SERVING THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT AUSTIN COMMUNITY SINCE 1900 @THEDAILYTEXAN | THEDAILYTEXAN.COM
WEDNESDAY, MAY 2, 2018
VOLUME 118, ISSUE 152
N E WS
O PI N I O N
LI FE&A RTS
SPORTS
Texas Political Union hosts last debate of the year on doctorassisted suicide. PAGE 2
Meek Mill’s probation case is representative of a broken justice system. PAGE 4
B. Jones discusses what it’s like to be bisexual and monogamous. PAGE 8
Down three, Hamilton’s walk-off grand slam lifts Texas over Texas State in instant classic. PAGE 6
CAMPUS
CAMPUS
SafeHorns launches social media campaign
Remembering
Harrison Brown
By Tehreem Shahab @turhem
During the memorial in honor of Harrison Brown on Tuesday, Harrison’s mother Lori Brown wore a hat reading #Report4Harrison, a hashtag part of a larger campaign launched by SafeHorns the same day. SafeHorns is a coalition of parents and community members promoting increased security on campus for the safety of UT students, staff and faculty. The #Report4Harrison campaign advises students to report anything on or around campus that might be harmful. The campaign was launched after SafeHorns posted a statement from Lori Brown on its Facebook page in which she encouraged students to get behind the campaign. Brown said after the stabbing occurred, Harrison had to ask someone to call 911. “Harrison was the one who went over to another student and said, ‘Call 911, I‘ve been stabbed,’” Brown said. “It’s just really hard to swallow that it hadn’t already happened and somebody had not dialed 911. Maybe if they had, I don’t know if it could have saved Harrison’s life, but possibly, maybe, it would have prevented the other three people from being stabbed.” Joell McNew, vice president of SafeHorns, said the campaign encourages members of the UT community to look out for each other and to be aware of the resources offered to them on campus. “The campaign is basically just the message that anyone could be Harrison,” McNew said. “Once you’re on campus, it’s so important just being a part of community that you recognize, respond and report.” McNew said #Report4Harrison will primarily be a social media campaign. McNew said the organization’s goal is to create a public service announcement with students over the summer to push the campaign’s message which must serve as a call to action for the UT community. “When we say we have to watch out for each other, it’s a call to action and not just a statement,” McNew said. David Carter, assistant vice
ashley ephraim | the daily texan staff Lori Brown leads a group of mourners to the stone that bears Harrison Brown’s name in front of Gregory Gym during the memorial event held in his honor Tuesday, May 1, 2018.
UT students, parents gather around Brown’s memorial tree By Tehreem Shahab @turhem
W
hite flowers were passed among UT students and parents who wore T-shirts reading, “Horns Up for Harry,” as they gathered around Harrison Brown’s memorial tree Tuesday afternoon to honor his life. May 1 marks the day Harrison Brown, a UT freshman at the time, was fatally stabbed and three other UT students were injured. Harrison’s mother, Lori Brown, was present at the memorial, although she had previously said she would not be in attendance. “When I woke up this morning, I was not planning on being here,” Brown said. “And I talked with my older son, who is in a final right now in law school in San Antonio, and I asked him, ‘Should I be in Austin?’ and he said, ‘Yes, mom.’
And my sister-in-law was with me at the time, and we got in the car, and here we are — and I’m happy that I am here.” Chemistry junior Stuart Bayliss, one of the survivors of the stabbing, was also present at the memorial. Bayliss said he is recovering well from the injuries he sustained on his lower back and his hand. Around Bayliss’ wrist was an orange bracelet with Harrison’s name engraved on it. Bayliss said he made the bracelet three days after the incident. “It means more than anything because it’s basically me walking with Harrison everywhere I go,” Bayliss said. “Doing everything I do, trying to live the life he would have been living if this hadn’t happened.” The memorial was organized by Harrison’s family and friends as well as SafeHorns, an
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Brown’s former a capella group honors through song By Allyson Waller @allyson_renee7
A
rendition of “I’ll Be” by Edwin McCain was sung Tuesday night at the Tower by Sneha Kurada as she and many other Longhorns attended a vigil for the one-year anniversary of Harrison Brown’s death. “(Brown’s) passion of music is still speaking through us,” said Kurada, a natural sciences junior and president of the Ransom Notes, the a capella group Brown was a part of. “He has changed our lives for the better.” Members of the Ransom Notes honored Brown through the song he sang in a video circulated heavily online after his death. The event included friends of Brown and students who wanted to share their respects. Ena Huskic said she was near
the UTC when she saw the events of May 1 unfold, and said she still has a vivid memory of the tragedy. “A tragedy happened on campus, and I feel like our school should rally together to support his family and remember that day,” Huskic, a finance junior, said. Economics junior Arjun Das, who was close friends with Brown’s brother John, urged students at the vigil to support the SafeHorns campaign, #Report4Harrison, and to speak up if something is wrong. “We cannot keep dwelling on the past because the hard truth is, there’s nothing we can do to change what happened,” Das said. “We can only make sure that the memory of Harrison affects us in a way that makes us all better humans. We, as Longhorns, must do our best to keep each other safe because we are the ones who can truly stop something like this from happening again.”
MUSIC page 3
SAFEHORNS page 2 SYSTEM
STUDENT GOVERNEMNT
UT System prepares for legislative session
Last meeting focuses on future initiatives
By Maria Mendez @mellow_maria
As Texas’ 86th legislative session approaches, the UT System emphasized the importance of state funding and the upcoming elections during Tuesday’s Board of Regents meeting. UT System university presidents and Barry McBee, the vice chancellor and chief governmental relations officer, outlined political priorities for the next legislative session, which begins in January 2019. McBee reviewed the state’s budget, which will determine how much state funding lawmakers allocate to UT and
REGENTS page 2
By Katelyn Balevic @katelynbalevic
juan figeroa | the daily texan file With Chancellor William McRaven leaving his office by the end of the month, the Board of Regents presented him with a certificate during its last in-person meeting Tuesday.
