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Abbott, Davis debate for final time By Jackie Wang @jcqlnwng
DALLAS — During their second and last televised debate Tuesday, Attorney General Greg Abbott accused state Sen. Wendy Davis, DFort Worth, of profiting from an incentive deal handled by her title company to bring a Cabela’s store to Fort Worth while she was on the Fort Worth City Council. The gubernatorial candidates attacked each other repeatedly on several issues,
including health care, public education and ethics. In light of the recent state audit of the Texas Enterprise Fund, which criticized the fund’s lack of oversight, Davis said Abbott was questioning her ethics to divert attention from his own record. “I have always acted within the ethical guidelines and have been very careful to do so,” Davis said. “As a public servant, my job has always been to the people that I represent.” The candidates also discussed abortion during the
debate. Davis said she believes it is a woman’s right to decide whether to have the procedure, while Abbott defended his position on abortion in cases of rape and incest and said he wanted to promote a culture of life in Texas. “It’s incredibly important that whenever we talk to a woman who is a victim of rape or incest, we start with the compassion and support they deserve,” Abbott said. “That is what I have done as attorney general, by providing a record
DEBATE page 3
By Eleanor Dearman @ellydearman
Jenna VonHofe | Daily Texan Staff
Greg Abbott, Republican gubernatorial candidate and attorney general, poses with supporters at a watch party following his debate with Democratic candidate Wendy Davis.
CITY
Austin bicycle accidents underreported By Natalie Sullivan @natsullivan94
Two hundred ninetyeight bicycle collisions happened in Austin last year, according to statistics from the Austin Police Department, but UTPD crime prevention officer William Pieper said most bicycle accidents go unreported on campus. Pieper said people involved in bike collisions on campus usually do not report them to UTPD. “It has been my experience that people tend to only report a bicycle accident to the police when there is an injury or major damage,” Pieper said. “Most bicycle accidents go unreported by the parties involved.” Pieper said UTPD is only required to file crash reports with the Texas Department of Public Safety when a motor vehicle is involved. Collisions involving only pedestrians or
ACCIDENTS page 2
Students, Riley collaborating to revise city sound rules
Amy Zhang | Daily Texan Staff
Students bike through the intersection of 24th and Speedway streets Tuesday morning. Intersections with dense vehicular traffic are prone to bicycle collisions, most of which go unreported on campus.
Student Government and International Fraternity Council members are working with Austin City Council member Chris Riley to revise the city sound ordinance, which, in its current state, could alter West Campus’ social scene. The sound ordinance is part of a city plan intended to reduce sound levels in West Campus. The plan requires groups to apply for permits at least 21 days before an event and submit a site plan with specifics of their properties. According to Taral Patel, SG university-wide representative, the maximum sound level allowed by the ordinance is equivalent to a cell phone ringing at its highest volume. At Tuesday’s SG meeting, the assembly approved a resolution that voices student concerns with the ordinance. The proposal mirrors a resolution sponsored by Riley to be presented at the City Council meeting Thursday. IFC President Edwin Qian met with Riley on Tuesday to discuss the issue. “Our focus is really to make sure they know they have a channel through which they can advocate to the city,” said Robert Svoboda, co-director of the SG City Relations Agency. The SG assembly sent the resolution to the Legislative Affairs Committee at Tuesday’s meeting. Both SG’s and Riley’s
SG page 2
ART
CAMPUS
Architecture students study an exhibit by Jeff Williams at The University Co-op Materials Lab on their way to class. Williams’ pieces are made from a variety of items, including salvaged glass, wood cement and recycled cellulose.
Apollo 12 astronaut awards scholarship to Plan II senior By Sebastian Vega @sebantoniovega
Chris Foxx Daily Texan Staff
Professor creates art from eclectic sources By Josh Willis @joshwillis35
The University Co-op Materials Lab is featuring an art exhibit by Jeff Williams, an art and art history assistant professor, that uses materials ranging from everyday to exotic to create vibrant models. Jen Wong, director and curator of the lab, said Williams’ artwork is made using a method that connects the various materials in beautiful ways. “He took new samples and existing samples and arranged
them artfully, and they really kind of highlight the qualities of the materials in the way that he has balanced them and the way that he has set them up and mixed colors and textures,” Wong said. The exhibit, “Part for the Whole,” has been on display since Sept. 17 and will run until Oct. 17. Williams’ pieces are displayed in the front of the lab and are made of different items — including salvaged glass, wood cement and recycled cellulose. The pieces are
meant to serve as examples of what can be created using materials available to students. “They are a mix of really ubiquitous materials, like roofing tile and brick and really innovative materials like aluminum foam and other recycled material,” Wong said. Architecture senior Stancey Moore, who works at the lab, said Williams’ art is an example of various art forms working together. “A lot of his work deals
ART page 2
Alan Bean, a former Apollo astronaut and UT alumnus, visited campus Tuesday to present a scholarship from the Astronaut Scholarship Foundation and talk about the knowledge he gained from being a NASA astronaut. Sai Gourisankar, a Plan II and chemical engineering senior, was selected to receive the $10,000 scholarship. Gourisanker is focusing his collaborative research on nanotechnology for biomedical therapy and imaging used to detect and treat cancer. Bean said Gourisankar should be proud of his research and individuality. “It is amazing what this young man has accomplished,” Bean said. “We need people like you, Sai. We need these people for the future of this country and for the future of human beings on earth.”
Mike McGraw | Daily Texan Staff
Alan Bean, alumnus and Apollo 12 astronaut, discussed his experiences in space while on campus to present a $10,000 scholarship from the Astronaut Scholarship Foundation.
Bean, who flew on the Apollo 12 mission, said he thinks it is important for people to pursue their dreams — despite opposition from others “One of the things I’ve noticed in my life is it’s hard to hold onto your dream because your parents and other people don’t have the same dream, and they don’t necessarily see your dream
as worthy,” Bean said. “You have got to hold on to what feels good to you.” According to Bean, the ability to cooperate with others is necessary for someone who wants to be a good team member. Beans said during his training he disagreed with a
SCHOLARSHIP page 2
NEWS
OPINION
SPORTS
LIFE&ARTS
ONLINE
REASON TO PARTY
Guest lecturer says preserving historic sites in Cuba is important for the country’s heritage.
