The Daily Texan 2015-01-29

LIFE&ARTS PAGE 8

COMICS PAGE 7

SPORTS PAGE 6

Serving the University of Texas at Austin community since 1900

@thedailytexan

facebook.com/dailytexan

Thursday, January 29, 2015

dailytexanonline.com

UNIVERSITY

TSM Board in the dark on funding

By Julia Brouillette @juliakbrou

Although University administrators have made multiple pledges to provide transitional funding and a $1 million endowment for Texas Student Media, no official documentation of any of these promises has reached the organization’s governing Board, according to TSM Board President

Mary Dunn.

TSM, the organization that manages five studentproduced media properties — Cactus Yearbook, Texas Travesty, Texas Student TV, KVRX 91.7 FM and The Daily Texan — has been under severe financial constraints for the last several years. In January 2014, administrators moved TSM from its former home in the Division of Student Af-

fairs to the Moody College of Communication without consulting Board members.

Two months later, Moody dean Roderick Hart told Board members the college would work to develop a viable business plan by fall 2017 that would place TSM on the path to financial stability. At an open Board meeting, Hart said he would ask President William Powers Jr. to provide three years

of transitional funding to keep TSM afloat.

Powers sent more than $100,000 to help TSM recover from the brink of bankruptcy last spring and told The Daily Texan the University has committed up to $250,000 annually to TSM for the next three years. In an interview this week, Dunn said TSM’s governing Board has not been presented any official

documentation that this money will be available.

“When you’re dealing with volunteers who meet once a month, making these huge multimillion dollar decisions in a public forum, it’s just imperative that you have the details really concrete,” Dunn said.

Powers said he hopes funds will be made available as soon

Marshall Tidrick | Daily Texan Staff

Public relations freshman Cambria Sawyer and neuroscience freshman Devika Palaniswamy plan to raise one million pennies for charity. This penny-filled Texas is a small-scale version of the million-penny Texas that will be created at Camp Mabry at the end of February.

NATION

@ellydearman

PERRY page 2

@sam_kett

ing the record, Palaniswamy and Sawyer will host a 5K race to raise money for the Livestrong Foundation. All money raised from registration fees will be converted

By Eleanor Dearman

PENNIES page 2

By Samantha Ketterer

ing the most, but it’s educational for me too. … They’re a perfect example of how the entrepreneurial spirit is alive and well at UT.” To commemorate break-

Indictment won’t keep Perry from 2016 run

into additional pennies for the display.

Palaniswamy said she feels the run will help

TSM page 2

Million pennies saved is a record earned

Palaniswamy are the reason Freshmen Founders exists.

“Working with students like Cambria and Devika is motivational,” Spiller said.

“They think they’re learn-

STATE

Former Governor Rick Perry said his recent indictment will not derail the possibility of a 2016 presidential campaign.

Perry discussed his future plans at a press conference Wednesday, which he held after District Judge Bert Richardson refused to drop felony charges of abuse of official capacity and coercion of a public servant against Perry. Perry said he will continue to contest his two felony indictments.

The indictments came as a result of Perry’s decision to veto funding for the Public Integrity Unit of the Travis County District Attorney’s Office. In June 2013, Perry threatened to veto the funding if Travis County District Attorney Rosemary Lehmberg did not step down from her position after her drunken driving conviction in April 2013. The former governor and his attorneys claim Perry’s actions because Texas law grants the governor veto power.

Richardson announced Tuesday he would not dismiss Perry’s charges. Richardson acknowledged that the first count against Perry, abuse of official capacity, was vague and needed to include the word “veto.” He said the second count, coercion of a public servant, needed to better explain how Perry coerced a public official outside his duties as governor. Richardson gave the prosecutors the opportunity to amend their case.

Perry’s attorneys, Tony Buzbee and David Botsford, said they will file a motion with Richardson to halt Perry’s trial, as well as file a

CAMPUS

Two UT freshmen will dump one million pennies on the ground — and then pick them all back up — at a charity event they will host at Camp Mabry in February. Along the way, they will break the world record for most pennies raised for charity.

Public relations freshman Cambria Sawyer and neuroscience freshman Devika Palaniswamy decided to break the world record, gathering more than 5,500 pounds of pennies, after merging their previous volunteering projects.

Palaniswamy and friends run a nonprofit called Raise4aCause, which hosts 5k races for charity donations. Sawyer founded a public relations startup, Damos Public Relations, with the goal of bringing exposure to charity events.

The two girls met when they joined an organization called Freshmen Founders, which helps freshmen form business models and launch their own initiatives. Student ventures coordinator Nicholas Spiller, who manages Freshmen Founders, said students like Sawyer and

bit.ly/dtvid

CAMPUS

New MCAT to contain Lecturer emphasizes indigenous identity more sections, material By Sarah Alerasoul

By Rachel Ann Lew @lewmpia

Registration for the new, more rigorous MCAT opens February, and it is causing anxiety among pre-med students at the University preparing for the exam.

The MCAT, or the Medical College Admission Test, is designed to assess an undergraduate’s intellectual abilities and “knowledge of science concepts and principles required for the study of medicine,” according to the exam’s official website.

The new version of the MCAT covers more material, including psychology and sociology. It has 230 questions, as opposed to 144, and is graded according to a dif-

ferent scoring scale of 528 total points, instead of 45.

The test also contains new sections, including research design, graphical analysis and data interpretation.

Students will begin taking the new MCAT in April. In previous years, the test was administered in January. A common fear among students is the uncertainty surrounding the new test. Janelle Laqui, human development and family sciences senior, said the ambiguity surrounding the content of the exam is intimidating.

“Hearing about a new MCAT stressed me out because there would be fewer

TEST page 2

Doctoral candidate Edgar Garcia discusses elements of Chicano author Oscar Zeta Acosta’s novel “Autobiography of a Brown Buffalo” in the SAC on Wednesday afternoon.

@thedailytexan

Group solidarity and community organization, critical elements of environmental justice, are often emphasized in indigenous literature, according to Yale English graduate student Edgar Garcia.

“Autobiography of a Brown Buffalo,” which Chicano author Oscar Zeta Acosta published in 1972, is an indigenous ecological migration narrative written in response to growing environmental threats of the 20th century, Garcia said in a talk on-campus Wednesday.