At its last meeting of the semester, Student Government prepared itself for the initiatives it hopes to tackle next year. The representatives of the 112th assembly, who have had five meetings thus far, heard words of encouragement as they brainstormed legislation for the fall. Madison Huerta, former speaker of the assembly, said representatives should make the best use of their time in SG by advocating for students. “In Student Government, a lot of people get caught up in whose name is on a resolution or who
gets their picture in The Daily Texan or who gets to go to the meeting with the highest administrator,” Huerta, a management senior, said. “At the end of the day, they are in those positions to serve students, and it doesn’t matter whose name is recognized or whose picture is seen.” Huerta said successful representatives have qualities such as empathy, awareness and conceptualization. “The best representatives are going to be the representatives that are focused on putting the needs of the student body first, being empathetic toward their fellow assembly members and
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WEDNESDAY, MAY 2, 2018
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griffin smith | the daily texan staff Adam Lozoya, otherwise known as The Traveling Pianist, plays for a crowd at Eeyore’s Birthday in Pease Park.
Featuring the best from the photo department.
Students reflect on Roundup safety reforms, purpose
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AUSTIN WEATHER TODAY May 2
HI LO
TOMORROW May 3
89º 72º
HI 88º LO 69º
By Estefania Rodriguez @estefania_rdz13
This year’s Roundup hit many milestones for the Interfraternity Council, as they transitioned the event’s purpose to philanthropy and implemented Radio Frequency Identification wristbands as an additional safety measure. In an effort to change the perception of IFC, the group donated a third of its proceeds to charity. Half of approximately $15,000 was donated to the Circle of Sisterhood, an organization that provides access to education for girls, and the other half was donated to the B+ (Be Positive) Foundation, which raises money to support children with cancer. “(Roundup) used to have pretty negative history in terms of the (parade) floats and all that stuff,” said Peter Driscoll, finance senior and IFC president. “The direction we were trying to take it was to turn it into a philanthropy event. It’s not just a party, it’s not a recruitment event. It’s a Greek bonding event that also donates the money to charity.” For the first time, IFC used RFID wristbands, which were in two different colors for drinking age verification and could be scanned to keep track of student attendance at the Roundup events. The wristband also contained emergency contact information, which helped security find one student with a cut artery outside a fraternity
katie bauer | the daily texan file Roundup attendees dance at Beta Upsilon Chi and Beta Theta Chi’s crawfish boil last year. Roundup’s annual weekend of events saw increased safety procedures and focus on the Greek organizations’ philanthropies this year. house after falling with a bottle of alcohol. “(IFC) hired Event One security to be our liaison and go around West Campus,” Driscoll said. “They essentially saved someone’s life.” The new wristband system helped fraternities in streamlining the waiting period for students to get into the parties.
Instead of security having to ID each student, the RFID bands sped up the process since the wristbands already verify the students’ age. Driscoll said line times went from about 1 hour and 45 minutes to 15 minutes. “Everything seemed more organized and all the more put together (because of the bands),” electrical engineering junior
Cade Richardson said. “Bouncers and bartenders were communicating, and it seemed to have a big effect on the parties.” However, not all students believed the new safety measures were completely effective. Urban studies sophomore Maya Williams-Britton said students found many ways to get around the 21-and-up bands and the
emergency contact information probably did not significantly improve students’ safety. “I think asking for an emergency contact was a good idea, but most people are underage and probably wouldn’t put a parent (on the band),” Williams-Britton said. “I’m not sure how effective it would be if it was actually needed.”
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public higher education institutions. State leaders have expressed “cautious optimism” about the budget, but McBee said legislators will have to balance any such funding with past expenses on health care and new bills from Hurricane Harvey recovery. “When (lawmakers) left town during the end of the last legislative session, they left $100 million in the bank in terms of general revenue,” McBee said. “That compares to $900 million that was available at the end of the preceding session … so the coffers are not full.” These budget constraints may mean less state funding for Texas universities and UT-Austin, which received 12 percent of its budget from state funding for the current academic year. UT-Dallas President Richard Benson said he is also concerned about the state’s formula funding, which factors in student enrollment to decide how much money to give universities. “Because of our (university’s) growth, we were expecting about $7 million more, but instead were cut (funding),” Benson said. “Making sure the formula (funding) is stable is awfully important to us.” UT-Austin President Gregory Fenves said he is grateful for the Legislature’s support but hopes the state will support UT’s lowand middle-income students through TEXAS Grants. “Continuing to fully fund TEXAS grants … is very important because that most directly impacts the students,” Fenves said. “This is the most significant statewide financial aid program.
Many of our students depend on these grants.” McBee said another concern in the next session will be “protecting” UT’s special access to the state’s Permanent University Fund, which only funds the UT and A&M Systems, McBee said. As both the UT System and the Texas legislature brace for leadership changes in the fall, McBee said good relationships between the chancellor and elected lawmakers will be crucial to the securing support for UT institutions. Out of all the state elections this year, McBee said the selection of the new Speaker of the House of Representatives, who assigns representatives to the state’s higher education committee, will be the most important for the UT System. “I think the most important election in Texas, particularly from the perspective of higher education, is what happens in January when the 150 members of the House come back and elect the new speaker to succeed Joe Straus,” McBee said. With William McRaven leaving the chancellor’s office by the end of this month, the Board of Regents also presented him with a certificate during its last in-person meeting on Tuesday. Last Friday, McRaven and his wife were surprised with a $500,000 endowment in their name for future chancellors to use for the System. Board Chairman Sara Martinez Tucker said it grew to $900,000 with new donations by the end of the night. “You will forever be linked to the UT System,” Tucker said. McRaven also thanked the Board for its support. “It has been the honor of my lifetime to be your chancellor,” McRaven said.
brittany mendez | the daily texan staff Government seniors Hyun Woo Jeon and Tessa Slagle answer questions from the Student Government assembly before being appointed as two of the four Supreme Court justices Tuesday at the SAC.
