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Thursday, February 12, 2015
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NATIONAL
Fisher requests case be heard again By Samantha Ketterer @thedailytexan
Abigail Fisher’s lawyers filed a petition Tuesday for her case, Fisher v. University of Texas, to be heard by the Supreme Court a second time. Fisher, a rejected undergraduate UT applicant, filed a lawsuit in 2008 after claiming the University discriminated against her based on her race. Fisher said the admissions policy was in violation of the equal protection clause of the 14th Amendment. After losing at the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Ap-
peals in 2009, the case reached the Supreme Court in 2012. The Supreme Court ultimately vacated and remanded the case in a 7–1 decision, ordering the 5th Circuit to examine UT’s race-conscious admissions policy more carefully to determine whether the University’s policies were necessary to achieve a “critical mass” of minority students. A three-judge panel sided with the University last year, and the full, 15-person court declined to rehear the case in November. The petition states the 5th Circuit “again failed to apply
traditional strict scrutiny” to the admissions process. The petition, asking the Supreme Court to grant Fisher a writ of certiorari, which means the Supreme Court would entertain the case, states, “At every turn, the majority was ‘persuaded’ by UT’s circular legal arguments, post hoc rationalizations for its decision to reintroduce racial preferences, and unsupported factual assertions.” Fisher’s case attempts to counter affirmative action, a policy or action that favors typically discriminated against
FISHER page 2
Hundreds of rally attendees chanted, “Sí, se puede,” or “Yes, we can,” at the Capitol on Wednesday to support a pro-immigration legislative agenda. Legislators, including Sen. Sylvia Garcia (D-Houston), spoke at the rally to oppose legislation that would repeal the Texas Dream Act and to advocate for higher education rights for undocumented students. “We’ve got a lot of strong leaders with very strong and loud voices that will be here to defend and protect the Dream act,” Garcia said. “We are working on things that really matter to our community. This is not one moment today; it’s a movement.” Ivonne Saldana, president of UT’s League of United Latin American Citizens chapter and government junior, said it is important for Latinos, especially students, to be engaged in spreading “cultural competency” and expressing their political opinions. “Many Latinos feel disconnected from the legislature and do not realize that it is
their right as constituents to voice their concerns to members of Congress. Many families often lack the resources and information needed to be politically engaged,” Saldana said in an email. “Latino students give voice to different aspects of the community by being engaged and taking the information to their families and voicing the concerns of the community.” Jason Millsaps, chief of staff for Rep. Mark Keough (R-The Woodlands), said undocumented students should not receive in-state tuition. Keough previously filed a bill that would discontinue the Texas Dream Act. “The practice of singling out a group of people and rewarding them for not being in the country legally is hurting those who follow the law and wouldn’t otherwise qualify for in-state tuition due to length of residency,” Millsaps said. UT System Chancellor William McRaven has voiced support for providing undocumented students with in-state tuition. “Chancellor McRaven not only feels it’s the morally right thing to do, but also that it ultimately benefits the economy
Charlie Pearce | Daily Texan file photo
Abigail Fisher, a rejected undergraduate UT applicant, filed a petition Tuesday for her case, Fisher v. University of Texas, to be heard by the Supreme Court for a second time.
Marshall Tidrick | Daily Texan Staff
Hundreds of protesters showed up at the Capitol on Wednesday for a pro-immigration rally. The protesters held signs that voiced their opposition of the deportation of illegal immigrants.
of Texas to increase these students’ odds of earning a college degree by charging them in-state tuition rates,” UT System spokeswoman Jenny LaCoste-Caputo said in an email. Rally attendee Julieta Paredes, an undocumented UTPan America student and member of La Unión Del Pueblo Entero, said in-state
SYSTEM
Stabbing at Union leads to building policy review @wynneellyn
Protesters show support for the Dream Act @ellydearman
POLICE
By Wynne Davis
CITY
By Eleanor Dearman
bit.ly/dtvid
tuition is what allows her to attend the UT System school. “As of now, it’s hard for me to pay for my college education, and if I was considered an international student, it would be impossible,” Paredes said. According to Saldana, the increase in tuition would cause undocumented students to drop out, increase
their loan debt or not consider higher education as an option. “Young people are the future of this country and everyone deserves the right to be educated at the best institutions the U.S. has to offer, and that won’t happen in Texas if instate tuition is taken away,” Saldana said in an email.
