UT Marketplace Housing Guide Fall 2018

SEPTEMBER 11, 2018

A SPECIAL EDITION IN THE DAILY TEXAN

WHAT’S INSIDE...

TABLE OF CONTENTS

A HAN DY G U IDE F OR B IK E A N D S C O OT E R S AFETY

The solution is likely in open lines of communication.

GET A B IGG ER B A NG F OR YOUR BE VO B U CKS

Designer Rachel Cano-Cooney

4

You live in a world class city; so get out and see it! Don’t blame low funds when free transport is available!

Contributors Gracie Awalt, Lisa Dreher, Joshua Guenther, Bevyn Howard, Laura Ibanez, Meara Isenberg, Morgan Kuehler, Anna Lassmann, Chad Lyle, Bixie Mathieu, Anthony Mireles, Anna-Kay Reeves, Brooke Sjoberg, Nicole Stuessy, Hannah Yoe Cover Illustration Tillie Policastro

TSM ADVERTISING & CREATIVE SERVICES

8

Director Gerald Johnson Operations Manager Frank Serpas Advertising Manager Emily Cohen Assistant Advertising Manager Colten Crist

10

Explore your options and spend wisely, young padowan!

NAVIG AT I N G AUSTIN . . .

O N TH E C HEAP

Special Editions Publisher Michael Gammon Senior Designer Tillie Policastro

Learn what to do, and not to do, when using two wheels to get around campus

H AVIN G R O OMMAT E P R OB LE MS ?

STAFF

Account Executives Tim Bauer, Diane Byram, Harlea Holmes, Julianne Phillipp, Paulina Siller Student Account Executives Jacob Baack, Karla Delgado, William Hall, Andrew Harmon, John Mancias, Cierra Morrisey, Dilan Parmar Design Interns Amistad Artiz, Paolina Montes

18

Longhorn Life is an advertising special edition of The Daily Texan produced by students in Texas Student Media’s special editions office. Reach us at info@ texasstudentmedia.com. Copyright 2018 Texas Student Media. All articles, photographs and graphics are the property of Texas Student Media and may not be reproduced or republished in part or in whole without written permission.

CONTACT TSM: We are located in the Hearst Student Media building (HSM).

For advertising, call 512-471-1865 or email advertise@texasstudentmedia.com

Fall is the perfect time to look for your next apartment, job, or internship! UT Marketplace is filled with student opportunity, featuring exhibitors from across the city. On September 19, from 10 am– 3 pm, UT’s Speedway Plaza in front of Gregory Gym will be overflowing with representatives from employers, service providers, food and drink companies, apartment buildings, and more.

Each booth will be run by friendly staff that can talk to you about the discounts and opportunities available, and plenty of free giveaways will be on hand.

Housing can be a particularly challenging part of student life. With such a wide array of housing options, it can be a daunting task and difficult to navigate. The UTexas.Rent tent at UT Marketplace makes shopping for your next place to live easy, because reps from private dorms and apartments all over town will be there to explain the benefits of their buildings. You can bring your roommates and weigh the pros and cons of each offer, and make a decision while there are still vacancies available!

While you’re at it, you can check out job and service opportunities as well. You can talk to childcare employers, sample food and drinks, and discuss what financial account or dental provider is best for you. Recruiters for several companies will be on hand, so bring your resumes and make the most of it.

Save the date now before your spring calendar gets filled.

Come prepared with your questions, or let your instincts be your guide.

Either way, staff will be ready with answers and tons of great free giveaways to take home.

UT Marketplace is the only time you can speak to so many exhibitors at once, and you’re going to want to be there. It’s easy to find your way to Speedway Plaza between classes or on your way to the gym. Don’t miss out on this unique opportunity!

AROUND CAMPUS

A HANDY GUIDE FOR BIKE AND SCOOTER SAFETY

BY LISA DREHER PHOTOGRAPHY BY HANNAH YOE

Austin is a dense city, so freshmen and other incoming UT students biking or trying the new Lime and Bird dockless scooters need to know how to navigate campus and downtown.

Laura Dierenfield, a division manager within the Austin Transportation Department, said with the

growth of dockless mobility, people need to make sure they are using these services safely.

“Part of doing that is being visible and communicating with drivers,” Dierenfield said.

Dierenfield said using the bike lanes is preferred, although bikes and scooters are allowed on streets with speed limits of 35 mph or less.

Riders must be outside the “door zone” of parked cars to avoid car doors swinging open, and bicyclists should only ride on sidewalks for short periods at a walking pace. Dierenfield also said part of being predictable is using the “scan and signal” method.