SG
continues from page 1 focusing strictly on what can they do in their time to help others,” Huerta said. Benjamin Solder, the current speaker of the assembly, said SG discussed reorganizing the campuswide election code to help SG elections run smoother. Looking forward, Solder said the assembly wants to increase visibility and communication by improving the SG website. “I’m hoping that we can also put up those initiative progress documents on the
SAFEHORNS
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president for campus security and chief of police, and Jimmy Johnson, assistant vice president of campus safety, released a statement
website for people to check out the progress that their elected representatives are making on tangible campuswide issues,” Solder, a neuroscience senior, said. “We can also reach out to those communities who have previously been underrepresented by creating a campuswide biweekly email.” Meanwhile, Camilla Kampmann, vice president of ethics and oversight, is working with her fellow representatives on improving new student orientation. “My main aim is working and seeing what new students are getting out of
orientation and where that is falling flat,” government and economics sophomore Kampmann said. Prior to this discussion, SG Supreme Court members and other representatives were sworn in. Tessa Slagle, Thuy Nguyen, Hyun Woo Jeon and Alexis Darrow were all sworn in as SG Supreme Court justices. Justin Tennenbaum and Dwight Peton were sworn in as SG Supreme Court clerks. Haris Rafiq was sworn in as engineering representative, and Alec Johnson was sworn in as geosciences representative.
Monday that said UT emphasizes calling 911 anytime someone feels unsafe as part of its Be Safe campaign. “Certainly, we want people to be cognizant of their surroundings,” Johnson said during a press conference
Monday. “‘See something, say something, dial 911’ is part of the (Be Safe) campaign platform that really encourages our community to look out for information that could be vital to helping us keep our campus safe.”
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WEDNESDAY, MAY 2, 2018
CAMPUS
angel ulloa | the daily texan staff Government senior Jonathon Dror bows his head in a moment of silence at the Harrison Brown vigil Tuesday night. Jonathon is a member of the a capella group, The Ransom Notes, which Harrison was also a part of during his time at UT.
TREE avery chahl | the daily texan file UT graduate and former Texas Political Union President Josh Armstrong voices his opinion on physician-assisted suicide. Texas Political Union is a nonnpartisan organization which offers a place for civil discourse on divisive issues.
Texas Political Union debates physician-assisted suicide By Meghan Nguyen @megnnguyen
With a resounding bang of a gavel, the Texas Political Union commenced its last debate of the semester. On Tuesday, the nonpartisan discussion group held an open debate about physician-assisted suicide and autonomy over one’s life. With calls to legalize physician-assisted suicide increasing in recent years, attendees of the discussion touched upon themes such as religious and ethical concerns, doctors’ responsibilities and appropriate methods of suicide. “I think America’s very confused about life and death,” Elizabeth Contreras, a public health freshman, said. “We have the death penalty, yet we also have suicide prevention initiatives. We have do-not-resuscitate orders but there’s still controversy around whether terminally ill people should be able to choose when they die.” Computer science freshman Anurag Singh said there is a parallel between the right to refuse treatment and the right to die. “The principle of agency over
one’s own body has to be applicable universally,” Singh said. “If we think that the patient is the sole person responsible for the agency for their body, then on the other side of the coin, it should be justifiable that people like Jehovah’s Witnesses be able to refuse blood transfusions for
In the Constitution, we have the right to life, along with liberty and the pursuit of happiness. But the question of the night is, ‘do we also have the right to death?’” Alex Walheim,
government junior
religious purposes and that people can refuse vaccinations.” Brittany Maynard, a 29-yearold with terminal brain cancer, sparked controversy in 2014 after moving to Oregon and dying
with assistance from her physician. Oregon is one of five states with legal protections for assisted suicide. Maynard’s death set off a national outcry to push other states to enact similar legislation. Texas Political Union members said there are constitutionally gray areas with regard to Maynard’s decision and what it could mean for the future. “If we don’t have legal barriers to assisted suicide, that choice will be made readily available, and physician-assisted suicide is going to get chosen a lot more often,” architecture sophomore Matthew Van Hoorn said. “I don’t think that’s something that should be encouraged.” The U.S. Supreme Court has ruled that no right exists for physician-assisted suicide, but nevertheless has given states permission to enact laws to permit it. Currently in Texas, euthanasia and assisted suicide are illegal, but life support removal is not. “In the Constitution, we have the right to life, along with (that to) liberty and the pursuit of happiness,” government junior Alex Walheim said. “But the question of the night is, ‘Do we also have the right to death?’”
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organization of parents and community members advocating for safer conditions on campus. Kate Youman, a member of SafeHorns, said she was there to support the UT community and Harrison’s loved ones. “I’m here as a parent
(and) as a daughter of a past faculty member,” Youman said. “My family (has) fourth-generation UT students, and so I’m here to support all the students and all the friends and family of Harrison as well as the people who didn’t know Harrison but feel connected to honoring his memory.”
MUSIC
continues from page 1 Kurada said it’s good to see the impact Brown has left on the UT community. “It’s hard for me to wrap my head around that it’s been a year since it happened,” Kurada said. “But it’s also so amazing and incredible to see the impact he still has on us today and has had on us every day since then.”
