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Nobel laureate praises effects of GMOs By Eleanor Breed @thedailytexam
Genetically modified organisms are scientifically proven to safely address issues of malnourishment in developing countries, according to Sir Richard Roberts, Nobel Prize-winning biochemist and molecular biologist. Modern GMOs are safer than traditional plant breeding, have no scientifically proven damaging effects and have nutritional benefits, Roberts said during a lecture Thursday. Non-governmental
organizations, such as the World Health Organization and UNICEF, also agree that GMOs can alleviate world poverty, Roberts said. Critics of GMOs express concerns that the production process is too manufactured and in turn harmful to people’s health, Roberts said. “As soon as you start to obfuscate the product and the way in which it is produced, you start to run into trouble because the method doesn’t matter,” Roberts said. “The product matters.” Environmental science
junior Kara Posso said she believes GMOs should be used because of their potential benefits. “GMO foods, if put to use, could turn out to be more sustainable by allowing us to feed a lot of people,” Posso said. “It would also mean using fewer pesticides, which are damaging to water resources.” Golden Rice, a modified crop containing high amounts of vitamin A, could reduce vitamin A deficiencies in developing countries,
GMO page 3
Gollis Golden said. The date of Sept. 10 marked 1,000 days since the shooting of 20 children and six adults
UT President Gregory Fenves has not communicated with former UT President William Powers Jr. since taking office, and the pair will likely not speak during the initial stages of Fenves’ presidency, Fenves said in an interview Wednesday. Fenves, who started his term June 3, was the executive vice president and provost under Powers. Despite their close working relationship during Powers’ tenure, Fenves said they mutually agreed to keep their distance. “I have a great relationship with Bill Powers, as I said I worked closely with him for seven years during actually most of his tenure as president,” Fenves said. “Once I became president June 3, we both decided that we did not need to communicate … I think he needed time to decompress from his nine years as president. He’s got other things he’s working on; he needs to spend time on that. I think Bill also recognized that I needed space to begin my presidency.” Powers offered his letter of resignation last year to the UT System chancellor at the time, Francisco Cigarroa, after Regent Wallace Hall made allegations regarding Powers’ involvement with student admissions. Cigarroa abruptly rescinded his public support
GUN CONTROL page 3
FENVES page 3
Thalia Juarez | Daily Texan Staff
Richard Roberts, Nobel Prize-winning biochemist and molecular biologist, talks to a group of people after giving a lecture in the San Jacinto Residence Hall meeting room Thursday.
By Lauren Florence
Judy Jensen, right, holds up a sign pressing for gun control regulation during a Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense rally at Austin City Hall on Thursday evening.
@laurenreneeflo
Thalia Juarez Daily Texan Staff
tional day of action of about 50 Moms Demand Action chapters across the country. The rallies were held to push officials to take action and “pass legislation to reduce
Fenves will not consult Powers on presidency @juliakbrou
Mothers rally for gun legislation reform
to firearms on a daily basis,” Parker said in the column. Nicole Gollis Golden, member of the Moms Demand Action Austin chapter, said the rally was part of a na-
UNIVERSITY
By Julia Brouillette
CITY
About 30 people gathered outside Austin City Hall on Thursday to press for gun control regulation in response to the recent murder of two journalists in Virginia. The Texas chapter of Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense held a “#WhateverItTakes” rally in response to an opinion column written by Andy Parker, the father of the Virginia WDBJ-TV reporter, Alison Parker, who was shot and killed while reporting live Aug. 26. Cameraman Adam Ward, who was filming Parker’s segment, was also killed. Andy Parker said he will do “whatever it takes to end gun violence” in the column published by the Washington Post. “[W]e must focus our attention on the legislators who are responsible for America’s criminally weak gun laws; laws that facilitate the access dangerous individuals have
bit.ly/dtvid
the senseless gun violence,” according to a statement from Moms Demand Action. “We’re calling on Congress to close loopholes on background checks and save lives,”
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AMSO blood drive honors 9/11 victims RecSports, Nike create fitness point system
By Kahlil Said @kahlelo
The Texas Ahmadiyya Muslim Students Organization collected 42 pints of blood on the first day of its blood drive in an effort to positively reshape perceptions of Muslims in the wake of 9/11. The blood drive is part of a national campaign to pay homage to the 9/11 victims and educate the public about the peaceful nature of Islam, according to biochemistry freshman Daniyal Munir. The Muslims for Life Blood Drive has run annually every September since 2011, which was the 10th anniversary of the attacks. The Muslim student organization aims to remove misconceptions of Islam by dispelling the misconceptions and promoting a peaceful coexistence within society, according to their website. Munir, who volunteered and gave blood at the event, said he thinks the blood drive shows a positive side of Islam. “We are working to better
By Nashwa Bawab @nashwabawab96
Thalia Juarez | Daily Texan Staff
Kristian Marroquin, economics freshman, and Joe Castellano, exercise science freshman fill out paperwork at the blood drive hosted by the Texas Ahmadiyya Muslim Students Organization.