These threats included uranium mining, food toxicity and pesticides that destroy the natural

Ally Thonsgaard Daily Texan Staff

landscape, and had repercussions for all human beings, Garcia said.

“Humans exist by nature within ecologies, and, when your ecology is compromised, toxicity, disease and ecological destruction

affects your body,” Garcia said. “It causes a feeling of existential vulnerability.”

Garcia discussed how “Buffalo”’s main character, Oscar, escapes the toxic wasteland of his city to travel to the Southwest

NEWS

OPINION

SPORTS

LIFE&ARTS

ONLINE

UT professor appointed Greek finance minister.

PAGE 3

Abbott’s picks for regents good for UT. PAGE 4

Texas softball legend reflects on her time at UT. PAGE 6

Alumnus publishes book of photos and illustrations.

PAGE 8

Try out for The Daily Texan!

Researchers: Black hole caused supernova.

PAGE 3

Editorial board wrong on community college plan.

PAGE 4

Horns trying to get back on track with win over rival.

PAGE 6

Superhero movies face “franchise fatigue.”

PAGE 8

dailytexanonline.com

region the United States in search of his Chicano identity. During his travels, he turns into a buffalo and interacts with a host of Native Ameri-

LECTURE page 2 REASON TO PARTY

PAGE 7

2

Thursday, January 29, 2015

NEWS

FRAMES featured photo Volume 115, Issue 88

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

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.

Daulton Venglar| Daily Texan Staff

Mechanical engineering sophomore Darren Tan helps a fellow student slackline in the Honors Quad on Wednesday evening.

LECTURE continues from page 1

CORRECTIONS

The story “Med school construction means fewer parking spots” in the Jan. 28 edition of The Daily Texan was written by Wynne Davis.

In the Jan. 28 edition of The Daily Texan, we misstated the status of Seton’s teaching hospital. It will be considered a hospital under the campus carry bills.

COPYRIGHT

TOMORROW’S WEATHER

Low

75

45 Rock life

degenerates,” Garcia said. “It must allow for aberrancy, contradiction and complication, and that’s precisely what Acosta deals with.”

Those in attendance included Pauline Strong, anthropology and women’s and gender studies professor, who said she had reservations about grouping all indigenous Native

American cultures under one heading.

“The concept of indigenous is a very broad one, intended to highlight the similarities among groups of people who have a precolonial history to a landscape, and highlighting those similarities builds an international coalition,” Strong said. “But,

in doing so, I think it’s important to be aware of the specificities of each group, culture and relationship to each environment.”

UT anthropology alumnus Bowman McMahon said he appreciated the sentiment behind Acosta’s work and advocated that people take an indigenous approach to

environmental justice.

“The book is a good example of literature and poetry with the agenda of getting people to stop worrying about their individual identity and personality,” McMahon said. “It fosters in people a sense of familial responsibility for the entire world and all life on earth.”

PENNIES continues from page 1

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.

High

can animals. Through his experiences, Oscar acquires an appreciation for the environment.

Acosta deliberately makes his characters unusual to keep things interesting throughout the story, according to Garcia.

“He turns into an animal and explores the ‘wild west’ with a motley crew of

people feel a connection to Livestrong in a way they might not otherwise. “[The run] really engages people and gets your message across in a way that people are really open to and never forget,” Sawyer said.

Since the two joined forces over winter break, Palaniswamy and Sawyer have spent a lot of time together collaborating on the project.

“We have to communicate

constantly,” Palaniswamy said.

“It’s been really great. I’m really glad because we know where we’re going together in this; we’re on the same page; and we also have similar personalities in the way we work.”

Sawyer said the project has defined her freshman year of college, especially the amount of planning her schedule requires.

“As difficult as it is right now … we’re going to be

raising awareness for an organization that does phenomenal work,” Sawyer said.

“People are going to have fun in the community, and they’re going to have an opportunity to give themselves, which is something that people can’t find that easily every day.”

Following the race, participants will gather around a track, where all of the pennies will be placed. After the 5K ends, however,

I’m really glad because we know where we’re going together in this, we’re on WOR the same page, and we also have similar personalities in the way we work.

—Devika Palaniswamy, Neroscience freshman

Sawyer and Palaniswamy said their work won’t yet be complete. The million-plus pennies will still need to be picked up and recounted.

“That’s going to be really fun — to pick [pennies] out of the grass,” Sawyer said. “We can figure that out [later].”

PERRY continues from page 1 This issue of The Daily Texan is valued at $1.25 Permanent Staff

Editor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Riley Brands Senior Associate Editor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Noah M. Horwitz Associate Editors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Olivia Berkeley, Cullen Bounds, 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

Reporters . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Sarah Alerasoul, Katie Keenan, Rachel Lew Multimedia. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Ally Thonsgaard Sports Writers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Daniel Clay, Courtney Norris Life&Arts Writers. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Paepin Goff, Charles Liu Columnists . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Katherine Brookman, Jazmyn Griffin Comic Artist. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Melanie Westfall

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

1/29/15

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)

notice of appeal in Texas’ 3rd Court of Appeals.

“We anticipate, due to the gravity of the constitutional issues involved, that the court will move swiftly and expeditiously,” Botsford said.

At the press conference, Perry said he believes he used his power of veto “lawfully and legally.”

“Under our Constitution, every citizen has the right to speak their mind freely without political interference or legal intimidation,” Perry said.

“This continued prosecution flies in the face of that protection.”

Lehmberg’s behavior was “embarrassing,” “unethical” and “inappropriate,” according to Perry, who said he stands by his original actions that sparked his indictment.

“Given the choice, I would make the same decision again today,” Perry said.

In a statement regarding Perry’s trials, Gov. Greg Abbott said he believes it is unconstitutional to prosecute Perry for vetoing legislation.

“The continued legal proceedings against

TEST

continues from page 1 people you could get feedback from,” Laqui said.

Christine Ku, sociology and Plan II junior, shares similar feelings of apprehension. She said she believes she and her classmates are being used to test the new version of the test.

“My class is the ‘guinea

Carlo Nasisse | Daily Texan file photo

At a press conference Wednesday, former Gov. Rick Perry said he would continue to fight against felony charges of abuse of official capacity and coercion of a public servant.

Governor Perry conflict with the authority granted to all governors by the Texas Constitution, and I trust they will be ultimately resolved in a manner consistent with the Constitution,” Abbott said in a written statement.

