04-23-09 by The Daily Texan

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The Daily Texan Thursday, April 23, 2009

Serving the University of Texas at Austin community since 1900

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Plan B sales come up for House debate

Bills seek to increase executive oversight Senators propose legislation to monitor University administrators, UTIMCO board

Photo illustration by Kim Espinosa | Daily Texan Staff

Plan B emergency-contraceptive pills are sold at the University Health Center’s pharmacy. Two bills currently in the Texas House would change the information pharmacists must give to customers of the contraceptive.

Legislation aims to modify information given by pharmacists to Plan B customers By Viviana Aldous & Erin Mulvaney Daily Texan Staff Some state lawmakers are hoping to dispel common misconceptions about the emergencycontraceptive pill this session by helping women become better informed about it. Emergency contraception, also known as the Plan B or the morning-after pill, has 12 times the level of hormones found in most birth control pills, said Guli Fager, a University Health Services health education coordinator. She said it inhibits ovulation by creating physical barriers so that sperm cells have a difficult time fertilizing the egg. The University Health Center sold 989 Plan B contraception packages last year. “If your egg gets fertilized, Plan B can’t stop that,” said Sarah Watson, a healthy sexuality peer educator. “All it does is make it a hostile environment for sperm. If your egg has already been fertilized, you’re pregnant, and you’re screwed.” Watson, an English junior, also said the pill is not an effective form of birth control because it is only intended for emergency use. Obstetricians and gynecologists define a living fetus as a fertilized egg that has implanted into the uterus wall, but some organizations,

including the Roman Catholic Church, believe that life begins when an egg is fertilized. A bill authored by state Rep. Frank Corte Jr., R-San Antonio, would require pharmacists to tell women that an emergency contraception pill can block a fertilized egg from implanting in the uterus wall, which may conflict with their moral beliefs. The bill would also require pharmacies to display signs with that information. “Oftentimes when it is prescribed, there is no detail [about] how the pill operates,” said Kathi Seay, Corte’s policy analyst. A bill authored by state Rep. Jessica Farrar, DHouston, would require clinics to offer information about emergency contraception to rape and incest victims. Farrar said many women don’t realize that the Plan B pill is an option. “[The bill] addresses rape victims so that they can better protect themselves and don’t have to worry about whether they are pregnant,” Farrar said. “I think there is a need for that awareness to reduce the number of abortions and unwanted pregnancies. It is a real injustice.” She does not feel confident about the bill’s passage because Republicans outnumber the

Mother reflects upon loss of daughter Speaker discusses dangers of travel, advises students to take safety precautions By Samantha Deavin Daily Texan Staff Natalee Holloway, an 18-yearold teen celebrating her high school graduation, disappeared from the Caribbean island of Aruba on May 30, 2005, and has not been seen since. The mystery of Beth Holloway, right, talks with Devin Macias and Caroline Baker after her speech at the Texas Union Theater on Wednesday night. Her daughter, Natalee Holloway, disappeared while on a trip to Aruba in 2005. Peter Franklin Daily Texan Staff

her disappearance remains unresolved. UT sorority members packed the Texan Union Theater on Wednesday to hear Natalee’s mother, Beth Holloway, reflect on her daughter’s disappearance and implore students to adopt safety practices to protect themselves from the dangers of traveling abroad. Holloway described the moment when she learned that her daughter failed to arrive at the

airport for her flight home. “My life had changed forever,” Holloway said. “I became the parent that got the call all mothers and fathers dread.” Holloway said that the disorganized and fruitless investigation into her daughter’s disappearance motivated her to warn others of the dangers and potential problems that can arise when traveling outside of the U.S.

SPEECH continues on page 2A

Comparative costs of Plan B

• CVS Pharmacy $49.57 • Walgreens Pharmacy $41.99 • UT Health Services $39 • Southern Methodist University Memorial Health Center $45 • University of North Texas Student Health and Wellness Center $35 • Texas A&M University Student Health Services $31.50 • Louisiana State University Student Health Center $25

Democrats in the House. She also noted the opposition the bill faces from the Catholic Church. Susan Fani, director of communications for the Catholic League, said that because her organization is in line with the Catholic Church’s values, it is opposed to the emergency-contraception pill. “Making it mandatory for Catholic hospitals to dispense the pill would violate their rights,” Fani said. She said that according to U.S. Bishops, in

PILL continues on page 2A

By Mohini Madgavkar Daily Texan Staff Some state lawmakers are calling for more legislative oversight of higher education this session. State Sens. Eliot Shapleigh, D-El Paso, and Steve Ogden, R-Bryan, have both proposed legislation to increase oversight for higher education executives. Shapleigh’s bill mandates performance reviews for university executives, and Ogden’s changes the governance and appointment structure of the University of Texas Investment and Management Company, the corporation that handles the assets of the the UT and Texas A&M University systems. Shapleigh’s bill, which was introduced at a Senate Higher Education Committee meeting Wednesday, mandates annual performance reviews for executives in higher education based on a variety of criteria, such as student graduation rates. UT System spokesman Anthony de Bruyn said the System already mandates performance reviews for its chief executives. “The chancellors, on an annual basis, sit with the heads of respective campuses and do a performance evaluation,” de Bruyn said. “Based upon those evaluations by the chancellor and the respective executive vice chancellor, they make recommendations to the board, … and those evaluations are tied toward their compensation.” UT President William Powers draws a base salary of $577,000, the sixth highest salary for a public university president in the country. In 2007, Powers’ base salary was $552,500. Daniel Collins, a spokesman for Shapleigh, said the bill would hold all executives to specific performance standards and increase transparency at the state’s higher-education institutions. “My understanding of the UT System is that they basically have a chat with their regents,” Collins said. “We think they should be held to specific standards.” Collins said the bill would also help create performance-review procedures for other university systems that do not mandate them. But de Bruyn said the UT System’s performance evaluations are already in-depth. “My performance evaluation is eight pages long,

UTIMCO continues on page 6A

Shapiro discusses top 10 percent at College Republicans meeting Senator’s bill would cap admissions under rule to 60 percent of class By Andrew Martinez Daily Texan Staff State Sen. Florence Shapiro, R-Plano, told a crowd of 30 at a College Republicans of Texas meeting Wednesday night a bill that she authored would not do away with the top 10 percent rule, but wants to institute a cap on how many students are admitted under the law. “I’m not doing away with the top 10 percent rule. I’m lessening it,” said Shapiro. Shapiro is the main architect of a Senate bill that would cap the number of top 10 percent students Texas universities are allowed to admit at 60 percent of their incoming freshman classes. Shapiro said universities will admit all applicants who graduated in the top 1 percent of their class, then applicants who graduated in the top 2 percent and so on until the 60

Sara Young | Daily Texan Staff

State Sen. Florence Shapiro, R-Plano, answers questions from students during a discussion hosted by College Republicans of Texas. percent cap is reached. Her bill passed on the Senate floor by a 23-8 margin on March 25 and is awaiting debate in the House. Shapiro said the top 10 per-

cent rule was established in 1993 when a student’s race was not used as criteria for admission.

SENATOR continues on page 2A

News

PILL: Misinformation

Thursday, April 23, 2009

The Daily Texan

Recycling analog televisions

Volume 109, Number 132 25 cents

about Plan B usage problematic, some say From page 1A cases of rape, the patient has the option to take preventative measures before conception, but not Plan B. “The evil of rape would be compounded with the evil of abortion,” Fani said. Sarah Wheat, spokeswoman for Planned Parenthood in Austin, said her organization supports Farrar’s bill. The emergency-contraception pill is a safe and effective way to reduce the risk of pregnancy, according to Planned Parenthood, whose clinics offer the Plan B pill. “There is a huge lack of awareness about what [the pill] is and how it works,” Wheat said. “It’s like if you don’t know about aspirin,

you don’t know to take it when you have a headache.” She said that a common misconception is to confuse emergency contraception with the abortion pill. She said the abortion pill causes the fetus to be aborted, while the Plan B pill prevents a pregnancy from occuring. She said another common misconception arises because the pill is often referred to as the morning-after pill. “Medical research has shown that the pill can work up to five days after unprotected sex,” Wheat said. She said it can cause cramping and nausea, buti it is not risky and is basically the same as a high dosage of regular birth control.” It’s intended to be a backup,” Wheat said.

SPeeCH: Holloway offers

safety tips for travelers From page 1A Holloway has initiated a TravelEd workshop, a program to teach college and high school students about pre-departure education and safety. She said the biggest risk to student travelers is a false sense of security, and students should remember the lessons drilled into them by their parents, such as never leaving with a stranger, accepting drinks or giving out personal information.

