1A 1
THE DAILY TEXAN SPORTS PAGE 7
LIFE&ARTS PAGE 12
Be very, very quiet. I’m hunting for ghosts.
Who’s making that racket? Friday, October 23, 2009
Serving the University of Texas at Austin community since 1900
Ruling frees wrongfully imprisoned By Hudson Lockett Daily Texan Staff Two men incarcerated for the last 12 years for a Dallas murder will walk free today thanks to the work of UT-Austin and UTArlington students. The 10:30 a.m. hearing today in district court in Dallas will exonerate Claude Alvin Simmons Jr. and Christopher Shun Scott, sentenced to life in prison for the 1997 murder of Alfonso Aguilar. Two other men have been taken into custody for the case, one of whom gave a detailed confession — first to UT students, and later to Dallas police during a polygraph test in August. The exonerations are the first made in a Dallas capital murder case not based on DNA evidence and the first achieved by the UT Austin Actual Innocence Clinic, started in 2003, and the UT Arlington Innocence Network, started in 2005. The release of the two men this afternoon follows a string of 20 exonerations in Dallas based on DNA evidence. The student groups began working on the case three and a half years ago, and their efforts came to a head in the last two months with the confession of Alonzo Hardy, a suspect in the original trial. Hardy’s confession also implicated Don Michael Anderson, who was arrested Tuesday night in Houston. Hardy has been incarcerated in state prison in Lovelady, Texas
for an unrelated aggravated robbery conviction since 1999. Dallas County District Attorney Craig Watkins said the student investigation was vital to the exonerations. “We wouldn’t have known about the case but for UTA,” Watkins said. Collaboration between the two separate UT projects began in June when they met with the district attorney’s office and began assisting them in their own investigative work. Dana Scott, a law school alumna who worked on the case last fall, said the main focus of the investigation was an interview with Hardy. Scott said she didn’t expect Hardy to come clean so quickly when she and other students spoke to him in prison last August. “When you go to interview someone, you never expect that they’re going to completely confess to it and completely exonerate two other men,” Scott said. Attorney John Stickels, director of the undergraduate innocence program at UT Arlington, said the collaboration between the students, Dallas police and the Dallas County district attorney was vital to the success of the project. “This case right here is a perfect example of what can happen when you have a bunch of people who get together and just try to do the right thing,” Stickels said.
FREEDOM continues on page 2
“Press serves as a reminder of the constitutional protections and responsibilities of journalism in our democratic republic,” Rather said. “It was not for nothing that this nation’s founding fathers placed freedom of the press right alongside freedom of speech and freedom of religion in the very First Amendment of the Constitution up at the top of the Bill of Rights.” Rather identified the main issues of the industry as media conglomeration, changing technologies that affect how news is presented and Americans’ perception of journalism. He also said that with the growth of the Internet, the industry faces technological changes in the presentation of news. It will likely become a greater source of news than it is now and may even become the dominant source, he said. “Is there really any reason we should care if newspapers survive, either in hard copy form,
Low
High
56
76
www.dailytexanonline.com
Students fast to end hunger
Sara Young | Daily Texan Staff
Annum Jaffer, Suroor Sheraze, Sharief Moghazy, Ayesha Dadabhoy and Sami Suttan visit after the Fast-A-Thon Thursday evening. The fast, sponsored by the Muslim Student Association, received roughly 1,140 pledges to raise awareness about worldwide By Jordan Haeger Daily Texan Staff The San Jacinto multi-purpose room was filled with people of all faiths Thursday night. And until sunset, people of all faiths were filled with nothing. About 200 of the 1,100 members of the UT community who pledged to go hungry for a day during the eighth annual Fast-A-Thon met to break the fast with a traditional meal of dates, hummus, rice and water. Sponsored by the Muslim Students Association, the Fast-A-Thon raised hunger awareness within the Austin community. For every person who pledged to fast, a dol-
lar was donated to the Capital Area Food Bank of Texas. The Fast-A-Thon is a good way to reach out to the community and educate them on the Muslim culture, finance senior Moiz Ahmad said. “People don’t understand the transformation,” Ahmad said. “You have to build self-will to do this for 30 days.” Ahmad, who began fasting at age seven instead of waiting for puberty as recommended, encouraged his roommates to join him in fasting this year. Muslims follow the Lunar calendar, said event director Lauren Jacobsen, so Ramadan occurs earlier each year.
Rather points to faltering industry By Viviana Aldous Daily Texan Staff Former CBS news anchor Dan Rather urged American news consumers Thursday to take action to address the declining state of the journalism industry. More than 750 Austinites, including students, professors and journalists, attended the fifth annual Mary Alice Davis Distinguished Lecture in the Union Ballroom to hear Rather reflect on his more than 60 years as a journalist, including 24 years with CBS Evening News as an anchor and managing editor. “When we speak of the future of journalism, let us fully understand that quality journalism of integrity is currently in decline and in peril,” Rather said. He cited corporatization, politicization and trivialization of the news as the major reasons for the decline. Rather referred to the press as “the red beating heart of freedom and democracy.”
TOMORROW’S WEATHER
Jordy Wagoner | Daily Texan Staff
World-renowned journalist and longtime CBS News correspondent Dan Rather gave a lecture on the future of news and the “American Journalism Crisis” at the Union on Thursday afternoon. online form or both?” Rather asked. “The little discussed truth is that newspapers form the very foundation of the news pyramid. And newspapers continue to drive the news agenda in all media.”
“If [a story] doesn’t appear in a newspaper, the odds of it ever finding its way to a [broadcast] program are fairly long. Without newspapers to provide the
JOURNALISM continues on page 2
The Fast-A-Thon usually coincides with Ramadan. This year, Ramadan began in the middle of August. When the days are longer, fasting is harder, Ahmad said. “It’s tough physically, but it’s fulfilling,” said undeclared freshman Ailia Ahmed. “Especially if you believe in it, it makes you feel stronger.” Sheikh Islam Mossad spoke on the purpose of fasting at the event. “Unlike any other creature, a human being can deliberately withhold what they want from themselves,” Mossad said. “Fasting lets you know what it is to be a human being.”
FAST continues on page 9
More than 1,000 arrests made in huge drug bust By Bobby Longoria Daily Texan Staff The largest drug enforcement take-down in U.S. history occurred Wednesday with the collaborative effort of law enforcement agencies nationwide, striking at the heart and severing several arms of the Mexico-based La Familia drug cartel. La Familia is the newest and most violent of the five major Mexican drug cartels, said Attorney General of the United States Eric Holder at a Washington, D.C. press conference Thursday. Based in the Mexican state of Michoacán, their reach extends into the U.S. with major operations in Florida, North Carolina and Maryland. A 44-month investigation of the cartel led to the take-down that coordinated 3,000 law enforcement officials across 19 states and 35 cities, 16 of which
were in Texas. The national round-up arrested 1,186 individuals and seized 1,999 kilograms of cocaine, 2,710 pounds of methamphetamine, 29 pounds of heroin, 16,390 pounds of marijuana and $32,795,000 in cash. The Texas operations resulted in the arrest of 81 individuals and seizure of 220 pounds of methamphetamine, 23.1 pounds of cocaine and $960,000 in cash, along with numerous weapons and vehicles. The Drug Enforcement Agency’s Austin Task Force, in conjunction with the Austin Police Department and several other Central Texas agencies, searched 13 locations simultaneously Wednesday morning, resulting in the seizure of 30 kilograms of cocaine and approximately $350,000.
DRUG continues on page 2
City Council bans APD officers from drawing blood
Jordy Wagoner | Daily Texan Staff
Chuck Young speaks at a press conference outside of City Hall on Thursday as Heather Fazio, Katie Brewer and John Bush, all members of Texans for Accountable Government, stand with him.
By Bobby Longoria Daily Texan Staff To ensure professional and sanitary conditions for drawing blood, the Austin City Council voted unanimously for a resolution Thursday to prohibit Austin Police Department officers from performing blood draws. T h e re s o l u t i o n s a y s t h e healthy and accurate collection of blood specimens requires specialized health training and ongoing yearly medical evaluations. Approved blood draw technicians must have experience drawing blood on a daily basis in controlled public health
settings with emergency health services nearby. In July 2008, APD Chief Art Acevedo expressed interest in training police officers to draw blood from suspected drunk drivers if they refused to take a Breathalyzer test. He claimed it would save taxpayers because the officer would be present during court proceedings to give testimony on both the stop and the blood draw itself. In March, Acevedo called for 50 officers to take a 40-hour blood drawing course. “Blood draws, basically, are for the police department to follow the law to obtain physical evidence so
they can adjudicate a case in court,” said APD Chief of Staff David Carter. “The concern was in the Austin Police Department training officers to actually draw blood. There are no plans to do that, and we are not doing that at this time, not at all.” Carter said the issue began when the Travis County Jail was no longer able to accommodate blood draws requested by APD because of a shortage of resources. Assistant Chief Al Eells said hospitals such as Brackenridge were also problematic locations for blood draws because busy hospitals might not be able to draw samples in a timely manner. Eells said
the collection of blood samples for the prosecution of a DWI case is dependent on the time it takes to retrieve the sample, due to the metabolization rate of alcohol. “The main thing we want to accomplish is to be able to conduct business certainly in a legal way and the most efficient way and have a process in place to do that,” Eells said. “Whether we are using trained professionals that are within the jail, which may be an option again, we are just going to look for the best way to accomplish the job and get it done.”
