The Daily Texan 2022-01-21 by The Daily Texan

DT VOLUME 122, ISSUE 41 FRIDAY, JANUARY 21, 2022

IMPEACHMENT

HALTED nts blocks e d u t S f o Dean vernment e o h t G f t o n e e d c u Offi r St ent trial fombers. m h c a e p im board me e v i t u c e x e

barbra daly

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PERMANENT STAFF

Editor-in-Chief Sanika Nayak

Managing Editor Phoebe Hayes

Assoc. Managing Editors Nathan Han, Fiza Kuzhiyil

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Asst. Diversity & Inclusion Directors Rachael Hatchett, Megan Tran

Assoc. Editors Faith DuFresne, Julia Zaksek, Mia Abbe, Sruti Ramachandran

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News Desk Editors Sheryl Lawrence, Tori Duff, Kevin Vu

Beat Reporters Mackenzie Sullivan, Leila Saidane, Hope Unger, Joelle DiPaolo, Katy Nelson, Hannah Ortega

Life&Arts Editor Zoe Tzanis

Assoc. Life&Arts Editors Sofia Treviño, Reya Mosby

Sr. Life&Arts Film Columnist Noah Levine

Sr. Life&Arts Reporters Angela Lim, Kaiya Little

Sports Editor Hannah Williford

Assoc. Sports Editor Matthew Boncosky

Senior Sports Reporters Ethan Ferguson, Amsal Madhani, Jordan Mitchell

Newsletters Editor Trinity Smith

A UT pharmacy professor and graduate student receive a grant to study burnout in clinics.

Sports

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News

As baseball begins this February, Texas is equipped with a team of All-American athletes.

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EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

Sanika Nayak (512) 232-2212 editor@dailytexanonline.com

MANAGING EDITOR

Phoebe Hayes (512) 232-2217 managingeditor@thedailytexan.com (512) 232-2207 news@thedailytexan.com The Texan strives to present all information fairly, accurately and completely. If we have made an error, let us know about it. E-mail managingeditor@thedailytexan.com.

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UT Feature Twirler Aidyn Mentry bakes cookies and fights for community causes off the football field.

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ISSUE STAFF

UTPD incident notifications must include trigger warnings to protect student’s mental health.

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Assoc. Newsletters Editor Jessica Garcia

TODAY Jan. 21

Opinion

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Contents:

Via 313 employees protest for sick pay, safety measures amid Omicron surge By Sheryl Lawrence @sheryl_adelle‌

leila saidane

About 150 workers and Austin community members protested at Via 313 Pizzeria Jan. 8 requesting their management company provide workers with sick pay and improve COVID-19 safety. Workers at Via 313, a Detroit-style pizzeria in North Campus, wrote a petition in late December 2021 to their management company, Savory, after many workers tested positive for COVID-19 as the new Omicron variant surged in Austin. Workers held a protest to influence management to provide notifications when a coworker tests positive and to provide sick pay for a maximum of 14 days. From March to December 2020, the federal government mandated employers provide COVID-19 positive workers with sick pay. From April to September 2021, the IRS issued tax credits to employers who provided COVID-19 positive workers with sick pay. Management has not provided workers with sick pay since the

/ the daily texan staff

Via 313, a Detroit-style pizzeria in North Campus, wrote a petition to its management company as the Omicron variant surged in Austin.

end of September, according to the employees. Communication studies senior Joshua Gamboa said he used to work as a cook at Via 313 in North Campus. Gamboa estimated about 15 workers contracted COVID-19 amid the Omicron surge, but management did not notify workers of the positive cases or provide sick pay for workers who tested positive. “We acted like it was normal, and nothing ever happened. You’d just wear a mask,” Gamboa said. “Even then, people weren’t required to wear masks.” A support staff employee at the North Campus location, who asked to remain anonymous to protect her employment, said a management employee texted COVID-19 positive employees, pressuring them to come back to work regardless of symptoms or test results. “All of those things, but especially that, were really

the main catalyst for us to … start talking to each other about what was going on and decide to do something together to approach management about the situation,” the employee said. Gamboa and Savory said 46 employees across different Austin locations signed a petition demanding sick pay, and some of the workers who presented the petition to management were suspended. “They retaliated by basically firing people indefinitely, just for trying to bring awareness to the cruel COVID-19 measures they were not even taking seriously,” Gamboa said. Savory told The Daily Texan in an email the suspended employees “allegedly created a hostile work environment that made others feel unsafe.” The suspended employees received back pay for their missed shifts, according to Savory. The support staff employee said management has

started texting employees who recently worked with a COVID-positive colleague, but do not name them due to HIPAA laws. The support staff employee also said that workers have been required to wear masks since the protest. Savory said they are working with employees to review the paid sick leave policy and “other allowances that further support and protect (their) employees.” The support staff employee said they decided to stay with the company despite the conflict because they do not think they will feel safer at another restaurant. “I have made friends and connections there that I don’t really feel like leaving right now,” the employee said. “At this point, my coworkers and I have gone through so much because of trying to make our workplace better, and I don’t really want to just abandon that now.”