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“We don’t teach these rules to make you live in fear,” said Holloway. “But it’s not a safe world. UT students are at a stage where they are too old to be guarded by parents but not too old to be warned of dangers.” Holloway said pre-departure preparation is crucial, and that all travelers should be educated about where they are going and have a basic knowledge of their rights, the country’s legal system, and the nearest U.S. embassy.

CONTACT US Main Telephone: (512) 471-4591 Editor: Leah Finnegan (512) 232-2212 editor@dailytexanonline.com Managing Editor: Vikram Swaruup (512) 232-2217 managingeditor@ dailytexanonline.com News Office: (512) 232-2207 news@dailytexanonline.com Sports Office: (512) 232-2210 sports@dailytexanonline.com Retail Advertising: (512) 471-1865 joanw@mail.utexas.edu

Andrew Rogers | Daily Texan Staff

Zack Braunstein of the Texas Campaign for the Environment listens as speakers talk about a program to recycle televisions. In preparation for the final transition to digital television on June 12, local and state government officials met with environmental activists at the state Capitol on Wednesday to support legislation that would make television manufacturers responsible for recycling of their products. Two bills in the legislature stipulate that TV manufacturers must establish and be accountable for a television recycling plan to remove the burden of recycling from the local government and to ensure discarded televisions don’t end up in landfills. The bills emulate the Computer TakeBack Law by mirroring its provision that retailers cannot sell the product without an approved recycling plan. State Rep. David Leibowitz, the author of the House bill, said it was important to craft legislation to

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address the unique characteristics of televisions. “The number of TVs that will be thrown away in the coming years is too great to ignore,” said Leibowitz, D-San Antonio. “The Computer TakeBack Law was a right step in the environmental responsibility and green direction, and the passage of the TV TakeBack Law will be a continuation of steps we took in the last session and put us in the right place.” Robin Schneider, executive director of Texas Campaign for the Environment, said lead and other retardants in older televisions threaten to reach the water table when left in landfills. Schneider hopes that passage of the bill will encourage manufacturers to design more environmentally friendly televisions. — Samantha Deavin

The Texan strives to present all information fairly, accurately and completely. If we have made an error, let us know about it. Call (512) 232-2217 or e-mail managingeditor@dailytexanonline.com.

COPYRIGHT Copyright 2009 Texas Student Media. All articles, photographs and graphics, both in the print and online editions, are the property of Texas Student Media and may not be reproduced or republished in part or in whole without written permission.

Senator: Top 10 percent law limits diversity, Shapiro says From page 1A When the rule was first instituted, about 40 percent of incoming freshman graduated in the top 10 percent, Shapiro said. Last year, 82 percent of students

in UT’s incoming class were admitted under the top 10 percent rule. Shapiro warned that UT’s incomng freshman class ,ay be ade up entirely of top 10 percent students, possible as soon

as 2011. “What happens is there are lots of people who don’t get in,” she said. “We need diversity. The more you keep this rule in play, the less diverse your population becomes.”

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Permanent Staff

Editor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Leah Finnegan Managing Editor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Vikram Swaruup Associate Managing Editors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Stephen Keller, Gabrielle Muñoz Associate Editors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Audrey Campbell, Josh Haney, Abhinav Kumar, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Jillian Sheridan, Abby Terrell, Mary Tuma News Editor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Lauren Winchester Associate News Editors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Sean Beherec, Katie Flores, Lee Ann Holman Senior Reporters . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Viviana Aldous, Pierre Bertrand, Amy Bingham . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Mohini Madgavkar, Erin Mulvaney, Avi Selk Copy Desk Chief . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . David Muto Associate Copy Desk Chiefs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Robert Green, Austin Litzler, Vikkey Packard Design Editor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Janie Shaw Senior Designers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Marissa Edwards, Shatha Hussein, Lindsey Morgan, Emily Watkins Photo Editor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Peter Franklin Associate Photo Editors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Kim Espinosa, May-Ying Lam Senior Photographers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Paul Chouy, Bryant Haertlein, Emily Kinsolving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Andrew Rogers, Jordan Smothermon Life&Arts Editor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Ana McKenzie Associate Life&Arts Editors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Andy O'Connor, Leigh Patterson, Raquel Villarreal Senior Life&Arts Writers . . . . . . . . . . . Roxanna Asgarian, Mary Lingwall, Rachel Meador, Robert Rich, JJ Velasquez Sports Editor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .David R. Henry Associate Sports Editors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Anup Shah, Colby White Senior Sports Writers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Will Anderson, Blake Hurtik, Laken Litman, Austin Talbert Comics Editor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Carolynn Calabrese Web Editor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Erik Reyna Multimedia Editor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Priscilla Villarreal Associate Multimedia Editors. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Jenny Baxter, Juan Elizondo Editorial Adviser . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Richard A. Finnell

Issue Staff

Reporters . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Sam Deavin, Andrew Martinez, Priscilla Pelli, Natalie Ziskind Photographers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Lara Haase, Shelley Neumann, Sara Young Sports Writers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Jonathan Babin, Lena Price, Brad Gray Life&Arts Writers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Elana Estrin, Mia Avramescu, Brad Barry Columnists . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Jeremy Burchard, Laura Covarrubias Page Designers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Haley Price, Austin Sofhauser Sports/Life&Arts Editors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Rachel Greene Wire Editor. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Lindsey Estes Copy Editors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Kaitlin Einkauf, Danielle Baxter, Patrick Tighe Editorial Cartoonist . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Pavel Nitchovski Comics Artists . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Nam Nguyen, Katie Smith, Ryan Hailey, Ryohei Yatsu . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Alex Diamond, Josh Flanagan, Katie Smith, Gabe Alvarez

Advertising

Director of Advertising . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Jalah Briedwell Retail Advertising Manager . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Brad Corbett Account Executive/Broadcast Manager . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Carter Goss Campus/National Sales Consultant. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Joan Bowerman Assistant to Advertising Director. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . C.J. Salgado Student Advertising Director . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Charles Moczygemba Student Advertising Manager. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Derek Diaz de Leon Acct. Execs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Ryan Ford, Landon Blackburn, Chelsea Anaya, Jared Barker . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Lauren Aldana, Ann Marie Burnett, Kathryn Abbas, Jenn Muller, Justin Santilli Classified Clerks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Teresa Lai Special Editions, Editorial Adviser . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Elena Watts Web Advertising . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Danny Grover Special Editions, Student Editors. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Samantha Breslow, Kira Taniguchi Graphic Designer Interns . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Amanda Thomas, Rodrigo Maycotte Senior Graphic Designer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Felimon Hernandez

The Daily Texan (USPS 146-440), a student newspaper at The University of Texas at Austin, is published by Texas Student Media, 2500 Whitis Ave., Austin, TX 78705. The Daily Texan is published daily except Saturday, Sunday, federal holidays and exam periods, plus the last Saturday in July. Periodical Postage Paid at Austin, TX 78710. News contributions will be accepted by telephone (471-4591) or at the editorial office (Texas Student Media Building 2.122). For local and national display advertising, call 471-1865. For classified display and national classified display advertising, call 471-1865. For classified word advertising, call 471-5244. Entire contents copyright 2009 Texas Student Media.

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Thursday, April 23, 2009

T he Daily Texan

Several GM plants to close over summer

NATION BRIEFLY Obama visits Iowa town to introduce energy plan NEWTON, Iowa — Marking Earth Day with a pitch for his energy plan, President Barack Obama called for a “new era of energy exploration in America” Wednesday and argued that his proposal would help the economy and the environment. “The choice we face is not between saving our environment and saving our economy — it’s a choice between prosperity and decline,” Obama said in his first post-election trip to Iowa. But Obama’s promise of preserving natural resources and jump-starting the economy ran smack into the reality of this economically struggling town about 30 miles east of Des Moines. The wind energy plant where he spoke and received a tour beforehand is a shadow of what it replaced — a Maytag Corp. appliances plant that built washers, dryers and refrigerators. It employed some 4,000 in a town of 16,000, in jobs that paid about $30,000 to $40,000 a year. Trinity Structural Towers has roughly 90 people working at the old Maytag site, a number that is expected to grow to about 140.