BLOOD continues on page 2
2
2
NEWS
JOURNALISM: Lecture series addresses changing field From page 1 original reporting, what do you link to?� The lecture series is named in honor of former Austin American-Statesman editorial writer Mary Alice Davis, who died of ovarian cancer in 2004. “Journalism continues to weather its profound changes as it transits into its digital future,� said Tracy Dahlby, director of the School of Journalism. “Rather has spent six decades getting the job done, telling people things they need to know about their world they otherwise wouldn’t. He’s done it with courage, style, wit and occasionally the controversy that [often] comes [with being a] journalist.�
Rather has covered the Civil Rights movement, the assassination of President John F. Kennedy and wars in Vietnam, Afghanistan and Iraq. He retired in 2005 after controversy erupted around a report questioning President George W. Bush’s service in the National Guard. The authenticity of the documents Rather based his report on was later debated. Clinical journalism professor Wanda Cash encouraged her students to attend the lecture because Rather provides excellent context for what journalists do, she said. “He wanted to be true so deeply that he may have forgotten the most important part
of the journalistic creed: verification,� Cash said about the documents. Rather was also criticized during his career for expressing liberal bias when reporting. Austinite Kenneth Hiller, who graduated from UT in 1980 with a bachelor’s in journalism, said Rather is the world’s best journalist, despite accusations of liberal bias. “Anyone in the media who doesn’t go along with the governmental line automatically gets called a liberal, especially if a Republican president is in office,� Hiller said. “With Rather, that started with Nixon and Watergate. He was just being a good journalist.�
BLOOD: Prevention value of draws called into question From page 1 Eells said that during interlocal agreement discussions with the Travis County Jail, APD proposed using trained technicians to draw blood. Travis County would provide the sanitary spaces for the draw. He said blood draws are not new to investigative proceedings and that APD would continue to obtain subpoenas and search warrants approved by magistrates. During the council meeting, ad-
vocacy groups appeared in support of the resolution and proposed preventive measures to drunk driving. “There is a lot of debate going on about the efficacy of [blood draw programs],� said John Bush, Texans for Accountable Government director. “We are not seeing a significant decrease in harm reduction and I define harm reduction as a net decrease in fatalities or accidents or injuries that occur
as a result of drunk driving.� Bush said he supports the city manager researching and preparing blood specimen collection alternatives and alternative preventive measures such as the square patrol program that provides designated drivers for Austin residents. “I absolutely believe there are practical solutions to this $85 million-a-year problem,� said Shawn Fernando, director of Square Patrol, a local startup that offers rides home to drunk Austinites. “I believe that with ingenuity and a commonality of purpose we can benefit this city and more importantly we can save lives.�
Friday, October 23, 2009
DRUGS: Cooperation key to nationwide bust From page 1 “There certainly were a large number of people who were arrested,� said Tela Mange, Texas Department of Public Safety spokeswoman. “[The takedown] is just a great indicator of what law enforcement agencies can do when local state and federal agencies work together.� Austin officials arrested four individuals from a Texas-based drug operation led by Jose Israel Maldonado, a fugitive in Mexico whose operation is linked to the Mexican La Familia cartel. “We really don’t know how far things would have branched had we kept going,� said APD Cmdr. Sean Mannix. “Once [the Drug Enforcement Administration] had made the determination that they identified significant players in the cartel, it was time to interrupt the operation
From page 1 Dallas County public defender Michelle Moore said a Dallas Police Department polygraph test of Hardy two months ago convinced them the wrong men were behind bars. The Dallas police then began retracing the steps of the students’ investigation with cooperation from the dis-
! !
% % # ## # % # &
$ % # ## & &
##"* . '&! , ,* &'"* ') ,&)( )('0 ,%*)-$%
" ! " $ # !
THE DAILY TEXAN
This newspaper was written, edited and designed with pride by The Daily Texan and Texas Student Media.
From Out That Shadow: The Life and Legacy of Edgar Allan Poe
( " $ %" +% " $ # " # & ( $ %$ $ " $ " $ " $ & $ " $ $ $ & #$ ")
Other Worlds: Rare Astronomical Works # & " * $ " ' " #, $ $ # $ # " #)#$ $ $ $# & " $ $%" # # ( $ # ' # # "$ $ #$" # & " # $ #$ ) "#
" # Self-portrait with Thorn Necklace and Hummingbird # $ " " $ # $ $# #$ %# " !% $ ) "" ' "$' " # ' %# ' $$ " $ $$ 5..$' $$ " ." # $ " $ ''' ." # $ "
0/#$ 6% % 7$" $# & "# $) ( # %# " ## ''' " %$ ( # % /0-12/-3411
Volume 110, Number 98 25 cents
CONTACT US
trict attorney’s office. “That’s the point when this became an active murder investigation,� Moore said. UT law school staff attorney and clinical instructor Tiffany Dowling oversaw the UTAustin students’ work on the project. Five to six UT Law students had worked on Simmons’s and Scott’s case since the beginning She said she, like others involved in the exoneration effort, will be glad to see the two men reunited with their families after a 12-year separation. “Times like these are what this program is set up to do,� Dowling said. “I would anticipate that once our name is associated with an exoneration, there will be more requests for assistance."
Main Telephone: (512) 471-4591 Managing Editor: Stephen Keller (512) 232-2217 managingeditor@ dailytexanonline.com Retail Advertising: (512) 471-1865 joanw@mail.utexas.edu Classified Advertising: (512) 471-5244 classifieds@dailytexanonline.com
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
TSM BOARD MEETING
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.
Friday October 23rd, 2009 2:00 P.M.
The University of Texas at Austin Texas Union Quadrangle Room #3.304 Austin, Texas
TODAY’S WEATHER
We encourage any community member who has any kind of temporary or permanent disability to contact Texas Student Media beforehand so that appropriate accommodations can be made. Anyone is welcome to attend.
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, Blair Watler Senior Reporters . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Viviana Aldous, Bobby Longoria, Rachel Platis, Lena Price Enterprise Editor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Andrew Kreighbaum Enterprise Reporters . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Hudson Lockett Copy Desk Chief . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Robert Green Associate Copy Desk Chiefs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Cristina Herrera, Nausheen Jivani, Matt Jones Design Editor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Thu Vo Assistant Design Editor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Shatha Hussein Senior Designers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Taylor Fausak, Lynda Gonzales, Olivia Hinton Photo Editor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . May-Ying Lam Associate Photo Editors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Bryant Haertlein, Peter Franklin, Caleb Miller Senior Photographers . . . .Karina Jacques, Mary Kang,Tamir Kalifa, Peyton McGee, Sara Young Life&Arts Editor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Leigh Patterson Associate Life&Arts Editors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Brad Barry, Francisco Marin Jr. Senior Features Writers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Audrey Gale Campbell, Lisa HoLung, Ben Wermund Senior Entertainment Writers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Robert Doty, Mary Lingwall, Robert Rich Senior DT Weekend Writer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Amber Genuske Sports Editor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Austin Talbert Senior Sports Writers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Will Anderson, Wes DeVoe, Blake Hurtik . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Dan Hurwitz, Laken Litman, Michael Sherfield, Chris Tavarez Comics Editor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Carolyn Calabrese Web Editor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 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
Goodbye Walter Webb Hall. :(
CHEAP STUDENT S TUDENT PARKING 2 blocks from UT Bus Stop
474-5300
Issue Staff
Advertising
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.
The Daily Texan Mail Subscription Rates One Semester (Fall or Spring) $60.00 Two Semesters (Fall and Spring) 120.00 Summer Session 40.00 One Year (Fall, Spring and Summer) 150.00 To charge by VISA or MasterCard, call 471-5083. Send orders and address changes to Texas Student Media, P.O. Box D, Austin, TX 78713-8904, or to TSM Building C3.200, or call 471-5083. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to The Daily Texan, P.O. Box D, Austin, TX 78713.
10/23/09
Texan Ad Deadlines
Monday .............Wednesday, 12 p.m. Thursday.................Monday, 12 p.m. Tuesday.................Thursday, 12 p.m. Friday......................Tuesday, 12 p.m. Word Ads 10 a.m. Wednesday................Friday, 12 p.m. Classified (Last Business Day Prior to Publication)
49
72
Available by y week, month, semester
Reporters . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Niher Wagal, Jordan Haeger, Alex Geiser . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Hannah Jones, Shabab Siddiqui Photographers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Jordy Wagoner, Maddie Crum Sports Writers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Tara Dreyer, Rishi Daulat Copy Editors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Kelsey Crow, Carolyn Webb, Megan Gottlieb Sports/Life&Arts Copy Editor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Vicky Ho Page Designer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Olivia Hinton, Thu Vo, Veronica Rosalez Comics Artists . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Ryan Hailey, Amelia Giller, Miles Lumia, Gabe Alvarez . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Jamaine Affanso, Rachel Weiss, Nam Nguyen, Katie Smith Wire Editor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Beth Waldman Columnists . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Dave Player Editorial Cartoonist . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Michael Murphy Web Technician . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Nikki Kim Videographer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Carlos Medina Director of Advertising . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Jalah Goette 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 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Kathryn Abbas Student Advertising Manager. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Ryan Ford Acct. Execs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Lauren Aldana, Anupama Kulkarni, Ashley Walker, Natasha Moonka Taylor Blair, Tommy Daniels, Jordan Gentry, Meagan Gribbin, Jen Miller Classified Clerks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Teresa Lai Special Editions, Editorial Adviser . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Elena Watts Web Advertising . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Danny Grover Special Editions, Student Editors. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Kira Taniguchi Graphic Designer Interns . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Amanda Thomas, Lisa Hartwig Senior Graphic Designer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Felimon Hernandez
Low
High
Visitors Welcome
Permanent Staff
( " $ $" #%" # $ "") # $ " $ " $ ) " ' % $ # " # " " ") %# % $ & "# $) ( # $ %#$
THE DAILY TEXAN
lead to exoneration of prisoners
*&($ ,%&+ ! 0 ,%" ,* &'"* #)*
in Austin and used a Pflugerville home as a stash house. The organization possessed up to four Austin homes for their operations and moved as much as 100 kilograms of cocaine a month in the Austin area. The department’s narcotics unit’s investigation began in early 2008 and utilized information from five individuals, three of whom were co-conspirators with one of the suspects. Through the collection of video, audio and recorded telephone calls, as well as observed drug transactions, APD built enough probable cause for multiple search-and-arrest warrants. “We have within 30 days in which to seek a federal grand jury indictment on [the suspects], or the complaint gets dismissed,� said Daryl Fields, U.S. Attorney’s Office spokesman. “That is essentially the next step.�
FREEDOM: Students’ investigations
&) * (!" ", /""( (! (! *! +,*"",+
instead of letting the drugs flow into the U.S. It was time to shut them down.� Mannix said law enforcement officials will continue to arrest persons of interest for further investigation. He said Maldonado is a mid-level player in the cartel and not part of the overall executive structure. The DEA is requesting the apprehension and extradition of Maldonado by Mexican authorities. According to the affidavit, Maldonado distributed cocaine as far back as April 2008. The organization hid cocaine within TV’s, VCR’s and speakers and shipped them via FedEx. More than 100 packages believed to be incoming money or outgoing cocaine were received and mailed by the organization in the three-month period from April to June. Maldonado’s brother Erick Maldonado ran the organization
30
Years in Austin
" ! ! $ # ! $ #
2005 6
200
409 West 30th St. 512-477-2935
VOTED
7 0 7 0 0 2 22000088
R 2 Y HOU P A 00 P T I A R H A G 9 R A &M
8820 Burnet Rd. 901-C Little Texas Lane 512-454-1474 512-326-9899
3 W/N
Wire Editor: Beth Waldman www.dailytexanonline.com
WORLD&NATION
3
Friday, October 23, 2009
T HE DAILY TEXAN
Afghan election officials deliver ballots for runoff
Alexandre Meneghini | Associated Press
An emergency rescue agent in Islamabad examines an army jeep that was caught in an attack by a pair of suspected Taliban militants Thursday. A U.N. army officer and a soldier who were killed were part of a major anti-Taliban offensive in northwestern Pakistan.
Violence continues in Pakistan
By Ashraf Khan The Associated Press ISLAMABAD — Suspected militants on a motorbike fatally shot a senior army officer and a soldier in the Pakistani capital Thursday, striking at security forces as the military wages a major anti-Taliban offensive in the northwest. Civilians fleeing the army operation in South Waziristan said Taliban fighters were roaming freely through much of the area and digging in their positions, a sign of tough battles ahead. The new South Waziristan offensive is considered a critical test of nuclear-armed Pakistan’s campaign against Islamist extremists blamed for attacks inside the country and on Western forces in neighboring Afghanistan.
