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Trombones salute Fine Arts grads By Viviana Aldous Daily Texan Staff Hundreds of degree candidates from 12 colleges walked across the stage Saturday and Sunday, making the transition from student to graduate. In lieu of a speaker for the College of Fine Arts’ commencement ceremony Saturday, a trombone choir performed for the college’s 69 graduates and their guests. College of Fine Arts Dean Doug Dempster said the graduates would fulfill the world’s insatiable desire for art, music, theater and dance. Each year during the college’s winter commencement, a faculty member is recognized with the Distinguished Teaching Award. After he was notified that he received this year’s award, trombone professor Nathaniel Brickens decided

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to “try something new and entirely appropriate for the College of Fine Arts,” Dempster said. The trombone choir, comprised of 26 UT students, performed Girolamo Frescobaldi’s “Toccata” and Allen Chase’s “Passacaglia.” “It is very fitting for the College of Fine Arts that you celebrate with music instead of words,” said Mary Lee Webeck, who watched her daughter Kelly walk across the stage. “[The college] teaches students about different forms of expression.” Jessica Bartholome, who graduated Saturday with bachelor’s degrees in studio art and French, said she was surprised there was a performance instead of a speaker. “It obviously had more of an

GRADUATION continues on page 2 Lauren Gerson | Daily Texan Staff

Texas players Jorge Martinez, Steve Moore and Michael Huey celebrate defeating Nebraska 13-12 in the Big 12 Championship game on Saturday night in Arlington.

Last-second kick propels Texas into National Championship

Mary Kang | Daily Texan Staff

Manju Chacko, electrical and computer engineering graduate, prepares to walk onstage for the Cockrell School of Engineering graduation at the Frank Erwin Center on Saturday morning.

By Michael Sherfield Daily Texan Staff ARLINGTON — It’s good. That was the only thing that mattered as Hunter Lawrence and the rest of his teammates watched his 46-yard field goal squeak through the uprights at Cowboys Stadium with no time on the clock to beat Nebraska 13-12 Saturday night. The way Texas got there was already an afterthought as holder Jordan Shipley tackled Lawrence and burnt orange

confetti rained down. “Everybody on the team was really confident [in me],” Lawrence said. “I had to make it for them.” It was the second celebration in as many plays, but from the other sideline. The Cornhuskers thought they won the game and stormed the field when the clock expired during Colt McCoy’s throw out of bounds. The play was reviewed, one second was added and Lawrence delivered, winning the game

Supporters rally for Houston mayor By Rachel Platis Daily Texan Staff Hundreds of Bill White supporters flowed out of a room that one supporter described as “slightly smaller than a legislature’s broom closet” at a rally for the Democratic gubernatorial hopeful. Audience members stood shoulder-toshoulder at the event for the Houston mayor Sunday night, when many Texas politicians spoke and endorsed White’s run for governor. “It’s been a long time since I’ve seen this much excitement for a public race,” said Austin Mayor Lee Leffingwell, who has endorsed White along with every member of the Austin City Council. White announced his intention to run for governor Friday, joining two Democratic candidates that include musician Kinky Friedman and hair-care company owner Farouk Shami. Rancher Hank Gilbert dropped out of the gubernatorial race and

RACE continues on page 2

Caleb Bryant Miller | Daily Texan Staff

Mayor Bill White shakes hands with state Rep. Mark Strama after a rally for his gubernatorial candidacy at Sholtz Garten on Sunday night.

and sending Texas on a collision course with Alabama in the BCS National Championship Game next month. “I knew there was a second left. I was trying to get time-out with the official, but it was loud and he couldn’t hear me,” said head coach Mack Brown. “Then Colt snapped the ball and Colt knows what he’s doing. I never even felt there was any chance that there wasn’t

CHAMPS continues on page 9

Student’s documentary to air on national TV By Jim Pagels Daily Texan Staff Anthony Penta is looking forward to the day his documentary about paranormal activity airs on television. The radio-television-film graduate student has worked on his first documentary, “A Casebook on Remote Viewing,” since he first enrolled at UT in 2006. The Documentary Channel will broadcast his documentary early next year. “I got to class, and the first thing my professor told me was, ‘Hey, welcome to UT. You’re going to have to make a documentary. Start thinking about ideas now,’” Penta said. “I started looking at anything that might be interesting, [including] sea turtles [and] scientific research. I finally found a study on para-

psychology that I decided to base my film on.” After partnering with UT, the national TV network will have exclusive U.S. broadcast rights to select films from student documentary filmmakers. Three other films in addition to Penta’s have been selected for broadcast so far: “The Cockroach Project” by Ruth Fertig, “Dreams in all Sizes” by Christina Kim and “Pay Dirt” by Berndt Mader. DOC U, a program that regularly highlights film school students and their productions, will showcase the films in early 2010. Kate Pearson, the TV network’s senior vice president of programming and acquisitions, said a deal with UT has been in the works for

FILM continues on page 2

Engineering students host concert for ‘underserved’ Projects aim to construct sanitary water systems for needy in Peru, Ghana By Priscilla Totiyapungprasert Daily Texan Staff Strings of Christmas lights and raindrops decorated the outdoor stage at Cherrywood Coffeehouse as patrons watched musical artists Kalua, Cameron Vail and When the Lights Turn Red take the stage for a benefit concert. Students from the Cockrell School of Engineering hosted the performance Sunday night to raise money for water projects in

Peru and Ghana. Along with help from UT for Rural Enhancement through Education & Design, students gave presentations about their cause in between each performer. The engineering students are enrolled in a new course called Projects for Underserved Communities. Students split themselves into two groups, Peru and Ghana, to work on building a sanitary water system in the two countries. A school in Santa Cruz, Peru permits its 500 students one hour of water use daily, said Tim Krahel, a civil engineering senior. The

water is often times unreliable and dirty, he added. The Peru team plans on drilling a well pump and building a water storage with help from Peruvian building company Pluspetrol. If successful, the team will return to Peru to add a sanitary toilet system, since the Peruvian students currently use most of the water for toilets, leaving less for class labs and drinking, Krahel said. “It was an eye-opener to see how real these projects are,” Krahel said. “You don’t realize all the details behind the scenes, like the risks, analyzing it all and how

much time it takes. You have to start big and narrow it down.” The course, taught by professors Janet Ellzey and James O’Connor, is divided into three parts. This semester, the students researched and began thinking of project ideas for developing countries. Next semester, they will design and figure out the logistics of the projects before traveling to the countries in the summer for four weeks. There are 24 students total takCurt Youngblood | Daily Texan Staff ing the course. “It is important for engineers Several attendees of UT for REED’s “Concert for a Cause” look at PowerPoint presentations on the projects that the concert’s proceeds CONCERT continues on page 2 are going to help fund.

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Monday, December 7, 2009

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College of Natural Science students enter the Frank Erwin center for their fall commencement ceremony on Sunday.

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impact on music majors, but it was fun,” Bartholome said. Theater and dance senior Holly Kwasny, who attended to watch her friend graduate, said the ceremony was ex-

Other colleges’ commencement ceremonies included speakers such as Elizabeth Avellan, producer and vice-president of Troublemaker Studios in Austin, for the College of Communication; Eduardo Sanchez, vice president and chief medical officer for Blue

Cross and Blue Shield of Texas, for the School of Nursing; and Thomas Baker, chairman emeritus of Energy Future Holdings Corp., for the Cockrell School of Engineering. Dempster said all graduates now possess a “credential that distin-

RAce: Texas politicians endorse Democratic hopeful From page 1 filed for the agriculture commissioner’s race the same day White announced he would run. Leffingwell reminded the crowd that it’s been almost 15 years since Texas has seen a Democratic governor but that it was Texas that bred such politicians as Ann Richards and Barbara Jordan. Former mayor Kirk Watson, who is also seeking re-election to the state senate, encouraged voters to talk to friends, family and “everyone you know on Facebook” about White’s run. Watson addressed Republican incumbent Rick Perry’s intent to run for re-election and the change he hoped to see come to Texas. “[Some] want us to believe that this is as good as it gets and that if

The Daily Texan Permanent Staff

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Editor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Jillian Sheridan Managing Editor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Stephen Keller Associate Managing Editors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . David R. Henry, Ana McKenzie Associate Editors . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Jeremy Burchard, Dan Treadway, David Muto, Lauren Winchester News Editor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Sean Beherec Associate News Editors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Pierre Bertrand, Austen Sofhauser, 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 . . . . Lauren Gerson, 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 Editorial Adviser . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Richard Finnell

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Reporters . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Jim Pagels, Priscilla Pelli, Audrey White Photographers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Maddie Crum, Laura Haase, Rachel Taylor, Curt Youngblood Life&Arts Writers. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Alexa Hart, Susannah Jacob, Molly Wahlberg Columnist . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Emily Grubert Editorial Cartoonist . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Michael Murphy Copy Editors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Dylan Clement, Ashley Morgan, Beth Waldman Sports/Life&Arts Copy Editor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Molly Nesbitt Wire Editor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Micaela Neumann Page Designers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Amanda Hicks, Stacey Long Comics Artists . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Rachel Weiss, Katie Smith, Connor Shea . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Nam Nguyen, Amelia Giller, Ryan Hailey, Gabe Alvarez, Jermaine Alfonso Web Technician . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Timmy Huynh Volunteer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Jessica Lee

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citing because it was a smaller version of what she will experience in May. “The ceremony is more private and intimate, but everybody still needs a speaker,” Kwasny said. “A band just isn’t the same.”

