1
SPORTS PAGE 4
COMICS PAGE 5
LIFE&ARTS PAGE 6
Serving the University of Texas at Austin community since 1900
@thedailytexan
facebook.com/dailytexan
Thursday, January 22, 2015
dailytexanonline.com
LEGISLATURE
Senate approves three-fifths rule By Eleanor Dearman @ellydearman
The Texas Senate adopted a three-fifths rule, lowering the number of senators required to bring a bill to the floor for debate, after a heated discussion Wednesday. The procedural shift will effectively prevent Senate
Democrats from blocking debates and votes on even moderately well-supported Republican legislation. Until Wednesday, a twothirds rule, which had been in place in the Texas Senate since 1947, required 21 of 31 senators’ votes to bring a bill to the floor. Under the new three-fifths rule, presented by state Sen. Kevin Eltife
(R-Tyler), only 19 senators’ votes will be required. Sen. Rodney Ellis (DHouston), who opposed the rule change, said the three-fifths rule will determine which bills are given full consideration during the session. “This is one of the most important things we will do as a body because it lays out
the road map of what we will and will not accomplish,” Ellis said. Although Eltife argued that the resolution was not a partisan issue, the vote to change the rule split largely along party lines. Sen. Eddie Lucio (DBrownsville) was the only Democrat to vote in favor of the new rule.
“It’s not just about Democrat versus Republican issues,” Eltife said. “It’s about better governing.” Eltife said that while he has historically supported a two-thirds rule, he thinks the switch to a three-fifths rule will make the legislative process more efficient.
@jcqlnwng
HOUSING page 2
@sam_kett
Marshall Tidrick | Daily Texan Staff
ACC professor John Blum admires the new sculpture, entitled “Monochrome for Austin,” next to the Hackerman Building at the intersection of Speedway and 24th Street. The artist, Nancy Rubins, created similar sculptures in Paris and Chicago.
System policy, Art in Public Spaces, which was instituted in 2005. Nobel said the allocation is augmented by private contributions and support from foundations. The funding used for “Monochrome” came from
By Jackie Wang
SCULPTURE page 2
By Samantha Ketterer
piece’s construction. A small percentage of the capital cost of new construction and major renovations of campus buildings is allocated toward funding of Landmarks projects such as “Monochrome,” as per a UT
New housing complex set to open by next summer
the overall cost of the Hackerman Building, which opened in 2009 and cost $219 million. Nobel said the money came entirely from the funds designated for Hackerman
SENATE page 2
Public sculpture makes waves on campus
soundly in any part of the world, but “Monochrome” was constructed specifically to withstand Austin’s heavy winds, according to structural engineer Jaime Garza. Garza, a UT alumnus, assisted Rubins in the
WEST CAMPUS
Next summer, more than 500 students will be able to move into a new 20-story apartment complex at 21st and San Antonio streets. The complex, “University House,” will include 188 rooms, 504 beds and a fivestory parking garage. The property is under the joint administration of two Lutheran campus ministry organizations, which agreed to lease the space to Inland American Communities, a national student housing company. Inland signed a 75-year lease with the ministry organizations to develop and manage the property. On its ground floor, the complex will house the the apartment complex will house facilities for the ministries’ student center. Michael Newman, a reverend in Texas District of the Lutheran Campus-Missouri Synod, helped Lutheran Campus Ministry initiate the partnership with Inland. Newman said he believes additional housing in West Campus will benefit the UT community. “We wanted to go with a developer that served students well and we could work with well,” Newman said. Paul Collinson-Streng, pastor at Lutheran Campus Ministry, said students in the ministry were involved in building-developer selection process. “Students really lead in the ministry and can make important decisions,” Collinson-Streng said. “It’s not that often you have college
CAMPUS
When students came back for the spring semester, they were in for one hull of a surprise. Greeting them was a 50-foot-tall structure composed of roughly 75 boats, suspended from a steel framework by a mass of cables. The sculpture, outside the Hackerman Building, looms over the corner of Speedway and 24th Street and features canoes jutting out at all angles. The structure, completed Saturday, is the newest piece in the Landmarks collection, which is the University’s public art program. The piece, called “Monochrome for Austin,” was designed as part of a larger collection by Nancy Rubins, and it cost $1.4 million to produce, including the cost of materials, labor and payment to the artist. A portion of the boats used in “Monochrome” were damaged boats donated by boating rental companies, according to Nick Nobel, external affairs coordinator for Landmarks. The rest of the boats were bought specifically for the project. The structures in the collection are made to stand
bit.ly/dtvid
SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
Students create social services app, win Watson competition Through the app, people can ask those questions and Watson will answer them, and they’ll also be able to do things that they can’t normally do over the phone, like have favorites and rate and review services.
By Josh Willis @joshwillis35
After winning a $100,000 award in the IBM Watson University Competition, a group of seven computer science students plan to develop an mobile app that connects users to local social services, such as clothing banks and health insurance programs. As their winning entry, the students developed a prototype app named “CallScout,” aimed at meeting the needs of users in Central Texas. Bri Connelly, computer science senior and project member, said CallScout will provide useful information directly to callers in need, so callers won’t have to find or wait for human representatives. “Right now, when people
(Left to right) Computer science seniors Matt Ebeweber, Bri Connelly and Niko Lazaris display their $100,000 award from the IBM Watson University competition. They were among seven students who worked to develop the prototype app called CallScout.
—Bri Connelly, Computer science senior and project manager
have questions about social services, like where to find a homeless shelter, or if they need help paying their rent, they call the 211 hotline,” Connelly said. “Through the app, people can ask those questions and Watson will answer them, and they’ll also be able to do things that they can’t normally do over the phone, like have favorites and rate and
review services.” The Callscout app uses IBM’s automated questionanswering software, known as “Watson.” According to Bruce Porter, computer science department chair and class instructor, IBM’s Watson software was popularized by its appearance on “Jeopardy,” when it played against human opponents and won.
Charlotte Carpenter Daily Texan Staff
“It’s a program that enables computers to interact with people in English — for a person to ask Watson a question, and Watson to deliver a specific answer,” Porter said.