Attorney General Ken Paxton also released a statement supporting the

former governor.“[Perry] has treated his office with dignity and respect … ” Paxton said in a written statement. “The Constitutional veto authority of the governor is an important and necessary tool to balance the powers of state government and must be utilized without undue fear of prosecution.”

Perry’s presidential campaign will be officially announced in May or June.

“Standing up for the rule of law and standing up for the Constitution is a good thing, and people across the country are very supportive of that,” Perry said. “We are moving right along as we intended,” Perry said.

pig class’,” Ku said. “It’s all very new and overwhelming. The new MCAT challenges a student’s test-taking stamina.”

Ku has known about the proposed changes for a year-and-a-half and has been preparing by using Kaplan materials designed for the new version. She said she finds the new test more intimidating because

it covers biology, organic chemistry and biochemistry in more depth.

While the new MCAT is causing many students to feel wary, the new version of the test has not changed many professors’ approaches to teaching their pre-med courses. Inder Saxena, a lecturer in the Biology Instructional Office in the College of

Natural Sciences, said his lectures will continue to cater to all students at the University, regardless of the new MCAT’s potential difficulty. “[BIO 325] is designed for all upper-division biology majors, not just premed students,” Saxena said.

“The material covered will be helpful on the MCAT or in any case.”

NEWS TSM

3

Thursday, January 29, 2015

continues from page 1

as possible to the TSM Board, which is tasked with passing this year’s budget in March.

“The idea is to get [the money] as quickly as we can to TSM, where TSM can use it,” Powers said. “I will do everything I can to make sure that happens.”

In an interview Monday, Hart told The Daily Texan he earmarked a $1 million endowment for TSM from the $50 million Moody Foundation donation in October 2013 — three months before TSM actually became part of his college.

“At that time, I wasn’t responsible for Texas Student Media, so this was just something I did because of my belief in it,” Hart said. “At that point I wasn’t really involved in the day-to-day work of Texas Student Media.”

Dunn said when she requested information about the endowment, Moody College officials did not confirm any details.

“A lot of times they were like ‘we’re not quite sure what

you’re talking about,’” Dunn said. “I have been hunting down this rumor of a million dollar endowment for a year now because it was mentioned once in public meeting a year ago, and we never heard about it again.”

Dunn said she is unsure whether the Board would have direct access to either the endowment or the transitional funding.

“We can’t pass a budget based on numbers we’re assuming are going to come in,” Dunn said. “We can only pass the budget based on concrete, in writing agreements with sources of certain funding.”

In June, the Moody College appointed Gerald Johnson as TSM director to help navigate the new relationship between TSM and the Moody College. Johnson said the Board has not received an official timeline for the funding from Moody College.

“Other than conversations with the Board, there hasn’t been anything official that

Carlo Nasisse | Daily Texan Staff

Roderick Hart, dean of the Moody College of Communication, said he pledged $1 million of the $50 million Moody Foundation donation for the creation of a TSM endowment. TSM board president Mary Dunn said she has not heard details about the plan.

SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY

UT researchers label supernova explosion

By Katie Keenan @keenanarroyo

Six years ago, UT researchers witnessed an exploding star, which after further analysis, they now believe was ripped apart by a black hole after further analysis.

A small Robotic Optical Transient Search Experiment at the McDonald Observatory at Fort Davis captured a photo of a bright light in January 2009, which was caused by the explosion. UT researchers initially mistook the blast for a super luminous supernovae.

The team of scientists nick-

named the phenomenon “Dougie,” after a “South Park” character.

The ROTSE Supernova Verification Project uses the small telescope to look for newly discovered stars.

Such phenomena are captured via photographs taken using advanced telescopes, reaching deep into space. This process is known as “time domain astronomy”, according to J. Craig Wheeler, a UT astronomy professor who helped make the discovery.

The ROTSE telescope used to capture the black hole and star collision is smaller than most tele-

scopes, Wheeler said, and his team members were surprised when it discovered “Dougie.”

Upon further examination over six years of research, Wheeler determined “Dougie” was, in fact, caused by the star’s collision with a black hole.

“It just didn’t have the right characteristics of an ordinary supernova explosion,” said Wheeler. “We ruled out everything else we could think of.”

With the help of Harvard post-doctorate astrophysicist James Guillochon, the UT team used advanced computer software systems

WORLD

Greece appoints UT visiting professor as finance minister

By Josh Willis @JoshWillis35

Newly elected Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras appointed a UT visiting professor as the country’s finance minister Tuesday.

Yanis Varoufakis, a visiting professor in the LBJ School of Public Affairs, became an elected member of the Greek parliament this Sunday. He was sworn in as finance minister during a ceremony at the Presidential Palace in Athens on Tuesday.

Serving under Tsipras, Varoufakis will be a part of a new cabinet to advise the prime minister.

Varoufakis is one of the primary critics of Greece’s ongoing economic policies, which have sunk the economy to a historic low since the

beginning of the Great Recession in December 2007, according to a statement from UT. “Varoufakis has been a leading voice of opposition to the policies conducted since the start of the financial crisis in Greece and throughout Europe by the European Union and its allied institutions, including the International Monetary Fund and the European Central Bank,” the statement said.

Robert Hutchings, dean of the LBJ School of Public Affairs, said Varoufakis is not new to the discussion about the Greek economy.

“He’s a prominent public intellectual known, not only in Greece as a major political figure, but around Europe, and he has been at the forefront of the discussion of the crisis in the eurozone,”

Hutchings said.

Varoufakis said he will implement economic solutions that work for the various stakeholders of the Greek economy.

“As the next finance minister, I can assure you that I shall not go into the Eurogroup seeking a solution that is good for the Greek taxpayer and bad for the Irish, Slovak, German, French and Italian taxpayer,” Varoufakis said.

Although Varoufakis only taught at UT for two years, Hutchings said his time at the LBJ School served both students and faculty.

“It’s great for us as a faculty to have had him here for two years and great for students to have had the chance to study under someone who is now doing one of the toughest jobs in the world,” Hutchings said.

Name: Dept of Philosophy; Width: 29p6; Depth: 5 in; Color: Process color, Dept of Philosophy; Ad Number: -

to create a wide range of possible scenarios related to the supernova’s destruction. At the conclusion of their research, the experts decided the black hole theory best explained the phenomenon.

