1
SPORTS PAGE 6
LIFE&ARTS PAGE 8
COMICS PAGE 7
Serving the University of Texas at Austin community since 1900
@thedailytexan
Wednesday, February 24, 2016
facebook.com/dailytexan
dailytexanonline.com
bit.ly/dtvid
CAMPUS
CAMPUS
Traffic citations affect UT bicyclists
University statement may prompt gun litigation
By Mikaela Cannizzo @mikaelac16
Disregarding stop signs is the most common bike violation on campus and results in the most citations for biking incidents per year, according to UTPD. According to bicycle citations records, UTPD has issued 82 citations for bike violations within the past five years. A total of 68 of those citations were issued for disregarding a stop sign. UTPD has only issued one
citation in response to a bike violation this year so far. The incident involved a biker disregarding a traffic control device. UTPD officer William Pieper said other violations, such as traveling above the 15 mph speed limit and failing to yield to pedestrians, also happen occasionally. “We see [disregarding stop signs] frequently,” Pieper said. “Occasionally, we’ll have a failure to yield right of way, which is usually the result of a collision
happening where a bicyclist hit a pedestrian on a crosswalk or something of that nature.” Pieper said bikers are required to follow the same laws as motor vehicle drivers and violations are typically classified as class C misdemeanors. Violators typically receive a fine in which the amount is determined by the specific violation, but usually does not exceed $500.
BICYCLE page 2
By Caleb Wong @caleber96
Maddox Price | Daily Texan Staff
Cyclists bike through the intersection of Speedway and East 24th Street on campus.
CITY
Austin flow artists get campus fired up By Elizabeth Hlavinka @hlavinka_e
When international relations senior Gwam Puerta notices a dip in the party’s energy, he wets his hair, lathers his beard in Vaseline and sets a torch on fire — ready to bring the crowd to life. Puerta is one of many students in a community of fire spinners, a form of flow art — or the practice of manipulating various props, such as staffs, hula-hoops and poi balls attached to the artist by a chain or string. Some artists practice with LED equipment, producing light shows with their movements, while others, like Puerta, spin, throw and breathe fire. “You’re not playing with fire; you’re dancing with fire,” Puerta said. “So when you’re out there, you’re in the moment. I’m not thinking much about anything. That’s the beauty of it.”
FIRE page 5
Zoe Fu | Daily Texan Staff
George Robertson breathes fire at the 21st Street Co-Op on Monday night. Gwam Puerta, 21st Street Co-Op “fire senpai,” and his group of friends perform fire shows at parties and special events hosted by the Co-Op.
ALUMNI
Both Students for Concealed Carry and Gun Free UT have suggested they might file litigation in response to UT President Gregory Fenves’ decision regarding campus carry. “SCC is confident that the University’s gun-free-offices policy and empty-chamber policy will not stand up to legal scrutiny; therefore, our Texas chapter will now shift its focus to litigation,” the Texas chapter of Students for Concealed Carry said in a statement on its Facebook page last week. Gun Free UT also said it may consider filing litigation against the state of Texas. The organization declined to comment further on the specifics of its legal strategy, but said it was fighting to protect academic freedom in the classroom. “There’s a lot of evidence that shows the presence of guns changes the way people behave, and I think everyone is concerned that the presence of guns will inhibit the discussion of controversial issues and possible dispute over grades or other matters,” said Max Snodderly, neuroscience professor and chair of the Gun Free UT legal committee. The possibility of litigation comes after Fenves said he would adopt all 25 recommendations of the UT campus carry working group last Wednesday, including allowing handguns in classrooms, the common areas
LITIGATION page 3
OFFBEAT
Texas senator receives Student helps create ‘Trillary Clinton’ site Moody alumni award By Forrest Milburn
By Elizabeth Huang @lizzthewiz
Texas Sen. Judith Zaffirini (D-Laredo) will receive the Moody College of Communication Outstanding Alumna Award on April 17. The award is given annually to one Moody College graduate who has made outstanding contributions to society and gone on to a distinguished career, Moody director of communications Nicolas Hundley said. Moody College faculty and staff were asked to compile a list of eligible nominees, and Moody College Dean Jay Bernhardt chose Zaffirini, the first Hispanic woman elected to the Texas Senate, from that list. Zaffirini said the award is incredibly meaningful to her because the education she
received at Moody College “changed her life.” “I am immensely appreciative,” Zaffirini said. “I am forever grateful for lessons learned from great teachers and from great UT professors.” Zaffirini, who represents Senate District 21, was chosen because of her legacy as a Texas Senator and communicator, Hundley said. “Her legislative accomplishments … demonstrate the importance of communication in campaigning, representing constituents and furthering discussion with other senators to pass legislation,” Hundley said. Susan Nold, director of the Annette Strauss Institute for Civic Life, a Moody College institute that seeks to increase
ZAFFIRINI page 3
Max Parks, an astronomy and physics senior, has created a comical website featuring presidential candidate Hillary Clinton, in light of this year’s presidential election.
@forrestmilburn
Anyone looking for stances on immigration or college debt reforms from Hillary Clinton, candidate for the Democratic presidential nomination, won’t find any piece of substantial information at TrillaryClinton.org. Instead, page viewers will see a grid of repeating GIFs of Clinton dancing insync to Kanye West’s song “Power,” while a clock shows visitors how long they’ve “trilled” for. While other “gag” websites such as tedcruzforamerica.com — which asks visitors to immigrate to Canada — seem to have more mocking intentions, TrillaryClinton.org was just a way to have some fun during an election season filled with “political fervor,” according to
“Hotter than Burning Man. Better than a Rave. The best party of the year.”
Mary Pistorius Daily Texan Staff
the website’s owner. “The fact that we’ve been talking about this election for two years is kind of terrible,” said Max Parks, an astronomy and physics senior who co-owns the website with his friends. “We simultaneously want people to be involved in politics, but I just wish it wasn’t
… such a reality show.” Parks, who maintains his voter registration in his home state of Virginia, said he and some of his more politically active friends decided to design and launch the website on Dec. 27, when they were all discussing the election back home during winter break.
“We’re not making fun of Hillary Clinton, we’re not making fun of Kanye West, we’re not making fun of anyone,” Parks said. “We’re just entertaining and hopefully getting people thinking, at least.” The sentiment shown by
TRILLARY page 2
Name: 4480/Carnaval Mike Quinn Market; Width: 60p0; Depth: 2 in; Color: Process color, 4480/Carnaval Mike Quinn Market; Ad Number: 4480
Austin’s Brazilian-Style Mardi Gras Non-Stop Dancing Totally Uninhibited Revelry Nearly 100 Drummers! Live, Pulsating Music All Night Long
“Best Public Bash” Texas Monthly
Feb. 27, 2O16
www.SambaParty.com
Palmer Events Center