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THE DAILY TEXAN SPORTS PAGE 7 Hold the line Wednesday, September 2, 2009

LIFE&ARTS PAGE 11

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‘Hump Day’ tackles open relationships

Serving the University of Texas at Austin community since 1900

UT begins $5 million budget upheaval

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Dining at the table of Abraham

Memo asks Liberal Arts department chairs to cut non-tenured positions By Andrew Kreighbaum and Hudson Lockett Daily Texan Staff Department chairs from the College of Liberal Arts received an internal memo Aug. 20 tasking them with reallocating $5 million to new priorities, largely at the expense of non-tenure track faculty. Efforts are underway throughout the University to re-evaluate departmental budgets and reallocate funds from non-tenure track faculty jobs to fund the recruitment and retention of top faculty. The Dean’s Council set a goal this summer for each college to identify 3 to 4 percent of its budget to redirect toward UT President William Powers’ initiative to become the top public university in the country by attracting the best faculty and graduate students. In last fall’s State of the University address, Powers highlighted the successful faculty recruiting efforts of English department chair Elizabeth Cullingford and history department chair Alan Tully. Kevin Hegarty, UT vice president and CFO, said the College of Liberal Arts is now looking to replicate those successes in other departments with major budget reallocations. “That’s why in a market today, nationally, when people are leaving well-known institutions, we’re out there trying to hire,” he said.

Edmarc Hedrick | Daily Texan Staff

After Ramadan dinner Monday evening, Gulsah Yildirim waits for water to come to a boil as her husband finishes his evening prayer. The water will be used in the preparation of several servings of tea.

INSIDE: A closer look at Ramadan on page 12

At ‘tame’ meeting, SG kicks off semester Incoming representatives introduce themselves to more than 1,200 students

The fallout The proposed cuts in the College of Liberal Arts will primarily affect non-tenure track positions such as lecturers, assistant instructors and graduate assistants. The fallout from those cutbacks could affect class sizes, course offerings and graduate student enrollment. The memo asks for a 20 to 33 percent budget cut for non-tenured positions in each department for the 2010-11 budget. Randy Diehl, dean of the College of Liberal Arts, is in the process of appointing a committee of liberal arts faculty which will help identify another $7 million to $8 million in savings for the next three budgets. One of the guiding principles of the budget cuts is excess capacity in classes. The College of Liberal Arts could operate with fewer instructors if closing limits for classes are opened up to larger sizes, the memo states. The memo also indicates that by

BUDGET continues on page 2

Tamir Kalifa | Daily Texan Staff

Newly elected SG President Liam O’Rourke addresses the student body during the first meeting of the fall at the Spanish Oaks Terrace within Jester Dormitory.

Resignation leads to review of UT system police UT-Dallas chief stepped down after allegations of improper vehicle use

Tamir Kalifa| Daily Texan Staff

The UT Police Department underwent a formal review this summer. Officials say they found nothing wrong with the department.

By Katrina Munez Daily Texan Staff The resignation of former UTDallas police Chief Colleen Ridge was one of many recent events among UT System schools that spurred a formal review of 14 campus police departments, including the UT Police Department. Ridge resigned on May 11 after a month of paid leave with a number of allegations against her, including unauthorized use of her state-issued vehicle, which she allegedly used to run personal errands for both her family and consulting business on the side. Three other employees of the UT-Dallas Police Department were fired or forced to resign for allegedly running Ridge’s errands or failing to report them. Following the system’s review of UTPD, officials said they found nothing wrong within the department. “As far as I know, all corrections were made while the panel was still there, before they even left,” said UTPD Chief Robert Dahlstrom. “I don’t have the final results, but there were only two or three minor issues.” The UT System implemented

the formal review on Friday, using it to take a detailed look into operational aspects, including financial accounting, record keeping and compliance issues. The panel is composed of a number of individuals, including law enforcement officers and auditors. “The utmost concern to all campus administration is the safety of students, staff and especially visitors that attend performing arts and other university events,” said UT System spokesman Anthony de Bruyn. “It is prudent to form the review panel to make sure university departments are operating at an efficient level.” Past events at other state universities added to the urgency of the formal review. Last year, former UT-Pan American police Chief Howard Miller was terminated after an internal investigation. In July, UT-San Antonio police Chief David Hernandez resigned after an employee filed a sexual harassment complaint. Though there were no immediate concerns for UTPD, Dahlstrom said he is open to improving the department. “If they find something we need to do better in, we’ll do it,” Dahlstrom said. “We have policies and procedures in place; we just have to follow them and stay within what they call for.”

By Viviana Aldous Daily Texan Staff More than 1,200 students enjoyed free food, T-shirts and guest speakers, Tuesday evening on the Jester Spanish Oaks Terrace at the first Student Government meeting of the semester. Executive board members introduced themselves at the meeting, which SG Vice President Shara Ma, marketing and history senior, described as “tamer” than usual. SG boasted a mystery guest speaker, who turned out to be assistant women’s basketball coach Mickie DeMoss. The event also featured Juan Gonzalez, vice pres-

ident of student affairs. “We speak on behalf of the student body,” said SG President Liam O’Rourke, a history senior. “This event was a touchpoint event. They saw leadership, they saw our representatives and they got an idea of what we’re about.” University-wide Rep. Justin Stein introduced legislation to support and help promote the Counseling and Mental Health Center ’s new suicide-prevention week, taking place Sept. 1418. One of the week’s main events is a suicide-prevention workshop to help participants understand signs that suggest their friends may be contemplating committing suicide. “The message we’re trying

SG continues on page 6

Online university brings classroom to Facebook University of the People delivers college classes using social networks By Lena Price Daily Texan Staff Students enrolled at the University of the People, the first completely online, tuition-free university, will actually have an excuse to spend hours on Facebook. The school, founded by Israeli entrepreneur Shai Reshef, will use social networking sites, including Facebook, to encourage a new method of learning that focuses on peer-to-peer teaching. “While working in the Netherlands, I realized that with the new phenomena of social networking, people can actually help each other free of charge,” Reshef said. “I wanted to introduce these social behaviors into the University.” Andrew Dillon, dean of UT’s School of Information and an Internet psychology expert, said utilizing Facebook or Twitter could help alleviate the sense of isolation some students feel when taking online courses. “Social networking is a fact of life and all students use the tools,” Dillon said. “The real

question is how to leverage the benefits and minimize the potential for distraction.” The initial cost of the university was about $6 million. Reshef put up $1 million of his own money, and the school is accepting donations and fundraising to make up the other $5 million. There are no student fees for the first semester, but the school will eventually charge $10 to $100 for exam processing fees. About 180 students are set to begin classes at the University of the People on Sept. 10. By the second semester, which starts in November, the school anticipates at least 300 new students. The school is not yet an accredited university, but it will seek accreditation after classes start. In the U.S., a college may offer classes and never actually earn accreditation. “That’s a risk that the students must be willing to take,” Reshef said. The four-year institution offers two bachelor degree tracks: business administration and computer science. “We are really only at the beginning of understanding how learning might be enabled

ONLINE continues on page 6

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NEWS

Wednesday, September 2, 2009

BUDGET: Chairs balk at proposed cuts From page 1 shifting to more intensive language instruction in lower-division courses, it could redirect resources to advanced language courses. Diehl also lays out plans to cut the size of graduate student enrollment in the memo and move “into a new era in which we will focus on the successful training of fewer, select graduate students.� Savings from fewer graduate student seminars could be reinvested into undergraduate education, according to the memo. Hegarty said with fewer graduate students enrolled, the colleges will be able to select the highest qualified candidates and pay them more attractive stipends. Government Chairman Gary Freeman said the 20 percent cuts his department is being asked to make could force the elimination of the entire staff of lecturers. This year, the department employs eight lecturers. Because some lecturers teach more than one course,