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LAURA HALLAS
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF @TEXASOPINION
WEDNESDAY MAY 2, 2018
COLUMN
Meek Mill’s probation part of broken system By Elizabeth Braaten @texanopinion
senior columnist Tuesday, April 24 marked the long-awaited release of Robert Williams (aka Meek Mill) from prison. Fans and social justice activists alike celebrated the Pennsylvania Supreme Court’s decision to free Williams on bail after the rapper received a two-to-four year prison sentence in November 2017 for violating his probation. The probation period, which was initially supposed to last five years, was extended several times for minor probation violations over the entirety of the past decade, resulting in an emotionally exhausting nightmare for the 30-year-old rapper. The worst part of Williams’ story is it’s nowhere near uncommon. Williams’ experience
is evidence of a broken criminal justice system that disproportionately targets people of color for minor violations of probation and parole. This ensures decreased employment opportunities and an increased chance that convicts will wind up back in prison. In the United States today, an estimated 4.5 million people are on probation or on parole. Among the population of the U.S. criminal justice system as a whole, people of color are overrepresented. This inherent racism in our country’s legal system particularly targets black communities. Probation rates for black Americans are a stunning 2.9 percent higher than those of their white counterparts, and, in some states, are five or more times higher. Probation is meant to serve as a substitution for time spent in a correctional facility for a period of supervision by the state, in which the offender is required to meet conditions of good behavior. But probation is often unforgiving
of small mistakes. According to a three-month survey conducted by The Marshall Project, at least 61,000 people nationwide are currently behind bars, not for committing a crime but for parole violations such as failing a drug test or missing an appointment with a parole officer. This has serious, negative repercussions for people of color caught up in the criminal justice system, as having a criminal record hinders a person’s ability to acquire things such as loans, housing rights and jobs. For people of color who are actively discriminated against even without convictions, this is a devastating prospect for convicts trying to get their lives back on track. Unable to be a full participant in society, many convicts become repeat offenders, ensuring that they are behind bars and trapped within a relentless system for much of their lives. Williams’ case is one of the millions of examples of this trend. Although his initial
COLUMN
COLUMN
Diversify your reading list this summer
Hackathons no longer about learning By Abby Krishnan @ theamazingabby
columnist
Major League Hacking, a national body that oversees large-scale hackathons, has several corporate sponsors. Two of those sponsors are Awake Chocolate, a hypercaffeinated chocolate brand, and Soylent, the company that wants you to down chalky protein drinks as a replacement for meals. The seemingly unlimited amounts of these products at hackathons lull students into sacrificing sleep and real food in hopes of securing a prize for their coding prowess. The idea of the hackathon is basically a programmer’s utopian dream — groups of programmers, equipped with unlimited caffeine and snacks, try to solve the world’s technology deficits in the span of 36 hours. The participants are encouraged to work quickly and intensely for a continuous period of time, often without sleep. However, hackathons cause programmers to approach projects superficially and breed unhealthy competition, as they’re seen as the only way to get technology students to collaborate. Hackathons are seen as a birthplace of innovation, where the brightest and youngest minds in technology go to get inspired to create the next big thing. Companies have bought in, and more and more are hosting or sponsoring hackathons. Companies provide specialized data, a space to meet others and free food. In return, developers provide their expertise — something companies desperately need in a business environment that prioritizes technological skills. Neil Patil, a computer science sophomore, told me the hackathon initially embodied a “hobbyist” spirit, where friends or coworkers could get together to work on an interesting project. As these meetups grew, companies realized that really smart people go to these events, making them a great place to scout potential hires, and they started putting money into them. Over time, Patil believes this became a cycle of corporations pumping money into the events, leading to larger and more organized meetups, leading to more corporate influence. Ultimately, this detracts from the initial spirit of learning that
probationary period was only supposed to last five years, his sentence has been extended time and time again because of minor probation violations, such as booking performances outside of Philadelphia without a judge’s approval. The criminal justice system makes certain that offenders are caught up in a mess of fines, fees and drug tests that make it impossible to lead a normal life. Instead of keeping people out of prison, probation and parole often make certain the exact opposite. To prevent this from happening, time limits should be placed on probation periods. Furthermore, the probation period itself should be more focused on rehabilitation and community service — not on fees and drug tests. We’ve celebrated Meek Mill’s freedom. Now it’s time to worry about the other 4.5 million. Braaten is an international relations junior from Conroe.
characterized the original hackathon. The reality of hackathons is that they are glamorous at first glance, but oddly unsettling on second thought. Rarely do hackathons set the groundwork for lasting, important innovation. Instead, they feed students the narrative that innovation comes easily, when it is actually often a long and difficult process of trial and error. At many of these events, after the “hacking” has concluded, there is a period of judging by professionals from the company sponsors. These judges view each project for approximately 10 minutes, and in this time, all that is available to evaluate is design and concept. Most of the time, the winners of hackathons are groups that cobbled together company technology and data to appeal to sponsors and win thousands of dollars in prize money. Coders are incentivized to add as many gimmicky features as possible to their project in order to make it appealing during a 10 minute judging process, rather than to propose an idea that carries significance to them and their community. Corporate influence discourages creativity and essentially convinces students to build and inspire new company products for a cost that is infinitesimal in comparison to an industry wage. As a result, crucial parts of the development process, such as testing and user feedback, are perceived as a waste of time in this fast-paced environment. These elements lead to the improvement of technology and an increase in accessibility over time. There is little thought given to feasibility or the social consequence of an idea someone wants to build. When hackathons downplay the relevance of the user in product development, it sets the precedent that technology can entirely ignore its human aspect. The entire hacking culture is focused on speed, not quality, giving rise to a tech culture that cares little about people and that views the world through a profit-oriented lens. Creation can always benefit from brief periods of excited, intense work. But expecting perfection from these sprint-like work sessions is impractical. If we want an ethical tech culture, it’s time to rethink the way we encourage student exposure to the field. Krishnan is a computer science freshman from Plano, TX.
By Kereece McLean @texanopinion
columnist
Trying to understand others’ experiences can feel like an impossible task, but it can be as easy as switching up your reading list. As we approach the end of the semester, some of us will begin to search for some great summer novels. But instead of picking up familiar books and reading about stories that reflect things you’re already interested in, try branching out. We often get swept into reading work with a somewhat similar background or life story to our own. But we should reach for books that give us a new perspective, one that teaches us something about a different culture or that is written by someone of a different ethnicity.
If users don’t expand outside of the big three streaming sites, their movie options are seriously limited in many genres.” Books allow us to view the world through a different lens, potentially bearing witness to racial and/or class hardships. A single author’s experience cannot speak for an entire community, but the perspectives they implicitly bring from their backgrounds — especially their racial or ethnic background — can still be enlightening. It’s difficult to gain a rich, diverse perspective if we only cling to books that align with our reality. It’s great to read books with white protagonists, but we consume white perspectives everywhere, through movies, television and everyday life. When whiteness is the default, reading authors of color becomes even more necessary. The publishing industry is overwhelmingly white, with only 14 percent being authors of color. Although there are few writers of color, they do
channing miller | the daily texan staff
exist — and we should be listening to their stories. For example, Toni Morrison, Nobel Prize winner in literature and black author, writes about the ramifications of slavery on the black community, and Junot Diaz, Pulitzer Prize winner and Dominican author, writes about his experience as an immigrant and a Dominican man. If you’re into nonfiction, Michelle Alexander’s “The New Jim Crow: Mass Incarceration in the Age of Colorblindness” is a great read that can offer readers an alternative perspective in terms of viewing the prison system in a different light. If you prefer works of fiction, you may be interested in Octavia Butler’s sci-fi novel “Fledgling,” which explores race and sexuality through the perspective of a young female vampire. Although the publishing industry is skewed in favor of white authors, we should not discount minority writers because their work is critical in contributing to the array of human perspectives books can provide. Authors of color are just as entertaining as their white counterparts, and their works allow a glimpse into their communities. Ignorance is not bliss, because it only fosters bigotry. Empathy is the only weapon we need to fight intolerance, and books are our greatest means to do so. McLean is an English senior from Houston.