“What it means is look behind you and see what is behind you, signal and then look again before you actually make that maneuver,” Dierenfield said.

Communicating would be making eye contact with drivers, Dierenfield said.

James Lentz is president of the UT Campus Bike Alliance, which advocates for bike safety and access on campus.

Lentz moved from Boston to Austin and said students should practice biking around to adapt to a new environment.

“Just get a bike and bike around campus,” civil engineering junior Lentz said. “If they know someone already who is biking around downtown, meet up with them and pick a route.”

Wentz said another common mistake is checking your phone or listening to music. Students can join the Bike Alliance’s “bike buddies” program to pair with an experienced bicyclist.

UT Orange Bike Project shop offers rental bikes and helps students perform basic repairs.

For protecting your bike, UTPD Corporal Le’Patrick Moore said U-locks best lock bike frames, and students should lock their tires with a cable. Moore also said bike thefts often happen in the fall.

“September is usually when the school year starts, so that’s when all the bikes are coming in,” Moore said.

(That’s when all the thieves are trying to find bikes that are easy targets.” Moore said Duren Hall often gets targeted because it is secluded, so places such as Speedway are better to store bikes.

“Put your bike in a place that has a lot of foot traffic and a place that’s well lit,” Moore said.

Eight Properties For Your Convenience 605 W 28th Street • Austin, Texas • 78705 512-472-3816 www.marquisstudentliving.com

31st Street Condominiums

Camino Flats Apartments

Castle Arms Apartments

Nueces Oaks Condominiums

The Salado Apartments

University Quarters Apartments

Seton Square

Vanderbilt Condominiums

d

AROUND CAMPUS

MAIN CAMPUS LANDSCAPING NEARLY ALL ORGANICALLY MAINTAINED

BY ANNA LASSMANN

The University’s grounds are now almost 100 percent organically maintained. Spanning 431 acres, this makes UT the largest example of organic landscaping in Austin.

What began as a small project in 2009, by then-gardener Justin Hayes and his supervisor Mike Wallick, has expanded to encompass the entire main campus and the Dell Medical School district. Hayes tested organic landscaping, by treating soil and plants without conventional methods such as chemical pesticides and fertilizers, on a patch of grass in front of the Littlefield Fountain. This test patch of grass thrived and needed less water.

“The two big benefits for us are an increase in the soil health and being more environmentally friendly,” Landscape Services manager Jim Carse said.

After the successful test plot, Hayes and his team applied for the Best Turf in Texas award in 2012 and won, which allowed him to spread his organic landscaping initiative to the South Mall.

Hayes said before he began organic landscaping on the South Mall, the University had to replace all the grass in that area prior to commencement, costing UT

upward of $50,000 per year. Once Hayes went organic on the South Mall there was no need to replace the grass, saving the University thousands of dollars and allowing Hayes to work on expanding his organic landscaping to the rest of campus.

“You can imagine if an accountant is looking at the numbers and you see we’re saving so much money doing it the new way, why would we do it the old way,” said Hayes, landscape supervisor for the Dell Medical District.

UT also makes their own compost to assist with their organic landscaping projects. This compost consists of decomposing leaves, grass clippings and coffee grounds from across campus, Carse said.

“That’s a pretty neat thing because we’re able to produce a pretty good product, in house, and it reduces the amount of material we have to buy,” Carse said.

While Landscape Services try to be as organic as possible in the products they use for maintenance, they still must use some chemicals for issues such as invasive species, pests and fire ants, Carse said.

“We don’t have time to go around and put boiling water down fire ant holes,” Carse said. “We wouldn’t even make a dent in them. We really can’t have people getting bit because you run the risk of somebody having an allergic reaction and going to the hospital. We can’t take that risk, so we still put out a pesticide down that is very safe.”

Jennifer Hrobar, supervisor of urban forestry, said she was inspired by the work of people such as Hayes, which led her to find ways to organically manage the trees on campus.

The four arborists at UT have, alongside Hrobar, begun limiting pesticide use on trees and have shifted to applying alternatives such as compost, wood chips and biochar, a charcoal used as a soil amendment.

“We continue to work toward becoming all-organic with UT’s main campus landscape,” Hrobar said in an email. “We focus on maintaining good plant health care practices that keep the trees healthy and able to defend themselves against the common stresses of this tough urban environment.”

ter, widening the sidewalk.

“This is one of the most congested places on campus, with students crossing Guadalupe from the Co-op and the Union having restaurants,” Guzman said. “We’re working really hard to make these pathways open back up as much as we can.”

Guzman said the closed sidewalk near Goldsmith Hall will reopen in a couple of weeks, and there are maps on the site that provide alternative routes for students.

