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INSIDE oPINION
NEWS
The UT System approved almost $1 million to establish drug and alcohol abuse recovery centers at each System universtiy.
Texas clinches its fifth Big 12 title in six years SPORTS PAGE 6
LIFE&ARTS PAGE 10
UNIVERSITY
Regents OK administrative building By Alexa Ura
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dailytexanonline.com
Social network activity plays key role in how we form our identity
4 Space travel – has America moved on? Why the legacy of the space program matters.
Thursday, November 15, 2012
The UT System Board of Regents approved $102.4 million for a new administrative building slated for completion in 2016 that will consolidate its current five-building complex in downtown Austin.
The new 16-story administrative building will be built on the site of the System’s existing Lavaca and Colorado Buildings on Seventh Street and will have capacity for a parking garage for more than 650 vehicles. During their regular meeting Wednesday, the regents unanimously voted to amend the 2013-2018
Capital Improvement Program, a long-term System plan to improve and maintain facilities, to allow construction of the new building. The System projects the consolidation of its downtown offices will save between $2 million and $5 million annually that will be allocated to existing
student success initiatives. The building would encompass 258,500 square feet for System offices, meeting space and a central eating space. Scott Kelley, executive vice chancellor for business affairs, said 60,000 square feet of the building will be available for lease or for further expansion of
CITY
Researchers seek to free ill Kokabee
SPORTS
U.S. Olympian Trey Hardee returns to the 40 Acres.
By David Maly
football match the other night, and the mechanics said they loved it.” Formula 1 racing is the highest class of single-seater auto racing sanctioned by the Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile. Drivers compete in specially designed cars that can reach speeds of up to 220 miles per hour and race around cir-
As the health of a former UT doctorate student jailed in Iran since February 2011 deteriorates, an international day of protest is being planned in his honor. Dr. Arash Alaei and Dr. Kamiar Alaei, two Iranian HIV/AIDS researchers who were recently released from the same prison where Omid Kokabee has been in jail for almost two years on a 10-year sentence, spoke on campus Wednesday night. The brothers said the best way to advocate for Kokabee is to put international pressure on the Iranian government, as it has responded to pressure in the past. They said they are working with representatives of Amnesty International, a human rights advocacy organization, to plan the protest demanding justice for Kokabee and others treated unjustly by the Iranian government. The Alaeis said they were jailed and sentenced to prison terms in Iran in 2008 for their work regarding HIV/AIDS research, a controversial topic in Iran. Following international pressure from more than a dozen academic organizations, both were released within three years, before
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10 LIFE & ARTS
Three’s company – and a cure! Being with others has a positive effect on the brain.
America Recycles
The Campus Environmental Center will host a recycling drive for electronics, plastic bags and glass, along with providing free games and prizes. Learn to reduce waste from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on the FAC patio.
Pu Ying Huang | Daily Texan Staff Australian Formula 1 driver Mark Webber, who visited UT’s campus Wednesday, thinks Austin is an ideal city to host Formula 1 racing because of its passion for sports and competition.
F1 RACES TO AUSTIN Austin expects an influx of roughly 300,000 people for this weekend’s Formula 1 race By David Maly
Third Thursday
The Blanton Museum of Art will host its Third Thursday activities from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. Activities include yoga at 6:30 p.m., the Blanton Book Club at 7 p.m. and a public tour of “Into the Sacred City” at 7:30 p.m.
Austin will join the ranks of 19 other cities around the world that currently host the international sport of Formula 1 racing this weekend. Formula 1 driver Mark Webber spoke on campus
BE Global
CITY
Wednesday, giving the University a preview of the massive event that will hit the city from Friday until Sunday. Webber said he believes Austin will be a good location for the event. “It’s very balanced, and it’s very welcoming for international people to come here
In 1777
On Nov. 15, the Articles of Confederation were adopted by the Continental Congress after 16 months of debate. This document, not nationally ratified until 1781, created a loosely bound American government and was overturned five years later, making way for the U.S. Constitution and the system the country follows today.
and take on such a big, global event,” Webber, an Australian who made his Formula 1 debut in 2002, said. He said the University contributes to what makes Austin a good location for the event. “There’s obviously a lot of people that come here to compete,” Webber said. “We’re sportsmen, and we love competition. I know a lot of the guys went to the
CAMPUS
Goette to focus on TSM budget
Part of International Education week, this information session seeks to inform students about international internships in Barcelona and Shanghai for business and engineering majors beginning summer 2013. Application deadline is Dec. 1. The talk is from 4 p.m. to 5 p.m. in CMB 4.324.
Today in history
ADMIN continues on page 2 WORLD
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TODAY
System operations. During the meeting, regent Robert Stillwell said funding System institutions should be the board’s first priority and said he was concerned about spending money internally while asking campuses to tighten budgets.
By Bobby Blanchard
Yaguang Zhu | Daily Texan Staff Travis County Taxpayers Union treasurer and founder Don Zimmerman (right) speaks out against Proposition 1 in front of the Federal Courthouse Wednesday afternoon.
Prop. 1 legality to be determined by court By Joshua Fechter A U.S. district court is expected to rule soon in a lawsuit that could deprive UT of revenue that UT officials say it needs to fund a proposed medical school and teaching hospital in Austin. U.S. District Judge Lee Yeakel heard arguments Wednesday in a case that claims the ballot language of an initiative Travis County voters approved Nov. 6 violates the Voting Rights Act of 1965, which protects against election laws that disen-
franchise voters based on race. The ballot initiative, known as Proposition 1, would raise property taxes collected by Central Health, Travis County’s hospital district, contribute revenue toward operations at the teaching hospital and purchase medical services from medical school students and faculty for the general public. The Travis County Taxpayers Union, a political action committee formed to oppose Proposition 1, and three other plaintiffs filed the suit in October.
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For the first time in nine months, Texas Student Media has a permanent director. Jalah Goette was appointed to the position Nov. 8 by Gage Paine, Vice President for Student Affairs, after the Texas Student Media board members recommended Goette be appointed to the position instead of conducting a month-long national search. Texas Student Media represents the various student media organizations on the UT campus, including The Daily Texan, Texas Student Television, KVRX, the Texas Travesty and the Cactus Yearbook. “Goette understands the complexities and changing horizon of college media,” Paine said. “She is also respected by TSM’s professional and student staff.” Goette has served as interim director since Gary Borders resigned from the position in February. Borders said he was forced to resign by Juan Gonzalez, former vice president of student affairs, because he suggested selling Texas Student Television
and KVRX. Goette said working as the interim director helped her prepare for working as director. Before she was appointed interim director, Goette oversaw business and advertising as the a ssistant director. She said the top priority for Texas Student Media is developing its budget for the upcoming school year. “Incorporating feedback from all aspects of the organization in the budget development process is crucial for our success and is a great educational opportunity for our student managers and editors to better understand the business model,” Goette said. She said the biggest struggle faced by Texas Student Media and its entities is figuring out a way to reach the student audience as news consumption becomes more digital. She said she wants to see more collaboration between the different student media outlets. “This year our student managers and editors have been eager to work together to enhance collaboration and cross-promotion of our media entities,” Goette said.
Jalah Goette Texas Student Media director
“I will continue to encourage this type of work.” Becca Rushworth, TSTV station manager and a nonvoting member of the Texas Student Media board, said she is glad the new director is coming from within Texas Student Media. “It really helps to have someone who has been here a long time, is happy to be here and knows what it is like to be a student,” Rushworth, a radio-televisionfilm senior, said. Rushworth said she is hoping Goette can keep the different student entities
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