Actions of COLA in TA/AI decisions present problems. PAGE 4
Jordan Hicks is making the most of his final season. PAGE 6
UT engineering alumna gives back to community. PAGE 8
As first exams approach, let your TA be your friend. PAGE 4
Volleyball looks to spin Iowa State on Wednesday. PAGE 6
Associate professor opens exhibit at AT&T Center. PAGE 8
Not a fan of print papers? Read all the stories you see in today’s paper and more on The Daily Texan’s website. dailytexanonline.com
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Wednesday, October 1, 2014
NEWS BRIEFLY
FRAMES featured photo
Dallas hospital confirms first Ebola patient
Volume 115, Issue 35
CONTACT US Main Telephone (512) 471-4591 Editor-in-Chief Riley Brands (512) 232-2212 editor@dailytexanonline.com Managing Editor Elisabeth Dillon (512) 232-2217 managingeditor@ dailytexanonline.com News Office (512) 232-2207 news@dailytexanonline.com Multimedia Office (512) 471-7835 dailytexanmultimedia@ gmail.com Sports Office (512) 232-2210 dailytexansports@gmail.com Life & Arts Office (512) 232-2209 dtlifeandarts@gmail.com
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Environmental science freshman Erica Wood hula hoops on East Mall on Tuesday afternoon.
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resolutions do not provide a specific plan of action, but they instead say the sound ordinance poses a problem to students. “We haven’t really gotten to the point of deciding which things do make sense, but we have [to] acknowledge that what we have on the books doesn’t make sense,” said Leah Bojo, the policy aide for Riley who spoke at the meeting. Svoboda said SG is still exploring potential solutions, and that the main area of concern is the extensive permitting process intended for large-scale events. “The hope is to create some sort of private party category for the permitting, so that it doesn’t change it all the way to commercial or public property,” Svoboda said. Bojo said the sound ordi-
ACCIDENTS TOMORROW’S WEATHER
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nance is not new to Austin, but the code will be upheld to a stricter standard in the West Campus area. “For a long time, these city staffs haven’t really been consistently applying those regulations in West Campus,” Bojo said. “They have been looking the other way and letting some parties happen. Some staffs, particularly the city fire marshall, felt that there were some parties that were getting out of hand and something needed to be done.” Tanner Long, SG College of Liberal Arts representative, said he and other students fear the ordinance will have a negative effect on the entire student body, including Greek life, co-ops, West Campus residents and student organizations that host events such as tailgates in the area. “It was the Greek organizations that originally approached us about this,”
Long said. “However, those events — for instance Round Up — are attended by people that are not only Greek but also students who attend the University.” Bojo said Riley realizes the ordinance in its current state is not likely to gain the compliance of students. For that reason, she said Riley is asking for changes to be made to
the ordinance. In the meantime, Riley and his staff are requesting that city officials be flexible on the policy. “We know that there are events in the pipeline,” Bojo said. “And we’re asking staff to have a little flexibility on the parties that are happening between now and when we get the codes in place.”
the police. “Collisions between bicyclists and pedestrians, bicyclists and other bicyclists, or bicyclist and a fixed object are not required to be documented on a crash form,” Pieper said. Anna Sabana, APD public information manager, said APD reported 10 bicycle collisions in West Campus last year and a total of 298 collisions citywide. APD follows similar procedures to UTPD in reporting bicycle collisions, with a crash report only being required if a motor vehicle is involved. Pieper said most bike crashes on campus occur in areas with heavy traffic or hills. “I would state most [crashes] occur where there is dense traffic … like 24th and Speedway, and 21st and Speedway,” Pieper said. “I have seen other
collisions where bicycle speed is a factor — the 23rd Street hill, the 24th Street hill and the 21st Street hill.” According to data from the Texas Department of Transportation, the most common streets near campus where bicycle collisions occur are Guadalupe and Speedway streets, with a combined total of 102 crashes happening on the two streets over the past four years. Most crashes happen because of a lack of attention on the path of a cyclist, pedestrian or driver, according to Pieper. “Typically bicycle-involved collisions happen because one party fails to observe or yield right-of-way to another. Often times, a pedestrian steps in front of a bicyclist, or a bicyclist or motor vehicle fails to stop at a stop sign,” Pieper said. Pieper said UTPD has
partnered with the University’s Parking and Transportation Services to work on bike safety presentations and initiatives. PTS offers free online classes to improve cyclists’ traffic safety skills. Mathematics junior Clarissa Rodriguez said she was involved in a crash on Speedway a few months ago but did not report it to UTPD. “I braked really hard behind someone, and I sort of rammed into their back tire,” Rodriguez said. “Nothing too bad happened.” Rodriguez said she thinks cyclists often do not look where they’re going or ride too fast, which could contribute to collisions. “I’d say people on bikes are usually not as safe as pedestrians, but it should be the other way around,” Rodriguez said.
ART
continues from page 1 with the balance between architecture and socio-historic balances,” Moore said. “I feel like this exhibit is exemplary of the types of materials that we have in our materials lab and kind of what our architecture school promotes.” Wong said the lab gives students a chance to learn about local art in a hands-on fashion, in addition to presenting various artists’ work.
SCHOLARSHIP continues from page 1
flight engineer’s approach to delivering information and questioned whether the engineer was a good team member because of it. A fellow astronaut, Charles Conrad, said he was too quick to pass judgement and made Bean realize that he might have been the bad team member for not appreciating everyone’s perspective. Bean said if anyone wants to be influential in prompting a positive change, they should push to influence others through respect and
Xintong Guo | Daily Texan Staff
Student Government representative Tanner Long talks about the city sound ordinance impacting West Campus on Tuesday.
“We do these exhibitions and also workshops,” Wong said. “Last week, we did a stonecarving workshop that anyone could sign up for. All the students got to get their hands dirty and actually learned how to carve local limestone.” Wong said certain students take advantage of what the lab has to offer. “Students, especially in the architecture and art fields where people are making things and using these materials, come here for inspira-
tion and to find new things to work with,” Wong said. “But anyone who is making something can come find out more about these materials.” Architecture sophomore Katlynn Hallisey said she has a great appreciation for the lab. “I like the untying edge materials they have, like seethrough concrete, because they open doors for new design options,” Hallisey said. Williams could not be reached for comment.
good deeds every day. “If you want to be a special person, you have to start thinking of ways to be special,” Bean said. “If we want to be special, we have to be proactive about it. People are waiting around for life to give us an opportunity to be special. … Forget it.” In closing, Bean said people often fail to recognize their full potential. “The only thing in the universe that we know of that’s not limited as to where it’s going to be in the future, are human beings — just like us,” Bean said. “We may be
small on a cosmic scale, but we have been given this great gift of unlimited potential.” Tammy Knowles, executive director of the Astronaut Scholarship Foundation, said Bean’s lecture gave her hope for future generations. “I’m [now] even more hopeful for America and for the students that we have coming up that are going to find the cures that we need,” Knowles said. “Not only to take us to space and beyond … but also [for] all the other innovations that are going to come out … across the country.”