ied at each department, depending on the role and number of graduate students. Mathematics chairman William Beckner said he did not expect the department to face reductions in non-tenure track faculty due to the need for classroom presence — though he said he was planning for a smaller budget for nontenured positions. “Because we teach a large number of lower division classes, we need to rely on fairly large temporary faculty,� Beckner said. The large number of waitlisted students in the mathematics department — more than 600 at the beginning of the semester — suggested that students were not getting into the courses they needed, he said. “It pushes students to spend more time on campus to satisfy their basic core requirements, so that’s not good,� he said. Henry Bose, director of molecular genetics and microbioloIn Natural Sciences gy, said the school has been told The College of Natural Scienc- it needs to cut 10 percent of its es faced cuts to instructional bud- instructional budget. He said gets as well, but the impact var- funds could be found without that number could translate to 10 or 12 fewer courses offered per semester. “The big impact is on lecturers who would be out of work, but it’s not clear we have the faculty resources to teach those courses with regular faculty,� Freeman said. Psychology chairwoman Jacqueline Woolley said her department will be raising class limits to accommodate a minimum of 75 students. But with already large classes, students should not see much of a difference, she said. Woolley, however, disagreed with the notion that the graduate psychology program would improve with fewer students. “In order to maintain a vital graduate department, we simply need numbers,� she said. “The more grad students there are, the more intellectual energy there is.�

reducing teaching assistants and lecturers, including cutting the numbers of unfilled sections of the same course. Bose said that in the 2010-11 budget, his department would face reductions in both new graduate students and lecturers hired while reallocating funds for tenure-track hires. Graduate student positions rely on endowment funds, which are returning fewer funds in a rocky stock market, he said. The dean of each college will be responsible for determining what funds should be taken from lower priorities and dedicated to faculty quality. Ultimately, Provost Steven Leslie will determine the success of each college in that endeavor, Hegarty said. “When we spend $1.1 billion a year on academics we ought to — we have an obligation to, every year — take a re-look from the ground up to make sure ... we’re spending it in the wisest fashion,� he said. —Additional reporting by Lena Price

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“Because you weren’t answering your phone and you weren’t on Barn Buddy.�

Tuesday’s article “Director mixes scholarship, activism� misspelled the name of Jennifer Mendez, a sociology professor at the College of William and Mary. Tuesday’s article “Virginia Tech victim speaks out� should have stated “After passing the Senate, the bill died before it reached the House floor for a vote.� Tuesday’s article “Bills urge water conservation,� should have read, “Rep. Valinda Bolton, D-Austin, said she is very aware of the challenges caused by rapid population growth in unincorporated parts of a county. She represents southwest Travis County where growth is happening so quickly that the line between the city of Austin, unincorporated and sometimes rural parts of the county has been blurred. Counties do not have ordinance making powers like cities, and county commissioner’s don’t have the authority to plan for roads, water or development.� —The Texan regrets the error.

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Editor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Jillian Sheridan Managing Editor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Stephen Keller Associate Managing Editors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .David R. Henry, Ana McKenzie Associate Editors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Jeremy Burchard, Dan Treadway David Muto, Lauren Winchester News Editor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Sean Beherec Associate News Editors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Pierre Bertrand, Austen Sofhauser Senior Reporters . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Viviana Aldous, Bobby Longoria . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Rachel Platis, Lena Price Enterprise Editor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Andrew Kreighbaum Enterprise Reporter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Hudson Lockett Copy Desk Chief . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Robert Green Associate Copy Desk Chiefs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Cristina Herrera, Nausheen Jivani, Matt Jones Design Editor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Thu Vo Associate Design Editor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Shatha Hussein Senior Designers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Taylor Fausak, Lynda Gonzales, Olivia Hinton Photo Editor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . May-Ying Lam Associate Photo Editors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Bryant Haertlein, Peter Franklin Senior Photographers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 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Annika Erdman Associate Web Editor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Erik Reyna Multimedia Editor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Juan Elizondo Associate Multimedia Editors. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Kara McKenzie, Rachel Schroeder Senior Videographer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Dane Hurt Editorial Adviser . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Richard Finnell

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Volunteers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Lindsey Estes, Tarrah Miller, Zach Endres, Beth Waldman . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Ashley Meleen, Veronica Rosalez, David Sieloff, Michaela Neumann . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Emily Chandler, Carolyn Webb, Thu Pham, Jordan Davenport

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T HE DAILY TEXAN

First couple weds under new ruling

Guillermo Arias | Associated Press

Tourists move their jet skis out of the marina as Hurricane Jimena approaches Cabo San Lucas in Mexico’s Baja California on Monday.

Locals, tourists brave hurricane By Mark Stavenson The Associated Press LOS CABOS, Mexico — Tourists fled resorts at the tip of the Baja California Peninsula as Hurricane Jimena roared their way Tuesday, but many slum dwellers concerned about looting refused to leave their imperiled shanties. Jimena, a Category 4 hurricane with winds of near 145 mph, could rake the region of harsh desert fringed with picturesque beaches and fishing villages by Tuesday evening. Police, firefighters and navy personnel drove through shantytowns, trying to persuade some

10,000 people in the Los Cabos area to evacuate shacks made of plastic sheeting, wood, reeds and even blankets. While the storm’s eye was forecast to pass west and north of the city, another 20,000 were expected to evacuate elsewhere in the peninsula. The Mexican government declared a state of emergency for Los Cabos and the Baja California Sur state capital of La Paz and schools, many ports and most businesses were closed. Rescue workers from the Red Cross and the Mexican military prepared for post-hurricane disaster relief.

Forecasters expect the hurricane to leave between 5 and 10 inches of rain in Baja, but already the dry stream beds had turned into gushing torrents. In a nearby shantytown, Marco Nina, 24, a bricklayer, warily eyed a growing stream that rushed past his plywood and sheet metal home. “We are here with our nerves on edge,� he said. “If this hits, the roof is not going to hold. Other storms have passed but not this strong.� Hotels, which ordinarily have low occupancy this time of year, reported just a 25 percent occupancy rate. The local hotel association estimated 7,000 tourists

were left in Los Cabos, a town of 58,000 residents. Tuesday morning, Jimena was a Category 4 storm that weakened slightly as it moved northnorthwest near 12 mph, the U.S. National Hurricane Center in Miami reported. It was centered about 140 miles south of Cabo San Lucas. Hurricane force winds extended as far as 45 miles and tropical storm force winds extended 140 miles. Meanwhile, Tropical Storm Erika formed in the open Atlantic, east of Antigua and Barbuda. The storm had top winds around 50 mph, and could grow stronger in the next couple of days.

By John Curran The Associated Press DUXBURY, VT. — After 17 years together, Bill Slimback and Bob Sullivan couldn’t wait another minute to get married. So they didn’t. With Vermont’s new law allowing same-sex marriage only a minute old, they tied the knot in a midnight ceremony at a rustic Vermont lodge, becoming one of the first couples to legally wed under a law that took effect at midnight Tuesday. Dressed in suits, saying their vows under a large wall-mounted moose head, the two Whitehall, N.Y., men promised their love, exchanged rings and held hands during a modest 17-minute ceremony. Moose Meadow Lodge co-owner Greg Trulson, who’s also a Justice of the Peace, presided. Slimback said he and Sullivan, 41, have long wanted to cement their relationship with a wedding, but since they couldn’t legally marry in New York they chose to wed even before Vermont’s gay

marriage era officially dawned. Vermont is one of five states that now allow same-sex couples to marry. Massachusetts, Connecticut, New Hampshire and Iowa are the others. Vermont, which invented civil unions in 2000 after a same-sex couple challenged the inequality of state marriage statutes, was a mecca for gay couples who, to that point, had no way to officially recognize their relationships. Some couples — including many who obtained civil unions in Vermont — plan to return to the state to get married. But most are in no rush. City and town officials say only a handful of licenses had been issued to same-sex couples in anticipation of Tuesday’s start. “We’ve waited a long time to do this — basically, our whole lives,� Slimback said Monday. “We’ve been waiting for a chance to actually solidify it,� he said. He and Sullivan said they never wanted to obtain a civil union because they believe that’s a kind of second-class recognition.

Andy Duback | Associated Press

Bill Slimback and Bob Sullivan, of Whitehall, N.Y., exchange rings during their wedding ceremony in Waterbury, Vt., on Tuesday.