Thanks to a new fitness point system, students will not run out of ways to have some friendly competition, UT RecSports officials said. The recreational sports group recently teamed up with Nike to create UT Campus Leaderboards, a system that tracks students’ fitness through a point system. More than 900 students, faculty, staff and RecSports members have signed up for the program, and the number has been growing daily since its start in August, according to Cecilia Lopez Cardenas, program coordinator at the Division of Recreational Sports. The program, which started at the beginning of the school year, allows students to track their exercises using Nike+ apps, Nike FuelBand or any of the exercise classes offered at UT. Cardenas said
UT Campus Leaderboards is the first program of its kind on a college campus. Students can link their UT EID to a Nike+ account to see other students’ points and compete with them for prizes, such as awards or digital trophies, Cardenas said. “If you go to our group fitness classes, our group cycling classes [or] our climbing wall, when you participate in those activities, our system automatically pulls that you have participated, once you’ve linked up those two accounts,” Cardenas said. “Then we award NikeFuel, which is basically a set of points for your participation. What that means for students and members of the UT community is that you are able to earn rewards when you reach the milestones in your fitness journey.” Through Nike+
the name of Muslims through helping the community with these events,” Munir said. “The blood drive is a way to show people what Muslims are really about, like helping people. I’m sure people have seen what we’re doing here and realized
the good in it.” To facilitate the blood drive, the organization has partnered with the hospital system Baylor Scott & White Health, which works with universities, religious entities and other organizations to collect blood for
more than five years. Ashley Davis, a donor service recruiter for Baylor Scott & White Health who has worked with AMSO for three years, said more than
NEWS
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LIFE&ARTS
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REASON TO PARTY
UT ranked 16th among public universities in U.S. PAGE 2
Consumers need to prioritize conscious spending. PAGE 4
Texas looks to rebound against Rice. PAGE 5
Studies show students form bad habits during college. PAGE 8
Students learn art of entrepreneurship. PAGE 3
UT core curriculum broadens students’ horizons. PAGE 4
Volleyball plays UTSA, Santa Clara. PAGE 5
“The Visit” combines horror and comedy. PAGE 7
Check out our video from The Texan Talks forum about transgender rights and advocacy on the 40 Acres: dailytexanonline.com
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Friday, September 11, 2015
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Volume 116, Issue 22
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accessories and mobile apps, users can track their exercises and accumulate NikeFuel points from anywhere they are, on or off campus, according to radio-television-film sophomore Victoria Garabedian, who works at the Nike+ Leader Bar in Gregory Gym. “NikeFuel points is Nike’s way of measuring how active you are,” Garabedian said. “You can see where you are compared to everyone else, so it’s really cool, and people are really getting competitive about really trying to beat out each other, which is awesome.” Tina Vuong, psychology senior and former Nike Training Club trainer, said she heard about the program because she regularly attends TeXercise classes. She is currently ranked No. 1 on the campuswide leaderboard. “A lot of the classes link the NikeFuel points to the TeXercise classes, so I’ll go and
This issue of The Daily Texan is valued at $1.25 Permanent Staff
Editor-in-Chief . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Claire Smith Associate Editors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Zhelun Chen, Adam Hamze, Kat Sampson, Jordan Shenhar Managing Editor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Jack Mitts Associate Managing Editor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Amy Zhang News Editor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Samantha Ketterer Associate News Editors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Anthony Green News Desk Editors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Sameer Assanie, Justin Atkinson, Rachel Lew, Josh Willis, Caleb Wong Senior Reporters . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Matthew Adams, Nashwa Bawab, Zainab Calcuttawala, Lauren Florence Copy Desk Chief . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Cameron Peterson Associate Copy Desk Chiefs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Myra Ali, Megan Hix, Kailey Thompson Design Editor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Virginia Scherer Senior Designers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Lillian Michel, Kelly Smith, Iliana Storch Video Editor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Bryce Seifert Senior Videographers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Hannah Evans, Heather Finnegan, Lilian Smith Photo Editor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Daulton Venglar Associate Photo Editor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Stephanie Tacy Senior Photographers . . . . . . . . . . . . Charlotte Carpenter, Joshua Guerra, Graeme Hamilton, Thalia Juarez, Rachel Zein Forum Editor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Walker Fountain Senior Opinion Columnists . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Mary Dolan, Noah M. Horwitz Life&Arts Editor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Danielle Lopez Life&Arts Associate Editors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Cat Cardenas, Marisa Charpentier Senior Life&Arts Writers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Katie Walsh, Alex Pelham Sports Editor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Jori Epstein Associate Sports Editor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Jacob Martella Senior Sports Writers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Akshay Mirchandani, Blanche Schaefer, Michael Shapiro, Aaron Torres Comics Editor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Albert Lee Associate Comics Editors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Amber Perry, Lindsay Rojas Senior Comics Artists . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Connor Murphy, Isabella Palacios, Victoria Smith, Melanie Westfall Special Ventures Editor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Madlin Mekelburg Special Ventures Writers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Julia Brouillette, Eleanor Dearman, Graham Dickie, Jackie Wang Special Ventures Photo Editor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Rachel Zein Social Media Editor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Erin Duncan Technical Operations Manager . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Tom Li Editorial Adviser. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Peter Chen
Issue Staff
Reporters . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Eunice Ali, Eleanor Breed, Anokhi Kashiparekh, Catherine Marfin, Kahlil Said Life&Arts Writers. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Ellen Airhart, Maluly Martinez Sports Writer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Nick Castillo Comics Artist . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Jason Cheon, Hanna Bernbaum, Tiffany Hinojosa, Jacky Tovar Photographers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Mike McGraw
Business and Advertising
(512) 471-1865 | advertise@texasstudentmedia.com Director. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Gerald Johnson Business/Operations Manager. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Frank Serpas III Advertising Manager. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Denise Twellmann Account Executives . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Brandy Beal, Allysun Gutierrez, Celeste Schurman, Shukree Shabazz Student Account Executives. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Camilo Sanchez, Andrew Serice Student Designer. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Jannice Truong Special Editions/Production Coordinator. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Stephen Salisbury
By Catherine Marfin @thedailytexan
Thalia Juarez | Daily Texan Staff
Corporate communications senior Lauren Long, middle, and public relations senior Abby Haywood, right, talk to mathematics senior Laura Elizondo, left, at the Nike+ Leader Bar.
support my friends and try out different formats for classes — I think that’s honestly how you can rack up a lot of points,” Vuong said. “Also, the Nike FuelBand, I check that all the time — constantly — to make sure I reach my goal daily. Nike Bars has (sic) resonated with a lot of our participants … and it’s becoming something that they seek out when they come to RecSports, so the leaderboard is kind of like an
extension to that.” Cardenas said she is excited to see how students will utilize the UT Campus Leaderboard to their benefit. “You don’t have to love to run to participate in this initiative,” Cardenas said. “Our long-term goal is to promote a healthy and active lifestyle amongst students and to continuing to get students involved, no matter the activity they love doing.”
On Wednesday, the U.S. News & World Report for Education ranked UT No. 16 among the top public universities in the nation, 52nd of all schools in the nation and 30th of universities at the global level. Analysts on behalf of U.S. News calculate scores for each college across the nation, evaluating tuition rates and fees, undergraduate enrollment, total enrollment, acceptance rates, average high school GPAs, SAT and ACT percentiles and four-year graduation rates. Business sophomore Dylan Mowrey said he was not surprised that UT ranks among the top public schools in the nation. “The diversity of thought and the existence of so many different opinions make UT a great place to be,” Mowrey said. “You’re never sucked into one way of thinking. It’s a great place to grow and learn new perspectives.” Additionally, individual programs at the undergraduate level are ranked by their academic quality. UT was ranked among the top programs in multiple categories, including finance, management, aerospace engineering and computer engineering programs, which all ranked among the top 10 in the nation. UT was also named as seventh for the best undergraduate business programs, 11th for undergraduate engineering programs and first in accounting for the 10th year in a row. U.S. News ranked the undergraduate chemical engineering program at UT fourth in the nation.