“I’m lucky that my project is in a more concentrated area,” Guzman said. “It doesn’t come anywhere near the Speedway project in terms of how long it’s going to take or the sort of construction management issues that it would require.”

Jetal Bhakta, planning lead for the project, met with students from the class of 2017 monthly a year and a half ago to discuss the design and help the team complete the project.

“Going through the planning stage was helpful to work out a lot of the issues that may have come up or potentially delayed the project,” Bhakta said. “Getting the University stakeholders’ buy-in and student input was a big part in making sure this was anefficient process.”

Psychology sophomore Madison Boothe said construction on campus has forced her to find new ways to class before, but the project will improve West Mall.

“A new entrance to campus will be better than a fountain that’s never turned on,” Boothe said. “This area will be easier to walk through and the sign will increase the popularity of the area.”

CONGESTION DUE TO WEST MALL GATEWAY CONSTRUCTION WILL REMAIN THROUGH FALL

BY GRACIE AWALT

Instead of receiving free stickers and T-shirts from student organizations tabling on the West Mall, students will pass by trucks carrying concrete as they head to class this fall.

The West Mall construction project will replace the existing fountain with a sign to serve as a formal gateway to campus and is expected to be finished in December.

Construction project manager Tony Guzman said the project has faced few setbacks since they began in July.

“Challenges are an expected part of the construction process, and one is very lucky when those challenges are minor,” Guzman said. “During this project, we haven’t run across any issues that we haven’t been able to work around to keep us on schedule.”

Guzman said the next step is to add the structural support for new concrete. Once the concrete is added, the fence will move closer to the construction site’s cen6

LONGHORN LIFE FALL HOUSING GUIDE | SEPTEMBER 11, 2018

5 L

CAMPUS LIFE

5 SIMPLE DORM MEALS FOR WHEN YOU’RE TOO LAZY TO WALK TO J2

BY BROOKE SJOBERG

ILLUSTRATION BY BIXIE MATHIEU

Ingredients: Elbow macaroni pasta, butter, milk, salt, pepper, shredded cheese of choice Step 1: Fill mug a third of the way with pasta, and add enough water to cover the pasta. Add a pinch of salt, and microwave for two minutes and stir. Repeat three more times, for a total of eight minutes or until pasta is fully cooked.

Step 2: Once pasta is fully cooked, add cheese, a splash of milk, 1/2 a teaspoon of butter and a pinch of salt and pepper. Microwave for 30 seconds and stir.

Tortilla pizza

Each year, college students across the nation leave the luxury of home-cooked meals behind and venture into a life of finding sustenance in the cafeteria or dorm microwave. After leaving the nest, a first foray into self-sufficiency for many young adults is cooking, a seemingly daunting process when living in a dorm room where hot plates are not allowed. Here are five simple five-minute meals to make when the dining hall is just too far away.

Mac n’ cheese in a mug

For those nights when cravings for carbs and protein hit you like a train, this simple snack will sate even the cheesiest of hungers.

Listen. Nothing could ever compare to the real thing when it comes to the ‘za. But when you’re hungry, you’re hungry.

Ingredients: Tortilla, tomato sauce, cheese and any other toppings Step 1: Warm the tortilla in the microwave for 10 seconds.

Step 2: Smooth a thin layer of tomato sauce on the tortilla and cover with cheese. Add any toppings you’d like. Microwave until cheese is melted.

Nachos

Essentially the salad of the meat and cheese world, nachos are an excellent easy choice for when you’ve been out all night on Sixth Street and don’t feel like walking to Whataburger. Pro tip: Go heavy on the cheese.

Ingredients: 1 cup shredded cheese, 2 tablespoons milk, 1/2 teaspoon butter, tortilla or corn chips, salsa and jalapeños. Optional: Onions, grilled shredded chicken or beef, corn Step 1: Add 1 cup of shredded cheese, 1/2 a teaspoon of butter and 2 tablespoons of milk to a mug.

digest.texasstudentmedia.com

Microwave for one minute and stir to bring the mixture to a semi-liquid consistency.

Step 2: Pour cheese sauce and salsa over chips. Top with Jalapeños or any other nacho topping you desire.

Broccoli and cheese casserole in a mug

This recipe is similar to a lot of Texas mothers’ recipe for broccoli and cheese casserole, with one key difference: the absence of an oven.

Ingredients: Frozen broccoli cuts, 1 cup rice, 1/2 cup shredded cheese, salt, pepper, paprika, quarter cup mayonnaise Step 1: Using a microwave rice cooker, cook 1 cup of rice until tender.

