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NEWS
THE DAILY TEXAN Volume 110, Number 126 25 cents
Friday, December 4, 2009
Cyclist injured in campus collision
CONTACT US Main Telephone: (512) 471-4591 Editor: Jillian Sheridan (512) 232-2212 editor@dailytexanonline.com Managing Editor: Stephen Keller (512) 232-2217 managingeditor@ dailytexanonline.com News Office: (512) 232-2207 news@dailytexanonline.com Web Office: (512) 471-8616 online@dailytexanonline.com Sports Office: (512) 232-2210 sports@dailytexanonline.com Life & Arts Office: (512) 232-2209 lifeandarts@dailytexanonline.com Photo Office: (512) 471-8618 photo@dailytexanonline.com
Tamir Kalifa| Daily Texan Staff
Emergency units respond to a cyclist who was hit by a car near the intersection of Dean Keeton Street and Harris Park Avenue on Thursday.
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From page 1
ter of the room is a cold chamber dure is performed carefully to enthat Dolinak said can hold up to sure the family of the deceased can 1,011 occurred in Travis County. 15 bodies at a time. still have an open-casket funeral. The deaths in Travis County inExaminers face many dangers cluded 419 accidents, 392 natural during the procedures, such as accauses, 112 suicides, 34 homicides cidental cuts and fluid contamiand 18 deaths from undetermined nation from the body, which may There is a lot of selfcauses. contain blood-borne diseases such imposed pressure we “It’s good to have another set of as HIV and hepatitis. eyes because when people die and Dolinak said that, depending on put on ourselves as bodies start to change, things are the conditions around the body, it investigators.� more obvious,� said Chris Smyth, may be preserved for examination an Austin Police Department hoanywhere from a few days to sev— Chris Smyth, micide detective. “There is a lot of eral weeks after death. homicide detective self-imposed pressure we put on He said identification of the body ourselves as investigators. Somecan be determined with DNA samtimes we do miss something, and ples, dental records, fingerprint rethe medical examiner catches it at cords or even a chip of bone, but the exam.� After making initial observa- answers do not come within the Smyth said the partnership be- tions of the body, medical exam- time span of a commercial break, tween APD and the medical ex- iners make a Y-incision across it, as seen on popular TV shows. aminer’s office leads to more ac- cutting from the shoulders to the After all examinations are done, curate investigations. He said the breast bone and through the bel- an autopsy report is made and redecomposition of bodies and un- ly button. They also make an in- viewed by the entire medical exknown causes of death pose the cision behind the head, and then, aminer staff. greatest challenge for the homi- one by one, the examiners in“There can be a lot of uncertaincide unit, and the office is able to spect the brain, heart, lungs, liver, ties about a death that we provide help in these cases. answers to,� Dolinak said. “The spleen and kidneys. The autopsy room contains Dolinak said that, contrary to answers may not come right away, two stations with knives, hoses popular belief, medical examin- but once they do come, it’s very and suction tubes for bodily flu- ers do not destroy the bodies dur- satisfying to give people those anids. Only a few feet from the cen- ing the autopsy, but that the proce- swers that they desire.�
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High
police, doctors clarifies results
THE DAILY TEXAN
3B;HEM @IL NB? G?GILC?M The University Unions Student Events Center congratulates its graduating members! Thank you for your hard work to make this semester a success! Gilberto CalderĂłn Montiel Mexican American Culture Committee
Rikki Hardy Music & Entertainment Committee
Kevin Nguyen Forty Acres Fest Committee
Phillip Paquette Music & Entertainment Committee
Kris Robles Music & Entertainment Committee Distinguished Speakers Committee
Josh Vangeest Music & Entertainment Committee
5)& 6/*7&34*5: 6/*0/4 456%&/5 &7&/54 $&/5&3
The Student Events Center houses ďŹ fteen committees and organizations. Our student leaders coordinate an incredible variety of programs for the University community, from concerts and speakers to movie screenings and cultural events. There are always opportunities for involvement, so visit utsec.org or call 475-6630 for more information.