The diversity of thought and the existence of so many different opinions make UT a great place to be. You’re never sucked into one way of thinking. It’s a great place to grow and learn new perspectives. —Dylan Mowrey, Business sophomore
Michael Baldea, a professor of chemical engineering, said he was happy to hear of the department’s success. “Obviously, everyone here at UT is really excited about this,” Baldea said. “It’s really something to be proud of.” Finance professor Andres Almazan said students play an important role in UT’s history of academic achievement. “It’s difficult to be good if you don’t have good students and resources,” Almazan said. “UT is lucky in that we have both. We do everything we can to make sure the content and delivery is absolutely first class. We have good students, and we make sure they get the education they deserve.” Josh Rector, an economics freshman, said location is a primary factor when evaluating the academic value of a university. “Location is everything,” Rector said. “The city of Austin fosters a creative mind and is the perfect place to find out what you’re passionate about.”
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CAMPUS
Longhorn Startup hosts engineering entrepreneur By Eunice Ali @euniceali
Engineering entrepreneur Ben Dyer encouraged students to “think big and do big” during the Longhorn Startup Seminar on Thursday evening. The seminar is part of an entrepreneurship course, which is divided into a onehour seminar during fall semesters and a three-hour lab during spring semesters. Students listen to speakers during seminar and work on startups during lab. Entrepreneurs volunteer their time to meet with students and help them build their startups. “Many people don’t realize that everything they do gets observed,” Dyer, entrepreneur-in-residence at the Cockrell School of Engineering, said. “You begin networking with people who have respect for you. This can be a stepping stone when you start a business and need their help to invest, be a customer or even be a partner. Get yourself known. Connection will come afterwards.” Soon after moving to
Austin in 2011, Dyer started co-leading Longhorn Startup with entrepreneur Joshua Baer and engineering professor Bob Metcalfe “to spread the gospel of entrepreneurship.” Before instructors and guest speakers deliver their lectures in class each week, students have the opportunity to present their startup ideas targeted at consumers and investors during open pitches. Psychology senior Jason Brown co-founded eCare Village, an online marketplace that connects babysitters to parents who care for children and young adults with special needs and disabilities. “Currently, companies in the market provide pet sitting, elderly care, house sitting and general babysitting,” Brown said in his pitch. “Connecting parents of kids with special needs to babysitters, however, is not their specialty.” Brown is currently looking to collaborate with PHP developers to expand his startup. He hopes to work on eCare Village full time when he graduates next year. “This class gives a really
Mike McGraw | Daily Texan Staff
Entrepreneur Ben Dyer speaks at the Longhorn Startup Seminar on Thursday evening. During his presentation, Dyer discussed a startup that helps research cures for cancer.
great opportunity to student entrepreneurs,” Brown said. “As a first-time entrepreneur myself, I made a lot of mistakes. One of the best things that [keeps me going] is being able to talk to
RESEARCH
ngSurvey: Interactive games can s increase interest in solar energy
of
By Anokhi Kashiparek @thedailytexan
Trivia games are able to help people better understand solar energy through rewards and tactile engagement, according to Ariane Beck, a research fellow in the LBJ School of Public Affairs Beck, who studies political and economic change surrounding energy systems, spoke at a weekly energy symposium Thursday evening about how to use gamification, the use of design elements characteristic for games in non-game contexts, to educate people about solar energy. As part of her research, Beck worked with a software development team to create a 15-question trivia game that seeks to teach users about various applications of solar energy. “The main idea of this triviabased game is to reach out to people and educate them on how effective the use of solar energy is as compared to
water or even wind energy.” Beck said. “Games provide humans with the competition, motivation to attain goals and have an autonomy over their actions. They are better than tests or visuals since people don’t remember lists, but the stimulation from games provides them with an information that they can retain.” Beck said preliminary results from a survey she is currently conducting show myths surrounding solar energy discourage people from fully adopting it. For example, many people believe they cannot afford to install solar panels, even though the energy savings pay for themselves over time, Beck said. Most industries incorporate solar energy into their business, but solar panels have not been widely adopted yet by consumers, despite the benefits, Beck said. Venus Santos, an economics senior who attended the session, said she found the intersections of psychology,
economics and energy at the seminar interesting. “I am interested in energy and its relation with the economic factors that affect people’s perception on energy and its conservation,” Santos said. Sindhu Maiyya, a energy and earth resources graduate student, said she thinks gamificiation is effective at changing how people perceive energy. “The presentation was really helpful in a way that it taught me that gamification is a great tool to reach out to people,” Maiyya said. “It also demonstrated how solar energy is actually changing the way people live.” Public affairs assisstant professor Varun Rai said more people are using solar energy options than ever before, signaling a shift in energy consumption trends. “Solar energy has started changing human behavior and people are now slowly adopting the solar conversions,” Rai said.
people who have been through the process and know the growing pains in starting a business.” Sanchana Vasikaran, a business honors and finance sophomore, took the class
FENVES
continues from page 1 of Powers following the allegations, asking that Powers step down or be fired. Powers initially refused, but then requested a “graceful rather than abrupt departure” after the spring semester. Earlier this year, a report by Kroll Associates, Inc. revealed that Powers
GMO
continues from page 1 a major cause of childhood blindness, according to Roberts. However, its production has been delayed as a result of the fear and regulation surrounding GMOs, Roberts said. “Had this been a traditionally bred plant, it would be out in the field,” Roberts said. “And so what happened is that Greenpeace, Green Parties and the public in general was so convinced that GMOs were bad [that] now we have 14 years of delay with half a million to a million children dying
GUN CONTROL
continues from page 1
BLOOD DRIVE
continues from page 1 75 students have stopped by to donate blood since the drive began. “I personally donate blood every eight weeks,” Davis said. “People don’t realize that donating one pint of blood can save two people.”
