The Daily Texan 2015-03-02

Page 1

SPORTS PAGE 6

LIFE&ARTS PAGE 8

NEWS ONLINE

Serving the University of Texas at Austin community since 1900

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Monday, March 2, 2015

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STUDENT GOVERNMENT

Candidates will withdraw from race By Samantha Ketterer @sam_kett

Baylor Morrison and Matthew Normyle, who were running as a Student Government Executive Alliance team, said Sunday they are planning to withdraw from the election, though their names will still appear on the ballot. Morrison, who was running for SG president, said he and Normyle, who was running for vice president, mutually decided to

withdraw from the race because of the time commitment of campaigning. Morrison said he and Normyle learned valuable lessons from the time they spent in the campaign process. “This whole election process has been a lot of fun and a crazy learning experience for Matthew and me,” Morrison said in a statement to The Daily Texan. “But in the course of the campaign, a lot of things fell to the way side, like schoolwork and other organizations we’re a

part of. As great as it’s been, we’ve got to honor our existing commitments and admit we’ve stretched ourselves too thin … We wish all the candidates good luck with the rest of their campaigns and hope for a big turnout on Wednesday.” Election Supervisory Board Chair Nick Molina said the two have not yet sent an official letter of withdrawal from the race. If Morrison and Normyle send

ELECTION page 3

Controversial Confederate leader statue vandalized @jclqnwng

Marshall Tidrick | Daily Texan file photo

Baylor Morrison and Matthew Normyle are planning to withdraw from the Executive Alliance election.

UT students interest young girls in STEM By Lauren Florence @laurenreneeflo

While middle school girls built “butterfly bots” with toothbrush heads and miniature motors, fourth- and fifth-grade students created balloon-powered toy cars and raced their creations at Introduce a Girl to Engineering Day on Saturday. UT engineering students worked with local elementary and middle school girls to create science-oriented projects and to introduce young women to the STEM fields — science, technology, engineering and mathematics. Tricia Berry, director of the Women in Engineering Program, said over 2,000 students in first through eighth grade were invited to campus to participate in the event. “[Our goal is] to excite girls about science, technology, engineering and math to

Charlotte Carpenter | Daily Texan Staff

A troop of fifth-grade Girl Scouts builds a roller coaster at Introduce a Girl to Engineering Day in the CPE building Saturday afternoon. The event draws thousands of girls to UT’s campus for hands-on engineering activities.

WEST CAMPUS

CAMPUS

By Jackie Wang

CAMPUS

STEM page 2

bit.ly/dtvid

The Jefferson Davis statue on the South Mall was temporarily defaced by a bluechalk “CHUMP,” with an arrow pointing up to Davis, scrawled on the statue’s base early Friday morning. It has since been removed. The statue has long been a source of controversy for the University because Davis was the president of the Confederate States of America during the Civil War. SG Executive Alliance candidate Xavier Rotnofsky, a Plan II junior, said he and his running mate Plan II senior Rohit Mandalapu, made the removal of the Davis statue on the South Mall a major part of their platform. “I’m running for student body president with this satirical campaign, [but] we made it one of our platform points to remove the Jefferson Davis statue,” Rotnofsky said. “We said we want to take down the Jefferson Davis statue because it’s not okay that it’s still on campus.” After University Democrats distributed a survey to all Student Government candidates asking about their stance on the statue’s presence, Executive Alliance candidates Braydon Jones, a government senior, and Kimia Dargahi, an international relations and global studies and Middle Eastern studies senior, said they also support the statue’s removal. “Braydon and Kimia do not support the vandalism of

STATUE page 2

MUSIC

Celebrate Texas with native musicians By Chris Duncan @chr_dunc

Carlo Nasisse | Daily Texan file photo

According to the Dean of Students office, Texas Fiji’s Feb. 7 “border patrol” theme party did not violate University rules.

‘Border patrol’ party did not violate rules By Samantha Keterrer @sam_kett

Texas Fiji’s “border patrol” theme party held on Feb. 7 did not violate any University rules and will not result in any penalty for the fraternity, according to Soncia ReaginsLilly, senior associate vice president for Student Affairs and Dean of Students. Though the party was intended to have a “Western”

theme, according to Fiji President Andrew Campbell, several party attendees said the party theme was communicated as “border patrol.” Many attendees wore sombreros, ponchos and construction hats with names such as “Jefe” and “Pablo Sanchez” written on them. Reagins-Lilly said the fraternity did not violate any

FIJI page 2

The Republic of Texas only lasted for 10 years, but Texas’ spirit of independence will live on in its musicians forever. Texas, a long-time bastion for music, is the birthplace of thousands of famous musicians. In honor of Texas Independence Day, let’s take some time to recognize musicians who have made the Lone Star State proud. Bob Wills, known as King of Western Swing during the 1930s and ’40s, created the Texas country style. Wills and his band, The Texas Playboys, sold millions of records across the U.S. while singing about historic Texas battles, locations, and the Texas spirit. “New San Antonio Rose,” Wills’ all-time best seller, exemplifies his musical genius. Although the lyrics were somber, Wills kept the feeling of the song upbeat and lively. Willie Nelson, another famous Texas country singersongwriter, helped reclaim country from the conservative performers in Nashville

Illustration by Albert Lee| Daily Texan Staff

with his outlaw style. His 1975 album, Red Headed Stranger, clearly demonstrates Nelson’s audacity. Filled with stories of murder and redemption of the Old West, the album’s only moment of respite is “Blue Eyes Crying in

the Rain,” which feels as wide open as Western Texas itself. If there is one person who represents the Texas country sound today, it is George Strait. His discography is chock full of music professing his love for Texas, including

“Amarillo by Morning,” “Somewhere down in Texas” and, most notably, “All My Ex’s Live in Texas.” Strait’s smooth sound embodies the spirit of modern Texas country.

TEXAS page 5

NEWS

OPINION

SPORTS

LIFE&ARTS

EVENT

REASON TO PARTY

UT’s largest day of service carried on despite weather. PAGE 3

The Texan Editorial Board gives endorsements. PAGE 4

Longhorns win Big 12 Championships again. PAGE 6

UT club skateboards around the city. PAGE 8

Former graduate student Gene Vela’s trial continues. PAGE 3

Recent attacks should spark deeper discussion. PAGE 4

Erica Wright’s career day propels Texas to victory. PAGE 6

Talent show planners prepare to change venue. PAGE 8

The SG Debate, featuring Executive Alliances and University-wide reps, will begin at 7:00 p.m. in the Union Ballroom. dailytexanonline.com

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