1
Serving the University of Texas at Austin community since 1900
@thedailytexan
SG
facebook.com/dailytexan
Wednesday, April 19, 2017
dailytexanonline.com
bit.ly/dtvid
CITY
SG tackles SB 576, menstrual products By Chase Karacostas @chasekaracostas
High-traffic bathrooms on campus could soon be stocked with menstrual hygiene products. The Student Government Assembly introduced Joint Resolution 1, which supports placing products such as pads and tampons in busier bathrooms around campus, Tuesday evening. Fabiola Barreto, liberal arts representative and co-author of the resolution, said 86 percent of menstruating individuals are often caught without hygiene supplies in public, creating a necessity to make these products widely accessible. “(JR 1) is a way to show that women are a priority and menstruating people are a priority,” government freshman Barreto said. “We want to make sure that you feel comfortable on campus, (even) if you are in the classroom just doing your thing and all of a sudden you need a tampon.” The resolution mentions that four other universities
SG page 2
WHAT’S INSIDE NEWS UT offers resources for students’ sexual health. PAGE 3
OPINION Fraternities’ link to rape should be recognized. PAGE 4
SPORTS
UT junior victim of fatal moped crash By Ellie Breed @elliebreed
The 22-year-old victim of a fatal crash between a moped and a school bus Monday evening was UT junior Nancy-Jane David, according to the AustinAmerican Statesman. Her sorority, Chi Omega, will hold a public candlelight vigil at the Tower at 8
p.m. Wednesday. “She was beautiful, pure, adventurous, positive, and joyful,” the sorority said in a Facebook post. “Our members are heartbroken at the loss of such a perfect, beautiful human that was taken from us too soon.” Jane Ragsdale, the director of Central Texas summer camp Heart O’ the Hills Camp for Girls where David used to work, confirmed that David
was the victim of the crash, according to the Statesman. APD still has not confirmed the identity of the moped driver. APD received a call regarding the crash at 7:21 p.m. Monday, where police say the moped driver was hit from behind while riding a moped on Manor Road near Mueller. Austin-Travis County
STATE
Stop misusing Chilean flag emoji, pleads TX rep. By Mikaela Cannizzo & Claire Allbright @mikaelac16 @claireallbright
A House committee addressed one legislator’s attempt to stop Texans from misrepresenting the state through incorrect emoji usage on social media during a hearing Tuesday. House Concurrent Resolution 75, authored by Rep. Tom Oliverson, R-Cypress, “reject(s) the notion that the Chilean flag … can in any way compare” to the Texas flag and urges all Texans to not use the Chilean flag emoji in digital forums when referring to the “Lone Star Flag of the great State of Texas.” Oliverson said he filed the resolution to increase awareness of the differences between the two flags. While they share physical characteristics such as colors and the appearance of a star, Oliverson said the meanings behind the outward similarities mark symbolic differences between the flags. “(The Chilean flag) does not represent the same values or the same history held by the state of Texas,” Oliverson said. The colors on Texas’ flag
EMOJI page 2
Illustration by Victoria Smith | Daily Texan Staff
CAMPUS
CAMPUS The UT Austin team members pose with their faculty advisors in Chicago. The team participated in the Urban Land Institute Hines Student Competition.
LIFE&ARTS Sherwood Faire throws it back to the 1100s. PAGE 8
REASON TO PARTY
Courtesy of ULI Hines Team
Longhorns win $50,000 in urban planning competition ONLINE Check out The Texan’s interview with new war film screenwriter at dailytexanonline.com
—Chi Omega Sorority,
CRASH page 2
Coaches and players react to new locker room. PAGE 6
PAGE 7
She was beautiful, pure, adventurous, positive, and joyful. [We] are heartbroken at the loss of such a perfect, beautiful human.
By London Gibson @londongibson
For the first time, a team of UT graduate students beat out over 100 university teams to win the Urban Land Institute Hines Student Competition, an annual national urban design competition. The team began working in early January on a development proposal for a site
north of downtown Chicago. After advancing to the final round and presenting in front of a jury on April 6, the team of five received first place and $50,000 in prize money. “Every premiere graduate school in the country wants to win this one,” faculty advisor Simon Atkinson said. “It is the leading competition in urban design and city development.”
Atkinson, a professor in the School of Architecture, said this is the fourth time a UT team has advanced to the final round and the first time one has won the competition. Miles Payton, landscape architecture graduate student, said he attributes his team’s success to a well-researched concept. The theme
URBAN page 2
Name: UT Athletics; Width: 60p0; Depth: 2 in; Color: Process color; Ad Number: -
LBJ students advance to Public Policy semis By Jahnavi Muppaneni other public affairs grad@jaaahnavi
Students of the Lyndon B. Johnson School of Public Affairs advanced to the semifinals of the National Public Policy Challenge with their proposal to help Austin’s elderly population attain affordable healthcare. UT was one of 20 schools selected to participate in the urban policy competition at the University of Pennsylvania. The team presented a proposed solution for Austin’s rapidly growing population, which they developed by analyzing the Program for All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly. “(The plan includes) everything from dentist appointments to nursing homes,” said Haley Chambers, public affairs graduate student. Chambers and two
uate students, Christine Leal and Samuel Storey, competed for the University. “I think because the U.S. has popular social programs in place for seniors, such as Social Security and Medicare, most think older adults don’t really experience poverty, healthcare problems or housing issues,” Storey said. “In Travis County, the portion of seniors who are poor, who are being rejected by providers because they have Medicare or who are housing-cost burdened is increasing every year.” Chambers said states that are cutting healthcare programs such as Medicare need to consider the future. “In the next 30 years, the senior population
LBJ page 2
2 2
Wednesday, April 19, 2017
FRAMES featured photo
NEWS
thedailytexan
Volume 117, Issue 142
CONTACT US Main Telephone (512) 471-4591 Editor-in-Chief Alexander Chase (512) 232-2212 editor@dailytexanonline.com Managing Editor Akshay Mirchandani (512) 232-2217 managingeditor@ dailytexanonline.com News Office (512) 232-2207 news@dailytexanonline.com Sports Office sports@dailytexanonline.com Life & Arts Office (512) 232-2209 lifeandarts@dailytexanonline.com Multimedia Office (512) 471-7835 multimedia@ dailytexanonline.com Retail Advertising (512) 471-1865 advertise@texasstudentmedia.com
Mary Pistorius| Daily Texan Staff
Chris Long works on a piece of pottery commisioned by Texas Coffee Traders.