Human development senior Sandra Benyamin, who donated a pint of blood, said she believes every healthy person should donate blood. “I am always looking to give blood — it changes the lives of those in need when they get blood,” Benyamin said. “I feel blessed to have donate-able blood. It is the least I can do.” Benyamin said that, through
the blood drive, Muslims can stand in solidarity with the victims of 9/11 and their families. “The terrorists acted in the name of Islam and associated it with brutality, violence and extremism, but that is not right,” Benyamin said. “Islam is a religion of love and those people were not Muslims, and that’s what this blood drive is aiming to show.”
at Sandy Hook Elementary School in 2012 and influenced Moms Demand Action’s decision to hold the rally that day. “[The] Sandy Hook shooting was really the beginning of our movement and what really was the tip of the iceberg, and since then, we’ve grown and grown and seen more and more shootings that
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last semester and is a teaching assistant this fall. “[There is an] excitement in [students’] eyes when they’re talking about the ideas they have for their companies,” Vasikaran said,
“If [students are] aware of the opportunities and the resources that UT can provide the entrepreneurial community with, [I’m sure] many of them would be more involved.”
had helped secure admission for certain students despite objections by the admissions office. Following Powers’ resignation, Fenves emerged as the front-runner for the position, edging out Andrew Hamilton, vice chancellor of the University of Oxford in England, and UT-Dallas President David Daniel. Fenves said he has seen Powers once since taking
office, at last week’s football game against Notre Dame. Despite their limited communication, Fenves said the pair will likely remain friends. Powers did not return a request for comment. “I have no doubt we’re going to continue to be friends, but we’re very different people, and we just made this mutual decision,” Fenves said.
every year.” The benefits of genetically modifying crops for the developing world cannot continue to be hindered by the unsubstantiated claims from Green Parties, political parties focused on environmental issues, environmental organizations, such as Greenpeace, and the resulting regulations, Roberts said. Lauren Whitsell, aerospace engineering freshman, said she is opposed to GMOs because of the resulting economic impact on farmers. “I don’t think we should allow GMOs because of the negative effect they have
on the small town farmers,” Whitsell said. “GMOs were created by big corporations to dominate the agricultural market.” Plan II and biology freshman Amy Ong said she attributes the reluctance attitude toward Golden Rice to the moral standards of some scientists who believe GMOs are detrimental to people’s health. “The delay of implementation of Golden Rice, I think, can partially be attributed to the polemical role of ethics in science,” Ong said. “Golden Rice would be a great solution to vitamin A deficiencies.”
have retraumatized us as mothers and people,” Gollis Golden said. Gollis Golden said her organization also worked during the last state legislative session to oppose campus carry. She said her group’s efforts led to the passage of an amendment allowing university presidents to designate “gun-free” areas on campuses. Cristina Adams, member of Gun-Free UT, is a spouse of a UT faculty member and
is the mother of a freshman UT student. Adams said Gun-Free UT has grown from about 70 people to 500 people in the past few weeks because the University community is upset by campus carry laws. “I’m ashamed to send my child to UT — I wish he was going somewhere out of state,” Adams said. Adams said Gun-Free UT is planning a rally on Sept. 30 from 12–1 p.m. at the West Mall.
4 OPINION
CLAIRE SMITH, EDITOR-IN-CHIEF | @TexanEditorial Friday, September 11, 2015
4
GUEST COLUMN
Conscious spending affects fair labor By Gentry Railsback Guest Columnist @gentryrailsback
In a world of runaway convenience, people don’t stop to investigate and challenge the ethicality of their own purchasing decisions. In recent decades, there has been a radical change in the way consumers approach clothing. “We consume 400 percent more clothing than we did even 20 years ago,” said Maxine Bédat, cofounder of ethical e-commerce platform Zady. “This has been done by fast fashion companies cutting corners, using cheap material, constructing a cheap product and using cheap labor.” The UT campus is no stranger to this conversation. In the last year, Students Against Sweatshops UT, a student group affiliated with the nationwide United Students Against Sweatshops, organized several on-campus protests. Over the course of protests from December 2014 to March 2015, USAS called for the University to drop contracts with VF Corporation and 289c Apparel, companies that are semi-exclusively producing University of Texas merchandise. Both have been accused of labor violations. Sarahi Soto, a sociology senior and member of USAS, said that the organization is currently trying to push the University to end relationships with companies like VF Corporation and 289c Apparel. “[Continuing these licensing deals] will un-
doubtedly strip the University of its leverage to follow our own labor code of conduct, and moreover, hinder us from our ability to govern our own apparel supply chains,” Soto said. The University’s affiliation with companies such as these continues to directly support unethical standards and poor working conditions with — you guessed it — the money that students spend on UT merchandise. But this is not to say that UT students are aware that their consumption of Longhorn apparel may support sweatshop-like working conditions. Soto said she believes that if students were aware of how Longhorn apparel is made, they would feel obligated to do something about it. Some Austin-based companies are challenging existing ethical standards of production, and their example of outward transparency demonstrates that our University can do better. Raven + Lily, an Austin-based apparel company, has gone the extra mile to ensure that their products are transparently made, ethically sourced and empower those who make them. According to their website, they employ workers at fair trade wages and secure sustainable incomes, health care and education. With this transparency of ethical employment in the apparel industry available to us as consumers, we now have the right to ask questions of ethicality to all apparel companies. “Transparency in the way clothing companies source their products is important,”
GUEST COLUMN
Thalia Juarez | Daily Texan file photo
Students Against Sweatshops protest UT’s merchandising deal with 289c Apparrel because of labor rights concerns on March 25.
said Bédat. “As a consumer, you have enormous power. When you make a purchase you are taking a stand, making a vote for what you believe in.” When you choose to consume unethically produced materials, you are supporting
unethical practices. But when you educate yourself on the means by which local producers contribute to an ethical environment, you are seizing an opportunity and creating a channel for change. Railsback is an advertising senior.
GALLERY
Illustration by Albert Lee | Daily Texan Staff
Trigger warnings should not be considered coddling By Ashvin Govil Guest Columnist @Ashvio
The last few months have birthed a startling campaign against empathy in online spaces and media, rooted in the movement against political correctness and the so-called “coddling” of college classes across the country through the use of trigger warnings. From simple text posts on social media websites such as Reddit to front-page articles on news giants like The Atlantic, the idea of trigger warnings is being attacked from all ends. A trigger warning is a warning given to students that a certain assignment or lecture could be a trigger to someone suffering from psychological trauma. This allows any such person to simply not attend the lecture containing the triggering material. UT English lecturer Sarah Orem, co-author of a forthcoming article about trigger warnings on campus in the web journal Enculturation, notes that even though trigger warnings might not always help students with trauma issues, they can significantly reduce the burden that a student with posttraumatic stress disorder might be coping with. “Living through trauma, coping with PTSD, dealing with severe mental illness on a daily basis — these are all incredibly different tasks,” Orem said in an email. “It takes stamina and
resilience to earn a college degree while dealing with a chronic illness.” Improved mental health resources are the long-term solution for students with PTSD or other mental illnesses, but unfortunately, University facilities for mental health are currently underfunded. College already offers more than its share of mental and financial burdens on students, and these issues only compound themselves in the case of mental illness. Why should we make students with PTSD, who are already at a higher risk of suicide, have to experience psychological trauma just to avoid this unthinkable concept of “coddling?” Kristen Woodruff of USC’s student newspaper The Daily Trojan argues that trigger warnings are a basic protection of a student’s well-being, since “getting through curriculum without psychological trauma should be as integral to a quality college experience as being able to walk home safely at night.” Empathy is the key word here. Trigger warnings have low costs and are very easy to implement — Orem sends a simple, anonymous Google form to students to see what kinds of subjects might be triggering to them — and they bring tangible benefits in the absence of adequate mental health resources. The needs of the vulnerable outweigh the needs of the privileged. Govil is a computer science freshman.