Top seats at new Yankee Stadium prove unpopular NEW YORK — At the new Yankee Stadium, the best seats in the house have turned out to be the emptiest. The most expensive spots in America’s costliest ballpark have become an embarrassment, as the Legends Suite section in the infield has been filled only once in the six games since the $1.5 billion stadium opened last week. On most days, the seats cost $500-$2,500 as part of season tickets. And as TV cameras pick up the patchy attendance with every pitch, it serves as a little tweak to the nation’s richest baseball franchise. “We’re done talking about seats,” Yankees president Randy Levine said Wednesday. Compiled from Associated Press reports

Luis Alvarez | Associated Press

A Fairfax County police officer guards the home of David Kellermann in Vienna, Va. Kellerman, the chief financial officer of mortgage giant Freddie Mac, was found dead Wednesday morning.

CFO of Freddie Mac found dead

By Alan Zibel The Associated Press WASHINGTON — The chief financial officer of troubled mortgage giant Freddie Mac was found dead in his basement early Wednesday morning in what police said was a suicide. David Kellermann, 41, apparently hanged himself, said a law enforcement official familiar with the investigation. Kellermann’s death is the latest in a string of blows to Freddie Mac since it was seized by the government last September.

Kellermann worked for Freddie Mac for more than 16 years, starting out as a financial analyst and auditor. He was named acting chief financial officer last September when the government ousted former CEO Richard Syron and Kellermann’s predecessor Anthony S. “Buddy” Pizsel. Neighbors said Kellermann had lost a noticeable amount of weight under the strain of the new job. Some neighbors said they suggested to Kellermann should quit to avoid the stress, but Kellermann re-

sponded that he wanted to help the company through its problems. The neighbors did not want to be quoted by name because they didn’t want to upset the family. As the company’s financial chief, Kellermann oversaw a staff of about 500 and was working on the company’s first-quarter financial report due at the end of May. Federal regulators closely oversee the company’s books and sign off on major decisions. Police responded to a 911 call at 4:48 a.m. at the subur-

ban Virginia home Kellermann shared with his wife Donna and 5-year-old daughter Grace. Paul Unger, who lives across the street from the Kellermanns called the family a “solid, saltof-the-earth kind of family.” Michael Ferrell, executive director of the D.C. Coalition for the Homeless, where Kellermann was a volunteer board member, described him as a “compassionate, dedicated and committed.”

By Tom Krishner The Associated Press DETROIT — General Motors Corp. is planning to temporarily close most of its U.S. factories for up to nine weeks this summer because of slumping sales and growing inventories of unsold vehicles, two people briefed on the plan said Wednesday. The exact dates of the closures were not known, but both people said they will occur around the normal two-week shutdown in July that allows factories to change from one model year to the next. Neither person wanted to be identified because workers have not been told of the shutdowns. The automaker is currently surviving on $13.4 billion in government loans and faces a June 1 deadline to cut its debt, reduce labor costs and take other restructuring steps. If it doesn’t meet the deadline, the company’s CEO has said it will enter Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection. United Auto Workers officials at several factories said they have meetings scheduled Thursday and Friday with plant managers and GM human resource officials to discuss production changes. The automaker ’s sales were down 49 percent in the first quarter compared with the same period last year, and GM had a 123day supply of cars and trucks at the end of March, according to Ward’s AutoInfoBank.

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4A Thursday, April 23, 2009

T he Daily Texan

Editor in Chief: Leah Finnegan Phone: (512) 232-2212 E-mail: editor@dailytexanonline.com Associate Editors: Audrey Campbell Josh Haney Jillian Sheridan Abby Terrell Mary Tuma

GALLERY

VIEWPOINT

Mercy for UTMB In November, the UT Medical Branch in Galveston underwent massive layoffs in the wake of Hurricane Ike. The UT System Board of Regents decided the fate of thousands of faculty members behind closed doors in a distant corner of the state. The regents claimed that “financial exigency” warranted the layoffs (or a “reduction in force” in official UT System regent-speak). But since UTMB is part of the UT System, and the whole system was not exigent at the time, this claim is not legally valid. As details about the regents’ closed-door meeting come to light — the board members blew through the necessary protocol to enact the layoffs, much like Hurricane Ike blew through the medical facility itself — their legally questionable motive becomes even less believable. According to the Texas Faculty Association, the board violated its own rules by failing to properly prioritize the suggestions for layoffs and neglected to require department chairs to provide documention explaining why certain employees should be fired. As a result, 30 of the laid-off faculty have appealed the regents’ decision. Nearly eight months after the hurricane, a board at UTMB is still hearing appeals from these former faculty members. But we doubt the board will administer much justice, because the nine-member panel is comprised of several individuals who are disconcertingly cozy with the current UTMB administration. The board includes two current UTMB department vice-chairs and a close colleague of UTMB Provost Garland Anderson. Anderson was, coincidentally, responsible for selecting the board. Also, as outlined by the Board of Regent’s rules, the burden of proof for each reduction in force appeal will be on the appealing faculty member. So, not only will the board be stacked against the appellant, but appellants will, in essence, remain fired until proven retainable. Even if any sense of morality is taken out of the equation, the way the UT System Re-

gents and UTMB administration are mishandling this process is detrimental to the system as a whole, as it will likely result in even more expensive lawsuits. Many former UTMB faculty will surely be anxious to try their luck in a court that is actually independent after being subject to the cronyism of the regents’ appeals panel. Furthermore, many safely employed faculty at UTMB, tired of a dishonest, bungling bureaucracy, are simply taking their skills, and valuable research grants, to other institutions. The University of Kentucky happily welcomed former UTMB faculty member Dr. B. Mark Evers and his $14 million grant from the National Institute of Health last week. Additionally, out of 17 pre-Ike faculty working in the ER, five were laid off as part of the reduction in force debacle and 11 left voluntarily, according to the faculty association. This news even comes after UTMB President David Callendar recently announced generous “retention packages” for current employees. But what Callendar and the rest of the administration have not yet realized is that the holes in their reputation can’t be filled with wads of cash. Only now has the UT System indicated any willingness to negotiate with the fired faculty. Clearly, UT System administrators respect their employees only if they feel financially obligated to do so. We are confused as to why professional courtesy — which comes free of charge — was the first casualty of the medical branch’s budget crisis. UTMB and the Board of Regents must improve the way they deal with complaints from these laid-off faculty members. The administration, in stacking the odds heavily in their own favor, might help their situation in the short term, but it will surely hurt the future prospects of returning UTMB to its former status as its reputation sinks in the eyes of the Galveston community, future donors and, perhaps most importantly, the Texas Legislature. — Josh Haney for the editorial board

AN OPEN ANONYMOUS LETTER Dear McCombs School of Business, I will not be participating in your “Student Philanthropy Month,” primarily because I have already contributed to the greater McCombs community via my tuition payments. For this semester and last, I paid a sum of $9,354 for my schooling, not including housing and books — and that is after receiving a large scholarship. For you to ask me to pay another dime out of pocket to support McCombs is disgusting. I understand that you are trying to compete with the University of Virginia, but do you really have to nickel and dime your own student body? As you said in your own blog, “Such economic times leave our already menial studentsized wallets even more deflated. Add in the almost promised constant tuition increase, and it’s easy to see why students would be reluctant to give.” Do you really think that the right time to start a student fundraising campaign is in the midst of an economic recession where students are even more hard-pressed for cash? I have no intent of giving any money to McCombs as an undergraduate student and wouldn’t even consider it until I am an alumnus, as I’ll be paying back loans for years to come. Anyway, if you are going to call April “Student Philanthropy Month” do not ask the students to donate to McCombs. Instead, request that they spend time working for their favorite charity or non-profit organization. Also, I find it hard to believe that a school full of marketing majors can’t think of a better name for this crusade. The Student Philanthropy Month campaign is a disgrace — and a mistake. This letter serves as my protest against this nonsensical fundraising campaign, which I hope will inspire other students to join me in refusing to participate.

Regards, [Name Redacted of McCombs Student]

SUBMIT A FIRING LINE E-mail your Firing Lines to firingline@dailytexanonline.com. Letters must be fewer than 300 words. The Texan reserves the right to edit letters for brevity, clarity and liability. We regret that we cannot publish all letters.

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.

