another obstacle that us low income students have to hurdle over and work even harder to surpass,” Torres said. “UT claims they make efforts to break down barriers for minority students, … including those with financial difficulties, but this system serves as proof that we’re not accounted for when creating a system to just enter and attend the University. At worst, we’re ignored.” Requena is an environmental science first-year from Houston, TX.

this institution. However, in my time at the University, I’ve realized the tuition and housing and dining payment systems are extremely disadvantageous to low-income students. Now, I question how much the University is actually trying to help students in my position. UT should change tuition and housing and dining payments from an automatic one-time payment to installment payments without additional fees. This change would help decrease a financial barrier for low-income students and reduce the stress of trying to afford an UT education. Currently, the tuition due at the beginning of the semester depends on a student’s financial aid. If students don’t pay the designated amount and, instead, opt for an installment plan, a one-time fee of $15 will be charged. For those residing in University dorms, their housing and dining payment is automatically set up to be paid in full when the semester begins. However, for students whose financial limitations don’t allow them to pay everything at once, their payments must be changed to an installment plan, but only after a one time service fee of $50 is charged. renee xiong

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SPORTS

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TUESDAY, APRIL 19, 2022

Longhorns in the Majors By Evan Vieth @EvanVieth

One of the most storied programs in college baseball history, Texas has produced notable talent, including pitcher Roger Clemens, and all-stars Huston Street and Dave Chalk. With the MLB season starting post lockout, many familiar Longhorn faces are continuing on to the highest level. Brandon Belt, San Francisco Giants

The University of Texas currently has five alumni in Major League Baseball. The most prominent is Brandon Belt, a first baseman for the San Francisco Giants and former player for the Longhorns in 2008 and 2009. Notably, Belt was a pitcher when he transferred to Texas from San Jacinto College before the 2008 season, but because of shoulder problems, Belt decided to switch to first base. Belt went on to hit .321 with 14 home runs with Texas before being drafted by the San Francisco Giants. Since then, Belt has been a staple first baseman for the team for 12 years, and this year Belt continues his success at the plate. Belt is off to one of the hottest starts in MLB, slashing .345/.441/.690 through 34 plate

appearances alongside two home runs. Belt has been one of the best hitters in MLB since 2020, and he continues to lead the 2021 NL West champions through a tough division. Corey Knebel, Philadelphia Phillies

Corey Knebel may be in a new city, but he continues to be one of the best relievers in baseball. A three-year closer with the Longhorns from 2011-13, Knebel is one of Texas’ best relievers ever, and his success in Texas continued into the major leagues. In 2017, Knebel was one of the best in the world at shutting down batters in the ninth inning, and though injuries have slowed down his career, Knebel is back in form in Philadelphia. The Phillies reliever has yet to give up an earned run, only walking one and giving up only one hit as well as completing a save in the Phillies’ April 9 game against the Athletics. Knebel’s successful season with the Dodgers last year earned him a large contract in Philadelphia, and he’s looking to lead the team into its first playoff appearance since 2011. Dillon Peters, Pittsburgh Pirates

Dillon Peters, though not as notable as Belt or Knebel, has solidified himself a role on a struggling Pirates roster. The three-year starter from

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2012-14 and teammate of Knebel had struggled in the majors, bouncing around three teams in six years, but Peters seems to have a home in Pittsburgh. Peters pitched his best baseball yet in 2021, accruing a 3.71 ERA in 26.2 innings with six starts. In 2022 Peters is responsible for two of Pittsburgh’s only five wins, retiring all six batters he faced in a two-inning relief appearance on April 13 and following that up with another two-inning win against the Washington Nationals. Hoby Milner, Milwaukee Brewers

This year is also the year of firsts for former Texas pitchers. Hoby Milner, a six-year veteran in the MLB, notched his first win of his career on April 12 versus the Baltimore Orioles. The Brewers reliever retired Jorge Mateo with two runners on to preserve the Brewers tie in the sixth, leading to his first major league win.

assad malik

/ the daily texan file

Bryce Elder, Atlanta Braves

Alongside Milner’s first win, 2020 fifth round pick Bryce Elder made his first MLB appearance after just two minor league years, impressive for such a young player. Elder pitched a 5.2 inning, three-run game against the Washington Nationals to aid the Braves in a 16-4 win. Elder is the most recent of Texas alums to make his major league debut, the first since Mark Payton in 2020 for the Cincinnati Reds.

