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MONDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 2019
volume
119,
issue
NEWS
OPINION
LIFE&ARTS
SPORTS
President Trump’s simple speech style may help him, researchers say. PA G E 2
Students discuss their frustrations regarding leasing in West Campus. PA G E 4
UT alumni barking up a storm with apparel company “BARX SOX.” PA G E 8
Texas baseball opens homestand with series victory over Purdue. PA G E 6
STATE
STATE
Lawmakers say new antiLGBTQ+ issues could be on the horizon
Campus poll expansion
106
Two UT students help file legislation to add polling locations to college campuses across Texas.
By Chase Karacostas @chasekaracostas
Texas lawmakers in 2017 spent weeks fighting over various iterations of the so-called “bathroom bill.” But weeks into this year’s legislative session, there has been barely a whisper about bringing it back. However, there could be new challenges for LGBTQ Texans on the horizon. Last session, Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick pushed through the Senate two versions of the bathroom bill, which would have mandated transgender Texans use the public restroom that coordinates with the sex on their birth certificate, only to have both defeated in the House. Patrick said in January the bill is “no longer needed” and new House Speaker Dennis Bonnen, R-Angleton, mentioned shortly after receiving the gavel that he wants to maintain focus on fixing problems such as school finance and property taxes. State Rep. Mary González, D-El Paso, identifies as pansexual and was one of the staunchest opponents of the bill in 2017. She and state Rep. Celia Israel, D-Austin, were the only two openly LGTBQ legislators at the time. “If anyone ever questioned voting matters, I think just looking at the way in which there was a shift in culture regarding LGBTQ identity ... people lost elections over (the bill),” said González, co-chair of the House’s new LGBTQ caucus. “In the past, Republicans were motivated more by a farright ideology, and now they are motivated by trying to ensure they keep their seats.” Freshman state Rep. Jessica González, D-Dallas, said the bill showed the cracks
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anthony mireles| the daily texan staff State Rep. Gina Hinojosa, D-Austin, shakes hands with students from universities across Texas in support of HB 375 at the Texas State House. The bill calls for universities with over 10,000 students to host a polling location.
By Katie Balevic @KatelynBalevic
he University of Texas students Maya Patel and Zach Price are taking a hands-on approach this legislative session to increase the number of polling locations on college campuses in Texas. Patel and Price wrote House Bill 375, which would require universities with more than 10,000 students to have a polling location on campus. House Rep. Gina Hinojosa, D-Austin, filed
the bill. Together, the trio is calling on legislators and the House elections committee to support it. “For too many Texas students, election day polling locations are placed far away from campus, making it difficult for students to have their voices heard in the democratic process,” said Patel, a chemistry junior, at a press conference Friday at the Capitol. She and Price were joined by two dozen students from colleges and universities across Texas. Patel and Price said they wrote the bill after they saw
civic engagement increase at UT when polling locations were added to the Flawn Academic Center, and later to the Perry-Castañeda Library. “Only seven of the 22 largest public universities in Texas have an on-campus polling location, and college students in the state of Texas do not have consistent access to polling locations, which abridges their fundamental right to vote,” Patel said. Students who have limited access to transportation often cannot get to a polling location, especially when they are also balancing classes and jobs,
Patel said. “Universities are community centers where faculty, staff, students and members of the public come together on a daily basis, so it only makes sense to put polling locations where the people are,” Patel said. Denying students access to the polls effectively denies them the right to vote, said Price, a government junior. “This issue shouldn’t and can’t be partisan,” Price said at the press conference. “Contrary to the perception that the students that we’re helping here (are liberal), they aren’t
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CAMPUS
CAMPUS
Round Up weekend aims for zero-waste
How can students stay safe at UT late at night?
By Catherine Lindberg @cathlindberg
For some members of UT’s Greek life, Round Up weekend is an opportunity to drink, party and rep their chapters in the most colorful way possible. But, after the glitter settles, the waste from the weekend remains. Round Up is an annual social and philanthropic event hosted in March by UT’s Interfraternity Council. This year, Green Greeks, an organization focused on creating more sustainable Greek life practices, aims to make Round Up more environmentally friendly through their goal of having a zero-waste weekend. “So many items at parties, such as beer cans, White Claw cans and water bottles do not need to be going straight to landfills. They need to be properly sorted,” said Katia Eaton, project leader of Green Greeks. “To go zero-waste is a very doable thing. The only issue is proper sorting.”
The organization is collaborating with fraternities to help them sort waste left over from Round Up events. Green Greeks will provide a list of common items used at parties to each chapter, and fraternities can respond with what items they will be using and will be instructed on how to sort the items afterward. IFC board member Cole Kofnovec said he views this initiative as an opportunity for IFC to create change during Round Up beyond the money raised for charity. “With Round Up being such a big event for students, IFC sees this weekend as a great opportunity to reduce as much landfill waste as possible,” said Kofnovec, a finance junior. It is undetermined how many fraternities Green Greeks will be working with so far, but all sororities participating in Round Up have agreed to reduce their waste this year, said Eaton, an economics and sustainable studies junior.
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By Mackenzie Graham @kenziegraham
bixie mathieu
Spring Break FOMO? G BREAK N I R P S
Learn more at sopadre.com/SpringBreak I S L A N D
| the daily texan staff
On Feb. 11, a man was arrested in the evening after walking into the Texas Union Building yelling threats, according to a campus-wide email from UTPD. Forty minutes later, he was arrested. But in the time in between the incident and arrest, there was fear and speculation from students about what was happening. Veda Yagnik, a Plan II and business freshman, said she felt unsafe because she almost walked toward the Union during the incident. So, when one of our readers asked us, “How can students stay safe on or near campus late at night?” we looked into it as part of Curious Campus, a series where we answer
reader-submitted questions. Resident assistant Claire McAfee said she encourages her residents to stay in contact with students, resident assistants and UTPD whenever they are in a potentially dangerous situation. “Something I like to do is make sure I tell people where I’m at and where I’m going so people are aware,” said McAfee, French and computer science junior. “Sending a text message to a friend allows them to know if you have gotten home safely and keeps you accountable.” McAfee said UT has great resources that students don’t use often, such as SURE Walk and UT Night Rides, formerly known as SURE Ride. SURE Walk provides 40,000 rides per year to students throughout
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