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Serving the University of Texas at Austin community since 1900
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Tuesday, September 24, 2013
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CITY
CAMPUS
CapMetro axes two UT shuttle routes
UHS takes precautions for flu, gives free vaccines
By Amanda Voeller @amandaevoeller
Students who ride UT shuttles to campus will need to find alternate methods to commute to class starting in the spring. The Capital Metro board of directors voted unanimously at a meeting Monday to eliminate the Wickersham Lane shuttle route and decrease the coverage of the Cameron Road shuttle route beginning in spring 2014. The Cameron Road route
will only serve students in the Camino La Costa area north of campus — where many graduate students reside — until the end of the spring semester, when the route will be eliminated completely. Pat Clubb, vice president for university operations, said the University tries to support routes that carry the largest number of students. The University pays $6,435,315.18 to CapMetro for bus and shuttle service, CapMetro spokeswoman Melissa Ayala said. The
University’s funding to CapMetro remains flat even though CapMetro would have required the University to increase shuttle funding because of rising transportation costs to keep all current routes. “As choices are made, if a route has a low ridership, then it becomes a candidate for elimination since those dollars can support a route with much greater ridership,” Clubb said. Many graduate students
BUSES page 2
By Leslie Zhang @ylesliezhang
Fabian Fernandez / Daily Texan Staff
John Langmore, vice chair of Capital Metro’s board of directors, listens to Austin locals voice their concerns about various issues Monday morning.
CAMPUS
Pulitzer Prize winner talks diversity, culture By Wynne Davis @wynneellen
In a discussion on the role that race and other minority statuses play in creating art, Pulitzer Prize-winning author Junot Díaz said he felt UT students should be more concerned about the societal implication of recently reported bleach bombings in West Campus. When asked about two incidents involving water balloons thrown at minority students this school year, Díaz said he felt a stronger community response was warranted. “Institutionally, the absolute lack of safety and disregard that that represents for a certain community of the school [is something] I think should chill everyone,” Díaz said, responding to a question from an audience member. “If there‘s not an energetic response from every member and every sector of the institution, that’s an
DIAZ page 2
Charlie Pearce / Daily Texan Staff
Pulitzer Prize-winning author Junot Díaz reads from his book, “The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao” to an audience at the Blanton Auditorium on Monday evening. Díaz’s complex characters often reflect his own experiences as a Dominican-American immigrant.
October marks the beginning of flu season, accompanied annually by a flurry of sniffy noses and 100degree fevers. Starting Monday, University Health Services will offer flu shots to UT students, faculty and staff on select dates through Oct. 17. The flu shot service is free for students who have insurance — except Health Maintenance Organization plans, plans with insurance companies based outside the U.S. and governmental plans — and faculty and staff who have UT Select insurance. Other students, faculty and staff can be vaccinated for $10. Last year, UHS vaccinated a total of 5,400 students and 3,400 faculty and staff, according to Sherry Bell, UHS senior program coordinator, who is leading the flu shot campaign. Theresa Spalding, medical director at UHS, said she sees the most students come in after Thanksgiving and winter break, peaking in February. Spalding said the department’s strategy is to vaccinate as many students as possible to avoid the spread of the flu. “If by chance, someone [is] exposed to the virus [after vaccination], they won’t get it and they won’t spread it,” Spalding said. Rachel York, a youth and community studies junior, received a flu vaccine last year. York said she plans to get vaccinated again this fall.
FLU page 2
RESEARCH
CLUB SPORTS
New study examines college smoking habits
Gymnasts balance competition, injuries
By Nneka Waturuocha @thedailytexan
Two UT professors are among several nationally chosen scholars to analyze trends in young people’s tobacco use and how those trends correlate to targeted marketing. Alexandra Loukas, a kinesiology and health education professor, and Keryn Pasch, a kinesiology and health education assistant professor, are part of the newly founded Tobacco Center of Regulatory Science on Youth and Young Adults. The center is housed at the UT School of Public Health, which received a grant from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and the National Institutes of Health for its research. The research will include surveying UT students about their tobacco usage over a period of six months and will also document tobacco marketing around campus. “We’ll be documenting all
outdoor tobacco marketing … and also marketing at the point of sale, such as at convenience stores, gas stations, etc.,” Loukas said. “We’ll also document advertising and promotions in the magazines and newspapers that our participants read, on the websites they visit and the direct mail they receive from tobacco companies.” The goal of the study is not only to more closely understand the ways in which UT students are being influenced by tobacco marketing, but also to further understand the factors that can lead to long-term use of tobacco products. “Over the past 13 years, cigarette use has been declining but use of non-cigarette alternatives is becoming increasingly more popular,” Loukas said. “Most non-cigarette alternatives are flavored. Flavored products appeal to younger, less experienced
SMOKING page 2
By Rachel Wenzlaff @RachelWenzlaff
The width of the average man’s foot is 4.1 inches, and the width of the average female’s foot is approximately 3.6 inches. And a balance beam? About 4 inches — which probably feels smaller if someone has to flip backward and land perfectly back on the beam. The members of the UT women’s gymnastics team do this every day, not only managing to re-plant their feet firmly on the beam, but doing it with ease and grace. “I think it speaks a lot to a gymnast’s character that they do the impossible,” said Rachel Zarosky, math senior and team president. “People don’t understand what it takes to be a gymnast.” The balance beam is only one of four events where gymnasts “do the impossible.” The other events of women’s gymnastics include floor exercise, vault and
Sam Ortega / Daily Texan Staff
Freshman Anna Curl of the UT women’s gymnastics team balances on the horizontal bar during practice last week.
uneven bars. Each is different with its own set of skill requirements, yet all of them carry the risk of serious injury. Team captain Laurita Vargas has fought through two ACL injuries from
tumbling on the floor and riding her bike. Despite being on the team for three years, this is the first year Vargas will actually get the chance to compete. Most injuries come from instantaneous, identifiable
accidents, such as Vargas’. But some injuries, such as team treasurer and biology junior Sara Journeay’s injury, come simply from the repeated pounding and
GYMNASTICS page 6
NEWS
OPINION
SPORTS
LIFE&ARTS
ONLINE
REASON TO PARTY
The Daily Texan speaks one-on-one with Junot Díaz. See full interview with Díaz at dailytexanonline.com. ONLINE
Greek students are overrepresented in SG. PAGE 4
Texas running backs bounce back. PAGE 6
Magnum Photos are on display at Ransom Center. PAGE 4
Horns Up to Junot Díaz for speaking with students. PAGE 4
Stat Guy: Examining the rest of the Big 12. PAGE 6
The new Drake album shows his softer side. ONLINE
A UT classical archaelogy professor went to Ukraine to laud an excavation site’s U.N. designated World Heritage status. dailytexanonline.com
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