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1900
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 2019
volume
119,
issue
NEWS
OPINION
LIFE&ARTS
SPORTS
Some Spanish and Portuguese classes are now half in-class and half online. PA G E 2
Students deserve a timely alert about campus incidents. PA G E 4
Common reasons to use Tinder illuminate changes in dating norms. PA G E 8
Longhorns fall short of an upset against the Big 12-leading Wildcats. PA G E 6
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LEGACY
UNIVERSITY
UT’s pollution priorities
UT honors life, legacy of chemical engineer at memorial By Samagra Jain & Howard Yong
@samagraj @howard_yongg
Oil, gas extraction adds to pocketbooks, but hurts the environment.
gotten University Lands to agree to look more into pollution prevention. Since the campaign launched, he said Environment Texas has recruited over 170 faculty from across the System, and thousands of students have signed their petitions. Milliken said environmental protection on University Lands is important to the System. “University Lands is an asset that is unparalleled in the United States, and it’s one that we must preserve to advance the important missions of UT and A&M institutions for generations to come,” Milliken said in a statement. “In recent years, University Lands, along with the oil and gas industry as a whole, has implemented a number of initiatives, incentives and new technologies that have had a significant impact on reducing emissions — even as production has increased — and I’m confident that progress will continue to be made.” Since 2014, production from University Lands oil and gas extraction has increased by 21 percent while carbon emissions have decreased by 24 percent, said Mark Houser, University Lands CEO. Houser said he attributes this to practices by companies themselves, and not regulation from University Lands.
By Savana Dunning @savanaish
round 2.1 million acres of West Texas land are dedicated to raising money for the University of Texas System’s Permanent University Fund. A large chunk of this money is raised from leasing land to oil companies. Currently, environmentalists are asking Chancellor James Milliken to require these companies to limit their methane emissions. “While University Lands generate a lot of wealth, they also generate a lot of pollution,” said Luke Metzger, executive director of Environment Texas, an organization focused on reducing pollution in Texas. University Lands estimates their 2018 methane emissions to be around 385,000 metric tons. While methane emissions only make up 10 percent of atmospheric pollution, it traps more heat than carbon dioxide, making it a more effective contributor to climate change. Environment Texas is asking the System to require leasing companies to cut emissions in half within five years. Metzger said they have
POLLUTION
STATE
Police groups hesitant to decriminalize marijuana keeping impairment in the bill and protecting the community,” Wilkison said. “Whether you’re texting, Police associations across drinking, having an altercaTexas say they are hesitant tion inside your vehicle or to support the decriminalizasmoking marijuana, any kind tion of marijuana proposed of impairment is the thing in pending state legislation. that causes serious death, inCurrently, possession of jury and property damage.” one ounce of Wilkison said marijuana or the measureless is a Class ment of mariB misdemeanjuana also poses or, resulting in Whether you’re problems for law up to 180 days enforcement unin jail and a texting, drinking, der decriminal$2,000 fine. Un- having an alterca- ization. der House Bill “The concern 63, filed by state tion inside your of course is that Rep. Joe Moody, vehicle or smok- there will be D-El Paso, pospeople trying session of this ing marijuana, to move plants amount would any kind of im- and claim they be a civil offense have less than an punishable by a pairment is the ounce,” Wilkison maximum fine thing that causes said. “There will of $250. In rebe all kinds of sponse, police serious death, in- things tried, but associations are jury and property three different voicing their containers of damage.” concerns for deone ounce is still criminalization. three ounces.” CHARLEY WILKISON C h a r l e y Sixty-nine EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Wilkison is percent of TexOF CLEAT the executive ans support redirector of the Combined ducing the penalty for smallLaw Enforcement Associscale marijuana possession ations of Texas. Wilkison to a citation and fine, accordsaid there needs to be proing to a poll conducted by visions written into the legthe Texas Politics Project in islation that clearly identify 2018. Last September, Gov. and prosecute impairment Greg Abbott also said he is if an individual is caught “open” to reducing penalties possessing marijuana. “The trickiest part is M A R I J U A N A page 3
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More than a hundred students and faculty gathered to celebrate the life and legacy of John J. McKetta Jr., the namesake of the University’s chemical engineering department, at a memorial held Saturday at the AT&T Conference Center. McKetta, who died on Jan. 15 at the age of 103, joined UT’s chemical engineering department as a professor in 1946 during a post-World War II period that created a vacuum for talented engineers in the workforce. During his 70-year affiliation with UT, he served as a professor, department chair, dean of engineering and executive vice chancellor for the UT system. McKetta was an internationally renowned authority on energy and industrial engineering, serving as an adviser to five U.S. presidents and editing a 68-volume engineering encyclopedia. At the memorial ceremony, former students and family members spoke of McKetta’s love for UT, referencing his burnt orange wardrobe and his unique Mercedes, which he had custom painted orange and white to reflect the University’s colors. McKetta was known for his desire to build relationships with students beyond the classroom. Speakers said McKetta held an annual student picnic at his lakeside home and regularly called students to wish them well on their birthdays. Nicholas Peppas, a chemical and biomedical engineering professor, worked closely with McKetta and said his expertise as an engineer and peer was exceptional. “For me and for all of us, he was a great researcher who had
MEMORIAL
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CAMPUS
Students plunge into philanthropy work
By Hayden Baggett @hansfirm
pedro luna | the daily texan staff From left, biochemistry junior Jarrett Hubbard, Jordan Robbins, Texas THON president and supply chain senior, and Javier Leija, physics senior, decided to take the polar plunge Tuesday as part of Texas THON’s “Week of Miracles.” The fundraiser, which aims to raise $24,000 in one week, is the first of its kind at UT. Robbins intends to change that by making it an annual event.
By Brenna Hinshaw @brenna_hinshaw
For some students, plunging into an icy pool is the perfect way to jumpstart fundraising efforts for a cause they believe in. Texas THON, a student organization that raises money for Dell Children’s Medical Center of
Central Texas, hosted the first Polar Plunge fundraiser at Gregory Gym’s outdoor pool on Tuesday. Participants donated $10 to jump in the pool while others could pay a $5 entry fee to watch. The event was part of Texas THON’s “Week of Miracles,” a weeklong campaign where the organization tries to reach a fundraising goal
of $24,000. “We do hope to make Polar Plunge an annual Texas THON event, something that will make students immediately think of us when they hear it,” said Jordan Robbins, Texas THON president and business senior. There were about 60 people signed up to jump into the pool at two different
times. The first jump took place at 6:30 p.m. and the second jump followed at 6:45 p.m., when the outside temperature was 59 degrees. “We are just looking for a way to get the UT community more involved with THON,” said Jarrett Hubbard, Texas THON’s
THON
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