Step 2: With a microwave steamer, steam around a handful of broccoli cuts.

Step 3: Combine rice, steamed broccoli, 1/4 cup mayonnaise, 1/2 cup shredded cheese, a pinch of paprika, as well as salt and pepper in a large mug. Microwave for 45 seconds and stir thoroughly.

Overnight oats

This is the breakfast of snooze button champions. Let yourself catch five more minutes of sleep and take this out the door for breakfast on the go.

Ingredients: 1 cup steel-cut oats, 1/2 cup milk, 1/2 cup yogurt, fruit of choice (any type of berry, sliced bananas, etc.) and honey Step 1: Combine milk and yogurt in container with lid.

Add oats, mixing them evenly through the milk and yogurt mixture.

Step 2: Add fruit to the oat-milk-yogurt mixture and top with a honey drizzle. Seal shut and allow to sit overnight in the refrigerator.

CACTUSYEARBOOK.COM

SEPTEMBER 11, 2018 | LONGHORN LIFE FALL HOUSING GUIDE

7

DEALING WITH ROOMMATES IS (USUALLY) EASIER THAN YOU THINK

BY CHAD LYLE ILLUSTRATION BY LAUREN IBANEZ For a lot of people, the first year of college is overflowing with new experiences, such as living with someone who isn’t a parent or a sibling for the first time.

Many students find this to be a source of anxiety as move-in day approaches. In spite of this, Duren resident assistant Steven Santoyo said most roommate pairings work out.

“I had 60 residents last year and 55 this year, and I’m happy to have dealt with roommate conflicts only three times,” communication studies senior Santoyo said. “The most common reason for friction is when the student doesn’t know quite know how to talk to their roommate about what is bothering them … usually it’s something minor that is bothering them that over time accumulates to a major problem.”

To prevent minor problems from growing into major ones, studio art sophomore Piper Fisk said early and frequent communication is key.

“My roommate wouldn’t do the dishes or take out

8

LONGHORN LIFE FALL HOUSING GUIDE | SEPTEMBER 11, 2018

the trash,” Fisk said. “It’s hard because when you straight up address it to them, of course in the moment they’re going to say that they’ll do better. Talk to them once up front, but if the issue keeps coming up, start texting them reminders every day.”

Living with someone for the first time, even a close friend, could potentially reveal personality quirks that were previously hidden.

“My roommate’s boyfriend was really into couponing, and he basically moved in with us,” economics sophomore Hannah Smith said. “Every time there was a sale at H-E-B, I would come home and the fridge would be full of like Lean Cuisine.”

Other sources of friction between roommates can be more serious. Business sophomore Landry Harmon said there were periods of time when he had to avoid talking to his roommate altogether.

“He always needed someone to talk to,” Harmon said. “He basically made the living room his second room. There were points where I would go into my backpack and get my noise-cancelling headphones, put them on like I was listening to music, and put my head down

to walk through the living room so he wouldn’t hold me hostage for 30 minutes.”

If roommate difficulties reach a boiling point, UT offers resources to those looking for outside help.

Students can speak to their resident assistant, set up an appointment at the Counseling and Mental Health Center or visit the University Ombuds Offices, which teaches RAs how to mediate friction between roommates. As a (Continued on page 19)

FIND YOUR OPTIONS, FROM MEXICAN TO MEDITERRANEAN

BY MEARA ISENBERG

PHOTOGRAPH BY JOSHUA GUENTHER

Students returning to campus this fall will be able to check out two new Mexican eateries, try a Mediterranean bowl or grab some barbecue from a soon-to-close West Campus joint.

Taco Ranch, a Tex-Mex restaurant and drive-thru, will open its second Austin location on Martin Luther King Jr Blvd by the end of October, spokesperson Arielle Olfers said.

“We felt like especially with Mexican food, Tex-Mex, there was really no place you could go get a healthy taco … through a drive-thru,” Olfers said. “The only other alternatives are the Taco Cabanas and Taco Bells of the world, and we really wanted to be able to provide a fast food offering that was healthier.”

The Mexican eatery is a sister restaurant to popular Austin burger chain P.Terry’s Burger Stand, and they offer tacos, burritos and other Tex-Mex menu items with all-natural, fresh ingredients, Olfers said.

Olfers said Taco Ranch offers students a fun environment with indoor and outdoor s seating, and low-priced menu items, such as tacos that start at $2.50. The restaurant will be open weekdays from 6 a.m. - 12 a.m., and will open an hour later on weekends. ) Austin may be known for its tacos, but a new food truck in West Campus is trying to get customers hooked on a different Mexican dish. Chilaquil has set up shop in Urban Outfitter’s Space 24 Twenty and offers chilaquiles, which are tortilla chips covered in salsa and topped off with various ingredients such as cream, cheese and avocado.