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Wednesday, September 2, 2009

OPINION

Editor in Chief: Jillian Sheridan Phone: (512) 232-2212 E-mail: editor@dailytexanonline.com Associate Editors: Jeremy Burchard David Muto Dan Treadway Lauren Winchester

T HE DAILY TEXAN

GALLERY

VIEWPOINT

Mismanagement costs

A report released by human resource consultants Employment Practices Solutions Inc. reveals what the Austin American-Statesman describes as “a six-year history of threats, intimidation and disrespectful behavior in the human resources department, where some supervisors yelled at employees and slammed doors.” Travis County hired the human resource firm to investigate employee claims that an ongoing feud between Alicia Perez, executive manager of administrative operations, and Human Resources Director Linda Moore Smith created an extremely negative environment that resulted in abuse of and retaliation toward employees. Both Smith and Perez had been suspended since late July, and County Judge Sam Biscoe had said keeping the two employees was “not an option,” according to the Statesman. Travis County commissioners voted Tuesday to fire the two employees. The county hired the firm to investigate employee complaints to the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, and, as the report reveals, many recent occurrences of workplace discrimination, weak synergy and poor communication within the department. Employees actually filed complaints against Perez and Smith as early as 2000 and 2001, respectively. In other words, the county managed to disregard and ignore complaints until it had to pay $54,500 to have an outside investigation reveal what employees had been saying for nine years. Despite long-standing complaints, Biscoe said he hadn’t known of the bitterness between Perez and Smith and its adverse effects on employees until the 22-page report documented the harassment. Even more surprisingly, county commissioners learned of complaints more than three years ago but failed to address the situation. Instead of addressing employee complaints and disciplining Smith and Perez, they waited until March to spend $12,900 on coaching to mediate relations between Perez and Smith — and until Tuesday to take stronger action. Biscoe defended the department’s actions by telling the Statesman that the near $13,000 investment was reasonable for the long-time employees and that the commissioners “acted reasonably … the more we found, the more we acted … ‘quickly’ might not be the best adjective, but I believe we acted appropriately based on the facts as we knew them.” The commissioners obviously do not consider its employees’ nine years of feedback useful or factual, nor do they consider swift action part of a reasonable response. In the past six months, the county spent $67,400 to deal with the situation, while employees were forced to either work in fear or quit. Instead of dealing with the problem immediately, the county allowed frustration and discord to boil over into a serious problem. When complaints regarding human resources come from the human resources department, the county would be wise to listen before it is forced to hire a consultant to clear up the mess. If anything, the University can learn from the shortcomings of the Travis County management. While the goals of the two entities differ, they function similarly. Both make decisions and have obligations that directly influence hundreds of thousands of people. Both manage their operations in a bureaucratic fashion. Both run under a rigid hierarchy. Both would do well to acknowledge that the people who ensure overall success and efficiency are the people at the core of the institution — for UT, those people are the students, faculty and staff. For the past few months, several student, faculty and staff-related issues have dominated local headlines. From the Brackenridge Tract, to staff pay cuts, to combating gender inequality, to domestic partner benefits for faculty members, to eliminating merit-based scholarships, the University has dealt with its fair share of difficult issues. Fortunately, the UT administration has the expert advice of students, faculty and staff at its disposal. Dealing with these issues wisely and respectfully means embracing feedback and complaints from students and faculty who will be most affected by the outcomes. The University has a choice to make. On the one hand, it could let the concerns of students, faculty and staff fall by the wayside until it pays the price (literally), much like Travis County commissioners. On the other, the University can learn from the county’s mismanagement and confront issues directly with those who ultimately ensure its success.

Voice your opinion By You Daily Texan Columnist Have something to say? Say it in print to the entire campus. The Daily Texan Editorial Board is currently accepting applications for columnists and editorial cartoonists. We’re looking for talented writers and artists to provide as much diversity of opinion as possible. Anyone and everyone is encouraged to apply. Writing for the Texan is a great way to get your voice heard. Our columnists’ and reporters’ work reaches more than 20,000 people every day and is often syndicated nationwide. The Texan is also a vehicle for prompting debate on campus. If you want to challenge and inspire your friends and classmates, make your voice heard by writing for this page. Every issue of the Texan is a historical document archived at the Center for American

History. Barack Obama may not be a frequent reader, but a copy of the Texan runs across UT President William Powers’ desk each day, and the opinions on this page have great potential to affect University policy. Texan staff members frequently receive feedback from local and state officials and even see policies they advocate implemented. In such instances, the power of writing for the Texan becomes real, motivating our staffers to provide the best public service possible. If you are interested in writing for The Daily Texan, please come to the Texan office on the second floor of Walter Webb Hall at 2500 Guadalupe St. to complete an application form and sign up for an interview. If you have any additional questions, please contact the editor, Jillian Sheridan, at (512) 232-2212 or editor@dailytexanonline.com. You can be a Daily Texan columnist or cartoonist.

— Jeremy Burchard for the editorial board

Texas Democrats must divide to conquer By Dave Player Daily Texan Columnist Students outside L. Theo Belmont Hall two weeks ago got a swine surprise — and not the flu kind. In the bed of a large pickup truck parked outside the Etter-Harbin Alumni Center was a wire cage holding two small piglets. The message was directed at a fundraising event for Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison taking place inside — specifically that Hutchison represents wasteful Washington pork-barrel spending. Hutchison is looking to challenge incumbent Gov. Rick Perry in the Republican primary for the 2010 Texas gubernatorial race, pitting two of the state’s biggest political names against each other. The two seem to be perfect rivals: Hutchison, a former Longhorn cheerleader, has served in Washington for more than 16 years, while Perry, a former Aggie “yell leader,” has voiced opposition to federal intervention into state and local government. In essence, it’s the corrupt Washington insider versus the rogue secessionist governor. At least, that’s how one party would like you to see it. The group that stands to gain the most from a hard-fought Republican primary is its opposition: Texas Democrats. Having the two heavyweights slug it out over the course of several months would soften up the eventual nominee for the general election, especially if the primary becomes the type of mud-slinging affair it seems poised to. Democrats have made major gains in the state over the past several election cycles. In 2006, Houston congressman Chris Bell ran a surprisingly competitive race, losing by approximately 400,000 votes — less than 10 percent. In last November’s presidential election, Barack Obama carried the state’s five largest cities — Houston, Dallas, San Antonio, Austin and El Paso. If there was ever an opportunity for Democrats to take back the still-charred Governor’s Mansion, 2010 will be the year. The only remaining question is whether they can find a candidate capable of issuing a real challenge to the Republican stalwarts. So far the field of Democratic challengers looks fairly bleak. At the moment, the most viable candidate appears to be Tom Schieffer, a former state representative who spent several years in private legal practice before becoming a U.S. ambassador. Party loyalists may recoil because of the Fort Worth native’s affiliation with former president George W. Bush, a past business partner whom he supported in previous elections, going so far as to say he “voted for George Bush every time he ran for office.” While that record may not lose him any undecided conservatives, it may not pull liberals to the polls. The rest of the field doesn’t offer many alterna-

tives. Hank Gilbert, a rancher and former candidate for agriculture commissioner, offers a folksy populist appeal, but it’s unlikely he will be able to pull together the financial backing necessary to mount a meaningful campaign. Meanwhile, the eccentric Kinky Friedman, who ran as an independent in 2007, has tossed his cowboy hat into the ring as a Democrat this time around. Whether his campaign is substance or comedy is something only time will tell. Surely in a state as large and diverse as Texas, the Democratic Party should be able to field at least one candidate capable of taking on Hutchison or Perry for the governorship. And maybe it can — he’s just in the wrong race. Once Hutchison commits to the upcoming gubernatorial race, she will vacate her current Senate seat, spurring a special election to fill it. While a bevy of Republican names have been discussed to fill the vacancy, two Democrats have emerged as strong contenders: former comptroller John Sharp and current Houston mayor Bill White. Sharp has pulled slightly ahead of White in recent polls, but it is hard to judge the accuracy of such counts so far ahead of the election when a majority of voters are not familiar with the candidates. Of the two, Sharp is the only one with legislative experience, having served four years each in the state House and Senate. White, on the other hand, has extensive executive experience as a corporate CEO, chairman of the Texas Democratic Party and mayor of the fourth-largest city in the nation. It seems a shame for the Democrats that they are running two extremely qualified candidates in one race and none in the other. The logical option would be to split the candidates between the two races. Of the two, White has significantly more financial resources. According to Burnt Orange Report, his campaign has already raised $4.3 million. Any viable challenger to the Republican candidates must have deep pockets. Hutchison and Perry have already raised over $20 million between them, though it is likely they will spend a considerable chunk of that sum railing against each other. Perhaps the White campaign already has such designs brewing in its war room. White’s election committee is conspicuously named “Bill White for Texas” rather than “Bill White for Senate,” while his larger signs and banners lack any mention of the Senate. A jump to the gubernatorial race is not out of the question, as White has both the financial means and popular support to make the race competitive. White could ultimately end up in Austin, not Washington. Texas Democrats should hope so if they are to have any prayer of winning back the governorship. Player is a Plan II junior.