A patient in a Dallas hospital has the Ebola virus, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Texas Department of State Health Services. The incident, confirmed Tuesday, is the first reported case of Ebola in the U.S. According to the state health services department, the patient developed symptoms a few days after traveling to Texas from Liberia and was admitted into isolation Sunday at Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital Dallas. The hospital said in a statement Tuesday that they are following recommended procedures to keep patients and visitors safe. “Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital Dallas has admitted a patient into strict isolation to be evaluated for potential Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) based on the patient’s symptoms and recent travel history,” the hospital said in the statement. “The hospital is following all Centers for Disease Control and Texas Department of Heath recommendations to ensure the safety of patients, hospital staff, volunteers, physicians and visitors.” At a press conference Tuesday, David Lakey, commissioner for the Texas Department of State Health Services, said the department has a special team set up to handle the incident and is working closely with the CDC. “Our laboratory, the Texas Public Health laboratory in Austin, has a specially trained team to handle high-risk specimens like this,” Lakey said. “I want to reiterate that we have no other suspected cases in the state of Texas at this time, but we are closely monitoring the situation, and we’re ready to assist in any way that is needed. We’ve been in significant contact with the hospital, with the local health department and with the CDC, and they have our full support as we work through this situation. We’re committed to keeping Texas safe.” According to the World Health Organization, there have been more than 6,500 cases of Ebola and more than 3,000 deaths from the outbreak in West Africa. —Natalie Sullivan
♲ RECYCLE
Editor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Riley Brands Associate Editors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . David Davis Jr., Amanda Haight, Noah M. Horwitz, Amanda Voeller Managing Editor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Elisabeth Dillon Associate Managing Editor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Reeana Keenen News Editor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Jacob Kerr Associate News Editors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 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Wednesday, October 1, 2014
CAMPUS
State Sen. Wendy Davis, Democratic gubernatorial candidate, speaks Tuesday during her debate with Greg Abbott, Republican gubernatorial candidate and current Texas attorney general.
Jenna VonHofe Daily Texan Staff
DEBATE
Tests are important to determine where strengths and weakness are, and they should be used for that purpose — to see where the holes are and where [teachers] can fill them.
continues from page 1
Ellyn Snider | Daily Texan Staff
Angela Rojas, a member of the International Council on Monuments and Sites Academy, speaks about the preservation of historical Cuban architecture Tuesday evening.
Professor lectures on Cuban history through architecture By Nidia Cavazos @thedailytexan
Angela Rojas of the International Council on Monuments and Sites Academy discussed the importance of preserving Cuban world heritage at a lecture in Goldsmith Hall on Tuesday. During the lecture, Rojas said certain locations in Cuba are key to understanding Cuban history and identity, including Trinidad, Old Havana with its fortification system and the urban historic center of Cienfuegos. According to Rojas, visitors can learn about the sites’ histories and how they contributed to present-day Cuba. Rojas said Camagüey is a city that has been on the island since the 16th century. “It is a city where you can witness history while traveling east to west, and it is incredible in its preservation, as there is much to learn from it,”
Rojas said. Anna Nau, an architecture graduate student who attended the lecture, said such sites are important for Cubans and Americans. “The general culture significance is great for those who live there and for the rest of the world,” Nau said. “It’s a country that Americans have a very specific idea about based on the political issues between the United States and Cuba, and I did not know the cultural significance these Cuban cities possess.” Rojas said proper planning and management for the sites is crucial for their preservation, and it is the general public’s responsibility to ensure that actions are being geared toward the stability of these sites. “Management should be led by community,” Rojas said. “The rest of the stakeholders should support a strict control of authenticity and integrity.” Rojas said a way of
helping stability in the region includes improving the living conditions and schools for those who live in the cities. She said she is content with the work that is currently being done in Cuba and credits tourism for much of the work that has been done. “There are a lot of problems, but there is a lot of great private work going into the restoration due to new policies” Rojas said. “An innovative management system in Old Havana improving everything including restorations has its bases on cultural tourism.” Isabelle Atkinson, an architecture senior who attended the lecture, said restoring and preserving Cuban sites also helps preserve Cuban culture. “Restoring such sites keeps true to Cuban heritage and does not allow international influence to change the rich culture that is already there,” Atkinson said.
amount of financial support to victims. A woman has five months to make a very difficult [decision].” Davis said Abbott supports standardized testing for four-year-old students in his pre-K plan. According to Davis, the pressure of highstakes standardized testing is detrimental to education. “It’s time for us to decrease these pressures,” Davis said. “Tests are important to determine where strengths and weaknesses are, and they should be used for that purpose — to see where the holes are and where [teachers] can fill them.” Abbott said he has never supported standardized testing for pre-K students and challenged voters to read his education plan on his website. “I no more want 4-year-olds to take standardized test than I want a cow to jump over the moon,” Abbott said. “I want to make sure we build a strong education for our children, starting from pre-K going all the way to third grade.”
—Wendy Davis, State senator
After Davis indicated otherwise, Abbott said no tax dollars from Texas would supplement the health care of other states. Davis also called for an expansion of Medicaid to bring back tax dollars to Texas. She said she would do so by an executive order if she had to. “It’s all about bringing our tax dollars to work for us,” Davis said. “I’ve also said that Medicaid expansion included the authority to bring it to the state through executive order. I would prefer to work with my legislature.” The candidates also addressed the first reported Ebola case in Dallas. Abbott said he believed the proper quarantine threshold for Ebola has been met. “We want to ensure that Ebola cannot expand any
further,” Abbott said. “We need to make sure anyone who has been exposed to this needs to be quarantined. We need to make sure this disease does not spread any further whatsoever.” Davis said the established quarantine was effective and extra coordination with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital Dallas was necessary. She added that the public should remain calm. “As governor, that coordination would be my primary purpose,” Davis said. “My sympathies go out to the person who has been affected by this disease. [Dallas County Judge Clay Jenkins] assured me that medical professionals will be safe and be able to contain this disease.”