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you want to improve things, then “We need a governor we don’t you’re just not proud of Texas,” have to apologize for and a govWatson said. “We have a word ernor who will lead the nation, for that, and it’s ‘bull.’” not leave the nation,” White Watson spoke of White’s ac- said. complishments White said in Houston and that though he said he had may not be as hopes that White polished as those would welcome for the We need a governor running those of all politoffice, he knows we don’t have to ical beliefs to the how to bring table. people togethapologize for and a Texas currenter to get things governor who will ly holds the highdone. lead the nation, not est percentage “We know it’s of adults withgoing to get dirty leave the nation.” out a high school and that we can diploma and — Bill White expect negativithe highest perGovernor of Houston ty, but isn’t Texcentage of kids as worth fightwithout mediing for?” White cal health insursaid. ance. White took Political figthe microphone and to speak ures such as Democratic state on these statistics and about the representatives Dawnna Dukes, leadership it will take to solve Donna Howard, Mark Strama these problems. White demand- and others either spoke or were ed a governor accountable for recognized for their endorseresults. ment.

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Government junior Danielle Faulkner learned about the rally through groups on Facebook and also heard White speak last semester when she was active in University Democrats. She said that though she generally tries to do her own research on candidates after hearing them speak, she was impressed by White’s track record in the Houston community. Faulkner has been active in Texas politics since last fall and said that she plans to volunteer for White’s campaign this year. “Like Dawnna Dukes said, I think Bill White will do a good job regardless of the position he runs for,” she said. Austin High School senior Rachel Cross attended the rally with a group of classmates interested in the Texas political process. “I’m not sure that White has a huge chance, but there was some good energy tonight, and I didn’t think it would be this crowded,” Cross said.

cONceRT: Students provide solutions, relief From page 1 to gain real-world experience in countries where they will be working for international companies,” Ellzey said. “The students are committed to building relationships with communities who need their technical expertise. Working together, they will be able to create meaningful solutions that will provide relief to people who face serious challenges.”

Teaching assistant David Gatchell worked extensively in projects in Afghanistan, Uzbekistan and other countries for seven years before returning to the United States in August for graduate school. Although teachers provide the basic framework, students do their own planning and learn from their own successes and failures, Gatchell said. He advises engineering students who are

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interested in working in developing countries after college to gain experience working as an engineer in the United States or another developed country first. Students can then carry this knowledge with them to countries that lack resources and be better at adapting to situations, he said. “I’m impressed with the enthusiasm these students have to learn about their projects and how much they’ve made happen in such a short amount of time,” Gatchell said.

guishes [them as] one in a million.” “Some of you may be thinking this is not a great time to be graduating,” Dempster said. “But I think your timing is impeccable. [You will] reinvent the world as a better place after our generation made a hash of it.”

fIlm: Partnership

brings publicity to RTF program From page 1

more than three years. “Austin is a natural place to go if you’re looking for artistic innovations,” she said. “The students coming out of UT are probably some of the top film students in the country.” Ellen Spiro, co-director of UT’s Documentary Film Center, said the partnership is an invaluable opportunity for student filmmakers. “It’s one thing to just make a film, but to have the stamp of approval from a group like The Documentary Channel really gives their films an added recognition,” she said. The partnership will continue on an annual basis, and any films created by UT students are eligible for the selection process, Spiro said. By the end of the spring 2010 semester, several more UT student documentaries will be selected for broadcast on The Documentary Channel. The network is the first channel devoted exclusively to documentary films. Pearson said she hopes the students can use their publicity from The Documentary Channel to jump-start their film careers. “By airing their films on The Documentary Channel, they will receive a lot more recognition from other students, media representatives and even studios,” she said. “It’s kind of a dream come true for any student to get a film on national television.” Penta said he has already put the distinction on his resume. “It feels really good that this amount of attention is being directed at UT’s program,” Penta said. “We certainly have one of the top programs in the country, but we’re [often overshadowed] by other schools.”

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Morales highly favored for re-election in Bolivia happy with the annual subsidies By Frank Bajak Morales provides her three chilThe Associated Press LA PAZ, Bolivia — President dren for attending school and with Evo Morales, a coca-grower at the teachers and computers her ruodds with Washington but huge- ral village has received. A victory by Morales, who led ly popular at home for empowering Bolivia’s long-suppressed in- opinion polls with about 55 percent digenous majority, was expected to support, would extend the stability he has brought to a country notocoast to re-election on Sunday. Such a victory would augur fur- rious for coups and that had five ther revolutionary change, though presidents in the five years precedopponents say they fear Morales ing his December 2005 election. The vote comes under a new will curb free speech and human constitution ratirights. fied by voters in Bolivia’s voters January that alwere also chooslowed Morales to ing a new Conrun for a second gress, with MoThe decision is for term, and which rales’ stridently leftist Movement change. This is what remade Bolivia as a “plurinationToward Socialthe people will decide al” state, allowing ism hoping for a self-rule for the two-thirds majoriwith their vote.” poor South Amerty so it can dictate — Evo Morales ican country’s 36 terms of a law on indigenous terriBolivian president native peoples. Twelve of Bolivtorial self-rule. ia’s more than 330 A super-mamunicipalities are jority would also voting Sunday on give the 50-yearold incumbent the votes needed indigenous autonomy. Approval to amend the constitution so he would allow the forsaking of modcould run for a third straight term, ern political structures in favor though he has been evasive on the of traditional Indian governance based on consensus-building. issue. Morales, an Aymara Indian like Trinidad Achata, a 39-year-old maid and a member of Bolivia’s Achata, is Bolivia’s first indigedominant Aymara ethnic group nous president. He voted Sunday who lives in the capital of La Paz, in the central coca-growing region cast her vote for Morales. “Who of Chapare. “The decision is for change,” he else is there?” she said, smiling said. “This is what the people will through gold-plated teeth. Achata said she is especially decide with their vote.”

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Kevin Wolf | Associated Press

The 2009 Kennedy Center Honorees Grace Bumbry, Robert De Niro, Bruce Springsteen, Mel Brooks and Dave Brubeck share a laugh at the State Department following the Kennedy Center Honors Gala Dinner on Saturday in Washington.

Kennedy Center honors artists By Brett Zongker The Associated Press WASHINGTON — With a little help from Carol Burnett, a new star from the hit TV show “Glee” and other top entertainers, political Washington is saluting five of the nation’s top artists with the Kennedy Center Honors this weekend. A surprise list of star performers will honor Bruce Springsteen, Robert De Niro and comic genius Mel Brooks Sunday night during a show attended by President Barack Obama and other power players from Washington and Hollywood. Also receiving the honors — which recognize individuals who have defined American culture through the arts as a living memorial to John F. Kennedy — are jazz pianist and composer Dave Brubeck and opera singer Grace Bumbry. “It’s different than everything else,” Springsteen, 60, said of the award Saturday night at a State Department dinner honoring the group. “We worked really hard for our music to be part of American life and our fans’ lives. So it’s an acknowledgment that you’ve kind of threaded your way into the culture in a certain way. It’s satisfying.” The show will air nationwide Dec. 29 on CBS. State Department officials would not say whether security for Saturday’s event had been heightened after a Virginia couple recently sneaked into a White House State dinner. The gala Sunday is Obama’s first big event since Micheale and Tareq Salahi slipped past White House security Nov. 24. The Secret Service runs security for Kennedy Center events the president attends, and ev-

eryone who enters must have a ticket that will be checked at the door. Burnett led a series of toasts at a more private celebration for the honorees Saturday night after a dinner for about 200 hosted by Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. Several of the honorees, Clinton said, have been at the forefront of cultural diplomacy. Brubeck, who turns 89 on Sunday, was sent abroad in the Cold War, she said, to serve as an ambassador with his music in countries teetering between democracy and communism. And Springsteen played a rock concert in East Berlin for 160,000 people just 16 months before the Berlin Wall fell — a concert many Germans remember 20 years later, Clinton said. “In every time and every culture, artists have lit the way toward progress,” she said. “They’ve helped to provide a common language, a fabric that weaves us together as human beings.” Then there’s the more irreverent arts. Even the mention of Brooks’ number “Springtime for Hitler” from “The Producers” was enough to draw chuckles. Brooks, 83, said it’s special to receive the honor during the Obama administration. He said he’ll whisper something in the president’s ear about the need for more federal funding for the arts. “I think when all my awards go to e-Bay, it will be the last,” Brooks said of the Kennedy Center medallion. “That’s how much I treasure it.” Many workers and guests were even more gaga Saturday night over seeing Matthew Morrison from TV’s “Glee.” They recognized him as Mr. Schuster,

the high school teacher and glee club coach from the Fox show. Morrison said he was elated to visit Washington to help honor Brooks. “I like crossing the line every now and then, and he’s kind of the master of crossing that line, being a little offensive at times,” Morrison said. “The man is a living legend.” Other big names in town for the honors include Meryl Streep, Martin Scorsese, Sharon Stone and others. Actor Philip Seymour Hoffman was seated near Clinton, along with journalist Barbara Walters. She turned heads Saturday night, arriving as actor Frank Langella’s date. Jon Stewart was seated at Springsteen’s table, along with Caroline Kennedy. Former President Bill Clin-

ton, a saxophone player, offered a moving toast for Brubeck. He said he first saw Brubeck’s quartet in concert when he was about 15 years old and was “utterly captivated.” Later when Clinton invited Brubeck to the White House in 1994, the musician quizzed the president on what songs besides “Take Five” he liked from Brubeck’s album, “Time Out,” which was released 50 years ago this month. He even asked Clinton if he could hum the bridge to “Blue Rondo a la Turk.” And Clinton passed the test. A week later, Brubeck sent the president an autographed picture and chart from the song. “It hangs in the music room of my home today,” Clinton said. “It hung in the White House every single day I was there.”