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LIFE&ARTS

WEIGHTLIFTING

Longhorns lift into collegiate nationals, earn medals, titles By Sarai Cantu @cantuusaraii

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Running her fingers over the grooves of the barbell, Bella Vargas gripped the steep bar and murmured her powerlifting prayer. With a deep breath, she lifted the weight twice her size and waited for the referee’s signal. In the following seconds, Vargas would go on to win gold in her weight class. The Longhorn Powerlifting club took home numerous awards at the USA Powerlifting Collegiate Nationals 2022 in Lombard, Illinois, which took place from March 27-30. As a team, the Longhorns placed third in both the Men’s Raw category, where competitors lift with limited accessory equipment, and the Women’s Equipped, where competitors use additional protective equipment. Individually, the club’s co-presidents — Vargas and electrical engineering junior Ken Nguyen — won first in their respective weight class and the title Best Lifter Overall, an award given to only four athletes. “It was awesome to see both co-presidents — out of (1,000) athletes — be the ones who got the award,” said Vargas, a communication and leadership senior. “It was an honor for both the co-presidents to be up there.” After her gold medal performance in the national competition, Vargas said she was invited to Las Vegas this summer for Prime Time, a national powerlifting tournament she plans to focus her training on. Beyond proving her strength, Vargas said powerlifting competitions are filled with support from each lifter. “It takes so much in the gym to prep mentally and physically, to lift these huge weights and to have such an amazing support system from each team; I’m in awe,” Vargas said. “This

is the community aspect I really love. You just see all these teams screaming and cheering for each other.” Julie Nguyen, a business senior and Longhorn Powerlifting officer, said she was proud of her participation and ability to gain points for her team. She said she viewed the tournament as self-accomplishment instead of a way to gain awards. “I knew I wasn’t going to place that high, but that didn’t affect me because I deserved my spot on this team,” Nguyen said. “I qualified; I worked really hard for that (goal).” Civil engineering senior Anthony Morales placed sixth overall in his weight class, contributing a bronze to UT’s total points, earning them third in the competition. “This was by far the biggest competition I’ve ever competed at, so it was really cool being able to meet people from all over the country doing this thing that I like to do as well,” Morales said. Besides lifting, Morales said he enjoys the camaraderie the competitions offer. During competition, Morales said every lifter checks on each other no matter what team they belong to. “After I finished competing, I would go and scream my lungs out for whoever was competing,” Morales said. “The whole team’s voices were out as soon as we got back on the plane.” Like Vargas and Nguyen, Morales said he created lasting bonds with his powerlifting peers, counting on them to be his spotter beyond the gym. “We’re all unified through powerlifting,” Morales said. “It’s kind of like a family. They’re there regardless, no matter what else is going on. We can all come to the gym and leave everything else at the door.”

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Sophomore Ella Branson squats with freshman Trinity Hudgens spotting. Branson is in the 57 kg weight class and went 7/9 on her lifts at the 2022 Collegiate Nationals.


LIFE&ARTS

ZOE TZANIS

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Life&Arts Editor | @TEXANARTS TUESDAY, APRIL 19, 2022

CAMPUS

GSC holds event for Black, Asian solidarity GSC hosts discussion on intersectionality at panel event By Alishba Javaid @twitterhandle

tudents slowly trickled into the Multicultural Engagement Center ready to listen to the four panelists seated before them and learn from minority experiences outside their own identities. The Gender and Sexuality Center’s Lotus Project held a Black and Asian Solidarity Event at the William C. Powers Center on April 14 from 6-7:30 p.m. The discussion consisted of four panelists of both Black and Asian descent: Priscilla Hale, Anî La’arni Ayuma, Michael Cordova and Seina Sleep. During the event, the panelists discussed what solidarity between Black and Asian communities looks like, confronting anti-blackness and xenophobia, and how people can make solidarity part of their daily practices. “We are fed this idea of competition between marginalized communities as if there’s one seat at the table,” said GSC program coordinator Lilli Hime. “Knowing our histories and reaffirming our solidarity refutes that competition and chooses community.” UT alum Seina Sleep, who is Black and Japanese, emphasized how solidarity is an everyday practice and members of these communities must actively foster these relationships. ​“As far as people across different marginalized identities, it’s about getting to know each other, listening and being there for each other,” Sleep said.