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RILEY BRANDS, EDITOR-IN-CHIEF / @TexanEditorial Wednesday, October 1, 2014
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COLUMN
COLA’s closure of task force meetings leaves students in dark By Riley Brands Editor-in-Chief @ribran
It’s like Shared Services all over again. It’s even being brought before students at the same time of year, in the warm, bonhomous glow of the early fall. Former animus has supposedly been washed away, or at least papered over, and replaced with a clean slate. When Shared Services was brought before students last year, administrators feigned interest in their opinions about the elimination of staff jobs. This time around, though, their indifference will likely hit much closer to home as most of the jobs likely to be cut will be students’. The College of Liberal Arts’ TA Task Force, which has been charged with examining issues that affect graduate students, including compensation, workload and assignment, will be meeting throughout the semester, having done so twice already. Among the many topics under consideration
will be the reduction of the total cohort of TAs and assistant instructors across the college. Underlying these initiatives is a wellfounded concern among administrators that the college is struggling to remain competitive with peer institutions with its low stipends. And because funding for the college hasn’t changed significantly in recent years, that means cuts to the student workforce. As it stands, the college pays most of its TAs with bachelor’s degrees around $5,500 less (if one looks at the total amount they receive rather than the base stipend) than the $26,500 the University recognizes as the annual combined tuition and living expenses for an in-state graduate student. (It’s more expensive for out-of-state students, but many of those get in-state tuition as part of their benefit packages, which can many times include a benefit to defray that cost as well.) This is a serious issue. If enacted, the cuts could eliminate a large number of jobs. But at this point we don’t know how many or how quickly those jobs will be slashed —
COLUMN
for a number of reasons. First, the college has been inconsistent in its own numbers. In an email sent out Aug. 6, Esther Raizen, the college’s associate dean for research, said that “we will need to decrease the number of our TA/AI appointments by 10 percent or so by 2016-17.” In a more recent email, however, dated Sept. 9, Raizen’s assistant, Lauren Bairnsfather, said the reductions would need to be made by next year. Second, the college’s stated goal of decreasing appointments by 10 percent doesn’t match the target of 700 appointments that one member of the task force said was being aimed for. (The college currently has more than 800 teaching assistants and assistant instructors.) And third, after last week’s meeting, which was open to the public, the college has decided to close all future proceedings to potentially prying eyes. Those meetings, which will lead to the creation of a draft report to be presented to Raizen, will likely determine much of the future course of events for the college. However, I fear that much of the course may already be set.
At last week’s meeting, several non-members of the task force raised concerns about a number of issues, including how the college would be able to afford to increase TA/AI stipends to the necessary minimum by cutting appointments by 10 percent. Dean Randy Diehl, who led that meeting, admitted quite plainly that it wouldn’t. In other words, if the college truly wants to remain competitive with peer institutions, it will almost certainly have to make further cuts at a later date given that its funding has been stagnant in recent years. These are issues that deserve the full attention and access of the University community. While I understand the need for changes to the funding structure for TAs and AIs, these cuts could potentially yank away the livelihoods of more than 100 graduate students, people who already don’t get paid enough for the work they do. As the task force continues to meet, I hope administrators truly listen to what the student task force members tell them. Brands is a linguistics senior from Austin.
COLUMN
Longhorns: Embrace tradition, Students should not be afraid utter craziness of OU weekend to approach teaching assistants By Dolph Briscoe IV Daily Texan Columnist
Illustration by Connor Murphy / Daily Texan Staff
By Olivia Berkeley Senior Columnist @oliviaberkeley
UT’s paramount social event of the year is quickly approaching — and no, I’m not talking about ACL. In a little over a week, swarms of UT students will be boarding buses en route to Dallas with ungodly amounts of alcohol, burnt orange and school spirit with one goal in mind: to beat OU and have a good time in the process. For months, the question, “Are you going to OU?” has plagued UT students. The decision to hop on the OU weekend bandwagon isn’t one to be taken lightly; the weekend itself, while fun, isn’t cheap. It requires its participants to be of sound mind and body — getting medically released for the weekend by your doctor is strongly advised. Anything goes on OU weekend, and those who fully accept the realities of the experience are likely to have a better time. Word to the wise: Don’t go into that weekend expecting anything less than full-blown debauchery. There will be tears, a few bruises and most of all, some excruciating headaches. Dallas is neutral football ground for OU and UT football fans, which translates to a lawless purgatory for college-age attendees. There may be referees on the field, but there are none outside the stadium. This no-holds-barred weekend
is not for the faint of heart. The culture surrounding OU weekend isn’t atypical for any big UT event — if anything, it’s like a destination formal on steroids. In extreme cases, people start painting coolers and searching for the perfect date over the summer. However, the majority of students get OU fever in midSeptember, at which point the cooler selections at local Walmarts begin dwindling, T-shirt designing starts happening, and dates begin brainstorming logistics. From the outside looking in, OU weekend is an amalgam of all thing wrong with UT’s social life. It emphasizes binge drinking, irresponsibility and, above all, perpetuates the notion that what organizations you are in greatly affect your experience at this University. The Greek and spirit communities are notorious for their attendance at OU weekend, as well as their propagation of the culture surrounding it. Without OU weekend, UT would surely be missing a large component of its unique approach to all things football, Texas and fun. And while OU weekend is in no danger of going anywhere, I advocate a full embrace of its bizarre traditions. The difference between a good and bad OU weekend is having the right attitude, and most of the time, the people who accept what the weekend presents them with open arms — including the good, bad and the ugly — end up having the best time. All of those going to Dallas next weekend: I’ll see you there. May we all say a silent prayer for each other, the Longhorns and the great state of Texas. Berkeley is a Plan II and public relations sophomore from Austin.
FIRING LINE
Reader: Leftism causes high tuition [Thomas K. Lindsay’s Monday column] was interesting and well written. Thank you. However, I think this article shows why so many students waste much of their money on tuition at these universities. Among many other faults there are no requirements for taking basic courses in free market capitalism. Universities today are, in general, leftist indoctrination mills teaching such foolishness like the greatness of ever-more government control and the modern welfare state. Understanding economics and the moral greatness of capitalism is one of the most important
things for an American to gain from college. Costs at these colleges is obviously a complex issue, but one of the core reasons for the high cost is government. I think you young people generally don’t see how the American revolution is being undone by this Leftist value system of Big Government and small citizen, statism versus individual liberty. College tuition is just part of its widespread destructiveness. — Avrum Hirsh, in response to Monday’s column titled “Next President should prioritize affordability of education.”