NEWS

FRIDAY, JANUARY 21, 2022

RESEARCH

UT engineers commercialize carbon capture technology to combat climate change By Joelle DiPaolo @JoelleDipaolo

UT engineers signed a licensing agreement to commercialize their carbon capture technology, which will make removing carbon dioxide from power plants more affordable and will aid in combating climate change. The agreement between the Texas Carbon Management Program Group and Honeywell, a multinational conglomerate, was announced in December and gives Honeywell the

right to scale the technology for commercialization, said Ben Owens, vice president and general manager of Honeywell’s Sustainable Technology Solutions. Gary Rochelle, a chemical engineering professor and leader of the program, said the solvent used in the technology can better withstand heat and pressure compared to other carbon capture technologies, which reduces

the cost of pulling CO2 from the atmosphere. “We can boil (the solvent) at a higher pressure and temperature, and so we get carbon dioxide at a higher pressure,” Rochelle said. “Then the carbon dioxide is compressed to make basically liquid carbon dioxide. … (And since) we don’t have to compress it as much, the compressor costs less.” Owens said he thinks this technology is a leader in carbon capture techniques with applications in various industries. There are no specific plans for the technology’s use yet, he said, but the technology will be helpful for industries where the complete removal of fossil fuels will be difficult. “(It is) a way to decarbonize power generation,” Owens said. “The world’s kind of moving away from coal, but gas is needed to fuel the

grid for the coming years (and) coming decades. Decarbonizing gas … (and) the ability to capture the carbon on the back of it is extremely attractive.” Rochelle said he chose Honeywell to license their technology because of the company’s experience with acid gas treating, which uses a similar process to the technology his team created. In addition to the unique solvent, the team added more heat exchangers to the technology so that the process uses less energy, Rochelle said. Athreya Suresh, a chemical engineering doctoral student, said he works primarily on reducing the energy requirements for the technology. Suresh said they adopted heat integration techniques that use the heat generated from within the technology and less steam from the power plant to reduce how much energy the technology uses.

Suresh said he is looking forward to seeing the technology used more widely throughout different industries. “They can not only use our technology for carbon capture projects inside natural gas and coal-based electricity facilities, but it can also be used for their other projects,” Suresh said. “To see that your project is more broadly applicable over, or (to) a wide range of problems is really exciting for us.” Rochelle said carbon capture technology is expensive and its creation is often not prioritized enough, but it is important to combat climate change. “Global warming is real. We are doing it to ourselves,” Rochelle said. “There are lots of things we can do about it, and we should do all of those things. We should do renewables, we should do conservation and among the other things is carbon capture and storage.”

A Student’s Right To Privacy The below is considered directory information. Under federal law, directory information Theinformation information below is considered directory information. Under federal law, directory can be madecan available to theavailable public. You restrict You access to restrict this information by this visiting information be made to may the public. may access to information by http://utx.as/personal-info. Please be aware that if you request yourthat directory information to to visiting http://registrar.utexas.edu/restrictmyinfo. Please be ALL aware if you would like be restricted NO information about you given to anyone, including family restrict information from appearing inwill thebe printed directory, you mustyour make yourmembers, changes at this except as required law. Any restriction will remain effect until you it. directory web page by the by twelfth class day of you the make fall semester. If in you request thatrevoke ALL your

information be restricted NO information about you will be given to anyone, including your