Employees of the Union Building are reviewing building policies after an argument Tuesday evening between two homeless men escalated to physical violence. Claudette Campbell, assistant director of operations and hospitality at the Union Building, said the Union has an all-hours building monitor who responds to emergency situations and calls emergency services when necessary. “We have protocol that we have developed through the years, and normally it’s observing the area,” Campbell said. “And, if there is any doubt that somebody is not being secure or is doing something improper, always call UTPD.” The investigation surrounding the incident is still ongoing, but Campbell said UTPD assured her the two individuals involved in the incident knew each other and no one else in the building was a target. The second floor of the Union Building, where the incident occurred, is open to the public until 10 p.m. every evening. After 10 p.m., access is restricted to UT students, faculty and staff. “Our main goal is to make the building safe for students,” Campbell said. “If we’re going to be open until 3 in the morning, we want students to be in the building.” Despite Tuesday’s incident, biology junior Sharon Joseph said she still feels safe studying at the Union and has never had any issues before. “I guess when I first [heard] about it, I was like, ‘That’s really close to home,’” Joseph said. “I always walk
UNION page 2
LEGISLATURE
Regents tackle budget issues House Speaker Straus visits UT By Eleanor Dearman
By Josh Willis
@ellydearman
@joshwillis35
The UT System Board of Regents met Wednesday to discuss budget allocations within the UT System. The regents divided their time among different committees to deliberate items on the agenda, including renovations to Moore-Hill Dormitory and funding for the UT System supercomputer. The Facilities Planning and Construction Committee approved a $6 million increase in funding for remodeling Moore-Hill Dormitory. The plan calls for upgrades to 15 community bathrooms, two accessible community bathrooms, four single bathrooms, 10 American with Disabilities Act (ADA) compliant student rooms and minor repairs in student rooms.
Xintong Guo | Daily Texan Staff
Regent Jeffery Hildebrand discusses the costs associated with the renovation of the Moore-Hill Dormitory.
Campus carry, in-state tuition for undocumented students and tuition regulation were major points of focus during an on-campus interview with House Speaker Joe Straus. At the talk, Straus stressed higher education issues, such as campus carry, in-state tuition for immigrants and tuition regulation. On Jan. 26, Sen. Brian Birdwell (R-Granbury) and Rep. Allen Fletcher (R-Cypress) filed “campus carry” bills, which, if passed, would allow licensed concealed hand gun carriers to bring their guns with them on campus grounds and into University buildings. Chancellor William McRaven and President William Powers Jr. expressed strong
opposition to the policy. Straus, while not explicitly stating his current thoughts on the policy, said he would encourage people to listen to McRaven’s thoughts on the legislation. “Personally, I would caution anyone to ignore Chancellor McRaven when you’re talking about arms and ammunition,” Straus said. Bridget Guien, communications director for College Republicans and economics freshman, said College Republicans are in favor of campus carry. “The College Republicans support concealed carry on campus,” Guein said in an email. “We believe it can be beneficial to the safety of UT’s students since it can provide a form of defense.” There has been debate between legislators about whether immigrant students
Regent Wm. Eugene Powell argued against the allocation of the $6 million for the renovation. “It just seems like such a prime location to go back … and spend this money when you might be able to do something by taking that building
down and doing something new,” Powell said. President William Powers Jr. defended the renovation and said larger construction in the area would force change upon the entire section of campus. “I couldn’t see, for example,
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BUDGET page 2
should receive in-state tuition at public universities. The policy of in-state tuition for undocumented students began in 2001 when former Gov. Perry passed HB1403 — the Texas Dream Act. Straus said he stands by Perry’s act. “These are young people who have played by the rules, qualified for admission to our public schools, and personally, I can think of a lot of worse things people can do with their lives,” Straus said. Straus also expressed support for university control of tuition, which was deregulated in 2003. Straus said the rising prices of tuition are important to address, but he has not seen a decrease in the demand of education since tuition deregulation. “For me, specifically, deregulating tuition at a time when
STRAUS page 2 REASON TO PARTY
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