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OPINION

Monday, December 7, 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

My road to Copenhagen

GALLERY

OVERVIEW Failed leadership at Virginia Tech Many are calling for Virginia Tech President Charles Stager to resign following the release of a report detailing the 2007 massacre on the Virginia Tech campus. The revised state report, released Friday, revealed that at least two members of the university’s Policy Group, in charge of handling the emergency, contacted immediate family members to warn them more than an hour before the rest of the campus was notified. Campus trash pickup was canceled 21 minutes before students and teachers were warned, and the university president’s office was on lockdown 30 minutes before the rest of campus. According to The New York Times, students living in the dorm where the first two victims were killed were allowed to attend 9 a.m. classes despite officials’ knowledge that the shooter was still at large. At least two of those students were killed. Although an initial report already stated that lives could have been saved by a quicker response from campus officials, the new evidence makes it painfully obvious how many lives were needlessly lost. As the president hid safely in his office, students went about their lives, unaware of the tragedy that had already struck — and the one that was about to strike. While retroactively assigning blame will do nothing to bring back those who were killed, it seems impossible for Virginia Tech to continue looking to Stager as a trustworthy leader when he deliberately kept such crucial information from the campus at a very high cost. Since the tragedy, campuses across the nation have taken measures to increase mental health treatment, identify dangerous students early and notify students in case of emergencies. UT has actively promoted its text alert system through which students can be notified of emergencies. (Sign up to receive text messages at utexas.edu/safety/communication.) Campus officials at Virginia Tech were careless and selfish, protecting themselves and their families while endangering the rest of the student body. Such leaders cannot be trusted to guide the campus through any future emergencies. This information should serve as a wake-up call to all universities that every threat should be taken seriously and that, in the case of an emergency, student safety should come first.

UT launches ‘Know’ The University’s Office of Public Affairs recently announced via e-mail the launch of “Know,” a newsbased Web initiative. The site goes live today, featuring content “aggregated from across the University” designed to provide “a more immediate connection to how the University’s missions of teaching, research and service respond to and affect local, national and global concerns.” The Web site will replace the OnCampus Web site and weekly publication. The site will serve as a good marketing tool for the University, as it features press releases and stories about the University’s involvement in student lives as well as digital media content. Though the site is billed as a news site dedicated to informing students, it is not quite accurate to call its content news. It’s unclear what sources will provide particular content, such as opinion columns and “relevant and timely content about the University’s faculty, staff and students.” Because the site is maintained by the University (through the Office of Public Affairs, no less), the content will lend itself better to public relations than news for informing students, faculty and staff. Still, a redesigned information-based site is a welcome addition to UT’s ever-adapting “Web Central” (utexas.edu). The University hopes to “reflect the perspectives of people across the University.” But, as with all news outlets, readers would be wise to note the source on topics of concern.

Governor’s race update Frantic last days of class, upcoming finals and football have kept UT students busy in the typical end-of-semester rush. While we studied and celebrated, a flurry of activity surrounded gubernatorial politics. Democratic candidate Hank Gilbert dropped out of the crowded governor’s race Friday and endorsed fellow Democratic candidate Farouk Shami, a wealthy Houston businessman who entered the race in late November and plans to use millions of his own dollars to finance his campaign. Gilbert said he backed Shami instead of popular democratic candidate and Houston Mayor Bill White because he has trust issues with White, who he said “gave him his word” that he would stay in the U.S. Senate race. Gilbert now plans to run for agriculture commissioner. Continuing the endorsement theme, Austin Mayor Lee Leffingwell and five of the six Austin city council members announced their support for White on Saturday. Among the endorsees were Sheryl Cole, Mike Martinez, Laura Morrison, Chris Riley and Randi Shade. Then, on Sunday, The New York Times published a profile of Gov. Rick Perry that includes a description of the cowboy-boot-wearing governor eating popcorn from a plastic bag, talking about Christianity, lavishly praising Sam Houston, “oozing” testosterone and imitating George W. Bush “on steroids.”

THE FIRING LINE A questionable call Well, Texas football finally won the big one, the Big 12 championship — thanks to the referee. I cheered on Texas, but let’s be honest: Texas didn’t win the game fairly. The team played poorly and beat Nebraska on a questionable call. The referees obviously helped Texas by putting one second back on the board, giving Texas a chance to kick a field goal that shouldn’t have been allowed. The asterisk next to your name like we had last year carries a lot of negative influence. Good luck!

— Craig Hitchcock University of Oklahoma

By Emily Grubert Daily Texan Columnist

H1N1: Take it seriously By Kathleen Sebelius Daily Texan Guest Columnist

Editor’s note: UT staff will administer H1N1 vaccinations in Room G1.310 of the Student Services Building today from 11 a.m. until 4:30 p.m. or until out of vaccinations. The cost is $5, and students, faculty and staff must have their UT IDs present. As you head towards finals and the holidays, there’s an important step you should take to stay healthy: Get the H1N1 flu vaccine. This year’s flu season is the worst in many years, and young adults have been hit especially hard by the H1N1 flu. Who is in the age group most likely to get H1N1? People under 25. Who gets so sick they need to be hospitalized? Half of them are under 25. And who is least likely to get a flu shot? People under 25. I am writing today to urge you to take H1N1 flu seriously, not just as the secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services, who has read lots of scientific studies saying this is a young person’s pandemic, but also as a mother of two sons who not long ago were sitting exactly where you are today. I know it’s easy to believe that the flu is something that only the very old or the very young need to worry about, that catching the flu is no big deal. But no flu should ever be dismissed as “just the flu.” The regular, seasonal flu is responsible for 36,000 deaths every year — mainly in people over 65. But H1N1 mainly hits the young. And even though most cases are mild, some can be quite severe. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that about 540 children and teenagers have died from H1N1 flu since April, and we are only at the beginning of the official flu season. Some of those who died were perfectly healthy when they caught the flu. So what can you do to protect yourself and people around you from flu? Get vaccinated. It’s the most effective way to prevent the flu. The H1N1 flu vaccine is made the same way as the seasonal flu vaccine, which has a decades-long safety track record. And it’s undergone more testing than other flu vaccines. If you’re someone with a health condition like diabetes or asthma, the CDC says you should get vaccinated as soon as your community has vaccine available. Other groups at high risk for serious complications include young children and pregnant women. Also, people who care for babies younger than six months, health care workers and emergency medical personnel should go to the head of the vaccination line. In addition, many people do not realize that simply being younger than 25 also puts you in a priority group to receive the vaccine. So look into

getting vaccinated at school or when you go home for the holidays. Check out the flu.gov flu vaccination locator to find the best place for you to go to get vaccinated quickly. Stay home when you’re sick. If you do get the flu, there are things you should do to protect yourself and those around you. College campuses — dormitories, classes, wherever a lot of people are indoors together — are places the flu can spread. If you get sick, don’t go out, and don’t invite visitors in. If you live on campus but your home is not far away, consider going home until you’re well to avoid spreading the flu. If you live too far to go home, check to see if your college has alternate housing for ill students. Seek medical attention immediately if you have diabetes, asthma or some other medical condition and you notice flu-like symptoms. You should also ask your health care provider about anti-viral medication. If you already have flu symptoms, antivirals have been very effective at keeping the flu from getting worse. Even if you don’t have a chronic illness, if you have symptoms and they get worse — your fever spikes, you have difficulty breathing, you’re breathing too fast or you have chest pain — call a doctor or other health provider right away. Make it part of your daily routine to keep the flu from spreading. The H1N1 vaccine may not have arrived in your area yet, so keep doing the simple things everyone does to keep germs in check: Wash your hands, cough and sneeze into your sleeve and disinfect surfaces like computer keyboards and counter tops. Go to flu.gov. Check out our selfevaluation link to help you understand if your symptoms are really serious. There’s a flu locator for where the vaccine will be in your community; tips on prevention, including videos that give you critical information you can use; and even a section to help you know how to tell a flu fact from a myth on the Internet. There are widgets, buttons, public service announcements and a Facebook page, so you can spread H1N1 information — not the virus — to people you know. In addition, we just released a new video featuring students, young people and others talking about why they chose to get vaccinated. You can also tell us why you got vaccinated by submitting your own video at youtube.com/group/thefluandyou. No one knows whether this wave of H1N1 will get worse, taper off or be followed by another wave later in the season. But we do know that preventing the flu depends on all of us, and everyone will be safer if each one of us is serious about preventing and reducing the H1N1 flu.