A popular fantasy they did. While it may seem that a 20-year-old college student should be too mature to compete in onIt is time that I confess a dark, secret fantasy line fantasy games, I have learned that fantasy of mine. sports are far from atypical. In fact, according to No, I am not a new Hump Day columnist. the Fantasy Sports Trade Association, nearly 30 Rather, I am going to tell you about my grow- million Americans 12 years and older play some ing addiction: fantasy sports. For the last six years, variation of fantasy sports, and about 22 percent I have spent hundreds of dollars and hours upon of 18 to 49 year-old males currently own a fantahours doing my best imitation of Theo Epstein and sy team. Jerry Jones. Who are these people? According to a study If you are not familiar with fantasy sports, they conducted by Don Levy, a sociology professor at essentially put any regular person in charge of cre- West Virginia Wesleyan College, an overwhelmating and managing a team coming majority of the participants posed of real professional athare white males. Yeah, go figletes in such sports as baseball, ure — white guys idolize athbasketball and football. Friends letes who can do things they and coworkers form leagues of can only dream of. such teams and compete against More interestingly, fantasy each other with the ultimate sports players are also mostly At times, my zeal goal of scoring more points than married, well-educated and fifor online glory the other. nancially successful. As Levy Points are awarded based on recognized, “These are not sohas even caused real-world athletes’ on-field percial misfits living in their parme to be a Benedict formances. It takes perfect chements’ basement.” istry and management to win. Fantasy sports is a big busiArnold of sorts, (See Budweiser’s “Real Men of ness, estimated to have a $3 bilrooting against my Genius” salute to Mr. Fantasy lion to $4 billion — yes billion hometown teams. Football Manager Guy for fur— annual economic impact ther description.) across the sports industry, inEvery year, I spend an ungodcluding everything from ticket ly amount of time preparing for to memorabilia sales. Perhaps drafts, negotiating trades, watchPresident Barack Obama could ing games in which I have no think of some way to tap into interest and, of course, talking this burgeoning market to turn smack. The latter has created trouble for me be- our economy around. cause, despite my efforts, I have only been crowned All of this might not justify my enthusiasm for champion once. The sheer euphoria in my victory, fantasy sports, but it feels good to be in the comhowever, made everything worth it. pany of several million people, even if we may all Though it may sound absurd, it really is addict- be a little juvenile. Then again, I don’t care what ing. At times, my zeal for online glory has even you think. I will be too busy tinkering with my caused me to be a Benedict Arnold of sorts, root- baseball team’s lineup or studying for my uping against my hometown teams, the Astros and coming football league draft to even notice your Texans. It is not unusual for me to go to a game judging eye. and hope that players on my fantasy team, the By the way, does anyone else think Steve BreasSultans of Swat (yes, that it is a “Sandlot” ref- ton will be a sleeper this year? erence), punish the Astros’ weak pitching staff. Earnest is a finance junior This summer I even stood up and cheered when By Daniel Earnest Daily Texan Columnist

LEGALESE

RECYCLE!

TRYOUTS

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. All Texan editorials are written by the Editorial Board, the members of which are at the top right corner of this page.

Please place this copy of The Daily Texan in a friendly recycling bin or back in the burnt-orange stand where you found it.

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SUBMIT A FIRING LINE Please e-mail your Firing Lines to firingline@dailytexanonline.com. The Daily Texan reserves the right to edit all letters for brevity, clarity and liability.

5 UNIV

5

NEWS

Wednesday, September 2, 2009

Study details how teens find out about sex

Mirror, mirror on the wall

Study reveals teenagers more likely to learn about sexual health from peers

tremendous respect because they know that it is all factual and it’s not preachy,� he said. Salas attributes the feedback to the open lines of communication between the students and the By Alex Geiser volunteers. Daily Texan Staff Communication is not so comDiscrepancies between parent perception and teen sexual behav- fortable at home, according to ior were revealed Tuesday morn- the study. Teens put less imporing by a new study released by tance on sex and found sex less scary than parents assumed, acAustin LifeGuard. The findings were a part of cording to the study, which colthe non-profit organization’s lected data from 223 teens ages recent study on sexual percep- 14 to 18 and 142 parents from the Austin area. tions and behavIn addition, iors among Austhe study retin-area teenagers veals that teens and parents. are significantly “As part of our more likely to key findings, we get information discovered that ... Austin parents from their peers A u s t i n p a re n t s rather than their overstate their role overstate their role parents. in providing sexin providing sexual “Although ual information to information to their we plan to use their teenagers,� from the data said Austin Lifeteenagers.� in refining our Guard Director — Amanda Brown curriculum for Amanda Brown. Austin Lifedirector, Austin students, it also will help us Guard, a teen LifeGuard with our outcharacter and sexreach efforts to uality education parents as an inprogram, sends fluential factor volunteers to on their teens,� teach sex educaBrown said. tion to schools in Art Coleman, the Austin area. president and The program discourages premarital sex and teaches teen- CEO of the Medical Institute for agers about certain unintend- Sexual Health in Austin, said that ed consequences of sex, such parents often don’t feel prepared as sexually transmitted diseas- enough to talk about sex with their children. es pregnancy. “It’s not just a one lecture type Vincent Salas, an advisor and a volunteer for the group, said the of thing, but it’s something that program is meant to help teenag- needs to be approached coners make healthy decisions and stantly,� Coleman said. “Data is has received predominantly posi- overwhelming in showing that when parents do communicate, tive feedback. “Everybody that has sat through it has a tremendous influence on the curriculum walks away with the teens.�

‘‘

Tamir Kalifa | Daily Texan Staff

D’Wanna Whitener looks through stacks of antique photographs at Uncommon Objects on South Congress Avenue.

UT charity program may see less contribution By Thu Pham Daily Texan Staff Despite economic lows, UT’s Hearts of Texas Charitable Campaign hopes University staff members will continue to contribute part of their payroll to local, national and international charities through the State Employee Charitable Campaign. The campaign allows state and higher education employees in Texas to pledge money to more than 500 charities through payroll deductions or single contributions. The charities are carefully screened to ensure they are efficiently managed, beneficial to the community and serve the greater state area. In 2008, the employee campaign gathered more than $2.1

million in donations, the largest contributor by far being UT staff, said campaign manager Jackie Rogers. More than 2,000 UT staff members participated in the program, raising more than $600,000 last year. The second biggest contributors at the time were health and human services agencies, which are comprised of several small agencies, with about 1,500 participants. This year, UT officials hope to generate as much money for local charities as they did in 2008, said Deb Duval, last year ’s spokeswoman for the Hearts of Texas. Each fall, the campaign has a period when employees have research charities and designate which one they wish to contrib-

ute to. The Hearts of Texas campaign is UT’s chapter of a larger statewide program, the State Employee Charitable Campaign, which will run Oct. 1-31. Duval said she realizes that, during these economic times, it’s not always easy for people to give to charity. “But we’re hoping that we will increase funds a little bit while keeping the same goal as last year,� she said. Some departments saw smaller donations in 2008 because of the economy. “Donations were down last year when the economy took a dive, so we don’t know what it’s going to look like,� said Jeanne Boylan, departmental representative from the McCombs School of Business.

Duval said she hopes the campaign’s efforts draw attention to the needs in the community and solutions to help the charities. She also wants to encourage contributors to donate online in an effort to decrease administrative costs. Having donations taken directly from payroll helps charities avoid fundraising and administrative costs, allowing them more time to focus on other priorities. The employee campaign, created in 1994, is the only statewide workplace charity program. Each city in Texas has its own campaign, the largest being in Austin, because so many state agencies are located in the area. Austin’s charity campaign has set a goal of raising $2.5 million for the upcoming year.