Classified Advertising (512) 471-5244 classifieds@ dailytexanonline.com
SG
continues from page 1 The Texan strives to present all information fairly, accurately and completely. If we have made an error, let us know about it. Call (512) 232-2217 or e-mail managingeditor@ dailytexanonline.com.
COPYRIGHT Copyright 2017 Texas Student Media. All articles, photographs and graphics, both in the print and online editions, are the property of Texas Student Media and may not be reproduced or republished in part or in whole without written permission.
TOMORROW’S WEATHER
Low
High
84
67
pubic sandwich
including the University of Arizona and Columbia University already have policies in place providing menstrual hygiene supplies for free on their campuses. Barreto said she feels this sets a standard for what the University needs to do to support women who are menstruating. The Texas Orange Jackets recently held a drive to collect menstrual hygiene products and have a stock of approximately 5,000 tampons that will be distributed to major buildings such as Burdine Hall and the Union. Barreto said the goal of this resolution is to show that students on campus need and will use these products if they are available, encouraging the University to pay for them. Liberal arts representative Ellen Teuscher and members of the organization Not On My Campus also
introduced Assembly Resolution 9 in opposition to Senate Bill 576. SB 576, which already passed the state Senate, would extend sexual assault reporting requirements to student leaders on campus and make it a criminal offense for University employees to not report sexual assault to the University’s Title IX office. Teuscher, government and Plan I honors sophomore, said she and Not On My Campus oppose SB 576 because it robs survivors of the ability to control what happens after they are sexually assaulted. “Survivors should have the right to decide whether they want to report or not,” Teuscher said. “Reporting is their best option, but for a lot of people they want to move on and move past it as much as they can, and that is their right.” SB 576 also puts the entire purpose of Not On My Campus at risk, because it serves as a student resource for survivors, Teuscher said. The bill
URBAN This issue of The Daily Texan is valued at $1.25 Permanent Staff
Editor-in-Chief . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Alexander Chase Associate Editors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Michael Jensen, Janhavi Nemawarkar, Khadija Saifullah, Caleb Wong Managing Editor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Akshay Mirchandani Associate Managing Editors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Eva Frederick, Michelle Zhang News Editor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Ellie Breed Associate News Editor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Forrest Milburn News Desk Editors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Matthew Adams, Will Clark, Hannah Daniel, Sunny Kim, Wesley Story Senior Reporters . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Claire Allbright, Mikaela Cannizzo, Lisa Dreher, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Anusha Lalani, Catherine Marfin, Kayla Meyertons Senior Investigative Reporter. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Van Nguyen Copy Desk Chief . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Kasey Salisbury Associate Copy Desk Chiefs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Jaree Campbell, Vanessa Martinez, Bella McWhorter, Colin Traver Design Editor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Elizabeth Jones Associate Design Editor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Megan McFarren Senior Designers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Liza Anderson, Sierra Garcia, Sunnie Lee, Rena Li Photo Editor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Zoe Fu Associate Photo Editor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Emmanuel Briseno, Gabriel Lopez Senior Photographer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Juan Figueroa, Joshua Guerra, Mary Pistorius, Briana Vargas, Rachel Zein Video Editor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Monica Silverio Senior Videographer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Thomas Negrete, Faley Goyette Science&Tech Editor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Zia Lyle Associate Science&Tech Editors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Julianne Hodges, Kate Thackrey Senior Science&Tech Reporters . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Sarah Bloodworth, Angela Kang, Freya Preimesberger Forum Editors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Jordan Shenhar, Emily Vernon Senior Columnists . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Emma Bernadier, Alyssa Fernandez, Sam Groves, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Noah M. Horwitz, Josephine MacLean, G. Elliott Morris Life&Arts Editor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Mae Hamilton Associate Life&Arts Editor. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Daisy Wang, Morgan O’Hanlon Senior Life&Arts Writers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Stephen Acevedo, Acacia Coronado, Chris Duncan, Justin Jones Sports Editor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Tyler Horka Associate Sports Editor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Sydney Rubin Senior Sports Writers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Alex Briseno, Steve Helwick,Vanessa Le, Shane Lewis Comics Editor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Audrey McNay Associate Comics Editor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Victoria Smith, Melanie Westfall Senior Comics Artists . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Geovanni Casillas, Albert Lee, Bixie Mathieu, Jacky Tovar Social Media Editor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Stephanie Martinez-Arndt Editorial Adviser. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Peter Chen
Issue Staff
Reporters . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . London Gibson, Chase Karacostas, Jahnavi Muppaneni Sports Writer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Wills Layton Life&Arts Writers. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Chris Peck, Andrea Tinning Columnists . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Alina Agha, Liza Anderson, Emma Berdanier Copy Editors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Elizabeth Huang, Susana Lugo, Kelsey Machala, Taylor Presley Designer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Mallika Gandhi, Maya Haws-Shaddock Comic Artists . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Mia Batts, Danielle Gines, Channing Miller, Laura Moyer
Business and Advertising
(512) 471-8590 | advertise@texasstudentmedia.com Director . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Gerald Johnson Business/Operations Manager . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Frank Serpas III Advertising Manager . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Emily Cohen Assistant Advertising Manager . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Colten Crist Account Executives . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Tim Bauer, Brady Beal, Blake Gentry, Monica Taylor Product Manager . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Stephen Salisbury Senior Graphic Designer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Amanda O’Brien Production. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Zac Crofford The Daily Texan, a student newspaper at The University of Texas at Austin, is published by Texas Student Media, 2500 Whitis Ave., Austin, TX 78712. The Daily Texan is published daily, Monday through Friday, during the regular academic year and is published once weekly during the summer semester. The Daily Texan does not publish during academic breaks, most Federal Holidays and exam periods. News contributions will be accepted by telephone (471-4591), or at the editorial office (HSM 2.120). Entire contents copyright 2017 Texas Student Media.