So I ditched some school. Which is how I found myself not in Texas this past week, but in front of classrooms of highschoolers talking about the ethics and science of climate change, against the backdrop of a Connecticut that has yet to receive snowfall this winter. And how I found myself in London, unexpectedly happening upon the remnants of a huge climate demonstration that had taken place near the American embassy. And why I spent the night amid red and green balloons with pictures of cars (red) and trains (green) next to the symbol “CO2” in the Brussels train station. I write this from Hamburg, Germany, on St. Nicholas Day, where signs outside the Rathaus, or government building, herald demonstrations and public discussions on how international climate action will affect Hamburg. I am on my way to Copenhagen, Denmark, for the 15th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, which will run from Dec. 7 to 18. These conferences are held annually. The most famous is 1997’s COP-3, which produced the Kyoto Protocol. COP-15 has long been anticipated as an opportunity to update Kyoto. The first Kyoto compliance period ends in 2012, after which another protocol is meant to direct international action. While a binding protocol is no longer expected out of COP-15 at this point, the United States and China have made encouraging statements about potential willingness to take some kind of target for reducing greenhouse gas emissions relative to what they may otherwise have been. That’s rather cautiously worded, but such is the nature of climate negotiations. Reducing emissions over baseline — what would happen without targeted action — is much different from reducing emissions, which is much different from reducing the concentration of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. As a teacher who hosted me in her classroom last week said, “Anyone who tells you this climate stuff isn’t complicated is lying.” Many think that the American and Chinese statements belie far too little willingness to act. Given that these two countries alone account for more than half of global greenhouse gas emissions and are not currently bound by any commitments to reduce or slow those emissions, even weak statements are an important step. So what is going to happen in Copenhagen if a binding treaty is no longer expected? The U.S. and China will continue to get a lot of attention. American participation in global climate schemes would mean a lot for carbon markets, and Chinese willingness to take targets has implications for future actions by other developing countries. There will also be a lot of bitter disagreements whose root causes have very little to do with scientific certainty. Ethics run deep in the climate debate, and no amount of science can change the fact that people have different opinions about things like the value of the future relative to the present or the importance of equity relative to swift action. Forestry and land use changes that store more carbon in terrestrial systems will likely get some screen time, as will debates about changes in competitiveness as a result of climate action and about the Clean Development Mechanism, which theoretically allows wealthier countries to invest in carbon reductions in less developed countries. The Clean Development Mechanism is widely viewed as deeply flawed, and there are disagreements about whether it can or should be fixed. The question of if and how to incorporate developing countries into global efforts to reduce the potential for climate change and adapt to the climate changes that will be observed will also be important. For my part, I hope that Copenhagen recognizes a goal of global sustainability, which includes but is not restricted to a low-carbon society. Low-carbon technologies are many and varied, and they can have drastically different impacts on land, water, community and other systems that need to be considered. I also hope that the importance of collective action is stressed. Climate change is a global problem, and many of the problems with current actions would be reduced or eliminated by global participation. Concerns about losing competitiveness to countries with lower environmental standards are much less relevant if environmental standards are not very different across countries. Leakage problems, where carbon emissions simply move from areas with carbon restrictions to areas without restrictions, will not be as dangerous when all regions have carbon standards. Copenhagen will be politically and psychologically important for many regions and many reasons. If you’re interested, keep an eye on the news for the next couple of weeks. It should be an interesting ride.

Sebelius is the U.S. secretary of health and human services.

Grubert is an energy and earth resources graduate student.

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Monday, December 7, 2009

Texas judge talks historical career, court difficulties

ful court in Texas,â&#x20AC;? said AusJim Pagels tin resident Chris Penderson, a Daily Texan Staff Wallace Jefferson is often prospective law student. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s called â&#x20AC;&#x153;Texasâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Barack Obama,â&#x20AC;? definitely sparked my interbut the Texas Supreme Court est in pursuing a career in law justice has been making histo- someday.â&#x20AC;? Jefferson also addressed ry long before the presidentâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s some of the issues courts inauguration. The 46-year-old judge be- across the country are faccame the first black member ing today, including the small of the Texas Supreme Court compensation judges generalin 2001 and the courtâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s first ly receive for their services. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The people who serve as black chief justice in 2004. Jefferson discussed his career judges are not there for moneas well as current issues facing tary reasons. Many have gone the court at the Bass Lecture into debt and struggle [to fiHall at the LBJ School of Pub- nance] their studentâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s college tuition,â&#x20AC;? he said. lic Affairs on Friday. Wallace said â&#x20AC;&#x153;I went to if something is law school benot done soon, cause I wasnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t justice departreally sure ments across what I wantBased on country the nation will ed to do with redistricting and lose judges. my life,â&#x20AC;? he Jefferson said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;It endrecent voting trends, also commented up being there should definitely ed on the fact a pretty good be more [minorities that the Texdecision.â&#x20AC;? A Texas na- elected] in the next few a s S u p r e m e Courtâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s nine t i v e , J e ff e relections.â&#x20AC;? judges are all son received a Republican. bachelorâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s deâ&#x20AC;&#x201D; Wallace Jefferson â&#x20AC;&#x153;I donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t think gree in political philosophy U.S. Supreme it matters what party affiliafrom Michigan Court Justice tion a judge is State Univerwith,â&#x20AC;? he said. sity before enâ&#x20AC;&#x153;Only if peorolling at the ple are interUniversity of Texas School of Law. Following preting the law as it is intendgraduation, he entered private ed, I shouldnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t even be able to practice before being named a tell if someone is a Democrat or a Republican.â&#x20AC;? justice by Gov. Rick Perry. While there are currently no Speaking as part of the Center for Politics and Gov- African-American Republicans ernanceâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Perspective Se - in the Texas Legislature, Jefferries, Wallace spoke with Evan son hopes that will change in Smith, CEO and editor-in- the coming years. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Based on country redischief of The Texas Tribune, before an audience of about tricting and recent voting trends, there should definite30 people. â&#x20AC;&#x153;It was very interesting to ly be more [minorities electhear from [the official] that ed] in the next few elections,â&#x20AC;? presides over the most power- he said.

â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;

Curt Youngblood | Daily Texan Staff

Maurine Winkley, who is volunteering as a part of the Rainforest Partnership, cleans up trash along the banks of Lady Bird Lake. Winkley is one of a number of volunteers who gather at Auditorium Shores to remove trash along the lake.

Teens go for green at lake cleanup By Priscilla Totiyapungprasert Daily Texan Staff More than 100 volunteers bundled up and carried trash bags to pick up litter Saturday morning at Lady Bird Lake. The lake was one of six sites for Keep Austin Beautifulâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s bimonthly cleanup. As volunteers gathered trash at the lake, students from Kealing and Bedichek Middle Schools presented information about how pollution impacts the environment. The students learned the information through Keep Austin Beautifulâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Green Teens environmental education program, which partnered with the Citizen Schools organization at the two middle schools. Citizen Schools is a nonprofit organization that provides

educational after-school programs for public schools with few resources. At one table, eighth grader Brittney Thompson and sixth grader Sequohya Deleon asked volunteers and lake visitors to guess how long it would take a number of items in a plastic bag, including the plastic bag itself, to decompose. Visitors guessed by placing the item on a timeline. â&#x20AC;&#x153;A lot of people get surprised that soda cans take 200 to 500 years to decompose,â&#x20AC;? Thompson said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Or that cigarette butts take 10 to 12 years,â&#x20AC;? Deleon added. â&#x20AC;&#x153;People just throw them out the window and think they go away.â&#x20AC;? The students in the Citizen Schools program also worked on a WOW! event to showcase at the end of the cleanup.

The event is called a WOW! event because of the parentsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; reactions when they see 11- or 12-year-olds presenting themselves in such a mature way and engaging in adult critical thinking, said Leanne Valenti, the campus director of the Citizen Schools program at Bedichek Middle School. Past events included building a stock portfolio and performing spoken word poetry. The Green Teens after-school program focuses specifically on conservation and the environment. The program allows students at six middle schools to learn about various topics over the course of 10 weeks. For one program, instructors took students to the Lower Colorado River Authority Redbud

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Center so they could learn the path flow of the Colorado River and how far pollutants in the river can travel. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We hope to provide expertise to young teens that will capture their attention and motivate them to be the next environmental leaders,â&#x20AC;? said Monica Lopez Magee, Keep Austin Beautifulâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s education programs manager. During the cleanup, sixth grader Kenyuan Porter pointed to a model of a lake and demonstrated how materials such as construction debris, car oil, lawn fertilizer and dog waste spread to creeks and lakes by rain runoff. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The teachers explained how fertilizer in the water makes algae grow,â&#x20AC;? Porter said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The fish donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t have air because of the algae, so the fish die.â&#x20AC;?