“It’s not the nail in the casket, but we’re pretty sure about what we’ve discovered,” Wheeler said.

The lead author of the project, Jozsef Vinko, said this event has probably never been witnessed before. He also added that such events are extremely rare, with no way to predict whether a similar interaction between a star and a black hole will ever

NOW HIRING

Submit an application online at dailytexanonline.com/employment

Name: 3479/KUT Underwriting - 19-6650; Width: 29p6; Depth: 10 in; Color: Process color, 3479/KUT Underwriting - 19-6650; Ad Number: 3479

4

RILEY BRANDS, EDITOR-IN-CHIEF / @TexanEditorial Thursday, January 29, 2015

EDITORIAL

Gov. Abbott’s picks for the Board of Regents good for University The UT System regents have seen their roles transformed in recent years from often mundane bureaucrat to flag bearer for one or the other side in the ideological battles over higher education. Former Gov. Rick Perry and his ilk, led by Regent Wallace Hall, went on numerous crusades in the past years in search of controversial educational reforms throughout the state.

In their grand vision, this University — the state's flagship — would be reduced to a second-rate trade school, as scholastic research would be heavily eschewed in favor of quickly producing diplomas.

This did not sit well with William Powers Jr., the president of this University, and the battle lines were soon drawn. With Gov. Greg Abbott just taking office, and three regent spots open just next month, we have impatiently waited to see if our new governor would follow the anti-intellectual, asinine choices of his predecessor.

Thankfully, as a result of his new picks and renomination to the Board of Regents, the answer looks to be an emphatic no. Abbott nominated Regent Steve Hicks, a vociferous opponent of Perry and Hall's antics, for another term on the board. He also nominated David Beck and Sara Martinez Tucker, respectively, to other positions. All three individuals are expected to be easily confirmed by the state Senate.

According to the Texas Tribune, Beck was instrumental in the creation of the Texas Coalition for Excellence in Higher Education, a group that has been sharply critical of both Perry's proposals and Hall's conduct. Tucker, meanwhile, served as Undersecretary of Education during the last Bush administration. Additionally, unlike Perry's key picks, she did not donate to the Governor beforehand.

In taking these little steps, Abbott has already changed gubernatorial policy toward this University. His actions appear to cement a desire to transform the UT regent back into the bureaucrat it once was, whose biggest priority is the success of the universities and not ideological bosses or cadres.

Michael Quinn Sullivan, a right-wing activist who has been among Hall's biggest backers, is already unhappy. In a recent post for his website, Empower Texans, Sullivan blasted Tucker in particular, castigating — among other things — her alleged ties to the controversial evaluation system in schools known as "Common Core."

Indeed, with such a strong pivot away from Perry's deleterious ways, Abbott will encounter some resistance. But we believe the gratitude he will receive from all of us at this University, who have overwhelmingly opposed Perry and Hall's schemes, will far outweigh that resistance.

ONLINE

It’s no secret that even the best us of opt for summer community college classes not only to get ahead, but to take an easier, less intensive route.

DAVID BECK

SARA MARTINEZ TUCKER

Founder of anti-Hall higher-ed interest group Longtime trial attorney Financial supporter of both Abbott and Democrats

US Undersecretary of Education, 2009-2009 CEO of National Math & Science Initiative Has not politically donated in last decade

By Katherine Brookman Daily Texan Columnist @Kbrookman13

Obama’s community college plan does not fix affordability problem As the Texan recently covered, President Barack Obama has proposed a plan for free tuition at community colleges. But, as predicted, it didn’t go over well with his critics, who criticized the plan as excessive government intrusion into local affairs.

The plan would cost $6 billion per year and provide tuition, but not other costs associated with attendance, for community college students looking to transfer to a four-year university or those who are on track to complete an associate’s degree.

However, it doesn’t appear to take into account other financial factors that could potentially stop Americans from getting degrees or the present state of some community colleges. Contrary to the belief of this paper’s editorial board, which came out in support of the plan, a free associate’s degree may not be the solution to America’s education issue.

My biggest concern is whether community college classes adhere to the same standards as four-year universities. It’s no secret that even the best of us opt for summer community college classes not only to get ahead, but to take an easier, less intensive route. With that in mind, does it really make sense to give people a free education if it won’t match the quality of a four-year degree? It just seems to create yet another problem for students who may not be able to afford a potentially better education, limiting them to the dregs at the bottom of the barrel. As the editorial board stated, Americans may get thousands of dollars off their debt with reduced load on faculty and staff, but will the instructors, curriculum and quality of what’s covered be the same?

While not everyone is a slacker student, we don’t want college to become high school 2.0 — a major talking point of the Obama administration that conveniently

Served on Board of Regents since 2009 Vocal opponent of Regent Wallace Hall Supporter of President William Powers, Jr.

New Year’s resolutions continue to feature outdated beauty ideals

COLUMN

By Jazmyn Griffin

STEVEN HICKS

COLUMN

Our commentary doesn’t stop on the page. For more of our thoughts on the issues of the day, check out our blog, A Matter of Opinion, at dailytexanonline.com.

Daily Texan Columnist @JazmynAlynn

Joe Caprero| Daily Texan File Photo

Vice Chairman R. Steven Hicks at a Board of Regents meeting in November 2013.

leaves out the layabouts attending just to bide their time. Besides, students who attend four-year universities are far more likely to graduate on time and in general than those who begin at a community college. Only 20 percent of community college students actually end up transferring to get a bachelor’s. If that number stays the same, the two years of instruction would go toward a degree that wouldn’t get people much farther than a free high school diploma. Before offering a program for free, the federal government should first examine the workings of current community colleges that students already pay to attend.

Those who can’t even afford community college don’t simply need help in their first two years. Post-associate’s degree, the full cost to attend a four-year university, including fees like books, housing and food, still acts as a barrier to a bachelor’s degree.

The few thousand dollars off are nothing compared to the total debt they would still graduate with. As a master’s degree is becoming ever more necessary to enter the job market, underprivileged people will still be held even further back for lack of funding. Not to mention, the workforce isn’t the most stable, with many in fear of the number of guaranteed careers available to college graduates.

Rather than making the basic requirements free, the ridiculous cost of higher education overall should be re-examined.

Even at our school, on average, students incur almost $20,000 in debt even if they graduate on time, adding an additional $6,000 for every year beyond that.