ONLINE Our commentary doesn’t stop on the page. For more of our thoughts on the issues of the day, check out our blog, A Matter of Opinion, at dailytexanonline.com.
LEGALESE | Opinions expressed in The Daily Texan are those of the editor, the Editorial Board or the writer of the article. They are not necessarily those of the UT administration, the Board of Regents or the Texas Student Media Board of Operating Trustees.
Illustration by Erica Ndubueze | Daily Texan Staff
GUEST COLUMN
Core curriculum, UGS enrich college experience By Michael Jensen Guest Columnist @michaeltangible
The University of Texas is a diverse campus with thousands of students studying over 170 different majors spread across 13 colleges. Despite divergent interests, every UT student has one thing in common: the University core curriculum. Many students complain that these classes have little to do with their major or post-graduation plans, but such complaints are short-sighted. The core curriculum is a valuable tool ensuring students graduate as well-rounded individuals in a highly competitive world which requires diverse skill sets and perspectives. The core curriculum is comprised of 42 hours of coursework from several different disciplines that expose students from all majors to new ways of thinking. Many students have fond memories of these foundational courses. Biochemistry junior Vivian Nguyen said her English literature class was one of the most meaningful and enjoyable classes she’s taken. “I’d hate to feel like my knowledge of other subjects is dying out, so taking classes outside of my major is a nice refresher and keeps my brain working,” Nguyen said. This balanced learning experience might prove critically important later in life, especially since many students will work in fields unrelated to their majors. A study from the Federal Reserve Bank of New York found that only 27. 3 percent of col-
SUBMIT A FIRING LINE | Email your Firing Lines to editor@dailytexanonline.com. Letters must be more than 100 and fewer than 300 words. The Texan reserves the right to edit all submissions for brevity, clarity and liability.
lege graduates work in fields that match their major. The U.S. Census Bureau reports that 74 percent of individuals with STEM degrees work in non-STEM occupations. Another crucial element of the core curriculum is the undergraduate studies course. These are novel courses meant for first-year students, allowing them to explore interests which may not be related to their field of study. The topics vary, ranging from “Austin Area Environmental Issues” to “Cricket: Sports, Literature and Empire.” The benefits of these classes are far-reaching. Social work professor Elizabeth Pomeroy, who teaches a UGS course on mental illness, said she believes her class has introduced her students to new perspectives. “[Students] have described the class as ‘a life-changing experience’ that challenges their own perceptions of the mentally ill,” Pomeroy said in an email. “Students often state that they have developed a new level empathy and insight.” Specialization is important but so is experimentation and breadth of knowledge. The core curriculum is there, partly, to encourage intellectual curiosity. College is a great time to explore your interests and discover what motivates and inspires you. Even once you figure out what your passion is, understanding how it relates to the passions of others can make your experience richer and more vibrant. The world is infinitely larger and more complex than any individual field of study. Jensen is a biology junior.
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CLASS 5
5
JORI EPSTEIN, SPORTS EDITOR | @texansports Friday, September 11, 2015
FOOTBALL
Texas looks to overcome blowout loss
SIDELINE MLB MARINERS
By Nick Castillo @Nick_Castillo74
Darrell K Royal – Texas Memorial Stadium will be emptier than usual this weekend. Entering Texas’ home opener against Rice, 15,000 tickets remain unsold for Saturday. But whether fans show or not, the Longhorns have a chance to redeem themselves after their Notre Dame performance. Texas is in the midst of an offensive identity crisis after its third consecutive blowout loss. After a 38-3 beatdown in South Bend, Indiana—where the offense only managed to produce 163 yards—head coach Charlie Strong adjusted his staff accordingly. Strong relieved assistant head for offense and quarterbacks coach Shawn Watson of his play-calling duties, promoting wide receiver coach Jay Norvell to fill the role. Strong said he wants the changes to improve the offense’s productivity. “We need to get first downs and score some points,” Strong said. “It’s all about making sure the playmakers touch the ball. We have some playmakers and the ball needs to spread out and get the ball in their hands. You just got to watch a total improvement.” Strong made a tough, yet necessary move. The Longhorns’ production against Notre Dame slotted dead last among 123 FBS teams in total offense. In Texas’ last three losses stretching
RANGERS
TIGERS
INDIANS
NFL PATRIOTS
STEELERS
TOP TWEET Amy Zhang | Daily Texan Staff
Senior running back Johnathan Gray looks on as the Longhorns fall 38-3 to Notre Dame in their season opener. Texas looks to use Gray more in its upcoming game against Rice on Saturday.
back to 2014 — TCU, Arkansas and Notre Dame — it has been outscored 11720. With a new play-caller, the Longhorns can try to move forward and take a step in the right direction against Rice. “Jay [Norvell] has been familiar with the spread coming from Oklahoma,” Strong said. “We just want to make sure we talk about a spread offense and that’s what everyone wants to see. It’s still about just making sure you play with good fundamentals and technique. And
making sure we can move the football.” The players see this week as an opportunity to get the season rolling. Senior wide receiver Daje Johnson said he’s excited that Norvell wants to get the ball into the offensive playmakers’ hands. Senior running back Johnathan Gray added the team has “to get it done” on the field. “We always want to go out there and show what we can do,” Gray said. “After last week, that was not Texas’ standard. I think as a team
we know that. We’re just trying to get this thing back on track. Guys got to step up to the plate and bring it.” While the focus is mainly on Texas’ offense, defensive coordinator Vance Bedford said the defense also needs to improve. The Longhorns failed to stop Notre Dame as they gave up 527 yards on Saturday. He said the mistakes made against the Fighting Irish are correctable. He also said he understands the gravity of the changes made on offense. “[Strong] has always been
After last week, that was not Texas’ standard. I think as a team we know that. —Johnathan Gray, Senior running back
serious,” Bedford said. “Everybody works hard for one goal and that goal is to put the University of Texas back on top where it needs to be.”