LEGALESE | Opinions expressed in The Daily Texan are those of the editor, the Editorial Board or the writer of the article. They are not necessarily those of the UT administration, the Board of Regents or the Texas Student Media Board of Operating Trustees.
It’s that time of the semester — the first round of exams and papers are here. Preparing for tests and assignments can be stressful, especially for freshman students. I have had the privilege of working as a teaching assistant during my years in graduate school at UT. In my experience, students who make an effort to visit with their TAs about course material generally have a better understanding of how to succeed in class. I hope the following advice will benefit students as they face midterms. First of all, do not be afraid to visit TAs, or professors for that matter, during their office hours. We keep office hours for students’ benefit. Teaching assistants are here to help students succeed in their courses. I have heard those anecdotes about TAs on so-called “power trips” whom undergraduates loathe, but this is largely a myth. Most TAs genuinely want students to enjoy what they are studying and excel in class. As graduate students, we have a passion for what we study, and the opportunity to impart knowledge to others is what drew many of us into academia in the first place. Talking with TAs helps clarify questions students have about coursework. This is especially true in large classes. Sitting in a huge lecture hall filled with students can be intimidating and prevent individuals from asking questions. Meeting one-onone or in small groups with a TA helps eliminate anxiety some students may have about speaking in front of so many people. Many times, TAs have worked with the same professor in past semesters. TAs
answer directly to the professor in charge of the course and therefore have an understanding as to what is expected from students for the semester. Reviewing course material on a regular basis with a TA further reinforces what students learn in class. TAs can answer questions about lectures and assigned readings. We recognize that you are coming into class with a limited knowledge of the subject, and that you naturally will have many questions as you listen, read and write. As graduate students, TAs are experts in their fields and can provide you with added understanding. TAs grade most students’ tests and assignments, so talking with them about expectations can be very beneficial. Visit with TAs before assignments are due, as well as afterwards if you have questions about your grade. Read over and think about comments TAs write on your work. If you are unsatisfied with your grade, talk with your TA and ask how you can improve your work to make better grades in the future. On a side note, don’t angrily approach your TA and demand an explanation for a grade lower than you expected. This may sound like common sense, but be aware that allowing your emotions to get the best of you only makes matters worse. My personal experience has been that most students are very respectful, even when making disappointing grades. Believe me, no TA wants to get into an awkward argument or shouting match with a student over grades. Get to know your TA early on. Do not wait until the end of the semester to start worrying about your grade. Most TAs truly find their course material interesting and want students to make the most out of the class. As I tell my students, we are here to help you. Briscoe is a history graduate student from Carrizo Springs.
FIRING LINE
Column on economy lacks logic [Amy Nabozny’s] argument stands on the crippled shoulders of poor logic. In her recent article “Conservatism can grow economy,” she makes the case that conservative economic policies are more successful and offer the growth our country needs. To support this claim, she references personal experience in the state of Michigan, which she claims is Democratic leaning, and how it differs from Texas, which she references as a Republican state. Perhaps she should begin with researching the state politics of Michigan. The Governor and Lt. Governor have been Republican for the past 16 out of 24 years. The State House has been red since 1998, with a slight break from ‘06-’10, and the State Senate hasn’t belonged to the Democrats since 1984. If you consider federal representatives, the Senators have been blue for some time, but there is only a slightly blue tint to the state’s House Representatives. Perhaps, before she blames political partisanship for her state’s woes, she should consider researching who is
SUBMIT A FIRING LINE OR GUEST COLUMN | E-mail your Firing Lines and guest columns to editor@dailytexanonline.com. Letters must be between 100 and 300 words and guest columns between 500 and 1,000. The Texan reserves the right to edit all submissions for brevity, clarity and liability.
actually in charge. Texas has been obscenely lucky throughout this recession, but a “system of low taxes and reasonable regulation” is not why. If you were a business owner, and someone paid you to move somewhere with cheap labor, would you not think it was a golden opportunity? Out of the $80 billion (tax payer dollars) states give to incentivize companies, Texas gave $16 billion. About $222 million of that is from the Texas Enterprise Fund, which an audit just revealed wasted approximately 44 percent of that by giving it to businesses who didn’t even apply. For conservatives to be so against socialist practices, government bribery of business and wastefulness seem like something Republicans shouldn’t support. Yet here we are. Businesses might like Texas, but our nation was created for the people. And policies supporting that will always win out. — Patty Sanger, a UT government alumna, in response to a Monday column titled “Conservatism can grow economy.”
RECYCLE | Please recycle this copy of The Daily Texan. Place the paper in one of the recycling bins on campus or back in the burnt-orange newsstand where you found it. EDITORIAL TWITTER | Follow The Daily Texan Editorial Board on Twitter (@TexanEditorial) and receive updates on our latest editorials and columns.
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GARRETT CALLAHAN, SPORTS EDITOR | @texansports Wednesday, October 1, 2014
VOLLEYBALL
Texas ready for Big 12 home opener By Jacob Martella
Senior Khat Bell (1) and Texas will play in their Big 12 home opener against Iowa State on Wednesday.
@ViewFromTheBox
After a rough start to last week, head coach Jerritt Elliott gave his volleyball team a couple of days off to rest and relax. The Longhorns held off a tough Nebraska team on Sept. 20, survived a test at West Virginia on Wednesday and had to deal with travel issues, which cost Texas the chance to come back to Austin in between games. “Emotionally, we hadn’t given them a lot of time off because our schedule and how hard we were going,” Elliott said. Now well rested and riding the momentum of an undefeated season, Texas will open up its Big 12 home schedule Wednesday against Iowa State, a team that has given them fits in the past. The Longhorns got their dose of adversity last week, defeating longtime rival Nebraska in front of over 8,000 fans in Lincoln, Nebraska. They then had to stay in Nebraska for an extra day because of issues with a charter plane. From there, the team flew straight to Morgantown, West Virginia, where their Big 12 opener was their toughest fight yet. Texas dropped the opening two
Ethan Oblak Daily Texan Staff
sets to West Virginia but battled through to take a 3-2 comeback victory. “As a coach, you don’t want to go into those games and be in those situations, but there’s part of you that wants to be in those situations and learn how to come out of it,” Elliott said. Up until the last two games, the Longhorns hadn’t exactly had to deal with a serious challenge. They won 3-1 against Florida at the start of the month — but won every other match in a sweep.