In partnership with Reese’s

6 S/L

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STATE&LOCAL

Wednesday, September 2, 2009

ONLINE: Professors volunteer to teach internet classes From page 1 through technology, so it seems likely that we will see offerings expand in the years ahead,� Dillon said. “It seems unlikely that a university will be content to offer just two degrees if they believe there’s a market for more.� More than 800 professors from around the world volunteer to

teach online classes at the university in their free time out of their homes. The majority of them are based out of the U.S. “In our research, when we asked students ‘Why do you spend so much time in the classroom?’ They usually said ‘Because we have to,’� Reshef said. “Online study is just as effective, and the students can study any-

time and anywhere.� UT is a predominantly in-person learning environment which offers some online networks for its students. “There are online options through UT Extension and many faculty now offer computer-based support for learning through Web sites,� Dillon said. The University of the People

was not created to compete with existing colleges like UT and was not designed to bring in the traditional university student, Reshef said. “We are there to bring an option for those who have no other option,� Reshef said. “If people can consider us instead of an established university, it would mean that we have failed,�

Online classes are not a substitute for the experience of living on and attending a university campus, Dillon said. “They might offer similar programs,� he said. “But there’s a quality to campus life and the resulting educational experience that only comes from being immersed with your peers and faculty in the same space.�

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Business school encourages students to study abroad The McCombs School of Business is gearing up for its seventh annual Study Abroad Fair, to be held today in McCombs Plaza, in an effort to encourage business students to go overseas. About a third of the business school’s students study abroad, the highest percentage of any college, according to Claudia Prieto, the international program coordinator for the business school. “We want our students to have some type of global perspective,� she said. “Over 33 percent of our business students have international experience at graduation time.� The Study Abroad Fair will focus on 27 partner schools that cater to business students. Only students enrolled in the business school can participate in the programs. Meanwhile, the University-wide Study Abroad Fair takes place today in Gregory Plaza, and will include programs available to all majors. The University-wide fair takes place twice a year. Other colleges, including the College of Communication and the Cockrell School of Engineering, will also hold their own study abroad fairs later in the semester. — Thu Pham

SG: Suicide

prevention on agenda at first meeting From page 1 to send is students can themselves be trained to help prevent suicide,� Stein said. “Not a whole lot of policies seem more important to me than this. I’m really thrilled we’re picking this up and helping them make it a success.� The Legislative Policy Committee must pass the legislation before it reaches the general assembly next week.

‘‘

They saw leadership, they saw our representatives and they got an idea of what we’re about� — Liam O’Rourke SG president

UNIVERSITY BRIEFLY

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In hopes of recruiting students to join SG agencies, members held an agency fair before the meeting to familiarize students — particularly freshmen — with SG and ways to get involved. The Freshman Leadership Organization and Longhorn Legislative Aide groups are comprised mainly of freshmen. “[This meeting was] a great way to see what SG does,� said Louis Armendariz, director of the Freshman Leadership Organization. “Even if you’re not thinking of getting involved with SG, students can meet representatives and put pressure on them so they can represent their needs.� O’Rourke said students can hold the assembly accountable based on SG’s platform goals of affordability, accessibility for people with disabilities, technology, academic service learning and leadership. Among the five platform goals, SG hopes to expand the University’s wireless Internet coverage, increase incentives for professors who include community service projects in their classes and create a leadership and ethics major. “We set out our goals,� O’Rourke said. “Come April, people will see that we accomplished them.� To improve representation, SG will encourage increased input from students, said spokeswoman Danielle Brown. “We wanted this meeting to be open and accessible to everyone,� Brown said. “That’s one reason we had it in a different location across campus. We want to invite new people to our meetings.� The next SG meeting is 7 p.m. Tuesday in the Student Services Building.

7 SPTS

SPORTS

7

Wednesday, September 2, 2009

Sports Editor: Austin Talbert E-mail: sports@dailytexanonline.com Phone: (512) 232-2210 www.dailytexanonline.com

T HE DAILY TEXAN

NFL

Several former Longhorns gear up for start of season By Dan Hurwitz Daily Texan Staff As of Tuesday, 45 former Longhorns are on NFL rosters. Some of the players are going through another year of training camp with a starting spot guaranteed, but others will have to fight for it. But there are four NFL veterans, all of whom played together at UT, who will continue their careers as professional athletes in new cities this season. And two happen to be members of the same offensive unit. Mike Williams and Derrick Dockery reunited this season as members of the Washington Redskins. These offensive linemen protected Major Applewhite and Chris Simms at UT in the latter part of the 1990s and the early 2000s. Dockery is back in Washington

for his second stint with the Redskins after spending the past two seasons with the Buffalo Bills, the team that originally drafted Williams fourth overall in 2003. Dockery has been a starter in the NFL since day one but was released by the Bills in February. Williams has been out of the league since 2005. After struggling during his first four seasons in Buffalo, he was dubbed a bust and not resigned by the Bills. After failing to make the Jacksonville Jaguars in 2006, Williams’ weight escalated to 450 pounds, 70 pounds over the maximum playing weight required for the Redskins. While Williams attempted to lose weight for health reasons, Dockery recommended his friend and former teammate to the Red-

skins’ front office, and Williams was signed earlier this spring. Despite being away from the game for three seasons, Williams felt ready to play months ago. “It felt like I didn’t miss a day, which obviously I have missed quite a bit of days,” Williams told the Washington Post in May. While Williams and Dockery found a new home with the Redskins, the man they protected in college is on a new team as well. Simms has had a rough journey in the NFL. He has floated among several teams, and when it looked as if he was finally going to be the regular starter for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, he suffered a seasonending injury when his spleen exploded. Currently, he is the backup quarterback for the Broncos.

Simms, who is also known as “the guy who could not win the big game,” is second string behind Kyle Orton, who suffered an injury in Sunday’s preseason game and is not expected to be ready for the season opener. Now, Simms is suffering from a high ankle sprain and may not be ready for opening day either. Another former Longhorn sporting a new uniform is defensive tackle Cory Redding, who joined the Seattle Seahawks this year. Redding spent the first six seasons of his career with the Detroit Lions, and was one of the few high notes for the team. Redding, who played alongside Elaine Thompson | Associated Press Williams, Dockery and Simms at Texas, hopes to find a perfect fit at Denver Broncos quarterback Chris Simms hands off to Darius Walker against the Seattle Seahawks in an NFL preseason football game. his new home.

Experienced O-Line provides relief

SOCCER

Underclassmen rule majority of 2009 roster, take minutes on field Petrucelli sees freshmen naivete as an opportunity to pass on wisdom

Curt Youngblood | Daily Texan file photo

Senior center Chris Hall charges the Missouri defensive line last season. Hall’s positive attitude, experience and character on and off the field will benefit the Longhorns in 2009 as the offensive line looks to keep quarterback Colt McCoy untouched.

Senior offensive linemen to give Horns a major advantage in Big 12 play By Blake Hurtik Daily Texan Staff With the season opener against Louisiana-Monroe just three days away, the Longhorns have been a little more on edge during their last few practices. “It got pretty chippy,” said Texas head coach Mack Brown. And while the defensive backs developed a reputation as the team’s top trash talkers and the offensive and defensive lines had a few shoves, center Chris Hall had no part of it.

The senior, a devout Christian who regularly leads Bible studies, is the kind of guy who wears a big smile as he clears running lanes and is more likely to tell an opponent “God bless” rather than insult his mother. “It’s really just not something I think about,” Hall said with a laugh. He’s also the rock holding together one of the top offensive lines in the Big 12. Last season, much of Oklahoma’s success came from an experienced

offensive line that kept quarterback Sam Bradford’s uniform squeaky clean. Bradford has been sacked just 23 times in his career. That’s an advantage that the Longhorns plan to enjoy in 2009. Texas has four starters returning from the 2008 team — Hall, left tackle Adam Ulatoski, left guard Charlie Tanner and right tackle Kyle Hix. The co-starters at right guard, Michael Huey and David Snow, have starting experience. “I feel like everything starts with the offensive line,” said quarterback

Colt McCoy. “If they play well, then pretty much our offense is going to be clicking. Those guys are really working hard, and they really play well together.” The line’s experience and past success is a large part of why Texas coaches aren’t too concerned about which tailback is running the ball. McCoy, Vondrell McGee and Cody Johnson will have the same holes to run through. “I don’t know anything about

FOOTBALL continues on page 8

COLLEGE FOOTBALL

Top quarterback trio plays it safe, signs insurance policies By Matt Hohner Daily Texan Columnist As most freshmen learn at the beginning of school, college is all about preparing for the future and readying yourself for the real world. The top three college quarterbacks in the nation, Florida’s Tim Tebow, Oklahoma’s Sam Bradford and Texas’ Colt McCoy, are already thinking about continuing their careers. All three have taken out hefty milliondollar insurance policies in case they suffer a career-ending injury while in college. This summer, McCoy invested in an insurance policy ranging anywhere from $3 million to $5 million. Tebow took out an estimated $2 million, and it is unknown how much Bradford took out. The quarterbacks’ policies are allowed under the NCAA. The premiums on the insurance are not paid until after the players ink with an NFL team. These policies are available through the NCAA and independent agencies. Colt’s father, Brad McCoy, said it was a smart investment for the Longhorn quarterback. “The premium is astronomical,” he said. “But the payback in the

Caleb Miller | Daily Texan file photo

Quarterback Colt McCoy fakes out a Florida Atlantic player in 2008. McCoy must remain injury free in order to have a successful NFL draft. event of a catastrophe puts the monetary value there. We felt it was the prudent thing to do.” Tebow didn’t even think about insurance until Gators’ head coach Urban Meyer encouraged the idea. “How many times does a guy really take advantage of that insurance?”