by law. Any restriction you •make willparking remainpermit in effect until •family Namemembers, except as required • Classification Student revoke it. •you Local and permanent • Major field(s) of study information addresses • Most recent previous educa• Expected date of graduation name number • classification heightattended if member of •• Phone tional and institution • Degrees, awards, and honors • weight athletic team local address and permanent •• Email •anJob title and dates of employreceived (including selection • major field(s) of study addresses ment when employed • Public user name (UT EID) criteria) date of graduation • student parking permitby the • expected •• Place birth university in a position that • Participation in officially information phoneofnumber • degrees, awards, and honors •• Dates attendance requires student status recognized activities and sports e-mailofaddress received (including selection • the most recent previous • Enrollment status • Weight and height if member of educational institution attended • public user name (UT EID) criteria) an athletic team • job title and dates of employ• place of birth • participation in officially ment when employed by the recognized activities and • dates of attendance DIRECTORY INFORMATION SHOULD BE KEPT CURRENT. OfficialUniversity correspondence is sent that in a position sports • enrollment status to the postal or email address last given to the registrar. If the student requires has failedstudent to correct this status

address, they will not be relieved of responsibility on the grounds that the correspondence was not delivered. For details about educational andCURRENT. official communications with the University DIRECTORY INFORMATION SHOULD records BE KEPT Official correspondence is sent see General Information, 2021-2022 catalog. to the postal or e-mail address last given to the registrar; if the student has failed to correct

sylvia asuncion-crabb

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this address, he or she will not be relieved of responsibility on the grounds that the correspondence was not delivered. For details about educational records and official communications with the University see General Information, 2011–2012.

S A N I K A N AYA K

Editor-In-Chief | @TEXANOPINION FRIDAY, JANUARY 21, 2022

COLUMN

OPINION

UTPD incident notifications must include trigger warnings Incident notifications must include trigger warnings to protect student mental health. By Lucero Ponce Columnist

hen it comes to matters of safety, every student has the right to be made aware of ongoing crimes on and around campus. The Clery Act requires institutions to provide emergency alerts to all students on their campuses. However, due to the often graphic nature of these incidents, the alerts may remind students of past trauma. The UT Police Department should protect the mental health of students when sending incident notifications. UTPD should add trigger warnings to incident notifications for sensitive topics, such as sexual misconduct, gun violence and death to help prepare readers for any reaction they may have. Trigger warnings help prepare individuals who have experienced traumatic events for discussion of topics that might cause stress and anxiety. For survivors of traumatic events and those with post-traumatic stress disor-

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.

der, reading re-traumatizing messages unprepared can trigger an emotional reaction or flashbacks. According to the Eastern Colorado Healthcare System, 17% of college students suffer from PTSD, and UTPD needs to be more understanding and adaptable. Some universities around the country are starting to add trigger warnings to their emergency alerts. UTPD should follow suit to help students process potentially disturbing information in a more accommodating way. “When we put out incident notifications, I would almost assume that every time you see that (notification), there’s going to be somebody that’s triggered,” acting UTPD police chief Don Verett said. “If you watch the news, you’re going to be triggered. If you’re a person who could be triggered or who’s had challenges (with) being triggered in the past, I think that you would almost have to assume that, ‘Look, this is a significant incident or the University wouldn’t be putting it out, so I need to be careful about that. But it’s something we’ll consider and talk with our communications team. It isn’t something that I had thought of before.” Survivors can be triggered when they’re reminded of past trauma, and not all incident notifications would do so. It’s insensitive to imply that survivors are too sensitive and cannot handle being exposed to any news of violence or crime. If UTPD can acknowledge that someone will likely be affected by an incident notification, then trigger warnings are necessary. It isn’t something to just consider, and it isn’t a

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chloe kim

responsibility that should fall on the student. Survivors shouldn’t be responsible for making sure they aren’t triggered. Environmental science freshman Kyle Huang says that having trigger warnings would only benefit the UT community. “You’ll have folks say that this might be silly, but there’s no drawbacks or negative consequences of having a content warning in front of such messages,” Huang said. “The only result would be that the UT community benefits because the mental health of certain students, who may have had traumatic experiences, will be more protected, and they’ll be able to analyze this information in a healthier way.” Adding a trigger warning to incident

/ the daily texan staff

notifications would only require a short additional sentence and leaving space between the warning and description. The warning doesn’t take away from the gravity of the situation and requires no extra money or research. It requires nothing but compassion for already vulnerable and traumatized students. Students deserve campus police that look out for both their physical and mental health. It’s time for UTPD to end the stigmatizing idea that trigger warnings cater to overly-sensitive students. All students deserve to know what is going on around campus, and UTPD must take the necessary steps to protect its vulnerable students while disseminating this type of information. Ponce is a journalism freshman from Laredo, Texas.