Thursday morning’s attack in Islamabad was the latest in a wave of militant attacks that have killed more than 170 people across the country over the past three weeks. The two gunmen fired on an army jeep in a residential area of the capital, police official Zaffar Abbas said. A soldier and a brigadier, a high-ranking army officer, were killed, while the driver was wounded, authorities said. “Terrorists and extremists are behind this,� Islamabad’s top police officer, Syed Kalim Imam, told reporters. The United Nations identified the slain officer as Ahmed Moinuddin, deputy commander of the U.N. peacekeeping mission in Sudan. He had joined the United Nations mission five months
ago and was on temporay leave in Pakistan. Ashraf Qazi, the top U.N. envoy for Sudan, strongly condemned “the barbaric killing.� The Pakistani military is advancing on multiple fronts in South Waziristan. The exodus from the region has intensified since the ground offensive’s launch on Saturday, and more than 100,000 people are said to have been displaced so far. More than 300 tired and dusty refugees lined up to register for aid Thursday at one center in Dera Ismail Khan, a gritty town not far from the tribal belt. “We saw no ground forces on the way, not even any movement except helicopters and airplanes. But we saw a lot of Taliban movement,� said Awal Jan, a refu-
gee from nearby Sarwakai town. “They were roaming around on their vehicles and digging trenches in the mountains.� Baton-wielding police beat back refugees crowding an aid distribution center run by Pakistani authorities in Paharpur town, some 30 miles outside Dera Ismail Khan. The lines to the center were long, and some refugees tried to climb the facility’s wall. Over the past few days, the army has been fighting for control of Kotkai, the hometown of Pakistani Taliban chief Hakimullah Mehsud. The battle for Kotkai is strategically important because it lies on the way to the major militant base of Sararogha. The army believes Mehsud remains in the region.
By Todd Pitman The Associated Press KABUL — Election authorities began delivering ballots with U.N. assistance across Afghanistan on Thursday, as hurried preparations for the Nov. 7 runoff in the insurgency-plagued nation’s presidential election got under way. International election monitors called on authorities to avert the widespread fraud that marred the first round of voting in August. Scores of election staff accused of misconduct have been axed, and new personnel need to be hired. Organizing the ballot in two weeks poses a huge challenge. President Hamid Karzai will face former Foreign Minister Abdullah Abdullah in the runoff. Abdullah announced Wednesday that he was ready, a day after Karzai bowed to intense U.S. pressure and acknowledged he fell short of the 50 percent threshold needed for victory in the Aug. 20 election. U.N.-backed audi-
tors threw out nearly a third of Karzai’s votes because of fraud. In Washington, U.S. officials said a power-sharing arrangement between Karzai and Abdullah to avoid a runoff was still possible, although it would be up to the Afghans. U.N. planes provided logistic support to the country’s Independent Election Commission, flying ballots and voting kits to provincial capitals, from where they will be delivered by electoral officials to thousands of polling stations by truck, helicopter and donkey, U.N. spokesman Dan McNorton said. The IEC, the body that runs the elections, is dominated by Karzai supporters. It is under huge pressure to avoid a repeat of the massive fraud, which discredited the government and threatened to undermine public support for the war in the United States and European countries that provide most of the 100,000 NATO-led troops serving in Afghanistan.
Altaf Qadri | Associated Press
Workers load ballot boxes onto trucks at the Independent Election Commission compound in Kabul, Afghanistan on Thursday.
M
on ON da CA y, M Oc PU to S be r2 6
' !& law school?
%" 1 6 4 1$#5 #'!$# !& 4 !# $41 .
/4 3$4 ' # ' '.
4! $4$(& 1(44!1("(3 !# &(%%$4'!5 #5!4$#3 #'
%" 1 '$ " 4# 04$ 4 % 4'$!4 $ &2!""&
# !#' 4& 1'!$# $ ' $4* # %4 1'!1
Explore the full potential of the law in a school devoted to the big picture.
www.CaliforniaWestern.edu
OPINION
4
Friday, October 23, 2009
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
Horns up: Longview admissions center It’s one of the most common criticisms of abolishing UT’s automatic admissions process: What about the kids in rural Texas? Without the top eight percent law, rural students are at a disadvantage when applying to UT. Their school districts may not provide the same academic rigor and extracurricular activities found in metropolitan or suburban schools. UT President William Powers Jr. has worked to abolish automatic admissions, but legislators have held on tight — especially those from rural Texas districts. Presumably to help quell these fears, UT’s has announced plans to open a new admissions center in East Texas. The center, set to open in Longview in 2010, will help recruit the brightest students from rural Texas, according to the News-Journal, Longview’s newspaper. At a Texas Exes meeting on Wednesday, Powers said the center would “help students from the less-populated parts of Texas become more aware of their options for college.” Center officials would visit high schools to discuss admissions procedures and financial aid options. Looking forward to a day when admissions are based on a holistic process, this is an effective measure to make sure that promising rural students are not ignored in the competitive admissions process.
Horns down: City texting ban passed Starting Jan. 2, a police officer can write you a ticket for text messaging — or viewing a text message — while driving. The Austin City Council unanimously passed an ordinance banning texting while driving Thursday. The ban excludes the use of navigation systems, texting in an emergency or wireless devices used by officers on duty. According to the Austin American-Statesman, Council Member Mike Martinez, the ban’s lead sponsor, said that the ordinance “is about improving road safety through awareness.” Austin needs to pass a law to raise awareness? How about a billboard or a public safety campaign? The city is creating a campaign to educate Austinites about the new ban, but we think those resources would be better spent crafting a campaign about why text messaging while driving is dangerous. Alas, a public education campaign isn’t quite as lucrative as an outright ban.
Horns up: Gender equity progress despite economy After a report last year showed UT to be lagging behind its peer institutions in gender equity hiring and pay, UT created a 22-member task force to look into the disparities. The sour economy has led to a rash of budget cuts across UT, but the administration has remained committed to moving forward on gender equity issues. Although the recession has delayed equity pay raises for women, 49 new female faculty members joined UT this fall and even more will be hired next year, Vice Provost Gretchen Ritter said at a meeting Wednesday night. Ritter also mentioned that the University will change how salary evaluations are conducted and “most” colleges and departments have submitted five-to-10 year plans to combat gender inequity, according to The Daily Texan. UT has also created a new program that will help the spouses of faculty find jobs in Austin. We remain concerned about the slow progress the University is making on reforming the system, but find ongoing discussions encouraging.
SPOTLIGHT ON COLLEGE COUNCILS
Building service into UT’s curriculum By Chelsea Adler Daily Texan Guest Columnist While the Longhorns were defeating the Sooners in Dallas this weekend, President Barack Obama was in College Station speaking to Aggies about a “culture of community service.” This message should resonate on our campus as we take steps to create a similar culture at our own University through Academic Service Learning courses. Academic service learning is more than simply volunteering. Specific requirements must be met that ensure the experience is, indeed, academic. The service must meet a defined need in the community and be linked to an academic goal. Grades and evaluations must be attached to the service, and there must be a component of reflection and feedback, usually in the form of a paper. There are already 45 different service courses offered this year at UT. But to match our peer institutions, we must see this number increase. By fall 2010, the goal is to have UT offering 90 service learning courses. The School of Social Work already values integrating community service and academia. For example, in Longhorn Leaders, students learn about atrisk youth and how this demographic pertains to fields such as social work, sociology and psychology. Students then actually receive hands-on experience working with these youths, schools and faculty. Social work students feel that this is beneficial in many ways, both academically and personally. It allows them to obtain experience, learn in a hands-on setting, discover career paths they like or dislike, network and ultimately give back to their community.
This summer, the University organized a Service Learning Abroad program in Ghana. I had the honor of being one of 40 students on this trip, and it was a life-changing experience. Simply studying social work in West Africa would have been an exciting experience in its own right, but the added element of service allowed the students to connect with the community in a unique and fulfilling way. We were no longer just visitors — we were active participators. Classroom lectures, combined with service projects, enabled students to apply everything we were learning in a tangible way within the community. My group worked closely with Eve’s Foundation, a nonprofit organization that educates women and their families about prenatal and postnatal health care. Service through this agency allowed me to exercise many social work skills, from implementing surveys to maintaining cultural competency. Overall, our group worked to address an identified need in the Ghanaian community while gaining skills and knowledge in the field of social work and community development. This ideal partnership between learning and service should be replicated as much as possible across campus. UT is not short on passionate students seeking to make a difference in their community. But it is time that service learning becomes a part of every student’s degree plan. This may look different for every college, but if we truly are a University that “changes the world,” we must begin to use our skills and knowledge now to make an impact. Adler is president of the Social Work Council and a government and social work senior.
BCS system is bad for more than football that team’s conference to be distributed amongst the rest of the conference’s members. Thus, even bottomBy Dave Player feeders from automatic qualifying conferences receive Daily Texan Columnist BCS money every year, regardless of their performance on the field. If the BCS is inhibiting mid-major conferMaybe there is one election promise that President ences from a fair chance at that money, then the legal Obama will actually follow through on. basis for an anti-trust suit seems to be there, but that is Last November, during an interview on Monday for the courts and Congress to decide. Night Football the week following his election, Obama There are other more intrinsic issues at play than went on the record saying, “I think it’s about time we poll position and bowl payouts. A high-profile football had playoffs in college football. I’m fed up with these team generates revenue far beyond the stadium gates; computer rankings.” booster donations and licensing fees provide additionWell, that makes two of us, and we’re not alone, judg- al millions in university revenue. When it comes down ing from the heated exchange between fans that occurs to it, college football is divided along conference lines every time the issue is brought up, whether it be at a between the haves and the have-nots. sports bar or online fan forum. It seems as if these anMany of the non-BCS conferences are comprised of gry rants are about to have a national voice. This past public state schools, especially from Western and ruMonday a group of politically savvy college football ral states. Of the 51 non-BCS conference schools, 45 are fans launched Playoff PAC, a political action commit- public, most of which have large enrollments. States tee aimed at funding legislators who support reforms like Idaho, Nevada and Utah have major universities to the current BCS status quo. with strong football programs but lack any automatThis is not the first time that colic BCS representation. When the BCS lege football advocates have sought denies revenue to the public univerchange through legal avenues. Last sities of a state, they are indirectly January, Utah attorney general Mark denying revenue to the citizens of Shurtleff announced that he was inthat state. There are more vestigating the Bowl Championship For the sake of comparison, considSeries for anti-trust violations after er the case of Wake Forest, who in 2006 intrinsic issues Utah’s undefeated football team was was ranked No. 15. The team was inat play than poll denied an opportunity to play in the vited to the FedEx Orange Bowl and national championship game. The received part of the game’s $17 milposition and bowl Utes then proceeded to dominate the lion payout. Wake Forest is a private payouts. ... When No. 4 ranked Alabama Crimson Tide. university with an enrollment of just Many opponents of the current BCS 4,476, making it one of the smallest it comes down to system claim that it unfairly discrimiin Division 1. The school’s $1.25 bilit, college football nates against teams from smaller “midlion enrollment is supplemented by a is divided along major” athletic conferences. The curyearly tuition of $38,000 per student. rent system consists of four post-seaIn contrast, the nearby Mid-Americonference lines son bowl games, including a nationcan Conference is comprised entirebetween the haves al championship — the participants of ly of public schools with an average which are decided by a complex comundergraduate enrollment of 24,297. and the have-nots. puter ranking system. Our own LongThe largest payout a MAC conference horn team is well aware of these rankteam received from a bowl game that ings — they narrowly edged us out of year was $750,000. Proponents of the a chance to play in the national chamBCS would argue that Wake Forest pionship game last season. was more deserving of a spot in the bowl game since Additionally, the regular season champions of the six they were perceived to have played a more difficult automatic-bid conferences are reserved a spot in one of schedule. Mid-major schools would disagree. Six MAC the games. Schools from conferences without an auto- teams had wins over opponents from BCS conferencmatic bid argue that they are put at an unfair advan- es last season. tage that constitutes a monopoly on the part of the largWhile the BCS system may have hurt Texas’ nationer conferences. Since the implementation of the BCS in al title hopes last season, the current system is a fis1998, of the 49 bowl games played, only four have fea- cal boon to the University. Every time a Big 12 team tured teams from outside automatic-bid conferences makes it to a BCS bowl, even Oklahoma, UT receives a (those teams posted a 3-1 record in said games). portion of the money. However, that amount is minusThere is much more at stake in the BCS argument cule compared to the amount of revenue the team is than bragging rights. College football has become a able to generate on their own. Meanwhile, mid-major multi-million dollar industry with huge sums being schools around the state such as TCU, Houston, UTEP, spent to ensure endorsements and television rights. SMU, Rice and North Texas are denied revenue. TexLast season, our own Texas team brought in more than as should no longer support the BCS, not because it is $72 million to the athletic department. in our best interests, but because it’s in the best interThe BCS bowl games offer participating teams and est of the game. their conferences a $17.5 million payout. A portion of that sum goes to the team, while the rest is given to Player is a plan II honors junior.