Tebow said. “I have it, but that’s because [Meyer] made me get it.” Sam’s father, Kent Bradford, is an insurance specialist and declined to release any information involving his son as a client. “The odds of a kid getting a careerending injury are slim,” Kent said.

“But if it did happen, and you had the chance to insure, chances are you would feel pretty dumb. You’re insuring earnings power.” Professional athletes have taken out permanent disability insurance policies, guaranteeing themselves a paycheck in case of a career-ending injury. These collegiate quarterbacks don’t have any nagging injury to hide, nor have they lost any confidence from their fans or coaching staff. They are just attempting to secure the future. According to most NFL mock draft boards, Tebow, Bradford and McCoy are all expected to be selected in the first round, which guarantees them money and a contract. You can’t blame them. After all, they turned down entries into last year’s NFL Draft. But is it too early to be thinking about investing for the future? Maybe the trio of quarterbacks have nightmares about New England’s quarterback Tom Brady’s painful misfortune during the first week of the NFL season. But the insurance policy definitely shows that they hope to be making

FUTURE continues on page 8

By Ben Freed Daily Texan Staff Sometimes, the turnover rate in college athletics seems to be higher than that of your local McDonald’s. While this may seem especially true in football and basketball, where players often leave early for professional leagues, it is felt in other sports as well. This year, Texas soccer head coach Chris Petrucelli feels the sense of “newness” even more acutely than in years past. The Longhorns have a roster that is more than one-third freshmen, and almost two-thirds underclassmen. “Last year, we had a very veteran team,” Petrucelli said. “This year, we have a very young team. That’s just the way it is, and it means we just have to try some new things this year.” The team has been trying new things since preseason training when they packed up and went to Corpus Christi for practices. The Longhorns spent a week down by the Gulf where they trained and hosted a youth soccer camp. “The main goal of the trip was bonding,” Petrucelli said. “We wanted the girls to get to know each other a little bit.” Having a young team has also given Petrucelli a chance to do something that he doesn’t get to do every year — teach. “Normally, we just give them the opportunity to play during practice,” he said. “Now, there’s much more teaching, much more activity.” This has been especially evident in the coach’s work with the new starting defenders. Only one of the starting four on the back line had experience playing for the Longhorns before the season started. Needless to say, they are still getting used to working and moving with each other. Petrucelli has also been looking for new and innovative ways to help the group play together. “We’ve even gone as far as tying them up together with bungee cords so that they move together,” he said. “We’re just trying to keep them organized, connected and together. It’s a day-by-day process.” The process will continue this weekend when the squad heads west to play two games in California. The coaches are looking forward to using this trip as further team bonding and as a test against top competition on the road.

Peyton McGee | Daily Texan file photo

Freshman Leah Fortune runs down a TCU forward in Texas’ first game of the season. Fortune is one of eight freshmen on the team.

8 SPTS

8

SPORTS

Wednesday, September 2, 2009

NBA

Rubio backs out of NBA chance

By Jon Krawcyznyski The Associated Press MINNEAPOLIS — After saying all summer long that his preference was to play in the NBA, Ricky Rubio apparently got a case of cold feet at the last minute. Less than 48 hours after the Timberwolves, Rubio’s agents and the Spanish team DKV Joventut agreed in principle to a deal to bring the 18-year-old point guard to Minnesota, Rubio changed his mind. He told Timberwolves president David Kahn on Monday night that he wanted to stay in Spain for the next two years to better prepare for life in the NBA — a blow to a team that was hoping to have the popular passer on the court this fall. “Of course there’s disappointment, but I don’t think that disappointment should overshadow the big picture, which is, he’s still so young,� Kahn said Tuesday during a call from Spain, where he spent the weekend negotiating the deal. “It appears now we will have a two-year wait. But if you frame it as he’ll be 20 years old and he’ll have two more years to develop, I can think of a lot worse things to happen to us as a franchise.� The Timberwolves drafted Rubio fifth overall in June, even though he was still under contract with DKV Joventut in a deal that included an $8.1 million buyout clause. Kahn made three trips to Spain over the summer to try and help Rubio’s representatives negotiate that number down, a process that was hindered by NBA guidelines capping the amount that Minnesota could contribute to $500,000. Kahn said Rubio’s agent, Dan Fegan, delivered a package of endorsement deals and sponsorships that helped make the NBA deal attractive enough for Rubio and Joventut to enter into an agreement Saturday night. When Rubio backed out of the deal, DKV Joventut reluctantly agreed to trade him to rival Regal FC Barcelona, which will pay $5.3 million to buy out his contract. The

FOOTBALL: Hall,

Ulatoski, deemed the leaders of unit From page 7

Manu Fernandez | Associated Press

FC Barcelona’s basketball new signee, Ricky Rubio from Dkv Joventud, juggles with the ball during his official presentation in Barcelona, Spain, on Monday.

‘‘

The Minnesota Timberwolves continue to be my first option, and I wish to play with them in the near future.�

— Ricky Rubio, point guard

buyout, Kahn said, is the largest in European basketball history. In a statement, Joventut noted the “big effort� made to reach a deal. “In front of this situation, and in contradiction with what he has been saying to us and to Timberwolves’ representatives from time to time, the player has announced the decision that he wants to be transferred to FC Barcelona,� the team said. The deal with FC Barcelona requires Rubio to stay in Spain through the 2010-11 season, at which time the buyout price tag will plummet about $1.4 mil-

lion. That’s a much more manageable number for Rubio to afford, but he said he was more concerned about being ready for the NBA. “The reason leading me to take this next step is to have a period of preparation to better take the challenge of the NBA in better conditions as a player,� Rubio said in a statement. “The Minnesota Timberwolves continue to be my first option and I wish to play with them in the near future.� So what changed between Saturday and Monday? Kahn said Rubio and his fam-

GO HORNS!

ily were under pressure from his Spanish national team teammates, members of the Spanish media and other people in their hometown to stay in Spain. “It’s just been a tough summer,� Kahn said. “From an 18-year-old’s perspective and his family’s perspective, it was very nerve-racking.� The decision saves Rubio money in the short term, but could cause long-term consequences, both on and off the court. The Timberwolves will hold Rubio’s NBA rights as long as he is playing professionally. They also have rookie point guard Jonny Flynn, who was drafted No. 6 overall right behind Rubio, to take over while Rubio is in Spain. Flynn impressed at the Las Vegas summer league, and Kahn said he will likely be named the starter going into training camp. “I explained to (Rubio) that I can’t predict the future,� Kahn said. “I did specifically mention that Jonny would be two years ahead of him. He understood that.�

running backs, but I sure do like it when they break out in the clear and run for a bunch,� Hall said. “As an offensive lineman, we always want to run the ball.� Hall and Ulatoski have established themselves as the leaders of the line. Ulatoski has appeared on many preseason AllAmerica lists, while Hall provides chemistry and the invaluable ability to play any position along the line. “Chris Hall has been the best player [on the line],� Brown said. “He’s been the most consistent player up front, and he’s a guy that comes ready to play every day.� Brown pointed to last season’s game at Central Florida where Hall played 90-plus snaps in the sweltering conditions as a testament to the center’s work ethic. “In that muggy heat, with the constant no-huddle and I was playing tackle that game, it was definitely pretty intense,� Hall said. Brown hopes the Longhorns’ young backups can follow his lead. He wanted to see more out

of true freshman Mason Walters and redshirt freshmen Mark Buchanan and Luke Poehlmann during preseason workouts. Still, the Longhorns are more than happy with their starters — so much so that comparisons to the 2005 squad, which featured three future NFL players, have been thrown around. “Just like the 2005 offensive line — we had a lot of guys coming back that year, so obviously there’s a natural comparison,� said offensive coordinator Greg Davis. “I think it’d be a little unfair to compare this group in the opening ball game to what that group was 14 games into the season. Hopefully, because of the number of snaps they’ve had together, by the end of the year, they’ll be working as well as that group was.� Hall and his line mates are up to the challenge. “Of course, all of the great teams in the past are always there in your mind,� he said. “We want to have success to the standard that all the other teams here have had.�

FUTURE: Insurance policy

a smart move for players From page 7 huge contributions to an NFL team soon. However, what if they don’t make it to the NFL? Chris Weinke and Jason White, who are past Heisman winners, had very successful college careers, but tanked in the professional ranks. If they had invested in million-dollar insurance

policies before leaving college, maybe they would not have suffered the consequences. The insurance policy is a calculated financial risk that these players are willing to take and may pan out to be a new trend among high-profile college athletes. Too bad there isn’t a plan for football coaches.

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STATE&LOCAL

Wednesday, September 2, 2009

Family violence laws make strangling a felony New Workers Institute informs employees of penalties, budget issues By Molly Triece Daily Texan Staff Changes in family violence laws that take effect today increase the penalty for strangling or suffocating one’s partner. The Texas Council on Family Violence held its 12th annual New Workers Institute on Tuesday at the Crowne Plaza Hotel to educate employees about new methods for working with victims of domestic violence and recent changes in family violence laws pertaining to strangulation. “[Strangulation] is a particularly savage crime,� said Austin area lawyer Jackie Pontello. “You have to mean to be doing bodily harm.� Texas is ranked second in the nation for the number of calls made to the National Domestic Violence Hotline. Pontello said she hopes the changes to state law will help reduce this statistic. “This absolutely provides more necessary avenues for prosecution in these cases,� said Gloria Terday, month day, 2008

UNS AD IRNE FOR ONL

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ry, president of the family violence council. “It’s unthinkable that in cases of strangulation, prior to this law change, you could have walked away with a misdemeanor.�

‘‘

[Strangulation] is a particularly savage crime.� — Jackie Pontello Lawyer

The law increases the penalty for first-time offenders from a misdemeanor to a third-degree felony punishable by two to 10 years in prison. Any following convictions would be met with sentences between two to 20 years in prison and a second-degree felony charge. “We make sure that now that the laws are in place, communities can put them to use,� Terry said. “It’s certainly a priority for us.� Terry and other members of the

council organized Tuesday’s institute and said the program evolved to teach information useful to new workers and veterans of the field. “The state of the economy is escalating the need for services,� Terry said. While victim services are more in-demand — with 74 percent of Texans affected either personally or through a family member or friend by some form of domestic violence — the providers are suffering from less funding, Terry said. The institute featured speakers who addressed its lack of funding as well as the link between substance abuse and domestic violence. Hattie Heiner, membership coordinator for the family violence council, said she never saw herself working with the subject of domestic violence, but organizing the institute and membership for the council has become a profession she enjoys. “Working at a shelter for five years you see many different 1 things,� Heiner said. “You see so Rachel Colson | Daily Texan Staff many people getting help and you realize how many people out Hattie Heiner, membership services coordinator of the Texas Council on Family Violence, discusses laws there need more help.� against domestic abuse Tuesday afternoon at the Crowne Plaza Hotel. LASSIFIEDS

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3000 GUADALUPE APT 211 Safe neighborhood close to UT Campus & law school. On 30th St and 3000 Guadalupe,1BR/1BA, new carpet, kitchen appliances, W/D on site. $695/month, Water Paid. Email: austinapartment211@gmail.com or call 210-614-0123

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RECYCLE

Very spacious one bedroom apartments located at 302 W. 38th St. Available for IMMEDIATE move-ins or for a September move-in. Only $695 a month, and rent covers most bills!!! CABLE IS FREE!!! On the UT shuttle, laundry facilities on site, POOL and WOOD FLOORS!!! Available to show any time between 9-5, M-F. Please visit our website at www.wsgaustin.com or give us a call at 512499-8013

APARTMENT CLOSE TO CAMPUS Giant basement apartment with working fireplace. 13’6� X 30’3 1/3� not including hallway, fireplace, bathroom, closet. Apartment is in the basement of a house on 38th Street near Red River. Can be completely separate from house: separate entrance and large tiled bathroom. Completely refurbished. Right next to Red River campus bus stop and the Hancock Center (HEB). Easily fit 2 or more renters. Comes with microwave, minifridge and hotplate. Available for immediate move in. Please email with subject line “Interested Renter� if seriously interested to discuss details. Zullah1@ hotmail.com

QUIET 2/1 GARAGE APARTMENT West Lake area. AC/fans, all new/appliances, W/D, tiled/floors, RoadRunner, parking/trees/deck/quiet. Ideal for a graduate student or professional. No-pets, smoking or guns. $950 all-bills-paid, flexible lease available. Call 512-736-8801.

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Born in Savonburg, Kansas to the late James and Stella Welch, Margaret was raised primarily in Texas. She attended the University of Texas, earning her bachelors degree in 1944. In 1948 she moved to New Jersey. She lived in Summit, Convent Station and Madison, before settling in Chatham in 1975. Margaret taught elementary school for the Madison public school system for nearly 30 years, spending most of her career teaching 1st grade at the Central Avenue School. She earned her Masters degree in education from Kean College in 1979. She was an active member of the NJEA, The Thursday Morning Club and the AAUW for many years. She enjoyed reading and gardening, but above all, her passion was teaching. Surviving are her children Susan Naylor, Charles Cranmer and his wife Sabine and Thomas Cranmer and his wife Miwa; her grandchildren Robert, Catherine and Elizabeth Naylor, Lucy, Thomas, June and James Cranmer; her sister-in-law Frances Welch and her niece Geraldine Stackhouse.

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of Chatham, passed away peacefully on August 11th at Mercy Fitzgerald Hospital, Darby, Pa. Memorial visitation will be held on Sunday, September 13th from 1pm to 3pm followed by a Service at 3 pm. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations in her memory be made to the AAUW Madison Branch Mature Women’s Grant, P. O. Box 935, Madison, NJ 07940-0935. For further information or to send a message of condolence, please go to www.bradleyfuneralhomes.com.

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810 Office-Clerical

FULL TIME 4 MONTH office project available mid Sept. through mid Jan. Email resume and availability to miket@ studentstaff.com

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Wednesday, September 2, 2009

11 ENT

11

LIFE&ARTS

Wednesday, September 2, 2009

Honesty about lifestyle RAMADAN: Guests gather to feast, scary, but worthwhile dispel stereotypes of their faith

By Mary Lingwall Editor’s Note: Since last January, “Hump Day” has sparked dialogue and lots of opinionated comments about sexual education by openly addressing topics from birth control to sex toys. By talking about sexual curiosities, we hope the social taboos that often come attached to them can be lessened. So, as a new semester begins, we’re jumping right back in where “Hump Day” left off. Bring on the comments, outrage and, most importantly, questions. We’re ready. Dear Mary, My husband and I are polyamorous and have a “limited open marriage,” as in, both of us together are dating and intimately involved with another couple. We both thoroughly enjoy this lifestyle choice ... [But] we feel we must keep it hidden from our friends and family. I want to be open and honest about something that brings both of us so much joy, and I can’t understand why anyone would see something so happy as bad, dirty or immoral. My question to you is — should we play it safe and continue to hide our true personalities from people to make things easier for us and keep others comfortable? Hopefully, you will be able to give your best and most honest advice to my husband and me. Cheers, Polyamorous in Hiding

a long conversation. Give your friends time, but if a friend simply won’t accept this part of you or can’t accept that you would make this choice, I suggest that you move forward with your life sans that friend. When it comes to family, I am a little more hesitant to make suggestions. Every person’s family is different and, depending on where your family stands on the scale of social thought, there are different ways you should deal with the situation. But, overall, I think you should make sure to ask yourself what would be gained by disclosure. If this is something that you think is important and you have decided you want support from your family, then go to them. But if you think that this is just experimentation, or that you don’t particularly need your family’s support and you just want to tell someone about your new life, maybe think about it a little longer to see if anything is actually gained by the disclosure. I think you are on the right track by being thoughtful, but I don’t think you should ever hesitate to step on a few toes on the path to being true to yourself. People may get upset, but that is their choice and problem — not yours. Illustration by Carolynn Calabrese | Daily Texan Staff