“I decided to go with chilaquiles because I wanted people to know more about Mexican cuisine,” truck owner Orlando Aguirre said. “Most people just know tacos, burritos maybe, and there’s way, way more stuff to try.”

Aguirre opened Chilaquil in June as the first location in Austin. He said he chose to open a truck location near campus because UT has a diverse student population, and he wants to introduce the food to different kinds of people.

(Continued on page 19)

HERE’S HOW TO GET A BIGGER BANG FOR FOR YOUR (BEVO) BUCKS

BY ANNA-KAY REEVES

ILLUSTRATION BY ALEKKA HERNANDEZ at the PCL when you’re printing off an essay 15 minutes Within a half-mile radius of campus, restaurants and cafes sing a siren song to unwary Longhorns: “Bevo Bucks accepted here.” Take that UT ID out of your pocket, look at your horrible orientation photo and tell yourself, ‘No.’ Be warned. That card is loaded with 1,800 Dine In Dollars and 200 Bevo Bucks, and they are not the same.

Spending Bevo Bucks with wild abandon will put you in a sticky spot later in the year. Save yourself some pain by educating yourself on how to ration your Bucks.

Consider your printing needs

One vital usage of Bevo Bucks is printing. At 10 cents a page for black and white and 50 cents a page for color, you obviously won’t need all 200 Bucks for printing. However, if you spend $190 on Whataburger and red solo cups from CVS during the first month of the semester, you are setting yourself up for a panic attack

before class and your account is empty. Be better — Bevo better.

Stay off Guad when you’re broke and hungry

Okay, so you might not be able to do this. After all, the Holy Trinity of college existence is broke, hungry and tired. Even so, don’t let being perpetually broke and hungry be your undoing as you stroll down the Drag.

Potbelly Sandwich Shop, Austin’s Pizza, Dunkin’ Donuts … It’s all very tempting, especially when you’ve had the sort of day where you overslept, bombed a paper and fell down the stairs with your coffee. Fight the temptation and go to J2. They’ve got fries and dessert all the time, and they take Dine In Dollars.

Keep your eyes peeled for loopholes

Knowing how and where to treat yourself is important. Keep in mind there are several places on campus that can fulfill your sweet tooth with Dine In Dollars.

Campus coffee shops located in or near residence halls are often a good bet for sweets and coffee that don’t break the Bevo bank. Cypress Bend Cafe near San Jacinto Residence Hall and Kins Coffee inside Kinsolving Residence Hall are a few places serving up freshly made and brand-name foods and drinks all available for Dine In Dollars.

(Continued on page 19)

Now Leasing for Fall 2019

Sign a lease today and receive a $300 Gift Card!

2101 Rio Grande Street Suite 1001, Austin, TX 78705 | 21rio.com | (512) 391-1991

Sign a lease today at Texan26 and receive a $500 Gift Card!

1009 W. 26th Street, Austin, TX 78705 | texan26.com | (512) 391-1991 10

LONGHORN LIFE FALL HOUSING GUIDE | SEPTEMBER 11, 2018

LESS THAN 1,000 FEET TO CAMPUS!

Live on Rio

737.402.8000

TAKING WEST CAMPUS LIVING TO THE NEXT LEVEL A unique new student living community has arrived in West Campus. The Nine @ West Campus offers a rare new balance of live, study and play for UT students. The formula is simple... We’ve created the best combo of amenities + modern style + VIP level resident service + convenience, security and privacy... all while cultivating THE social culture scene that will have your friends asking to be on your guest list.

LIVE BETTER. LIVE AT THE NINE.

2402 Guadalupe, Suite L1, Austin, TX 78705 | TheNineWestCampus.com

SAN PEDRO

G UA

ST

U DAL PE S T

· Walk or bike to class at The University of Texas

NL

AMA

VD R BL

RIO GRANDE ST

· Private bedrooms and bathrooms available · Fully furnished suites and apartments available · Hardwood-style flooring

Moody College of Communication

26TH ST

DEAN KEETON

· Amenities for a fit and healty lifestyle · Internet and cable TV included · Individual liability leases

Starbucks

ML K

22ND ST

JR B LVD

GUADALUPE ST

· Roommate matching available

UT Tower University DKR Texas Co-Op Gregory Memorial Gym Stadium Littlefield Fountain

American Campus Leasing Center Located on the first floor of The Castilian, the American Campus Leasing Center is your one-stop shop for West Campus student living – experience all six of our communities in one convenient destination. Meet with our friendly staff and explore your future home in our finish studio, take a virtual tour using our interactive touch screen display and sign your lease for your new college apartment.