This plan is designed to give everyone equal opportunity, an idea great in theory but often not implemented correctly. The government cannot fill the achievement gap with empty rhetoric. It can inspire the country, make citizens think about the way the system works, but it won’t level the playing field as they attempt to use it for. By looking at the issue in a more pragmatic way, they would see that much more than part of 2 years’ expenses is needed to give Americans a boost. This proposal is a start, but if implemented won’t make as huge of a change as it seems. The real issue lies in affordability of education, without compromising quality or the overall experience and skills that accompany attending a 4-year university.

Griffin is a journalism freshman from Houston.

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.

With the New Year in full swing, it is likely that we have all stumbled across the whole “New Year, New You” trend, wherein people vow to improve themselves in a number of ways over the course of the year. Whether it is a promise to eat healthier, exercise more often, actually go to class, or get more sleep, everyone has encountered this fad.

One thing that has stood out to me, especially for women, is that most of these resolutions are rooted in insecurities about body image. Girls, starting at ages younger than 10, make promises to diet, try cleanses, hit the gym and lose weight. But why has this fad of self-improvement in the New Year turned into an unhealthy need to shed pounds? Why can’t we focus on improving ourselves in other ways than attempting to mimic the bodies of Victoria Secret models?

I have fallen victim to this trend, as well as to the media stereotype of beauty too many times. I think it is time for a change.

I am not saying that these resolutions are wrong. In fact, I am a huge proponent of healthy living, and believe that it is important that people eat well and exercise often to maintain healthy lifestyles. Rather, I am concerned with the long-term effects of such goals – especially for our current generation and those younger than us.

Today, women are constantly exposed to an “ideal” body type: thin figures, long legs, and minimal curves. This body type is pushed in the media and encourages shaming anything different. Girls, especially during the New Year, vow to change themselves and their behavior to become more like what they should be. But my question is this- what should we be and who gets to decide that? The National Association of Anorexia Nervosa And Associated Disorders reveals, “the body type portrayed in advertising as the ideal is possessed naturally by only 5 percent of American females.” If only 5 percent of women meet this standard of beauty, then what does that mean for the other 95 percent?

ANAD provides statistics on eating disorders and how the media has impacted female self-perception. In reading these, a few stood out to me: The website states that, “91 percent of women surveyed on a college campus had attempted to control their weight through dieting,” and “95 percent of those who have eating disorders are between the ages of 12 and 25.8.” If that many girls within our generation are suffering

Today, women are constantly exposed to an ‘ideal’ body type: thin figures, long legs and minimal curves. This body type is pushed in the media and encourages shaming anything different.

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.

from eating disorders, I think that it is up to us to make a change. That change begins with starting to calm the pressure that girls feel to reach this virtually unattainable standard of beauty.

Recently, there has been a huge push, especially on social media sites, to help foster the idea of being beautiful as being fit – not thin. Australian trainer Kayla Itsines maintains an Instagram account in which she encourages her followers daily. The girls who follow her rave that they are happier and more confident after they began using her workouts and food guides. She stands on the idea that women should be proud of who they are and push themselves to become lean and strong, rather than fall into the pattern that so many do in finding beauty by means of not eating. I think we need more people like Kayla out there, but I also do not think that even that would be enough. I think society as a whole, both women and men, needs to change its perception of beauty. The Dove Campaign for Real Beauty is trying to do exactly that.

In 2004, Dove launched its Campaign for Real Beauty to start “a global conversation about the need for a wider definition of beauty,” following findings that “only 2 percent of women around the world would describe themselves as beautiful.” In a world in which such a shockingly low percentage of women find themselves beautiful, it is no surprise to find that so many of us are struggling with issues over body image. Dove also launched the Real Beauty Sketches, an incredible series of videos in which women were asked to describe themselves to a sketch artist who could not see their faces. While he drew them, these women described themselves, focusing heavily on what they saw as their flaws. He also drew these same women based on the descriptions given by strangers. He proceeded to reveal the portraits side by side, and the results were incredible.

The strangers had described these women as far more beautiful than they had described themselves. I feel strongly that it is important for everyone to watch these videos, as they personally moved me.

The media stereotypes of women today have become ingrained in us. However, that does not mean that they have to remain.

Most importantly, that does not mean that we have to continue buying in to them. I believe that something is wrong if only 2 percent of women feel they are beautiful. That if strangers find more beauty in us than we do in ourselves that society has flawed us.

That our standards of beauty today are not “too high” as many would say, but are rather tainted by what the media has defined as true beauty. And above all else, I believe that something has to change.

I think this year is the perfect time for such a change, and that begins with redefining our New Year’s resolutions. I vote we vow to strive for happiness and self-confidence this year, and to work everyday to encourage ourselves and those around us that they are, in fact, beautiful. With such goals in mind, we can begin to combat this harmful ideal of beauty that has negatively impacted so many of us, and we can make a real change.

Brookman is a pre-public relations sophomore from Fort Worth.

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.

CLASS 5

SPORTS

5

Thursday, January 29, 2015

RECRUITS

continues from page 6 As it stands, Texas has the No. 12 ranked recruiting class in the nation, according to Scout.com. The 2015 class currently has 23 players committed — 12 offensive and 11 defensive commits. Malik Jefferson, a five-star outside linebacker, headlines this recruiting roster.

With little time remaining before National Signing Day, the Longhorns have room for eight more players. Texas is in the mix for four-star cornerbacks Kris Boyd and Holton Hill. Five-star running back Soso Jamabo and four-star running backs Nick Brossette and Chris Warren also have their eyes on Austin.

Although the Longhorns have promising incoming talent and experienced players on the defensive side of the ball, they are still looking for answers.

“We see there’s a lot of work to be done, which is a great challenge, and I don’t mind that — I accept that,” Strong said. “You look at the TCU game and [the bowl] game, and it’s not an indication of what Texas is all about. We have work to do, and we got to get it done.”

UNS AD IRNE FOR ONL

E! FRE d wor

ad s

only

Ethan Oblak | Daily Texan file photo

Sophomore quarterback Tyrone Swoopes had a very inconsistent season. With redshirt freshman Jerrod Heard waiting for his chance to start and quarterback recruits fixing to join the program, Texas fans are looking forward to a quarterback competition during spring practice.