The Daily Texan Mail Subscription Rates One Semester (Fall or Spring) $60.00 Two Semesters (Fall and Spring) $120.00 Summer Session $40.00 One Year (Fall, Spring and Summer) $150.00 To charge by VISA or MasterCard, call 471-5083. Send orders and address changes to Texas Student Media, P.O. Box D, Austin, TX 78713-8904.
04/19/17 Texan Ad Deadlines Monday .............Wednesday, 12 p.m.
Thursday.................Monday, 12 p.m. Tuesday.................Thursday, 12 p.m. Friday......................Tuesday, 12 p.m. Classified Word Ads 11 a.m. Wednesday................Friday, 12 p.m. (Last Business Day Prior to Publication)
continues from page 1 of the design, “Rooted,” focuses on creating a community centered around food production, manufacturing and distribution. Architecture graduate studenLuke Kvasnicka said innovative designs such as sustainable food choices and environmentally-friendly technology contributed to the win. “I think compared to the other teams we really weren’t afraid to sort of push the boundary,” Kvasnicka said. “The competition really is about looking toward the future.”
EMOJI
continues from page 1 signify values of loyalty, purity and bravery while similar colors on the Chilean flag represent sky, snow and blood, according to the resolution. Additionally, the star on Texas’ flag represents unity within the state while the star on the Chilean flag can be interpreted to symbolize progress and honor or the power of the country’s government. Many countries have an emoji representing their flag, but no state flag has its own emoji. Oliverson said a search for the word “Chile”
LBJ
continues from page 1
Mary Pistorius | Daily Texan Staff
Freshmen Government major Fabiola Barreto introduces Joint Resolution 1, which would place menstrual products on campus.
would deprive the organization of its ability to give survivors options if they are forced to report every incidence of sexual assault they encounter, she said. However, student leaders are only required to report cases that come to their attention while acting in an official capacity. Tatum Zeeko, president-elect of Not On My Campus, said the bill would discourage survivors from
telling close friends about being assaulted for fear that their confidant may be forced to report what happened before they are ready. “It’s not anyone else’s job to go and tell somebody (what happened),” English sophomore Zeko said. “This is a very private matter. It’s very emotional. It’s not something you want to broadcast. It’s not something you get to jump to immediately. It takes time.”
Kvasnicka said at some points during the competition, team members were putting in 40 to 50 hours a week working on the design. Chris Perkes, team leader and dual masters candidate in the School of Architecture, said the team worked together well. “This was probably the best group experience I’ve ever had,” Perkes said in an email. “All of us were passionate, dedicated and willing to both produce ideas and readily accept feedback.” All of the team’s work paid off — with $50,000, to be exact.
“We felt like we won the national championship in basketball,” business graduate student Mason Rathe said. “It was surreal.” Architecture graduate student Kirsten Stray-Gundersen said the real prize was the experience gained from working with the community. “The process of having members of the community … give us feedback throughout the process was ultimately more valuable than the prize money,” Stray-Gundersen said. “It was really about the experience for us …. Winning was an element we didn’t anticipate.”
on a smartphone’s texting application would result in an emoji of the Republic of Chile’s flag. However, a search with the word “Texas” would not produce any results. Oliverson said this resolution seeks to further clarify this concept and has received support from people even in Chile. Eiman Siddiqui, Oliverson’s chief of staff, said misuse of the Chilean flag emoji on social media, specifically among Texas politicians, inspired the resolution. He said several instances of political office holders ending tweets or Facebook posts about Texas with emojis
of Chilean flags prompted the resolution to address the mistake. “(The resolution) has just put out the word via a lot of social media and a lot of the media’s picked it up and just let people know that this is not the Texas flag,” Siddiqui said. The committee left the resolution pending and did not say when they plan to vote on it. If approved by the Legislature, the resolution is intended to spread awareness of the issue but would not enforce legal penalties for utilizing the Chilean flag emoji to represent Texas.
will practically double and it’s important for states to realize … it costs more to take care of someone who is aging,” Chambers said. The team’s ninemonth policy research project was led by Jacqueline Angel, their public affairs professor. Angel said her students were dedicated to improving the lives of senior citizens beyond the competition. “They tried to identify and explore what options were available for low-income seniors to age (where they reside) and enjoy their quality of life,” Angel said. Storey said competing was intimidating at first, but that didn’t stop the team from succeeding. “We definitely felt like the new kids on the block, especially since so many of the teams that competed do so every year,” Storey said. “While we were less familiar with how the competition would progress, we brought a personal passion and freshness to the process that I thought helped us stand out.” Angel said she hopes more LBJ students compete in upcoming years. She said this year’s team will propose their ideas to the city of Austin in hopes of effecting real change. “We need to ensure that the next generation of policymakers have the opportunity to engage in real life activities to accomplish goals,” Angel said.
CRASH
continues from page 1 Emergency Medical Services confirmed the victim was pronounced dead at the scene. The school bus, which was not carrying passengers, is owned by an individual and does not belong to any school or school district, APD said. The driver stopped and cooperated with police after hitting David. APD said they are investigating the case to determine if anyone is at fault.