The students began work on the app in September as part of a capstone projects class, which was designed to combine education and career-oriented research. Connelly said with the
help of the Longhorn Startup Lab, an on-campus group that helps students form start-up companies, the team will use the award money to
WATSON page 2
TEXTBOOKS $ SAVED 222 MIGUEL
ON
Name: 3468/BookHolders.com; Width: 60p0; Depth: 2 in; Color: Process color, 3468/BookHolders.com; Ad Number: 3468
VS THE UNIVERSITY CO-OP
LOWEST TEXTBOOK PRICES ~ FREE LOCAL DELIVERY OPEN SUPER LATE ~ GROUND LEVEL DOBIE MALL *Savings comparison based from respective websites at time of purchase. subject to errors.
2 2
Thursday, January 22, 2015
NEWS
FRAMES featured photo Volume 115, Issue 83
CONTACT US Main Telephone (512) 471-4591 Editor-in-Chief Riley Brands (512) 232-2212 editor@dailytexanonline.com Managing Editor Jordan Rudner (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 sports@dailytexanonline.com Life & Arts Office (512) 232-2209 dtlifeandarts@gmail.com Retail Advertising (512) 475—6719 advertise@texasstudentmedia.com
Marshall Tidrick | Daily Texan Staff
Students walk back to their homes after a cold and rainy day in Austin.
Classified Advertising (512) 471-5244 classifieds@ dailytexanonline.com
SCULPTURE continues from page 1
The Texan strives to present all information fairly, accurately and completely. If we have made an error, let us know about it. Call (512) 232-2217 or e-mail managingeditor@ dailytexanonline.com.
COPYRIGHT Copyright 2015 Texas Student Media. All articles, photographs and graphics, both in the print and online editions, are the property of Texas Student Media and may not be reproduced or republished in part or in whole without written permission.
TOMORROW’S WEATHER
High
49
Low
35
Can we stagger Lizzie McGuire and flamenco?
and said no money came from tuition funds. The sculpture immediately made waves around campus on the first days of school, largely because of the piece’s size and prominence. Some students, operating under the assumption that the sculpture was funded through tuition, started a change.org petition asking the University to return students’ tuition money. “I feel like the money could have been used better elsewhere,” said Kara Jencks, Plan II and biochemistry junior. “Art should be appreciated, but I don’t know if we needed over a million dollar sculpture.” Other students said they have trouble understanding the meaning behind “Monochrome.” “I don’t even know what to think about it,” biomedical engineering senior Chris Suarez said. “It’s definitely interesting, but I’m so confused as
to what exactly it’s representing, what its meaning is.” Suarez said that although he does not fully understand the sculpture’s message, he does appreciate its visual appeal. “I think it’s absolutely amazing,” Suarez said. “Leave it up to UT to always have some interesting work of art. I came back to school, and my mind is blown.” Nobel, the Landmarks coordinator, said the artist did not necessarily intend to convey one specific meaning. “Since it is a contemporary piece of art, a lot of what it represents or what it means conceptually is in the eye of the beholder,” Nobel said. “Our goal was to bring something to campus that would make a statement, something that would show that University of Texas at Austin is a cultured campus. We want this campus to be distinctive and creative, something that people want to walk around
— [it’s] something that really makes our campus stand out.” Beyond its visual prominence, “Monochrome” is also a landmark in one other respect — it is the first largescale commission of public art by a female artist for the Landmarks collection. Rubins, the artist, declined to comment publicly on her piece. “We are definitely very proud that this is our first commissioned art by a female artist, and, in a lot of ways, she is a powerhouse of the public art world,” Nobel said. “She’s done a lot of amazing art around the world.” The sculpture will ultimately serve as one part of a larger art project — eventually, the stretch of Speedway from Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard to Dean Keeton Street will be transformed into a scenic gateway, according to Landmarks director Andrée Bober. Bober said each new work of art the
SENATE
that, even though Democrats are minority, they are still able to influence bills like that,” Alcantara said. College Republicans at Texas declined to comment on the rule change. Opponents of the threefifths rule, such as Sen. José Rodríguez (D-El Paso), said he thinks the rule change will stifle the voices of minorities and the senators who represent them. Rodríguez said he and other Senate Democrats represent nearly 60 percent of African-Americans and Hispanics in Texas. “These senators will be unable, as a result of this change, to prevent a bad bill from coming to the floor,” Rodríguez said. In addition to the threefifths rule change, the Senate voted to restrict access to the Senate floor to state officials, permitted guests and authorized members of the press. Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick said he was pleased with the decision in a statement released by his office. “Today’s action will make the Texas Senate even better, and it will help us deliver a conservative agenda a majority of voters elected us to pass,” Patrick said.