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LIFE&ARTS

ZOE TZANIS

Life&Arts Editor | @TEXANARTS FRIDAY, JANUARY 21, 2022

STUDENT LIFE

UT alumna shares experience on Netflix’s ‘Queer Eye’ Angel Flores discusses her experience on the new season of ‘Queer Eye’, from gender euphoria to life after the show. By Zoe Tzanis @ZTzanis

arbell athlete and transgender activist Angel Flores made her television debut on season six of Netflix original “Queer Eye,” sharing her journey of growth and self-discovery. On the show, the UT 2020 alumna, with the help and support of the “Queer Eye” cast, overcomes insecurities and builds self-confidence. Now a personal trainer to the show’s Jonathan Van Ness, Flores said she hopes to inspire change, promote self-love and fight for everyone’s right to engage in sports. The Daily Texan spoke with Flores about the details of her “Queer Eye” experience. Daily Texan: What was it like to meet the Fab Five? As a fan, were they what you were expecting? Angel Flores: They’re the exact same (as) they are on

TV. Their personalities completely transfer. They are amazing people. They walk into the room and everything else starts glowing.

DT: Could you describe the most awesome moment of that week? AF: Turning around in the chair in the salon. In re-

ality, me and Jonathan were there for about nine hours getting hair and makeup done. To sit there for that entire process and then turn around and see how beautiful I can actually be, that really blew me away, and it reflected in the episode. I was crying and a lot of the cast and crew were crying as well. It was a really deep, emotional moment, especially reflecting

trans joy, reflecting how strong gender euphoria can be for a person. DT: Was the experience completely life-changing? AF: Definitely. I’ve introduced

habits and ideas into my head that I didn’t necessarily have before. Back then, I was struggling to find who I actually was. I expressed in the episode to Tan that I didn’t know Angel’s style, and honestly, I felt like I only knew half of who Angel was. Angel was an athlete, but I didn’t know who Angel was outside of the gym. To be able to walk into stores now and go out in public and be more confident, that completely turns the dynamic of my identity upside down.

UT alum, Angel Flores, made her television debut on season six of Netflix original “Queer Eye,” sharing her journey of growth and self-discovery.

DT: What is it like to have Jonathan Van Ness do your hair? AF: As soon as you see Jonathan go into salon mode,

it’s like, “Oh, this is real. This is happening.” There’s an autopilot there, and it’s really cool to see. It’s a reflection of what happens to me when I’m lifting. It’s cool to see somebody else go into their flow state and truly try and bring out the best in you. DT: What happens when the week is over? How do you begin the next chapter after ‘Queer Eye’? AF: It felt like a bunch of life-changing things had

happened, and then, everything kind of stopped. What helped was being able to interact and practice with Jonathan on a daily basis … That week after is really just like recovering … like, what’s the schedule look like? Let’s get back to life as we know it. Then, preparing for the whirlwind of the actual release. I put up a good support system. I took time to put things in order to set me up to … see what kind of activism and good and change I can do with it.

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FRIDAY, JANUARY 21, 2022

LIFE&ARTS

STUDENT LIFE

Longhorn Feature Twirler, Aidyn Mentry, does more than twirl — she bakes for a cause By Zoe Tzanis & Kaiya Little

@ZTzanis @KaiyaLittle

Standing on sunny Emerald Isle Beach in North Carolina, her toes covered in sand, young Aidyn Mentry caught a glimpse of something aglow in the distance — a glistening baton rocketing into the sky, arcing and falling perfectly into the hands of a nearby twirler. While she didn’t understand the activity taking place before her, the second-grader decided it was going to change her life forever. “Mom, whatever that sparkly thing is, that’s it,” Mentry said. “That’s what I want to do.” Ten years later, Mentry — the self-described Swarovski crystal disco ball of Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium — said she is honored to serve as UT’s 34th Feature Twirler. However, beneath her sequin-studded uniform, the advertising freshman continues to shine brighter than ever, committed to making change in her community through Aidyn’s Caring Cookies, her small business dedicated to charity. After that pivotal beach day, Mentry devoted herself to learning and improving her baton skills, hoping to one day twirl at the collegiate level. When her dream came true and she took her first steps onto the field as UT’s Feature Twirler, she said her face paled with fear. “Nothing can prepare you for when you think you have 100,000 eyes on you,” Mentry said “You’re standing there alone, you and a drum major, covered head-to-toe in rhinestones.” Despite her trepidation, Mentry said she took a deep breath, thought about the thousands of people supporting her from burnt orange stands, and lurched forward, giving those 100,000 eyes the best performance she could. Taking on the role as a UT icon at only 18, her showmanship and confidence