COLUMN
Texas education woes continue, students suffer By Liam Verses @liam_verses
columnist
UT System Chancellor William McRaven, an advisor to both the Bush and Obama Administrations and a retired Navy admiral, took questions after a speech at a Society of Plan II Engineers dinner last week. When asked about the biggest threat to U.S. national security, his instinctive, almost immediate, response was “pre-K-12.”
Our inability to invest in the future of Texas’ students will continue to hurt resource-strapped schools, stifling educational outcomes for the foreseeable future .” His answer makes sense. Better educated individuals tend to be healthier and wealthier, voting more frequently. They’re often more content and more supportive of civil liberties. Education is not only a question of quality of life but also of opportunity and equity. The state of Texas is falling further behind its
jacky tovar| the daily texan staff peers in national education rankings. Data released from the 2017 biennial test, the National Assessment of Education Progress, showed that Texas’ fourth and eighth grade students fell in both reading and math assessments relative to their previous national standings, with our state’s reading performance at its lowest rank in 25 years. This slip is an unacceptable — but fixable — problem. Everything’s bigger in Texas, including, at times, our education woes. A Center on Budget and Policy
LEGALESE | Opinions expressed in The Daily Texan are those of the editor, the Editorial Board or the writer of the article. They are not necessarily those of the UT administration, the Board of Regents or the Texas Student Media Board of Operating Trustees.
Priorities report states that Texas cut K-12 educational funding by 16.2 percent from 2008 to 2018 — despite increased need from Texas’ population growth, which ranks seventh highest in the entire country. Our inability to invest in the future of Texas’ students will continue to hurt resource-strapped schools, stifling educational outcomes for the foreseeable future. Texas’ rankings by subject matter still look fairly
SUBMIT A FIRING LINE | Email your Firing Lines to editor@dailytexanonline.com. Letters must be more than 100 and fewer than 300 words. The Texan reserves the right to edit all submissions for brevity, clarity and liability.
good, but we need to be worried about lost ground. The Urban Institute’s more comprehensive analysis of NAEP data shows that we perform among the best nationally for math and above average for reading. However, Urban’s analysis still showed Texas sliding down in rankings for every category from 2015 because of lower scores. Last year, Texas students’ scores on state STAAR assessments fell for reading, science and social studies. Our state performance is stagnating. Without correction, this slide in performance could continue. Texas is off to the right start with the Texas Education Agency’s math and reading academies, established by the legislature in 2015. Pam Bell, of the Meadows Center for Preventing Educational Risk, explained that we should establish more professional development and evidence-based educational programs, particularly for reading. Coupling teacher development — both before and after they begin in the classroom — with the right learning programs can accomplish a lot. State leaders have changed their mind several times over the past few years, by both switching state assessments and changing statewide curricula — leaving students in a sort of academic limbo that only exacerbates the problem. But by focusing on equipping teachers with the right skill set and using science-based, proven educational programs for students, we can help Texas students get to a higher national standing. Improving education isn’t optional. So let’s give Texas schools what they need to succeed. Verses is an environmental engineering and Plan II freshman from San Antonio.
RECYCLE | Please recycle this copy of The Daily Texan. Place the paper in one of the recycling bins on campus or back in the burnt-orange newsstand where you found it. EDITORIAL TWITTER | Follow The Daily Texan Editorial Board on Twitter (@TexanOpinion) and receive updates on our latest editorials and columns.
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WEDNESDAY, MAY 2, 2018
THEATER & DANCE
Dystopian play highlights power of voting in today’s society By Trent Thompson @trentthompsonut
It’s an awful moment when you have to choose between two equally horrible solutions to resolve an even more horrible problem. In “Wellesley Girl,” this responsibility unhappily falls on the shoulders of everyday American citizens, who must decide the fate of an entire community. The play, put on by the Department of Theatre and Dance, opens May 2 with performances continuing through May 5 in the F. Loren Winship Drama Building (WIN 2.180). The story takes place in a post-apocalyptic Boston in the year 2465, where only 345 adults live inside Boston’s walled citadel and they are all members of a makeshift Congress. Scraping up whatever was left after an environmental catastrophe, U.S. citizens assume control of a government they don’t fully understand. Director Quetta Carpenter, an acting lecturer, said “Wellesley Girl” challenges its audience to determine our current role as citizens of the U.S. through its bleak setting. “Right now, if you had to run Congress, what would you do?” Carpenter said. “You probably wouldn’t get it right, because you don’t really know how it operates and none of us really do. That’s kind of what the play is getting
at. We know the ritual of it, but we don’t necessarily know exactly how things get done.” “Wellesley Girl” premiered two years ago in the wake of the 2016 election. Carpenter said she doesn’t want people to think of the play as an anti-Trump play but as a rejection of the election cycle that got Trump elected. “(Being a citizen) is a job we all have to do, and I think we’ve become lazy with that over the years,” Carpenter said. “I think we’ve become a nation made up of armchair pundits, and we talk about it … and talk about how we do like this and we don’t like that, and we rarely do anything. Most people in the country don’t vote, and the play is really getting at that not voting thing and what it means to not vote.” Carpenter said the play primarily strikes a chord with younger audiences because it explores where politics could take us in the future. Acting freshman Saige Larmer, a cast member of the play, echoed Carpenter’s statement and said she hopes the audience will take some valuable things from seeing the performance. “One of the central themes in ‘Wellesley Girl’ is the fact that you do have an influence on politics and the people around you, so I would love for people to think about their role in society,” said Larmer. “(Anoth-
elizabeth garabedian| the daily texan staff Acting freshman Saige Larmer stars in “Wellesley Girl” as Marie, a woman who is unafraid to voice her beliefs. “Wellesley Girl,” a play that illuminates the dark side of political polarization and lack of citizen political participation, opens May 2 in the F. Loren Winship Building. er theme is) listening to people and making sure you get all points of view, because one isn’t necessarily right, (even) if it’s the loudest.” In the face of political commentary, Larmer said what interests her the most are the
raw and compelling storylines of the characters in the play. Similarly, acting junior Camryn Basile said what drew her into auditioning for “Wellesley Girl” is its political commentary on our nation’s current state of polarization, in addition to
its strong storytelling narrative through the lives of relatable and believable characters. “The show isn’t about flair, its focused on the acting aspect,” said Basile. “I was intrigued in this story because the language is very casual and modern. It
isn’t heightened language, and it relates to what we are talking about now, with the political side of the play. It’s a very important piece to be introduced now, because now is when it’s most relevant.”