continues from page1 This issue of The Daily Texan is valued at $1.25 Permanent Staff
Editor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Riley Brands Associate Editors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Olivia Berkeley, Cullen Bounds, Noah Horwitz, Olive Liu Managing Editor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Jordan Rudner Associate Managing Editor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Brett Donohoe, Jack Mitts News Editor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Julia Brouillette Associate News Editors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Anderson Boyd, Danielle Brown, David Davis, Chanelle Gibson, Adam Hamze, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Natalie Sullivan Senior Reporters . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Wynne Davis, Eleanor Dearman, Samantha Ketterer, Jackie Wang, Josh Willis Copy Desk Chief . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Taiki Miki Associate Copy Desk Chiefs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Liza Didyk, Matthew Kerr, Kailey Thompson Design Editor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Alex Dolan Senior Designers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Virginia Scherer, Kelly Smith, Iliana Storch Multimedia Editors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Dan Resler, Lauren Ussery Associate Photo Editor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Amy Zhang Senior Photographers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Carlo Nasisse, Griffin Smith, Ellyn Snider, Marshall Tidrick, Daulton Venglar Senior Videographers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Michael Conway, Hannah Evans, Bryce Seifert Forum Editor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Amil Malik Internal Coordinator . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Richard Sparr Editorial Assistant . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Antonia Gales Senior Opinion Columnists . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Jordan Shenhar, Claire Smith Life&Arts Editor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Kat Sampson Life&Arts Associate Editor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Danielle Lopez Senior Life&Arts Writers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Cat Cardenas, Elisabeth Dillon, Bri Zamora Sports Editor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Garrett Callahan Associate Sports Editor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Evan Berkowitz Senior Sports Writers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Nick Castillo, Claire Cruz, Jacob Martella, Aaron Torres Comics Editor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Lindsay Rojas Associate Comics Editor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Albert Lee Senior Comics Artists . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Crystal Marie, Connor Murphy, Isabella Palacios, Amber Perry, Rodolfo Suarez Special Projects Manager . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Amanda Voeller Tech Team Lead . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Miles Hutson Social Media Editor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Sydney Rubin
Issue Staff
Columnists . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Taylor Guerrero, Savannah Kumar, Arjun Mocherla Designer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Kyle Herbst Multimedia. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Charlotte Carpenter Life&Arts Writer. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Mary Cantrell
Business and Advertising
(512) 471-1865 | advertise@texasstudentmedia.com Director . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Gerald Johnson Operations Manager . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Frank Serpas III Broadcasting and Events Manager . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Carter Goss Campus & National Sales Associate . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Carter Goss Student Advertising Manager. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Rohan Needel Student Account Executives . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Andrea Avalos, Keegan Bradley, Danielle Lotz, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Destanie Nieto, Xiaowen Zhang Senior Graphic Designer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Daniel Hublein Student Designers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Peter Silkowski, Kiera Tate Special Editions/Production Coordinator . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Stephen Salisbury
The Daily Texan (USPS 146-440), a student newspaper at The University of Texas at Austin, is published by Texas Student Media, 2500 Whitis Ave., Austin, TX 78705. The Daily Texan is published daily, Monday through Friday, during the regular academic year and is published once weekly during the summer semester. The Daily Texan does not publish during academic breaks, most Federal Holidays and exam periods. Periodical Postage Paid at Austin, TX 78710. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to: The Daily Texan, P.O. Box D, Austin, TX 78713. News contributions will be accepted by telephone (471-4591), or at the editorial office (Texas Student Media Building 2.122). For local and national display advertising, call 471-1865. classified display advertising, call 4711865. For classified word advertising, call 471-5244. Entire contents copyright 2014 Texas Student Media.
The Daily Texan Mail Subscription Rates One Semester (Fall or Spring) $60.00 Two Semesters (Fall and Spring) $120.00 Summer Session $40.00 One Year (Fall, Spring and Summer) $150.00 To charge by VISA or MasterCard, call 471-5083. Send orders and address changes to Texas Student Media', P.O. Box D, Austin, TX 78713-8904, or to TSM Building C3.200, or call 471-5083. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to The Daily Texan, P.O. Box D, Austin, TX 78713.
Texan Ad Deadlines
1/22/15
Monday .............Wednesday, 12 p.m. Thursday.................Monday, 12 p.m. Tuesday.................Thursday, 12 p.m. Friday......................Tuesday, 12 p.m. Word Ads 11 a.m. Wednesday................Friday, 12 p.m. Classified (Last Business Day Prior to Publication)
WATSON
“Unfortunately, what I have seen happening over the past 10 years is we are experiencing an increased number of ways to get around the two-thirds rule, including special orders and special sessions,” Eltife said. The Texas Senate was called into a well-publicized special session in 2013, when former state Sen. Wendy Davis filibustered against Senate Bill 5, a restrictive abortion bill. The bill, which resulted in the closure of more than 30 abortion clinics in Texas, became a lightning rod that brought thousands of pro-abortion rights and anti-abortion protesters to the Capitol. Ashley Alcantara, communications representative for the University Democrats, said the twothirds rule allowed Davis, whose party made up a minority in the Senate, to voice her opinion on the bill. If the three-fifths rule had been enacted during the 2013 Senate session, Davis would not have had the opportunity to filibuster. “I think it’s important
BY THE NUMBERS
75
BOATS USED IN THE CONSTRUCTION
$1.4 MILLION 50
TOTAL COST FEET TALL
program members select is oriented toward this vision of a pedestrian walkway. “These projects come into the campus, and they are available for all people to enjoy — 24/7 and free of charge,” Bober said. “I think that’s what distinguishes public art from any other piece of art — to be able to engage with it without anything between you and the work is a pretty good thing.”
continues from page 1 produce the application. Porter said he believes the students won the competition because their project focused on helping people in the real world. “My guess is that one differentiating factor was that the students here built a system for a real client, in this case, the United Way of Central Texas,” Porter said. “It wasn’t just a class project.” Niko Lazaris, computer science and finance senior and project member, said the group learned more than what they expected from a computer science class. “I think what we expected to learn was a lot more technical insight into how Watson works, and we did learn that, but I think what kind of surprised us was the whole product development that goes behind it and figuring out a viable pitch to the competition,” Lazaris said.
Ellyn Snider | Daily Texan Staff
The University Lutheran Student Center undergoes construction Tuesday evening. On 21st and San Antonio Streets, the center will be relocated underneath new “University House” apartment complexes.
HOUSING continues from page 1 juniors and seniors getting to sign off on a multi-million dollar development project.” Jordan Connell, English senior and president of the ministry council, said students worked with members of the ministry’s property board to determine which developer would best serve the ministry’s needs. “We saw a few presentations, and Inland was the one that I felt was most willing to work with us and most understanding of our situation — that we wanted to stay on the bottom floor and maintain a presence,” Connell said. David Pierce, senior vice
It’s not that often you have college juniors and seniors getting to sign off on a multimillion dollar development project. —Paul Collinson-Streng, Pastor at Lutheran Campus Ministry
president of development at Inland, said pre-leasing will begin this summer, and the building will be open for move-in by summer 2016.