BIG 12 NOTEBOOK
VOLLEYBALL
Horned Frogs quarterback Trevone Boykin eludes Texas’ Quandre Diggs in their match last year. Boykin and TCU struggled in the season opener against Minnesota.
Texas to challenge UTSA, Santa Clara By Michel Shapiro @mshap2
Jenna VonHofe Daily Texan file photo
Golden Gophers give TCU trouble in opener By Nick Castillo @Nick_Castillo74
TCU struggles in season opener TCU, which entered the game at No. 2 in the AP Poll, narrowly escaped the Golden Gophers, 23-17. Heisman-hopeful senior quarterback Trevone Boykin had a solid game, but the Minnesota defense contained him effectively despite his stat line. Boykin managed to throw 246 yards and one touchdown but also threw an interception. He made up for his decent game against the Golden Gophers with his run game as he racked up 92 yards on the ground and a touchdown. After the Horned Frogs’ close game, they dropped a spot in this week’s poll to No. 3. Mayfield shines in Oklahoma debut In his first game since 2013, Oklahoma junior quarterback Baker Mayfield had a historic performance in the Sooners’ 41-3 win over Akron. Mayfield completed 22 of 33 passes for 388 yards and three touchdowns. His performance broke former Oklahoma quarterback Sam Bradford’s school record for passing yards in an
opening game. Mayfield’s last snap at quarterback was in Texas Tech’s Thanksgiving game against Texas in 2013. After transferring to Oklahoma, he sat out a year per NCAA transfer rules. During his freshman season with the Red Raiders, he recorded 2,315 passing yards and 12 touchdowns. Kansas State loses starting quarterback The Wildcats lost their starting quarterback to a knee injury Saturday against South Dakota. Kansas State sophomore quarterback Jesse Ertz suffered his injury on a 5-yard run when a Coyotes defender hit his knee. “Jesse is going to be out for quite some time,” Snyder said on the Big 12 teleconference. “We will miss him. We feel badly about the loss, and he will be there … I am quite confident he will stay invested in what we are doing and will be very helpful to all of his teammates. We will move on.” Junior quarterback Joe Huebner will start against UTSA on Saturday. Mahomes, Joseph earn Big 12 honors Texas Tech sophomore quarterback Patrick Mahomes and West Virginia senior safety Karl Joseph were named the
Big 12 Player of the Week and Big 12 Defensive Player of the Week, respectively. Mahomes threw for 425 yards and four touchdowns against Sam Houston State last weekend. He also added 48 yards rushing in the Red Raiders’ 59-45 win. Saturday’s performance was the fourth consecutive game in which Mahomes threw for over 300 yards and at least four touchdowns. Joseph intercepted three passes and recorded eight tackles in the Mountaineers’ 44-0 win over Georgia Southern. His three interceptions were the most by any Big 12 player since 1994. Iowa State to fight for Cy-Hawk Trophy The Cyclones play their in-state rival, the Iowa Hawkeyes, for the Cy-Hawk Trophy this weekend. Iowa State will enter the game coming off a 31-7 win over Northern Iowa. Senior quarterback Sam Richardson recorded 233 yards and two touchdowns in the win. Iowa comes into the rivalry game after defeating Illinois State, 31-14. Hawkeye junior quarterback CJ Beathard threw for 211 yards and one touchdown. The two schools battle at 3:45 p.m. in Ames, Iowa, on Saturday.
Following a 1-1 showing at the VERT Challenge in Austin, No. 4 Texas will take on three nonconference opponents at the Texas Classic this weekend in Gregory Gymnasium. The VERT Challenge served as the first true test of the year for Texas, as it faced a pair of top-10 teams in Nebraska and Florida. “This is the type of competition we will see later on in regionals and in the regional finals,” senior outside hitter Amy Neal said. “I think it’s good we did this early so we know that it is going to happen later on in the season.” Play opens for the Longhorns on Friday with the Longhorns (4-1) taking on unranked UTSA at 12:30 p.m. and then squaring off with unranked Santa Clara at 7:30 p.m. UTSA, although unranked, provides another tough early season test for the Longhorns. The Roadrunners currently hold a 7-1 record and most recently defeated No. 12 Oregon in four sets in San Antonio on Sept. 7. The victory over Oregon was UTSA’s first-ever win against a ranked opponent. “You couldn’t have asked for a better performance or a better result,” Roadrunners head coach Laura NeugebauerGroff said.
The match against Santa Clara offers a chance for Texas to hone its skills and strategy as a unit in a less competitive environment. While the Broncos head to Austin with a 4-2 record, they have yet to record a win against a ranked team. For Texas head coach Jerritt Elliott, Friday evening’s match will give his team an opportunity to refine some sloppy play, specifically in the team’s passing and setting. “We got to go back and watch film and talk about the mentality side of it,” Elliott said. “Your hope is that they have a little bit of pride and they come back and battle.” The weekend will conclude with the Longhorns’ toughest test of the tournament as they face No. 14 Colorado State. For the Rams, their biggest challenge thus far in 2015 has been replacing setter Deedra Foss, who graduated last year after winning the Mountain West Player of the Year award. CSU dropped five spots from the No. 9 spot a week ago, but it still holds a 5-1 record, tied with Wyoming to top the Mountain West. With a 4-1 record and No. 4 ranking, Texas volleyball looks to improve its record this weekend leading up to conference play, which begins Sept. 23. The Longhorns are currently the top-ranked team in the Big 12.
Rachel Zein | Daily Texan Staff
Senior outside hitter Amy Neal hits a ball across the net in a recent Longhorn game.
Poona Ford @PoonF_2
I think I just witnessed a break up.. -_-
TODAY IN HISTORY
1924
Legendary Dallas Cowboys coach Tom Landry was born. Landry would go on to lead the Cowboys to two Super Bowl titles in his nearly three decades with the team.