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News

Monday, December 7, 2009

Toy drive ends on high note

Lara Haase | Daily Texan Staff

Gov. Rick Perry shakes hands with Col. Russel Malesky after the Christmas tree-lighting and caroling celebration at Camp Mabry on Friday. The event was opened by Maj. Gen. José Mayorga, right, and Malesky lead the attendees in singing holiday tunes.

Texas troops light tree at Camp Mabry service By Audrey White Daily Texan Staff Gov. Rick Perry addressed National Guardsmen, military personnel, friends and family during a tree-lighting ceremony at Camp Mabry on Friday afternoon. The camp serves as the headquarters of the Texas Military Forces and holds the ceremony every year in December. Spokesman Col. Bill Meehan said the ceremony is an important opportunity for military families to celebrate and give thanks. “It’s the ultimate tradition,” Meehan said. “It’s a chance for military personnel, our civilian work force and friends and family to stop and reflect on how fortunate we are to do what we do for the greatest country in the world.” The ceremony included speeches by Maj. Gen. Jose S.

Mayorga and Perry, the treelighting itself and a rousing round of carols like “Deck the Halls” and “Silent Night.” Despite the religious nature of the Christmas holiday, Meehan said the tree-lighting is intended to be an inclusive community event rather than a specifically Christian one. Perry urged the 400 people at the event to remember the sacrifices of American troops overseas and at home, especially during the holiday season. “There are a whole lot of Texans involved in keeping America safe by serving in the Guard,” Perry said. “We should say a prayer of thanks for the return of the 636th Military Batallion after a year of stellar service in Afghanistan. As those folks are readjusting to life at home, their peers in the 72nd Infantry Brigade combat team are mak-

ing their way to Iraq to spend about nine months away from their families.” The 636th Military Intelligence Batallion and the 72nd Infantry Brigade are both part of the Texas National Guard. Brig. Gen. Joyce Stevens said that the holiday season holds special significance to her as a member of the military. Stevens said the treelighting ceremony is an important reminder of the value of both her service in the military and the time she gets to spend with family. “We just know there are a lot of times we are away from family and friends,” she said. “It makes you thankful for when you do have your family, and it’s more special. You realize how fortunate you are to have family and be with them during the holiday season.”

By Priscilla Pelli Daily Texan Staff Studying for finals wasn’t the only thing keeping UT students busy on a snowy afternoon. The campus holiday sing-along in the West Mall grabbed the attention of about 100 students and 50 faculty members Friday. The University Orange Santa donation drive collaborated with the combined choir of the Sarah and Ernest Butler School of Music and the staff organization the Tower Singers to host Songs of the Season, a holiday sing-along celebrating the last day of the drive. Orange Santa, sponsored by the University since 1994, is a program that helps members of the UT community who have special needs during the holiday season. In December 2008, the program served approximately 498 families, including 1,831 children, according to the Orange Santa Web site. The program encourages members of the UT community to donate new toys or gifts for children up to age 17. Volunteers can also work at the Orange Santa Holiday Store, located in Bellmont Hall, while participating program families shop for donated gifts to bring home for the holiday season. Susan Clagett, the director of the program and associate vice president for the Office of Relationship Management and University Events, said Orange Santa was created for University graduate students and employees that felt they could not afford gifts for their children during the holiday season. “[The program] is for the employees or even graduate students with children who do not feel that they can provide a bright experience for their children over the holidays, and that translates into not being able to afford things,” Clagett said. “This program focuses on this season, wanting children to have the best holiday experience they can without depending on their parent[‘s] circumstances.” Clagett said the purpose of the sing-along was to promote the holiday spirit of giving on the last day of the donation drive and give

students a chance to take a break from their stressful studying. “Since it is the last day of Orange Santa’s donation project, we have a chance to invite everyone who has been part of this project by [contributing their] time and effort to come to the Main Mall to join in a group sing-along,” Clagett said. “It’s a great experience for students to have fun, as well.” Lauren Culpepper, a music studies freshman and member of the combined choir at the Butler School of Music, said that the turnout was larger than she expected. “This whole event was about

having fun, and it’s wonderful to see so many people participating in the cold, windy weather,” Culpepper said. “I love Christmas, and this sing-along was a wonderful opportunity to celebrate the holidays and of course, the last day of classes.” James Morrow, the director of choral activities at the Butler School of Music, said the event truly showed campus spirit. “Our participation was a fun way to kick off the holiday season and prepare kids for the tons of studying they will have next week,” Morrow said.

Rachel Taylor | Daily Texan Staff

Doug Bolin and Susan Clagett collect toy donations after Songs of the season on Friday. This Christmas caroling event is held every year on the last day of classes to promote Orange Santa toy donations.

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THANK YOU UNIVERSITY CO-OP! “I graduated in 2008 and would keep up with The Daily Texan online for UT sports. They keep up pretty well on Texas Volleyball which I’m a huge fan of so when I saw the app I thought I would download it so I could just read from my phone. I never win anything so I’m really excited to have won something from The Daily Texan.”

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

Monday, December 7, 2009

T HE DAILY TEXAN

Get up, get out and bring books Late-night cafes

prove conducive to cram sessions

By Alexa Hart Daily Texan Staff It’s the most wonderful time of the year, when upcoming exams have students at stress levels that risk hypertension. Cram sessions are underway, but endless hours holed up in a campus library simply aren’t fun. When the dorm study lounge isn’t cutting it, and the South Mall has lost its charm, escape the cringe-inducing monotony of fixtures like the PCL with a trip off campus for a refreshing change of scenery.

Cafe Bennu (2001 E. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.)

Caleb Bryant Miller | Daily Texan Staff

Above, Bruce Martin, Gilberto de la Peña, Deborah Briscoe and Fetaine Seddighzadeh study in the architecture library Sunday evening. Cram sessions are underway, but endless hours holed up in a library simply aren’t fun. Below, Biology and Plan II senior Siwon Kim studies at the architecture library on Sunday evening.

Lesser-used libraries, Union offer refreshing alternatives to PCL By Jessica Lee Daily Texan Staff The holiday season has arrived. The wintery chill is in the air, Christmas decorations can be found scattered across campus and snow flurries have made brief appearances. But with all the holiday cheer comes something dreadful: exam season. While the Perry-Castañeda Library (PCL) is open for students 24 hours during exam weeks, the building tends to become overcrowded. Students arm themselves with blankets and energy drinks in the hopes of staying awake into the tiny hours of the morning, immersing themselves in the subjects they have spent a semester learning. The PCL may be popular, but many l e s s e r- k n o w n a re a s h a v e perks that are certainly worth discovering.

Architecture and Planning Library Located on the second floor of Battle Hall (BTL), the Architecture and Planning Library offers a quiet ambience perfectly suited for those in search of a place with limited distractions. A Christmas tree lightens what could be a stressful environment. “It’s a quiet place where you don’t have to be isolated in a cubicle in order to focus”, said sophomore international relations and global studies major Vanessa Gonzalez. “The space has an oldtime feel that people seem to like,” said senior student associate in the library, Gabby Rodriguez. The library also sets itself apart from other study areas in that it provides students with the option of using its scanners, copiers and color printers.

Lone Star Room in The Texas Union While some may prefer to study in complete silence, others opt for a more social atmosphere. The Lone Star Room, located in The Union, is perfect for those in search of a place with a bit of background noise. “It’s kind of like studying

in a coffee shop without having to pay for the coffee,” said journalism sophomore Anjli Mehta. Couches scattered throughout the room offer a cozy alternative to stiff wooden chairs that other libraries tend to offer.

CAMPUS continues on page 8

There’s something about the low-key, 24-hour Cafe Bennu that makes pulling an all-nighter a little less painful. Comfortable couches line the sage-colored walls where works from local artists are displayed. The no-frills atmosphere of the coffee house, along with free Wi-Fi and ample power outlets, make it a perfect, roundthe-clock study spot — assuming there are open seats. Bennu, due in part to its proximity to campus, gets a lot of business from the frazzled student crowd, so it’s advisable to arrive early to find seating and avoid dealing with the awful parking. But even during peak hours, the place still feels intimate and stays quiet. The menu offers pastries, pizza from Hoboken Pie and salads along with house specialty mochas to keep night owls high on a cocktail of caffeine and sugar. Try their vanilla soy steamers with a dash of cinnamon — they’re the best around.

Epoch Coffee (221 W. North Loop Blvd.) The quirky Epoch Coffee is situated in an old shopping center just north of 51st Street. Like Bennu, this purveyor of caffeine is open all night and offers an array of snacks. Every-

thing about Epoch is noisier, from the always-blaring music to the quaint, mismatched vintage decor. Both the drinks and the service are hit or miss, but Americano or Mexican hot chocolates are safe bets. Extension cords hang from the ceiling at most of the tables to plug a laptop into, a smart solution for power-strapped coffee shops, and again, there’s free Wi-Fi.