impressed former Feature UT Twirler and coach, Whitney Coons. “In band, cheer or pom, leadership positions are for juniors and seniors,” Coons said. “It’s a lot to throw on a freshman. She took everything in stride. It’s a credit to her maturity.” Away from the field, Mentry also finds joy in her second love: baking. Introduced early to the world of cocoa powder and mixing bowls by her mother, a baker herself, Mentry said she practically grew up with a whisk in hand. “There’s photos of me as a toddler, stirring a mixing bowl and simultaneously having my entire face covered in chocolate cake batter,” Mentry said. “I’ve been baking since I could remember.” In second grade, Mentry said her mother inspired her to use her baking talents for a noble cause — a communitywide bake sale to raise money for breast cancer research in honor of a struggling neighbor and family friend. “I liked having (Aidyn) know that you can make a big difference, anyone can, and you can do it (by) doing something that you love,” said Aidyn’s mother, Carla Mentry. “If you like baking, you can turn that into a way to help others.” While the initial sale didn’t raise the amount Mentry had hoped for, soon enough, she found herself catering weddings and shipping her baked goods across the country. After 12 years of business, Mentry said she raised nearly $40,000 for breast cancer research through Susan G. Komen. Whenever she gets the chance, Mentry said she switches out her sequined uniform for a flour-caked apron and gets back to business. Over winter break, she dedicated her baked goods to raising $2,000 for a new cause — Saint Louise House, an Austin nonprofit that supports women and children experiencing homelessness. “I get to bake and have a role in someone else’s life,” Mentry said. “It’s cool I get to be a part of these milestone opportunities for other people. I want to make a sweet bite-sized impact on the world.”

Aidyn Mentry, UT’s 34th Feature Twirler, has committed to making change in her community through Aidyn’s Caring Cookies.

NEWS

ANNA CANIZALES

News Editor | @THEDAILYTEXAN FRIDAY, JANUARY 21, 2022

STUDENT GOVERNMENT

Dean of Students Office halts SG impeachment trials SG unable to proceed with impeachment of executive board following Dean of Students Office decision. By Mackenzie Sullivan @macksully

he UT Dean of Students Office blocked Student Government from proceeding with the impeachment trials of executive board members Kiara Kabbara, Grant Marconi and Madison Brown on Wednesday. Braxdon Cannon, speaker of the assembly, said he received an email containing the office’s decision Wednesday and notified other SG representatives. In late November, university-wide representative Amanda Garcia and LBJ School representative Walker Adams drafted articles of impeachment for the removal of Student Body President Kiara Kabbara, financial director Grant Marconi and communications director Madison Brown after their refusal to resign following a vote of no confidence. In a statement to The Daily Texan, Sara Kennedy, director

of strategic and executive communications for the Dean of Students Office, said that after reviewing the articles of impeachment, the Office found SG could not proceed with impeachment trials because the constitutional standard for removal was not met. “The standard for impeachment requires showing that the presented evidence substantiates material failure of the position duties and responsibilities mandated in the Student Government constitution,“ Kennedy said. Adams said although the office’s decision did not surprise him, he was disappointed that the administration did not give SG a space to hold members accountable. “Continually, the Dean of Students Office has come in and tried to intimidate people into not proceeding with these impeachment articles,” Adams said. “They found an option that ultimately ends due consideration of impeachment entirely, and so they’re going to seize on that option.” Adams said SG members have a duty to listen to student input and respond to calls for abolition and reform. “That outrage will continue to motivate legislative actions,” Adams said. Kabbara said she is excited to move forward and accomplish items from her platform. Garcia said there are

julius shieh

/ the daily texan file

The UT Dean of Students Office blocked Student Government from proceeding with impeachment trials of four executive board members.

other ways to hold the executive board accountable, and representatives who abstain or vote against Kabarra’s new executive board appointments could send a message that they do not support the executive board. “If we don’t agree with (Kabarra’s) administration, and what she and the rest of her executive board stand for in terms of being complicit with abusers and apologists and actively harming the survivors who used to be on their executive board, why would we trust them and

their appointments to continue to do the work that her previous executive board wasn’t able to do?” Garcia said. With impeachment no longer occurring, Cannon said the best approach going forward is to focus on collaboration among representatives. “This is a great conversation starter for how we can best work on reform, since this looks like it will be one of our only options,” Cannon said. “That’s the best way to move forward.” Kevin Roberts, College of

Liberal Arts representative, said he’s working on legislation to reform SG so the organization can be held accountable in the future. “We’ve been trying to really address the issues of our organization, procedure and rules-wise, just to make sure that things run smoothly and to make sure that we have better ethics,” government junior Roberts said. “That way, we don’t have this happen again, and we can hold people accountable.”