... one in four Illustration by Pavel Nitchovski

Closed ears at the Capitol By Jeremy Burchard Daily Texan Columnist It’s been a busy week in Texas politics. The Texas Senate accepted federal unemployment stimulus money, despite teabaggers’ cries of “overspending in Washington.” Students garnered attention with a rally against guns on campus at the Capitol. The House surprisingly killed an amendment to the state budget bill prohibiting state funding of stem-cell research, and somebody gave Rick Perry a microphone just long enough for him to embarrass the entire state. Yes, politicking in Texas is under way (just imagine how much would get done if the Legislature met more than five months every two years). With all this “progress,” I was almost starting to believe Texas has an effective legislative system. My delusions of political grandeur were expanding like leftover Easter Peeps in the microwave. Unfortunately, like a hot Peep, my misunderstanding of politics as a proactive process was bound to blow up in my face. Flashback to Thursday, April 16. Students had just finished a successful guncontrol rally by walking out of classes and convening at the Capitol. There was a great turnout. The speakers were enthusiastic and enlightening, and the event was free of the claptrap of counter-protesters. Following the rally, Rep. Lon Burnam, DFort Worth, invited the students into the House Chamber to observe a House Public Safety Committee meeting, and we gladly obliged. The sight of a few hundred students pouring into the state capitol was in-

spiring, to say the least. The disappointment on our faces when we learned the committee meeting was cancelled, however, was disparaging. Apparently, in the fifteen minutes it took students to file into the Capitol, enough members, for reasons that clearly have nothing to do with the influence of NRA lobbyists on some of the safety committee members, decided not to show that the committee did not make quorum and the meeting was canceled. Regardless, Rep. Burnam gave us a shoutout, and we all stood and cheered only to be promptly told to “please sit down and be quiet or leave” by the legislative pages in the gallery. With no meeting to swarm, several student ralliers left, but a few of us, myself included, decided to stay and go door to door telling representatives why we ral. lied and our concerns with allowing concealed guns on campus. We refused to let a mysteriously canceled meeting overshadow all the hard work individuals and students put into the rally. But the representatives’ offices put a harsh muzzle over our earnest cry. Though we visited dozens upon dozens of offices, I never personally spoke with a representative. Speaking with staff was hit or miss. I either found somebody who wholeheartedly agreed with me or somebody who gave me a blank stare all the way out the door. In either case, I couldn’t be sure a representative would ever receive half of the information I was conveying. On top of this, each representative’s office had different protocol. Some told me not to bother e-mailing — the representa-

tive never checked his e-mail. Others said not to call the office directly, but to call a staff member. It’s only reasonable to wonder whom exactly people elect — the representative or his or her staff. In one instance, I asked a staffer when we could meet with a certain representative, only to be told such a meeting would most likely take place “in a bar after session.” The “representative” aspect of our representative democracy has gone amiss. Throughout the whole process of trying to get the ear of our elected officals, one revelation stuck out — politics is a game, and those who know how to play, win. The system often feels broken, sure, but the real problem is that nobody wants to fix it. And after hundreds of years, why would they? It’s easier to go to bars and talk to the staff than it is to fruitlessly attempt to schedule time with a representative or make an impact on a committee. But right now, it is imperative to play the game. Though we only met staff, many expressed how grateful they were we came out and told us to tell everybody to keep trying to make their voices heard. Visit representatives’ offices, call or e-mail — whatever it takes. If you care about something — like keeping schools free of handguns — take two minutes to find out who your representative is and let them know. The more people who take the time to bother them, the more likely they are to get the message. Don’t think you’re being audacious — it’s their job to listen. Burchard is a liberal arts honors, rhetoric and writing and radio-television-film sophomore.

Life as a meat-eating vegetarian solid conclusion: Meat tastes good. Five years of abstinence resulted in an amazing sensation on my tongue when I finally succumbed, and eating that Chik-fil-A sandwich for the first time in When Bill Nye talked about cutting back on meat products years was the sweetest moment of my life. No matter what PETA during his April 8 lecture at the Texas Union, a tense murmur tells you, there’s just something in animal flesh that even the best rippled through the crowd. This is the heart of Texas, after all, tofu or veggie burger lacks. where eating cows, pigs and chickens isn’t a pastime; it’s a paSo now I am the vegetarian who likes eating meat. In order triotic duty. to combat the accompanying guilt, I’ve been applying the BudIt was within this culture that I became a vegetarian five years dhist concept of the Middle Path to my dilemma. This approach ago. At first I was one of the PETA types, searching the Internet lies between the austerity of vegetarianism (and the torturous nafor the most brutal images of slaughtered aniture of veganism) and the indulgence of regmals to show my friends and family, convinced ular, thoughtless meat eating. It is the happy that I could convert them during a screening of medium followed by the Dalai Lama himself, “Meet Your Meat.” When I realized that few rewho graciously treats each infrequent serving ally cared whether chickens’ legs break beneath as a delicacy. This is the same path that Bill the weight of their genetically engineered bodNye endorsed during his lecture, and it is the Eating that Chick-fil-A ies, I added environmentalism to my cause. path that will make the most headway in both Current literature supports the link between protecting animals rights and reducing global sandwich for the first meat consumption and global warming. Acwarming. time in years was the cording to a 2006 U.N. report, the meat indusLegislation like California’s recently passed sweetest moment try produces more greenhouse gases than all Proposition 2 (which requires that calves the vehicles in the world combined. To put this raised for veal, egg-laying hens and pregnant of my life. into perspective, if every American skipped pigs be allowed to lie down, stand up, fully just one serving of chicken each week, the carextend their limbs, and turn freely while conbon dioxide savings would equal the removal fined) will help, as well as the creation of laws of half a million cars from U.S. roads. In this rethat work to reduce America’s addiction to spect, vegetarians save the world one meal at a animal products. time, and it was with this self-righteous mindBut since most of us are not inclined to lobby set that I sacrificed meat from my diet starting my sophomore our legislators or turn vegan, going vegetarian for a meal or two year of high school — and ending about a month ago. this week is the best option. Try out the delectable tofu at VegFor the record, I didn’t cave. This summer I’ll be living in West gie Heaven, order mushroom instead of pepperoni and get a salAfrica for two months, a place where vegetarianism is a luxury ad instead of an artery-clogging burger. Doing this will save an (and a culinary faux pas). Since vegetarians gradually lose their animal’s life, reduce your contribution to global warming and ability to process meat products, I decided to eat meat once a create some good karma. And with finals around the corner, it’s week while in the states in order to save my system from a few worth a shot. extra rounds of discomfort. Covarrubias is a radio-television-film and sociology junior. Now, after a month of eating animals, I have come to only one By Laura Covarrubias Daily Texan Columnist

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Bill would reserve death penalty solely for convicted killers said he was against the Law of Parties and in favor of Hodge’s bill. “There’s no doubt that there has been injustice because of it,” he said. “Governor Perry recognized that when he commuted the sentence of Kenneth Foster and called on the Legislature to look at the issue.” Attorney Rusty Hubbarth, vice president of Justice For All, a victim’s rights group, said that anyone involved in a murder should be held accountable and subject to the death penalty. “The Law of Parties has a very sound basis in that anyone who is involved in the murder is just as guilty, whether it’s the driver in a robbery or murder-for-hire,” he said. Hubbarth said that the bill should not become law because death sentences reflect the will of the jury, which hears the evidence presented in court and is therefore able to weigh the culpability of a defendant. “That is the cornerstone of the American judicial system,” he said.

Don’t drink and drive, dear

Sara Young | Daily Texan Staff

Veronica Comeli, right, discusses rules with Rebecca Lewis for a YouTube video contest about the consequences of drunken driving. The contest was hosted by Texas Department of Transportation to raise awareness about drunken driving with UT students. Students waited outside Gregory Gym on Wednesday to record antidrinking-and-driving videos to be posted on YouTube for the opportunity to win a high definition camcorder. The event was part of the Texas Department of Transportation’s effort to prevent student DWIs. Students had the option of recording a horrified scream at the thought of a DWI, their best happy dance for having a designated driver or a stupid human trick that would represent the bad judgement of drinking and driving. “A lot of people don’t know how much a DWI costs,” said Rebecca Lew-

is, a marketer for the transportation department. “We’re trying to let people know so they make sure they think about it before they drink and drive.” Two plastic deer, Jane Doe and Stag, also stood in front of the gym to symbolize “party animals” who are smart because they chose not to drink and drive, said Michael Rose, another marketer for the department. “The message is so effective from a plastic deer,” he said. “It’s hilarious and not as patronizing as it would be to hear from a person. People are open to getting a message from a deer.” — Natalie Ziskind