Kasbah Hookah Lounge (2714 Guadalupe St.) Its doubtful how much studying really gets done in a hookah bar, but in terms of being a place for group work, Kasbah meets all the criteria: laid-back environment, comfortable seating, late hours, coffee, tea and free Internet. Conveniently located on The Drag, the ambience of the place makes it an ideal place to go over notes with friends from class. Even if a trip there yields a failed attempt at exam preparation, there’s nothing like gathering around a hookah with a few pals and smoking away the stress of finals week. But be warned: the staff doesn’t take kindly to those wanting to come in just to hang out. Just be sure to follow their rules, and don’t forget to bring an ID.

Capitol Lawn Ah, the old standby. For those wishing to brave the chillier temperatures and study in a natural environment rather than a stuffy cafe, the lawn surrounding the Texas Capitol remains a go-to spot for reviewing before exams. It’s close (within walking distance of campus, no driving necessary) and cheap (no purchasing an obligatory cup of coffee). It also offers Wi-Fi access, a rarity in outdoor spots. The Southwest corner is particularly beautiful, so pack a lunch and a blanket to sit on and spend a day reading under the gorgeous trees.

Mixture of apathy, lethargy Wassail makes tasty comeback for Christmas leads to wasted free time Medieval, spiced punch By Susannah Jacob Daily Texan Staff Nothing is so stifling as a supply of uninterrupted time with finals looming in the distance — or what is known at the University of Texas at Austin as “dead week.” Appropriately named, dead week follows a semester ’s last week of classes, which, with multiple tests scheduled and papers due, puts many students on the edge of death. In the midst of the last week of classes, the notion of having some unscheduled time sounds heavenly, until it arrives. In reality, dead week becomes endless, agonizing hours spent online or asleep, with a biology book or a set of French note cards forgotten on the owner’s desk, out of sight and out of mind. Not all procrastinating, however, is created equally. Certain activities used to delay studying for finals rate as more interesting or popular than others, and some respites might even benefit grades. Take napping, for instance. It is always a welcomed alternative to the prospect of monotonous studying. “I take two kinds of naps,” says Marissa LaMoure, a Plan II freshman. “I nap when I’m genuinely tired, and I nap when I have something school-related to do and would rather just not do it.” A short snooze in lieu of endless calculus problems or a writing assignment may actually improve academic performance. If you feel the urge to nap (or rather don’t feel the urge to study, and napping presents a good al-

ternative), it is generally recommended that you do so in brief increments. “A short nap of 20-30 minutes can help to improve mood, alertness and performance,” according to the National Sleep Foundation. The Internet provides endless entertainment for the uneager studier, and Facebook tops the list of online distraction destinations. Few students seriously consider such measures as removing the site from their “Bookmark Bars” or deactivating Facebook accounts. “I always end up reactivating it,” one defeated freshman said about the site. Other high-traffic Web sites, especially popular during dead week include: Reddit.com, YouTube.com, Textsfromlastnight.com, PopCap.com and Amazon.com. As with naps, approach Web surfing in moderation; no one should hope to resist logging on for the whole week of finals. Sometimes a brief browse provides a refreshing break from a history notes-induced stupor. If you are online, check out the blog “Study Hacks,” which was started “to teach students how to do (very) well without burning out,” according to Cal Newport, the site’s founder. The blog—located at calnewport.com/blog — has tips on studying, note-taking and organizing. Newport does a great deal of self-promotion on the site. In spite of that, his tips are practical and useful. Other study-delay tactics students report using: rereading

TIME continues on page 8

Wassail, a hot drink made of juices and spices, is a Christmas tradition in many countries. The warm drink is perfect on cold winter days.

provides ideal beverage during winter holidays By Molly Wahlberg Daily Texan Staff

“Then here’s to the heartening wassail, Wherever good fellows are found; Be its master instead of its vassal, And order the glasses around” — Ogden Nash It could be that your grandmother makes it every Christmas, perhaps you tried your first glass at UT’s most recent Madrigal Dinner or maybe you’ve never heard of it in your life. Regardless of your history with the drink, wassail is the ideal winter beverage. The drink is a hot, spiced punch with roots dating to the Middle Ages. Its name comes from a contraction of the Middle English phrase waes haeil, meaning “be thou well,” or be healthy. Originally, the drink was much like mulled beer or mead. The drink bowl would be filled with sugar, ale, ginger, nutmeg and cinnamon, then heated and topped with slices of toast for sopping. Today’s wassail is closer to a mulled cider but includes the option of additional wine and/ or rum. Cuddle up on the couch this winter with a book and a steaming mug of this basic wassail to keep you warm.

Lara Haase Daily Texan Staff

auntie louise’s wassail punch Ingredients

r 1 gallon apple cide e ic ju ge 1 quart oran ice, ju le pp 1 quart pina unsweetened fresh 1 cup lemon juice, 1 cup sugar 24 whole cloves 4 sticks cinnamon

Directions

a • Mix ingredients ind large stock pot an rs simmer for 1-2 hou before serving.

Makes 1 1/2 gallons.

8 ENT

LIFE&ARTS

Monday, December 7, 2009

Recipe ideas make healthy substitute for stressful finals

usual deep-frying process, but inBy Lisa Holung stead comes from crackers — a Daily Texan Staff A fly on the wall of a student’s healthier form of breading. This recipe yields a relaxkitchen during finals week might find students reaching for cans ing cooking experience, where of Pringles, rifling through the the process is just as rewarding freezer for microwave dinners or as the edible result. It involves crushing crackers and mixing the speed-dialing pizza delivery. This week is notorious for on- crumbs with parmesan cheese. I slaughts of tests, assignments used Wheat Thins (Sundried Toand papers that descend upon mato and Basil), and the resulting smell was the Universiheavenly. t y. N e e d l e s s to say, eating Feeling complete meals stressed that This recipe yields is not high on your profesa relaxing cooking priority lists. sors can’t deEven though cide between experience, where it seems easiuploading the process is just er to reach for grades onto as rewarding as the fast snacks, eGradebook your body will or Blackboard? edible result.” thank you latRelease the er for providstress by beating it with beting the crackter brain food. ers inside of a Here are some meal ideas that plastic bag. You’ll feel better afcan be prepared in under an hour terwards, guaranteed. and only involve four ingredients. After rolling the chicken The first recipe is a dish called around in some egg and your “Crispy Chicken,” which, as cracker mixture, all that’s left to the name suggests, has a bit of do is throw it in the oven. When a crunch to it. Fortunately, this finished, serve with a tossed salcrunch is not a product of the ad or some steamed vegetables

‘‘

Rachel Taylor | Daily Texan Staff

Crispy chicken is a quick recipe to make during a finals study break and can be eaten in a sandwich, with a salad or on its own. for an easy dinner. If you have to eat on the fly, make the chicken before you need it, and then eat it in a sandwich later. The second recipe, “Spinach Pocket,” is rather simple, but a great comfort on a cold day, quick

to make and vegetarian-friendly. While the basic recipe only calls for spinach and cheese, I would encourage adding more vegetables such as grilled onions or eggplant for additional flavor. After mixing marinara sauce,

cheese and spinach together, then comes the fun part — stuffing the pita. I found it easier to use a teaspoon and scoop smaller portions of spinach into the bread rather than using a bigger spoon and attempting to put the entire serving

s t e k c o p h c a spin Ingredients

ara sauce 1 cup marin d mozzae 1 cup shredd rella cheese d spinach 1cup choppe w and If frozen, tha out r squeeze wate ts 2 pita pocke

DirectioenFosreman Grill or frying pan

eorg • Preheat G m heat. to low-mediu ach together. eese and spin Stuff each half ch e, uc sa ix M en • op . s in half and s in • Cut pocket en place pita th , re mixtu de facsi en with spinach op ith an Grill w from George Forem grill to prevent stuffing e th minof 3 r es fo ng ok hi ing e grill and co th se lo C t. falling ou ted. cheese in mel back utes or until s to flip pita ng to e us n, pa is ng yi ta fr pi g d elted an • If usin til cheese is m and forth un . slightly crispy Serves two.

in at once. This way, you can fill the pita more efficiently. Altogether, this almost-calzone takes a total of 10 minutes to make, so you can be on your way to the next place on your agenda with a filling meal in hand.

crispy chicken Ingredients

Directions

1 egg 1/2 cup crushed crackers 1/2 cup grated parmesan cheese 2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees. • Beat egg in a bowl. In a separate bowl, mix crushed crackers and cheese. • Rinse and dry chicken breasts, then coat with egg followed by cracker mixture. • Place chicken in pan and back for 35 minutes, or until the chicken is cooked thoroughly and the cracker topping is crispy. Serves two.

CAMPUS: Cooperative atmosphere,

classy furniture boost resilience

AIM Reading Room is a quiet room much like the Reliant. McCombs School of Business “It has this buckle-down and study atmosphere about (CBA) it,” said women’s and genBusiness majors have the der studies sophomore Olivia option of making use of the Watson. Reliant Productivity Center in the McCombs School of Business, open 24 hours a day and Life Science Library Located on the second only to business majors. A plethora of electrical out- floor of the Main Building lets make studying with a lap- (MAI), the Life Science Library provides students top convenient. “Everybody’s energy radi- w i t h s p a c i o u s w a l n u t t a ates and makes me feel more bles, leather couches and a productive,” said business relaxing vibe that is perfect for calming pre-examination sophomore Eugene Lim. Also located in the CBA, the nerves.