AMIL MALIK, FORUM EDITOR / @TexanEditorial Thursday, January 22, 2014
3
A BIWEEKLY PUBLICATION OF THE DAILY TEXAN EDITORIAL DEPARTMENT
This week, Forum focuses on student involvement off campus By Amil Malik Forum Editor @amil_malik94
Last semester, Forum began as a new biweekly addition to The Daily Texan — serving as a place for students and professors to engage in a discussion regarding pressing issues of the moment. This semester, though the Forum continues its
mission to supplement the daily Opinion page, the focus will be a bit different. Rather than tying stories to the news in the traditional paper format, each Forum issue will have a predetermined theme, allowing for a more in-depth analysis of the areas important to students at the University of Texas. Today, the Forum has focused on the work
UT students have been doing at all levels of government. We have one piece from a student interning at the Texas Legislature, another from a student who recently finished up a semester in Washington, D.C., through the Archer Fellowship Program and a third piece from Invest in Texas, a student-led, nonpartisan campaign dedicated to advocating for UT students to the
Texas Legislature. Take a moment to read the perspectives shared in these articles. After all, what UT students do within our government and all areas of our country, stands as testament to the fact that “what starts here changes the world.” Malik is a Plan II, finance and business honors junior from Austin.
COLUMN
COLUMN
COLUMN
Archer program takes UT to DC
Students show political initiative
UT invests in Texas
By Savannah Kumar Guest Columnist
What constitutes a classroom? For Archer Fellows, the classroom is the Lincoln Memorial, the Smithsonian Museum of the American Indian and the top of the Washington Monument. The classroom transcends physical spaces — the classroom is 2 a.m. conversations on living room floors and it is a vibrant GroupMe that is abuzz with political (and non-political) insights and jokes. Education that transcends the traditional classroom facilitates constant curiosity and learning. The Archer Fellowship Program, founded in 2001 by former Congressman Bill Archer, creates a space for experiential learning by bringing together UT students for a semester of living, learning and interning in Washington, DC. Each semester, 40 students are selected from across the nine participating UT System schools for a semester in the nation’s capitol. I am grateful to have served as an Archer Fellow last fall where I constantly had the opportunity to learn from my peers in the program, from my work with the United Nations and from the city itself. The Archer Fellowship Program houses students in historic townhouses minutes away from the Supreme Court and U.S. Capitol. The opportunity to live and take classes with students from attending different UT System schools is a unique one. Despite attending schools within the same University system, students from across the various UT campuses typically have little academic interaction. As an Archer Fellow, I got to hear perspectives from students attending UT Pan American and UT-Brownsville on the merging of the two schools and learn about the culture and traditions of nine different UT System schools that were represented. The Archer houses quickly become a microcosm of D.C. itself, with students interning at the White House, the Supreme Court, the U.S. Capitol, government agencies, think tanks, NGOs, IGOS and in the private sector. Household and traditional classroom conversations with Fellows interning at these various organizations served as a model for understanding how different stakeholders in DC work together to examine issues and solve problems. During my semester as an Archer Fellow, I worked at the United Nations Information Center, one of 63 United Nations Information Centers around the world, each dedicated to serving as a resource to the country within which it is located. The mission of the United Nations Information Center in Washington is to serve as a focal point for UN news and information for the US government, NGOs, civil-society organizations and the American people. I was specifically working on outreach by developing a pilot project that frames the world’s news through the lens of the UN and consolidates various UN initiatives into one easy-to-read email product. I also designed and delivered presentations on the UN’s work to colleges in and around D.C. and performed research on issues like South Sudan and the Post-2015 Goals. The city of Washington served as a space for learning in itself. One Archer course, “Historical Memory and the Building of Washington,” took us to the very spot where Martin Luther King, Jr. delivered his “I Have a Dream” speech and had students deliver lines from that speech to the class. In this course, we visited memorials and museums across the city and learned how to examine our own humanity in the context of the political and social realities that we (and the monuments) reside within. Like many programs where students spend time away from their home universities, participation in the Archer Fellowship Program comes with a certain level of privilege. Many students in the program expressed frustration with the higher cost of living in D.C. (in terms of food, housing and transportation) and noted that there was a subtle divide between those who could more easily afford to live in D.C. and pursue primarily unpaid fulltime internships and those who could not. An explicit acknowledgement of this divide, along with an increase in financial support for students hoping to pursue learning away from their home universities, can help mitigate this issue going forward. The Archer Fellowship Program reconceptualizes traditional notions of classrooms by emphasizing the opportunity for learning that is contained within each moment. As I begin my spring semester back on the 40 Acres, I will remember that classrooms can be created within all of the spaces that I occupy and that it is important to contextualize my learning in the real world. Kumar is a Plan II junior from Austin.
By Arjun Mocherla Guest Columnist
Aside from breakfast tacos, one of the biggest advantages of attending college in Austin is the easy access to the state Capitol just blocks from campus. As the buzz of the legislative session begins, hundreds of undergraduate and graduate students will intern and work in various capacities related to the state of Texas. From legislative to lobbyist work, students from the University of Texas will be doing everything from answering phones to helping draft legislation. I intern in the Texas Senate Committee of Health & Human Service and so far have taken meetings with stakeholders, researched other states’ health care plans and helped catalogue the Sunset Commission’s recommendation to consolidate the five health agencies. This year the Sunset Commission, a commission dedicated to assessing the need and functions of the state’s agencies, recommended consolidating the five health agencies into one agency. Should the Legislature choose to follow and implement this recommendation, Texas could see a large restructuring effort of state health services. I have had the opportunity to see some of the inner workings of policy development and bill drafting and have been amazed by how even small contributions could make an impact. Real people from all sorts of backgrounds and levels of influence have an important voice in the process that influences the results of public decision-making. For example, Jordan Dixon, a longtime Senate staffer and current committee director, asked me to look into what Missouri has done with community mental health centers and how they have integrated mental health and primary care with some of their Medicaid recipients. Dixon then asked me what I thought of their programs and if they might be a possible model for Texas to investigate and perhaps even implement. Honestly, I was surprised that my limited research into state programs could have an impact on legislation development, but it might. This legislative session, I hope to learn more about health care policy and the development of our state’s health systems while at the same time having an impact on the health of Texans.