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By Natalie Ziskind Daily Texan Staff Following Gov. Rick Perry’s unprecedented commutation of Kenneth Foster’s death sentence, an inmate convicted of murder under the Texas Law of Parties, legislators have proposed changes to the controversial law. The Law of Parties allows defendants accused of capital offenses to be sentenced to death if jurors believe the defendant anticipated the offense, regardless of whether he or she actually committed the crime. A bill authored by state Rep. Terri Hodge, D-Dallas, which passed the House Criminal Jurisprudence Committee on Tuesday would prohibit juries from sentencing defendants found guilty under the Law of Parties to death. It also requires defendants in capital felony cases to have separate trials. In the committee hearing, six representatives voted for the bill, while two voted against it. Two representatives abstained from voting, and one was not present. “The case of Kenneth Foster and Jeffery Wood made a lot of national attention,” said Clint Magee, Hodge’s chiefof-staff. “It kind of made sense that this is something we need to look at.” If passed, the bill will take effect Sept. 1 and will not apply to those convicted under the Law of Parties prior to that date. Magee said there are other punishment options for capital offenses and that the bill does not determine how courts should punish convicts otherwise. “The death penalty is reserved for the worst of the worst,” he said. “You have someone who is sentenced to death when they didn’t actually kill someone.” Rob Owen, a clinical professor of law at UT, said the Law of Parties could cause lay jurors to apply the legal standard too broadly and could lead to the condemnation of a defendant who did not commit murder but who the jury believes should have anticipated the murder. “Limiting the application of the death penalty to those who actually kill — as is presently the practice in, for example, the state of Virginia — will prevent such injustices, and I think is a commendable idea,” he said. Steve Hall, director of The StandDown Texas Project,

News

Thursday, April 23, 2009

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T groups rally against poverty

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Student event seeks to curb world poverty By Priscilla Pelli Daily Texan Staff The Global Leadership Center, Face Aids, OxFam International and other University groups collaborated to host the ONE campaign event at the Texas Union on Wednesday night. The ONE campaign is a grassroots advocacy organization that rallies Americans to fight against extreme global poverty and disease, particularly in Africa. The organization, co-founded by U2 frontman Bono, works with African policy makers, activists and the U.S. government. Sydney VanBerg, president of the Austin chapter of Face Aids Organization, said UT students often see the world through a materialistic lens. “[The organizations] want to put all the issues of social justice together to make a change and raise more awareness for the students at this university concerning global poverty,” VanBerg said. As part of the RGK Center’s Global Civil Society Lecture Series, keynote speaker David Lane, president and CEO of the ONE campaign, said new development is possible “in the age of Obama and economic uncertainty.” “[The ONE campaign] is not a charity,” Lane said. “We attempt to educate and mobilize impoverished communities. We try to connect with policy makers in all communities, in service, to develop smart policies for increased democracy so that civil society have a better say in how these policies are deployed.” The campaign attempts to rebuild impoverished communities not only in Africa but around the world. “ONE implements programs of health care, education and economic opportunities so local communities can rebuild and have something worth protecting,” Lane said. “That is what we, as an organization, seek to achieve.”

News

Thursday, April 23, 2009

UTIMCO: Senators

B-i-n-g-o

propose review of bonus process From page 1A

Andrew Rogers | Daily Texan Staff

Texas Marine Corps League members Larry Rutledge, Jim Irby and Harry Bruce stand outside the state Capitol after an event for the Charitable Bingo division of the Texas Lottery Commission on Wednesday morning.

Mayoral debate centers on city’s budget By Pierre Bertrand Daily Texan Staff Austin mayoral candidates made their last campaign pushes Wednesday night during the final scheduled debate before voters head to the polls. A survey conducted yesterday by local news channels showed the three top contenders for the position — City Councilman Lee Leffingwell, Mayor Pro Tem Brewster McCracken and former mayor Carole Keeton Strayhorn — in a statistical tie. With a 3-percent margin of error, Leffingwell has 27 percent of the vote, McCracken has 24 percent, and Strayhorn

has 21 percent. Underdogs David Buttros and Josiah Ingalls garnered 4 and 2 percent, respectively. The central issue of the debate was Austin’s projected budget shortfalls Leffingwell and McCracken said that across-the-board salary freezes or cuts might be necessary, and Buttross and Ingalls offered to forego mayoral salaries. “I will not support cuts that affect the delivery of public- safety services,” said Leffingwell, who focused on unspecified permanent structural cuts to the city’s budget. Leffingwell said he would consider combining city de-

partments to concentrate scarce funds. “You can lob off entire sections of the budget or you can ask everyone to take a pay freeze,” McCracken said. “I think that’s the Austin way.” Unlike her two main opponents, Strayhorn said she would consider cutting anything and everything — including funding for Austin lobbyists to the state legislature— to generate funds. “Nothing is off limits,” she said, promising to create a budget task force that would create a budget that Austinites could afford. Buttross suggested that the city reinvest in its citizens by

increasing the resident density in city’s urban core to spur development and job retention within Austin. He said that he would lead by example by foregoing his more than $70,000 mayoral salary. Ingalls, who stresses his lack of political expertise, mirrored Leffingwell’s proposal not to cut money from public safety departments and Strayhorn’s offer to cut lobbyist funds. “For me this election is not about winning,” Ingalls said to reporters after the debate. “For me, it’s about bringing a sense of reality.” Early voting starts Monday The general election is May 9.

and I’m just a department head,” de Bruyn said. While Shapleigh’s bill leaves evaluations to the university systems themselves, Ogden’s would give the Legislature oversight of the University of Texas InvestmentsManagement Company appointments and operations. Under the legislation, UTIMCO bonuses would be subject to review by the governor, attorney general and the Legislative Budget Board on which Ogden serves, giving him a direct influence on UTIMCO bonuses. The bill also alters the UTIMCO board’s composition, reducing its size to seven members, three of which would be appointed by the governor and could be removed at his discretion. Currently, UTIMCO’s nine-member board is appointed entirely by the UT System Board of Regents. Ogden, who chairs the Senate Finance Committee, first expressed concern over UTIMCO’s bonus structure and transparency at a committee hearing in February. The hearing quickly became heated, and questions about the the bonuses caused former Regent Robert Rowling to resign from the chairmanship of UTIMCO and the Board of Regents on the spot. The $3 million of bonus money in question has since been awarded as originally designated, with UTIMCO CEO Bruce Zimmerman drawing approximately $1 million. Zimmerman said he felt UTIMCO’s current structure was transparent. “I feel like UTIMCO’s governance model is very strong and certainly would pass muster with any set of public obligations and desires,” Zimmerman said. “We certainly recognize our fiduciary responsibility to the citizens of the state of Texas and are committed to full transparency.” The bill was scheduled to be heard in committee on April 15 but was pulled for further modification. Shapleigh’s bill was left pending in committee Wednesday.

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Thursday, April 23, 2009

Sports Editor: David R. Henry E-mail: sports@dailytexanonline.com Phone: (512) 232-2210 www.dailytexanonline.com

T he Daily Texan

MEN’S TRACK

Avoiding big distractions key to success at Penn Relays By Jordan Godwin Daily Texan Staff The Longhorn men’s track team showcased its talents on a big stage three weeks ago at the Texas Relays, but their stage gets even bigger this weekend at the Penn Relays. “We’re off to one of the country’s truly great meets,” said head coach Bubba Thornton. “The guys are really excited to compete at that level.” As old as Babe Ruth and as large as the Super Bowl, the Penn Relays was established in 1895 and is the oldest and largest track and field event in the United States — the meet usually attracts more than 15,000 competitors. “A big thing about Penn Relays is we take our team up there and immediately start dealing with the distractions,” Thornton said. “If we can win over those distractions, we’ll do great.” Coming off of a strong showing at last weekend’s Texas Twilight Invitational, Texas is poised to make a splash on the big stage. “There’s over a hundred universities entered in most events, so you don’t want to get ahead of yourself, but we’re certainly in position to win a relay,” Thornton said. Texas’ relay teams will undoubtedly face high expectations going in. Last year, they became just the fifth school in history to complete the distance triple, winning the 4x800-meter, the 4x1600 and the distance medley relays. “Our main objective is to get the regional qualifiers that we need,” Thornton said. “We hope to get the 4x100 out of the way.” Several seniors will be looking to contribute in their last trip to the Penn Relays as Longhorns. Jacob Hernandez, Tevan Everett, Tevas Everett and Jake Morse will all be competing in the 4x800 relay or the distance medley relay. A few true freshmen are making their first pilgrimage to the grand event. Patrick Todd is coming off of big performances at the Texas Relays and the Texas Twilight Invitational, where he placed first and second, respectively. Jacob Thormaehlen will try to continue to improve his shot put and discus throws. “For our young guys, it’s the beginning of several trips up there, and for our older guys, we hope they can go up there and do something special in their last performance at the meet,” Thornton said. WEEKEND: Penn Relays WHERE: Franklin Field (Philadelphia) WHEN: All day

Paul Chouy | Daily Texan Staff

Texas sophomore hurdler Andre Thomas competes at the Texas Twilight Invitational on Saturday. The Longhorns head to the Penn Relays this weekend.

