The Daily Texan 2019-02-05 by The Daily Texan

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TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 5, 2019

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119,

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NEWS

OPINION

LIFE&ARTS

SPORTS

State legislators announce survivor-endorsed sexual assault legislation. PA G E 2

Students deserve a more centralized system for appealed grades. PA G E 4

UT student’s research draws parallels between Tamil ritual and Bevo. PA G E 8

Late comeback not enough as Longhorns fall to top-ranked Baylor. PA G E 6

CITY

UT student dies after vehicle, scooter collision

STATE

By Emily Hernandez @emilyhernandez1

joshua guenther | the daily texan staff Raymund Paredes, the higher education commissioner of Texas, relaxes outside his office. Paredes is resigning after 15 years in the position.

Commissioner Paredes resigns Paredes makes room for new leader, reflects on 15-year tenure fighting for higher education in Texas. By Chase Karacostas @chasekaracostas

Higher education commissioner Raymund Paredes said he never lost sight of the students he was working to support in his 15 years on the job, even when it meant testifying to lawmakers at the Capitol until 1 a.m. Paredes is resigning — not retiring, which he made clear — from the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board in August to allow someone new to take over. His 15-year tenure has seen eight different Texas Legislatures, two governors and three House Speakers. Before coming to Texas, Paredes spent 30 years at UCLA, with 10 as vice chancellor for academic development. State Sen. Judith Zaffirini, D-Laredo, said the length of Paredes’ tenure is a testament to his “fierce commitment” to education in the state.

“Count him among those of us who believe that issues ranging from accessibility, accountability, affordability and availability must be addressed in relation to standards of excellence, which cannot — must not — be sacrificed,” Zaffirini said in an emailed statement. “His priority always was to prepare our students for a better future.” One of Paredes’ biggest challenges was getting the state to invest in higher education, which began to see a decline in support from the Legislature in the 1980s. He said funding never truly declined, but instead failed to keep pace with increasing enrollment, which has grown 17 percent since Paredes started in 2004, according to data from the coordinating board. “I don’t think a lot of members of the Legislature understand the cost of delivering higher education has increased enormously,” Paredes said.

Paredes said he is unsure of what he plans to do next, but will remain active in the field of higher education policy. Before he leaves, however, Paredes will advocate to the 86th Legislature for a boost in base funding as well as outcomes-based funding, which rewards post-secondary institutions as they improve their graduation rates. But he doubts it will fully meet the needs of institutions around the state. Paredes says he also wants lawmakers to expand funding for the TEXAS Grant program for students with financial need. “I don’t think we’re at the point yet where the level of state funding has eroded the quality,” Paredes said. “But we need to take the attitude that we’re going to ask for more money, and we’re going to get better results. We’re not going to get more money for business as usual.”

PAREDES

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UT student Mark Sands died Saturday afternoon after the Lime scooter he was riding collided with an Uber vehicle early Friday morning, according to the Austin Police Department. University spokesperson J.B. Bird confirmed Sands was a UT student. According to tweets from Austin-Travis County Emergency Medical Services, Sands was transported to Dell Seton Hospital with critical, life-threatening injuries around 1:00 a.m. Friday. He was still in critical condition following emergency brain surgery, according to a GoFundMe page created by mechanical engineering junior Kyle Meche. Sands was pronounced dead at 2:30 p.m. Saturday, according to an APD news release. The crash, which was Austin’s fifth traffic fatality of the year, occurred on the North Interstate 35 frontage road, according to the APD news release. Police said an Uber driver operating a 2006 silver Volkswagen Jetta was correctly traveling southbound in the right lane of N. IH-35 southbound on the service road. The Jetta changed lanes to enter the ramp of southbound IH-35 when it “encountered” a Lime scooter traveling the wrong way, northbound, in the southbound left lane of the IH-35 service road. The Uber driver remained on the scene and is cooperating as the investigation continues, according to the news release. APD said Monday the toxicology results in the case were still pending. APD Lt. Blake Johnson told The Daily Texan he believed

SCOOTER

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photo from gofundme

CAMPUS

Students call for additional bike lanes following cyclist death By Nicole Stuessy @nicolestuessy

Samaa Al Adawi said she does not feel safe riding her bike on campus along San Jacinto Boulevard. Even though the street has sharrows, defined by the Austin Department of Transporation as shared lane markings used on roads too narrow for separate bike lanes, petroleum engineering senior Adawi said this isn’t enough to make it safe because cyclists often ride with the normal flow of traffic. After a collision with a CapMetro bus resulted in the death of a 39-year-old cyclist on San Jacinto Boulevard on Jan. 28, students in the Campus Bike Alliance are calling for the University to create separate bike lanes on the street. “There are buses coming at you from every direction and there are cars everywhere,” Adawi said. “The University says that San Jac is a bike-friendly route, but it’s not — especially at the intersections of 21st

and 23rd.” To address concerns about the road, members of the UT biking community are meeting with Student Government representatives in the coming weeks, said James Lentz, president of the Campus Bike Alliance. “The University needs to take student safety and student mobility seriously,” civil engineering senior Lentz said. “This was something that could have been easily prevented with a few minor changes to the street.” Bobby Stone, director of Parking and Transportation Services, said the University would be responsible for adding bike lanes to campus streets, but they may do it in cooperation with the City of Austin. Requests to add bike lanes can be made through the PTS bicycle coordinator, Stone said. “Studies would also need to be conducted that would include recommendations,” Stone said in an email. “These recommendations would be vetted with safety officials and other officials on campus. It is likely if there was a recommendation, it would go

through the Campus Master Plan Committee.” Bike lanes on San Jacinto Boulevard have long been on the University’s radar. In 2013, the Campus Master Plan Advisory Committee created plans to pedestrianize most campus streets, which included the addition of bike lanes on San Jacinto Boulevard. University spokesperson J.B. Bird said the Campus Master Plan is aspirational and includes a vision for improvements that have to be implemented over time. “The (2013) plan did not just call for bike lanes — it called for a light rail and no parking along San Jacinto,” Bird said in an email. “And the bike lane envisioned would be separated from bus traffic by a physical median. Those things are still in the plan. If the University can pursue them, it will do so comprehensively.” Despite this past recognition, the University has not taken steps needed to improve bike safety, Lentz said. “It’s been a known issue for a long time,” Lentz said. “I think with the 2013

plan, they realized that having cars and buses and students and bikes all mixed together, especially in the period of time between classes, is a recipe for a disaster.” While the University de-

bates what to do with bicycles on San Jacinto Boulevard, Adawi said a solution needs to be carried out sooner rather than later. “I ride on San Jacinto,” Adawi said. “My friends ride

on San Jacinto. As soon as I heard about the accident, my first thought was, ‘That could’ve been me.’ The road isn’t safe. It’s something that we have been saying for a while.”

maddie rice | the daily texan staff The UT biking community is expressing concerns about the safety of bicycle traffic on San Jacinto Boulevard near DKR after a collison with a CapMetro bus claimed the life of a 39-year-old cyclist on Jan. 28. UT PTS and the Austin Transportation Department are working to expand bike lanes in the area to improvre the safety of student mobility.