@thedailytexan Follow us for news, updates and more.
e1
W&N 3
NEWS
Wednesday, April 19, 2017
Name: 5706/Environment Texas; Width: 60p0; Depth: 20 in; Color: Process color; Ad Number: 5706
3
4 OPINION
ALEXANDER CHASE, EDITOR-IN-CHIEF | @TexanEditorial Wednesday, April 19, 2017
4
COLUMN
Police body cameras should be normalized By Emma Berdanier
Daily Texan Senior Columnist @eberdanier
Last week, the UT Police Department announced that their officers will begin wearing body cameras in an effort to build trust between the UT community and the department. The response to this change has been overwhelmingly positive, and an air of congratulation has also followed the news. UTPD shouldn’t be praised for finally making their officers wear body cameras; policies like this should be expected. Body cameras, small video cameras worn by police officers to record both their actions during their shift and evidence at crime scenes, have become more common in the U.S. And in the wake of a rise in racially targeted violence by police across the U.S. in the past year, the demand for them has increased. People want accountability from the police so they can assure themselves that the officers are acting in their best interest. Sadly, few police departments in the U.S. require their officers to wear body cameras. A 2013 study found that 75 percent of departments surveyed said they didn’t use body cameras. The equipment is costly, not just in terms of the cameras themselves, but in terms of storing the data they collect.
However, bringing a sense of safety and trust to a community is worth the cost, and the state should find faster ways to ensure it. The fact that UTPD is only getting cameras now, and that Austin City Council only just voted to fund Austin Police Department acquirement of them shows a lack of action on the part of the legislature. The use of body cameras reinforces the importance of transparency and accountability within the department. It’s a way to alleviate public concern and mistrust of the police, as well as hold the officers to higher standards. A study performed in the Rialto Police Department in California suggests that the use of body cameras by officers makes officers more self-aware of their actions while on duty. During the 12-month study, the use of force by officers wearing body cameras decreased by 59 percent and complaints against those officers decreased by 87 percent. While UTPD protects a campus rather than a city, they still must be vigilant in maintaining trust with students. Even though there are privacy concerns surrounding body cameras along with the concern of the footage only showing a limited perspective, they are still necessary to hold police accountable. Using body cameras will increase the likelihood
Emmanuel Briseño | Daily Texan Staff
Corporal Eliana Decker of UTPD poses with a newly implemented body camera. UTPD purchased almost 80 body cameras for its officers, allowing for more police transparency when
of students reporting crimes or contacting UTPD when in crisis. They also greatly reduce fear of the police, creating a direct system of accountability. It is comforting to know that UTPD uses body cameras and that APD will soon use them too. But that doesn’t mean it merits
celebration. We should expect, not praise, police officers for wearing body cameras. The standard for our police departments should be simple: to be transparent and accountable when on duty. Berdanier is a philosophy junior from Boulder, Colorado.
COLUMN
Fraternities’ link to rape should not be ignored By Liza Anderson
Daily Texan Columnist @lizabeen
When the University released the results of a campus-wide study on sexual assault last month, they were accompanied by a myriad of promises to recommit to eliminating sexual violence. One arena in which the University has remained silent, however, is the association between Greek life and rape. The administration’s unwillingness to recognize fraternities as a hotbed of sexual assault reflects a troublesome dereliction of the duty it owes its students. Studies have linked fraternities to rape for decades. Belonging to a fraternity is a “significant predictor” for sexual aggression; nationwide, fraternity brothers are three times more like to rape than their peers. Fraternity men commit more than half of all gang rapes. Whoever has the alcohol has the power, and at fraternity parties, the boys have the alcohol. Sororities are not allowed to distribute alcohol, so they are forced to party in the territory of fraternities – where the boys control the alcohol, the environment and ultimately the girls themselves. Nationally, as many as 75 percent of sexual assailants are under the influence of alcohol. At UT, it’s 84 percent. The near-ubiquitousness of alcohol at fraternity parties combines with a male-dominated sphere and the expectation of casual sex to create volatile situations. Add in some alarming perception differences demonstrated by fraternity men and rape becomes — according to one University of Georgia sociologist — a “virtual inevitability.” Fraternity boys exhibit higher levels of hypermasculinity, more traditional attitudes toward gender roles, and — most disturbingly
— higher levels of comfort when confronted with female pain. All of these are strong predictors of sexual violence. Hypermasculinity, expectations for casual sex, and alcohol consumption are integral to the culture of fraternities and intimately linked with sexual violence. Rape culture is in many ways indistinguishable from fraternity culture. No data is available on the link between Greek life and sexual assault at UT; the University’s sexual assault survey makes no mention of fraternities. All of my assertions about fraternities and rape on this campus are claims based on national averages because the University, by failing to address and fully research the problem, has given me no other choice but to guess. A representative from the Office of the Dean of Students acknowledged that “there is a history (in the fraternity community)” of sexual violence and noted that they have specific policies geared toward addressing it. However, she was unable to cite these policies and neglected to follow up with me regarding specifics. When I reached out about what could distinguish fraternities at UT from these national trends, the Texas Interfraternity Council president did not respond to a request for comment. Colleges and universities across the country — many of them public schools — have taken steps in recent years to eliminate fraternities or to place restrictions on their alcohol consumption. The Justice Department has put pressure on universities to address rape in fraternities and off-campus Greek life, but many schools — including UT — are hesitant. The University has the authority to limit sexual violence in fraternities. As registered student organizations, fraternities are subject to specific and expansive privileges, all of
Infographic by Liza Anderson | Daily Texan Staff
which could be revoked simply by the Dean of Students deciding that a “preponderance of the evidence” suggests a link between a certain organization and a violation of the student handbook. And yet, nothing of this sort has happened at UT. It is within the University’s reach to sizably reduce rape at UT, and yet no steps have been taken to highlight the community perpetrating a disproportionate number of assaults. No research has investigated the prevalence of this issue at UT. There is an irrefutable link between fraternities and rape, and by ignoring it, the University prioritizes the enjoyment of some students over the health and safety of others. Fraternities, as we know them, shouldn’t exist. They’re an outdated relic of an antiquated system based on strict hierarchies and
institutionalized gender violence. But as long as they do, the University must pay specific attention to their behavior. Fraternities are a powerful social class on campus. And as long as more prospective students are attracted by UT’s Greek life than are scared away by the fact that 15 percent of UT women are raped, this problem is unlikely to go away. As long as the University continues to ignore this correlation, it puts the well-being of its students at risk. As long as the question of rape culture within fraternities goes unresolved, the administration must recognize that when UT President Gregory Fenves tells us that “one sexual assault is too many,” we know he’s lying. Anderson is a Plan II and history freshman from Houston.