SPORTS BRIEFLY Charging bands the new norm in Big 12
Reactions varied when word broke this week that Texas will charge the Texas Tech marching band $100 per seat to play at its team’s Thanksgiving game in Darrell K Royal–Texas Memorial Stadium. The decision follows a conference-wide trend this year, following new stipend costs for athletes and declining ticket prices. The marching band ticket dilemma is rooted in the days of the Southwest Conference — when Texas, Texas Tech, Baylor and Texas A&M joined in a “handshake agreement” not to charge each others’ marching bands for seats in the stadium, according to Robert Giovannetti, Texas Tech spokesman. When the Southwest and Big Eight conferences merged into the Big 12 Conference, these four schools continued to honor the agreement. That changed in July, when the universities ended the decades-old agreement to adopt a more business-like approach and earn extra revenue. Giovannetti said the $100-per-seat price at Texas will cost Texas Tech between $40,000 and $60,000 — in other words, Big 12 home schools are earning around $50,000 extra for a halftime performance. —Blanche Schaefer
6 COMICS
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COMICS 7
LIFE&ARTS
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Friday, September 11, 2015
FILM REVIEW | ‘THE VISIT’
Shyamalan’s ‘The Visit’ gives comedic twist to horror By Alex Pelham @TalkingofPelham
Considering M. Night Shyamalan’s recent reputation as a cinematic joke, it’s fitting he’s released a horror film that actually serves as a perverse, dark comedy. Released Friday, “The Visit’s” premise — two children’s encounter with their murderous grandparents — presents potential for comedic gold. Shyamalan takes advantage of this opportunity but tries to pack in a little too much story by stuffing melodrama into a horror spoof. This tonal disconnect causes him to stumble, but decent performances and a fun, engaging story keeps “The Visit” from becoming another horrific failure for the embattled director. The nightmarish trip begins as siblings Rebecca (Olivia DeJonge) and Tyler (Ed Oxenbould) travel to see their estranged grandparents while their mother hops aboard a weeklong cruise. Rebecca, an aspiring filmmaker, decides to create a documentary of the duo meeting John (Peter McRobbie) and Doris (Deanna Dunagan). The initial introductions go well, but at night, the kids begin to notice their grandparents’ strange behavior. As John and Doris grow dangerous, the children realize that even senior citizens can be deadly. Although the film is a dark comedy, Shyamalan can’t keep himself from packing in unnecessary dramatic plot points that are barely developed and
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go nowhere. Elements of family drama, such as the children dealing with abandonment issues after their father leaves, feel tacked on and inconsequential. These irritating plot points tack more weird traits on the already obnoxious children. Tyler is a germophobe, while Rebecca has body issues, and these adds little to the story. These attempts to develop conflict would be admirable in a different film, but it’s difficult to take them seriously while a schizophrenic grandmother sprints around the house like a demon-possessed roadrunner. Both McRobbie and Dunagan are great as the psychotic grandparents, both displaying different forms of insanity. McRobbie’s character is more secretive and subtle. Dunagan, however, is both the loudest and funniest of the pair, as she’s liable to be maniacal and make bizarre faces at the camera. Despite having little depth to work with, both child actors turn in lively performances. DeJonge’s pretentious attitude quickly becomes grating, and Oxenbould’s tendency to rap is cringe-worthy. Any comedic segments involving the two are punishingly long and take away from the fun. The cinematography is impressive as Shyamalan proves his ability to master the despised method of “found-footage” horror. He eliminates the unfocused and messy camera work associated with the genre, and instead, works in beautiful shots that
THE VISIT Genre: Horror Run Time: 94 minutes Rating:
capture the characters’ moody, isolated house. While the “found footage” aspect is contextualized as being a part of Rebecca’s documentary, the gimmick doesn’t get old. Although a couple of moments seem ripped off from horror franchises such as “Paranormal Activity,” there have certainly been worse attempts to capitalize on this scary movie trend. Of course, audiences heading into a Shyamalan horror film will walk in expecting a large, bombastic plot twist. Fear not, as it’s definitely present. Although completely silly and somewhat illogical, the twist leads the story into a tense climax that perfectly mixes in the awkward humor with genuine fright as the two children work to escape from the old folks’ clutches. “The Visit” may not be the masterpiece that revitalizes Shyamalan’s career, but it’s a step in the right direction. Horror fans may be left cold, as there are few moments that are truly frightening. But for those seeking to experience all the goofy enjoyment, such an odd premise will not disappoint.
Courtesy of Universal Studios
M. Night Shyamalan’s comedic horror parody “The Visit,” released Friday, follows a pair of siblings terrorized by their demonic grandparents.
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DANIELLE LOPEZ, LIFE&ARTS EDITOR | @thedailytexan Friday, September 11, 2015
SLEEP Low grades, weight gain, cell damage and a decreased ability to tell what the opposite sex is thinking all have one thing in common — they’re symptoms of a college students’ bad night’s sleep. “If you don’t do your work on time, you have to finish it all at once and you lose sleep,” said Apoorva Mahajan, a fifth-year geological sciences and Plan II student. “Then, when you’re avoiding work, you have nothing to do but sleep.” Mahajan’s sleep habits are not unusual for college students. Research in the Journal of American College Health said many students sleep extra on the weekend to make up for a lack of sleep. While this is a better option than not sleeping at all, students that
change their sleep cycles by more than two hours on the weekend have trouble concentrating. They experience increased feelings of irritability and depression, according to a study in the journal BMC Public Health. Students can avoid certain activities and substances in order to sleep better. Although caffeine increases alertness, studies show daily intake correlated with sleep disturbances and increased daytime sleepiness. People who use phones, laptops or video games right before bed feel less tired, according to a study in the Journal of Sleep. These people have reduced levels of melatonin, a hormone that tells the body that it is time to sleep. They are more likely to get less sleep overall.
WEIGHT GAIN Alcohol has a complicated relationship with sleep. For people who don’t drink often, low amounts of alcohol initially improve their ability to sleep. But an increse in alcohol consumption causes disturbed sleep patterns. The effects of alcohol and sleep deprivation lead students to perform poorly on cognitive tests the next day, according to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism. Students who are sleep deprived are more likely to think about suicide than students who are clinically depressed or homeless, according to a study in the Journal of Affective Disorders. Students who took tests while they were sleep deprived reported feeling more confident than their peers, but their actual performance was much lower. “A lot of students realize they are sleepy, but don’t understand all of the ramifications,” said Shelley D. Hershner, a neurology professor at the University of Michigan, to the Deseret News.“When we are sleep deprived, we don’t judge our own ability well.” While different activities and stresses keep students awake at night, the benefits of sleep can be worth fighting for.