CLAIRE ALLBRIGHT NEWS EDITOR @THEDAILYTEXAN

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 5, 2019

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PERMANENT STAFF Editor-in-Chief Liza Anderson Managing Editor Forrest Milburn Assoc. Managing Editors Catherine Marfin, Andrea D’Mello Director of Digital Strategy Alexandria Dominguez Assoc. Editors Bella McWhorter, Emily Caldwell, Angelica Lopez Forum Editors Jennifer Liu News Editor Claire Allbright Assoc. News Editors Anna Lassmann, Sami Sparber

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EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

STATE

Advocates voice support for sexual assault bills By Emily Hernandez @emilyhernandez1

Sexual assault survivors and advocates gathered with state legislators Monday morning at the Texas State Capitol to share their experiences with sexual assault and express support for sexual assault legislation being introduced this session. Nine senate bills and ten house bills have been filed to address sexual assault prevention and resource expansion for survivors by state legislators in both parties, including state Sen. Kirk Watson, D-Austin, who initiated the press conference. One house bill relating to the establishment of the Office of Sexual Assault Survivors in the governor’s office was drafted by state Rep. Donna Howard, D-Austin, but has not yet been filed. Among the first bills discussed were Senate Bill 1 and House Bill 1, which increase funding for rape crisis centers and expand access to Sexual Assault Nurse Examiners. SB 1, filed by state Sen. Jane Nelson, R-Flower Mound, also allots nearly $50 million to double the Department of Public Safety Crime Labs’ capacity to test rape kits as backlogged rape kits are an issue survivors face in seeking justice. Survivor and advocate Rhea Shahane said she has talked to people of color who felt they could not come forward with their case because they felt sexual assault is a “white person issue.” Shahane, a Plan II honors, history, and government senior, said some Asian languages do not even have the word “rape” in their vocabulary, which is reflective of how religion, rigid gender roles, family structures and cultural norms prevent survivors from coming forward about sexual assault. Shahane voiced her support for HB 282, filed by state

anthony mireles | the daily texan staff English Senior Tatum Zeko, center, advocates to the press with other UT students for sexual assault legislation being pushed through the legislature at the Texas State Capitol.

Rep. Victoria Neave, D-Dallas, which would expand peace officer training on sexual violence. “It is crucial that when people do report, they are met with trauma- and culturally informed peace officers who can help them navigate the system while keeping in mind the certain cultural level challenges that these survivors have to overcome in coming forward,” Shahane said. Tatum Zeko, president of UT’s chapter of Deeds Not Words, a nonprofit sexual assault prevention organization, said she has been recommending people to report cases to the University’s Title IX Office since

Liza Anderson (512) 232-2212 editor@dailytexanonline.com

MANAGING EDITOR

NEWS OFFICE (512) 232-2207 news@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.

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STATE

By Chad Lyle @lylechad

In the Texas Legislature, only one bill is required to pass each session: the state budget. Because the Legislature only meets once every two years, budgets are designed to fund state agencies for two-year intervals. Currently, state lawmakers are working on creating a budget for 2020 and 2021. Every entity that receives state funding — including The University of Texas system and the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles — submits a request to the comptroller and members of the Legislature for the amount of funding they would like to receive for the next two years. A stipulation in the Texas Constitution mandates the state budget can never exceed the amount of money the state has available to spend. A first draft of the state budget is created by the Legislative Budget Board, which is composed of Texas House

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Speaker Dennis Bonnen, R-Angleton, Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick and other key members of the Legislature. Next, the House and Senate create their own versions of the budget that emphasize their own priorities. UT-Austin asked the

Legislative Budget Board for about $600 million for both 2020 and 2021. The House version of the budget dedicates about $424 million in funding to UT for 2020, while the Senate’s draft offers $422 million. This $2 million difference

| the daily texan staff

is small in the context of more significant rifts between the House and Senate’s budget proposals, but discrepancies like this are usually worked out in a conference committee between members of both chambers.

Park electric scooters in permitted spots on campus @tehyarassman

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After the conference committee finishes straightening out the differences between the House and Senate drafts of the budget and each chamber votes to approve it, the bill is sent to Comptroller Glenn Hegar’s office for approval. The budget is the only bill that requires approval by the comptroller — an elected official who oversees tax collection and budget management. When Hegar’s office is done reviewing the bill, it will then issue a formal “certification.” The certification is only issued if the budget requires no more money than the biennial revenue estimate, a measure of the state’s spending money. Finally, after the bill is approved by Hegar and the legislature, the budget — like any other bill — must be signed into law by Gov. Greg Abbott. In Texas, the governor has the ability to remove certain things from the budget — called a line-item veto — giving him or her a final chance to influence spending decisions before the budget goes into effect.

CAMPUS

By Tehya Rassman

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my 1 in 5 women … and 1 in 20 men (at UT).” Nearly all the speakers said they were grateful for the bipartisan support on the issue of sexual assault, but Watson said he was grateful for survivors’ courage to share their stories, emphasizing they were the reason for bipartisan agreement. “We are making progress because of the survivors and the people that are willing to speak out on this issue,” Watson said. “The momentum we have that has been created by powerful, courageous voices of survivors is creating bipartisan agreement on how we need to address this issue.”

