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WHAT’S INSIDE
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Brave New Books leaves The Drag. PAGE 3
OPINION UT athletes deserve workers’ compensation. PAGE 4
LIFE&ARTS Ghostwriter realeases autobiography. PAGE 8
REASON TO PARTY
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ONLINE The Texan talks comedy with Eugenio Derbez. Read more at dailytexanonline.com
STATE
Hazing definition expanded by Senate By Claire Allbright @claireallbright
A Texas Senate committee unanimously passed a bill Tuesday that would broaden the definition of hazing used in civil and criminal cases. Senate Bill 50 authored by state Sen. Judith Zaffirini, D-Laredo, would clarify that actions involving coerced consumption of alcohol or drugs, or which require breaking federal state or local laws, are acts of hazing. “Senate Bill 50 would clarify and reform the statute to facilitate the prosecution of hazing offenses and thereby help ensure that this state’s college campuses remain environments that promote community, citizenship and learning,” said state Sen. José Menéndez, D-San Antonio, who introduced the bill. Currently, hazing is defined as “any intentional, knowing or reckless act, occurring on or off the
HAZING page 3
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McRaven resigns from investment board By Anusha Lalani UT System Chancellor William McRaven decided last Wednesday to give up his seat on the board of the University of Texas Investment Management Co. in order to have the position filled by a Texas A&M System representative instead. The announcement came a day before the UTIMCO board meeting, where the board also approved a change in the name to the University of Texas/Texas A&M Investment
Management Company, but will still be known as UTIMCO for short. The change reflects the inclusion of the Texas A&M System, which is also a part of the investment company. “(McRaven) has appreciated the experience and the exposure to the process by which the investments of the various funds benefitting the UT and Texas A&M systems are governed and managed,” said Jenny LaCoste-Caputo, executive director of media relations and external communications for the UT System, in an email. “As
SPORTS Texas softball prepares for North Texas. PAGE 6
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UNIVERSITY
@anusha_lalani
NEWS
Wednesday, April 26, 2017
conversations have unfolded between the two systems over the past several months about the opportunity to increase the A&M presence on the board, McRaven willingly volunteered to give up his role on the board.” Texas A&M System Chancellor John Sharp said he approves of McRaven’s decision and the adjustment to the investment company’s name. According to the Austin American-Statesman, Sharp has wanted a stronger A&M presence since he
MCRAVEN page 2
Joshua Guerra | Daily Texan Staff
UT System Chancellor William McRaven has decided to give up his seat on the University of Texas Investment Management Co.
CAMPUS
Students hold anti-hate rally at West Mall By Kayla Meyertons @kemeyertons
A group of students stood Tuesday morning on the West Mall in front of a microphone and held signs declaring their stance against hate and discrimination towards the LGBTQ community. The “Students Against Hate” rally was hosted by members of the LGBTQ community at UT, including the Queer and Trans Student Alliance and Texas Rising, a statewide organization promoting reproductive, LGBTQ+ and voting rights. Richelle King, co-president of UT Texas Rising, said bills such as House Bill 2899 — the House version of Senate Bill 6, or the “bathroom bill” — aggressively targets transgender people, specifically transgender women. “We must stay politically active and depend on one another for protection and liberation,” King, a government and women and gender studies senior, said. “As a bisexual Texan myself, I will not tolerate the bullying done to my lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer and gender expansive siblings, especially my trans sisters.”
Chase Karacostas | Daily Texan Staff
Government junior Tony Hernandez speaks in front of students and news crews on the West Mall Tuesday morning in opposition to the controversial Senate Bill 6. The bill would force individuals to use the bathroom that matches the sex on their birth certificate.
The 85th Texas Legislature has a Republican majority and is pushing a number of religious refusal bills, which would allow Texans to refuse service to an individual if
doing so conflicts with “sincerely held religious beliefs.” Government freshman Jensen Soderlund, ambassador for Texas Rising, said the purpose of the rally is to
bring awareness to the 25 bills that would allow discrimination against LGBTQ people in Texas. “Some of (the bills) allow doctors to deny medical
treatment to gay people,” Soderlund said. “Some of them let social workers to not put gay children in foster
RALLY page 3
CAMPUS
CITY
UT ROTC celebrates 70th anniversary, honors alumni
Smart Trips encourages greener transportation
By Stephanie Adeline
@lisa_dreher97
@stephadeline
The Tower was lit orange Tuesday to celebrate the 70th anniversary of the UT Army ROTC program. The UT Army ROTC hosted a reception and ceremony at the Carpenter-Winkel Centennial Room in Darrell K. Royal Stadium to honor cadets and alumni of the program. Lt. Gen. (Ret) Lawson Magruder III, an Army ROTC alumnus, spoke at the reception. Magruder said he was proud of the cadets and alumni for serving the nation regardless of who is governing. “Many in our nation are a little upset, and some are happy about the results of the presidential election,” Magruder said. “Those of us and those who are on active duty today, they raised their right hand to defend our constitution and obey the lawful orders of our commander in
By Lisa Dreher
Ann Morris | Daily Texan Staff
Ret. LTC Boris G. Robinson speaks about his experience in the Longhorn Battalion and how ROTC influenced him on Tuesday night.
chief … regardless of who is commander in chief.” Lt. Col. David Zinnante said what makes UT’s Army ROTC program special is cadet involvement in campus organizations. “We don’t really have any one-trick ponies here in ROTC,” Zinnante said. “These young men and women are involved in sororities, in fraternities, in service
organizations … We all know that that involvement is what is going to help us down the road and what’s going to help us provide the service that’s needed to be provided to our nation.” Cadet Eric Kasper, a government junior, said he is proud of the UT Army ROTC program. He chose to enroll at UT instead of going to West Point
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The Austin City Council decided Thursday to continue a program that will assist residents with personalized commuting routes by bus, bike or carpool in an effort to eliminate cars and reduce traffic congestion. Capital Metro implemented the pilot program, called Smart Trips, last year in North Central Austin and asked 12,600 residents if they wanted a Smart Trips employee to map out an alternative route of their everyday commute by car. City Council and CapMetro each spent $150,000 for the pilot program. The Council has promised to continue to spend that amount every year. Of the 648 who used the pilot program, CapMetro communications specialist Mariette Hummel said in an email that 26 percent of survey respondents
reported they tried a new transportation option. “The report shows us that the program succeeded in its goals of decreasing drive-alone trips and generally increasing active transportation,” Hummel said. If residents expressed interest in the program, they received customized tool kits which included various items such as transit passes, bike lights and bus route maps. Hummel said students in particular can benefit from Smart Trips because many of them do not have a personal car and can learn how to explore Austin without needing one. “Many students never get a chance to explore the city,” Hummel said. “In fact, we have worked with students who have never crossed the river or gone further north than the Triangle! Smart Trips provides a whole new
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