FRIDAY, JANUARY 21, 2022

NEWS

RESEARCH

UT faculty member, graduate student awarded grant for burnout research By Hope Unger @imhopeunger

A professor and a graduate student in the College of Pharmacy received an external grant of $34,181 in January to fund their research on burnout and mental well-being among pharmacists. The grant was awarded by the Arlyn Kloesel Endowment for Excellence in Pharmacy Practice, and recipients were chosen based on their work’s methodology and innovation, according to a press release from the College of Pharmacy. Leticia Moczygemba, the faculty principal investigator on the project, said COVID-19 has helped to cast a spotlight on burnout not only in pharmaceuticals, but in the general healthcare field. “This is a critical time to really look at well-being and burnout in community pharmacies,” Moczygemba said. “The root of the findings will lay a really good roadmap for where to go next with regards to

how do we improve well-being and burnout in community pharmacies.” Andrew Wash, the student principal investigator on the project, said this research is important to him because of his firsthand experience with burnout during the six years he has worked as a pharmacist. “I felt this stuff every day — the feelings of burnout (and) wanting to do the best you can for your patients, but at the same time being stretched so thin that you just can’t provide the kind of care that you necessarily want to,” Wash said. The research team plans on creating focus groups to talk to pharmacists about their feelings around well-being, burnout and motivation within the field, Moczygemba said. “The idea of this project is really to focus on how we facilitate the conditions where pharmacists can thrive and be engaged in their work and really provide the level of care that we want pharmacists to provide to patients,” Wash said.

Angelina Tucker, managing network facilitator of Community Pharmacy Enhanced Services Network of Texas, has worked with the College of Pharmacy since fall 2019. Tucker said CPESN will aid the project by connecting the researchers with pharmacies to participate in the research project through conducted surveys.

“I know our pharmacists experience burnout many different ways, in many different situations, depending on what’s going on in their personal life,” Tucker said. “I think it’s very applicable and it’s very timely … This pandemic has put a kink in a lot of cycles that have been turning into pharmacy growth.”

Leticia Moczygemba and Andrew Wash in the College of Pharmacy received an external grant in January to fund their research on burnout and mental well-being among pharmacists.

We'll cover how to craft interview questions, write basic news stories and communicate with editors. Hear from former and present members of The Daily Texan.

Wednesday January 26 6 p.m. p.m Email moodywriting@austin.utexas.edu for Zoom information.

SPORTS

HANNAH WILLIFORD

Sports Editor | @TEXANSPORTS FRIDAY, JANUARY 21, 2022

MEN’S BASKETBALL

TEXAS PAYING THE PRICE FOR NON-CONFERENCE SCHEDULE The vaunted Big 12 looms large as Texas’ non-conference schedule takes away from tournament seeding.

assad malik

/ the daily texan file

Texas head coach Chris Beard said he had “some challenges and obstacles” putting together his team’s non-conference schedule. Now, his team faces a competitive conference schedule with a lack of non-conference experience.

By Christina Huang @stina_huang

exas head coach Chris Beard made it clear from the beginning of his tenure that he wanted to build a team capable of competing for a national title in his first year. But now, Texas, 3—3 in conference play, is in trouble. The Longhorns are about to enter the toughest stretch of their season, with back-to-back games against No. 18 Texas Tech, No. 15 Iowa State, No. 7 Kansas and No. 5 Baylor. In the competitive Big 12 conference, two wins over Kansas State seemed vital to keep

Texas in contention for the conference title and a comfortable seed in the NCAA tournament. Texas’ 3—3 start in conference play could be attributed to hosting a weak non-conference schedule. According to KenPom’s College Basketball Ratings, Texas’ average non-conference opponent ranking is 228, the lowest in the conference. KenPom provides statistics and ranks college basketball teams based on factors such as strength of schedule and offensive efficiency. The average non-conference opponent ranking among Big 12 teams is 186. The non-conference schedule was not enough to prepare Texas for the talent and physicality in the Big 12. “You can’t get too high or too