Students have a lot more of a voice than I previously realized, and I would like to stress that anyone and everyone can have an impact in this state. Whether it is a niche lobbying firm or a state agency, UT students can influence this state by interning or working in some capacity across the variety of organizations and institutions involved in keeping the wheels of our government turning, particularly in the area of higher education, where their voices are noted and held in high regard. This legislative session, with a new UT System chancellor, an exiting president and a variety of higher education issues being considered, the University has a vested interest in the goings-on at the Capitol. As students, we should take greater ownership of the issues affecting our school and not let those who don’t see the educational landscape through our eyes make all the decisions. In front of us right now are a plethora of issues, including financial aid, research and innovation, the Texas Dream Act and tuition deregulation, all of which will have a serious impact on students in this state. From Invest in Texas, the student lobbying movement, to UT Advocates, a program run by the Texas Exes and Student Government to meet with state officials, student initiatives to engage in the public discourse are already underway. With the legislative session coming into full swing, I look forward to students playing a more active role in the development of state policy and student issues. There are a multitude of issues that face us as students at the University of Texas and a multitude of solutions that we can explore. While the majority of internships and jobs at the Capitol are already underway, there are many unofficial, and arguably more important, ways to voice one’s opinions. We should show up to committee meetings, write to representatives, meet with stakeholders, research and develop policy proposals and work toward leaving an impact on state policy. As students, participating in the process can be an incredible addition to our college experience and might be something that we take with us beyond the 40 Acres. What starts here can change the state of Texas for the better. Mocherla is a Plan II and public health junior from Midland. He is also a member of the Texas Student Media Board of Operating Trustees, which oversees the Texan.
By Taylor Guerrero Guest Columnist
Have you ever wondered who conveys your interests as a student at the University of Texas to the state Legislature? Invest in Texas is a student-led, nonpartisan advocacy effort dedicated to advocating for the University and students across the state. Invest in Texas, which is a joint effort led by the Senate of College Councils, Student Government and the Graduate Student Assembly, and supported by various organizations around campus, has fought in the past to make the University affordable, competitive and safe. It is critical to have our voices heard at the Capitol, so this year, the co-directors and operational committee of Invest in Texas are working hard to represent the voice of students on important higher education matters. The campaign is currently under the direction of Taylor Guerrero from the Senate of College Councils, John Brown from Student Government and Ryan Muetzel from the Graduate Student Assembly. The co-directors receive assistance from the operational committee that is split up into three teams/sub-committees: communications, outreach and policy oversight. This is where students of the University are heavily encouraged to participate. Students are needed to form each subcommittee to ensure Invest in Texas has a successful semester. In addition to a consistent advocacy effort, Invest in Texas sponsors the Legislative Day March to the Capitol each year. In the past, hundreds of students have participated in the march and sat in on hearings and committee meetings. On this day, Invest in Texas holds a press conference in which student leaders and key legislators speak about key issues that affect our University. In previous years we have been successful in keeping students represented on the Board of Regents and have been successful in allowing UT to determine its own “guns-on-campus” policy. This year, the platform for the advocacy campaign has not yet been finalized, but the operational committee is open to suggestions and opinions of the student body. While the platform has yet to be set in stone, the main objective of the campaign is to keep the University affordable and safe in addition to ensuring the student body is well represented on governing boards. The operational committee hopes that participation in subcommittees and in the March to the Capitol will grow tremendously. Guerrero is a history and government senior from Van Vleck.
Illustration by Connor Murphy / Daily Texan Staff
4
4
GARRETT CALLAHAN, SPORTS EDITOR | @texansports Thursday, January 22, 2015
WOMEN’S BASKETBALL
Texas seeks Aston-ishing milestone By Courtney Norris
NBA
Senior forward Nneka Enemkpali suffered a season-ending injury in the first half of Texas’ 7558 loss against Baylor. Texas’ third loss in four games keeps head coach Karen Aston searching for her 150th career win.
@ courtneyknorris
Regulars in the audience at the Frank Erwin Center know that women’s basketball head coach Karen Aston finds it hard to sit still, even in the best of circumstances. Aston can almost always be found squatting, pacing or bouncing around chairs on the sidelines — unable to contain her noteworthy enthusiasm. Aston is only the fourth coach for the program and in her eighth season overall as a head coach. In Waco on Monday, her Longhorns attempted to earn her 150th career victory — and fell short, largely because senior forward Nneka Enemkpali tore her ACL before halftime. As Aston watched from the sidelines, hands over her mouth, No. 8 Texas lost, 7558, against No. 3 Baylor. Aston is one of the bestknown female coaches in Texas, and she’s on the brink of a great victory — but considering the Longhorns have lost three of their last four games, Aston’s upcoming career milestone is probably not her focus. And as a decorated Longhorn coach, Aston can be certain her day will come soon.
SIDELINE MAVERICKS
TIMBERWOLVES
HEAT
HORNETS
THUNDER
WIZARDS Ethan Oblak Daily Texan file photo
What Aston is focused on is Enemkpali, whose injury represents a much more urgent concern for the team as a whole. Enemkpali has been on a hot streak lately, a large part of Texas’ 13-0 start to the season. As Aston worked to rebuild the program, she relied upon Enemkpali, an AllAmerican candidate and Big 12 leader in rebounds. Before her injury early in
the game Monday, Enemkpali co-led the team with sophomore center Kelsey Lang at six rebounds each — but her ACL injury means her season is over. “It is never easy to see a student-athlete’s career cut short like this,” Aston said. “My heart goes out to Nneka because she has grown so much during her career at the University of Texas.” Aston, whose 150th victory is just around the
corner, said she hopes Enemkpali will be by her side to watch when the Longhorns return to action. “Nneka has been the heart of our program for quite some time, and, as we move forward, she will continue to play a vital role on this team from the sidelines,” Aston said. The Longhorns have won 13 consecutive games at the Erwin Center, but going forward,
Enemkpali will not be able to rebound and assist. When Texas faces off against Iowa State in Austin on Sunday, it will do so without its veteran forward. Iowa State defeated Texas earlier this season with a 2-point lead at the buzzer. Enemkpali ends her collegiate career ranked ninth in total rebounds, 30th in total points for Texas, and currently holds first place in the Big 12 for rebounds.