SUBMIT A FIRING LINE
RECYCLE!
E-mail your Firing Lines to firingline@ dailytexanonline.com. Letters must be fewer than 300 words. The Texan reserves the right to edit for brevity, clarity and liability.
Please recycle this copy of The Daily Texan by placing it in a recycling bin or back in the burnt-orange stand where you found it.
LEGALESE
SUBMIT A COLUMN
Opinions expressed in The Daily Texan are those of the editor 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.
The editorial board welcomes guest columns. Columns must be between 200 and 700 words. Send columns to editor@dailytexanonline.com. The Texan reserves the right to edit all columns for clarity and liability.
COUNTDOWN TO NOV. 3 AMENDMENT ELECTION
12 days
5 UNIV
5
NEWS
Friday, October 23, 2009
Tax increase will Abortion survivor speaks out fund long-debated treatment plant Rate hike of $2-$3 per customer over 30-year period to fund facility By Alex Geiser Daily Texan Staff Despite concerns from some city officials and local activists, a fourth water treatment plant will be built in Austin, ending a 25-year debate. Water Treatment Plant 4, a more than $500 million project set to be built in Northwest Austin, will expand the water utility’s capacity to 335 million gallons. The project has been heavily surrounded by controversy regarding when and if the plant is actually needed. Activists from organizations like Save Our Springs Alliance, the Zilker Neighborhood Association and the Sierra Club came out to voice their opposition, focusing mainly on the importance of conservation. The Austin Board of Realtors, Real Estate Council of Austin, the Chamber of Commerce and the League of Women Voters backed the plan for the new plant. Tom Jackson, member of the Building Owners and Managers Association of Austin and a supporter of the plan, said bids for construction contracts are competitive in the current economy, so the city should act soon to start the project. “In this market and at this time, we can take advantage of this down market and save hundreds of thousands of dollars on the construction of this plant,� Jackson said. “It is not a question of if we should build Water Treatment Plant 4, but when.� Greg Meszaros, director of Austin Water Utility, said the plant would help meet the growing demand for water in Central Texas while diversifying the water supply and reducing greenhouse gases.
“We can all agree that conservation is needed,� he said. Meszaros said conservation alone is not enough, and mixing conservation with new infrastructure is the most efficient and reliable solution. Funding for the plant will come from increased water rates for utility customers. Meszaros said rates are expected to rise by 12 percent — about $2 to $3 per customer per month — and remain at this increased rate for an expected 30 years until the plant is paid off. Council member Bill Spelman, who voted against the project, said the plant is not necessary. “We’re asking too much from our rate payers in the middle of a recession,� he said. Roy Whaley, vice chairperson of Austin Sierra Club, said the benefits of the plant do not outweigh the costs. “We want water, but at what price?� Whaley asked. “If we don’t conserve the resource, it doesn’t matter how much we treat. Water Treatment Plant 4 does not manufacture water. It will not add a single drop of water. Conservation creates water.� Kent Butler, research and operations director in the UT School of Architecture, said building the treatment facility only adds infrastructure and neglects other aspects of water conservation. He supports a design that integrates water supply and demands management and building of water infrastructure. “It is not doing the best service for citizens,� he said. “We need to lead by conservation.� Council members Laura Morrison, Chris Riley and Spelman opposed the plan. Council member Randi Shade, the swing vote, supported and helped pass the plan. Water Treatment Plant 4 is not expected to be ready for use until 2014.
Maddie Crum | Daily Texan Staff
Giana Jessen, an abortion survivor, speaks at the downtown Hilton Hotel Thursday night at the annual Texas Alliance for Life benefit dinner. By Nihas Wagal Daily Texan Staff Abortion survivor Gianna Jessen got a crowd of more than 1,000 pro-life activists riled up Thursday night at the downtown Hilton Hotel, urging them to stand up for their beliefs. “I didn’t survive an abortion so I can appease everyone,� she said. Jessen, 32, has cerebral palsy as a result of a failed abortion procedure her mother underwent. She is a vocal anti-abortion advocate and was the featured speaker at the annual Texas Alliance for Life benefit dinner. “I don’t have a weakness. It is an amazing weapon in the hand of God,� she said. The organization’s goal was to raise a total of $250,000 total for the evening. Attendees made minimum donations of $65 per plate. The alliance works to promote pro-life policies, push alternatives like adop-
Waiting for the great pumpkin
tion and restrict abortion avail- passage of a bill that would have ability in the state. required a mother to see an ultra“None of what we’ve done sound of her unborn child before or we hope to an abortion. The do can be done bill did not pass. without your They also pushed support. We will to withhold state continue to make funding from I didn’t survive an an impact in TexPlanned Parentabortion so I can as,� said Joe Pojhood facilities in man, executive Texas and have appease everyone.� director of Texas advocated the — Gianna Jessen use of adult stem Alliance for Life. The organiAbortion survivor cells for research zation has been over embryonic one of the most stem cells. active pro-life Pojman’s goal groups in Texas of shutting down and has worked Planned Parentto influence public policy in hood drew loud applause from the state. attendees. Eliminating state fundDuring the 81st legislative ses- ing for Planned Parenthood is an sion, the alliance supported the ongoing effort of the alliance.
‘‘
Planned Parenthood is in its 71st year in Austin and aims to improve public knowledge on reproductive health and the rights movement. They also have clinics that provide screenings for a variety of disorders and can make referrals to abortion clinics, which have raised much controversy. “We are both nonprofit, we both rely on donors and we both have similar goals and missions. We do, however, have significant differences as well,� said Sarah Wheat, vice president of community affairs for Planned Parenthood. “We believe birth control is important and we think that it should become a routine part of women’s health care. The main thing that divides us is that we think abortions should be legal.�
Start Your Career in Accounting.
Maddie Crum | Daily Texan Staff
Sofia Dawson and Hannah Laxon take a break from their preschool lessons to take a pre-lunch romp through St. John’s United Methodist Church’s 17th annual pumpkin patch.
Northeastern’s MS in Accounting/MBA for non-accounting majors: t &BSO UXP EFHSFFT JO KVTU NPOUIT t $PNQMFUF B NPOUI QBJE SFTJEFODZ BU B MFBEJOH BDDPVOUJOH mSN t 1SPWFO USBDL SFDPSE PG KPC QMBDFNFOU
Take the first step. 7JTJU VT POMJOF PS BU BO JOGPSNBUJPO TFTTJPO OFBS ZPV -FBSO NPSF BCPVU UIF QSPHSBN BOE VQDPNJOH FWFOUT BU
6 AD
7 SPTS
SPORTS
Sports Editor: Austin Talbert E-mail: sports@dailytexanonline.com Phone: (512) 232-2210 www.dailytexanonline.com
7
Friday, October 23, 2009
T HE DAILY TEXAN
Weekend Previews FOOTBALL
SATURDAY: No. 3 Texas at Missouri
Defense remains key to Texas success
WHERE: Columbia, Mo. WHEN: 7 p.m. ON AIR: ABC
VOLLEYBALL
SATURDAY: Colorado at No. 2 Texas
WHERE: Gregory Gym WHEN: 6:30 p.m.
SOCCER
TODAY, SUNDAY: Texas Tech
at Texas, Colorado at Texas WHERE: Mike A. Myers Track and Soccer Stadium WHEN: 7 p.m., 1 p.m.
MEN’S TENNIS
Oct. 24-Oct. 27: ITA Texas Regional Championships
WHERE: College Station WHEN: All day
MEN’S SWIMMING
TODAY-SATURDAY: Southwest
Collegiate Plunge WHERE: Mansfield WHEN: All day
SOFTBALL
TODAY: Alvin Community
College at Texas, McLennan Community College at Texas WHERE: Red and Charline McCombs Field WHEN: 6 p.m., 8 p.m.
MEN’S SWIMMING
Returning swimmers hope to go out on top Newcomers get first shot at showing rivals the future of the Horns By Tara Dreyer Daily Texan Staff Head coach Eddie Reese begins his 32nd season at Texas in the Southwest Collegiate Plunge in Mansfield, Texas. The four-team meet, which includes Missouri, SMU and Texas A&M, begins this evening. “This is a great meet for us because we don’t know what to expect, but it tells us where we are in training and it shows us what we need to work on, technique-wise,” said Reese. Texas returns seniors Ricky Berens and Dave Walters, both Olympic gold medalists and world champions. Sophomore Jackson Wilcox competed with Berens and Walters in the FINA World Championships this summer in Rome, and junior Scott Spann, who was a finalist in the 200 breaststroke at the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games, also returns. “This weekend’s meet [is about] just getting the ball rolling on the right foot,” Berens said. “I think it’s an
SWIMMING continues on page 8 Kellen Damico and the Longhorns are playing for the opportunity to advance to the ITA National Intercollegiate Indoor Championships in Connecticut.
Eliot Meyer Daily Texan file photo
Mary Kang | Daily Texan Staff
Sam Acho and the Longhorns hope to stay smiling as they take on the Tigers, who will host Texas for their homecoming game at Missouri.