Priscilla A. Hale, a Black community organizer and executive director of Allgo, an organization for queer people of color, focused on the importance of relationships between members of the communities and how those relationships lead to solidarity. “Solidarity feels like a very academic word that can separate folks who don’t necessarily move through language like that, but all of us completely get relationships,” Hale said. “When you’re trying to work together, people decide what is the relationship and how much they value that. If there is none, then you’re less likely to be engaged and invested.” For the event, GSC partnered with the Black Queer and Trans Collective, the Center for Asian American Studies, and the John L. Warfield Center for African and African American Studies. Panelists reflected on their intersectional experiences being Asian or Black while also being part of the LGBTQIA+ community. Parker Kirlew, psychology and women’s and gender studies sophomore and president of the group, said it’s important to talk about the complex relationships between minority groups. “It’s really hard to think about how my community, as an already oppressed and marginalized community, (can) say something mean to another marginalized and oppressed community,” Kirlew said. “(But) it’s important that we have these conversations.” Maddie Phung, a biomedical engineering sophomore and Vietnamese American student attendee, said she went to the event to educate herself on these topics and found value in the panel format. “It’s interesting, especially having the group be from such a wide background, both (in) age and cultural background,” Phung said. “Having it be an actual event

breyona mitchell

/ the daily texan staff

that you go to puts an emphasis on the focus of it. I like being there, so I can both learn for myself and for other people to talk to them about it too.” FIlipino American panelist Ayuma said she hopes students will continue this conversation and work on themselves outside of these safe, controlled spaces. “We’re learning about what to do,” Ayuma said. “It’s decentering our stories at the same time, even if we’re healing our narratives here within us.” Hime emphasized engaging in conversations about the joint effort to alleviate minority struggles and build upon the long tradition of solidarity between Black and Asian communities. “Solidarity events like this help us see how these issues are often overlapping and intertwined, affecting multiple different communities,” Hime said. “Our struggles aren’t on opposite ends of the world; they’re incredibly intertwined, … so the strategy to unravel these issues must be a joint effort.”


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TUESDAY, APRIL 19, 2022

LIFE&ARTS

STUDENT LIFE

Tat Tuesday: Finding balance, showcasing passions through tattoos

By Kaiya Little @kaiyalittle

entered between the margins of a n o t e b o o k page, Lauryn Midgett neatly completed the outline of Saturn encircled by lead-gray rings. As her mind wandered into another daydream, Midgett said she pictured herself as an astrophysicist, piecing together the puzzle of an unexplored but fascinating outer space.

Later, when the sound of a bustling mall tattoo parlor overwhelmed her ears, the English and African and African diaspora studies freshman said she knew exactly what her first tattoo should be. Immediately, Midgett thought back to the doodle of Saturn, the childhood memories and questions of existence tucked within it. “(Ever) since I was little I’ve always had this obsession with space, (and the tattoo) represents that,” Midgett said. “I always gravitated toward things we don’t know a lot about.” After getting her first tattoo at 15 on a trip to Singapore,

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English and African and African diaspora studies freshman Lauryn Midgett features an open book with a drawing of a tree.