Apply today at AmericanCampus.com/Austin

Begins September 17th 10am-5pm @ The American Campus Leasing Center Select from our premium units and enter to win prizes!

Amenities and utilities included are subject to change. See office for details.

ST

THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT AUSTIN

24TH ST

SAN GABRIEL ST

Fall 2019 Leasing Kick-Off

You’ve never lived like this.

RAISE YOUR EXPECTATIONS WITH HIGH-RISE STUDENT LIVING NOW LEASING FOR FALL

!

Skyloft is a brand-new high-rise student housing community in the heart of West Campus. Only two blocks from UT, these modern apartments come fully furnished with luxe amenities and floor plans designed for space and style. At Skyloft, we will raise your expectations with spectacular views and first-in-class design.

507 W. 23RD ST., AUSTIN, TX 78705 (737) 207-9400 Monday—Friday: 9 a.m.—7 p.m.

Saturday: 10 a.m.—4 p.m.

Sunday: 12 p.m.—4 p.m.

AMENITIES INCLUDE • • • • • • • • • • • •

Rooftop pool deck Skybites fresh market Secure parking options Pet friendly Controlled-access entry 24/7 fitness center with Fitness On Demand 50” smart TVs Modern kitchen appliances Washer and dryer Study lounges Business center with free printing Coffee bar

TEXT SKYLOFT TO 47464 FOR MORE INFORMATION

September 20th | 10am to 8pm

Sign your lease by the event to be entered to win aCL VIp passes, macbook, Google home, Scooter, Yeti or one of many amazing prizes!

Now LeaSING for faLL 2019

enjoy social spaces and endless amenities.

• Located 2 Blocks from UT

• Study Lounge with Private Study Rooms

• Fully Furnished with Custom Furniture Package

• • • • •

• • • • •

• Trash Included • Modern Kitchen with Quartz Countertops and Stainless Steel Appliances • Large Flat Screen TV in Living Room • Cable & High Speed Internet Included

Rooftop Pool Top Floor Sky Lounge Fitness Center with Views of Downtown Outdoor Gourmet Kitchen On-site Garage Parking

Yoga and Meditation Classes 24/7 Controlled Access Outdoor Rooftop Theatre Car2Go Car Sharing Program Private Bathroom in Every Bedroom

For more information, please MuzeATX.com

Enjoy social spaces and endless amenities.

512 366 5664 | muze@achliving.com | @MuzeATX | 2350 Guadalupe St. Austin, TX 78705

It’s your choice... choose the best!

512-298-4875

AustinWestCampus.com 2401 San Gabriel Street Austin, TX 78705

AUSTIN, TEXAS LIFE

HEY, UT FRESHMEN:

HERE’S HOW TO GET AROUND AUSTIN—FOR FREE

BY NICOLE STUESSY Getting around Austin without a car can be difficult, and with more than 80 bus routes, navigating the CapMetro bus system can be confusing for new students.

CapMetro is free with a student ID, and SURE Ride provides students with free Lyfts home from main campus from 11 p.m. to 4 a.m.

Lonny Stern, the special projects coordinator for CapMetro, said he recommends students download the CapMetro app to learn the bus system.

“You can trip plan on it, you can buy tickets on it and you can see next departure information,” Stern said.

“We also have open data, so for whatever wayfinding apps you use, such as Apple Maps or Google Maps, you can see the transit instructions.”

For students living on campus looking to make a grocery run to HEB, they should take route 10, Stern said.

“Route 10 runs on San Jacinto by the stadium and

also on Red River,” Stern said. “It will take you to the Hancock Center and it will take you to the Mueller HEB. Other routes will take you to other grocery stores.”

Route 20 goes to the airport. To go to Zilker Park, students should take route 803, Stern said.

For returning students, CapMetro added changes to routes as part of their “Cap Remap.”

“Route 20 used to go by the stadium, but we moved it to The Drag because if you are going to the airport, it’s a lot easier to make that connection on The Drag,” Stern said. “We removed one of the UT shuttles, the (653), which used to go on Red River, but now the 10 is doing that.”

Stern said other changes impacting UT students include route 18 and route 5.

“Route 18 used to turn in by the Six Pack, but now you have to catch it on MLK, and the best place to catch it would be at the Blanton,” Stern said. “Route 5 used to

WEEKEND TRIP: DENTON, TEXAS

go through Speedway and come down to Dean Keeton and then The Drag, but now the 5 stays on Lamar.”