Since the arrival of Mack Brown, Texas has never lost week after Oklahoma game By Michael Sherfield Daily Texan Staff Through Texas’ eyes, the situation is eerily similar. Same record, same opponent, same stakes. But that’s about where the similarities end. While the uniforms and playbook look the same, there’s little of last year’s Missouri to be found in this season’s edition as 6-0 Texas marches in after a win over Oklahoma.
Chase Daniel, the face of the school for the past two years, is gone, taking with him receiver Jeremy Maclin and tight end Chase Coffman. Offensive coordinator Dave Christensen departed, too, handing the reigns and the bubble screens to quarterback coach David Yost. All of these factors add up to a team that’s very different from the one Texas dismantled on national television in front
of a frenzied Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium 12 months ago. “You don’t base anything from last year to this year,” said Texas defensive end Sam Acho. “They had a different quarterback, a different coordinator. We’re not really worried about last year.” It’s a difference that has shown up on the scoreboard. After a promising 4-0 start, the Tigers have limped into conference play, dropping hard-fought games
VOLLEYBALL
against Nebraska and Oklahoma State. Sophomore quarterback Blaine Gabbert has taken over the offense but has been held back by a sprained ankle as the Tigers sputtered to poor second-half showings the past two weeks. “Their quarterback has a cannon — the dude can throw the ball, he’s a very impressive athlete,” Acho said. “They have
FOOTBALL continues on page 8
SOCCER
Colorado at No. 2 Texas
Texas Tech at Texas
Record on the line against Colorado
Underclassmen leading the way on senior night
Undefeated Longhorns have chance to go where one other team has been By Chris Tavarez Daily Texan Staff The Longhorn women’s volleyball team is on the verge of making history. With a win over Colorado (613, 1-9) at home on Saturday, Texas (15-0, 10-0) can tie its second-best season start in program history. The last time the Horns started a season with 16 straight wins was in 2004, when they made it to the NCAA Regional Semifinals. Texas’ last meeting with the Buffaloes came right at the start of Big 12 play. Texas ran through the matchup with a dominant 3-0 win over its first meeting against a non-ranked foe of the season. With that victory, the Horns stretched their win-
Younger players have been receiving more time on the field than expected
Bruno Morlan | Daily Texan Staff
With a win Saturday, the Longhorns can match a team record by winning their first 16 games of the season. ning streak over Colorado University to 11 in a row and their regular season winning streak, which dates back to Nov. 1, to 25 straight matches. With the way the Longhorns
have been playing and the way the Buffaloes are limping into this match with only one win in conference play, Texas looks to be
By Laken Litman Daily Texan Staff It seems as though growing up faster than expected has its benefits. The underclassmen of the Texas soccer team were thrown onto the field earlier than expected due to teammate injuries. But since the Longhorns started their season at 3-5 and the freshmen and sophomore
players have become more comfortable playing against experience, the team has been 4-2-2 and improved their overall record to a solid 7-7-2 with a 3-2-2 record in Big 12 play. “We definitely had to step up sooner than most underclassmen on other teams,” said sophomore Kylie Doniak. “Now, we try not to separate between upperclassmen and lowerclassmen because we’ve learned that every person is just as important.” Doniak leads the team in
SOCCER continues on page 8
VOLLEYBALL continues on page 8
MEN’S TENNIS
Texas at Texas A&M
Best from Texas to duke it out in College Station Longhorns hope to make strong push at title this weekend in Aggieland
By Rishi Daulat Daily Texan Staff It’s a battle for state bragging rights as 11 Longhorns head to College Station to compete against players from colleges all over Texas. The two singles finalists and the doubles champion from the Texas regional will head to New Haven, Conn. in November to compete against other regional finalists in the prestigious ITA National Intercollegiate Indoor Championships.
The event, which was hosted by UT in 2007, will be played at Texas A&M for the second consecutive year. The Texas regional used to be the ITA South Central Regional Championships, and the tournament included a few more states. With recent ITA realignment, however, the regional in College Station will consist only of Texas schools. Longhorn players expected to make a strong push for the title are ITA’s No. 6 Dimitar Kutrovsky, No. 46 Ed Corrie and No. 47 Kellen Damico. Kutrovsky and Josh Zavala
TENNIS continues on page 8
Caleb Miller | Daily Texan file photo
Leading the Longhorns in goals, Kylie Doniak has had to step up with the absence of many injured upperclassmen.
8 SPTS
8
SPORTS
Friday, October 23, 2009
TENNIS: Top players SWIMMING: Regular season kicks off
from the state face each other this week From page 7 are ITA-ranked No. 13 in doubles, and the duo is the state of Texas’s top doubles team. Kutrovsky, a communications studies senior from Bulgaria, reached the finals of the ITA All-American Championships consolation draw and was a finalist at an ATP futures event last week. In the futures tournament, Kutrovsky took down two players who were professionally ranked: ATP’s No. 305 Victor Estrella and No.
484 Nicholas Monroe. Corrie has also done well recently as he nearly qualified for the ITA All-American doubles main draw in his first competitive action with freshman partner Vasko Mladenov and then reached the round-of-32 in the ITA All-American singles main draw. It’s Damico’s first major tournament of the year, so the physical culture and sports junior will look to see how his game matches up against some of the top players around the country.
Catching up with the Longhorns
From page 7 opportunity for some of the younger guys to step up and show some good leadership.� Berens was a gold medalist in the 800 freestyle relay at the Olympics and in both the 400 and 800 freestyle relays at the world championships. He is also a 16-time All-American and a 15-time Big 12 Champion. Berens, who was part of the 2008 squad that finished second to Auburn at the NCAA championships, is hoping that Texas will win a NCAA title in his last year as a Longhorn. When it comes to individual goals, Berens wants to do the best he can. “I’d really like to win an individual NCAA title, break some team records, American records and NCAA records,� Berens said. He plans on improving by “just taking every day one at a time, each practice one at a time, and seeing how much better I can get every single day and trusting the coaches.� There is still plenty to work on, and the team knows that it is way too early to be thinking about national championships. “We want to get stronger in the weight room, and we want to do a better job on our technique. And ultimately, all of that is go-
Kari Rosenfeld | Daily Texan file photo
This weekend’s meet in Mansfield is a good opportunity for swimmers like Kyle McNeilis (above) to take on a leadership role for the Longhorns, according to senior Ricky Berens. ing to make us faster, and that’s our goal,� Reese said. “If everybody here improves a lot, we’re going to beat a lot of people at the end of the year. That’s always my goal.� This season, the swimming
program has changed. The weight program has been altered to be slightly different from that of the past 15 or 20 years, and they’ve also changed what they do in the water. “We’re doing a lot more kick-
SOCCER: Horns to finish up home schedule From page 7
Jeffrey McWhorter | Daily Texan file photo
Catcher Amy Hooks has a difficult task ahead of her as she has a new pitching staff to which she must grow accustomed. The fall exhibition season continues tonight with Alvin Community College and McLennan Community College coming to Austin to try to upset the Longhorns at Red and Charline McCombs Field. Texas is undefeated in its first three games of the fall season as the Longhorns still look to fill the empty positions of pitchers Brittany Barnhill and Torrey Schroeder, who both transferred to other schools. Head coach Connie Clark has tested out freshmen Kim Bruins and Blaire Luna as well as returning players Courtney Craig and
Erin Tresselt, who both saw time in the circle last season. The biggest adjustment this year will come from junior catcher Amy Hooks, who caught every game last year — the majority of which were pitched by either Barnhill or Schroeder. Hooks is one of the rare catchers who actually calls the pitches, and if Clark intends to let her call the game this season, there will be plenty for her to learn. Admission is free to the softball games, which are scheduled to begin at 6 p.m. — Dan Hurwitz
scoring with five goals, and freshman Hannah Higgins follows with three. Sixteen of UT’s 19 goals have come from underclassmen, who also account for eight of the team’s 11 starting positions. “It definitely feels good [to lead the team in scoring], but I wouldn’t have done that without my teammates’ effort and hard work and the balls they’ve served me,� Doniak said. “I’m just happy to be in the position to have rewarded them.� In other underclassmen news, Higgins and freshman keeper Alexa Gaul have recently been awarded Big 12 accolades. Gaul
for yearbook and graduation photos!
cactus yearbook’s fall portrait studio is november 2-13 monday-friday, 9-5pm HSM building, room 3.302 25th and whitis ave. graduating seniors wanting cap and gown photos must make an appointment: 471-9190. CALL TODAY! all other students can walk in for their class portrait.
was named the league’s Defensive Player of the Week on Oct. 6, and more recently, Higgins was honored as the Newcomer of the Week this week after posting a career-high three points over Nebraska. The Longhorns have three regular season games left, two of which will played at home this weekend. The Horns face Texas Tech (8-7-1, 3-3-1 Big 12) tonight at 7 p.m. and Colorado (87-0, 5-2-0 Big 12) on Sunday at 1 p.m. Both of these games will be held at Mike A. Myers Track and Soccer Stadium. Sunday’s game against Colorado possesses a great deal of importance for the team because it will be the seniors’ last home
game. Emily Anderson, Stephanie Gibson and Casey Mogk will be honored in a ceremony prior to the start of the match. “These last few games are really important, considering we want to go out strong,� Doniak said. “And it’s especially important for our seniors and just to play for each other and our team.� Throughout the season, the team’s chemistry and supportive mentality have helped tremendously as the players had to overcome many adversities. “Now, we are ready to finish strong and overcome doubts that people may have of us,� Doniak said. “We just want to have some fun with it.�
VOLLEYBALL: Longhorns
fortunate to have depth From page 7 in line to claim its 16th win of the season and continue its win streak — even if Texas’ team is limping a bit itself. The Longhorns have played their last two matches without starting defensive specialist Sydney Yogi and just got back All-American Ashley Engle in Wednesday’s match against Missouri. While the cause of both absences isn’t officially known, Yogi has been said to be under the weather, and Engle’s ankles were heavily taped. The coaches have been protecting Engle by keeping her from jumping too much. Helping the Horns to continue their dominance of the
Big 12, despite the team not being fully healthy, has been a strong bench. “We’re very fortunate to have such amazing depth on this team, and a lot of players have been stepping up whenever someone is out,� said head coach Jerritt Elliott. “Amber [Roberson] has had some great practices, and we’ve started her in the rotation, and she’s handled it very well.� Roberson has been one of the players filling in on the starting rotation for the absent Yogi and looks to continue being a large part of the offense against the Buffaloes. Saturday’s first serve has been moved from 6:30 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. at Gregory Gymnasium.
732-2211
9041 Research Blvd., Suite 240 (Austin) Hwy 183 @ Burnet Rd., above Black-Eyed Pea
! "
#$ % & ' ())*+ , ())* , -.../())*
ing, and we are doing it earlier in the workout,� Reese said. This weekend’s meet is primarily about getting a feel for where the team is. The tougher competition is bound to come later in the season.
