09-10-09

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SPORTS PAGE 8

2009: Year of the ‘D’

DT WEEKEND

Our staff dishes out their weekend picks

TOMORROW’S WEATHER

LIFE&ARTS PAGE 12

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Thrifty Thursday explores hair care

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THE DAILY TEXAN Thursday, September 10, 2009

Serving the University of Texas at Austin community since 1900

www.dailytexanonline.com

APD’s DWI initiative chalks up 27 arrests By Bobby Longoria Daily Texan Staff The Austin Police Department arrested 27 individuals over Labor Day weekend under the department’s “No Refusal” initiative conducted Friday night and a new state Driving While Intoxicated law enacted Sept. 1. APD Cpl. Scott Perry said the initiative was not conducted last Labor Day but attained more arrests than this year’s crackdown on the Fourth of July. The initiative is an 8-hour program in which if an individual arrested for a DWI denies either a breathalyzer or blood test, an APD officers is able to take the subject to a temporary blood alcohol test “command center” and have a detective fill out a search warrant request. That request is processed by a magistrate, available 365 days a year, 24 hours a day, that same night. Though the command center is used on a weekly basis, it does not normally contain the man power used during special events, such as Halloween night, the Fourth of July and Super Bowl Sunday. The initiative lasted from 9 p.m. Friday to 5 a.m. Saturday and amassed 27 total arrests consisting of nine blood search warrants, five consented blood draws, 12 consented breath tests and one mandatory blood draw based on the new DWI felony law. “It’s still DWI officers aggressively targeting intoxicated drivers and keeping them off the streets to keep the rest of us safe,” Perry said. “There is nothing unique about the fact that we can try to attain

DWI continues on page 2

Shelley Neuman | Daily Texan Staff

A free photo booth, complete with an assortment of hats to wear, was available for students to take fun photos this year at Party on the Plaza.

Despite mishaps, ‘Party’ goes on By Alexa Hart Daily Texan Staff The sounds of catchy top 40 hits were nearly as noticeable as the enticing scent of Gatti’s Pizza on Wednesday at the 11th annual Party on the Plaza, held in Gregory Gym. With free giveaways, mini golf, a basketball shoot-out contest, tailgate games such as beanbag tossing and free Amy’s Ice Cream, the interior of the gymnasium felt more like a street carnival than a workout center. Even the on-againoff-again rain and a last-minute relocation didn’t matter as students turned out in droves to attend the event inside the gym’s main concourse and practice court area. Hosted by RecSports, Party on the Plaza is UT’s largest studentorganization fair. All proceeds from the various activities benefit the

Lauren Gerson | Daily Texan Staff

By Jordan Haeger Daily Texan Staff A report released Wednesday claims that in Central Texas, African-American women have the highest breast-cancer mortality rate, Hispanic women receive mammogram screenings less than other ethnic groups and women in rural areas may have a lower prognosis than others. The breast-cancer mortality rate of Central Texas, which includes Bastrop, Caldwell, Hays, Travis and Williamson counties, is slightly higher than other areas in the state, according to the report, released by the Austin Affiliate of Susan G. Komen for the Cure. Of the 909 women who will be diagnosed with breast cancer in Central Texas in 2009, 159 will die, according to the report.

CANCER continues on page 2

Derek Stout | Daily Texan Staff

Mammographer Peggy Dietsch administers a mammogram Wednesday morning at El Buen Episcopal Mission.

Registration was supposed to be done at 10, so it was a bit of a backup plan, but it worked.” Organizations including club sports, art appreciation, spirit groups, sororities and fraternities, honor societies and more lined the inside of the gym with tables. With 165 different student groups tabling, the event gave new and returning students a chance to find their place on campus. “I saw the banner and a bunch of people walking into the gym this morning, and I just wanted to see what was going on, so I walked in,” said business freshman Ben Gao. “Now, I’m looking into fencing and Texas Crew. I’ve never done either of them before, but they may be something to get into. You never know.” One of the day’s main events was the Scholarship Shoot-out, host-

ed by RecSports. Students lined up to take a shot at sinking $2,000 in scholarship money, as well as a Party on the Plaza T-shirt. “The object is to first make a 3-point shot,” said urban studies and English junior Egu Ramanathan. “After that, you compete against everyone in your gender who made the three-pointer in a half-court shot contest. It’s kind of like a last man standing sort of thing. We really do it to get people involved and promote RecSports and friendly competition.” Despite the dreary weather and unexpected change of venue, organizations reported better-than-expected attendance. “It’s been pretty busy all day,” Walkowiak said. “Even upstairs, where you wouldn’t imagine it to be, there’s been a lot of traffic. I’d say we had a pretty good turnout.”

ONLINE: Video of Party at the Plaza at dailytexanonline.com

The Austin Police Department cracked down on drunk drivers over the Labor Day weekend

Report details breast cancer mortality rates

Student Emergency Fund, a part of Student Emergency Services. “What we do is help students in crisis,” said Christa Lopez, coordinator of Student Emergency Services. “Often, it is financial crisis. Students come in with a variety of stories of why they need help.” Originally slated to take place outside at the Gregory Gymnasium Plaza, morning rain showers forced the event to take cover. While a few tables stayed outside, the majority of the festivities relocated indoors. “We made the call to move at about 8:45 this morning, which was only 15 minutes before registration opened,” said organization chairwoman Amber Walkowiak. “We had staff members carrying tables and setting up the games in the gym, and everything didn’t really settle down until about 10:30.

Alumni group recruits student members By Priscilla Pelli Daily Texan Staff Free food, T-shirts and live music offered by the Texas Exes Alumni Center grabbed the attention of 1,500 students Wednesday afternoon. The Texas Exes Alumni Association hosted the Orange and White Welcome, an annual event that encourages hundreds of University students to register and become members of the Texas Exes Student Chapter organization. “The Texas Exes Student Chapter offers programs where alumni and students can come together to discuss career networking, provide or receive advice and provide opportunities for job shadowing,” said Kim Gundersen, associate executive director of the Texas Exes, in an e-mail. Brittany Weaver, director of the Marketing and Communications Committee, discussed the benefits of students becoming involved in the different chapter committees. She described the purpose of the committee as bringing students together to build resume skills as well as getting in touch with University alumni. “Our committee allows student chapter members to become involved, especially in working with the media and internal communications,” Weaver said. “It gives each student a responsibility in playing a role in servicing sections of marketing and communication.” The event was coordinated by Natalie Stanco, director of student relations for the organization, and Beth Rice, student relations coordi-

Jasmine Vallejo | Daily Texan Staff

During the Orange and White Welcome event, Lisset Lopez waits in line to receive free food. Stewart Yaros, left, and Taylor Filtseh from Dance International entertained students with a routine choreographed to a Latin song. nator for the student chapter. By 3 p.m., an estimated 1,450 students registered for the organization this year, placing membership at approximately 3,450 members. “[The event] has different activities to do with the students, making it a good way to familiarize themselves with the alumni center and the organization,” Stanco said. “This is the first event of the year that offers in-

formation about the program.” The Texas Exes Student Chapter was launched in 1998 as a membership-only organization. Sponsored by the Texas Exes Alumni Association, the chapter contains four committees: Alumni Relations Committee, Membership and Community Involvement Committee, Rallies and Special Events Committee and Marketing and Communica-

tions Committee. History sophomore Mariah Hoffman described her experience as a second-year member of the student chapter. “I attended Camp Texas last summer, which was an awesome way to introduce me to the group and alumni members,” Hoffman said. “Way more students attended this year’s welcome event than last year.”


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