NHL MAPLE LEAFS
SENATORS
BLACKHAWKS
FOOTBALL
FOOTBALL | COLUMN
Strong to face challenges after loss of key players By Brooke Daily @brookelynndaily
Head coach Charlie Strong’s inaugural football season is behind him, but the challenges he faces are only beginning. As he looks toward 2015, Strong finds himself losing upwards of 15 key contributors from last season’s team — primarily graduating seniors, but also a handful of players who intend to declare for the NFL Draft or transfer schools. Strong and his staff will have to prioritize finding replacements for key players as the new season draws closer. Beyond the players who graduated in December and those who plan to graduate this May, three of Strong’s underclassmen players have also declared their intention to leave, even before their Longhorn eligibility ends. Star defensive tackle Malcom Brown, who has a wife and two children, decided the best plan for his family was to forego his senior season and declare for the NFL draft. His decision will likely pay off — Brown, who is an All-American, is expected to go early in the draft, with most analysts predicting his name will be called late in the first round. Brown isn’t the only player leaving the 40 Acres early. Earlier this month, Horns Digest reported that a few players were considering transferring after Strong’s
first season. Sure enough, junior tight end M.J. McFarland announced early Friday that he would transfer to UTEP for his senior year. McFarland, a native El Pasoan, decided to head back home to play for the Miners in an offensive scheme more suited to tight ends. A day after McFarland’s announcement, sophomore offensive lineman Curtis Riser announced on Instagram he would be transferring to Sam Houston State. Riser saw limited action under offensive coordinator Joe Wickline, even though the offensive line was the thinnest unit of 2014. Despite the vacancies he must fill, Strong does have a promising pool of talent coming in the next few years. Next season’s seniors have the chance to be a major factor in Texas’ success in 2015, as many have already had valuable playing time, giving Strong a much more experienced team than he had in a 2014 team hampered by dismissals and injuries. The offense will see the most returners of this group, with junior running backs Johnathan Gray and Daje Johnson joining junior wide receiver Marcus Johnson as playmakers for the Longhorns. Junior offensive guard Sedrick Flowers will once again be the most experienced player in the trenches, and junior center Taylor Doyle looks to cement his role
With Brown, Cedric Reed, Jordan Hicks, Quandre Diggs and others departing, the defense, which was arguably the best in the last few years, might struggle to find solid replacements. as a starter when spring practices start. The other side of the ball will also see valuable upperclassmen return, although they’re experiencing a much bigger loss than the offense. With Brown, Cedric Reed, Jordan Hicks, Quandre Diggs and others departing, the defense, which was arguably the best in recent years, might struggle to find solid replacements. Strong and his staff are expected to be looking at junior defensive end Shiro Davis to step up during camp after having an inconsistent junior year, and junior cornerback Duke Thomas will need to be more consistent to keep his spot in the secondary. Junior linebackers Peter Jinkens and Dalton Santos also have the opportunity and ability to play a vital role in defensive coordinator Vance Bedford’s defense.
Shelby Tauber | Daily Texan file photo
Junior defensive tackle Malcom Brown has announced he will be entering the NFL Draft. Brown is one of several players leaving big shoes for head coach Charlie Strong to fill.
PENGUINS
TODAY IN HISTORY
Shelby Tauber | Daily Texan file photo
Sophomore quarterback Tyrone Swoopes looks to recover from an inconsistent season and fight to remain the starter.
Quarterbacks fixing to battle in spring By Daniel Clay
Daily Texan Columnist @dclay567
Ohio State quarterback Cardale Jones kick-started his college career by lighting up the scoreboard against some of the best competition in the nation and winning a national championship in his first three games. The offensive outburst by the redshirt sophomore prompted an outpouring of praise for Ohio State head coach Urban Meyer and his ability to recruit and coach a roster with three All-American caliber quarterbacks. Back on the 40 Acres, the mood was a little more gloomy. Jones’ downfield rockets and Meyer’s bold and creative play calling stood in stark contrast to the Longhorns’ dismal performance at the AdvoCare V100 Texas Bowl, where the burnt orange and white accumulated only 59 yards of total offense. If the Longhorns want to rejoin Ohio State as college football royalty, they will need to find a quarterback and coaching duo to lead the way. The options at quarterback look promising, as Texas will likely burn freshman quarterback Jerrod Heard’s redshirt next season, and sophomore quarterback Tyrone Swoopes will have the off season to develop. Kyler Murray, five-star quarterback recruit and Texas A&M commit, even stopped by the University of Texas campus for a visit Wednesday. The tutelage of Shawn Watson, Texas’ assistant head coach for offense and quarterbacks, who coached current Minnesota Vikings quarterback Teddy Bridgewater at Louisville, is set to launch one of the Longhorn quarterbacks into All-American consideration. At this point, however, it is hard to tell if Watson is the right man to coach
Heard, Swoopes or any other quarterback on the roster. Watson was a member of head coach Charlie Strong’s staff at Louisville when the Vikings drafted Bridgewater, but it is still unclear at the moment whether it was Watson who bolstered Bridgewater to prominence or the other way around. When at Louisville, Bridgewater was a mobile quarterback who could still thrive when sitting back and embracing his role as a pocket passer. Watson tried to run a similar offense in his first year of play-calling duties at Texas, but to no avail. Swoopes showed he is not Bridgewater, as he often looked uncomfortable dropping back and scanning the defense — a requirement for a pocket passer. When the offense went downhill in the Kansas State game, Watson and the rest of the staff seemed to make little effort to change the game plan in order to attempt to use Swoopes’ powerful legs to their advantage. Heard is the clear next-in-line if the “Tyrone Swoopes experiment” does not work out, but his blazing speed appears to be better suited for an offense that avoids under-center sets and embraces the option. It has yet been determined whether Heard can achieve success when sitting back and reading a defense. If he cannot do so, the Longhorns will have to spend springtime courting pocket passers or start making serious changes to the offense. Watson showed moments of brilliance as a play caller, even with a patchwork offensive line. But if Watson’s young quarterbacks prove incapable of being pocket passers during spring practice, he will have to put Louisville’s formula for success behind him and tweak the offense in a way that better incorporates his quarterbacks’ skill sets.
