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Serving the University of Texas at Austin community since 1900
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Wednesday, September 2, 2015
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STATE
UNIVERSITY
Law expands mental health resources
UT ranks in top 25 healthiest universities
By Lauren Florence @laurenreneeflo
A state law went into effect Tuesday requiring mental health resources and suicide prevention services be given to all incoming college students. The Texas Legislature passed Senate Bill 1624 on June 18, which requires universities to show students a live presentation or video with information
about mental health and suicide as part of their orientation. The bill forbids universities from providing students with this information in a paper format. Mark and Kathleen Walker, whose son died by suicide in May 2014 after his first year at UT, advocated for the law that would require universities give students mental health and suicide information, according to The Dallas
Morning News. Currently, UT students with previous or current mental health concerns can reach out to counselors at the UT Counseling and Mental Health Center, which offers counseling, a 24-hour crisis hotline and information about mental health stigma and suicide prevention, according to the center’s website. Resources on stress management, depression
and suicide are available to students through the counseling center’s website. Merryn McNeil, advertising junior and cochair of the social responsibility committee for UT orientation, said orientation advisors also used programming this summer to address mental health in college for incoming students. “We wanted to convey that mental health issues
can affect anyone and it’s normal and okay and there’s resources on campus and people who are here to help.” McNeil said. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, suicide is the second leading cause of death for people ages 15 to 34 and more than 11,000 people in this age group died by suicide in
BILL page 2
SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
NexusHaus showcases solar innovation By Eunice Ali @euniceali
A team led by University of Texas at Austin architecture professor Michael Garrison is designing and building a solar-powered home to compete nationally as part of the U.S. Department of Energy Solar Decathlon. The team began developing NexusHaus — the name of the proposed affordable and energy-efficient house — in 2013. NexusHaus is project between multiple colleges across campus and the architecture department at Technische Universität München (TUM) in Munich, Germany. Charlie Upshaw, a graduate student in mechanical engineering and co-leader of the project, said one of the biggest challenges for the team was the 2013 gov-
SOLAR page 2
Rachel Zein | Daily Texan Staff
Charles Upshaw, left, mechanical engineering graduate student, stands in front of NexusHaus, a solar-powered home built by a team of UT students. The team will compete in the U.S. Department of Energy Solar Decathalon in California later this month.
By Nashwa Bawab @nashwabawab
UT ranked as one of the 25 healthiest universities in the U.S., according to Greatist, an online fitness and health startup. Greatist determined rankings based on a questionnaire that asked about dining services, fitness amenities and healthcare on campus. The Office of Student Affairs compiled answers for the questionnaire with the help of different departments within the University Health Services, Recreational Sports, Division of Housing and Food Services and the UT Counseling and Mental Health Center, according to Jessica Wagner, manager at University Health Services. Wagner said UT was nominated because of data accumulated from several other national rankings. “The University of Texas at Austin was ranked ... on last year’s Greatist list, we’re No. 2 in the 2014 Trojan Sexual Health Report Card and often rank in the top 10 on several of The Princeton Review’s lists,” Wagner said. “We are proud to have some of the good work happening on this campus recognized in this national format.” The Greatist ranking mentioned programs including the Healthyhorns Nap Map, an interactive map that shows the best places to nap on campus and
HEALTHY page 2
CITY
STUDENT GOVERNMENT
Number of homeless AISD students grows
SG proposes budget over $100,000
By Lauren Florence @laurenreneeflo
The number of homeless Austin Independent School District students increased by 30 percent over the past two years, according to HousingWorks Austin. The number of students without a permanent address rose from 2,030 students in 2012–2013 to 2,490 students in 2013–2014, and the number has continued to increase, according a report by HousingWorks Austin, an affordable housing advocacy group. Out of the 84,791 students enrolled in AISD for the 2014–2015 school year, 2,642 are homeless, although the overall number of students enrolled in AISD decreased by 500 students this year, the report found. Of the 2,642 students, 2,078 reported living doubled-up with another family, 249 in shelters, 275 in hotels and 271 with friends, according to HousingWorks Austin’s report. Forty-six students live unsheltered, such
We, as a city, have not been able to find the housing, set the policies — whatever it takes to bring these kids out of homelessness — and the numbers are going up. —Ann Teich, AISD Board of Trustees member
as in vehicles or squats. The increase in homelessness among AISD students can be attributed to several factors, according to the study, including the increasing number of renters in Austin and the opposition tenants who use Section 8 vouchers — or vouchers that help low-income citizens find government-assisted housing — face with landlords.
HOUSING page 2
By Nashwa Bawab @nashwabawab
The Student Service Budget Committee allotted a total budget of $112,820 for the 2015–2016 UT Student Government. SG initially requested $168,815 before the committee decided on the final amount. The budget includes expenses of $25,000 for appropriations for the fiscal year, $90 for the Legislative Branch, $3,000 for special projects, $2,355 for the Executive Branch, $1,500 for internal expenses, $12,000 for operating expenses, $10,400 for tuition allotments, $30,780 for stipends, $24,045 for agencies, $2,650 for wages and $1,000 for the Big 12 Conference. John Falke, financial affairs committee chair, said he is very happy that agencies will be receiving a higher amount than last year, because it is a chance to give back to the UT community. “We allotted more to agencies — much more
Junyuan Tan | Daily Texan Staff
Internal Financial Director Nicole Chu attends Tuesday’s Student Government meeting where the Student Service Budget Committee discussed SG budget allocations.
than we gave them last year — which is really awesome and something we wanted to do,” Falke said. “I wanted [the money] to go back to the students instead of the representatives, and this way all of this money goes back to them in some way. I think that’s a great part of Student Government and
one of the main reasons I got involved.” During the summer, SG saw 69 agency budget applications, a large increase from the 16 student organizations who applied last summer, according to Nicole Chu, internal financial director. Chu said the budget committee chose which
NEWS
OPINION
SPORTS
LIFE&ARTS
ONLINE
Researcher finds genetics do not cause alcoholism. PAGE 3
The implementation of Senate Bill 1642 will create greater opportunities for students to learn about mental health on campus. PAGE 4
Tyrone Swoopes is ready to lead the Longhorns. PAGE 6
Professor and graduate students release book. PAGE 8
The Daily Texan is accepting applications for all positions. Apply online at
NCAA Volleyball needs to embrace instant replay. PAGE 6
Professors, students remember Wes Craven. PAGE 8
dailytexanonline.com/ employment.
University event welcomes transfer students. PAGE 3
organizations to give money to based on what they had to offer in terms of impactful services and events for students. “This is a huge spike in the number of applications,” Chu said. “We’re glad that so [many] more students
BUDGET page 2 REASON TO PARTY
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