Everything you need to know about state budget

Forrest Milburn (512) 232-2217 managingeditor@ dailytexanonline.com

TODAY Feb. 5

freshman year. Zeko said she has never felt more worried about the status of the Title IX Office in light of recent “regressive” proposals by the U.S. Department of Education to limit the accountability of universities. Zeko said she supports SB 585, filed by Watson, which would set up survivor-centered protocols for colleges to ensure the appropriate treatment of survivors. “This should not be my reality,” English senior Zeko said. “It should not be my job to take care of sexual assault survivors while the Department of Education continues to tell us that the two percent of false accusations deserve more help than

Dockless scooter parking spots can now be found across campus as a result of the restrictions Parking and Transportation Services recently placed on the motorized vehicles. The spots were created to ensure scooter parking is organized, PTS assistant director Blanca Gamez said in an email. “We walked the campus with the vendors and identified densely populated areas where we saw lots of scooter traffic and parking difficulties,” Gamez said. “As the Austin market continues to grow, so will the need for space to park scooters. We are working to provide as much space as possible as fast as possible.” Students are expected to park their scooters near the following buildings: Trinity Garage, Lee and Joe Jamail Texas Swimming Center, L. Theo Bellmont Hall, Art Building, Jackson Geological Sciences Building, Garrison

Hall, Graduate School of Business, Benedict Hall, University Teaching Center, Flawn Academic Center, Mary E. Gearing Hall, Student Activity Center, Patton Hall, F.L. Winship Drama Building, and Perry-Castañeda Library. Scooters parked outside these areas may be impounded, and PTS will charge scooter companies for misplaced scooters. However, Gamez said it is up to those companies to decide whether or not to charge students. Alexandra Calve, a health and society freshman, said she doesn’t like the idea of scooter companies charging students, but the parking spots are generally a good idea. “(Even if a scooter is) not in the designated parking space, I think that if it’s out of the way and if people can’t trample over it, I think it’s fine in my opinion,” Calve said. Lime, a scooter company, sees UT as a “long-term partner” and is willing to abide by these restrictions,

armin panjvani | the daily texan staff The UTC is one of the most congested areas in terms of electric scooter traffic and parking.

said Collin Morgan, general manager of Lime Austin. “We seek to work with the University, our riders and the general public to learn about how you use Lime to get around and how we can improve micro-mobility access on campus,” Morgan

said in an email. Scooter companies will continue to work with PTS to manage scooters on campus and ensure the University’s streets and walkways are organized, Gamez said. “If we are mindful in how we park, then we think

of everyone who needs access to roads, ramps, rails and doors,” Gamez said. “By parking correctly, people have the ability to traverse campus and not worry about tripping over a scooter or having to find a different path.”

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 5, 2019

EMERITUS

Queen honors former professor Ian Hancock named Officer of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire By Hannah Ortega @_hannahortega_

onnections between his Romani culture and the languages of other dispersed groups of people helped spark Ian Hancock’s interest in his two main fields of study. Now, the professor emeritus has been named an Officer of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire by Queen Elizabeth II for his research and human rights work regarding Romani studies and Creole linguistics. “Romani languages and Creole languages have to do with marginalized populations and people who are in diaspora — no single country,” Hancock said. “Certainly Roma, we don’t have a country of our own, and speakers of Creole languages do have their own countries now. But historically, both populations have had to struggle to maintain their culture and language and identity, and I guess that’s what drew me. Growing up in a Romani family, I was attracted to similar situations in Creole societies.” The Officer distinction was created in 1917, and nominees are submitted from several of the 16 Commonwealth realms, which include Australia, Barbados and the UK. Hancock, born in England, said he believes people who knew about his work submitted his name, though he wasn’t aware

copyright ian hankcock, and reproduced with permission Professor emeritus Ian Hancock was named an Officer of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire by Queen Elizabeth II for his research and work regarding Romani studies and Creole linguistics.

they had done so. He will travel to London in early April to accept his medal. “I was very surprised,” Hancock said. “I’m certainly not the only person doing human rights work. In my opinion, there are plenty of other people who would deserve this kind of recognition.” Hancock described Creole languages as “makeshift languages” because they are created when people from different tongues come together and need to communicate. The Romani people, who are Indo-Aryan and commonly misidentified

and stereotyped as gypsies, have a history of subjugation, which Hancock strives to bring awareness to. “We lost three-quarters of our population in the Holocaust, and my people were enslaved in Romania until 1864,” Hancock said. “But we did some years ago push to get recognition at the United Nations, and I was instrumental in that. What we are doing now is working on getting the government of Romania to apologize for the centuries of slavery.” Mariana Sabino-Salazar is a Foreign Language and Area

Studies fellow learning the Romani language under Hancock. She said Hancock is a mentor who has positively impacted her life. “I went through a naturalization process where I married an American and attempted to keep up with my studies,” said Sabino-Salazar, an Iberian and Latin American Languages and Cultures graduate student. “(Hancock) was super supportive. He is able to feel compassion towards others who are going through deprivations similar to those experienced by Romanis.” Hancock’s work made UT a hub for Romani studies until his

retirement last spring and inspired people such as Nidhi Trehan, a political sociologist and visiting fellow at the LBJ School of Public Affairs, to study the field. Trehan said “it was a fantastic feeling” to hear that her former professor’s contributions have been recognized by the Order. “Oftentimes, whenever there’s some research about the Holocaust or if there’s a filmmaker making a movie about Roma, then Ian is the first person they consult because he’s such (an) authority,” Trehan said. “I would definitely say he is almost an institution upon himself in this field.”

CAMPUS

Stand-up economist talks to students during UT Energy Week By Elexa Sherry @ElexaSherry

On Monday as part of the 2019 UT Energy Week, economist Yoram Bauman presented a standup comedy routine to students on environmental economic policies such as carbon pricing. Bauman calls himself “the world’s first and only stand-up economist,” which means he advocates through comedy. Bauman, who often speaks at universities and corporate events around the country, said comedy is a way for him to connect with different audiences. He elicited laughter from the audience when he advocated for the implementation of carbon taxing, a fee imposed by the government on any company that burns coal, oil or gas. Bauman helped create and promote the carbon tax that was instituted in British Columbia

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the Uber driver was not under the influence. Sands was a 21-year-old international foreign exchange

