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Tuesday, February 3, 2015
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STATE
CITY
Legislators recognize ‘Chris Kyle Day’
APD begins to enforce hands-free ordinance
By Eleanor Dearman @ellydearman
Gov. Greg Abbott declared Feb. 2 “Chris Kyle Day” in Texas to honor the decorated ex-Navy SEAL sniper killed last February. Abbott and legislators gathered at the Capitol on Monday to sign the proclamation honoring Kyle and other soldiers. Kyle is a hero, Abbott said, and should be honored for his service to the country. “[Heroes are people] who take risks and suffer
consequences most Americans cannot comprehend, but which all Americans should deeply honor,” Abbott said. Marine Corps veteran Eddie Ray Routh shot and killed Kyle and his friend Chad Littlefield in February 2013 at a shooting range in Erath County, Texas. Kyle, who had 160 confirmed kills throughout his four tours in Iraq, was honorably discharged in 2009. The film “American Sniper” recounts Kyle’s life and is nominated for Best Picture
at the Academy Awards. Kyle is just one of many veterans worth honoring, according to Abbott. “We have so many of those heroes from here in the state of Texas,” Abbott said. “One of them we are naming this day after, Chris Kyle, but as Chris himself would tell you, he’s one of a band of brothers and sisters who fought side by side for the greatest country in the history of the world.” This is not the first time the Texas legislature has addressed
Kyle’s service in Iraq. Legislators passed The “Chris Kyle Bill” during the 83rd legislative session in 2013. The bill requires that military experience, such as Kyle’s, be recognized on occupational licenses — making it easier for veterans to find jobs. Daniel Hamilton, international relations and global studies junior and Marine veteran, said he hopes the day will help civilians remember that people in the military are fighting for civilians’ everyday freedoms.
“The things we have aren’t just here because we woke up and got them this way,” said Hamilton, who served in both Iraq and Afghanistan. “They are here because a lot of young men and women have done an extraordinary thing with their life.” Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick said he supports Abbott in making Feb. 2 “Chris Kyle Day.” “I appreciate his efforts to recognize this American and Texas hero whose
said the hijab is more than a headscarf. It also represents respectful interactions between genders. MSA will host an event Friday discussing this in depth called “How men wear the hijab.”
HIJAB page 3
ORDINANCE page 2
KYLE page 2
MSA shares culture on World Hijab Day By Eleanor Dearman @ellydearman
Carlo Nasisse | Daily Texan Staff
From left to right, Business freshman Subah Ahmed and neuroscience freshman Khadija Saifullah help undeclared sophomore Charlotte Friend put on a hijab. The Musim Student Association held an event Monday celebrating World Hijab Day.
“I wear hijab because it was solely my decision,” Siddiqui said. “No one asked me to wear it. The hijab is a way for me to get closer to God.” Wearing hijab creates a community among other Muslim women, said
Rawand Abdelghani, MSA president and psychology junior, who has worn hijab daily for almost a year. “It’s been a really good experience,” Abdelghani said. “Walking around campus, if you see someone else wearing hijab, even if you don’t
know them, there’s a little bond in a way. You say hi or you say salaam.” While Muslim men do not wear the garment, Usama Malik, MSA vice president and governor senior, said they are expected to be equally modest. Malik
@jcqlnwng
Jan. 1, a City of Austin ordinance declared Austin hands free, prohibiting the use of hand-held devices while driving or biking. After a 30-day grace period which ended Sunday, Austin Police Department can now issue citations for violations of the hands-free ordinance. “Luckily, we’re a safe city, but we want to be safer in traffic-related incidents,” Austin Police Department Commander Art Fortune said. APD reported 10 fatal traffic-related accidents in the month of January, an increase from two fatalities last January. Fortune said mobile phone use caused two of the 10 traffic accidents so far this year. The police department announced a safety initiative for the month of February, which directs officers to focus on violations of the hands-free ordinance. People who violate the ordinance can receive up to a $500 fine. Campus police will still not give citations to violators on campus, UTPD officer William Pieper said. “Because it’s a city ordinance, and the University of Texas is state property, the city ordinance doesn’t apply,” Piper said. “Since it is within the city limits of Austin, we could stop people, but I don’t venture we’d be issuing citations on campus. Our hope is that students understand the spirit behind that law.” Beyond Campus, people should expect citations now that the grace period is over, Fortune said. This does not mean every violator will receive a $500 fine, however.
CAMPUS
Students of all races, genders, cultures and religions tried on hijabs — traditional headscarves worn by Muslim women — for an event the Muslim Students’ Association (MSA) held Monday to celebrate World Hijab Day. World Hijab Day was on Sunday, but the MSA delayed its event to better engage the UT community in raising awareness about Muslim customs. MSA students were available to provide information about the culture and set up a table filled with a row of hijabs for students to try on. “There are so many people on campus who wear one, and I think it’s really important to see who these people are, why they wear it, why it empowers them and what it means to them,” said Maryam Siddiqui, MSA outreach director and Middle Eastern studies and Arabic junior. It is a common misconception that women are told they have to wear hijab, according to Siddiqui, who said she wears hijab to express her religion and finds the garment empowering.
By Jackie Wang
RESEARCH
BUSINESS
Professor receives prize for evolution research
Student startups seek platform to grow
By Cris Mendez @thedailytexan
In a speech Thursday, after receiving the David Starr Jordan Prize, integrative biology professor Dan Bolnick said he believes his research has the potential to help other scientists learn more about how genetic variations increase the survivability of a species. Bolnick received the award as recognition for his work studying the evolution of sticklebacks — a type of fish found in the Northern Hemisphere as far north as the Arctic Ocean — and other organisms. Professors from Cornell, Stanford and
Indiana University created the award to honor young scientists in biology whose research has the potential to impact the field in an innovative way. Bolnick’s research found a relationship between genetic variability and survivability of a species. “Are less variable populations more prone to extinction?” Bolnick said. “It turns out, they are. We can create more genetically variable populations — track [fruit flies] for 25 generations and see that less variable populations go extinct more often than
GENETICS page 3
By Ariana Guerra @ariewar08
In order for startup ideas to become a reality, entrepreneurs need a strong foundation, according to Tony Ayaz — serial entrepreneur and chief revenue officer of Founder.org — who visited the University on Monday to discuss key components of building a billion-dollar company. Founder.org is a company that invests in student entrepreneurs around the world to help them build companies. Ayaz said the company looks for ideas and startup teams it feels it can work with.
STARTUP page 3
Pual Horstman | Daily Texan Staff
Tony Ayaz, chief revenue officer of Founder.org and serial entrepreneur, discusses his eight secrets to building a successful startup company at the Liberal Arts Building on Monday evening.
NEWS
OPINION
SPORTS
LIFE&ARTS
ONLINE
Professor: Settlers play role in colinization. PAGE 3
Going abroad not enough to truly educate yourself. PAGE 4
Despite tough losses, Texas remains ranked. PAGE 6
McCombs students explore investing. PAGE 8
Try out for The Daily Texan.
Engineering students compete in BP competition. PAGE 3
Flipped classes have benefits but also costs. PAGE 4
Men’s golf looking to make a run for a title. PAGE 6
UT employee focuses on taking care of others. PAGE 8
dailytexanonline.com /employment
REASON TO PARTY
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