FOOTBALL: Not
the same Tigers from last year From page 7 good receivers. It’s going to be interesting to see how we play them this week.� Of course, Texas is a little different, too. The Longhorns haven’t hit last year’s highs on offense, seemingly regressing over the past three weeks to a unit that put up just 251 yards and 16 points against the Sooners. That comes under particular focus when compared to their performance against Missouri in 2008. Quarterback Colt McCoy had possibly the best performance of his career against the Tigers, completing 29 of 32 passes for 337 yards and two touchdowns, with two more scores coming on the ground. Texas scored five offensive touchdowns in the first half, two more than they’ve scored in their last two games combined, en route to a 35-3 lead at the break. This year, it’s been the Texas defense carrying the load, an opponent the Tigers should be familiar with. The Longhorns dominated Missouri in the first half last year before the Tigers ran riot in second-half garbage time for a more respectable 5631 score. But don’t expect any easy scores this time around. The Longhorns have locked down opponents in the second half this season, not allowing Oklahoma to convert a third down and shutting out Colorado in the second period. “At times, we’ve had to outscore people,� said Texas head coach Mack Brown. “Right now, we don’t have to score 50 points to win a game. We can be smarter and play the field position game.� Acho leads a defensive front that has consistently put pressure on the quarterback while two-time Big 12 Defensive Player of Week Earl Thomas has become the ball-hocking safety the secondary needed last year. Thomas is tied for the national lead with five interceptions and leads outright in passes defended. “They’ve got a great offense. We’ve seen what they can do,� Thomas said. “There’s a hostile environment, anything can happen. We’re just using that as an edge to finishing games, not leaving anything to the computers [this time].�
CHEAP STUDENT S TUDENT PARKING 2 blocks from UT Bus Stop Available by y week, month, semester
474-5300
9 CLASS
NEWS
9
An evening bike ride
City Council approves loans for solar energy
Friday, October 23, 2009
Jordy Wagoner | Daily Texan Staff
Steven Smith of Garza Independence High School and Kevin Howard of Akins High School stand with their bicycles on the Lamar Street Pedestrian Bridge on Thursday evening while they wait for the weekly Social Bike event to start.
Resolution looks to bridge gender gap 1
day, month day, 2008
University makes strides for equality in pay, tenure levels of female faculty
tors, particularly college deans, to do whatever they deem fit to address this issue,� said Carisa Nietsche, faculty affairs committee chair and co-author of the legislation. “It’s not a quick fix. It can’t happen in a year — it may not happen in five years. But we want to let the administration know what we’d like to see more of, as students.� Nietsche said the University should continue to hire the very best candidates for faculty positions regardless of gender. The legislation included statistics from the Gender Equity Task Force 2008 report: At that time, women comprised 36.3 percent of the faculty, but more than 80 percent of tenured and tenured-track professors were male and women comprised only 20 percent of the total department-chair positions. The resolution also included
CLASSIFIEDS cil wished that the legislation
the report’s finding that salary disparities cause female professors to feel isolated and less appreciated for their professional achievements. Executive Vice Presidents and Provosts Gretchen Ritter and Judith Langlois led a meeting of about 40 administrators and faculty Wednesday to review the progress of the University in fulfilling the task force’s recommendations. Of the 18 voting councils, the Undergraduate Business Council had the only dissenting vote. “The reason the Business Council doesn’t feel comfortable signing [its] name onto this resolution is because we feel that the intent of this [resolution] is lost with the statistics and the ‘whereas’ statements,� said Bhargav Srinivasan, a Plan II, Business Honors and finance senior. “Business Coun-
Campus
addressed how to prevent isolation of women inside the educational realm and encourage them to apply for more college positions rather than focus on statistics that don’t tell the whole story.� The resolution will be sent to administrators including Executive Vice President and Provost Steven Leslie and the deans of each college. “This legislation is important for students because faculty has really been involved, but ultimately, some students are going to be the future educators and professors,� said Senate of College Councils President Lauren Ratliff. “It’s important to know that I — or anyone — can be a professor, still have a family and do the things I want to do while having a career track.�
CORKBOARD
E ERTISAldous Viviana DV NT AByDaily DEStaff U T Texan S ! TIONdebate, YOUanR extended A After Z I N the Senate ORGAof College Councils
passed a resolution Thursday in support of efforts to increase gender equity on campus. The resolution, introduced Oct. 8, shows support for competitive salaries and equal compensation for female faculty members and for a compensation system in which recognition is autonomously awarded and directly based on merits. It also encourages the development of a pleasant cultural climate that stresses the integration of women into the workplace, according to the legislation. “We’re asking administra-
UNS AD IRNE FOR ONL
E! E R F d wor
ad s
on l y
By Shabab Siddiqui Daily Texan Staff The Austin City Council unanimously passed a resolution Thursday afternoon that will allow Austin’s city manager to look into providing low-interest loans for homeowners to invest in energy efficient upgrades such as solar panels. The resolution directs the city manager to investigate the possibility of implementing the energy program and to present the logistics of the program to the Council at the beginning of next year. The plan, called Project Energize, would likely replace the city’s current solar rebate program. The resolution was sponsored by Mayor Lee Leffingwell and cosponsored by Mayor Pro Tem Mike Martinez and Councilwoman Randi Shade. “A successful Project Energize will make renewable energy accessible to many more local residents, help homeowners save money on their energy bills almost immediately and continue to build on Austin’s growing reputation as a national renewable energy leader,� Leffingwell said. The vote makes Austin the first Texas city to formally act on the provi-
sions of a new state law passed earlier this year that allows municipalities to issue tax-free, low-interest bonds to homeowners investing in energy efficiency. The city’s proposal allows homeowners to pay off their loans directly through their property tax. Martinez said the loans allow homeowners to avoid large outof-pocket costs, while benefiting from the energy savings immediately. Councilwoman Sheryl Cole expressed concerns about the city’s ability to get back the money it loans out, but she ultimately supported the resolution. Dusty Harshman, an Austin-area personal financial planner, said the program will take away the need for Austin Energy’s current solar rebate program and ultimately save the city money. Leffingwell said the program is still far from implementation but has potential benefits for all involved. “It doesn’t cost the city anything, it doesn’t cost the homeowner anything and it pays for itself by energy savings,� he said. “And it has the same security as your property tax bill.�
3B
Weekly Rates: approach FAST: Mind-over-matter
$100 – Large helps hungry achieve their goal $50 – Medium From page 1
food, Mossad said. $25 – Small Business junior Jessica Terreg-
An old tradition in the Islam- ino fasted for the first time this year when her roommate suggested she try it. Terregino said water when breaking a fast. The dates raise your blood sug- she was tested when a friend ofar and the water increases blood fered her a muffin in class yesterpressure, which makes you feel day. “It’s all mental,� she said. immediately happier, Mossad “I had a motivation to do it for a said. Mossad told a story of how cause — for someone else.� Ahmed said the Fast-A-Thon Allah sent a pious woman to Hell for not feeding her cat, and is important to show people a prostitute was sent to Paradise “what a beautiful religion [Isfor giving a dog water, when she lam] is.� “There are so many bad herself was thirsty. The Fast-A-Thon combines things written about Islam,� he a religious ritual with doing said. “We’re not so crazy, we’re something in the community of about finding what you want people who do not have enough out of life.�
ic faith is to eat dates and drink Contact Joan at 512-232-2229 or email joanw@mail.utexas.edu
CLASSIFIEDS THE DAILY TEXAN
ADVERTISING TERMS There are no refunds or credits. In the event of errors made in advertisement, notice must be given by 10 am the first day of publication, as the publishers are responsible for only ONE incorrect insertion. In consideration of The Daily Texan’s acceptance of advertising copy for publication, the agency and the advertiser will indemnify and save harmless, Texas Student Media and its officers, employees and agents against all loss, liability, damage and expense of whatsoever nature arising out of the copying, printing or publishing of its advertisement including without limitation reasonable attorney’s fees resulting from claims of suits for libel, violation of right of privacy, plagiarism and copyright and trademark infringement. All ad copy must be approved by the newspaper which reserves the right to request changes, reject or properly classify an ad. The advertiser, and not the newspaper, is responsible for the truthful content of the ad. Advertising is also subject to credit approval.
Self-serve, 24/7 on the Web at www.DailyTexanOnline.com HOUSING RENTAL
349 Vacation Rental
VACATION RENTAL PARENTS OR visiting professors coming to visit? Do they need a place to stay? ĂŹHook emĂŽ up with a 3 bedroom house on Lake Austin. Sleeps 10. Nightly rentals. 11 miles from campus call 512.658.3719
351 Sub-Lease
795.00/ MONTH Roomy spanish-style 2/1 for sublet! North central close to Burnet and 45th, no rent until December! Lease until September 2010 melanie.a.crisp@ gmail.com 512.757.4064
370 Unf. Apts.
HYDE PARK / NORTH CAMPUS 1-1’S Very spacious one bedroom apartments located at 302 W. 38th St. Available for IMMEDIATE move-ins or for any time in October. 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 512-499-8013
370 Unf. Apts.
$650/MO IN WEST CAMPUS Immediate move-ins for West Campus. As low as $650!!! Studios & 1-1’s available. Located at 2104 and 1911 San Gabriel St. Most bills paid!!! FREE parking!!! Located on the UT shuttle. Close to everything, and a great atmosphere. Call us at 512-499-8013 to set up a time to view the apartments. Office hours are M-F 8:30 to 5:00. Visit our website at www.wsgaustin.com or simply give us a call.
400 Condos-Townhouses
STUDENT CONDOS FOR SALE! 1 block north of UT! New construction, 2/bed-2.5/ bath plus study/optional 3rd bedroom, Hardwood floors, granite countertops, ceramic tile, crown molding, and stainless appliances. Big balcony with view of UT football stadium. Move-in now, Spring 2010, Summer 2010, or Fall 2010 semester. 1150 sq. ft. $329,500.
AVAILABLE NOW. Roomy Campus Efficiency. Water, Gas paid. 1 block to Guadalupe, Wheatsville Co-op.621 West 31st. Call 512-8999492.
TVQFS UVFTEBZ
$0610/4
DMJQ BOE TBWF
FWFSZ XFFL
All Transportation, Announcement, Services & Merchandise ads are 50%off regular rates and appear online at no charge unless you opt for enhancements which will incur additional nominal charges. For more information or assistance please call Classified Clerk at 512-471-5244 or email classifieds@dailytexanonline.com
# # š š '$%! & # # š # " ! $
breckenridge
20 Mountains. 5 Resorts. 1 Price.
plus t/s
www.speedwaycondosphase2.com Call 512-467-9852 for a showing!
DEEN KEETON /RED RIVER 420 Unf. Houses Spacious 2BR/2BA Apts. AVAILABLE W/D Con. Free Cable, NOW- LOW internet, parking. Quiet, Non-Smoking, No-Pets, 2901 Swisher. $1200$1350/month, 512-4773388 goakapartments@ gmail.com
530 Travel-Transportation
$ Move-in-- Cute, clean 2-1 w/ study/office. Close to campus and shuttle. 403 W. 44th St. $1095/ month w $500 dep. no rent until November. Ken 512-965-6242
ANNOUNCEMENTS
505 Student Org.
SEDS AT UT!