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Texas falls in thriller against Bears

Photos by Lara Haase | Daily Texan Staff

Above, Longhorn players are at a loss for words after their heartbreaking 3-2 loss to Baylor on the road in Waco. Below, Sophomore pitcher Brittany Barnhill prepares to deliver a pitch in Texas’ loss to Baylor on Wednesday night. Barnhill pitched a complete game but gave up an RBI double in the bottom of the seventh that allowed the Bears to win.

Barnhill’s complete game effort not enough as Baylor wins on walk-off double By Lena Price Daily Texan Staff WACO — As a record 1,318 ecstatic Baylor fans headed out of Getterman Stadium on Wednesday, Kool & The Gang’s “Celebration” blasted over the loudspeakers. But nobody wearing burnt orange felt like celebrating. As the Longhorns walked off the field, some fought back tears. The Bears (34-15, 10-5 Big 12) narrowly defeated Texas (35-17, 10-5) for the second time this season after a walk-off double in the bottom of the seventh. With Texas’ 3-2 loss, the two teams are tied for third place in the Big 12 conference. The game went back and forth all night, and the teams were even at two runs apiece heading into the final inning. Extra innings seemed inevitable until Baylor’s Megan Turk hit a fly ball deep into left field, which allowed shortstop Bree Hanafin to score the game-winning home run. The loss was especially emotional for Texas because the team felt like it had a score to settle. “They don’t like to get beat by the same team twice,” head coach Connie Clark said. “We feel like we’re better then that.” Baylor pitcher Whitney Canion created the most problems for the Longhorns. She struck out 11 batters and held Texas to just six hits and two runs. “We knew we were going to face Canion, because she pitches every game for them,” Clark said. “She is a great pitcher, and I don’t

think we transitioned great on defense.” Freshman right fielder Courtney Craig earned half of the hits for the Longhorns and pushed senior first baseman Desiree Williams home in the third. “I knew she had a really nice spin ball, and I realized the last game that when I would go to the box, I took that spin away from her,” Craig

said. “So I think I got in her head a little bit, and I took it away again this game.” Canion deliberately walked Craig in the top of the seventh with senior second baseman Kelly Melone on base. Had Craig had gotten the chance to hit the

SOFTBALL continues on page 2B

NFL DRAFT This is the second in a series profiling three Texas prospects for this weekend’s NFL Draft.

Roy Miller, defensive tackle

Brian Orakpo, defensive end

Ex-baseball player hopes to catch on with a team By Brad Gray Daily Texan Staff Quan Cosby’s professional baseball career is long over. Now it’s time for his professional football career to begin. When the NFL Draft begins this weekend, Cosby will likely have to wait until the second day to see his name flash across the screen. It’s a familiar scene

for him. In 2001, the Anaheim Angels picked him up with a $825,000 signing bonus. That might not happen this time around. The 26-year-old former Texas receiver is hoping that some team will pick him up late in the draft, potentially in the fifth, sixth or seventh round. If not, he’ll hope to get signed as a free

agent after the draft concludes. Cosby can only hope that scouts ignore two key factors: his age and height. Cosby’s 5-foot-9-inch stature worries some scouts because of the increasing height of NFL cornerbacks in recent years. Also, the fact that he’ll begin his

COSBY continues on page 3B

Andrew Rogers | Daily Texan Staff

Texas receiver Quan Cosby, who graduates in May with a degree in social work, tries to make a catch in Texas’ 35-7 win over Kansas on Nov. 15. Cosby may get drafted Sunday.

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SportS

Thursday, April 23, 2009

Newest Ranger O’Day falters in extra innings as team falls 8-7 By Associated Press TORONTO — Kevin Millar singled home the winning run in the 11th inning and the Toronto Blue Jays beat the Texas Rangers 8-7 on Wednesday night. Vernon Wells walked to begin the 11th and went to second on Travis Snider’s sacrifice bunt. Scott Rolen was walked intentionally and C.J. Wilson (0-2) was replaced by right-hander Darren O’Day, who was claimed on waivers from the New York Mets earlier in the day. O’Day landed in Toronto at 9:45 p.m. and went directly to the stadium. He pitched wearing Kason Gabbard’s jersey because there wasn’t time to get him one of his own. Millar greeted O’Day with a single over the drawn-in outfield, scoring Wells. Toronto’s Rod Barajas hit a pair of two-out, two-run homers to left, one in the second and another to almost the same spot in the

fourth, the sixth multihomer game of his career. The homers were his first two of the season. Jason Frasor (3-0) worked two scoreless innings for the victory. Trailing 7-4, Texas tied it with a three-run ninth against struggling Toronto closer B.J. Ryan, who blew his second save. Chris Davis was hit on the wrist and Jarrod Saltalamacchia drew a four-pitch walk before Ian Kinsler grounded to shortstop. Aaron Hill’s throwing error prevented Toronto for turning the double play, scoring Davis and sending Kinsler to second. Kinsler stole third and scored on pinch-hitter Josh Hamilton’s grounder before Michael Young tied it with a solo homer to center, his fourth. Alex Rios had four hits for Toronto and drove in two runs with RBI singles in the fourth and sixth. Adam Lind hit an RBI single in the sixth for the Blue Jays. Saltalamacchia hit a two-run

single in the third, Young had an RBI double in the fifth and Marlon Byrd drove in a run on a fielder’s choice in the eighth for Texas. Ryan’s ninth-inning struggles cost left-hander David Purcey his first win of the season. Purcey allowed three runs and seven hits in five 1-3 innings. He walked a season-low two and struck out six. Rangers left-hander Matt Harrison gave up five runs and nine hits in four innings, raising his ERA to 8.59. He walked two and struck out one. Andruw Jones stayed in the game to run the bases after bruising his right knee when he jumped over Millar at first on an infield single in the eighth. David Murphy replaced Jones in left field in the bottom half. Rangers reliever Willie Eyre had to leave the game midway through Barajas’ at-bat in the 10th because of a tight groin. He was replaced by Wilson.

Texas Rangers second baseman Ian Kinsler turns a double play on Toronto Blue Jays’ Alex Rios on a hit by Blue Jays’ Vernon Wells in Toronto on Wednesday.

Frank Gunn Associated Press

SPORTS BRIEFLY Clemens at Minute Maid Park as a fan at Wednesday’s game Roger Clemens was back at Minute Maid Park — as a fan. Clemens sat about 10 rows up behind home plate with some of his children to watch the Houston Astros play the Los Angeles Dodgers on Wednesday. “It’s not my first time,” he said of attending the game. “We’ve been here a number of times.” Clemens said he’s doing “great” and was happy to be at the game. “I enjoy it ... when I get the opportunity to do it and come out here,” he said. “We’re just running around staying busy. The boys wanted to come to the ballgame and it worked out perfect because Roy [Oswalt] was starting tonight.” The embattled seven-time Cy Young winner is being investigated by a federal grand jury to determine whether he lied when he told a congressional committee last year that he never used ste-

roids or human growth hormone. But for now he’s focusing on the present and spending time with his children and following the career of his oldest son Koby who plays for Class-A Lancaster. “Koby started off really well and now he’s scuffling a little bit,” Clemens said. “As an anxious parent I almost want to get back on a plane and get back out there and kind of pump up his spirits as well as the other guys. Hopefully the team will start playing a little bit better out there.” Clemens, who played for the Astros from 2004-06, has a 10-year personal services contract that is set to take effect when he retires. Astros owner Drayton McLane has said no decision on that will be made until he officially retires. Clemens hasn’t pitched since he played with the Yankees in 2007.

Bulls point guard Rose voted NBA rookie of the year NORTHBROOK, Ill. — Like most good point guards, Derrick Rose rarely gives anything away. This time, he couldn’t resist.