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Much of the economic gains the state would receive from higher education are long-term, not short-term, making it more difficult to convince lawmakers of its value, Paredes said. He also feels elected officials don’t understand how much post-secondary schools have done to keep costs down in spite of the rising cost of education. While funding problems are a conspicuous issue in higher education, Paredes said he struggled with another issue that was more unseen. “Despite what people think of universities being hotbeds of liberal radicalism … they are very conservative institutions,” Paredes said. “It can be hard to

in 2008. “People would come out for climate talk if it’s a comedy,” Bauman said. “What I’ve learned from doing this (for) eight to 10 years is if you make people laugh for 45 minutes, you can talk about anything.” In 2003, Bauman earned his Ph.D. in economics from the University of Washington. Bauman is the co-author of “The Cartoon Introduction to Climate Change,” which he said addresses concepts related to climate science and policies in a comedic, but informative way. UT alumnus Ryan Brown was one of about 50 people who attended the event, held at the Etter-Harbin Alumni Center. Brown said he came out because he wanted to hear Bauman’s perspective on the politics of energy in the economy. “I feel that carbon pricing is necessary worldwide,” Brown

said. “A number of technologies require policies in order for them to become implemented, which would be a price on carbon.” Juan Acevedo, an energy and earth resources graduate student, has a different view on the implementation of carbon pricing. Acevedo said countries should decrease their carbon emissions once they become more developed. “I believe that it shouldn’t start off being a worldwide thing, that it should start off with developed countries that can set an example,” Acevedo said. Bauman encouraged students to work towards creating the future that they want to live in. “I feel like we are all are very fortunate to have an opportunity to think about these issues to try to make the world a better place,” Bauman said. “That’s a blessing and an amazing opportunity.”

student from Dublin, Ireland, Student Body President Colton Becker said. He is survived by his family, according to the GoFundMe page. He was a member of the Texas Iron Spikes, a spirit group on campus, Becker said. Meche, an Iron Spikes member, wrote on

the page that the funds will go toward covering the Sands family’s travel expenses. Meche wrote that Sands died surrounded by his family and that they have decided to donate his organs before taking him back to Ireland.

promote change.” The main area where Paredes tried to encourage change was competency education, such as letting students test out of or finish courses early if they could demonstrate proficiency with the material. But colleges and universities often held on to the traditional semester-long class approach, he said. Nevertheless, Paredes said he was able to make significant improvements during his tenure, which was three times longer than most commissioners. Developmental education, or ensuring students are prepared for college-level coursework, grew to accommodate more of the 42 percent of post-secondary students who the board said do not meet college-readiness standards. Paredes also said he focused on improving graduation rates to limit the financial drain on both students and the state

when they do not finish their degree. “The hardest part is to achieve balance between access and success,” Paredes said. “Neither one is sufficient alone.” Education policy professor Norma Cantú, a former colleague of Paredes, said Paredes maintained a solid relationship with the Legislature and Governor’s Office even when he was at odds with them. In 2015, he was one the leading higher education officials to testify against the bill to allow the concealed-carry of firearms on campus. “He showed a level of caring and compassion for students and lived up to his personal ideals of standing up for students,” Cantú said. “He did a remarkable job of walking that line of providing support for the students and, at the same time, not losing the ear (of the Legislature).”

chloe bertrand | the daily texan staff Prociamed as “the world’s first and only stand-up economist”, Yoram Bauman speaks around the country advocating for carbon pricing.

“Please keep Mark and his family in your thoughts and prayers,” Meche wrote. “This is a very difficult time for all of us as Mark was such a beloved member of our community.” The GoFundMe has raised $22,130 for Sands’ family as of

Monday at 9 p.m. “If you’ve ever been lucky enough to meet Mark you’ve surely noticed his constant smile,” Meche wrote. “He was one of the most charming and amusing people you will ever meet. Mark never met a strang-

er or someone he didn’t like. He had a passion for everyone he knew and he always looked out for others.” APD is still investigating this case. We will update this story with more information as soon as possible.

LIZA ANDERSON EDITOR-IN-CHIEF @TEXANOPINION

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 5, 2019

EDITORIAL

brittany le

| the daily texan staff

We need a centralized system for appealing grades Professors with complaints against them still hold considerable sway over grade appeals. By The Daily Texan Editorial Board In July, a student approached the Editorial Board with a story about a professor behaving inappropriately. For the purposes of anonymity, we’ll call her Emma. From the first day of class, Emma’s professor acted strange. He “stood closer to the woman standing next to me, who was sitting down while he was standing up. He repeated, ‘Are you uncomfortable yet?’ each time he got closer — until everyone in the room seemed to be pretty uncomfortable.” He implied he didn’t fear oversight from the other professors in the program or from the administration. He was confident he could do whatever he wanted. According to Emma, he bragged about breaking “12 rules a day” and said he’d never read the UT handbook. In one class, he began with a warning about the content he was going to present. According to Emma, the professor said “you are all adults, so I’m sure you can handle it.” He then played an audio recording that included a graphic description of a sexual assault. According to the sexual misconduct provisions outlined in UT’s handbook, sexual misconduct includes “gratuitous use of sexually oriented materials not directly related to the subject matter of a class, course, or meeting.” Emma felt her professor had crossed a line. She visited her academic adviser and reported the incident to the Campus Climate Response Team. She complained about her professor’s presentation, saying it was inappropriate and unnecessary for the subject matter of the course. In order to avoid further incident, Emma chose to transfer into the only other section of the class. But the other section was considerably further ahead, and she was already behind. To avoid suffering academically, Emma rejoined his class. She believes transferring out of and then back into the class — which coincided with the timing of the complaint — made her identity obvious to the professor. The situation with her professor escalated. She described a series of incidents that settled somewhere in the gray area between appropriate behavior and sexual harassment — slight changes in how he spoke to her, how he treated her, subtle differences that made

LEGALESE | Opinions expressed in The Daily Texan are those of the editor, the Editorial Board or the writer of the article. They are not necessarily those of the UT administration, the Board of Regents or the Texas Student Media Board of Operating Trustees.

her uneasy. He called her “my dear.” Before class one day, he interrupted her question about the course material to ask if he could look more closely at a necklace hanging between her breasts. When grades came out at the end of the semester, Emma was unsatisfied with her grade on the final assignment. She emailed the professor requesting feedback on her work, but he wasn’t helpful. He told her grading was subjective and, in Emma’s view, failed to provide constructive feedback. Emma thought this could be retribution for her complaint.

Under the guise of keeping professors informed, this process can neglect student privacy and safety.”