1-800-SKI-WILD ™ 1-800-754-9453 600 West 28th St, Suite #102
SERVICES
762 Health & Fitness
STEPHEN BOYD, LPC Buddhist Trained Psychotherapist MA Transpersonal Counseling PhD English 762-2885
EDUCATIONAL
Students for Exploration and Development of Space. Let’s revive the chapter at UT! Respond by email. hal.fulton@ marsdrive.com
610 Misc. Instruction
530 Travel-Transportation
Sharpen your skills with Ambassador’s Ink: experienced college writing assistants!
NEED EXTRA WRITING HELP?
Visit us at www.ambink. com or contact us at either ink@ambink.com or 440-376-4247 for proofing, revision, and tutoring services. Highly competitive student rates available!
RECYCLE
EMPLOYMENT
800 General Help Wanted
STUDENTPAYOUTS. COM BARTENDING! Paid Survey Takers $300/DAY Needed In Austin. 100% To Join! Click On POTENTIAL FREE Surveys. 790 Part Time
No experience necessary. Training provided. Age 18+. 800-965-6520 ext 113
MUSCULAR MALES ages 18-28 wanted for physique photography. $200-$500. 927-2448.
ATTENTION $20.00/ HR!
Sports-Minded Students Apply, Work Outdoors! Flexible Scheduling, Management Available Top Gun Promotions 512 473 0399
PT RECEPTIONIST Receptionist needed for downtown property mgt office. Flexible hours. Email comm@graniteproperties.com 512469-0925
800 General Help Wanted
PARADIGM IS HIRING Paradigm is now hiring outgoing, well-spoken, self motivated campus representatives. Must be a UT student and be familiar with the UT campus. Schedule will be 12-20 hours per week to be worked M-F between 9am and 5pm. Please come by Paradigm to apply or call for more information. 407 W 24th St 512-472-798
REMEMBER!
you saw it in the Texan
SURVEY TAKERS NEEDED: Make $5-$25 per survey. GetPaidToThink.com.
FT & PT SUBSTITUTE TEACHERS
Get your education, training and experience now! Work with the BEST at Stepping Stone School! Hiring FT & PT subs at all locations. Flexible schedules, great perks! Apply online or at 1910 Justin Ln. www.steppingstoneschool.com/ employment.html
EARN EXTRA MONEY Students needed ASAP. Earn up to $150 per day being a mystery shopper. No Experience Required. Call 1-800-722-4791
COPSD CASEWORKER Intern, Prefer: BA in Social Sciences. Special Training; Experience/ knowledge in Motivational Interviewing and Good Chemistry. Licenses; LCDC, LCDC CI, LPC intern, LMSW Intern. Apply www.atcmhmr.com
870 Medical Seeks College-Educated Men 18–39 to Participate in a Six-Month Donor Program
Donors average $150 per specimen. Apply on-line
www.123Donate.com
890 Clubs-Restaurants
BARTENDER OPENINGS. Earn up to 300/day. No experience require. Will train. Call now 877-7715194 x1002
910-Positions Wanted
HIRING VALETS Must know how to drive standard, be physically fit, and have good customer service skills. Apply online at www.centraltexasvalet.com
FOR SALE
Sell Electronics
UNL. SMARTPHONE APPLICATIONS $49.00 the newest APPS for Smartphones now!!!! One time fee Unlimited Downloads Available http://www.appscircuit. com/20382
Sell Sporting/Camping Equip. SNOWSPORTS SWAP Buy & Sell used ski & snowboard equip., clothing, and accessories. Bring in sale items now thru Nov. 6, Sale is one day only - Nov. 7th at Sail & Ski @ 183N. www.sailandski.com/snowswap 512-258-0733
SEE WHAT OUR
NEW ONLINE SYSTEM
HAS TO OFFER AND PLACE YOUR AD
NOW!
BUSINESS
930 Business Opportunities
930 Business Opportunities
NEED EXTRA INCOME?
THE DAILY TEXAN CLASSIFIED AD
Circulation = 22,000/day Online Classifieds Reach 2,778/day Place Your AD Here!!! Call 512.471.5244 or classifieds@dailytexanonline.com x ID 2860257
Advertisers want your opinion! Make money viewing online ads. Just a few minutes a day and you choose when to work. Unlimited income potential when you refer friends and family. No fees ever. No Spam. You remain anonymous. Visit www.mybankbar.com for more information.
DON’T GRADUATE IN DEBT Instead, wave your Diploma out of your paid for sports car window knowing you have Big Bucks in the bank and own your own business, back in home town U. S. A. Only available for 264 students in the U. S. For details call Mr. Elzner 1.877.474.1103
10 COMICS
10
COMICS
3 5
Yesterday’s solution
9
2 3 7 6 5 7 6 8 9 4 3 1 2 5 2 1 6 3 7 3 9 8 5 6 6 3 4
7 9 4 3 5 2 8 1 6
3 5 2 1 8 6 4 7 9
1 8 6 7 4 9 3 2 5
9 2 7 4 6 5 1 3 8
8 1 3 9 2 7 5 6 4
4 6 5 8 1 3 7 9 2
6 4 1 2 7 8 9 5 3
5 7 9 6 3 4 2 8 1
2 3 8 5 9 1 6 4 7
#&70 #6$,4 BU UIF DFOUSBM TUPSF 4UVEFOU %JTDPVOU 5IVST 1PTUFST 4BMFT BOE 3FOUBMT 5XP GPS 0OF 5VFT BOE 8FET
t t8FTU UIt t 8FTU &MJ[BCFUIt
t 8FTU UIt t 8FTU &MJ[BCFUIt
Friday, October 23, 2009
"/48&3 58*/ 1&",4
11 ENT
GHOST: Hunter
stresses ‘value of community’ From page 12 we approach things. We don’t go into a place taking it as being haunted, but we try to find reasons for the claims. I like to watch them all, even the ones that are not that reputable, and watch their techniques. I hope to help promote education in this field. I’m a big believer in community and the value of community. I think we should help one another in the field. I think we can learn from one another, unlocking and sharing and cultivating knowledge. I want people to realize that not everything you see is a ghost. Sometimes a noise is just a noise. We’re here to help. We’re not only doing this because of our own interests, but we also want to help those in the process. I want to give back what I’m learning. My team is professional, experienced, kind and courteous. We have a help form on the Web site, but some people will send us an e-mail at help@ghosthuntersoftexas.com.
Local band stays humble By Mary Lingwall Daily Texan Staff The first time I got to interview White Denim frontman James Petralli, the band was preparing for a set at the 2008 Austin City Limits Music Festival. A bit nervous about their time slot against Gnarls Barkley and the Raconteurs, who were both playing the main stages, the band members began their set with smiles of confidence. Although self-identified fans of “XTC, Soft Machine and Captain Beefheart,� White Denim sounds more like a fusion of Jimi Hendrix’s riffs, John Coltrane’s improvisation and something akin to 1970s folk rockers, such as America (of “A Horse with No Name� fame). The various sounds that are combined in White Denim’s music make describing the band a chore to almost every music writer. As a result, the band has been described as a “power trio with a rocketing, punk-speed take on twangy Texas garage-rock� by The New York Times’ Jon Pareles. Austin Powell from The Austin Chronicle likened the band’s sound to a combination of “the Gories’ fiery garagepunk and the Big Boys’ low-end funk into two-minute bursts of ecstatic energy, treated with electric sitar, schoolhouse soul and a stock-
Tucson quintet sticks to psychedelic origins Denton music scene includes anti-cultured Holy Rolling Empire By Robert Rich Daily Texan Staff Never mind, MySpace. Never mind, blogosphere. The best way to find new music is to go to Dallas for the Red River Rivalry. A quick trip to Denton the night before last week’s game ended in an hour spent at a local bar with Tucson quintet Holy Rolling Empire. Comprising musicians who have almost all known each other since middle school, the band’s current incarnation highlights a mix of infectious indie rock with an undercurrent of counterculture-esque psychedelia. “We wanted something that sounded modern, but we’re really into the intensity and psychedelia of the ‘60s and ‘70s, so we wanted to bring that out, too,� said guitarist Ian Carstensen. The group is touring to support its debut album, Gigantis, which was released in March. Despite the hard-hitting sound of the group’s music, they’re quick to have fun, and the album title is one example of that. “We were just joking around about some nerdy city called Gigantis, like it’d be from a fantasy novel or something, and decided
11
LIFE&ARTS
Friday, October 23, 2009
we’d just name the album that,� Carstensen said. But the group’s influences don’t stop at rock and psychedelia. They’ve been jamming everything from The Eagles to Otis Redding in their touring van. “We have an XM Radio in the van, and as much as we listen to anything else, we listen to the Hip-Hop Nation station,� Carstensen said. “It’s just fascinating, you know. It’s a genre that started as sort of this simplistic thing, just a boom box and someone rapping over other songs. Now, it’s turned into this insanely well-produced, cuttingedge thing.� Tours with bands like Good Old War have set them on the fast track to nationwide exposure, and as long as they keep their wits about them, they’re positioned to roll into the spotlight. “There’s no reason not to come out,� Carstensen said coyly. “It’s the Mohawk, which is an awesome venue. It’s gonna be the place to be.�
pile of rhythms.� And while Pareles, Powell and myself each find something slightly different in White Denim’s music, the point is clear: the band is making eclectic and multifaceted music condensed into catchy threeminute packages. This mix of pop hooks, homages to previous decades and a dedication to forging original riffs is a magnetic combination. White Denim’s magnetism was especially apparent when a sizeable crowd of vibrating listeners thronged to the then-little-known band’s ACL stage in response to Petralli’s demanding wails, Steve Terebecki’s hypnotic bass lines and Josh Block’s complicated-yet-playful backbeats. In this past year, White Denim has worked itself from one of the many local bands on the Red River Street circuit in Austin to a recognized and unique presence in the broader music scene. The band has quickly established itself as a heavy hitter not just locally but across the nation with enthusiastic nods from Pitchfork, Rolling Stone and The New York Times. But despite the press coverage and buzzing popularity, Petralli, bassist Terebecki and drummer Block are just as humble as they were before people began to take notice of their work. Writing and
recording music inside a secluded trailer in Driftwood and keeping a low profile when in their home base of Austin, this trio is taking stardom in stride. “All of us are the kind of guys that are really kind of obsessive and really work-oriented,� said Petralli. “It’s such a luxury that we get to do music for a living now. We are really cherishing that.� After a successful European tour last winter, White Denim has aptly chosen Austin as the locale where the band will unveil its latest LP, Fits, and kick off the band’s first North American tour. Compared to the band’s earlier releases, Fits is a more mature combination of White Denim’s eclectic sound. From prog rock to funk to a recurring reverence of jazz improvisations, it is just as exuberant as the earlier releases, yet the structural grace they have mastered since 2008’s Exposion is sure to solidify the band’s burgeoning position in the indie rock scene nationwide. WHAT: White Denim CD release party with Brazos WHERE: 912 Red River St. WHEN: Saturday at 9 p.m. TICKETS: $10 in advance, $12 at the door
Courtesy of Tell All Your Friends
Austin band White Denim has exploded in the past year, touring across the country and receiving praise from The New York Times. The band is back in town Saturday to celebrate the release of its newest LP, Fits.