HUMP DAY

is still very wary of open-minded investigation of non-monogamous relationships. And your apprehension at telling friends and family about your lifestyle is understandable. First of all, I think you do understand why many people see polyamorous relationships as “dirty or immoral.” Think for a second about where you are. In America, ideals about sexuality are still firmly based in a hetero-normative, pro-monogamy tradition. Not to say that being straight and monogamous are not positive attributes, but when a culture is dominated by any single tradition, fringe traditions are often deemed scary, wrong, immoral, dirty, etc. As for disclosure, I think this is a delicate question only you and your partners can ultimately decide. I would suggest full disclosure to friends. I know it may seem scary, especially because you will most likely be met with confusion and ridicule. Often, people assume that polyamorous relationships are based solely on sexual promiscuity and aren’t aware that, unlike the swinger culture, polyamorous relationships are in fact relationships. So, if disclosure is the direction you are looking toward, then you need to be prepared for

Dear Polyamorous in Hiding, The culture in which we live

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From page 12

customs to me as I eagerly watch the sun melt over the horizon, my stomach begging the clock on the wall to tick a little faster. “It’s a Turkish tradition to try to have guests as often as possible,” Demir says. “Some can be Muslim families, but most are our American friends that don’t know anything about that, but they are learning.” Yildirim explains the tradition stems from the teachings of Abraham. “He had a tent and his tent had four doors looking north, east, south and west, so he was open to everyone,” Yildirim says. “Inviting people to share is like a prayer.” Demir says the dinner, which covered the table quite nicely as night overtook day, is traditionally called the “Table of Abraham.” We take our seats along with Demir and Yildirim’s wives and Demir’s parents. Bowls of lentil soup set at each seat create a border for a cornucopia of lentil, eggplant, tomato, tuna, rice, corn and spinach dishes. Demir fills a series of glasses with water, and I can feel the fast reaching its breaking point. Everyone seated, Demir says a few words, assuring us beforehand that the pre-dinner prayer will be short. I raise my glass to my lips and, as beautiful, clear water fills my mouth, my fast finally breaks. Over one of the best dinners I’ve had, a feast comparable to Thanksgiving minus the turkey, Yildirim and Demir discuss the stark differences between the stereotypes and the realities of their culture. “Most people know about other countries from movies or the news, but those are the extreme cases,” Yildirim says. “It’s like science fiction,” Demir adds. They are both members of the Institute of Interfaith Dialog, an organization that aims to explore the similarities between the various religions of the world.

Edmarc Hedrick | Daily Texan Staff

Veysel Demir and Yetkin Yildirim perform Maghrib, the fourth of the five daily salats or prayers in Islam, after their evening meal. “If you want to understand Islam, you have to look at the source,” Yildirim says, passionate and focused. “Looking at the Quran, it’s so clear there’s no way to allow terrorism in Islam. A Muslim cannot be a terrorist, and a terrorist cannot be a Muslim.” There is a warmth to the room as the two friends expel myths. Every face at the table bears a smile. “There are so many similarities, especially between Islam, Christianity and Judaism,” Yildirim says. “They all focus on the Ten Com-

mandments — those are the main pillars of religion. What is wrong for Jews is wrong for Muslims.” Demir agrees; then, glancing over the feast before us, cuts Yildirim off. “Ok, for five minutes, nobody talks — just eat,” he says. After a long day of doing just the opposite, Demir’s suggestion is golden. With a cleared plate and a full stomach, I finally taste the satisfaction Demir, Yildirim and their families feel each of the 30 nights of Ramadan.

12 LIFE

12

Wednesday, September 2, 2009

LIFE&ARTS

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

T HE DAILY TEXAN

Month of fasting unites family Museum project

promotes Latino artists through silkscreen prints

Edmarc Hedrick | Daily Texan Staff

Rifat and Firaz Demir, both of whom flew in from Turkey last month to spend this time with their family, converse with visiting friend Gulsah Yildirim during the 10th Iftar meal of Ramadan. By Ben Wermund Daily Texan Staff Natural sunlight gives way to a fluorescent glow as a pink north Austin apartment turns golden, the sun setting out the window. Water fills a glass pitcher as ice melts and perspiration slips down the sides and settles on a wooden table amid a feast of lentils. Hunger wracks my insides as I glance down at the “Table of Abraham.� It is Ramadan and I’m trying my best to take part, avoiding

all food, water and indulgences of any kind from sunup until sundown. The last bite of food I had was at 6 a.m. It’s not like I haven’t gone the majority of a day without eating before, but knowing I don’t have the option really brings it home. By 1 p.m., as my classes were completed for the day, I was met a stream of smiling faces, $5 footlongs in hand, flowing from the Subway that I passed on the way to my apartment. By 3 p.m., even the little plastic ice cream coneshaped baker’s timer in my kitch-

en looked appetizing. Gum is not an option; water — dear water — isn’t either. I am only fasting for one day. Muslims do this everyday for an entire month. “We get used to it,� Veysel Demir says. “Think about it as an early breakfast and a little late dinner.� Demir has invited me to join his family for their 10th Ramadan dinner of the year. Canan, his wife, dices an avocado in the kitchen while his father, Rifat, entertains Demir’s smiling eightmonth-old son. The baby bubbles

with laughter and emits shrieks of joy as the clock on the wall ticks slowly toward sundown. “He likes Ramadan ONLINE: too because he likes the Video provides company,� a closer look at Demir says, Ramadan picking up @dailytexanonline.com his son with pride. Demir and his friend Yetkin Yildirim, another guest, casually explain their

RAMADAN continues on page 11

By Amber Genuske Daily Texan Staff The old, squeaky wood floors and the stark white walls of the Mexic-Arte Museum act as the perfect counterpart to the striking Serie Print Project XVI exhibit that opened Aug. 14 at the downtown museum. The serigraph prints, better known as silkscreen, line the walls with layers of Latin influence. Museum founder Sam Coronado established the Serie Project in 1993 to help promote the works of Latino artists. The non-profit organization works with established and emerging artists, free of charge, at the silkscreen-dedicated Coronado Studio. The resulting prints are then featured in galleries and sold to provide affordable, original and signed art to the public while promoting the importance of Latino art. The process of serigraphy is incredibly time-consuming and detail-oriented, made obvious by the prints featured in the exhibit. Each piece is constructed from multiple layers of ink images individually transferred onto paper using woven mesh, stencils and a squeegee. The meticulous, hands-on approach produces impeccable pieces. Upon entering the exhibit, visitors see Daniel Martin Diaz’s print “Sacratus.� The dark print is an homage to Diaz’s Catholic upbringing, featuring a large, red heart adorned with a crown of thorns, a cross and the Lat-

in title translating to “holy.â€? The piece plays with the idea of life and death, evident by the direct Latin translation, “mors vita,â€? inscribed on the print above a laughing skull. Robie Espinoza’s “La Novia,â€? or “The Girlfriend,â€? is a beautiful, heavily pigmented piece that used an etched technique of screen-printing. A chicken nesting in the tangles of the stunning yet dismal woman’s hair portrays the patriarchal hierarchy of Latino families. The print is primarily monochromatic, but is highlighted with pops of color in two hot air balloons and a butterfly dangling a hook in front of a fish that seem to float in negative background space. The exhibit is not without its unimaginative works. Sergio Hernandez’s “Guerra No, Vida Si,â€? literally translates to “No War, Yes Lifeâ€? in both language and imagery. While skeletons are a common subject in Latino art, this piece goes past the caricatures of DĂ­a de los Muertos and borders on a juvenile cartoon. The eye sockets of a fatigue-clad skeleton are glowing as he looms over a pile of skulls while engulfed in flames, and the result is simply trite. The Serie Print Project XVI showcase is an opportunity to experience the hybrid of Latino and screen printing art that the organization aims to promote. It runs through Sept. 27 at the Mexic-Arte Museum located on 419 Congress Ave.

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