1857
The National Association of Baseball Players is founded.
TOP TWEET Cedric Reed @Ced_Reed88
Shoutout to my brothas @JHicks_3 & @qdiggs6 showing out in the Senior Bowl!
SPORTS BRIEFLY DirecTV now offers Longhorn Network
On Wednesday, the Longhorn Network got a few more viewers. ESPN announced Wednesday that the Longhorn Network is now available to DirecTV, bringing the longawaited 24/7 channel to more viewers. The deal, which is part of a larger agreement between DirecTV and The Walt Disney Company, gives customers nationwide access to the channel through TV and online streaming. DirecTV is the sixth major service to carry the Longhorn Network. Other carriers include AT&T U-Verse, Dish Network, Time Warner Cable, and Verizon FiOS. Many other local services, such as Grande Communications in Austin, carry the channel. The Longhorn Network is currently in the fourth year of a 20-year agreement between ESPN and Texas athletics. —Garrett Callahan
COMICS
5
Thursday, January 22, 2015
SUDOKUFORYOU t
4 7 2 5
3 6
7 4
9 2
1
7
6 4 8 9 5 3
Today’s solution will appear here next issue
7 2 4 3 8 6 1 5 9
3 1 6 5 2 9 7 8 4
9 8 5 1 4 7 2 3 6
2 5 9 7 3 1 4 6 8
6 3 8 2 9 4 5 1 7
1 4 7 8 6 5 3 9 2
5 9 3 6 7 2 8 4 1
8 6 2 4 1 3 9 7 5
4 7 1 9 5 8 6 2 3
CLASSIFIEDS T
D
T
Name: CLASSIFIEDS; Width:HE 60p0; Depth: 10 in; EXAN Color: Black, CLASSIFIEDS; Ad Number: AILY
NS D RUE FOR A Arrr matey. INThis scurrvy beast is today’s answerrrrrr. ONL
E! E R F
Crop it out, or it’llnlybe the the fishes for ya! or d
ad s
o
ADVERTISING TERMS There are no refunds or credits. In the event of errors made in advertisement, notice must be given by 10 am the fi rst day of publication, as the publishers are responsible for only ONE incorrect insertion. In consideration of The Daily Texan’s acceptance of advertising copy for publication, the agency and the advertiser will indemnify and save harmless, Texas Student Media and its officers, employees and agents against all loss, liability, damage and expense of whatsoever nature arising out of the copying, printing or publishing of its advertisement including without limitation reasonable attorney’s fees resulting from claims of suits for libel, violation of right of privacy, plagiarism and copyright and trademark infringement. All ad copy must be approved by the newspaper which reserves the right to request changes, reject or properly classify an ad. The advertiser, and not the newspaper, is responsible for the truthful content of the ad. Advertising is also subject to credit approval.
1 7 w 6 5 8 Self-serve, 9 4 2 3 24/7 on the Web at www.DailyTexanOnline.com 8560 Public 4 Notice 9 6 3 2 7 5701Music5 560 Public Notice 5WIN 2$500.5Write1 an 4essay7on 6 9 8 happiness. No entry fee. 7humanhappinessfoundation. 8 1 3 9 6 5 4 2 TEXASNT org TUDEIA The Daily Texan • Cactus Yearbook • Texas Student Television S 4(A Nonprofit 6 2Organization) 8 7 5 1 3 9 MED • Texas Travesty • KVRX 91.7 FM 5790 Part 9 Time3 4 2 1 8 6 7 2GYMNASTICS 5 8 COACH 9 6NEEDED 4 3 7 1 Seeking Part time coaches (will train). Several positions availBOARD OF OPERATING TRUSTEES 6able 3at 27different 2 1locations 8 9 5 4 ranging from beginner recre9ational1 gymnastics 4 7 to5competi3 2 8 6 TSM IS ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS FOR:
TEXAS STUDENT MEDIA
tive level for both girls and boys. $10-17 per hour. 5-16 hours per week. flipnastics@gmail.com 512-2668400
The Daily Texan Editor-In-Chief
EARN CASH; JUST GO TO CLASS
TERM: JUNE ‘15 - MAY ‘16
-Do you take great notes in class? StudySoup will pay you $300-500 per course to be an Elite Notetaker and post your class notes. (easy!)
Member, Board of Operating Trustees TERM: JUNE ‘15 - MAY ‘17
-2 hours per week max.
APPLICATION DEADLINE: FEB 2 @ 12:00 PM
-Limited Positions. Apply at: studysoup.com/apply/ut FUN JOB, GREAT PAY FUN JOB, GREAT PAY Mad Science needs animated instructors to conduct entertaining handson, after-school programs and/ or children’s birthday parties. Must have dependable car, prior experience working with groups of elementary age children and availability after 1:00pm at least two days Mon. - Thurs. We provide the training and equipment. If you enjoy working with children and are looking to work only a few hours per week, this is the job for you! Pay: $30.00 per 1 hr. class. Apply at austin. madscience.org or call for more details. 512-892-1143
870 Medical
Seeks College-Educated Men 18–39 to Participate in a Six-Month Donor Program
560 Public Notice
SEE WHAT OUR
ONLINE SYSTEM has to offer, and place
YOUR AD
www.123Donate.com
Apply on-line
NOW!
RECYCLE
dailytexanclassifieds.com
Donors average $150 per specimen.
APPLICATION DROP OFF:
keep an eye out for the super TUESDAY COUPONS clip and save!
every week FEB 11 TEXAS TRAVESTY
HSM 3.200 Business Office
SEE WHAT OUR
ONLINE SYSTEM has to offer, and place YOUR AD NOW! dailytexanclassifieds.com
Questions? Contact us at:
serpas@austin.utexas.edu
Download the Application and visit our website for more information: www.utexas.edu/tsm
WATCH FOR
LONGHORN LIFE JAN 30
SPORTS EDITION recycle recycle recycle recycle recycle recycle recycle recycle recycle recycle recycle recycle recycle recycle recycle recycle recycle recycle recycle recycle recycle recycle recycle recycle
recycle recycle recycle recycle recycle recycle recycle recycle recycle recycle recycle recycle recycle recycle recycle recycle recycle recycle recycle recycle recycle recycle recycle recycle
6
6
KAT SAMPSON, LIFE&ARTS EDITOR | @thedailytexan Thursday, January 22, 2015
SCIENCE SCENE
Blood drive asks students out for a pint Editor’s note: This is the second in a two-part series on blood donations. The first installment focused on what happens during the blood donation process. The second focuses on what happens to blood after it has been donated.