After learning Wednesday he is the NBA’s Rookie of the Year, Rose let a little secret slip: He wanted the award. Badly. “When I first came into the season, my biggest thing was to get this award,” Rose said. Rose, who led his hometown Bulls to the playoffs and restored hope to a franchise in disarray, was the runaway pick. “For Derrick to take the ball from day one, to lead our basketball team, to play at the level he played at is really, really significant and certainly means that as we go forward here, we’ve got the guy that we are going to build around,” general manager John Paxson said. Rose became the third Bulls player to win the award, joining Michael Jordan and Elton Brand; runner-up O.J. Mayo of the Memphis Grizzlies received five firstplace votes and 127 points. Rose’s selection was hardly a surprise, after the No. 1 overall draft pick led all rookies with 6.3 assists per game. Compiled from Associated Press reports

SOFTBALL: Clark impressed

Gather a foursome for the annual golf tournament supporting the University of Texas Longhorn Band! Come out and win prizes including four tickets to any Texas Football home game and footballs signed by Mack Brown! All proceeds benefit Longhorn Band Student Association and Kappa Kappa Psi, a nationally recognized band service fraternity. Date: Sunday, May 3rd Site: ShadowGlen Golf Club, Manor, TX Time: 8:30 a.m. start Foursome Scramble format Price: $100 ($80 for LHBSA members) Includes Green Fee, Cart Fee, Range Balls, and Buffet

with Craig’s performance From page 1B ball, the outcome of the game might have been different. Clark was impressed with the freshman’s performance. “She makes great adjustments every at bat,” Clark said. “For a freshman to be doing that at this point in the game is pretty impressive.” For the rest of the team, making adjustments was more difficult, Clark said. “We worked on some things we were going to make adjustments on, and I don’t think we made as good of adjustments as we should have,” Clark said.

“[Courtney Craig] makes great adjustments every at bat.” — Connie Clark, Texas head softball coach “So I think it stings a little bit harder when you look back and go, ‘Man, we worked on that and just didn’t execute when we had the opportunity to.’”

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3B CLASS

SportS

Thursday, April 23, 2009

CLUB SPORTS

Team chemistry key to men’s volleyball club’s improvements able to be a leader to a lot of the younger guys,” said Phillip Taylor, the third captain of the team. “That was the most rewarding part of the season for me. Once we established our friendship on and off the court, our team was successful.” Along with improving as a team, the group had to shed the misconception that volleyball is purely a women’s sport. “Volleyball is a completely different sport when you put six men on the court,” Taylor said. “I have played a lot of sports, and volleyball defines what a team sport truly is. We can’t just rely on one person.” In addition to the success of the White team, the men’s Orange team earned second overall in the Southern Intercollegiate Volleyball Association championship and placed in the top eight at nationals. “I enjoy the team atmosphere,” Jain said. “Everyone on the team is friends, and we enjoy playing together.” Even though the formal season is over, the White team members held an informal practice to continue improving and working towards next season. “I’ve gotten much better after being in the volleyball club, and everyone on the team has proJeffrey McWhorter | Daily Texan Staff gressed farther than they thought possible because of the coaching Psychology and neurobiology junior D.J. Pargas, left, and english and anthropology junior Drew Moore lunge for a ball during a club volleyball and effort,” Jain said. practice at the Recreational Sports Center on Tuesday night. Moore is one of the team’s captains.

By Jonathan Babin Daily Texan Staff For Drew Moore and his teammates on the Men’s Volleyball Club White team, it would have been easy to lose hope after a disappointing fall semester. “Last semester, the team didn’t even win a set,” he said. “Everyone was new to the sport, and there was a sharp learning curve for the coach. But he placed the focus on the team.” This semester that focus paid off, as the team showed improvement, placing third in conference and 13th at Nationals. Moore, one of the team captains, recognized that team work and patience would be critical if the team was going to make the turnaround it did. “The season was extremely dynamic,” said Kartik Jain, one of the other captains for the White squad. “We changed from a group of guys playing volleyball into a real team.” Coaching also factored into the improvement. “Most of our progress is due to our fantastic second team coaches, Elbert Ortiz and Ashli Pace,” Jain said. The club team creates a community atmosphere with a solid support system among the players. “This past season has been a learning experience, and I was

COSBY: Receiver’s height, age viewed as negatives by prospective NFL franchises From page 1B NFL career at the age of 26 puts him well past most of the other signees. “It could have ended up being a negative here at Texas, and it ended up being a total positive,” Cosby said at Texas’ pro day on March 25. “And that’s the way they’re looking at it. The fortunate thing about it, no one’s really questioned me on it. The reality is, most guys that come earlier don’t peak until they’re 24 or 25 day, month day, 2008

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anyway, so I’m going to go in rolling. They know I’m all business. I have a family, and I have things to take care of.” He’s hoping that teams look at the game film from his years at Texas to see the intangibles that made him one of the most productive receivers in Texas history, catching 212 passes for 2,598 yards while also returning punts and kickoffs. Cosby also improved his draft stock by scoring the game-winning touchdown against Ohio

“He’s extremely strong. He’s not real tall, but he’s extremely strong.” — Greg Davis, Texas offensive coordinator State in the Fiesta Bowl, juking his way into the end zone with seconds left in the game. It was just an example of the slashing, powerful running style that he’s hoping that scouts will notice.

In Texas’ system, Cosby turned into a running receiver of sorts. 1 Short screen passes from Colt McCoy allowed him to cut across the field and overpower linebackers for extra yards.

Classifieds

“He’s extremely strong. He’s not real tall, but he’s extremely strong,” said Texas offensive coordinator Greg Davis. “When we flip the ball out in a run-pass option and just throw it to him, he’s not been stopped for less than four yards. He gets on the edge of the defensive back and gets forward and allows us to treat it like a running play.” And when he did go deep, he put his baseball experience to good use to make catches over and around taller, more athletic

CLASSIFIEDS THE DAILY TEXAN

defensive backs. Against Oklahoma State last season, McCoy missed Cosby on a route and threw a pass to the right corner of the end zone when Cosby was running left toward the middle. Cosby turned around, just in time to fall flat on his back and catch the touchdown pass. “I felt like an outfielder going back to the wall,” he said. Moves like that give him a decent chance at picking up a contract this weekend.

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4B COMICS

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The New York Times Syndication Sales Corporation 500 Seventh Avenue, New York, N.Y. 10018 For Information Call: 1-800-972-3550 For Release Thursday, April 23, 2009

Edited by Will Shortz Across 1 Two drinks, for some 6 Reserved to a greater degree 11 1099-___ (tax form sent by a bank) 14 Japanese mushroom 15 Holmes of â&#x20AC;&#x153;Batman Beginsâ&#x20AC;? 16 Conjunction that usually has a partner 17 Eco-friendly in Las Vegas? 19 Rapping â&#x20AC;&#x153;Dr.â&#x20AC;? 20 Tai chi instructor 21 Kind of account not used much anymore 23 Food glaze 25 Down Under springers 26 Omahaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s waterfront during downpours? 32 Tax-free transaction, usually

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31 Taste 36 Gift-wrapping aid 37 Part of Lawrence Welkâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s intro 38 â&#x20AC;&#x153;___ Hates Me,â&#x20AC;? 2002 hit by Puddle of Mudd 39 Melody 40 Pad name 42 Kind of gland 44 High-luster fabric

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Life&Arts

Thursday, April 23, 2009

Violin: Meyers

BAND PREVIEW

Close-knit Virginian band comes back to rock Austin

By Andy O’Connor Daily Texan Staff Since I’d had enough of the young ne’er-do-wells that temporarily immigrated to Austin during South by Southwest, I decided to chill with the elderly (read: 30-plus) at the NPR party at The Parish. Ready to party like those public radio liberals do, I received a voucher for a free Pabst Blue Ribbon upon entry and immediately assumed that was going to be the highlight of the party. But when Thao Nguyen and her band, The Get Down Stay Down, took the stage, the beer meant nothing to me. A petite, beat-boxing Asian woman playing country and folk songs? Yes, please! Nguyen described her SXSW experience as “pretty chaotic,” mainly because Austin’s inconsistent springtime weather decided to sweat the alcohol out of everyone. “It was nice not to wear pants,” she said. The band certainly got its exposure: Ngyuen and the band played a total of seven shows during SXSW. Nguyen said she was astonished at bands like Wavves and Vivian Girls who played more than 10 shows during the festival.

nPR: Hosts aim

to keep show entertaining, educational From page 6B

are free to download, and in them, Blumberg, Davidson and financial experts explain various aspects of the economic crisis in straightforward language. They make the topic interesting with well-chosen metaphors and real anecdotes. The “Planet Money” Web site offers more of the same. According to the site, “Planet Money” operates under the rules that “1. Everything has to be interesting (and, preferably, fun or funny or poignant or somehow grabby),” and “2. Everything should be economically smart but not economically dull.” Compared to the typical economic news, this program definitely meets its goals. But don’t expect the weekly podcasts to be as captivating as the segments on “This American Life,” and don’t expect any of it to be completely mesmerizing. I still have to make a concerted effort not to tune out from time to time when listening to the podcast — usually when they transition from whatever ridiculously oversimplified metaphor they’ve developed (using dollhouses to explain mortgages is just too cute) to the actual important issue that they’re discussing. Yes, sometimes the “Planet Money” team sounds like economists, but at least they’re trying to keep it “grabby.”