However, having to go to five sets in the last two matches has given the team valuable experience it can use going on further this season, Elliott said. “It was the first time that we had been uncomfortable and uneasy,” said Elliott about the West Virginia game. “It was the first time as a coaching staff where we had to figure out how to handle this team.” While the Longhorns have opened up the season undefeated, their opponent this week has struggled.
Iowa State comes in 7-4 so far, but lost to TCU on Saturday to open up conference play and has lost all three of its games against ranked opponents. But the Cyclones are known to give the Longhorns trouble. They’re the only team to defeat Texas in conference play within the past two years. Elliott said one of the reasons the Cyclones are a tough win is because of their never-say-die attitude and discipline. “When you [have] the
combination of those characteristics you can be a very tough team to play,” Elliott said. The match is one of two tough matches for the Longhorns in the span of five days. The team will travel to Lawrence, Kansas, on Sunday to face the Jayhawks, who were ranked before losing to Oklahoma. “[Our opponents] were preseason picks to finish two and three in our conference,” Elliott said. “We’ve got a lot of work to do.”
FOOTBALL | COLUMN
Amy Zhang Daily Texan Staff
Hicks making major impact in last year with Longhorns A stud coming out of high school, senior linebacker Jordan Hicks faced new, defining challenges at Texas. In addition to missing 19 games because of injuries over the last two seasons, Hicks was accused of sexual assault while staying at a hotel in San Antonio for the 2012 Alamo Bowl. After an investigation, no charges were filed, but the slew of misfortunes that have plagued Hicks’ college career thus far have left those closest to him feeling sorry for the former topfive recruit. “It was tough because, me and Jordan, we’ve been good friends since I’ve been here,” said senior cornerback Quandre Diggs, who has started alongside Hicks since arriving at Texas in 2011. “Just him going through those things, a guy that loves to compete and go out and just play the game the way he does, it’s hard to see somebody, one of your brothers go out like that.” But just four games into his final season in burnt orange, Hicks has left no reason for anyone to feel sympathetic. The 6-foot-1, 234-pound linebacker has been a force for the Longhorn defense this year, making big plays in run and pass defense.
ATHLETICS
ROYALS
TOP TWEET
We have a long way to go and a lot of work is to be done . But we can make it happen . #Horns #CTMD
Senior linebacker Jordan Hicks leads Texas with 39 tackles this season and is tied for the team lead with two inteceptions and three pass breakups.
@stefanscrafield
MLB
Isaiah Taylor @Zay_Ctmd11
FOOTBALL
By Stefan Scrafield
SIDELINE
Hicks, a native of Cincinnati, Ohio, is third in the Big 12 in terms of tackles with a team-high 39, and is also tied for the team lead in interceptions (two) and pass breakups (three). His six tackles for loss are second among Longhorns, trailing only junior defensive tackle Malcom Brown’s. “He is unbelievable,” head coach Charlie Strong said. “He’s so critical. I can look to him because he’s going to get the defense lined up, and he’s making plays for us. He’s playing so hard.“ Now in his fifth year in Austin, Hicks is improving week after week, with his best performance of the season coming last weekend on the road against Kansas. Hicks led Texas with 15 tackles against Kansas, including one tackle for loss, and came up with a key interception in the second half to lead the Longhorns to their first shutout as the visiting team since 2005. The performance earned him Big 12 Defensive Player of the Week honors for the first time in his career. “It meant a lot,” Hicks said. “It’s a great honor, but there’s a lot of good football players in this conference, so to be recognized for my play this past week is definitely an honor.” The numbers are obvious, but what doesn’t show
He’s leading by example. He’s making plays out there, and also he’s a vocal leader. He’s the heart and soul of the defense. That’s something that we all look up to, and we respect that. —Mykkele Thompson, Senior safety
up on the stat sheet may be Hicks’ greatest strength. As the leader of the Longhorn defense, Hicks has done more than just fill up the box score this season. “He’s leading by example,” senior safety Mykkele Thompson said. “He’s making plays out there, and also he’s a vocal leader. He’s the heart and soul of the defense. That’s something that we all look up to, and we respect that.” Of course, Hicks’ chance at avoiding another major injury is still a big concern. He got off to solid starts in 2012 and 2013, too, but failed to stay healthy past September. “You just pray each and every day that he can stay healthy and just continue to help us grind throughout the season,” Diggs said.
Players shouldn’t take talented Bears lightly By Nick Castillo @Nick_Castillo74
Before Art Briles became the head football coach at Baylor, the Bears went 3-9 in 2007. Since then, Baylor has won 48 games and claimed its first Big 12 Championship in school history in 2013. While the Bears turned their program around, the Longhorns trended downward. Texas’ record since 2010 is 32-23. Texas has lost two of its four games this season, while Baylor is undefeated and ranked No. 7 in the country. Despite Baylor holding the upper hand, the Longhorn players have been calling out the Bears heading into their matchup this Saturday. “They’re still Baylor,” senior wide receiver John Harris said. “Just because they started playing better, that’s good for them. We’re still Texas.” Senior cornerback Quandre Diggs refused to recognize Baylor’s self-proclaimed title of “WRU” — Wide Receiver University. When asked about the Bears’ new moniker, Diggs said that “nobody’s ever heard of that.” The quotes from Harris and Diggs provided bulletin board material for the Bears. Online message boards are full of people calling out Harris for being entitled and Diggs for being unaware of Baylor’s wide receiver prowess. Texas players need to be aware of Baylor’s on-field ability, as the Bears lead the nation in points per game with 56.8. Baylor’s passing offense is ranked fourth in the
nation, averaging 401.3 passing yards per game. Baylor also averages 239.8 rushing yards per game. The Baylor offense will be hard for Texas to defend, but the Bears’ defense will give the Longhorns their biggest challenge. Defensively, the Bears are sixth in the country in total defense, giving up just 250.5 yards per game. Baylor’s defense has recorded 18 sacks this season, a troubling stat for Texas’ young and inexperienced offensive line. While sophomore quarterback Tyrone Swoopes has only thrown one interception this season, the Bears may exploit the young quarterback, as they are the eighth best team in the nation in scoring defense. The Longhorns will have their hands full Saturday, but the coaches are fully aware of the challenge in front of them. “We know this — it’s a big test this week,” head coach Charlie Strong said. “They just generate points. It’s almost like watching a video game. You watch a play, it’s a touchdown there, and the next time they come back up, hand the ball off then they go score another touchdown. The quarterback is unbelievable — a Heisman candidate. Coach Briles has done an unbelievable job with that program. So it’s going to be a major test for us. We’re going to have to play well. We’re going to have to play above our head.” While Texas may challenge Baylor early in the game, the Longhorns must realize that the Bears won’t easily be beat. Texas isn’t the Texas of old, and Baylor isn’t “just” Baylor anymore.
