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Thursday, February 19, 2015
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UT lacks plan for power outages By Jackie Wang @jcqlnwng
The University of Texas does not have specific protocols to deal with blackouts but will begin to form new procedures for dealing with possible future power outages, according to University officials. “We have protocols in place to deal with emergency
situations [but] not specifically to blackouts,” University spokesman Gary Susswein said. “Whenever there is an emergency on campus, the president convenes the top leaders on campus to figure out what to do. They were gathering information and trying to decide what the course of action was..” Tuesday morning, the University experienced a
campus-wide power outage. The University will form new protocols for dealing with blackouts because of Tuesday’s power outage, according to UTPD spokeswoman Cindy Posey. “That’s the great thing about these incidents when nothing too bad happens — nobody was hurt and we learned a lot,” Posey said. Posey said UT’s
communication system stopped working during the blackout, forcing her to find new ways to communicate with students, faculty and staff. “We couldn’t get any emails out,” Posey said. “I learned to turn to other methods, and we did. We went to Twitter because the systems weren’t working. We also texted a message out. I learned to not spend so much
Travis County lifts marriage ban, holds off on licensing
time trying to get an email out on a system that doesn’t work. I kept trying, and Plan B is Twitter and text.” Although University officials did not cancel classes, professors are permitted to cancel class if they see fit, Susswein said. “Professors always have the discretion to let out class if needed, and many, many professors did that,”
By Julia Brouillette & Jackie Wang @thedailytexan
a civil engineering junior, are focusing their campaign on transparency, which Maly said begins as early as the campaigning process. “I feel like a lot of students don’t know how Student Government works, what it does, how to get involved [and] if they can get involved,” Maly said.
Travis County Judge Guy Herman ruled Tuesday that Texas’ ban on same-sex marriage is unconstitutional, but the county has not begun issuing marriage licenses to same-sex couples. Herman issued his ruling as part of a case in which Austin resident Sonemaly Phrasavath pushed the Travis County Probate Court to recognize her eight-year partnership with Stella Powell as a common-law marriage. Powell died last summer before her will was validated, leading to a legal dispute between Phrasavath and two of Powell’s siblings. Although Travis County Court clerk Dana DeBeauvoir commended Herman for his decision, she has no immediate plans to begin issuing marriage licenses to same-sex couples, according to a statement the County Clerk’s office released Wednesday. “In his order, Judge Herman did not instruct the County Clerk to begin to issue marriage licenses to same sex couples,” the statement said. “The Travis County Attorney’s office is examining the order as well as the status of the current federal litigation related to marriage equality at the Fifth Circuit and in the Supreme Court.” The ruling came Wednesday, after an hour-long hearing in the Travis County Courthouse in which Phrasavath argued against the prohibition on same-sex marriage. Brian Thompson, Phrasavath’s attorney, said he interpreted the ruling to mean same-sex marriage is now legal in Travis County. “I don’t see why the county clerk doesn’t rely on [the ruling] to start issuing marriage licenses,” Thompson said. “Every single day that goes by that we don’t have marriage equality in the
SG page 3
MARRIAGE page 2
STUDENT GOVERNMENT
Braydon Jones and Kimia Dargahi
David Maly and Stephen Svatek
Baylor Morrison and Matt Normyle
Xavier Rotnofsky and Rohit Mandalapu Marshall Tidrick | Daily Texan Staff
SG candidates announce platforms By Samantha Ketter @sam_kett
Campaigning began Wednesday morning for Student Government Executive Alliance, but the West Mall was void of flyers, yelling and promotional materials. The candidates for president and vice president — Braydon Jones and Kimia Dargahi, David Maly and Ste-
phen Svatek, Baylor Morrison and Matthew Normyle, and Xavier Rotnofsky and Rohit Mandalapu — have instead expressed a desire to gather student opinion and include more student groups in conversation during the initial stages of the election. Jones, a government senior, and Dargahi, an international relations and global studies and Middle Eastern studies
senior, said their platform will not be solidified until they sit down with students and hear what students want to be changed on campus. Jones, who currently serves as SG speaker of the assembly, said the campaign, called “Let’s Talk,” is focused on talking with students and not getting their names out just yet. “The big thing we want to do is listen,” Jones said. “We
want to start a conversation, hear what students want and watch their platform become our platform.” The duo’s platform points include working to strengthen tradition on campus, helping students “build bridges” for the future and increasing social advocacy and safety. Maly, an economics and journalism senior, and Svatek,
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WEST CAMPUS
APD reports increased amount of auto theft in West Campus By Wynne Davis West Campus auto thefts have increased because of students leaving their cars unlocked, according to the Austin Police Department. According to APD officers, students can help prevent auto thefts by doing two simple things: locking their cars and taking their keys with them. APD reported an increase in the number of car thefts since the semester began.
APD officer Veneza Bremner said the department recorded six separate thefts, most of which took place overnight. Bremner said the breakins occurred while cars were parked on streets or in garages, but students should always remember to lock their cars and take their keys when they leave. “Remember where you park,” Bremner said. “Take your keys. Lock your car. Hide any valuables. Take your keys. … Yes, that is in there twice. Historically,
around 50 percent of all car thefts where the location of keys can be determined are stolen because the victim left keys in the car.” Economics sophomore Alyson Chandler said people stole her auxiliary cable and phone charger from her car while it was parked outside her apartment complex. “They totally trashed my car,” Chandler said. “They turned it upside down and made a mess.” Chandler said her car was
unlocked at the time of the break-in. “I don’t usually lock it when I’m parked at home [for] convenience,” Chandler said. “If I need to grab something, I don’t have to take my keys.” Chandler said she tries not to keep anything valuable in her car but still keeps her car unlocked. Ryan Ward, management information systems senior, said he locked his truck doors but that didn’t stop thieves from stealing his
Kindle and iPod. Ward said he makes sure to take more precautions when parking his truck. “I make sure not to leave anything in my truck,” Ward said. “I also made it a priority that my next apartment would have a gate on our parking garage.” Besides an increase in car thefts, APD also reported an increase in motorcycle and scooter thefts. Bremner said thieves have a harder time
NEWS
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LIFE&ARTS
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Round table discusses virtual LGBT relationships. PAGE 3
Robyn Metcalfe discusses UT’s Food Lab. PAGE 4
Longhorns win big behind Sanders career night. PAGE 6
UT students celebrate the Chinese New Year. PAGE 8
Energy industry experts discuss laws preventing innovations.
Art critic speaks about eugenics during WWII era. PAGE 3
Entrepreneurship agency encourages startup growth. PAGE 4
Myles Turner a factor for Texas success in postseason. PAGE 6
Famous juggler performs during UT’s Jugglefest. PAGE 8
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THEFT page
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WEST CAMPUS CAR THEFTS
6 thefts ALL CAR 50% OFTHEFTS
SINCE SPRING SEMESTER BEGAN
occur because the keys can be located
OF STOLEN CARS WERE RETURNED Statistics from Austin Police Department
REASON TO PARTY
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