When buses are not as available, SURE Ride allows students to order a free Lyft ride home from campus, said Blanca Gamez, assistant director of Parking and Transportation Services.

“Whether you’re in the library working in groups on projects or attending an event that is happening here on campus, the University is very much alive and thriving past 11 p.m.,” Gamez said. “SURE Ride is set up to where it will provide you with a free ride home from campus only.”

To receive the free ride through Lyft, students must sign up for SURE Ride through the Parking and Transportation website, Gamez said.

“If you go the SURE Ride website … it will show you exactly how to register for the program,” Gamez said. “Any student can sign up as long as they are actively enrolled.”

Nursing sophomore Marian Hamilton said she got the hang of the bus system after getting lost a few times as a freshman.

“Don’t be afraid to get lost,” Hamilton said. “You do have your phone, and you can always call an Uber or call someone to help you figure out where you are. Just go do it.”

U T

BY MORGAN KUEHLER

Denton is about three and a half hours up I-35 from Austin, and it’s a great place to go spend a weekend! I love Denton because it has all the funk of Austin, without the craziness. Here are some tips for your stay!

Eats:

Oriental Garden is kinda your traditional, local Thai restaurant, but modernized. The interior is quite chic, but it is also very clean! I love their curries, and they make a mean pad-thai. What gets me excited about this restaurant is that they have some more experimental dishes on their menu like a pumpkin curry. The broccoli stir-fry is also pretty amazing!

Komodo Loco is an Asian-fusion restaurant downtown off the square. My best suggestion is to order a lot of appetizers! The gyoza and Brussel sprouts are so tasty!

(Side note, I’m so glad Brussel sprouts are having a moment. They’ve been underrated for too long). I haven’t personally had the chicken wings, but I’ve heard they’re great!

As far as the main course goes, I would definitely recommend the Komodo Tower. It’s a delicious middle-ground between traditional sushi and poke bowls. Also be sure to take advantage of their extensive sake menu!

18

LONGHORN LIFE FALL HOUSING GUIDE | SEPTEMBER 11, 2018

Sweets:

Back Dough donuts is run out of the back of Queenie’s Steakhouse right off the square. It’s only open Friday and Saturday nights from 11 p.m.-1 a.m. These donuts are killer. They are made fresh for you! They are always hot and delicious. Every time I’ve been they’ve offered three sweet options and one savory option. It’s going to be a different menu each time depending on what they chef is feelin’. I’ve had a cheeseburger donut, a lucky charms donut, and a strawberry shortcake donut!

Definitely check this place out.

Beth Marie’s is a popular ice cream place in Denton, and rightfully so! They have amazing fresh-made ice cream. I love that they have your standard vanilla, strawberry, etc. But they also have totally original flavors! My favorite is cinnfuloat. It’s a vanilla ice cream with dark chocolate chips and cinnamon oatmeal cookie dough chunks. But whatever flavor you get, it’s worth it to pay extra for the fresh waffle cone.

Things to do:

Shift Coffee is a great little shop! They do coffee

cuppings fairly often, which is pretty cool. If you don’t know what a cupping is (it’s okay, I didn’t either), it’s when you try different types of the same coffee at once and compare. Now I know that’s a bit of an oversimplification for you coffee snobs out there, but that mostly gets the point across. This coffee shop really has high-quality product and a comfortable environment. I absolutely love their chai, so that’s what I go for when I’m there.

House shows are extremely popular in Denton, especially among college kids. Denton has a really amazing local music scene and these shows are a great place to check it out! You can normally find where shows are happening on Facebook or keep an eye out for posters around town. I would go to Midway Mart, a great craft beer shop, grab a six-pack and head over to the show!

They’re very casual and very Denton.

Walk around the square! There are cool shops to pop in and look through. You need to go to Recycled Books.

It’s an old opera house turned huge bookstore. The place is too much fun to go through! They literally have three floors full of books, movies, CDs, etc. to go through!

MORE PEOPLE, MORE PROBLEMS:

UT ATTEMPTS TO ADDRESS TEXAS’ GROWING POPULATION

BY BEVYN HOWARD PHOTOGRAPHY BY ANTHONY MIRELES

By the year 2050, state officials expect Texas’ population to nearly double, so UT is embarking on its first grand initiative challenge to research the effects of population growth on the Texas environment.

The project, called Planet Texas 2050, is a Bridging Barriers initiative aimed at integrating a vast array of data from multiple UT colleges. Katherine Lieberknecht, assistant professor in the School of Architecture, said that after UT President Gregory Fenves introduced the program under Bridging Barriers, more than 120 theme proposals were submitted for the challenge, with Planet 2050 winning out. The project began in January and is projected to last eight years, with a new theme annually.