Midgett said the experience served as not only a happy memory, but also a jumping pad, which only made her want more. Now on her fourth tattoo, Midgett said she developed a plan of continuity and symbolism in her tattoos, which she uses to evoke an important fixture in her life — balance. “I want to do a nighttime (theme on my left arm), and I want to do a daytime (theme on the other),” Midgett said. “I like to recognize both sides (of life) — light and the dark.” Disrupting the concepts on each side, Midgett said the tattoo that catches the most attention rests on the back of her arm. This piece showcases a mushroom — outfitted with the

details of a house. Midgett said the break from her usual modern, space-themed art creates a playful twist on the heavy reality of the world. “People always point out (the design) because it’s a little more outlandish than the other ones,” Midgett said. “I like to say it reminds me of the magical things in my life, … everything (my) inner child wants.” Midgett’s most recent tattoo, just four weeks old, is a piece on her ribs featuring an open book with a drawing of a tree. Midgett said she chose to have the design close to her heart to honor its greater meaning as a book telling the story of her life and dreams. “(I want) all my tattoos to

speak to a part of my character,” Midgett said. “Someday (I want to) write books to speak to the public (about) my thoughts and ideas. … (That tattoo was) my most painful one, but it also means the most to me.” As she looks to expand her tattoo collection, Midgett said she plans to continue with designs that function as reference to the perspectives she brings to her daily life. “(My recent tattoo is) a reminder to stay grounded and (to) grow to new kinds of possibilities,” Midgett said. “Anything that I’m putting on my body is gonna represent an idea that I wish to emit from my being. … My tattoos tell a story about me.”


LIFE&ARTS

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TUESDAY, APRIL 19, 2022

NATION

Black Law students reflect on Ketanji Brown Jackson confirmation as first Black female Supreme Court justice By Morgan Severson @morgan_severson

Sitting in the breakroom at his internship for the U.S. House of Representatives, Jeremiah Baldwin said he felt emotional as he watched the first Black female vice president confirm the first Black female Supreme Court Justice on live TV. On April 7, a Senate vote of 53 to 47 confirmed Ketanji Brown Jackson as a Supreme Court Justice. The vote took place after the Senate Judiciary Committee confirmation hearings from March 21 through March 24. Jackson is the first Black female to be nominated and confirmed as a Supreme Court Justice in the court’s 233 years of existence. “When I heard (Vice President Kamala Harris) say that (Jackson) is confirmed, I just felt so many aspects of my life being validated,” said Baldwin, an African and African diaspora studies, government, and rhetoric and writing junior. “As someone who wants to go into the legal field, it made me feel that this is what I should be doing, that my voice is going to be heard and listened to in the courtroom in the future.”

Baldwin is a part of UT’s Archer Fellowship Program, which allows students to take classes and intern in Washington D.C. Baldwin’s internship with the House Committee on Oversight and Reform gave him the opportunity to attend a confirmation hearing for Jackson on March 22. For many Black students at UT hoping to go into law, Jackson’s confirmation served as an inspiration. Desiree Jones is a third year UT Law student and president of the Thurgood Marshall Legal Society, an affiliate with the National Black Law Students Association. Jones said Jackson’s confirmation felt like a victory, but she wished it happened sooner. “It’s just now that (Black women) have been able to finally get recognition on the Supreme Court, it’s kind of just the epitome of Black women having to work twice as hard and be twice as smart as a white male or white woman to get in the same space” Jones said. Jackson earned a degree from Harvard Law School and after graduating, spent time as a public defender, a district judge, a court of appeals judge and supreme

court clerk who worked on a sentencing “It means everything to me,” Juma said. commission. Jackson’s experience in dif“Being a part of the two percent of the ferent legal roles nearly doubles her fellow Black women that are going to be a part of justices and she is now the only judge on the legal profession, seeing what she acthe court with experience as a public decomplished means more of us can accomfender, according to the Washington Post. plish the same thing.” “The fact that she’s the first public deTavia Wilson, a sociology and governfender to be on the highest court, my hope ment sophomore on the pre-law track, is that it’ll create more of a balance, besaid that Jackson wearing her hair in locks cause a lot of individuals on the Supreme inspires her. Court tend to lean towards the government “Historically, locks have been seen as and the prosecutors,” said Michelle Juma, unprofessional, so to me, to see somebody a third year law student and Thurgood that looks just like me and has my same Marshall Legal Society member. hairstyle is so refreshing,” Wilson said. “It Juma said seeing Jones break the glass gives me hope that I also can do big things ceiling for Black women in the field of law and despite the fact that people may be The New nine. York Times Syndication Corporation makes her feel like she is on cloud negative, ISales can still overcome it.” 620 Eighth Avenue, New York, N.Y. 10018 For Information Call: 1-800-972-3550 For Release Tuesday, March 8, 2022