CLASSIFIEDS THE DAILY TEXAN

Self-serve, 24/7 on the Web at www.DailyTexanOnline.com

790 Part Time

870 Medical

560 Public Notice

Name: CLASSIFIEDS; Width: 60p0; Depth: 10 in; Color: Black, CLASSIFIEDS; Ad Number: -

GYMNASTICS COACH NEEDED Seeking Part time coaches (will train). Several positions available at 2 different locations ranging from beginner recreational gymnastics to competitive level for both girls and boys. $10-17 per hour. 5-16 hours per week.

www.123Donate.com

super TUESDAY COUPONS

SEE WHAT OUR

clip and save!

Donors average $150 per specimen.

Apply on-line

ONLINE SYSTEM has to offer, and place

870 Medical

YOUR AD

NOW!

dailytexanclassifieds.com

every week

REMEMBER!

flipnastics@gmail.com 512-2668400 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

keep an eye out for the

Seeks College-Educated Men 18–39 to Participate in a Six-Month Donor Program

You saw it in the

Texan

TEXASNT STUDDEIA The Daily Texan • Cactus Yearbook • Texas Student Television ME • Texas Travesty • KVRX 91.7 FM

TEXAS STUDENT MEDIA BOARD OF OPERATING TRUSTEES TSM IS ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS FOR:

The Daily Texan Editor-In-Chief TERM: JUNE ‘15 - MAY ‘16

Member, Board of Operating Trustees TERM: JUNE ‘15 - MAY ‘17 APPLICATION DEADLINE: FEB 2 @ 12:00 PM APPLICATION DROP OFF: HSM 3.200 Business Office

Questions? Contact us at:

serpas@austin.utexas.edu

Download the Application and visit our website for more information: www.utexas.edu/tsm

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.

6 SPTS

6

GARRETT CALLAHAN, SPORTS EDITOR | @texansports Thursday, January 29, 2015

SIDELINE

SOFTBALL Cat Osterman remains one of the best pitchers the Texas softball program has ever had.

She currently coaches softball at Texas State and is preparing to wrap up her professional career.

NCAAM TEXAS TECH

(24) OKLAHOMA

(4) DUKE

(8) NOTRE DAME

SPORTS BRIEFLY Horns hope rivalry will spark a needed win

Griffin Smith Daily Texan Staff

Longhorn legend to throw last pitch Editor’s Note: This is part of a weekly series looking back at past Texas athletes and where they are now. This week features former softball pitcher Cat Osterman, who played for Texas from 20022003 and 2005-2006.

By Daniel Clay @dclay56

By the time Osterman graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in psychology, she had already won an Olympic gold medal from Athens, notched 20 collegiate

no-hitters and appeared twice on the cover of Sports Illustrated.

But even for Osterman, adjusting to life on the 40 Acres wasn’t easy.

“I had to learn real quick how to pitch and how to pitch successfully at that level,” Osterman said. “For me to be able to be thrown in the fire so quick, I think that’s what really made me mature as an athlete and, actually, in the long run, is probably what has allowed me to be so successful.”

Osterman took a year-long

hiatus from school after her sophomore year to join the USA Softball Women’s National Team on its quest for Olympic gold in Athens in 2004.

“It was a little difficult because I was playing with a bunch of older women, a lot of which had graduated from college already,” Osterman said. “But I think it was for the best. It taught me a lot. It made me grow up fast.”

She returned to the University after her Olympic stint to play two more seasons with Texas, and, in 2007, she was selected as

the No. 1 pick in the National Pro Fastpitch softball league draft.

She continues to pitch professionally for the USSSA Pride, a fastpitch team in Kissimmee, Florida, while working full-time in the offseason as a softball coach at Texas State. Osterman devotes her time to recruiting in the fall, coaching in the spring and playing professionally in the summer.

“I think the hardest part is I have to work out, and I have to throw,” Osterman said. “I put coaching as a priority, so, if I

have to skip a workout or something like that, I’ll do that over being late to practice because my first priority is to Texas State and coaching.”

But all good things come to an end. This summer will most likely be Osterman’s last season playing professionally, she said.

Still, she has a clear path for her future in mind.

“I have wanted to coach since I was in, like, fourth grade, and that was before I specialized in softball,” Osterman said. “Coaching is definitely my future.”

WOMEN’S BASKETBALL

Texas still tries to rebound from loss

By Nick Castillo

Daily Texan Columnist @Nick_Castillo74

Last week, the women’s basketball team’s momentum came to a halt.

After starting the season in dominating fashion, senior forward Nneka Enemkpali’s injury at Baylor put a stop to the Longhorns’ success. But the situation worsened after an MRI revealed that Enemkpali tore her ACL. The team will miss Enemkpali’s presence. Before the injury, Enemkpali, a 6-foot-1 forward from Pflugerville, led the Big 12 in rebounds with 10.4 per game, double-doubles and rebounds during conference play. With the help of the forward, Texas started the season 14—0, including wins over three top-10 teams in Stanford, Texas A&M and Tennessee. But since the start of Big 12 play, the Longhorns have struggled. The Longhorns

Despite losing their starting forward, the Longhorns need to regroup and find a way to replicate their early season success. lost four of its past five games, including a loss in the first game without Enemkpali against Iowa State.

While the loss of Enemkpali is huge, the Longhorns can’t afford to let this injury result in a bad season.

Despite losing their starting forward, the Longhorns need to regroup and find a way to replicate their early season success.

Sophomore center Kelsey Lang should be the focal point of that regrouping. Lang is shooting 85 percent from the field and has averaged 12

Ethan Oblak | Daily Texan file photo

When senior forward Nneka Enemkpali went down with a knee injury, Texas started to struggle. Now, they’re trying to get back on track with a win against rival Oklahoma.

points per game and seven rebounds during the Longhorns’ past two games. The Longhorns also need the help of junior center Imani McGee-Stafford, who is

FOOTBALL

Longhorns look to recruits to help fix offensive struggles

By Nick Castillo @Nick_Castillo74

Texas’ 59-yard offensive performance in the AdvoCare V100 Texas Bowl was an embarrassing low.

The 31–7 loss in the Texas Bowl capped off the Longhorns’ second losing season in five years, a result that irritated head coach Charlie Strong.

“You don’t ever expect to go out and get hammered in a bowl game 31–7 when you had a month to go prepare,” Strong said. “Texas has got to mean something. Right now, it doesn’t mean much.”