low,” Beard said after the Kansas State loss. “Nothing gets under my skin.” Because of an incomplete roster in the offseason, Texas’ schedule consisted of smaller, in-state schools with just a few bigger names. “We had some challenges and obstacles putting (the non-conference schedule) together, but we feel good about where we (have) it,” Beard said last September. “This schedule was put to (the) course over time. It wasn’t a schedule where we knew the team that we had.” The final schedule was heavy on both ends of the spectrum without much in the middle. Texas was the visiting team at No. 1 Gonzaga and No. 29 Seton Hall, both notoriously hostile environments. With the exception of Stanford,

the rest of the non-conference opponents were not close to being competitive. The first three games of the season, against a low-ranked Houston Baptist, No. 1 Gonzaga and No. 193 Northern Colorado, demonstrated how lopsided the schedule was in strength. Playing opponents that were below Texas’ skill level did not provide the team with enough high-stakes opportunities or stress tests early in the season. Now the Longhorns are still working out imperfections in the turnover game and offensive speed after one-third of conference play has passed. So far, Texas’ offensive pace ranks 351 of 358 Division I teams, last in the Big 12, according to KenPom.

The absence of more competitive teams on the non-conference schedule also stripped Texas of opportunities to make a statement win. Competitive non-conference wins can make a helpful impression on the NCAA Tournament selection committee come March. But Texas has none. Even though teams like Oklahoma and West Virginia are unranked, both have ranked wins. The Longhorns have their work cut out for them, and they know it. “The Big 12 is definitely the best conference in basketball this year, so no matter who you’re playing, it’s never easy,” senior guard Marcus Carr said. “We knew this was going to be a journey for us. We’re not stopping now (and) we’re not quitting now.”

FRIDAY, JANUARY 21, 2022

SPORTS

BASEBALL

Meet No. 1 Texas baseball’s preseason All-Americans By Jordan Mitchell @TheJordanKenzie

The 2022 season is fast approaching for Texas baseball, and a team of seasoned veterans with chips on their shoulders will set out to avenge a heartbreaking season-ending loss in the 2021 College World Series. Last year, the Longhorns showed resilience in Omaha, fighting through three elimination games to stay in contention for the title. Head coach David Pierce’s team came up just short in the Longhorns’ walk-off loss to Mississippi State, which would go on to defeat baseball blue blood Vanderbilt in the championship. Prior to this season, Texas lost Ty Madden, a standout right-handed pitcher and 2021 All-American to the MLB draft, alongside Mike Antico, Cole Quintanilla, Kolby Kubichek, Cam Williams and Zach Zubia in the Longhorns’ largest draft class in four years. Despite the departures, Texas is well positioned to make another run at the title game with seven preseason All-Americans returning to UFCU Disch-Falk Field in the spring. Here are the seven preseason All-Americans to watch for in Texas baseball’s opening series vs. Rice: Pete Hansen: All-American

First

well-placed fastball, keeping a talented Horned Frogs squad off-balance to take the series. Fans can expect the southpaw to command the mound with poise and efficiency. Ivan Melendez: All-American

First

Team

The El Paso product was expected to sign a professional contract this past summer, but after being selected as the No. 479 pick in the MLB Draft, Melendez decided to run it back in Austin to improve his draft stock and try for another College World Series appearance with the Longhorns. As the Big 12 Designated Hitter of the Year, the Odessa

College transfer led the Longhorns with a .319 batting average and recorded 51 RBIs during the 2021 season. The infielder will move over to first base as scouts and baseball fans alike look for potential in his fielding following the departure of former first baseman Zach Zubia to pursue professional baseball. Trey Faltine: All-American

Second

Team

Faltine established himself as a dominant infielder at shortstop last season for Texas, fielding at a .968 clip and turning 40 double plays in his 66 starts. Faltine is known for his defensive wizardry up the middle, but

he also packs a punch with his bat. Last season, he hit at a .249 and was second on the team with 18 doubles. Faltine plays his best when the lights shine the brightest. In his five NCAA Tournament games for the Longhorns, the shortstop hit .421 with three doubles and half a dozen runs. Tristan Stevens: Second Team All-American

Fifth-year pitcher Stevens came back to Texas after going undrafted, despite being projected to have a much higher draft stock. His significance as a returner is intangible as a starting pitcher and leader. Stevens has been a Longhorn

Tanner Witt: All-American

Second

Team

Son of former Blue Jays first-round pick Kevin Witt, the Freshman All-American turned heads as a relief pitcher for Texas’ bullpen. In his 28 appearances for the Longhorns, he finished with a 5–0 record and pitched 5.2 shutout innings against Tennessee. As a weekend starter in 2022, fans can expect the sophomore to impress with his breaking ball and demeanor when playing in the big moment. Over the summer, Witt also played for the USA Baseball Collegiate National Team and looks to be ready for his new starting role for the Longhorns. Aaron Nixon: Second Team All-American

As Texas’ second Freshman All-American, Nixon emerged as a closer for the Longhorns last season, leading the team with nine saves and recording an earned run average of 2.212. He is expected to reprise this role in 2022.

