THE DAILY TEXAN Serving the University of Texas at Austin community since 1900
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Wednesday, October 3, 2012
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This issue of The Daily Texan is valued at $1.25.
INSIDE 5 NEWS
Graduate student applications go up as first-year Graduate student enrollment goes down.
4 OPINiON
Cruz and Sadler on guns, economic philosophy and trolls. Plus, a DHFS campaign for civil discourse.
Learning about “sex-positivity.”
Mike Davis reaches potential
LIFE&ARTS PAGE 10
SPORTS PAGE 6
LABEL HEAD
Alumni back new medical facilities By Alexa Ura
The Texas Exes joined the ranks of supporters of a local initiative that would increase property taxes in Travis County to help fund a new UT medical school and teaching hospital. The UT alumni association officially launched the UT M.D. campaign Wednesday in support of Proposition
1, an initiative on the Nov. 6 ballot. The proposition calls for a five-cent property tax increase to be allocated to Central Health, Travis County’s health care taxing authority. The proposition would increase the county property tax rate by 63 percent from 7.89 cents to 12.9 cents per $100 of assessed property value. The increase is expected to raise an estimated $54 million to be used to fund various
health services, including $35 million a year toward the proposed UT medical school and teaching hospital. Texas Exes president John Beckworth said the association’s board of directors voted to support a UT medical school earlier this year after the UT System Board of Regents and the Seton Healthcare Family of Hospitals com-
MEDICAL continues on page 2
CAMPUS
6
UNIVERSITY
Admissions case speaks to diversity
SPORTS
A look at how current West Virginia head coach Dana Holgorsen has given Texas fits
Ruling may impact nationwide policies
10
By Joshua Fechter
LIFE & ARTS
UT’s Lockpicking Club explains how some bike locks are easy pickings.
ONLINE from the blogS Orientation 2.0
New Student Services announces a new program for first-year students.
bit.ly/SCTI2A
TODAY Poetry on the Plaza
The Harry Ransom Center presents Poetry on the Plaza with Actors from the London Stage. Pick up a free poster and bookmark with the 2012-2013 Poetry on the Plaza schedule
Brown bag panel
The Public Affairs Alliance for Communities of Color (PAACC) hosts a brown bag panel discussion on the Supreme Court case Fisher v. University of Texas. This event will be held in the Sid Richardson Hall (SRH) 3.124 from 12:151:15 p.m.
Study in England
Hear about how you can take SOC 321K, KIN 350 or EUS 346 in Leeds, England, this June with Dr. Ben Carrington, Department of Sociology. This info session will be held in Bellmont Hall (BEL) 602A from 4-5 p.m.
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Quote to note This is 2012 and I refuse to go back in time. All we want is the university to take more of a firm stance to these kind of things. — Chas Moore NEWS
Shelby Tauber | Daily Texan Staff Former UT student Chas Moore pauses while voicing his anger during the “Walk to West Campus” protest on the corner of 26th and Rio Grande Streets Tuesday afternoon. Moore organized the protest to urge the University to take more action in response to several reported incidents of bleach balloons being thrown at students of color.
March urges action Students walk in protest against racism, accuse University of systemic negligence By David Maly & Bobby Blanchard More than 100 members of the UT community marched through the streets of West Campus Tuesday evening, chanting their concerns about recently reported incidents of bias in the area. In a march titled “Walk to West Campus: Standing in Solidarity Against Racism
& Hate,” members of the UT community addressed several reported incidents including several students of color being hit with bleach-filled water balloons, the use of racial slurs and insensitive ethnic-themed parties hosted by registered student organizations. The march was organized by former UT student Chas Moore, along with students from both UT and HustonTillotson University. Moore
said he organized the march to send a message to the UT administration and other relevant authorities that discrimination is still a major, systemic issue at UT. “This is 2012, and I refuse to go back in time,” Moore said. “All we want is the University to take more of a firm stance to these kind of things.” The march began at the Martin Luther King Jr. statue on the East Mall and continued through UT’s campus
MARCH continues on page 2
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Don’t you hate, don’t you fear, people of color are welcome here. — Walk to West Campus marchers
Lawyers representing organizations that promote equal rights for minority groups said if the U.S. Supreme Court rules against UT’s admission policy, it could have a negative impact on diversity in higher education nationwide. On Oct. 10 the court will hear oral arguments in Fisher v. University of Texas, a case filed against UT by two white female students who claim their admission was denied on racial grounds. UT states the University admits 25 percent of students through a holistic admissions process that examines academic and personal achievements and special circumstances, which include ethnicity and socioeconomic status, among other factors. The University accepts 75 percent of incoming students based on high school rank. A panel discussion Tuesday evening, “Fisher v. Texas and You: A Conversation with Civil Rights Leaders,” featured lawyers from several organizations that filed briefs supporting the University’s admissions policy. Thomas Mariadason, staff attorney for the Educational Equity and Youth Rights
FISHER continues on page
2
CITY
CITY
Obama and Romney Voter registration deadline nears to face off in first debate By Christine Ayala
By David Loewenberg President Barack Obama and Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney will meet on stage for the first time Wednesday night to debate domestic and economic policy. The first of three scheduled presidential debates is expected to focus primarily on the economy, although health care and the role of government will likely be discussed. It is unclear whether public or higher education will be discussed during the 90-minute debate. Both candidates have identified a need to address the rising cost of college tuition but have put forth different strategies to do so. Obama’s plan for higher education has centered on making college more affordable for middle class students by expanding Pell
Barack Obama President/ Democratic candidate
Mitt Romney Republican candidate
DEBATE continues on page 2
As the Nov. 6 Election Day approaches, time for eligible voters to register is running out. To vote in Texas, citizens must register 30 days prior to an election — Oct. 9. Registration requires applicants to be residents of the county, at least 18-years-old, not a convicted felon and not declared mentally disabled by a court of law. Students who are registered can choose to vote in Travis County or in the county of their parents’ home, but not both. Dee Lopez, director of Travis County Voter Registration, said the office is receiving more than 3,000 voter registration applications daily. “We try to make sure the date is publicized online, on social media like Facebook and Twitter and we know the local news channels have Oct. 9 on their websites as well,” Lopez said. Lopez said students should
Dana Finley | Daily Texan file photo Students line up to register to vote near the Co-op on the Drag.
VIDEO: bit.ly/UagUMj be aware of the additional mailing deadline if they plan to vote outside Travis County. Students registered elsewhere in Texas will either have to visit their designated precinct on Election Day or contact their County Clerk’s office to request a mail-in ballot, which should be received by Oct. 30. Lopez said this election season, many young people
were trained to register others. She said while the county normally offers training sessions monthly, they will have daily training sessions available from now until Oct. 8. “We’ve had classrooms full of young adults coming in to get trained from government organizations, government classes and public official
VOTE continues on page 2