HELM: Label moves forward with Web site launch, boutique openings From page 12 I’m exasperated because I’ve floated it all.� Bingaman drew his first boot design just eight months ago. He took elements from his favorite military boots and mixed and matched, throwing in bits from nicer dress shoes to make a boot appropriate for wearing with jeans or with a suit. He now has seven in his line, all handmade in Istanbul, to be sold only in select cities such as Austin, Brooklyn, LA, San Francisco and London. The boots will be available
in only two boutiques per city, with one boutique opening in New York this week. “I’ve watched brands get ruined by [over-saturation],� Bingaman says. “I really want to keep it like, ‘Dude, I got a pair of Helms.’� He sees the handmade line as more than just a business venture. “Each boot has its own character and story that can’t be repeated. It’s all art,� he says. “Wearing a handmade boot is like wearing a sock.� All of the boots in the line are named after names his son uses for people, such as the Ray Ray, the
Tante, the Dunkel, the Emi, the Poppy and the Brock. Helm is his son Samuel’s middle name. The Samuel is also the name of a boot in the line. “If this whole thing takes off, I’ll send Samuel to college,� Bingaman says. “Or I’ll buy him a cello.� For now, though, Bingaman is intent on keeping the momentum going. In addition to the boutique opening in New York, the line’s Web site launches in two weeks. “If there’s no progress going on, then get out of the way,� he says. “I know that sounds aggressive, but not anybody can start a shoe line. I
almost maxed myself out.� Even sitting for a few minutes on the couch in the cluttered living room, Bingaman seems to get restless. His white and blue truck waits outside, and Lance Armstrong is waiting for a pair of boots, which Bingaman is set to deliver himself. “You have to think, ‘I’m going to do this,’ and then finally when it does, it doesn’t seem as lofty,� he says. “But you have to keep your mind on reality. You still have to bust ass. If I’m ever a business owner who doesn’t, I don’t want to do it anymore.�
WHAT: The Holy Rolling Empire with Crooks WHERE: The Mohawk (inside), 912 Red River St. WHEN: Saturday at 11:30 p.m. PRICE: TBA
Find your crew (they can be anybody). Download, print, and fill out a registration form with you team name and information. Drop that, and the $40 (per team) registration fee off in room 3.200 at the Hearst Student Media building on the UT campus. Provide your own equipment, such as a camera and a microphone.
WIN!
$250 Museum IMAX Fun Packs $200
12 LIFE
LIFE&ARTS
12
Friday, October 23, 2009
Life&Arts Editor: Leigh Patterson E-mail: lifeandarts@dailytexanonline.com Phone: (512) 232-2209 www.dailytexanonline.com
T HE DAILY TEXAN
Woman braves ghostly beings
Local cafe owner creates own line of designer boots boots based on what he describes By Ben Wermund as a “peculiar shoe fetish.� Daily Texan Staff “I haven’t had time to process T-shirts, boxes, catalogues and cards clutter a small office in an it,� he says about the invite-only East Austin house, all bearing launch party. He starts recounting the night, describing the New one word: “Helm.� “We’re going to need some York-meets-Austin aesthetic — music for this,� says Joshua the bamboo-bordered parking lot Bingaman, the owner of Progress party on the east access of InterCoffee, a small coffee shop and state 35, barbecue served against cafe off East Fifth Street, and the a projected backdrop of classic founder of Helm, a high-end fash- films, from “On the Waterfront� and “Rumion boot line. ble Fish� to Bingaman “Easy Rider,� stares at his movies that computer in influenced the middle of his boot line the room and Today, I’m going to my with a mascusifts through h i s M P 3 s . storage room to pull pairs line aesthetic Eventually, for Lance Armstrong and of boots and jeans. Then he settles on Andy Roddick.� his phone something with driv— Joshua Bingaman rings. hangs ing bass and founder of Helm upHeand exdroning elecplains it was tric guitars, the owner of then rises a local club, a from his chair and heads into the living room good friend of his with whom he is working on a new square-toed on the other side of the house. The room is cluttered with boot design. “He was flipping out about the similarly labeled items. In the center is a large metal coffeemak- other night,� he says before picker, unplugged and left awkward- ing up where he left off. “Guys [who] are shoe aficioly lying on the ground. Bingaman grabs a Topo Chico from the nados were walking up to me fridge, walks past the coffeemak- saying, ‘This is what I’ve been er and sits down on the couch, looking for,’ and I’m there on my bathed in natural sunlight from ninth espresso just laughing,� Bingaman says. “Celebrities are the window behind him. “Well, I’m still alive,� he says, mailing me now. Today, I’m going to my storage room to pull taking a sip of his drink. It’s a Wednesday afternoon, pairs for Lance Armstrong and four days since the launch par- Andy Roddick.� Then he catches himself, and ty for Helm, Bingaman’s newest business venture, and four days without much room for breath, changes pace. since Bingaman turned 30. “That’s not why I got into it, In his life, Bingaman has recorded music in Los Angeles, though,� Bingaman says. “I’m toured with a band and opened having as much fun with my a shoe store in San Francisco phone blowing up with texts that got so out of control that he from people who missed the removed to Austin and opened lease and taking them pairs in Progress Coffee. He says he has my truck. It’s really fun, but lived his life on a mantra of “less talk, more rock� and now designs HELM continues on page 11
‘‘
Lauren Gerson | Daily Texan Staff
Bertie Denby, founder of the Ghost Hunters of Texas, has been involved in ghost hunting since she was 6 years old.
Ghost hunter discusses her experience with paranormal encounters By Robert Rich Bertie Denby is a ghost hunter. A childhood interest in the paranormal spurred her to form the Ghost Hunters of Texas, a group that helps the haunted and the harrowed by seeking evidence through video, audio and other means. One thing’s for sure, though. Denby doesn’t believe every speck
of dust on the camera is an orb. Like any good paranormal investigator, she maintains a degree of skepticism, ensuring that when she does capture something, she knows it’s legitimate. I’ve always been intrigued by the paranormal. My interest was driven by fear as a child, so when you get older, you confront that fear. Scary shows and films kept me intrigued. As an adult, there was nothing groundbreaking that happened other than just getting tired of watching the people on TV and deciding I should
be doing this. In 2006 around October, of course fueled by the spirit of Halloween, I joined a group for ghost hunting with the idea of meeting people to see where it goes. The group had a dinner and then a ghost hunt at Davis Cemetery in Leander. I met this guy who had the same idea in mind, and we formed this four-person team, and it’s been built from there. When I was about 10 or 11, I was at my aunt and uncle’s house, and I fell asleep on their couch. They usual-
WELCOME UT VISIT DOBIE
for a personal tour... CLASS OF 2013!
And see why we were & ' # (% " +#(% #% "' ' #" #% $ %&#" '#(% " & * + * * % voted #1 UTmost Off )#' ' #&' !$(& #%! Campus Dorm over " #" (" ' ' ) # ' ''$ ' "+(% the past 4 #! % % & years
Joshua Bingaman, owner of Progress Coffee, stands behind his recently released highend fashion line of boots, Helm.
GHOST continues on page 11
Check out www.DobieCenter.com for our competitive rates!
Peyton McGee Daily Texan Staff
MOVIE REVIEW
Film offers great stunts, poor story
Amenities Private bathrooms in all rooms Full service dining with extended hours Located directly across the street from campus Free internet Free weekly housekeeping Unlimited free printing Lighted basketball & volleyball courts 24-hour fitness center Mall in lower level with movie theatre Swimming pool and spa area Sophisticated roommate matching service Newly renovated lobby
ly wake me up and guide me to the bed, but this time they left me [there]. I woke up in the middle of the night. It was pitch black, and I noticed that my uncle was sitting in his chair. I could tell by his silhouette that it was him. He stood up and slowly started walking toward me, just the way he walked. I started screaming his name over and over when he didn’t answer, and at the opposite end of the house, a light flips on and my uncle comes running down the hall. I was in bed, and I had woken up. And when I opened my eyes, there was a white mist hovering over my face. It wasn’t that it scared me — it was just intrusive because it was so close. The most common paranormal phenomena are strange noises. There’s a lot of noise that can be discounted through house-settling or neighbors. I was at one case where there were reports of footsteps in the hallway, and it turns out the air conditioner was in the hallway, and when it kicked on, there was a thud. I don’t try to convince any skeptics to believe in ghosts. I don’t try to teach believers to be more skeptical. I like to gather the evidence and let it speak for itself, and if they still choose not to accept it, I can’t make them. I’ve been following “Ghost Hunters� on the Syfy channel since it debuted. I watch everything haunted, but I like that one because of the way they approach things, which is how
,
By Robert Doty Daily Texan Staff Watching the new movie “Ong Bak 2,� I had the distinct impression that I was attending Cirque du Soleil. Dumbfounded by the physical capabilities of other supposed human beings, audiences sat enraptured by performers moving faster and in more directions than seemingly possible. But all the themes and vague plots serve as window-dressing to this main event. “Ong Bak 2� tells more of a story than Cirque du Soleil, but it is often clumsy, at times terribly slow and always predictable. If you bought the ticket because you wanted a masterfully told story, you have only yourself to blame. Upon the release of 2005’s “Ong Bak: The Thai Warrior,� critics heralded its star, Tony Jaa, as the next martial arts phenomenon. Eschewing the martial arts ballets that gained popularity following the success of “Crouching Tiger, Hidden
Dragon,� “Ong Bak� relied solely on Jaa’s talents, abandoning both computer-generated effects and mechanical stunt assistance, a legacy that “Ong Bak 2� has continued. This emphasis on “real� stunts yields a grit that other action films will never understand. It sheds the disingenuous elegance of films like “Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon� and reminds us that martial arts is a war, not a dance. In one sequence, Jaa runs along the backs of stampeding elephants, slipping on their skin. It never strikes you as elegant, only extremely difficult. It’s this particular combination that imbues the film with a jarring sense of realism. And though the fighting sequences in the film will astonish even the most jaded martial arts lover, the story leaves much to be desired. The film follows Tiang (played by Natdanai Kongthong as a young man and Jaa as an adult) as he flees an evil warlord, is sold into slavery and is eventually rescued by bandits. As the society of bandits teach-
es him their ways, we learn about his past through flashbacks. It’s extremely routine, often uninteresting and terribly structured. Also, the poor direction only make things worse. “Ong Bak 2� marks Jaa’s first foray into directing, and it shows. Jaa underplays key aspects of the storytelling and dwells too long on unimportant plot points. For instance, the training sequence at the bandit stronghold seems to go on for hours and does very little to further the plot. But, of course, that’s not why you bought the ticket. You bought the ticket because you wanted to see the amazing skills of a martial arts god. You want to see sword fights, knife fights and fights with weapons you’ve never seen before. You want to see Tony Jaa battling minion after minion. And if that’s what you want, “Ong Bak 2� is the ticket for you.