ENTERTAINMENT BRIEFLY ABC renews ‘Millionaire;’ Regis to host game show

NEW YORK – ABC is reviving “Who Wants to Be a Millionaire” this summer, complete with host Regis Philbin. A decade after “Millionaire” became a smash hit, it will return to prime time as an 11-night event, says ABC. It premieres Aug. 9, concluding Aug. 23. The quiz show burst onto the U.S. scene in August 1999. Philbin coined an instant catch phrase by asking his contestants, “Is that your final answer?” Ratings slid when ABC aired the show too often, and it was canceled as a series in 2002. But renewed interest has been signaled by “Slumdog Millionaire,” a film about a young contestant on a version of the show in India. — The Associated Press

“[Seven shows] was pushing the limit,” Nguyen said. “I was quite impressed.” Then again, the band was on tour non-stop for most of last year. Ngyuen likened it to a “shotgun wedding” because, while the band’s members all knew they wanted to be touring musicians, the learning curve proved to be a bit steep. “The past year, a lot of things have been sacrificed by the fire,” she said. “We’re starting to navigate life on the road and trying to maintain real lives at home and making touring as healthy as possible.” Ngyuen, who plays guitar and does lead vocals, met drummer Willis Thompson while they were attending the ollege of William Mary in Virgina. They eventually ran into bassist Adam Thompson at a show, but Ngyuen jokes that they found him “on the side of the road.” She said the band is “profesisonally married” to each other, and judging by the tightness of its members, that’s not surprising. The band’s music references Motown, Americana, classic country and blues and blends them all into hummable, easygoing tunes. Even when laying down a hard guitar line, Nguyen’s vocals have a songbird-like

takes an eclectic spin on classical From page 6B

WHAT: Thao with The Get Down Stay Down Concert with guests Sister Suvi and Samantha Crain WHERE: The Parish WHEN: Tonight at 8 p.m. quality to them. She even says old-school hip-hop influences in The Get Down Stay Down, not in sound but in spirit. “We like to incorporate that energy and that groove into our music,” she said. While members of the band do play their hearts out — after all, their main influences didn’t need Marshall stacks to rock out — they also sound strangely relaxed. It’s hard not to imagine Ngyuen and the boys creating their songs in the sweet country spring, sipping on mint juleps. “A lot of that comes from my vocal delivery, and I’m by nature a slow moving, wavy person,” Nguyen said. The band’s sound is also the result of Adam and Willis’ diverse, if questionable, musical pasts. “Their first bands were ska bands, which is really funny, and Adam was in a screamo band,” Ngyuen said. Any direction away from screamo is a good direction.

Courtesy of Thao with The Get Down Stay Down

Thao with The Get Down Stay Down is inspired by a variety of genres of music including country, Americana and hip-hop.

them. They’re total gems.” Meyers will close her program with English composer Ralph Vaughan Williams’ “The Lark Ascending,” which is based on a poem about a skylark taking flight. “I think the whole recital has a deeply lyrical, vocal quality to it,” she said. “We start with the beautiful sound of Japan and end with a bird leaving the sky, going into the heavens.” Meyers performs at 8 p.m. today in Bates Recital Hall.

6B LIFE

Thursday, April 23, 2009

Life&Arts

Life&Arts Editor: Ana McKenzie E-mail: lifeandarts@dailytexanonline.com Phone: (512) 232-2209 www.dailytexanonline.com

T he Daily Texan

Violinist remains open to all influences

Shelley Neuman | Daily Texan Staff

Violinist Anne Akiko Meyers critiques and instructs Min Park, a violin performance senior, after she performed part of a Beethoven sonata. Meyers taught a master class as part of the Starling Distinguished Violinist Series on Wednesday to help student violinists perfect their musical pieces, and she will be performing at Bates Recital Hall tonight.

Multicultural artist returns to Austin to play compositions from around the world By Elana Estrin Daily Texan Staff It’s one of the busiest times of the semester for most students, but world-renowned violinist Anne Akiko Meyers only asks that you smile. Her newest CD Smile is an eclectic collection of world music, film scores and classical pieces, all of which reflect Meyers’ unique approach to violin. While most classical violinists focus on the standard classical repertoire, Meyers is known for exploring such genres as Japanese and experimental music. Meyers, who is based in New York, has performed in Austin before and says she’s excited to return. “I’m really looking forward to being back in Austin and meeting everybody,” Meyers said. “It’s a very cool city, and there’s a lot of action going on here. Yet there’s space for you to be calm and think, too, which is nice after the mad chaos of New York City.” In the spirit of Austin, Meyers listens to a wide variety of musicians, ranging

“You have the power as an artist to create your own identity and your own voice.” — Anne Akiko Meyers, violinist

from Led Zeppelin to George Michael to Nina Simone. “One has to be very open to all kinds of influences because, as an artist, you’re basically a communicator,” Meyers said. “When people are making music, they’re being creative. They’re creating something real at that moment. That, to me, is so fascinating. You have the power as an artist to create your own identity and your own voice.” Meyers hopes to reflect her own unique identity and voice during her recital tonight. She plans to perform music from all over the world: Japan, Aus-

tria, Argentina and England. Meyers, whose mother is Japanese, begins her recital with two traditional Japanese melodies. Meyers and her pianist, Akira Eguchi, will perform an arrangement of “Haru no Umi” (“Sea in Spring”) on violin and piano. Their version includes clever mechanical and technical adjustments that evoke the sounds of the Japanese instruments for which the piece was originally composed. The second piece, “Kojo no Tsuki,” (“Moonlight over the Ruined Castle”) is a popular Japanese melody that Mey-

ers’ grandmother sang to her as a child. “It’s about a once glorious castle that has now completely faded,” Meyers said. “But what constantly shines throughout is the moonlight. I feel like it’s a piece that comes straight from the heart — one that you feel like you’ve heard all the time. It’s almost like it’s in your DNA.” From Japan, Meyers will take the audience westward to Vienna for Franz Schubert’s “Fantasia in C major,” op. 159. Schubert composed the work shortly before his death, and Meyers describes it as the “Mt. Everest of violinists to play and learn.” From Vienna, Meyers takes the audience to Argentina for three pieces by 20th century Argentinian tango composer Astor Piazzolla. “These are really sexy works where you feel like you’re just sitting in a bar listening to slow tango,” Meyers said. “There’s a lot of tenderness and nostalgia. There’s a very subtle beauty in

VIOLIN continues on page 5B

PRUDENT STUDENT

NPR sheds a little light on economic downturn By Mia Avramescu Daily Texan Staff Perhaps the only uncontroversial statement you can make about the economy right now is that it is confusing. Even economists can’t get it straight. “Economists mostly failed to predict the worst economic crisis since the 1930s,” Peter Coy wrote in the cover story of the April 16 issue of Business Week. “Now they can’t agree how to solve it.” So how are normal people — taxpayers, in economist-speak — supposed to understand what is going on behind all the downward-sloping graphs and jargon? I haven’t taken an economics class since high school, and I don’t recall bailouts, toxic assets or credit default swaps being part of the curriculum. Consequently, I tune out whenever the angry people on TV or the radio start using any of those words, and I don’t even attempt to read their articles, knowing I won’t understand their obtuse language. I feel guilty for being so ignorant about the global economy, especially when it is having such a real impact on the world around me. I want to understand why people are losing their jobs and why my favorite protein bars are getting more expensive. I want to be well-informed. I just want the information about what is happening to be clear and preferably in English. The best solution I’ve found is “Planet Money,” a National Public Radio multimedia project, which can be accessed at www.npr.org/ planetmoney. I was introduced to this collection of blogs, podcasts, news stories and videos when producer Alex Blumberg and correspondent Adam Davidson took over an episode of the popular NPR program “This American Life” to explain the housing crisis. The episode is called “Giant Pool of Money,” and although it was produced last May, I recommend it to anyone who has a lessthan-lucid understanding of the current economic situation (and who doesn’t?). The episode and its sequels, “Another Frightening Show About the Economy,” “Bad Bank” and “Scenes from a Recession,”

NPR continues on page 5B

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