SEX COLUMN
Editor’s Note: “Get Horny with the Horns” is a weekly column about sex. Reader discretion advised. By B. Jones
@thedailytexan
It was so beautiful — the moment I looked into her eyes and knew she was the one. She had long, light brown hair, a good sense of humor and her mom made cookies every time I came over to visit. I was in love. I was also in first grade. When my brother snitched about my first kiss to my parents, they decided it was best to never allow her into my house again, and being eight meant I couldn’t really Romeo-and-Juliet — or, I guess, Juliet-and-Juliet — my way over to her place. Although my first “relationship” abruptly came to a close, the heart of it remained. I knew I was into girls since before I knew what being “into” something meant, and when I was told by my church that being gay is wrong, it only hardened my resolve to end up with a wife. So why am I with a dude? What happened? I often worry that I’m just subconsciously doing what’s socially acceptable and that my upbringing somehow
made me straight. But then I take a quick glance around and remember: I’m definitely not straight. I’m with a guy because, for me, people are people — it doesn’t matter what
understand the idea that sexual activities stem from love, or the idea that love is dependent upon gender. I’ve made the conscious choice to only be with one person of one gender, and
“I’m with a guy because, for me, people are people — it doesn’t matter what genitals they have. I have a deeper connection with the guy I’m with than I’ve had with any person: male, female or other.” B. Jones columnist
genitals they have. I have a deeper connection with the guy I’m with than I’ve had with any person: male, female or other. For me, having sex, being in love and gender have nothing to do with one another. I truly don’t
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that person has done the same. Some have called it oppression, but I call it sacrifice. That doesn’t mean it doesn’t get difficult. If you’re a straight male or a lesbian, imagine never seeing a vagina again in
your life or never being able to touch boobs again, apart from your own. It’s kind of a depressing thought. When I first started dating this guy, I was scared that I would never be fully sexually satisfied at the same level I am with girls, and I think that’s a legitimate fear. Yes, a part of me is sexually inactive, and I’ll probably never get over that, but that doesn’t mean I’m unhappy or sexually ungratified. Contrary to many people’s perception of bisexuality, I don’t feel the need to cheat. I can’t speak for every bi person out there, but I’m content with where I am and who I’m with. According to a poll conducted by sex toy website Adam & Eve, most people of any sexual orientation aren’t willing to date a bisexual person. They think we’re going to cheat on them, that they won’t be able to satisfy us, that we’re just trying to be trendy and that we’ll revert back to our straight ways soon. But bisexual doesn’t mean disloyal, it doesn’t mean insatiable and it doesn’t mean trendy. The truth is, it only means one thing: Gender doesn’t matter when it comes to love.
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TRENTON DAESCHNER
SPORTS EDITOR @TEXANSPORTS
WEDNESDAY, MAY 2, 2018
GYMNASTICS
BASEBALL
Texas delivers walk-off grand slam By Travis Hlavinka @travhlav
nikita sveshnikov | the daily texan staff Junior gymnast Liam Fagan spins himself around on the pommel horse during a gymnastics routine. Fagan attributes the sport with his perseverance and reducing his stress.
Fagan finds balance in life through gymnastics Despite losing mother to cancer, Fagan finds healing in gymnastics. By Madison Hildreth @thedailytexan
B
alancing a busy college schedule with a sport is often a difficult challenge, but having a passion for something can help individuals get through life’s toughest adversities. UT gives gymnasts from all backgrounds and skill levels the chance to join the club team and compete against teams across the nation. For junior gymnast Liam Fagan, UT gymnastics is more than just a sport; it’s an outlet. “It is a way for me to forget about everything else, like my problems, and just focus on the one specific task that I enjoy doing,” Liam said. Gymnastics requires not only physical power, but mental power as well. After losing his mom to brain cancer when he was 13 years old, Fagan realized how important it was to stay both positive and mentally strong. “I always felt that I was doing fine and handled it the best out of all of my siblings,” Fagan said. “It wasn’t until coming back to it that I realized how much of an impact it had on my life.” Fagan’s father and siblings not only admire his ability to handle tough situations, but also recognize
the role gymnastics has played in his life. “Gymnastics has greatly influenced Liam’s life,” said Fagan’s brother, Matthew. “He would be practicing, at home or the gym, and would get a lot of compliments from older adults, and I think this really helped his overall confidence.” After quitting gymnastics his sophomore year of high school, an old friend and current member of UT’s team reached out to Fagan and asked him to come practice with them. “Once he started swinging and tumbling again, I
sets that each event requires.” His outlet in gymnastics has even helped him stay focused through the hard times and kept him in touch with reality. “At my last competition, I was really stressed out about upcoming tests, essays and projects,” Fagan said. “But I suddenly realized and told my dad that my problems are not always as significant as I think they are. Sometimes you need something that really puts things into perspective.” Through it all, Fagan still
In a game where it seemed as if all hope was lost, David Hamilton delivered a moment that many fans will never see again and many more will never forget. On Tuesday night at UFCU Disch-Falk Field, Hamilton won the game in dramatic fashion, securing an 11-10 comeback victory. Down 10-6 in the bottom of the ninth inning, Texas’ hopes were all but vaporized. After back-to-back walks by junior outfielder Masen Hibbeler and sophomore outfielder Duke Ellis, however, the Longhorns showed the life they had been lacking all game. Junior infielder Kody Clemens did as he has done all season and hit an RBI single to bring the game to 10-7. Zach Zubia, redshirt freshman designated hitter, then drew a walk to load the bases. That’s when Hamilton, perfectly in place at the five hole, hit a ball high and deep over the right field fence and cemented his place in Longhorn folklore with a walk-off grand slam. “I’m still in shock, honestly,” Hamilton said. “I didn’t expect it to go out. I knew he was going to throw me fastballs, because he walked the batter before me. I was just sitting on it.” The game was by no means perfect for Hamilton, who had some early defensive miscues. The first, an uncharacteristic bobble that would end up costing the