She initiated the process to appeal her grade. Her academic adviser suggested she talk to the head of the department, but he redirected her back to the head of her program — who was also the professor teaching the other section of the class. According to Emma, the head of her program did not respond. At this point, Emma decided she had two options. She could either decide not to advocate for herself and drop the situation, or she could email the head of her program again. “I’m not a quitter,” she said. In an email to the head of her program, Emma laid out the entire story, which she felt substantiated her grade dispute. After a semester of uncomfortable encounters, she thought her professor knew she had filed a complaint, and he had treated her unfairly as a result. The head of the program CC-ed the professor — a close colleague — in his response to Emma. If her professor didn’t know who filed the complaint at that point, he did then. After the head of the program did not support her appeal, she took her case to the Dean of her college. She met with him and

explained the sexual misconduct complaint, the grade dispute and that she felt she was treated unfairly. He suggested she file a Title IX complaint, but did not intervene on behalf of her grade. “I walked away with nothing,” Emma said. “Reporting to Title IX is a huge burden on me as a student, and this issue already has been. I’ve been making reports all semester.” Any other UT student would file a grade dispute in a similar way. While some colleges have their own procedures posted online, all are centered around a University policy that a student can dispute the grade through three steps. This includes bringing your case to the instructor in question, then the department chair or a designated administrator, and finally the Dean if the case still hasn’t been settled. According to Emma, this lengthy process is why most people don’t take their appeals as far as she did. Regardless of which authority figure puts the dispute to rest, no decision can be made without first “consulting with and considering fully the position of the course instructor.” Under the guise of keeping professors informed, this process can neglect student privacy and safety. Even in cases where students have filed complaints against a professor, that professor still has a significant sway over any grade appeals. In Emma’s case, the University’s grade appeal process failed. Her confidentiality was violated, and personal friendships among colleagues took priority over the well-being of a student who felt she had been mistreated. At several turns, the process could’ve been more efficient, professional and — above all — unbiased. UT needs an external department to handle grade disputes, especially in cases involving professor misconduct. This department should be composed of unbiased parties that are capable of objectively evaluating a student’s grade in a course, as well as the professor’s choice to assign that grade. The current grade dispute system requires all parties provide relevant documentation of student grades. Why stop there? There should be a department made up of impartial arbiters, similar to a human resources department. This will help exclude departmental officials who might have existing loyalties to professors within their departments, and help avoid another experience like Emma’s. Only through establishing this board can we guarantee students such as Emma safe and equitable access to a degree from UT.

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RECYCLE | Please recycle this copy of The Daily Texan. Place the paper in one of the recycling bins on campus or back in the burnt-orange newsstand where you found it. EDITORIAL TWITTER | Follow The Daily Texan Editorial Board on Twitter (@TexanOpinion) and receive updates on our latest editorials and columns.

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 5, 2019

ART

Two UT teams make it to finals in national Disney creative contest

carlos garcia

| the daily texan staff

The University of Texas at Austin is the only university to send two teams to the contest this year out of seven total universities.

By Trent Thompson @TrentThompsonUT

Two teams from The University of Texas at Austin fly out today to compete in the final round of this year’s Walt Disney’s Imagineering Imaginations Design Contest. This year, teams were required to create an immersive experience from Disney’s that explores places from a list of Natural and Ancient Wonders of the World that are remote, inhospitable or lost in history. Disney Imaginations has been striving to nurture the next generation of creative talent through this contest since 1991. The six finalist teams will fly to Walt Disney Imagineering in California, where they will display their

projects to Imagineering executives and judges and compete for cash prizes. Kellie Nguyen, contest finalist and architecture senior, said the combination of her team’s abilities made it possible to create their project “Unearth: The Grand Canyon’s Hidden Realm.” Prospective visitors can explore the Grand Canyon in the search for a secret underground civilization inspired by the ancestral legends of the Hopi tribe. Nguyen said if it weren’t for their diverse set of skills, they wouldn’t have been able to make their project come to life. “We had different expectations and preconceptions of the project coming in, but our differences strengthened our project because we all solve problems differently with different angles,”

Nguyen said. In order to create a more tangible experience, designers were encouraged to steer clear of using virtual reality and augmented reality. Sariya Singsanong, Disney Imaginations program administrator, said Disney wanted to challenge competitors by eliminating the possibility of using these technologies as a crutch. “When you try to create an area that is inhospitable, the first thing that comes to mind is virtual and augmented reality,” Singsanong said. “We thought we would be putting (competitors) in a box if we allowed them to use this kind of technology, and we really wanted them to showcase their skills.” Nicole Bariuan, architectural engineering and history senior and contest

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us something we can focus on and power. and say, ‘We’re proud of this. “Often, people connect continues from page 8 This is what we stand for. This through objects of worship is what we’re all about.’” through a kind of homologous fervor surprised her. This stands true for both relationship,” Selby said. “If “Just reading about (Jal- you want to be powerful and Tamil and UT culture, as likattu) doesn’t capture what successful, you’re going to wor- Dsouza said the famous it’s like to be there,” Dsouza bull and longhorn represent ship something exemplifying said. “It feels like an adrenawhat people work toward those things.” line rush. I had a better unand the strength necessary Students have found this derstanding of how an envifor achievement. sense of power in the famous ronment can push you to do “With Tamil, that’s obvimascot, Bevo. Biochemistry Texas Media will keep you connected things outStudent of your league.” ously direct,” Dsouza said. sophomore Matthew Spretz Asiandaily studies profes“But as far as Bevo goes, said Bevo brings and unity to the with links to the news, sports culture sor Martha Selby shaping said this the it’s more embodied in the UT community. stories UT community. Tamilian pride results “(Bevo) gives us some- spirit of what UT stands for from what the bull repand the work ethic of the thing to rally behind and join resents: virility, fertility people here.” around,” Spretz said. “It gives

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finalist, created with her team “Oasis Resort: A Disney Resort and Spa.” The exhibit intends to explore the Babylonian Hanging Gardens. Bariuan said the absence of concrete detail pertaining to the gardens posed a challenge to their team’s design. “The origin and physical location of the Hanging Gardens of Babylon is a debate in and of itself,” Bariuan said. “We just tried our best to find a fertile place where we know the actual feasible ability of building a resort would be possible.” Despite the mythical origins entangling the practicality of the project with uncertainty, Bariuan said bridging their creative minds with engineering disciplines cut through the project’s insecurity.