By Robert Starr @robertkstarr
It only takes five to 10 minutes for a trained medical professional to draw a pint of someone’s blood for donation. However, once the blood’s in the bag, it still has a long way to go before it can be given to a recipient. After the blood is drawn, it is separated into individual components — red blood cells, platelets and plasma — all of which have different shelf lives. Plasma lasts the longest of the three components: a full year. Red blood cells can go six weeks without expiring. Platelets, which must remain at room temperature, are more likely to harbor bacterial growth and can only last five days. It takes six to 10 blood donations to generate enough platelets for a recipient, so centers encourage direct platelet donations. During a two-hour platelet donation, blood from a donor’s arm passes through a machine where a centrifuge removes platelets. The machine then returns the blood
Marshall Tidrick | Daily Texan Staff
Ken Brock calmly sits as he donates blood to The Blood and Tissue Center of Central Texas. Brock, along with many other healthy donors, donates as frequently as he can.
into the patient’s arm. With this technology, a healthy individual can provide up to 24 platelet donations every year. During either donation process, the technician draws an additional three vials of blood — which sounds like a lot — but isn’t even enough to fill a shot glass. These vials go to a separate facility where they undergo 14 tests. One of them is a cholesterol test so that frequent donors can keep tabs on their levels. Other tests check for blood compatibility, as well as for sicknesses such
as syphilis, hepatitis and the big one — HIV. These tests reduce the risk of transmitting these illnesses down to practically zero. There are 30 million transfusions per year, and the last time one resulted in a confirmed transmission of HIV was in 2008. In this case, a donor had only recently become infected, and the level of HIV antibodies in his system was too low to detect. He also had anonymous sexual encounters with both men and women outside his marriage and lied
about them during the donor screening process. While hospitals sometimes know they are going to need blood in advance — such as in planned surgeries — the center mostly provides blood for the unexpected, such as automobile accidents. In the unfortunate and rare case that blood expires before finding a proper host, medical companies can use the blood to test equipment they are developing. Very little blood is wasted. The bigger concern is blood
shortages, as it is hard for hospitals to anticipate when there will be a high demand. When a tragedy occurs, it’s easy to convince people to donate, but those donations take several days to process and can’t be used right away. Hospitals need blood in anticipation of the disaster — not afterward. For this reason, it is best for eligible donors to make giving blood a habit. If you are in good health and weigh more than 115 pounds, consider donating a pint yourself today.
… it is best for eligible donors to make giving blood a habit. If you are in good health and weigh more than 115 pounds, consider donating a pint yourself today.
THROWBACK
Cat crusader joins forces with coalition to save felines By Mary Cantrell @mkcant
In 1997, more than 100 nameless felines roamed UT’s campus in search of food scraps and companionship — and shelter from UT’s former policy of euthanizing strays. One UT employee, whom most students knew only as “cat man,” provided the cats with food while maintaining anonymity. For the Jan. 21, 1997, issue of The Daily Texan, reporter Mike Carr shed some light on the enigmatic figure. “He prefers to keep his name a secret and work in the shadows because someone might learn where his feeding location is and try to harm the cats,” Carr said in his article. The cat man said he began feeding the cats when he discovered some of them nearly starving a few years before. He provided their nightly meal without fail. According to the article, the cat man spent up to $30 a week on cat food — $1,500 a year from his own earnings. Although most of the wild cats were skittish at first, the cat man’s routine care allowed them to grow more
comfortable with him. “I’ve known them longer,” the cat man said. “They trust me.” Hunger was not the only concern the cats dealt with. In the early ’90s, the University’s official cat policy was to euthanize strays. In 1994, officials euthanized 17 campus cats after declaring them health hazards. This extermination prompted the creation of the Campus Cat Coalition, a group of about 50 members, who captured stray cats and had them vaccinated and neutered before setting them free. The Coalition, which counted the cat man as a member, operated under national catprotection organization Alley Cat Allies. “Periodic cat extermination was UT policy at the time, but this particular extermination sparked outrage from students and staff,” Carr said. Peg Berdahl, wife of then-University President Robert Berdahl, said she was deeply disturbed when she learned about the exterminations. “I’ll never forget it. It really upset me,” Berdahl said. “I expressed to [President Berdahl] that I was upset about it. He didn’t
like what had happened to the cats either and said it should be stopped.” With the support of the faculty and students, the Campus Cat Coalition put the trap-neuterand-release method into practice. According to the article, Gary Monroe, the director of the Office of Environmental Health and Safety, said his office would average one-to-two complaints a week concerning the feline population before the Coalition began neutering the cats. By the time the Texan article was printed, the Campus Cat Coalition had neutered 40 cats — although officers said completion of the neutering process was still five years away. Club member Janice Shrode said the cat man’s dedication to the animals and his willingness to sacrifice his time and money made him stand out. “He’s really unique,” Shrode said. “He really cares about his cats.” According to Carr, the cat man insisted there was nothing special about him despite his long-term commitment to caring for all cats. “I’m just a small cog in the machinery,” the cat man said.
Cindy Brown | Daily Texan file photo
After noticing a large number of malnourished stray cats across campus, an anonymous UT emplyoee began feeding the felines, earning himself the title “cat man.”
Name: Homes; L U X 3469/30th U R Y T Street O W Town NHO M E SWidth: F O 29p6; R P Depth: R E - L5Ein; ASE Color: Process color, 3469/30th Street Town Homes; Ad Number: 3469
G e t A To w n h o me For The Same Price As An Apartm ent! Only 9 Units Remaining!
A c r o s s t h e s t r e e t f r o m Tr u d y ’s
30th STREET TOWNHOMES www.30thstreettownhomes.com