COLUMN
Health should come before soda industry profits By Alina Agha
Daily Texan Columnist @alinaagha96
Last summer Philadelphia became the first big city in the nation to pass the “soda tax” — a tax designed to help reduce the consumption of sugary or carbonated drinks in the U.S. — following Berkeley’s implementation of the tax in 2015. With its implementation, the tax was starting to show benefits to the community. But now the beverage industry is pushing back against the tax, which is slowing down crucial progress made from its implementation. A lawsuit was brought forward by the American Beverage Association and other local businesses claiming the tax was hurting their business. But while businesses may be slowing, the tax is doing exactly what it’s supposed to. The purpose was to decrease soda consumption for the benefit of the health of consumers, and it’s working
— soda consumption decreased by about 40 percent in Philadelphia since the implementation of the tax. Philadelphia isn’t the only place where the tax is working. Berkeley’s consumption has decreased by about 20 percent, accompanied by over a 60 percent increase in water consumption. Moreover, studies have shown that Mexico’s soda tax decreased soda consumption by 5.5 percent and 9.7 percent in 2014 and 2015, respectively. Studies have shown that increasing soda consumption has a direct impact on increased weight gain and is a significant contributor to the obesity problem in the U.S. Taking away the soda tax may reverse the progress that has been made in the United States toward a healthier population, and will only benefit corporations trying to increase their profits. In addition to health related benefits, profits from the soda tax can be directly used to benefit society further. Philadelphia has great plans to put these funds to
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.
use, including creating more pre-K seats and funding of community schools and other public amenities such as parks and other recreational facilities. More than 400,000 people in Philadelphia live below the poverty line and the city has the highest rate of deep poverty — income below half of the poverty line. Some pre-K expansions have already taken place, allowing students from low-income families to get an education instead of staying home all day, and continuing these expansions is likely to have a significant impact on the community’s well being. Unfortunately, the legal pushback from the beverage industry has hampered the implementation of these programs. Philadelphia has to slow down their expansions, halting the progress it was making for the community. If this continues, Philadelphia will have to halt efforts to improve their residents’ health, education and recreational well-being.
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.
Taking away the soda tax may reverse the progress that has been made in the United States toward a healthier population, and will only benefit corporations trying to increase their profits. Legal threats from the corporations should not impede this tax from having the opportunity to expand across the U.S., so that other states can implement similar programs and continue to lessen the consumption of sugary sodas. Profits for the beverage industry must not be prioritized over the health and well-being of the population. Agha is a public relations junior from Karachi, Pakistan.
RECYCLE | Please recycle this copy of The Daily Texan. Place the paper in one of the recycling bins on campus or back in the burnt-orange newsstand where you found it. EDITORIAL TWITTER | Follow The Daily Texan Editorial Board on Twitter (@TexanEditorial) and receive updates on our latest editorials and columns.
CLASS 5
LIFE&ARTS
5
Wednesday, April 19, 2017
FOOD
Former UT technician secures own Thai food truck By Stephen Acevedo @thedailytexan
It’s no secret that Austin has a lot of love for Thai food, but there’s nothing like the real deal. Songkun Phayungpong, owner of the new Thai-Licious food truck, has taken it upon himself to insert some authenticity into Austin’s Thai food game. “A lot of Thai restaurants around here are very good, but I want to bring my own experiences and authentic recipes to Austin,” Phayungpong said. “I want to show people what real Thai food is like.” Phayungpong said his menu and recipes are a result of a lifetime of enjoying the best food Thailand has to offer, from his own mother’s kitchen to some of the country’s most renowned restaurants. After working at UT as a security technician, he decided it was time to pursue his true passion — cooking. “This is something that I’ve always had a very true love for,” Phayungpong said. “Some places in Austin charge a lot more than they should, so I wanted to give people good food for a good price.” Phayungpong’s daughter Mattana Phayungpong, who helps run the food truck, said the authenticity of the food at Thai-Licious comes
TOUR
continues from page 8 “Because most of the homeowners are artists, we allow them to sell their work on the tour,” Shaw said. “It’s a great revenue stream for our artists.” Austin artist Katy Nail is a returning homeowner for the Weird Homes Tour whose house is dubbed “The Art Dome.” Nail said she is able to sell some of her art through
mostly from the quality of the ingredients, especially the spicy chili. “A lot of Thai restaurants in America offer a spicy level,” Mattana Phayungpong said. “Authentic Thai is all about the freshness in all the ingredients. We don’t want to force the chili to be any less spicy.” Although Songkun Phayungpong has been running the truck for only two months, he said his love for the culinary arts has prepared him to run a successful business. “I put my heart in there when I’m cooking,” Songkun Phayungpong said. “I feel good when I cook for people. Some people are not happy to cook, but I feel really happy to offer people the best food possible.” The menu at Thai-Licious is fairly limited, which allows Songkun Phayungpong to pay close attention to detail in each dish. A high point of the menu, as well as Songkun Phayungpong’s specialty, are the heaven ribs, which are essentially a small rack of babyback ribs slow cooked and then deep fried in a secret mixture of batter and seasoning. It is a simple dish, but it delivers a wonderfully savory flavor. The tomato-based sauce poured generously over the ribs blends exceptionally well with Songkun Phayungpong’s custom mix of seasonings. The
ribs aren’t very spicy on their own, but once the ground chili flakes are added, it becomes immediately clear why ThaiLicious does not offer varying levels of spiciness. Just a small dash of the Thai chili will have noses running in the blink of an eye. Another notable menu item
are the Thai wings, which are coated in a thick layer of dry seasoning, fried and layered again with a bit of sweet and spicy glaze. The wings are sweet upon the initial bite, but after a few seconds, a satisfying little spice settles into the taste buds and leaves a slight tingle on the lips before disappearing. It’s a very
the tour, but the main reason she loves Weird Homes is that it gives her the chance to share her unique home with others. “It’s a real special place,” Nail said, adding that its previous owners claimed it had healing powers. “Living in a dome structure is so different and so fabulous and I want to share it, that you don’t have to live in a square home.” The Weird Homes Tour not only highlights the innovation and creativity of Austin’s
architects and homeowners, but also tries to be innovative in and of itself. David Neff said the company recently dipped its toes into the world of virtual reality technology with the help of a local business by making a virtual tour of one of the Weird Homes available online. “We’ve always been experimenting with different technology formats,” David Neff said. “We usually just do photos, but out of the blue,
Above Interactive reached out to us. We were very lucky.” Through innovation, style and art, Shaw said the Weird Homes Tour is meant to bring people together and celebrate weirdness. “The people that own these homes are just as unique and weird and wonderful as the homes themselves,” Shaw said. “It’s a great way to learn about the character of Austin, and to inspire people to think outside the box.”