From page 7

TIME: Planned

breaks increase concentration From page 7 favorite novels, cleaning with Clorox Disinfecting Wipes, eating extra meals, sharpening pencils, going to the gym, calling their mothers, lining up small desktop objects by size and color, watching television series online from start to finish, baking, checking the clock and organizing dorm rooms with zeal. All of these are viable options because they all accomplish the same goal: prevention of studying. Good luck on your finals.

9 CLASS

SportS

Monday, December 7, 2009

champs: Despite low score,

Hooker swats the ball towards the other side of the court. She also had a topnotch defensive performance with a teamhigh 13 digs.

flags: Final two

Horns find way to win game calls hurt NU’s From page 1 manded to speak to Big 12 Commissioner Dan Beebe. “I wasn’t given an explanation,” he said. The Huskers thought they won it with a field goal of their own. Alex Henery made his fourth field goal of the night with 1:44 left on the clock for a 12-10 lead. But a kickoff out of bounds set Texas up at the 40. On the first play, McCoy hit Shipley for 19 yards and a 15-yard horse collar penalty put the Longhorns at the Nebraska 26. Three plays and one clock controversy later, Lawrence came on to the field to kick Texas to its first Big 12 title since 2005. Texas led most of the game, grinding out 10 points through 58 minutes as defenses on both sides completely dominated. McCoy scored the lone touchdown on a 2-yard run after a defensive stand gave Texas the ball on the Nebraska 43. A pass interference penalty on third-andlong in the end zone gave the Longhorns a first down at the four, and McCoy punched it in on quarterback draw. “We were able to make it work,” McCoy said. Nebraska sacked McCoy nine times, with defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh getting a Big 12 Championship record 4.5 sacks by himself, getting into the Texas backfield at will. Suh had 12 tackles, seven for losses. On one play, Suh broke through

Curt Youngblood Daily Texan Staff

sweep: Hooker, Engle combine for 30

kills playing in Gregory for final timeC day, month day, 2008

ready,’ and then when that moment came, I was ready to go.” The forced substitution of Mcmatch,” Hooker said of her final Egave me the Neal for Doris was one Elliott point at home. “She S I T R E ‘K,Eput eye contact ADVlike, D NT !this ball was confident in making. U T S away.’ She gave me ONball, and TIthe YOUR N A Z I I got blocked I think, then it came A ORGand back over I got the ball again. It’s just a great finish to have in Gregory Gym — I’m sad I won’t It’s just a great finish be back.” to have Texas’ biggest obstacle during in Gregory Gym.” the match came in the first set when junior Jennifer Doris went — Destinee Hooker down with an ankle injury and outside hitter had to be helped off the court without putting any pressure on the injury. Freshman Sha’Dare McNeal came in without missing a beat and contributed five kills “Sha’Dare’s a phenomenal and 6.5 points. player,” Elliott said. “Sha’Dare’s “I was just prepared for any- been good enough to play. We thing to happen,” McNeal said. keep asking ourselves and we “We’re always on the bench keep telling ourselves we don’t telling each other, ‘Be ready be know how we’re keeping her out

From page 12

Campus

From page 12

But Williams doesn’t let it get to his head. “I just come out hard,” Williams said, “and that’s what I’ve been doing for a long time.” And Williams’ attitude may be his best attribute, according to Barnes. Williams led his state championship team in scoring as a sophomore at Duncanville High School, but has had to adjust to coming off the bench for Texas. However, that isn’t a problem, he insists. In his five appearances this year, Williams is averaging 0.4 turnovers. And while Williams is all hustle during games, he’s also the first to crack a joke to lighten his teammates up. Comedic timing is another gift of his. “It’s just his personality. He’s just cool, he’s just laid back,” Brown said. “If you walk in the

CORKBOARD ‘‘

From page 12 went out of bounds, and quarterback Colt McCoy immediately hit Shipley for a 19-yard gain. They netted another 15 yards after Larry Asante was flagged for a horsecollar tackle. After a pair of no-gain running plays, Texas let time tick off the clock before McCoy ran a rollout play and threw the ball out of bounds. The game clock read 0:00 while it appeared there should be a second remaining. But the quarterback never had a doubt. “When we got the play call in there, it was 15 seconds left. So I wasn’t worried about it,” McCoy said. “When I saw everybody rushing the field I thought, there’s no way. We’ve got one or two seconds left.” The officials reviewed the play and put one second back on the clock, giving Lawrence the chance for the win. Nebraska coach Bo Pelini was understandably frustrated and, while he declined to comment on the officiating during post-game interviews, he had a loud, heated exchange with Big 12 Commissioner Dan Beebe after the game. “I just [guess] it came down from the replay booth,” Pelini said. That may be the lasting memory from this game. But for Texas, it was enough.

williams: Forward finds new role in college

LASSIFIEDS

of the lineup. Sha’Dare has been better off the bench than she has as a starter. We have so much confidence in her.” Doris came back on the court in the second set with a boot on her left foot, but came out in the third set after the break without the boot. She warmed up with the team, but never went back in. “We could have gone back to her, but we wanted to be cautious,” Elliott said. Now Texas moves on to the next round of the NCAA tournament in Omaha, Neb., to face conference rival Texas A&M. After the Longhorn baseball team dropped two of its last three games in Omaha to lose a national championship, the volleyball team hopes to reverse Texas’ recent poor luck in the Cornhusker State and keep its title hopes alive.

upset bid most

a double team, grabbed McCoy as he tried to scramble away and flung him backward through the air for a 7-yard sack. “I’m glad I’m up here,” McCoy said after the game, “because I’m not getting hit. It was that kind of game.” The Longhorns gained only 202 yards of offense, their lowest total of the year by far, and converted just six-of-19 third downs. But Texas matched every big hit, keeping Nebraska out of the end zone entirely and making three interceptions. The Huskers leaned heavily on their defense and special teams. They gained only 106 yards on offense, but made three field goals on drives that started at the Texas 41, 43 and 10-yard lines following two interceptions and a punt return. The Cornhuskers’ biggest drive came when they needed it most. McCoy’s third interception of the game, which was picked off at the Nebraska 33-yard line, ended a Texas drive that started at the one. Nebraska drove into field goal range and took the lead on a Henery kick with 1:44 remaining in the game. But it wasn’t enough as McCoy rallied his offense for one last drive with the game and the season on the line. “Sometimes you have to dig way deep down inside yourself,” McCoy said. “They put the ball in our hands with one minute left and we made it work.”

locker room and you’re down, and you need somebody to make you laugh, you can always count on Shawn.” He has another unique talent on the team, a musical one. Williams, or “Sheezy” as he’s known in the rap world, likes to break into impromptu free-styles and rap popular lyrics during practices and whenever the team gets together. “Yeah, he goes a capella,” said senior center Dexter Pittman. “He’s good. He’s real good.” “I just do it as a habit to play around with,” Williams said. “I’m just being myself.” As far as plans for collaboration with that other musical Longhorn, wide receiver and country crooner Jordan Shipley? “I haven’t met him,” Williams laughs, “but that’d be cool.” Sheezy and his Texas teammates are singing a happy tune this season and are off to a per-

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fect 6-0 start — a record that will be put to the test Monday night against Long Beach State in the Frank Erwin Center. Long Beach is 4-3 and red hot coming off a win against UCLA on Nov. 29. Forward T.J. Robinson was named to the 76 Classic all-tournament team after averaging 20 points and 12.3 rebounds per game against the Bruins, No. 7 West Virginia and No. 18 Clemson. Another young player performing well for Long Beach State is sophomore Casper Ware, who, along with Robinson and another teammate, recorded double-doubles against the Clemson Tigers. Texas will have its hands full with LBSU, which offers one of the last challenges for the Longhorns before facing No. 10 North Carolina later this month. Monday’s game will be televised nationally on ESPNU and begins at 8 p.m.

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Monday, December 7, 2009

11 SPTS

Monday, December 7, 2009

SportS

Lauren Gerson | Daily Texan Staff

Above, Colt McCoy throws a pass to receiver Jordan Shipley. McCoy finished with just 184 yards in the air, but completed a crucial pass to Jordan Shipley on the final 31-yard drive that led to Hunter Lawrenceâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s game-winning kick. Below right, defensive coordinator Will Muschamp and defensive tackle Lamarr Houston celebrate after Lawrenceâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s kick sealed the victory for the Longhorns as time expired.

One Second

Texas capitalizes on final play to win second Big 12 title

Lauren Gerson | Daily Texan Staff

Stephen Keller | Daily Texan Staff

May-Ying Lam | Daily Texan Staff

Above, McCoy is gang-tackled by the Nebraska defense. The Cornhuskers sacked McCoy nine times, a season high for the Texas quarterback. Below, Malcolm Williams reaches over his shoulder to catch a pass.