And now with an offseason to prepare, Texas will look to fix its

broken offense.

First, Texas will need to address quarterback issues. The bowl game presented an opportunity for sophomore quarterback Tyrone Swoopes to prove himself, but his poor performance didn’t put him in a promising position.

Swoopes finished the game with 57 passing yards, -32 rushing yards, one rushing touchdown and one interception. With four-star quarterback recruit Zach Gentry recently decommitting from the Longhorns, redshirt freshman Jerrod Heard will be expected to produce.

Additionally, the Longhorns face an identity crisis. Strong and his staff

putting up consistent play despite a low amount of playing time. She leads the Longhorns at the free-throw line, making 13 out of 16 shots

from the charity stripe.

If Texas wants a chance at a postseason run, it can’t afford to take a step back and can’t allow Enempkali’s injury to ruin its season.

For the second time in a little over two weeks, Texas will face off against longtime rival Oklahoma.

After suffering a 70–59 loss in Oklahoma earlier this month, No. 14 Texas will host the No. 24 Sooners on Thursday at the Frank Erwin Center.

The Longhorns lead the all-time series against the Sooners, 25–23.

Despite starting the season 13–0, Texas has lost four out of its past five games. The Longhorns managed three wins against top-10 opponents early this season but have since struggled in Big 12 play.

Following two early conference wins against Kansas and West Virginia, Texas lost a close game against Iowa State, which scored 5 points in the final 50 seconds to give the Longhorns their first loss of the season.

However, the Longhorns have statistics on their side as they face their northern rivals. In the past two games, sophomore center Kelsey Lang led the team — averaging 12 points per game and shooting 85 percent from the field. Texas is also ranked 22nd in scoring defense in the country and comes in at No. 10 in rebounding margins.

Thursday, Texas will have a new voice on the sidelines in senior forward Nneka Enemkpali, who is returning to the bench to help her teammates.

Enemkpali, an AllAmerican candidate who had been leading the Big 12 in rebounds, suffered a career-ending injury against Baylor in Waco last week.

“I let coach do her thing, and I try to supplement in a more teammate -type fashion,” Enemkpali said. “I know there is a purpose behind everything that has happened to me.”

—Courtney Norris

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

Texas has got to mean something. Right now, it doesn’t mean much.

—Charlie Strong, Head coach

wanted the team to have a run-based offense in 2014, but the loss of three lineman and their starting quarterback made that difficult.

But this spring, Texas will try and establish its runbased offense, or it will look to change its game plan with the help of new recruits.

RECRUITS page 5

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

COMICS 7

COMICS

SUDOKUFORYOU t

9 7 6 4

RYOU

3

7

Thursday, January 29, 2015

6 5

3

6 5

4

5 2 3 1 6 4 8

8 7 2 6 5 6 3 5 9 8 9 2 5 6 6 3 1 4

Today’s solution will appear here next issue

5 9 88 32 24 3 7 7 1 6 4 1 69

6 1 79 53 41 4 9 5 2 2 8 6 37

4 2 32 64 85 9 1 1 7 3 9 7 58

3 5 61 49 18 7 2 6 9 5 7 4 82

9 7 27 86 53 2 3 8 4 4 6 9 15

1 8 43 78 97 6 6 2 3 9 5 5 21

2 3 54 91 62 5 4 3 8 7 1 8 76

7 6 96 15 39 1 8 4 5 8 2 2 43

8 4 1 2 7 5 6 3 9

Arrr matey. This scurrvy beast is today’s answerrrrrr.

Crop it out, or it’ll be the the fishes for ya!

5 7 6 5 6 3 8 9 8 9 2 1 6 3 4 4 2 5 8 6 3 1 4 9 7

Today’s solution will appear here next issue

5 9 8 3 2 7 1 4 6

6 1 7 5 4 9 2 8 3

4 2 3 6 8 1 7 9 5

3 5 6 4 1 2 9 7 8

9 7 2 8 5 3 4 6 1

1 8 4 7 9 6 3 5 2

2 3 5 9 6 4 8 1 7

7 6 9 1 3 8 5 2 4

8 4 1 2 7 5 6 3 9

8 L&A

KAT SAMPSON, LIFE&ARTS EDITOR | @thedailytexan Thursday, January 29, 2015

8

ART

Recent graduate to release first art book

By Briana Zamora

UT graduate Lakeem Wilson’s debut book, “Natural Born Star,” will feature 46 of Wilson’s photographs and illustrations. Many of his pieces are influenced by his childhood and focus on social justice issues in America.

@whateverwillbri

With a sketchbook tucked under his arm and both hands chock-full of pens, Lakeem Wilson, a recent UT graduate and artist, meanders through Austin streets, stopping only to sketch what he sees: empty park benches, quiet streets and smoking strangers. He fills entire pages before finishing his walk through the city.

“Drawing and painting is just something I have always done — just this constant focus in my life,” Wilson said. “It has always provided me a sense of comfort because I can turn to it whenever I need to express things I feel.”

Wilson’s debut art book, “Natural Born Star,” contains 46 photographs and illustrations he created while at UT. His work, which ranges from realistic depictions of the commonplace to abstract images, plays with the boundary between reality and fantasy.

Wilson explored the personal effects and consequences of political issues, such as racial violence and police brutality, through the works in the collection. Red Throat House — an Austin-based art collective Wilson cofounded — will release “Natural Born Star” on Feb. 5.

Wilson said his identity as a black American has influenced his art and contributed to his distinct style.

“Since I’m black, my art reflects my views on black culture and what it means to be black in America,” Wilson

Ellyn Snider Daily Texan Staff

said. “I’m not like a Malcolm X extremist or anything like that, but I do notice a lot of flaws or things that could be better in black communities and in the way that society depicts blackness.”

Wilson said he grew up in an impoverished Dallas neighborhood and, while his childhood lacked monetary comforts, it was rich in culture.

“My community provided me with a story and experiences that makes me and my artwork kind of unique,”

Wilson said. “Coming from a rough background shaped not only my story but also the kind of stories I want to tell — the kind of activism role I want my art to have.”

Dave Herman serves as a creative director for the nonprofit organization Preservation LINK, an education agency designed to foster personal growth and artistic expression in youths.

In 2006, Herman taught Wilson in a visual literacy program through Preservation

SCIENCE SCENE

LINK. Herman has mentored Wilson ever since and said watchinghimdevelopasanartist has been gratifying.