Crossword ACROSS 1 Smurf with red pants 5 Performed in a choir 9 Overly proper 13 Homecoming guest, informally 14 Algeria has the largest one among African countries 15 Capital where natives say “Arrivederci!” 16 Chinese New Year, celebrated on Feb. 1, 2022 19 Trunk in a studio 20 Star’s negotiator 21 Lines at a theater? 26 Jewish New Year, celebrated on Sept. 25, 2022 32 Nevada’s thirdlargest city

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daniela rumbaut

/ the daily texan staff

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57 Big toucan feature 60 Stadium level 61 Squared up 65 Prepare for takeoff 66 Fashion designer Tahari 67 Tick off 68 Bit of a dance 69 Tear to pieces 70 Highly skilled

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28 Korean New Year, celebrated on Feb. 1, 2022 29 Iranian New Year, celebrated on March 21, 2022 30 Explanatory page on a company’s website

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46 ___-warrior (environmental activist) 47 Org. on a mouthwash bottle 50 Go in

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56 Peter Parker in “Spider-Man,” for one 57 “Dynamite” K-pop band 58 Dine

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Online subscriptions: Today’s puzzle and more than 7,000 past puzzles, nytimes.com/crosswords ($39.95 a year). Read about and comment on each puzzle: nytimes.com/wordplay.


SPORTS

HANNAH WILLIFORD

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Sports Editor | @TEXANSPORTS

TUESDAY, APRIL 19, 2022

FEATURE

Leaving her legacy: Cat Osterman ‘put Texas softball on the map’ Softball legend Cat Osterman’s jersey retired at recent upset of No. 1 Oklahoma. By Ethan Ferguson @ethan_ferguson6

Texas softball player will never wear the number eight again. Longhorn legend Cat Osterman earned claim to her collegiate number Saturday and her number is now eternally etched inside the Red and Charline McCombs Field. Surrounded by family, friends and current Longhorn softball players, Osterman celebrated her 39th birthday with a pregame ceremony retiring her jersey prior to the team taking on No. 1 Oklahoma. Hailing from Houston, Osterman played at Texas from 2002-2003, and 2005-2006. She holds Texas records in victories, ERA, shutouts and no-hitters, and is the only player to be honored with USA Softball’s National Player of the Year three times. Throwing the ceremonial opening pitch, Osterman’s career was honored with the largest crowd ever for a

Texas softball game in attendance. She becomes the third Texas female student-athlete and first ever Texas softball player to have her jersey retired. “When you think of Texas softball, Cat Osterman is the first name you think of,” head softball coach Mike White said following the game against Oklahoma. “She’s synonymous with it.” Osterman reached the 1,000 career strikeouts mark in just her sophomore year at Texas. Over her career, she led the Longhorns to three women’s College World Series in 2003, 2005 and 2006. Additionally, Osterman holds the NCAA record for career strikeout ratio per seven innings and continues to be the only player in NCAA history to lead the nation in ERA three times. “She put Texas softball on the map,” senior Mary Iakopo said in a tribute video from Texas softball. “Her work ethic is like none other, and I think what we’re trying to do is exactly what she did in her era: make it back to the world series.” She earned countless awards, such as Honda Softball Player of the Year in 2005-06, Best Female Collegiate Athlete at the 2006 ESPYs and Sportswomen of the Year for a Team Sport in 2005-06.

A three-time Olympian, Osterman helped USA softball earn a gold medal in 2004. She also has two silver medals from 2008 and 2020. “She has been an ambassador for our sport,” White said. “She is a great person who is doing a lot for our program and Longhorn nation.”