Caleb Bryant Miller | Daily Texan Staff

May-Ying Lam | Daily Texan Staff

Top, Nebraska quarterback Zac Lee hands the ball off; the Huskers picked 106 total yards but managed only five first downs. Above, Williams stands over Shipley after the senior made a catch.

12 SPTS

SportS

Monday, December 7, 2009

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

T he Daily Texan

Lawrence, Texas manage to pull out win

SIDELINE BCS STANDINGS 1. Alabama (13-0)

2. Texas (13-0) 3. Cincinnati (12-0) 4. TCU (12-0) 5. Florida (12-0) 6. Boise State (13-0) 7. Oregon (10-2) 8. Ohio State (10-2) 9. Georgia Tech (11-2) 10. Iowa (10-2) 11. Virginia Tech (9-3) 12. LSU (9-3) 13. Penn State (10-2) 14. Brigham Young (10-2) 15. Miami (FL) (9-3) 16. West Virginia (9-3) 17. Pittsburgh (9-3) 18. Oregon State (8-4) 19. Oklahoma State (9-3) 20. Arizona (8-4) 21. Stanford (8-4) 22. Nebraska (9-4) 23. Utah (9-3) 24. USC (8-4) 25. Wisconsin (9-3)

NFL Minnesota 17 Arizona 30 Philadelphia 34 Atlanta 7 St. Louis 9 Chicago 17 Detroit 13 Cincinnati 23 Tennessee 17 Indianapolis 27 Lauren Gerson | Daily Texan Staff

Teammates swarm Texas kicker Hunter lawrence moments after the senior made a game-winning, 46-yard field goal to capture the Big 12 Championship and secure a spot in the national title game. lawrence’s kick came after Nebraska players had stormed the field, believing they had upset the second-ranked longhorns.

Questionable calls abound in bizarre and low-scoring Big 12 Championship game By Blake Hurtik Daily Texan Staff ARLINGTON — It was ugly. It was controversial. It was gutwrenching. It was anything but convincing. But most importantly, it was enough. Hunter Lawrence’s literal last-second 46-yard field goal allowed Texas to scrape by Nebraska 13-12 in the Big 12 Championship Game. The Longhorns now head to Pasadena for a date with Alabama on Jan. 7 for the BCS National Championship Game. Lawrence, a senior, had been clutch all season, making 24 of 27 kicks — including the two he booted Saturday — and 10 of 11 beyond 40 yards. But for

the biggest kick of his life, he needed some reassurance. Texas wide receiver and holder Jordan Shipley calmed his nerves with the most fitting of Bible verses, Jeremiah 17:7: “Blessed is a man who trusts in the Lord, whose confidence is in him.” “He always kind of calms me down,” Lawrence said. Of all the prayers the Longhorns have said this year, they needed this one the most. With the way the last minutes of the game transpired, Texas could have used some divine intervention — or at least some from the officials. Questionable calls and clock management marred the game’s final quarter and ultimately determined the outcome.

While everyone will remember the booth review that put one second back on the clock after Nebraska had rushed the field, thinking it had pulled off the shocking upset, there were plenty more. And they went both ways. The Cornhuskers benefited from a pair of chop block personal fouls on Texas center Chris Hall that killed drives, the second of which Hall failed to even touch Ndamukong Suh on his chop attempt. But the biggest break Nebraska got set up its game-winning drive, in a roundabout way. On the ensuing kickoff after Nebraska pulled within 10-9 of Texas with a field goal in the fourth quarter, Marquise Good-

win muffed the kick, fell down and got back up to recover the ball. The official was behind Goodwin and couldn’t see that he didn’t have possession while on the ground and whistled him down. The result backed Texas up against its own goal line. The Longhorns responded with a promising drive that ended with an interception by Dejon Gomes, who took the ball out of Texas receiver Dan Buckner’s hands to set up Nebraska’s almost-game-winning kick with 1:44 remaining. But on a night when the offense could only produce 202 yards, penalties were the Longhorns’ biggest plays. Penalties played huge roles

in setting up each Texas scoring drive: Two pass interference calls and a horse-collar penalty proved pivotal in the second half. The second pass interference call came late in the third quarter when officials ruled Nebraska cornerback Prince Amukamara forced receiver Malcolm Williams out of bounds on a ball that appeared uncatchable. Four plays later, Lawrence extended Texas’ lead to 10-6. But of all the key and questionable rulings, none were more important than the two that happened in the last two minutes. Texas took over at its 40-yard line after Nebraska’s kick-off

Denver 44 Kansas City 13 New England 21 Miami 22 Oakland 27 Pittsburgh 24 New Orleans 33 Washington 30 Tampa Bay 6 Carolina 16 Houston 18 Jacksonville 23 San Diego 30 Cleveland 23 Dallas 24 NY Giants 31 San Francisco 17 Seattle 20 NY Jets 19 Buffalo 13

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WomEN’S BASkETBAll

mEN’S BASkETBAll

LoNg beaCh sTaTe at No. 2 Texas

Williams provides consistency off bench his legs so many times to try and By Will Anderson get to the basket,” Brown said. Daily Texan Staff “But if you need like a big reConsistent. That’s the one word that bound, he’s gonna be the one to comes to mind when Avery go get it.” Coach Rick Bradley thinks Barnes may about fellow freshbe his biggest man Shawn Wilsupporter of liams, and it’s how Williams is playing [Williams] does all the all. “He’s a in his young career little things that coach very cerebral here at Texas. player. He did “He does all the asks him to do.” a really neat little things that — Avery Bradley job of taking coach asks him to do,” Bradley said. guard care of details,” Barnes “He’s just a hard said after Wilworker.” liams’ six-reJ’Covan Brown, b o u n d p e rthe team’s freshman point guard, has a similar formance against UC-Irvine. opinion of the 6-foot-6-inch Wil- “Shawn really understands what he’s doing.” liams. “He’s not the type of guy who’s going to put it between WILLIAMS continues on page 9

‘‘

Sara Young | Daily Texan file photo

Texas’ Shawn Williams guards a UC-Irvine player on Nov. 15. Williams, a freshman, is turning into a reliable bench player.

Texas 58, TeNNessee 78

vollEyBAll

Team loses Horns advance to Omaha Regional third game Texas sweeps TCU to of season to move on; seniors shine in their last home game Tennessee No. 2 Texas 3, TCU 0

By Chris Tavarez Daily Texan Staff It was a familiar scene for Texas athletics. All Texas had to do was beat TCU at home and it would lock up a trip to Omaha for the next round of the NCAA tournament. Last year, it was the baseball team hoping to make it to the College World Series in its Super Regional showdown with the Horned Frogs. On Friday, the volleyball squad was hoping to advance to the Omaha Regional of the NCAA tournament. The Longhorns were facing a history-making TCU team — the Horned Frogs were playing in their first-ever NCAA tournament. “Congratulations to TCU and [head coach] Prentice [Lewis] on a fabulous season. She took that program over, and I know how hard it is to get a program to be good,” said Texas coach Jerritt Elliott. “To get her team for the first time in the tournament and into the second round is a fabulous job.” TCU’s lack of tournament experience was obvious as it was swept in three sets by a Texas squad with hopes of back-toback visits to the Final Four and its first national championship since 1988. While the most winningest class in Texas history was honored last month during their final regular season match in Gregory Gymnasium, this was the seniors’ last official home match,

Curt Youngblood | Daily Texan Staff

Senior Destinee Hooker, 21, celebrates with Juliann Faucette after their sweep of TCU. It was Hooker’s last home game as a longhorn. and they took full advantage of it. Seniors Ashley Engle, Destinee Hooker and Heather Kisner accounted for 30 digs on defense, and the duo of Engle and Hooker combined for 30 kills on offense, including the match point in the final home contest of the 2009 season.

“I knew that I wanted to get it to Destinee,” Engle said. “It was the last point in Gregory Gym, so that was a given. So I gave it to her twice in a row. It’s just been such a great ride.” “I was honored that Ashley gave me the last ball of the

SWEEP continues on page 9

By Dan Hurwitz Daily Texan Staff Once again the Longhorns were unable to upset a superior team — this time falling to the sixth-ranked Volunteers in Knoxville on Sunday night 78-58. Tennessee pulled ahead midway through the first half and took advantage of the Longhorns’ poor shooting to remain undefeated. No. 17 Texas (5-3) shot 30 percent from the field in the loss and was led by Brittainey Raven, who had her first career double-double scoring 19 and adding 11 rebounds. The low shooting percentage was partly a result of 12 missed lay-ups by the Longhorns. “If we would have made those shots, we would have won the game,” Raven said. Tennessee managed to play well in transition after the missed layups as Angie Bjorklund, Shekinna Stricklen and Glory Johnson ran past the Longhorns for their own easy baskets. “I expected this game to be closer, but when you play on the road, it can be different,” said Tennessee coach Pat Summitt. The Volunteers know about difficulty playing on the road after losing to the Longhorns last season at the Frank Erwin Center. “They just have a better flow this year,” said Texas head coach Gail Goestenkors. “They seem more confident. They trust themselves more, and they trust each other more.”