Mary Pistorius | Daily Texan Staff
Songkun Phayungpong is the owner of a new Thai food truck located at the intersection of Pleasant Valley and Cesar Chavez. Thai-Licious food truck provides an authentic Thai experience.
subdued and well-executed take on chicken wings. The gang keo wan, or green curry, on the other hand, is surprisingly bland. That’s not to say it isn’t good, but compared to other curry options in Austin, it leaves something to be desired in terms of spiciness, which may actually come to the relief of
some customers. However, the coconut milk, peppers and eggplant are noticeably fresh and tasty, while the chicken is nice and tender. Overall, Songkun Phayungpong’s love for the food he makes is sure to translate into a string of successes for the new restauranteur.
RECYCLE
your copy of
Name: CLASSIFIEDS; Width: 60p0; Depth: 10 in; Color: Black; Ad Number: -
2808 Guadalupe Austin Tx 78705 512-477-3173 SPECIAL OF THE DAY Wednesday- $5 O.T. Special & Side
MEDICAL
GET SOCIAL WITH TSM Donate Sperm, Get Paid! Healthy men, age 18-39 apply at
Texas Student Media will keep you connected with daily links to the news, sports and culture stories shaping the UT community.
Dine In or Take Out after 5PM to 10PM
{ DAILYTEXANONLINE.COM Facebook at dailytexan Twitter @thedailytexan
CACTUSYEARBOOK.COM ADVERTISING TERMS There are no refunds or credits. In the event of errors made in advertisement, notice must be given by 10 am the fi rst day of publication, as the publishers are responsible for only ONE incorrect insertion. In consideration of The Daily Texan’s acceptance of advertising copy for publication, the agency and the advertiser will indemnify and save harmless, Texas Student Media and its offi cers, employees and agents against all loss, liability, damage and expense of whatsoever nature arising out of the copying, print-ing or publishing of its advertisement including without limitation reasonable attorney’s fees resulting from claims of suits for libel, violation of right of privacy, plagiarism and copyright and trademark infringement. All ad copy must be approved by the newspaper which reserves the right to request changes, reject or properly classify an ad. The advertiser, and not the newspaper, is responsible for the truthful content of the ad. Advertising is also subject to credit approval.
Reduce • Reuse • Recycle
6 SPTS
6
TYLER HORKA, SPORTS EDITOR | @texansports Wednesday, April 19, 2017
SOFTBALL
BASEBALL
Texas looks to build on three-game Longhorns down Bobcats
streak against Texas Southern in close, defensive slugfest By Wills Layton
By Vanessa Le
@willsdebeast
Last season, the Longhorns shut out Texas Southern by a score of 6-0. Texas looks to build on that performance this year as it battles Texas Southern Wednesday in Austin. Heading into this week, the Longhorns are on the heels of a three-game win streak after sweeping Texas Tech. It was the first sweep of the year versus a Big 12 opponent and also ended a four-game losing streak. The sweep immediately followed a commanding defeat at the hands of the No. 8 Oklahoma Sooners. Against the Red Raiders, the offense displayed firepower, accumulating a total of 24 runs compared to the three scored in the series versus the Sooners. “I felt like we were able to end up getting the outs,” junior pitcher Paige von Sprecken said. “I think just keeping that confidence up is definitely a big key for us in order to be successful.” After a relatively cold stretch in which Texas struggled to score more than three runs in a given contest, the hits began to occur, culminating a season-high of 17 in Saturday’s 11-3 victory. “We talk a lot about those ingame plans and we really want to make those consistent,” senior first baseman Kelli Hanzel said. “We really want to have those in at-bat adjustments as
@vanessale
Joshua Guerra | Daily Texan Staff Senior infielder Celina Felix watches a pitch from the batter’s box at Red and Charline McCombs Field. She excelled with two doubles in her last outing.
well as in-game adjustments.” This year’s roster is filled with both veteran leadership and a host of newcomers, including seven seniors and six freshmen. Other newcomers are transfers such as sophomore pitcher Brooke Bolinger, who started and won one of the games of the recent sweep. A senior who had been underperforming as of late, Celina Felix, tallied a total of three RBIs, two doubles and two runs in the Texas Tech series. After the slow start to the season, Felix delivered a stellar performance at the twilight of her Longhorn career. “Celina is somebody that I’ve had a couple conversations with this spring,” head coach Connie Clark said. “I think she’s getting into the flow a little bit better, and I love that because we need her and her senior leadership.” The freshmen have continued
to perform this season, contributing both leadership and intangibles on offense and defense. During the Texas Tech series, freshmen composed of four of the daily starters. Freshman Taylor Ellsworth currently leads the team in batting average, boasting an impressive .430 mark. This kind of consistency across an entire recruiting class is something the team focuses on fostering and developing. “They’re even keel,” Clark said. “That’s really important with our game because there is so much failure. You can almost take that class collectively and they all have that same approach, which you don’t always get.” The star-studded freshman class will lead the Longhorns against the Texas Southern Tigers at Red and Charline McCombs Field at 5 p.m. on Wednesday.