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continues from page

“We ended up incorporating a wall of waterfalls in our structure and different levels of gardens, which were reminiscent of the idea of the Hanging Gardens,” Bariuan said. “Our greatest strength is we have three engineers who love to be creative beyond numbers, an element our teammate Roxolana found a joy in cultivating.” With an opportunity as significant as this one, Bauriun said her team is grateful they were able to break the mold of their common engineering classes. “We will always be grateful for this project because we were allowed to be free with our imaginations,” Bariuan said. “I don’t know when we’ll come across another project like this with (a) scale as large as building a wonder of the world.”

comes as real estate developments push out smaller tenants such as Flatbed in favor of housing developments. The press expects to relocate sometime in March, Brimberry said. In the meantime, visitors can see Flatbed work in their MLK location as well as the Ney. Entrance to Flatbed Press and the Elisabet Ney Museum is free, with optional donations at the Ney.

oliver franklin | the daily texan staff The Elisabet Ney Museum’s latest all-female showcase gives local female artists a platform.

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TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 5, 2019

WOMEN’S BASKETBALL

Too little, too late for Texas Longhorns’ fourth quarter rally comes up short against top-ranked Baylor.

joshua guenther | the daily texan staff Head coach Karen Aston stands in disbelief on the sideline during Texas’ 74-68 loss to the Baylor Bears on Monday night. The loss marks the Longhorns’ third defeat in conference play.

By Donnavan Smoot @Dsmoot3D

aylor arrived on the scene with the hype expected from the country’s No. 1 team. The fans packed the Frank Erwin Center with energy and Texas was able to feed off of it early. But the Longhorns couldn’t maintain it for the entirety of the first quarter, digging themselves into a hole they couldn’t climb out of. They ultimately lost 74-68. “I think the third quarter run, (we) just looked like we were not as competitive as you have to be for 40 minutes,” Texas head coach Karen Aston said. “Those will be the moments that we’ll wish we had back.” Prior to that third quarter run, Texas already faced a marginal

deficit after the first 20 minutes of play. Despite being down seven at the end of the first half, Texas accomplished a major feat heading into the locker room. Baylor center Kalani Brown was held without a field goal and would have remained scoreless had it not been for a foul within the final minute of the first half. The second half was a different story for Brown. She finished with 15 points and six rebounds. Meanwhile her teammate, guard Moon Ursin, had a game-high 20 points and was on her game from the opening tip. “When Moon shoots the ball like that, it’s pretty good,” Aston said. Baylor was the more physical team from start to finish. The topranked Lady Bears dominated the offensive glass as well as the freethrow line and even prevented Texas from reaching the foul line until the third quarter.

“It was (because of a) lack of aggression,” Aston said about the lack of free throws. “I know the concern was all the blocks. We should have let them block a few just to be more aggressive.” Texas, which usually has a size advantage on its opponents, met its match Monday. “Seventeen offensive rebounds is a big difference,” Aston said. “We only had four.” For Texas, guards Sug Sutton and Danni Williams were the only source of offense. The duo combined for 38 points — over half of Texas’ points — including a stretch when Williams almost shot the Longhorns to a comefrom-behind win. After Texas cut the deficit down to 10, Williams caught fire. Two threes and a layup later, she had not only rejuvenated the Longhorns’ hopes, but the Erwin Center’s.

“I was just trying to find my rhythm,” Williams said. “I’m comfortable taking those shots. The more and more games I play here, (I’m) just finding my rhythm.” Williams did all she could. However, Baylor still left victorious in the end. “The fourth quarter just showed how much heart we have,” Sutton said. “We were down by a lot, so just to come back in the game showed a lot about our team.” The loss gives the Longhorns their third conference loss and effectively ends any chance to win the Big 12 regular season title. They now would need Baylor to lose three games, with one of those losses needing to be against Texas in Waco. Texas will have a chance to get back on track Saturday against Kansas at 7 p.m.

WOMEN’S BASKETBALL

Williams’ breakout game provides hope moving forward By Stephen Wagner @stephenwag22

In a season full of the unpredictable and the unknown, Danni Williams has been one of the few things Karen Aston has been able to rely on consistently. Williams has rarely put the ball on the floor this season, particularly in the halfcourt or driving to the basket. Most of her involvement has been limited to spot-up 3-point shooting coming off of set plays. In Monday night’s 74-68 defeat to No. 1 Baylor, Williams displayed a new weapon in her arsenal. Williams converted three James Harden-esque stepback jump shots — one in the first quarter to start the game and two late in the fourth quarter — that had been absent prior to the team’s matchup with the Bears. “I’ve had (the stepback jumpshot). It just hasn’t come out yet until tonight,” Williams said. “(I’ve) just been trying to find my rhythm. I’m comfortable with taking (big-time and off-the-dribble) shots. The more games that I’m playing here, I’m finding my rhythm.” Williams finished the night responsible for five of the Longhorns’ nine 3-pointers,

tying her season-high in a category that Texas has struggled in this season. “(Texas) shot the 3-ball,” Baylor head coach Kim Mulkey said. “One area that I have not seen them do that they did tonight was shoot the 3-ball. They only averaged four 3s a game. They made nine. Those things you can’t predict. You think they match up (well) with you in the post, will bang with you in the post. Danni (Williams) and Sug’s 3-balls I thought were big for them tonight.” Williams’ deep sharpshooting was the tale of the game. When she was hot, the game was close. When she was cold, it turned into a blowout. This was particularly evident in a dreadful third quarter for Texas. Williams struggled as the team watched all of its 3-point attempts clank off the rim during the period while the Baylor lead grew accordingly. What was once a seven-point deficit at halftime ballooned to 21 going into the fourth quarter. Although the Longhorns’ 3-point shooting declined from their elite firsthalf numbers, Williams remained persistent. “Danni was in a really good rhythm tonight, and we needed to try to get her shots,” Texas head coach Karen Aston

joshua guenther | the daily texan staff Guard Danni Williams scans the defense during the Longhorns’ 74-68 loss to the Baylor Bears on Monday night at the Frank Erwin Center.

said. “I thought we did a pretty good job of that, as much as we could.” With less than five minutes remaining in the game, Williams hit a pair of contested corner 3-pointers that rejuvenated a crowd that was lulled to sleep by the Longhorns’ third-quarter meltdown. Williams gave the Longhorns the spark they desperately sought in the fourth quarter, scoring eight straight

points to give Texas a beam of hope. As the game winded down, with Texas trying to make a furious comeback in the final minute, guard Sug Sutton brought the ball across half-court with the Longhorns in desperate need of another three. It was immediately apparent what Texas was trying to do: Get it to the hot hand, Danni Williams. Unfortunately for

the Longhorns, Baylor snuffed out their strategy. Williams’ inability to get open forced Aston to call a timeout with less than a minute remaining. Since Texas was unable to complete its furious rally spurred by Williams late in the game, the Longhorn guard was dissatisfied with the loss despite facing a top-ranked Baylor squad. “We’re not here for moral victories,” Williams said.