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Editor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Jillian Sheridan Managing Editor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Stephen Keller Associate Managing Editors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . David R. Henry, Ana McKenzie Associate Editors . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Jeremy Burchard, Dan Treadway, David Muto, Lauren Winchester News Editor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Sean Beherec Associate News Editors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Pierre Bertrand, Austen Sofhauser, Blair Watler Senior Reporters . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Viviana Aldous, Bobby Longoria, Rachel Platis, Lena Price Enterprise Editor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Andrew Kreighbaum Enterprise Reporters . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Hudson Lockett Copy Desk Chief . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Robert Green Associate Copy Desk Chiefs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Cristina Herrera, Nausheen Jivani, Matt Jones Design Editor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Thu Vo Assistant Design Editor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Shatha Hussein Senior Designers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Taylor Fausak, Lynda Gonzales, Olivia Hinton Photo Editor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . May-Ying Lam Associate Photo Editors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Bryant Haertlein, Peter Franklin, Caleb Miller Senior Photographers . . . . Lauren Gerson, Mary Kang,Tamir Kalifa, Peyton McGee, Sara Young Life&Arts Editor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Leigh Patterson Associate Life&Arts Editors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Brad Barry, Francisco Marin Jr. Senior Features Writers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Audrey Gale Campbell, Lisa HoLung, Ben Wermund Senior Entertainment Writers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Robert Doty, Mary Lingwall, Robert Rich Senior DT Weekend Writer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Amber Genuske Sports Editor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Austin Talbert Senior Sports Writers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Will Anderson, Wes DeVoe, Blake Hurtik . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Dan Hurwitz, Laken Litman, Michael Sherfield, Chris Tavarez Comics Editor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Carolyn Calabrese Web Editor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Annika Erdman Associate Web Editor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Erik Reyna Multimedia Editor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Juan Elizondo Associate Multimedia Editors. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Kara McKenzie, Rachel Schroeder Editorial Adviser . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Richard Finnell
Amid busy traffic, a bicyclist was struck by a vehicle near the intersection of Dean Keeton Street and Harris Park Avenue Thursday afternoon. Warren Hassinger, spokesman for Austin-Travis County Emergency Medical Services, said a call came to EMS at 2 p.m., and within five minutes, paramedics were on scene. The 18-year-old cyclist was struck by a Chevrolet Trail Blazer and suffered non-life-threatening injuries, said Austin Police Department Cpl. Scott Perry. A passerby made the initial call, and after paramedics treated the cyclist on scene, he was transported to University Medical Center at Brackenridge. Perry said it is unclear whether or not the accident occurred in the middle of the intersection or who was at fault. The accident occurred just a month after the city of Austin passed an ordinance that went into effect Nov. 2, which requires motorists to give a 3-foot clearance when passing bicyclists, runners, pedestrians or someone in a wheelchair. According to the National Center for Statistics and Analysis Traffic Safety report, 53 cyclists were killed in traffic crashes in Texas in 2008. Nationally, 716 cyclists were killed, accounting for 2 percent of all traffic fatalities during the year, and an additional 52,000 were injured in traffic crashes. — Bobby Longoria
PERRY: Controversial highway
endorsement could hurt bid From page 1 economic struggle, high levels of unemployment and two foreign wars, the state elections are going to be particularly important next year, he said. “As the nation works its way out of its current dire straits, we need strong Texans more than ever,� he said. Perry said he hopes that undecided voters will look at his conservative record when making their decisions. “There have only been two state budgets since World War II that cut general revenue spending in Texas, and I signed both of them,� Perry said. “I’ve also line-item vetoed more than $3 billion of unnecessary spending — more than all Texas governors combined.� Republicans Larry Kilgore, Debra Medina, and U.S. Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison, R-Texas, have all announced their candidacy. Houston hair-care billionaire Farouk Shami, musician Kinky Friedman and rancher Hank Gilbert are among those running for the Democratic nomination. There is also speculation that Houston Mayor Bill White, a Democrat, may soon announce that he is switching to the governor’s race, after months of campaigning for Hutchison’s Senate seat. Hutchison has made clear her intent to oppose Perry in the March primary, but has not yet officially filed to run. She revealed on Nov. 13 that she would not relinquish her Senate seat until after the primary. College Republicans President Mikael Garcia said the group will not pick sides in the primary, but will support whoever wins the Republican nomination. “I certainly think Gov. Perry has a proven record,� Garcia said. “If we compare Texas to any other state in the U.S., we can see that the executives have governed Texas in a responsible manner.�
Garcia said he thinks Perry’s biggest challenges will be Sen. Hutchison and his support of the Trans-Texas Corridor, a planned superhighway that both Republicans and Democrats have criticized for potential use of eminent domain. The initiative could potentially displace many Texans who live in its path, Garcia said. The Trans-Texas Corridor goes against the principles of the Republican party, undercutting Perry’s conservative credentials, he said. Hutchison has promised to kill plans for the highway if elected governor. Perry has repeatedly questioned her conservative credentials, pointing to her vote for the federal bank bailout last fall. Government professor Andrew Karch said he thinks Perry has done a good job appealing to the Republican primary voter, for the most part. “The only time he’s really been out of step with the primary constituency was during the controversy over the executive order to require the HPV vaccine in 2007,� Karch said. “I’m surprised that Sen. Hutchison hasn’t attempted to get more mileage over that, because I think that’s one of the rare times he’s been out of step with Republican primary voters.� University Democrats spokesman Ben Freed, a Middle Eastern studies and pre-journalism junior, said he thinks that Perry has failed as governor. Texas ranks near the bottom of all 50 states in health care and education and has not risen in those ratings during Perry’s tenure, he said. Although he has served longer than any governor in Texas history, Perry said he’s not ready to quit yet. “Mack Brown has been the coach at Texas for longer than I’ve been governor and I don’t hear anybody calling for him to step down,� Perry said.
Issue Staff
Reporters . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ..Alex Geiser, Hannah Jones, Shabab Siddiqui, Nihas Wagal Photographers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Bruno Merlan, Kari Rosenfeld, Jordy Wagoner Life&Arts Writers. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ..Kate Ergenbright Columnist . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Dave Player Copy Editors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Megan Gottlieb, Carolyn Webb, Kelsey Crow Sports/Life&Arts Copy Editor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Vicky Ho Wire Editor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Emily Chandler Page Designer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Veronica Rosalez, Mustafa Saifuddin Comics Artists . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Ryohei Yatsu, Alex Diamond, Sammy Martinez, Michael Bowman . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Emily Ferguson, Claudine Lucena, Kathery Mcnafee, Monica Tseng Sports Writer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Jordan Goodwin Web Technician . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ? Videographer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Carlos Medina
Advertising
Director of Advertising . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Jalah Goette Retail Advertising Manager . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Brad Corbett Account Executive/Broadcast Manager . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Carter Goss Campus/National Sales Consultant. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Joan Bowerman Assistant to Advertising Director. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . C.J. Salgado Student Advertising Director . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Kathryn Abbas Student Advertising Manager. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Ryan Ford Acct. Execs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Lauren Aldana, Anupama Kulkarni, Ashley Walker, Natasha Moonka . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Taylor Blair, Tommy Daniels, Jordan Gentry, Meagan Gribbin, Darius Meher-Homji Classified Clerks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Teresa Lai Special Editions, Editorial Adviser . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Elena Watts Web Advertising . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Danny Grover Special Editions, Student Editors. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Kira Taniguchi Graphic Designer Interns . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Amanda Thomas, Lisa Hartwig Senior Graphic Designer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Felimon Hernandez The Daily Texan (USPS 146-440), a student newspaper at The University of Texas at Austin, is published by Texas Student Media, 2500 Whitis Ave., Austin, TX 78705. The Daily Texan is published daily except Saturday, Sunday, federal holidays and exam periods, plus the last Saturday in July. Periodical Postage Paid at Austin, TX 78710. News contributions will be accepted by telephone (471-4591) or at the editorial office (Texas Student Media Building 2.122). For local and national display advertising, call 471-1865. For classified display and national classified display advertising, call 471-1865. For classified word advertising, call 471-5244. Entire contents copyright 2009 Texas Student Media.
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