FOOTBALL
New $10,500 football lockers
among the nation’s elite By Steve Helwick @s_helwick
Tom Herman charged at the wooden lockers armed with a massive rubber mallet in his hands. The head football coach sported a bright yellow construction vest and a hard hat as he swung repeatedly with maximum strength at a locker. Herman’s first offseason with Texas has been nothing short of eventful, garnering headlines for deviating from the norm week after week. In just five months as chief of the program, he posted charts grading his players’ hydration, gave the mascot repetitions at quarterback in a practice and now wielded a mallet while wearing ridiculous getup — attempting to place Texas toward the forefront of attention in the college football landscape. Continuing the offseason theme of “out with the old, in with the new,” Herman believed the next step in rebranding the Longhorns was to upgrade the team’s football facilities. “It says that we’re committed to providing our student athletes the best training facilities in the country, as possible,” Herman said. “We’re going to make this facility as state-of-the-art, as first class as we can. There will be no reason from a facilities standpoint for a recruit to want to go somewhere else.” Despite the relatively large revenue Texas’ athletic programs generate on a yearly basis, the Longhorns’ facilities paled in comparison to those of other in-state programs and rivals. Texas A&M, TCU and Houston, during the final year of Herman’s tenure, all recently upgraded and modernized their locker rooms to dazzle recruits and provide quality treatment for their football players. It is essential to keep facilities up-to-date and aesthetically appealing to entice top-notch high school recruits to commit to the program. Texas finally etched its name into the ever-ongoing arms race of converting athletic revenue into extravagant football facilities. Late last week, the Longhorns posted photographs on social
There was an unusually low amount of scoring going on between the Longhorns and Bobcats at UFCU Disch-Falk Field Tuesday night. The rivals’ two previous meetings ended in a Texas State double-digit walkoff victory and a 9-2 blowout win for Texas earlier this season. But this time around, the Longhorns only needed to score two runs to clinch a 2-0 shutout victory over the Bobcats. “To get a shutout against a team that’s as good as Texas State — that’s a great accomplishment,” head coach David Pierce said. Freshman pitcher Blair Henley played a big role in the Longhorns’ shutout, throwing five scoreless innings to earn his third win of the season. However, Texas State couldn’t catch much of a break after Henley exited the mound. Junior Connor Mayes, sophomore Chase Shugart, redshirt sophomore Tyler Schimpf and sophomore Beau Ridgeway all threw scoreless outings during the big night for the Longhorn pitching staff. Ridgeway picked up his eighth save of the season as the Longhorns’ closer in the game. “The pitchers did a phenomenal job,” freshman third baseman Ryan Reynolds said. “Blair was lights out — it’s just awesome how he just comes in there and throws strikes and has a great tempo. We were just ready to play behind him and make plays.”
Joshua Guerra | Daily Texan Staff
Freshman infielder Ryan Reynolds swings at UFCU DischFalk Field. Reynolds ranks second on the team with five home runs this season.
The Longhorn pitchers kept Texas State’s batters silent all night, but the Bobcats didn’t lack scoring opportunities throughout the game. Texas State loaded the bases with no outs on two different occasions, but the Longhorns were able to fight back and escape from trouble both times. “What I like seeing about that is that I thought we elevated our pitches and were able to continue to make quality pitches,” Pierce said. “I thought usually on the offensive side, you feel like you press and chase a little bit, but we made very quality pitches to have the opportunity to get out of it.” Reynolds led the Longhorn offense with a three-hit night. The third baseman teed off on Bobcat pitchers with a pair of doubles, making him the only player to record extra-base hits in the game. Reynolds credited his productive night to the adjustments he made with Pierce during practice. “I came off kind of a slow weekend and got with the
coaches,” Reynolds said. “Coach Pierce came up and just told me not to swing as hard as I can — he actually came into the (batting) cages with us and was showing us how to do it … It was fun, it was awesome. He’s not as bad as you think — he can swing it.” After coming out on top in the two teams’ last meeting of the season on Tuesday, Texas has successfully won the season series with a 2–1 record over the Bobcats. The Longhorns picked up their 25th win of the season to match the amount of wins they had at the end of last year. Pierce attributes this overall improvement to the Longhorns’ discipline during mid-week games. “If you look how tough our conference is and you look at the balance of our schedule, and now you look at the position we’re trying to create, it’s because of doing our job on Tuesday nights as the bottom line,” Pierce said. “I really commend the kids of the way they’ve approached these games.”
Name: 5347/South Texas College of Law; Width: 29p6; Depth: 10 in; Color: Process color; Ad Number: 5347
Joshua Guerra | Daily Texan Staff
Tom Herman coaches at the Orange-White Spring Game on April 15. Herman is a strong advocate for the new facilities.
media platforms of the design of the incoming lockers. “Unfortunately, guys that have seen other facilities and things like that are like, ‘You know, Texas doesn’t have this, another school does,’” defensive end Naashon Hughes said. “But now with the upgraded facilities, they’re like, ‘Texas has that too’ or ‘Texas is better.’” The lockers are each worth an estimated $10,500, embellished with unique features including a 43-inch high-definition monitor at the pinnacle. The futuristic-style lockers give the locker room a stainless steel look in contrast to the traditional wooden design. After renovations, Texas’ new lockers rank among the most luxurious in the nation.
“I think it’s outstanding,” offensive coordinator Tim Beck said. “There’s no one in the country that has what we’re putting together right here, both in facilities and in the energy level and enthusiasm that we’re bringing into the program, the unity and the tightness within the guys. It’s different here.” The underlying reason for spending about $10 million on new renovations is to improve recruiting. Herman mastered this process at Houston, where he landed the program’s first five-star recruit in history, Ed Oliver. After acquiring the 31st-ranked class in 2017 according to Rivals, the upgraded facilities might convince recruits to reconsider Texas as a premier option once more.