Shelby Tauber | Daily Texan file photo
Baylor defeated Texas on Dec. 7 in Waco last season to clinch the first Big 12 title in school history.
SPORTS BRIEFLY Brown won’t listen to schools until Dec.
Former Texas head coach Mack Brown said Monday that schools will have to wait until December to speak to him about possible coaching openings. Reports have recently linked Brown, who is currently working as a college football analyst for ESPN, to SMU’s head coaching vacancy. “I will not make any decisions about my future until December, after I talk with my bosses at ESPN and see if they’re happy with me, and then when I can evaluate my first year on television,” Brown said. “ESPN and [ESPN President] John Skipper have been great to me.” Brown, 63, compiled a 158-48 record in 16 seasons with Texas, where he won a national championship in 2005. This is his first year at ESPN, where he works alongside John Saunders and Danny Kanell on “College Football Countdown.” “I’m enjoying working in television at ESPN,” Brown said. “I’ve made a conscious decision to concentrate on this through the fall. I jumped into this with both feet. Sally and I both made a commitment to this.” Brown added that he has not yet heard from any schools about potential coaching jobs. “Only in December will I make a decision whether or not to speak to a university about a coaching position,” Brown said. —Peter Sblendorio
Trio of former Horns in MLB playoffs
Over the past two seasons, at least one former Longhorn has captured a World Series title. And now, three more former Texas stars will start their trip to a championship this October. Brandon Belt of the San Francisco Giants, J.P. Howell of the Los Angeles Dodgers and Huston Street of the Los Angeles Angels will all represent Texas in the MLB postseason. Belt, who played for Texas from 2008-2009, is making his second postseason appearance after winning a World Series title in 2012. Belt and the Giants will take on the Pittsburgh Pirates in the National League Wild Card game. Howell, who played with Texas from 2003-2004, will help the Dodgers against the St. Louis Cardinals in the American League Divisional Series. In 68 appearances this season, Howell tallied a 3-3 record and a 2.38 ERA. Lastly, Street (2002-2004) will start his third trip to the MLB postseason against Los Angeles. This season he recorded 41 saves and a 1.37 ERA, while also claiming a spot on the National League All-Star team roster. —Garrett Callahan
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8 L&A
LAUREN L’AMIE, LIFE&ARTS EDITOR | @DailyTexanArts Wednesday, October 1, 2014
ALUMNI
CITY UT alumna Mary Lou Ralls Newman aims to help underserved communities with public works projects in Texas and around the world.
Ethan Oblak Daily Texan Staff
Alumna engineers successes By Danielle Lopez @ldlopz
Mary Lou Ralls Newman has mastered the art of having it all — two degrees, a husband for a business partner, two grown kids and a passport with stamps from Tanzania, Costa Rica, New Zealand and Germany. “I wouldn’t have traded my kids for my career or my career for my kids,” Ralls Newman said. “My life’s very complete. I think you can balance it all. It’s tough, but you can do it.” In 1984, the UT graduate received her master’s degree in structural engineering, which deals with the research, analysis, planning and designing of structures such as buildings and bridges. Throughout her time at school, Ralls Newman always knew that she wanted a career that involved giving back. After switching majors a couple of times, she decided on civil engineering. Ralls Newman specifically remembers one of the
8
classes that advanced her interests in engineering — reinforced concrete design taught by then-civil engineering professor John Breen. “He was so knowledgeable and made everything so simple,” Ralls Newman said. “That planted the seed that I might be a structural engineer.” Immediately after graduation, Ralls Newman landed a job as the only female structural engineer in the bridge division of the Texas Department of Transportation. For 20 years, Ralls Newman worked to advance bridge technologies, design and do research. After 15 years, she became the director of the Bridge Division, the highestranking bridge engineer position in the state. She said despite being the only female in her department, she never felt any discrimination. “It’s definitely a man’s world, but the guys were really good to work with,” Ralls Newman said. “They [were] very helpful. They just took
me under their wings, and it was really nice.” In 2004, Ralls Newman left her job at the department and created an engineering consulting agency with her husband called Ralls Newman, LLC, which is focused on advancing bridge technologies. Ralls Newman’s schedule became more flexible, giving her more time for traveling and other endeavors. She has worked with Water to Thrive, an Austinbased nonprofit that funds water projects to those in need in rural Africa, and she is involved with a justice task force at her church that helps the less fortunate. “[Ralls Newman] is totally committed,” said Janet Ellzey, mechanical engineering professor and executive vice president and provost. “I can’t remember her ever saying, ‘I don’t have time to do that.’” Ellzey works with Ralls Newman on UT’s Project for Underserved Communities. “I’m giving back to the University now,” Ralls New-
ART
man said. “What I’ve been able to accomplish as an engineer is a direct result of my degrees at UT, and I love it.” Ralls Newman said she has seen the increase in female engineers over time in her work and in her projects with UT. “Certainly women can do anything men can,” Ralls Newman said. “There are quite a few structural engineers that I work with around the country. I think if your focus is to do a good job, be serious about your job and make a difference, then I think everything works out.” Ralls Newman said she never had a plan for her life, but she feels fortunate about the way it turned out. “My career is one that I’ve really enjoyed and was challenged by,” Ralls Newman said. “I think that’s what everyone should look for. What really excites you? What makes you want to get up in the morning and meet the day? If you can find that for yourself — I think that’s what it’s really about.”