“Imagine Houston with 10 million people instead of 4.5 and imagine Austin with twice its population, with all its infrastructure issues it currently has,” Richard Corsi, architectural and environmental engineering professor, said. “Austin was already barely able to get out of the last drought, so imagine what would happen with double the population.”

The project will infer realistic scenarios based on the integrated data about Texas’ future concerning water resources, energy resources and climate change, such as with Hurricane Harvey. Lieberknecht said these scenarios can then be used as a “toolbox” to help communities find solutions to local population and environmental issues over the coming decades.

“In our eyes, the only way to meet this challenge is an ‘all boots on the ground’ approach of integrating data and research questions from across the disciplines, be-

cause no one discipline understands everything,” Lieberknecht said. “Our goal is to get to 2050 with a Texas that is economically vibrant, safe, healthy and has enough for all who live here.”

Planet Texas 2050 is currently led by eight researchers from several different colleges, and half are women. English professor Heather Houser said the team wants inclusivity.

“We initially started out with two women, then as we added people, gender was definitely a consideration in candidates as we want this to be an inclusive group,” Houser said.

Houser also said this research is particularly important for students.

“We are a sentinel environment in that we are feeling these environmental stressors earlier than others with Texas being a hot and coastal environment,” Houser said.

“Students are going to be facing these outcomes in Texas more so than me and my colleagues, so understanding what we are facing and the opportunities to make improvements socially and environmentally will really benefit students.”

ROOMMATES, CONTINUED FROM PAGE 8

last resort, it is possible to request a roommate change.

“I have only recommended a room change once,” Santoyo said. “It’s a big move, however, because there is no guarantee they will receive a new room in the same hall they’re living in.”

Above all, the key to living successfully with someone is patience, Fisk said.

“Whenever you guys meet each other, at least give some time for everybody to settle in,” Fisk said. “Everybody is kind of weird at first. People are totally in a different atmosphere, totally new to this, so people are not going to perform or do things the way that they will for the rest of the year.”

MEXICAN TO MEDITERRANEAN, CONTINUED FROM PAGE 9

“We have different dishes from different regions of Mexico,” Aguirre said. “We have the very traditional way to serve it with chicken, a Northern way to serve it (with chorizo) and a South Mexican (meatless) way to serve it.”

Aguirre said Chilaquil is currently closed due to maintenance on the truck, but he expects it to reopen this week. The truck’s hours are currently 11 a.m. – 9 p.m. weekdays, but Aguirre said he plans to open the truck at 7 a.m. this fall for breakfast.

This semester, Aguirre also said a sister truck will be set up on certain weekdays at the food truck areas by Gregory Gym and the Perry-Castañeda Library.

Mediterranean food restaurant CAVA also opened on the Drag this June, serving bowls filled with meats and seasonally-rotating vegetables in Space 24 Twenty.

West Campus will soon say goodbye to Freedman’s Barbecue, which is closing its doors Aug. 31. General manager Dawn Catagnus said the restaurant, which opened on San Gabriel Street in 2012, will open in another Austin location yet to be determined.

“This location is closing down due to construction around the building,” Catagnus said. “It is no longer safe for us to operate in this space.”

Catagnus said the restaurant is going to focus on catering over the next few months while it searches for a new brick-and-mortar location.

BEVO BUCKS, Pace yourself

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 10

The main thing to remember about Bevo Bucks is that they are a marathon, not a sprint. Find a way to make the 200 Bucks last so you can fill your printing, sweet tooth and hunger cravings throughout the year. Or else, be prepared to spend 20 minutes explaining to your mom what exactly Bevo Bucks are and why you burned through 200 of them.

SEPTEMBER 11, 2018 | LONGHORN LIFE FALL HOUSING GUIDE

19

Lowest rates in West Campus

New multi-million dollar renovation

Dog park with pet washing station

Full units still available

Sign a lease within 48 hours of your tour & pay

ZERO DOWN

Largest floorplans with single & double occupancy

at signing

save $200 Limited time offer, restrictions apply

RioWestStudentLiving.com | 512.236.1903

UTexas.Rent

THE BEST RESOURCE FOR CAMPUS LIVING

NEW IN 2018!

• PARENT GUIDE • STUDENT GUIDE • HOUSING RESOURCES • FIND A ROOMMATE

FOLLOW US

Texas Student Media will keep you connected with daily links to the news, sports and culture stories shaping the UT community.

TEXAS

{