There’s nothing fresh about the dread of weight gain that haunts students during their first year of college. The infamous term “Freshman Fifteen” is misleading, but not completely inaccurate. College students do usually gain weight freshman year, but only about 2.5 to 3.5 pounds, according to a large study at Ohio State University. They only gained about half a pound more than their peers who didn’t go to college. This weight gain had minimal impact over time — adults who graduated from college are about 12 percent less likely to be obese than their peers who didn’t graduate from college, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Students worry about gaining more weight than they actually do. According to a study in the journal Eating Behaviors, 87 percent of female undergraduates with a normal weight wanted to shed pounds. This body dissatisfaction is a risk factor for dangerous behaviors such as disordered eating and restrictive dieting. “Students that focus on healthy behaviors, regardless
of whether they want to gain weight or lose weight, put themselves in the best position for mental and physical health, as well as aca-
demic success,”said William Mupo, health promotions coordinator at University Health Services. Rather than focus on risky weight loss strategies, students can pursue healthy habits at UT through activities such as intramural sports, TeXercise classes and personal training. They can also take advantage of the Whitaker Fields and Tennis Courts and the Bellmont Hall weight room, which was renovated recently. Exercise helps students relieve stress and boost mental performance, as well as control weight gain. Both University Health Services and the Division of
Food and Housing Services have dietitians who can meet with students to discuss nutrition and meal planning. DFHS has also placed hydration stations where students can fill up empty water bottles throughout campus. UHS have many counselors who focus on talking to students about mindful eating. Katherine Yates, UHS therapist and coordinator of the Mindful Eating Program, urges students to concentrate on developing these healthy habits, rather than on maintaining a certain weight. “We all have a healthy weight range,” Yates said. “Focusing on the weight and calorie numbers can cause people to become obsessive.”
GOOD STUDENTS
BAD HABITS By Ellen Airhart @ellenairhart
College students often struggle to keep good habits, especially with obstacles such as Netflix, buffet-style cafeterias and 30-page essays constantly getting in the way. Students can draw upon the latest research to prevent unhealthy routines. Illustrations by Melanie Westfall | Daily Texan Staff
TEST ANXIETY Anxious pencil-tapping, nail-biting and cold sweat haunt testing rooms and student nightmares. “I feel it all over my body,” psychology senior Jennifer Smith said. “My heart pounds, and I get crushing worry that my whole future is going to be ruined.” Test anxiety does not necessarily lead to bad grades. A study at the University of San Diego showed that students who were anxious about an exam found it easier to memorize a list of facts. This is supported by other studies that show anxiety actually improves some types of memory, such as one published in the American Psychological Association. The study tested working memory during math tests and showed that students had more trouble with complex problem-solving while they were stressed. In one of the study’s experiments, participants were asked to solve math problems under different conditions. In highpressure environments, where test-takers were watched by peers or given monetary incentives, participants relied on simpler problem-solving methods that took a long time. Participants without these added pressures used more sophisticated strategies that were quicker and more accurate. Anxious students also find it more difficult to pay attention and avoid distractions than their calmer peers, according to a study by the Economic and
Social Research Council. Not all students suffer from test anxiety in the same way. Another University of Chicago study showed that the extra pressure of a test improved the performance of students who felt confident about their math skills. Students with a similarly sized working memory who felt less confident in their math skills flopped with the extra stress of the test. Women and men react differently to test anxiety, according to a study by the American Sociological Association. In certain situations such as exams, women reported more anxiety, and their performance decreased accordingly. But in a non-risky setting, men and women performed equally. Writing about worries may help students reduce test anxiety. According to another study at the University of Chicago, students who were prone to text anxiety improved their
scores by taking 10 minutes before the test to write down all their fears. The researchers believe that the writing exercise freed up brainpower that would otherwise be used worrying about the test. Learning to reduce test anxiety has benefits beyond the classroom. Many job selection processes require standardized tests. Candidates with less anxiety tend to do better on these exams, according to a study at the University of Toronto. Employers believe these exams reflect how the candidate will perform in high-stress situations. “I feel that the anxiety affects my ability to concentrate, so it’s a maladaptive behavior,” Smith said. Tests at UT usually require students to use complex problem-solving skills. If students learn to control their testing anxiety early on, it will improve their performance in school and beyond.
PROCRASTINATION When an assignment deadline on Canvas reads 11:59 p.m., many will log on with just minutes to spare. Most college students are familiar with the practice of procrastination. A 2012 study published in the International Journal of Psychological Studies claims that about 80–95 percent of college students engage in procrastination. Rhetoric and writing professor Patricia Roberts-Miller, who leads a Writing Center workshop on procrastination every semester, said boredom and anxiety motivate people to procrastinate. She said because people associate procrastination with ineffective time management, they erroneously frame procrastination as a fault of character and view the habit as harmful and unproductive. “If procrastination is putting something off until the last minute, sometimes that’s an effective time management strategy,” Roberts-Miller said. “If I’m having people over for dinner, I don’t set the table until the last minute. If I set the table earlier, I’d have to reset it because my cats would sit on the plates.” However, some students feel procrastination hampers their overall productivity or hurts the quality of their work. An ongoing online poll conducted by Procrastination and Science found that almost 50 percent of respondents consider their procrastination harmful,
while only 2 percent viewed it as a helpful habit. Panic brought on by approaching deadlines forces people to work without fixating on perfecting details. This short-term incentive encourages procrastination but can be damaging in the long run. “Most of us panicked our way through our undergraduate degree,” RobertsMiller said. “But panic can’t work us through longer assignments. It becomes an unsustainable habit.” It doesn’t help that changing a procrastination habit can be hard. According to RobertsMiller, strategies such as positive thinking or self-chastising do not help students deal with time management issues. Effective strategies include a more realistic consideration of obstacles and objectives and a plan of action that includes reasonable deadlines and goals. John Perry, former professor of philosophy at Stanford Un i -
versity, wrote in an essay that people can use their procrastination tendencies to their advantage. Through a process he calls “structured procrastination,” the procrastinator becomes productive by working through lower-priority tasks. When dealing with tedious tasks, Piers Steel, one of the leading researchers on the science of motivation and procrastination, recommends setting goals and working for a small period of time. After the process goal is met, he advises introducing a reward, such as five minutes of free time or a snack. If handled well, procrastination can become a tool instead of an obstacle. But, if it becomes obstructive, the best way for students to manage procrastination and foster healthy time management practices is to identify the motives behind the habit. —Maluly Martinez