Name: 5645/Clements Center for Nation; Width: 19p4; Depth: 4 in; Color: Process color; Ad Number: 5645
COMICS 7
COMICS
7
Wednesday, April 19, 2017
Name: CROSSWORD; Width: 29p6; Depth: 5.5 in; Color: Black; Ad Number: -
SUDOKUFORYOU
Today’s solution will appear here next issue
3
1 4 6 7 1
9 4 6 7 1 8 9
2
1 5 9 8 7 2 6 9 9 1 2 1 3 6
atey. This scurrvy beast be today’s answerrrrrr.
4 6 1 7 9
6 4 3 5 2 9 7 1 8
1 9 2 6 8 7 4 5 3
7 5 8 3 1 4 2 6 9
3 2 1 9 4 6 5 8 7
5 8 4 1 7 2 9 3 6
9 7 6 8 5 3 1 2 4
4 3 5 2 9 8 6 7 1
2 6 9 7 3 1 8 4 5
8 1 7 4 6 5 3 9 2
8 L&A
8
MAE HAMILTON, LIFE&ARTS EDITOR | @thedailytexan Wednesday, April 19, 2017
CITY
Sherwood Forest Faire jousts through final weekend By Chris Boyd Peck @ChrisBPeck
About 40 miles from the UT campus, off US-290 E, is a place where families can be transported back to the era of King Richard the Lionheart — singing songs, watching armored men joust and catching a break from modern society. The Sherwood Forest Faire is a Renaissance festival held east of Austin during the spring that attempts to recreate the spirit of the 1100s with live music, theater performances, pubs and sports. The fair began in 2009 when co-owner Eric Todd received backing to purchase a plot of land east of Austin. Co-owner George Appling said Sherwood was a way to marry their business skills with their passion for medieval and Renaissance history. “It’s 1196 in Nottingham, England, and you get to pretend that all of your cares are away,” said Appling. “You can be someone else, see things that you wouldn’t see or experience or taste anywhere else.” Todd said he spent months trekking through Texas looking for a piece of property to host the fair. Appling decided to pursue
his passion and join the festival to become Todd’s partner, but in doing so had to give up being CEO of a major company. “My father asked me why I’m not going for the next CEO job, why have I given up my ambition,” said Appling. “I said, ‘Dad, I’m running a business that brings a day of joy to a hundred thousand people a year, that’s worth doing.’” While the fair is only open for a eight weeks, Appling said he and many others do an immense amount of work all year long to bring the festival to life. Each year the fair is open, it progresses further into the reign of Richard the Lionheart. Appling said the theater troop caters their performance to something specific each year. “We take historical accuracy more seriously than other fairs, but not so seriously that it dampens the patron experience,” Appling said. “We have diet coke and flushing toilets, and (those were) not available in 1196.” Apart from the Spring fair, Sherwood Forest offers summer camps for children and adults. Teach Minchew, Sherwood Forest Summer Camp Director, said there are 13 instructors at the
Illustration by Albert Lee | Daily Texan Staff
camp that teach patrons a variety of skills such as leather work, candle work, and archery. This year, Charlie Andrews, world champion jouster, will be doing demonstrations. “Our goal is to get as (much) one-on-one (time with) the kids as we can, and our ratio right now is six campers to an adult,”
said Minchew. “Our level of learning is very high.” Minchew said one of the first rules of the camp is that there are no modern electronics allowed. This allows for an environment where everyone can unplug from the crazy, fast-paced culture of Austin. “Whenever you step back from (modern technology), and find what
you can do with your own two hands and not what you see in a video on YouTube,” Minchew said. “It’s that finding out what you are really capable of doing (that) is an amazing thing to watch.” The Sherwood Forest Faire has become a staple Renaissance fair in Texas, and Appling said they only
plan on expanding it from here. He hopes to make it more authentic while keeping it friendly for all ages. “If you can get out to Disney, you can get out here,” said Todd. “It’s better than Disney.” The 2017 Sherwood Forest Faire will end this Sunday, April 23.
CITY
Local homes tour keeps Austin weird, housing affordable By Andrea Tinning @andreawinning
From tree houses to converted metal storage units, the only thing the houses featured in the Weird Homes Tour have in common is the attention they attract from passers-by. On April 22, 10 eye-catching Austin homes will open their doors to the public. The tour showcases artistically or architecturally unique homes in Austin while giving local artists a platform to sell their work. A portion of the revenue collected from ticket sales goes to nonprofits dedicated to creating opportunities for affordable housing. Tickets are currently on sale for $30, while VIP passes are going for $45.
The Weird Homes Tour is the brainchild of entrepreneur power-couple David and Chelle Neff, both of whom are successful businesspeople. But the Weird Homes Tour isn’t just an invitation to live vicariously through a stranger’s grandiose home decor. At it’s heart, the tour is ultimately philanthropic. “(We’re) really into giving back and supporting nonprofits in town,” UT alumnus David Neff said. “When we started this business, we knew we needed to give back (to the community) through this business towards affordable housing.” Ten percent of the revenue from the Weird Homes Tour is donated to local nonprofits like Foundation Communities in Austin,
which is committed to affordable housing. David Neff said affordable housing is important in a city like Austin, where the costs of living are only rising. Since its debut in 2014, the Weird Homes Tour has spread to Houston and New Orleans. David Neff said the homes featured in the tour are weird in the sense that they should leave people with a new perspective on how they could structure their own living space. In addition to donating to local nonprofits, tour manager for Weird Homes Kevin Shaw said the company also gives back to the community by providing local artists with avenues to sell their work.
TOUR page 5
Courtesy of Thanin Viriyaki
This home, which was featured in the 2016 Austin Weird Homes Tour, was picked for its unique architecture and interior style.
Name: 5599/Cue Creative; Width: 60p0; Depth: 5 in; Color: Black; Ad Number: 5599
Name: 5678/House Ads; Width: 60p0; Depth: 2 in; Color: Process color; Ad Number: 5678