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 5, 2019

The New York Times Syndication Sales Corporation 620 Eighth Avenue, New York, N.Y. 10018 For Information Call: 1-800-972-3550 For Release Tuesday, February 5, 2019

Crossword ACROSS

30 Shiver from fear

1 First victim of sibling rivalry

32 Big tub

5 ___ Newton (cookie)

34 Turkey ___ king

8 Somewhere across the ocean

36 Telescope part

33 By way of 35 A, in Munich

14 Transmitter of freckles or blond hair

37 Music staff notation

15 “You’re ___ to talk!”

42 ___-Caps

41 Child’s plea 43 Calligrapher’s tool

16 “Now!” 17 Three goals in a single game

44 League that used a red, white and blue ball, for short

19 Leap day baby, astrologically

SUDOKUFORYOU 6 5 4 8 9

7 6 3 1 8 1 7 2 4 2 6 4 9 2 3 1 3 4 5 6 3 9 2 7 5 4 6 2

5 6 9 4 2 3 7 8 1

1 8 3 9 7 6 5 4 2

7 2 4 8 5 1 3 6 9

4 1 8 5 9 7 6 2 3

6 9 2 3 8 4 1 5 7

3 5 7 1 6 2 4 9 8

2 4 6 7 1 8 9 3 5

9 3 1 2 4 5 8 7 6

8 7 5 6 3 9 2 1 4

21 Similar

46 Someone who likes to see many raised hands

23 “Hmm, I don’t know”

50 Reason to get braces

24 Blood fluid

53 Push

26 Its lyrics tell of unrequited love

54 ___ close to call 55 Ranee’s wrap

ANSWER TO PREVIOUS PUZZLE Q T I P

A H M E D

M A E R W A B S I S I

H T T P

N I T R O

D R O U G H T T R I T O O E A R S A E G A

A D O O L T A A V E R H E O F R S I Z O O S N U

A L L E G E

T A D A

N I A N R E F S

S O A R

I O U S

T I C H I D A S I F O R T H F P E O L O L O O O M P M P L O R G E E E G Y T A G E E U G E N N N W I U T T H E R H I T E O Z O

O D I N

N E S S

H E D M O P T E N R O N

G E N E

14 17

43 46

34 38

16 19

No. 0101

DOWN 1 Horror-struck 2 Pitch to the head, informally 3 Total 4 Call from a chair umpire 5 Chocolate kiss wrap 6 Provoke 7 Gordon ___, lead role in “Wall Street” 8 Mobile device download 9 Smart 10 Things to stop and smell 11 Quick appraisal 12 Caught a bite 13 Beehive and bouffant 18 Go off on tangents 22 Watergate hearings chair Sam

45 Greed or gluttony

20 Darth Vader’s nickname as a boy

Today’s solution will appear here next issue

57 What’s shaped at the gym, informally 58 Literary last words 61 Barely adequate … or what the starts of 17-, 26-, 37- and 50-Across are 63 Wild 64 Slithering killer 65 “___ a little!” 66 Car radio button 67 Short of money 68 Couple that might be snapped by paparazzi

Edited by Will Shortz

55 60

53 56

PUZZLE BY GARY CEE

25 Savory taste 27 Cocktail hour nosh 28 Number of batters in a lineup 29 Neither a liquid nor a solid 31 Famous collie of radio, TV and film 35 Inflated selfimage 36 Break in the workday 37 Popular perfume

38 Out of commission 39 Hammond ___, writer of “The Wreck of the Mary Deare” 40 Kids 41 Vehicle with a meter 45 Moe, Larry or Curly 46 Defeat decisively 47 Tolkien creature 48 Develop gradually 49 Cash in

51 Nuts containing caffeine 52 Spanish food served on small plates 56 Athletic award 58 Hard-to-explain skill, for short 59 Tee box sign info 60 “I ___ it!” 62 Cable news host Velshi

Online subscriptions: Today’s puzzle and more than 7,000 past puzzles, nytimes.com/crosswords ($39.95 a year). Read about and comment on each puzzle: nytimes.com/wordplay.

TIANA WOODARD & JORDYN ZITMAN LIFE & ARTS EDITORS @THEDAILYTEXAN

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 5, 2019

UNIVERSITY

Pride of UT, pride of Tamil Nadu Plan II pre-med senior explores her heritage by connecting Bevo to Indian region’s Jallikattu bull.

jeb milling

By Landry Allred @l2ndry

hat does a bull in Tamil Nadu, India, and a longhorn in Austin have in common? Pride. For the past year, Plan II premed senior Jana Dsouza has researched the famous bullfight called Jallikattu in India’s Tamil culture, which unfolds at the annual harvest festival. Through

her research, she has drawn connections between Tamil Nadu’s bull and UT’s mascot, Bevo, and discovered more about her own familial link to the culture. Dzousa said her mother’s upbringing around Jallikattu in Madurai, a city in Tamil Nadu, and her cousin’s involvement in Jallikattu protests inspired her to take classes involving Jallikattu and Tamil culture. “(The class) made me appreciate my culture to an extent

that I didn’t before,” Dsouza said. “I became interested in Jallikattu and what it stood for, why it happens and what the controversy was.” Although the controversy arose within the past few years, Jallikattu began millenia ago as a sporting event in which bulls were released onto the arena floor while bull tamers attempted to subdue them. The goal is to grab the coin purse attached to the bull’s horn, and the winner receives prize money and the

prestige of defeating a bull. “It’s supposed to be a way of celebrating the cow and the bounty it gives to people in India,” Dsouza said. “The only problem is it used to not be cruel because it wasn’t as much of a competition.” Now, people place bets, making the stakes much higher. Animal cruelty became such an issue that India’s Supreme Court intermittently banned Jallikattu, and the Tamilians responded by ceasing all work in protest.