Fans, artists gear up for Austin Comic Con By Megan Kallus @megmayumi
Every year, scores of comic, movie, game and television fans pack into crowded convention halls dressed in elaborate costumes and makeup imitating their favorite characters and personalities. Some simply come dressed in T-shirts. But all of them come to pay homage to their respective fandoms and fan communities. From Thursday through Saturday, the Austin Convention Center will host Wizard World Austin Comic Con, an event that brings together actors, writers, artists and fans to celebrate the comic community. Wizard World, the host of Austin Comic Con, is a digital magazine and convention production company that regularly hosts comic cons nationwide in cities such as Chicago, Portland and Las Vegas. This year, Austin Comic Con is bringing in special guests, such as Norman Reedus from “The Walking Dead,” Tyler Posey from “Teen Wolf,” and Sean Astin from “The Lord of the Rings” trilogy. Famed comic artists and writers will also be in attendance, participating in panels and workshops. Topics range from the history of Marvel Comics and diversity in “geek culture” to the mechanics of indie filmmaking. These panels allow fans to communicate one-onone with media creators, discuss major social issues in the fan community and learn the behind-thescenes work that goes into creating popular art.
The Artist Alley at Austin Comic Con will also host many local artists, giving them the opportunity to sell their merchandise, connect with fans and gain a broader audience of convention-goers. Texas-native Ashlee Casey is among the local artists who will be tabling at Austin Comic Con. Casey said that she is excited for the opportunity to display her portraiture work. “I try to maintain a traditional look despite working in Photoshop,” Casey said. “Right now, my thing is dark themes with floral components.” This will be Casey’s second time participating in an Artist Alley. “I always loved the community of conventions,” Casey said. “You never have an awkward conversation with anyone because there’s always a common interest. Con-goes are some of the most hospitable people around.” In addition to one-onone talks with creators and workshops, Austin Comic Con will host a large costume contest, judged by a panel including Jason David Frank, known for portraying the Green Power Ranger. English sophomore Daniela Munoz, who plans to attend the event, said one of the best parts of Comic Con is the costumes. “I’m most looking forward to the event programming and especially those talks concerning women and fandom culture,” Munoz said. “I’m also really excited to see the costumes that people come up with for the costume contest.”
CAMPUS Assistant art professor Anna Collette will have her photo collection, “Gathering Ground,” displayed at the AT&T Executive Education and Conference Center. This will be Collette’s first exhibit in Austin.
Joshua Guerra Daily Texan Staff
‘Gathering Ground’ captures aftermath of Oct. 2013 floods By Noah Brooks @NTBrooks1011
After the October 2013 floods in Austin, Anna Collette, a studio art assistant professor who specializes in photography, discovered the perfect subject for her new series of photos: the destruction of South Austin’s Onion Creek. Her collection of photos is featured in the exhibit “Gathering Ground,” which will soon be displayed in the Courtyard Gallery at the AT&T Executive Education and Conference Center on campus. The exhibit is Collette’s first in Austin. The photos display trees, limbs and brush mixed with debris from the flood. Any color in the area is covered with gray dust, making many of the photos appear black and white. Collette visited Onion Creek three months after the October storm and became fascinated with its monochromatic coloration. “What was interesting to me was that the landscape looked almost like the opposite of a flood,” Collette said. “It was dry, ashen.
Whenever I think about a flood, I think of a massive amount of water, but this is really what was left.” Collette didn’t anticipate photographing trees in Texas, but then she discovered the damage of the storm at Onion Creek. “I’m from the Northeast, and, living in Massachusetts and New York, the trees and the growth [are] so dense, so, when I moved to Texas, I thought, ‘Great, I don’t have to photograph trees anymore,’” Collette said. “But then I saw this, and I felt that there was a story to tell.” The title of her collection, “Gathering Ground,” describes the cluttered mass of trees and debris featured in the photos. “I wanted the title to speak to both the gathering of trees and how they came together and also the idea of a mating ground — a place where people and things gather,” Collette said. “I went through a lot of other variations, but I liked having both of those ideas at the same time.” Collette, who has been a
professional photographer for 12 years, became interested in photography during her sophomore year at the Massachusetts College of Art and Design. “I was a painting major, but I took an elective in photography, and I really enjoyed the process of it,” Collette said. “I liked the idea that photography is a subtractive process. Photography is almost the opposite [of painting], where you’re going out into the world to create a composition or to create meanings from something that already exists.” Since receiving her bachelor’s degree from Massachusetts College of Art and Design and getting a Master’s of Fine Arts from Yale University, Collette has had her work featured in galleries in Boston and New York. She came to Austin a year ago to teach photography and studio art at UT and has been busy since. “I’ve actually been very productive this year since moving here because I’ve been inspired by the landscape,” Collette said. Collette’s photos will be on display from Thursday through Feb. 6.
Poet’s legacy lives on through readings at Ransom Center By Logan Herrington @lherrington49
Poetry should be heard, not seen, according to Welsh poet Gwyneth Lewis. This idea is the inspiration for her latest project, “Dylan Thomas and the Colour of Saying,” which celebrates the art of poetry through oral recitations of fellow Welsh poet Dylan Thomas. Lewis, along with English professor Kurt Heinzelman, will read Thomas’ poetry as part of the Poetry on the Plaza series at the Harry Ransom Center this Wednesday at noon. Lewis said the idea for the event came directly from Thomas’ practice of reading poetry aloud before an audience. “He used to quite often read other people’s poetry; poets just usually read their own these days,” Lewis said. “I thought as part of the tribute during the centenary year of his birth that it would be a fitting thing to imitate his act of generosity.” According to Lewis, currently a visiting professor at Princeton University, poems are often designed to make more sense audibly than if they were read to oneself on a page. “To read them on your own is sort of like going to swim in a wetsuit,” Lewis said. “It’s much nicer to go skinny-dipping or at least in a bathing costume so that you can actually feel the water.” On the title of the event,
Photo courtesy of Dr. Kurt Heinzelman
Welsh poet Gwyneth Lewis will read the poetry of Dylan Thomas at the Harry Ransom Center on Wednesday.
Lewis said that Thomas’ poetry calls upon all five senses and opens up a “colorful world.” “Poets don’t work on their own; they work in relation to other people’s work,” Lewis said. “We are all colored by each other.” Heinzelman — who has been publishing poetry for more than 30 years and has served as a coeditor and advisory editor of numerous poetry publications — said the Harry Ransom Center
has the largest archive of Dylan Thomas materials in the world, housing over half of all the existing archival material on the poet. Heinzelman said the aura of poetry is something books cannot capture in the same way. “Thomas believed very strongly, as [Lewis] and I do, that poetry is an oral event and it wants to be spoken; it wants to be read; it wants to be heard,” Heinzelman said. “It makes the poetry more alive.”