anthony mireles | the daily texan staff Shortstop David Hamilton delivered a walk-off grand slam in the bottom of the ninth to clinch a memorable Texas victory. The sophomore reveled in his career moment, sealing an 11-10 win. team a run, and a second, a blatant error. He made up for those mistakes in the best way possible, though, winning the game with one swing of the bat. “Ryan (Reynolds) always jokes with me and says that whenever I make an error, I hit good,” Hamilton said. “I don’t know. It was funny. The ball kept getting caught in my glove, so I switched back to the one I used last year.” Hamilton then added that it was the best moment he’s ever had playing the sport, and he was given an ovation by everyone, including his head coach, David Pierce. “Just a great swing, a great way to end it,” Pierce said. “Somehow, some way, we just continued to fight. Great offensive approach. And that’s (home run) No. 3 (on the year for Hamilton).” The game was ugly for the majority of play. Kamron Field, true freshman starting pitcher, was only able to get through two innings
before getting pulled. Texas’ bullpen didn’t fare much better. The Longhorns used a total of nine pitchers over the course of the night. Some struggled mightily, others not as much. No pitcher, however, showed the dominance they have demonstrated at other points in the season. “We’re still shaky out of the bullpen with a lot of guys,” Pierce said. “It’s not throwing balls, necessarily. It’s not throwing quality pitches. And when the ball’s up, it’s going to get hit. And that’s all it was. So at that point, we were getting by with so many pitches, and it finally got to us.” The Longhorns (31–17, 12–6 Big 12) will try to use the morale boost to their advantage, heading into a tough series this weekend against Texas Tech, one of the top teams in the nation, in Lubbock. Texas will savor this one for a while, though, because it doesn’t get much better than this.
SOFTBALL
It is just what I love doing. It provides an outlet to center myself and relax mentally. I love the challenge it provides and the different skill sets that each event requires.” Liam Fagan, Texas Gymnast
could see it in his face — his drive to compete and improve himself — something I haven’t seen in him since high school,” sophomore gymnast Remy Fenrich said. Slowly but surely, Fagan was finally back in his element, competing in the sport that shaped him into the more positive and driven person he is today. “It is just what I love doing,” Fagan said. “It provides an outlet to center myself and relax mentally. I love the challenge it provides and the different skill
remembers his mom and her impact as he continues his gymnastics journey, since she was the one who first got him into the sport. And he’s still as driven as ever to succeed at what he loves. “Don’t stop doing what you love,” Fagan said. “The best advice I could give someone is even if it seems as if things will not be OK, you can and will get through it. It is important to keep the people that you have and love close to you.”
anthony mireles | the daily texan file Texas pitcher Paige von Sprecken swings at the plate at Red McCombs Field in Austin. The versatile senior has struck out 86 batters while hitting .304 on the mound in her final year as a Longhorn.
College World Series at stake for Texas By Wills Layton @willsdebeast
The Longhorns get to play two games Wednesday against Incarnate Word at McCombs Field. Texas defeated the Cardinals in the very first game of the season, 2-0, and look to make it three in a row against the Cardinals after Wednesday. The doubleheader comes after an incredibly disappointing series sweep at the hands of Oklahoma this past weekend in Norman. As the season comes to a close, the Longhorns (28–21, 10–6 Big 12) cannot afford to drop another game if they want to make the postseason. “You can’t stay down too long,” Texas head coach Connie Clark said. “You have to keep figuring out how to reset and how to grow and get better.” The last four games of the season will play a crucial role in determining whether the Longhorns can compete
for a College World Series. While the doubleheader against the 13–30 Cardinals could give Texas two free nonconference wins, the team will still have to carry any momentum into the final series against the No. 19 Baylor Bears. “We can’t take teams lightly just because they’re not in conference,” senior ace pitcher Paige von Sprecken said. “We need to make sure we’re playing Texas softball and not playing to levels of our opponent, especially if we want to win a Big 12 championship.” Not only will the offense look to get back on track against Incarnate Word, but the Longhorns’ two aces will have a chance to right the ship after troubling performances last weekend. Von Sprecken and junior ace Brooke Bolinger both recorded losses in the series and failed to compete well against top teams. Texas is still in a position to make the tournament because of a hot stretch in the
middle of the season that yielded a record of 14–2, but the Longhorns are still on the bubble. “Playing those nonconference games definitely helps us when we are playing top-tier teams,” von Sprecken said. “It forces us to compete so that we can bring that compete factor into Big 12 games.” It has certainly been a very long season, filled with ups and downs, learning curves and growing pains for a young roster. All the hard work Texas has put in thus far will either pay off or fall short, depending on the team’s performance over the next week. For a team that started off with championship hopes, there is still time to regain that kind of confidence. “I think we have high expectations,” Clark said. “I think they have a good sense of reality and understand that it’s about the whole season, not what we are going to do this weekend or the next two weekends.”
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WEDNESDAY, MAY 2, 2018
Today’s solution will appear here next issue
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CHARLES LIU & CHRIS DUNCAN
LIFE&ARTS EDITORS @THEDAILYTEXAN
WEDNESDAY, MAY 2 , 2018
ART
copyright ellen bruxvoort, and reproduced with permission Women creatives from Austin unite to create impactful works of art at Broad Studios, which opens in June.