Team

Hansen, a redshirt sophomore, will be an experienced weekend starter at pitcher for the Longhorns. The left-hander from El Dorado Hills, California, capped off his 2021 season with a mere 1.88 earned run average and a 9–1 record in his 19 appearances for Texas. During the tail-end of the season, Hansen shined bright as a weekend pitcher. Against No. 3 TCU, he pitched seven shutout innings with his

for over four years and started his career on the Forty Acres following Tommy John surgery in his first year of eligibility at MCC-Maple Woods. In his 2021 campaign, the Missouri product led the team with 11 wins and allowed only 23 walks in an outstanding season as a weekend rotation pitcher.

Mitchell Daly: All-American

jack myer

/ the daily texan file

Redshirt sophomore Trey Faltine hustles down the line to beat the throw to first. The shortstop shined in his five NCAA tournament games, hitting .421.

Third

Team

Finishing second on the team with a .316 batting average, Daly proved himself to be a valuable all-around rookie for Texas. The second baseman was Texas’ third Freshman All-American on the team, posting 66 hits and 31 RBIs while fielding a .964 and recording a 23-game on-base streak during the season.

LIFE&ARTS

FRIDAY, JANUARY 21, 2022

STUDENT LIFE

Students share their ‘Plot Twist’ By Angela Lim @angelalim

CW: discussion of eating disorders In NIKI’s 2020 album MOONCHILD, the eighth track, “Plot Twist,” speaks to the idea of meeting someone by chance and looking forward to a thrilling future with them. As Longhorns embark on a new chapter of their lives this semester, The Daily Texan asked students to share serendipitous moments that changed their lives. Tina Feng, environmental science freshman

When her mom moved out of state for work in 2020, Feng took on the responsibility of taking care of her family. While she started learning how to cook for practical reasons, she said the activity eventually developed into a hobby rather than just a means of necessity. Coming to view food as a source of joy rather than a source of anxiety, Feng said cooking helped on her journey to eating disorder recovery. “Going through the process of making and putting (food) on the table and realizing just how much of a labor of love it was helped me change my relationship with food,” Feng said. By preparing and learning Chinese recipes, Feng said she felt more connected to her heritage. While away, her mom shared recipes and tips through FaceTime, which strengthened their bond. “It really changed our relationship,” Feng said. “We rarely fight anymore, (and) we say ‘I love you’ to each other, which we never really did before.” Lesliey Del Campo, radio-televisionfilm junior

When Del Campo chose to stay in their

charter high school instead of transferring to a private school, they rediscovered their passion for the arts. They immersed themselves in a program their art teacher designed, where they learned topics ranging from graphic design to film. “(My teacher) took us to different theaters and private art exhibitions in Dallas,” Del Campo said. “She changed my life and steered it into a more artfocused direction.” With their teacher’s support, Del Campo said they became more outgoing and held several leadership positions at their charter school, such as art club president. With renewed confidence and artistic spirit, Del Campo chose to pursue their interests in college. “Having a trajectory and somebody to foster all that creative focus (and) energy was very important and ended up changing who I was,” Del Campo said. “I wasn’t going to be an RTF major if I didn’t take those classes in high school.”

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Aagna Patel, business freshman

While preparing for a University Finance Association case competition in November, Patel met another student who became a close friend. She said they inspired her to continue sharing her passion for activism online. “The past couple years, I’ve spoken out a lot about (mental health), and sometimes it’s difficult to speak up about that,” Patel said. “Becoming friends with this person motivated me to be more vocal about it.” Now, Patel plans on relaunching her podcast, “desi me rollin,” which will center around finding one’s identity in college. “Something they’ve taught me is that we have this life once,” Patel said. “The only chance we have to make the most of it is right now, so you have to go full force with whatever you want to do.”

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barbra daly

/ the daily texan staff

B A R B R A D A LY

Comics Editor | @TEXANCOMICS FRIDAY, JANUARY 21, 2022

COMICS