After coaching at Texas State as an associate head coach for multiple seasons, Osterman is now focused on working with children through RBI Austin, a program that looks to expand inner-city youth athletically, academically and spiritually with the goal of transforming their communities. “I look up to her in everything that she does,” senior Janae Jefferson said in the tribute video. “When I think of her, she’s definitely a competitor and someone I will continue to look up to.” Following the ceremony for Osterman, the Longhorns handed No. 1 Oklahoma its first loss, breaking a 38-game win streak for the Sooners. The upset was realized when the final pitch from senior Hailey Dolcini was popped up and caught by freshman Katie Cimusz in foul territory to end the game. Dolcini allowed zero runs in six innings pitched. In addition to RBI Austin, Osterman has headlined softball rosters for Athletes Unlimited, a network creating professional leagues across sports. She’s been with the network since 2020. “Everyone sees that hard work pays off. It’s been hard work every day throughout my entire career,” Osterman said. “It’s a career I would have never imagined so I’m really thankful for the opportunities and obviously love Texas.”

copyright texas athletics, and reproduced with permission

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TUESDAY, APRIL 19, 2022

SPORTS

SOFTBALL

Softball’s Hailey Dolcini nominated for national leadership award

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By Nick Hargroue @ NHargroue_1

Senior pitcher Hailey Dolcini lifted the Longhorns to a stunning upset over No. 1 Oklahoma Saturday. The cool, calm and collected demeanor that led Dolcini to the seven-inning, two-run performance also earned her an ERA of 2.37 this season. Dolcini is just as impressive off the field with a 4.0 GPA, earning her place as one of 10 finalists for the 2022 Senior CLASS Award. The Senior CLASS Award is given in every major Division I sport to seniors and graduate students for outstanding achievement inside and outside of the sport. Its four areas of excellence are community, classroom, character and competition. Prominent athletes like Duke’s JJ Redick and Mississippi State’s Dak Prescott are both former winners of the award. Dolcini has worked in the community since her junior year at Fortuna High School in California, where she started an initiative called “K’s for Kids Cancer.” The organization gathered set pledges from the community and pledges of $70 per strikeout that she accrued in her junior and senior season. Every dollar was donated to Cookies for Kids’ Cancer, a nonprofit in New Jersey that donates all of their proceedings to research. “There (were) a few kids that had been diagnosed with cancer that I knew, and one specifically that had played softball, and ultimately it stopped her from playing,”

hannan abdikadir

/ the daily texan staff

Senior Hailey Dolcini has impressed both on and off the field to earn a nomination for the Senior CLASS Award.

Dolcini said. “So, realizing the success I had in the sport and how awesome our community is, I wanted to do more with that.” Averaging 200-300 strikeouts per season in high school, by the end of her time at Fortuna, she raised approximately $10,000 dollars toward research. In the classroom, Dolcini has a 4.0 GPA at the University of Texas as a member of the strategic communication program. Dolcini already earned her bachelor’s degree in public health from Fresno State University, showing excellence in the classroom is a priority for the star pitcher. Dolcini used to give softball lessons to young girls back in Fresno, her second collegiate stop, so impacting the future of the game is of the utmost importance to Dolcini. She also tries to be a mentor to the other pitchers on the roster at Texas, as Dolcini is by far the most senior pitcher in the rotation. “Sophia and Estelle will definitely pick my brain … whether it’s different pitch-

es or mentality,” Dolcini said. “I try to speak with them after maybe a tough game or something, because it’s tough to learn at this level that you’re not defined by your one performance.” Dolcini has also found enjoyment off the field by engaging with fans, especially those who remind her of her younger self. Knowing she was once in their shoes, Dolcini welcomes her role as a role model for the next generation. “I think mainly (I put) myself in the position of (being available) whenever I see a younger girl, whether it’s for autographs, or (someone) who just wants to ask a question about softball, knowing I was once in that position,” Dolcini said. “They don’t care about the wins and losses, they don’t care what your ERA is, they think you are Superwoman.”

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B A R B R A D A LY

Comics Editor | @TEXANCOMICS TUESDAY, APRIL 19, 2022

COMICS


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