Studio broadens horizons for women artists Broad Studios is a space for women artists to work, collaborate with each other. By Anna Kay Reeves @annakay_reeves
W
omen are responsible and ladies look nice in pearls, but broads? Broads make things, and the gals behind Broad Studios make amazing art together. The idea, like many great things, was born out of necessity. When ceramicists Genna Williams and Kara Pendl found themselves in need of a new studio space, the women decided to look for one to share. But before they could find anything independently, fate intervened.
“I went to CraftHER Market around the time we decided to start looking for a place, and I swear, it was like the seas parted and there was the answer,” Williams said. “It was a booth that said Springdale General.” Springdale General is a community space in East Austin dedicated to building creative community. Construction on the East Austin space will finish in June, and Broad Studios will be in full swing within the same month. According to Williams, the studio space within Springdale was too large for just two artists, prompting the women to reach out to other women creatives in Austin. “We decided very early on we wanted it to be a female collective,” Williams said. “We talked about including guys, because there are some
guys in Austin making amazing things, but we both felt like this is our time to come together as women and inspire each other. We want this to be a space for women to come together and lift each other up.” Broad Studios comprises Genna Williams, Hallie Shafer and Kara Pendl, who are all ceramicists, as well as fiber artist Ellen Bruxvoort and painter Emily Eisenhart. It’s possible that the studio may expand in the future to include more female artists. For Bruxvoort, whose work as a fiber artist consists of wall hangings and accessories made from yarn and fabric, Broad Studios represents new creative horizons with artists such as fellow broad Shafer. “I think one of the great things about being in a space like this will be that
collaboration is inevitable,” Bruxvoort said. “Being around other artists’ creative processes subtly influences the way you think of your own creative process, and that’s going to be something amazing to see.” Although sharing a space can be difficult, the women anticipate that their interactions will be more collaborative than not. “It’s not every day that you get five women in a room and they all get along really well, but we do,” Williams said. “Personality-wise, we’re all very in tune.” Bruxvoort agreed with Williams. “We balance each other as a group. Each girl is strong in some way that another is weak, and in that way, we meet each other’s needs. I think that’s (what is) amazing about this group,”
Bruxvoort said. Shafer, who is also an elementary school art teacher, said she sees the studio space as not only an opportunity for collaboration but for accountability as well. “If other people are in the studio, I’m going to want to be there, too. I’m not going to want to be the one that’s slacking and not showing up for studio time. I want to be there and be part of it,” said Shafer. For Shafer, being part of a collective adds new motivation to being active in studio work. “I want the studio to be as good as it possibly can be, and it’s going to be as good as it possibly can be with all of us there being active in the space,” said Shafer. “It feels good to be there rooting for each other.”
CULTURE
Students discuss meaning of ‘weeaboo’ and ‘koreaboo’ By Tiana Woodard @tianarochon
“Oh my God, we were such weebs!” Journalism sophomore Maya Vela used phrases like this one with her friends to joke about their anime-filled childhoods, when she and many others across the United States grew up with a loving-but-misguided fascination with Japanese culture. “When we were young, we really wanted to try to learn Japanese, but we would speak broken Japanese, copy phrases, do the traditional signs and stuff like that,” Vela said. “As we got older, we looked back at it, and we laughed.” For others who don’t have the same realization, the topic and more specifically, the words “weeaboo” and “koreaboo” become problematic. The increasing popularity of East Asian pop culture in the Western world has opened discussion regarding the terms and the behavior associated with them. Weeaboo, commonly shortened to “weeb,” and koreaboo have different definitions depending on who you ask. For Cynthia Cho, mechanical engineering freshman and South Korea native, a weeaboo or koreaboo is someone who uses their limited knowledge of pop culture to generalize East Asian cultures and favor them over others. “(Weeaboos and koreaboos) isolate the goodness of Japan and Korea and isolate the bad bits of whatever nationality they identify with,” Cho said.
Because of this naivety, they are commonly accused of cultural appropriation. Vela feels that these groups create caricatures of the East Asian cultures. “Appropriation is malicious,” Vela said. “It’s knowingly taking this culture, making fun of it and making it however you want it to be.” Generally, society casts the actions of weeaboos and koreaboos in a negative light. For example, Soobin Lee, nursing freshman and South Korea native, believes koreaboos’ actions spoil the positivity of Korean culture’s growing popularity. “There’s a small part of (Korean culture’s growing popularity) that sucks because of people that fetishize, exploit or get obsessed for the wrong reason,” Lee said. “Our culture is more than the contemporary music and television.” Although the labels have negative connotations, some still emphasize that weeaboos and koreaboos make up only a small part of the West’s East Asian pop culture fandoms. For Vela, she said her fascination with Japanese culture is rooted in genuine and holistic appreciation. She said she uses the label “weeaboo” as a playful way to start a conversation about her interests. “(Using weeaboo) is a way for me to connect with other people on a basic level,” Vela said. “It doesn’t matter where we came from, it doesn’t matter where we’re heading. We have that similarity, so we can grow as people with that.” Others feel that people should use the labels for solely negative purposes. Cho said
taylor chia | the daily texan staff Journalism sophomore Maya Vela dove into the vast world of anime and manga after watching “Sailor Moon,” a popular Japanese animation franchise. she believes that positively altering the connotation of “weeaboo” or “koreaboo” only excuses problematic behavior. “It’s so important to contain the definition (of weeaboo and koreaboo) because it’ll help us with the point we’re trying to make,” Cho said. “It’ll help us remember the kinds of people who are weeaboos or koreaboos, recognize them and help them get away from that because (their current path) is a downward hill.” When looking at the futures of weeaboos and koreaboos,
Cho believes that all is not lost. While Cho acknowledges the consequences they may face if such action continues, she feels that weeaboo and koreaboos’ problematic behavior can serve as a conduit for spreading cultural awareness. “If anything, we can solve the situation by at least taking their appreciation for the culture, albeit very misguided and misinformed, and help show them resources,” Cho said. “I feel like if they can come to their senses, it’s not a complete lost cause.”
(Using weeaboo) is a way for me to connect with other people on a basic level. It doesn’t matter where we came from, it doesn’t matter where we’re heading. We have that similarity, so we can grow as people with that.”
Maya Vela
journalism sophomore