“It is great to see that he has stayed committed to his craft,” Herman said. “He continued down this path and is now able to celebrate having a body of illustrations connected by insightful observations and social context.”

Amyn Kassam, cofounder of Red Throat House, helped Wilson assemble his book to make his art more accessible to

the public. Kassam, said Wilson’s artistic style stands out to him because it is colorful and playful but grapples with serious content.

“I find Lakeem’s work compelling because his casual style invites the eye to explore the serious and complicated issues that his illustrations depict,” Kassam said.

Red Throat House is hosting a book release for Wilson on Feb. 5 at Spider House Ballroom. “Natural Born Star” will be available

for purchase at the release and can be viewed online at www.redthroathouse.com.

Wilson said he intends to become an illustrator and plans to go to graduate school in the fall.

He said he hopes to one day inspire other young artists.

“One day, I’ll give back and just make sure I get a chance to speak to young people who want to do the same and want to follow the same path and use art as their main way of expression and creating,” Wilson said.

FILM | COLUMN

Why the ‘just say no’ method is not working for D.A.R.E.

By Paepin Goff @thedailytexan

Don’t read the next sentence.

If you’re reading this sentence, the “just say no” campaign coined by the D.A.R.E. program may not have worked for you.

D.A.R.E., the international substance abuse prevention program, teaches drug-abstinence to students starting in fifth grade. As part of the program, which was founded in 1983 as part of the war on drugs, officers trained in child development education teach kids to use the “just say no” method to resist peer pressure. While research supports the success of a variety of psychological techniques used in the D.A.R.E. program, real life results leave something to be desired.

Numerous studies attempted to measure the effectiveness of D.A.R.E. and to determine whether it’s

helping win the war on drugs, but it’s difficult to say how well the program works. The most common technique used to evaluate D.A.R.E.’s success is to give students surveys about their drug habits before and after they complete the D.A.R.E. program.

A paper combining the results of several of these studies did not find any measurable difference in students’ drug use over the course of the program.

Other programs, particularly those requiring students to act out different scenarios, fared better — but not by much. It’s unfortunate that D.A.R.E. isn’t more effective, especially given that the program uses many techniques based on tried-and-true psychological principles.

For example, the program asks students to sign a “pledge” not to use drugs.

The psychological principle of consistency, established in a 1966 research paper, suggests people want to remain consistent with their past choices. Ideally, if a person signs a pledge not to do drugs, they’d be more likely to abide by this commitment than if they hadn’t.

The D.A.R.E. program also relies on an appeal to

authority. A 1974 study found that people are more likely to obey a request from a uniformed guard than from someone in street clothes — an effect that lasts even after the guard is out of sight.

Although various techniques that exist within the D.A.R.E. program work in controlled experimental settings, the complexity of everyday life cannot be duplicated in a lab. The D.A.R.E. program effectively increasing drug awareness, but the program falls short.

In fact, multiple studies have found that the D.A.R.E. program has no statistically significant effect on student drug use.

Perhaps, the program’s emphasis on the negative might be why D.A.R.E. hasn’t made much of a dent in drug use among America’s youth.

People are often curious about what they’re told not to do. Don’t press that red button. Don’t date that tattooed guy with the motorcycle.

Don’t do drugs.

The D.A.R.E. program may have good intentions, but the war on drugs cannot be won through the use of program that has proven ineffective.

Illustration by Rudy Suarez | Daily Texan Staff

Illustration by Lindsay Rojas | Daily Texan Staff

Marvel Cinematic Universe nearing ‘franchise fatigue’

By Charles Liu

Daily Texan Columnist @thedailytexan

Iron Man, Captain America, Thor, the Hulk: each one the center of gravity for his own multi-movie series. But these characters don’t fight evil alone — they coexist in the same franchise, called the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU). Most films in the MCU franchise focus on one character, who later teams up with other characters in blockbusters such as “The Avengers.” This critically and financially successful method of franchise-building has never been seen before. Although the MCU has been well-received, its novelty will wear out. The question is: Will audiences get worn out too?

Suzanne Scott, radio-television-film assistant professor, said she believes audience interest in the MCU will drop as the films continue because they will eventually become stale, resulting in decreased box office earnings. This is called “franchise fatigue.”

As the MCU expands and becomes more time-consuming to follow, some audience members will skip the installments that have less to do with the main plot. On the other hand, there are some

audience members who prefer self-contained stories. Scott said this desire is why the relatively simple “Guardians of the Galaxy” was a remarkable success in a franchise full of high-grossing films.

“People felt they could take a break from trying to figure out how this connected to the bigger picture and just enjoy [it],” Scott said.

In order to maintain interest, the MCU will have to offer a variety of films to satisfy viewers’ tastes and keep them coming back. So far, Marvel Studios has offered action comedies, political thrillers, epic fantasies and sci-fi adventures, but the varying genres haven’t been enough to prevent the franchise from becoming stale. UT alumnus Clay Liford (“Wuss,” “Earthling”), an indie filmmaker, pointed out that most of the MCU’s films follow the same formula.

“You have the same generic villain,” Liford said. “You have the same generic fights. You’ve seen it so many times that it’s becoming rote.”

As radio-television-film freshman Will Conant puts it, Marvel’s films have all been packaged very similarly. The studio has experimented with tone but not storytelling.

Although Liford said the

MCU will continue to attract audiences based on brand recognition, Marvel needs to take narrative risks. By staying fresh and original, Marvel can keep our collective attention. Scott and Liford agreed Marvel could offer new perspectives by including more female voices in the largely male-dominated genre.

Even if Marvel does diversify, it will have to make sure its films fit together — meaning directors will have to curb their creative control. This has driven away filmmakers such as director Edgar Wright (“Shaun of the Dead,” “Hot Fuzz”), who dropped out of “Ant-Man.” Nonetheless, filmmakers in search of a big break or funding will be there to take their place. For example, Liford said he would make a Marvel film if given the opportunity and some creative freedom because it would help fund his independent features. If Marvel learns how to balance franchise goals with individual freedom, it may be able to retain filmmakers.

The MCU isn’t going away anytime soon, but the studio can definitely improve its films.

If it diversifies its creative teams and begins taking storytelling risks, the franchise won’t just last longer — it’ll become something truly super.