CITY

| the daily texan staff

“Tamil people want to protect their culture, and because they felt attacked, it initiated this giant, mass-scale response,” Dsouza said. “It’s interesting because of that unity — that’s why it intrigued me to study this particular protest.” Dsouza didn’t just research Jallikattu — she also physically observed it during her recent five-day trip to Madurai. She said the amount of people and their

BULL

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CAMPUS

Elisabet Ney Museum’s latest showcase provides platform for local female artists By Anna-Kay Reeves @annakay_reeves

On 44th Street sits a castle-like home with views of a stream and rooms filled with art. A fairy tale home might seem like an unlikely place for a strong show of feminism, but “Women of Flatbed: A Retrospective” showing in the idyllic space of the Elisabet Ney Museum is just that. The Ney teamed up with Austin’s Flatbed Press, a fine art printing press and exhibition space, to create the exhibit. The show, which runs through April 28, is made up of select works by female artists spanning the 30 years of Flatbed’s history as a press. The show’s all-female artists contribute to Elisabet Ney’s legacy as an influential woman in the arts. Elisabet Ney, the 19th-century sculptress who lived and worked in the home-turned-museum in her life, was a trailblazer for women in the arts. Her eccentric ways rubbed more than a few cowboys

the wrong way, according to museum docent Amy Andrews. For Sydney Yeager, painter and 1987 fine arts alumna, the significance of Ney as a feminist icon as well as the importance of Ney’s work in her own art made her inclusion in the show meaningful. “As I was getting more into art, I would attend life drawing classes at the Ney, so the museum was important for me getting on my feet artistically,” Yeager said. Yeager, whose contemporary paintings are distinctive for their abstract forms, currently has work not only at the Ney but at the Wright Gallery at Texas A&M. Her work can also be seen in Kendra Scott’s offices in New York and Austin. According to Yeager, it’s not only the fact that each artist in the showcase is female that makes “Women of Flatbed” a unique exhibition; the selected pieces also feature the female form as a common theme. “Looking at the prints, it’s like a dialogue between the artists on femininity,” Yeager said. “The interaction

between the pieces is something really special to see.” For Yeager, Flatbed Press’ co-founder Katherine Brimberry was an important influence for her and many of the artists Flatbed works with. “Collaborating with artists is a great part of this job,” Brimberry said. “Many of the artists we work with, including those in the ‘Women of Flatbed’ show, aren’t printmakers by trade, but created amazing pieces.” According to Brimberry, the selections represent artists spanning Flatbed’s decades-long history as a press. “Flatbed has worked with hundreds of artists since the press began, so there was a lot of work to choose from when the Ney approached us with this showcase,” Brimberry said. “We were able to put together a collection that features female artists from Flatbed’s early days as well as new associates.” Now in its 30th year of operation, Flatbed will soon move from its 2832 East MLK Blvd. address to 3701 Drossett Dr. The move

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| the daily texan staff

7 on campus date ideas for Galentine’s and Valentine’s By Molly Bolf @mollybolf5

Ditch Netflix this Valentine’s season and try something new. Whether you’re celebrating Galentine’s with your girlfriends or having a romantic night out with your date, there are plenty of opportunities to get out of the house and have fun with the people you love. Skip the stress of Googling “creative date ideas” and check out some of the Valentine’s festivities happening near you this February.

Free Screening of “A Star Is Born”

Your Galentines deserve the world, and by “world” we mean watching Bradley Cooper and Lady Gaga belt “Shallow” while eating chocolate-covered strawberries. UT Campus Events + Entertainment is hosting two free showings of “A Star Is Born” for UT students, staff, faculty and a free guest on Valentine’s Day. The showings will take place at the Texas Union Theater at 6 p.m. and 9 p.m. Outside food and drink is allowed, so plan ahead and bring those chocolatecovered strawberries!

Valentine’s Day Market at Sour Duck Market

Get fancy and take your Galentines out for a day of sweets, live music and shopping. Bakery and smokehouse Sour Duck

Market is having a Valentine’s Market on Feb. 10 from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. The event will feature local Austin vendors’ chocolate, soaps and other products along with live music and special Valentine’s treats, such as macaroons, bonbons, cookies and tarts.

Candle Making Workshop

Stop spending all your money on candles and teach your significant other how to make them for you. The University Co-op Art + Supply is hosting a free candle-making workshop Thursday from 4 p.m. to 5 p.m. Supplies are provided and the workshop is first come, first serve.

Free cheese plates at Easy Tiger

If you and your gals are 21 or over, celebrate Galentine’s week with a wine and cheese night. Easy Tiger Bake Shop & Beer Garden on 6th Street is celebrating their ninth anniversary on Thursday with free cheese plates for the first 16 tables, half prices on rare wine bottles and happy hour specials from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m.

Valentine’s Day Pop-Up

Procrastinate on schoolwork this Sunday and snag some free kombucha with your Galentines. Space 24 Twenty is having a Valentine’s Day Pop-Up on Feb. 10 from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. in the Urban Outfitters Women’s Store on Guadalupe Street. The Pop-Up will feature a love note writing station with custom

postcards and free shipping, complimentary cookies from Maize Bakery, GT’s “Pure Love” kombucha, a 35mm film portrait station and a raffle entry to win a floral bouquet.

Texas Vietnamese Students Association Benefit Luncheon

Get philanthropic this Valentine’s week and take your date out for a luncheon with a cause. The Texas Vietnamese Student Association is hosting their annual benefit luncheon at the SAC Ballroom on Feb. 10 from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. Guests will be served a three-course meal with “a little taste of Vietnam.” Tickets are $12 for members and $15 for nonmembers, and raffle tickets for prizes will be sold at 2 for $1. All proceeds will go to Children of Vietnam, a global organization that benefits poor, orphaned, disabled and vulnerable children. Tickets can be bought at the VSA speedway table on Feb. 4-8, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Missed Connections ATX: Galentine’s Edition at Scoot Inn

If you’re tired of the endless Valentine’s propaganda, hit up your Galentines and head to Scoot Inn on Feb. 15 for a night of comedy. This improv comedy show is “inspired by lovesick Austinites seeking a second chance at romance online,” and starts at 8 p.m. Tickets are available online for $12, and guests must be 21 or over.