Serving the University of Texas at Austin community since 1900
WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 13, 2017
@thedailytexan | thedailytexan.com
Volume 118, Issue 21
CITY UNIVERSITY
Lyft, SURE Ride offer free nightly rides to UT students By Chase Karacostas Senior Reporter
Lyft is now offering free nightly rides for students traveling from campus to nearby residential locations seven days a week from 11 p.m. to 4 a.m. Starting Monday night, Lyft began offering a new year-round pilot program called SURE Ride in partnership with Parking and Transportation Services, PTS. The program offers free rides to students from campus to parts of West Campus, Riverside and North Campus, and as of Tuesday afternoon, a few thousand students have enrolled, PTS said. Aaron Fox, general manager for Lyft in Austin, said Monday night’s rollout went smoothly, and they had their first rider within five minutes of the program starting. Fox said they’ll be monitoring the number of rides a week to ensure they have enough drivers. “We are thrilled to partner with Parking and Transportation Services,” Fox said. “Anything that makes the campus environment safer that we can be a part of is a huge win. I’m an alum, and I really wish we had this program when I was at the school.” The coverage area includes West Campus, the Intramural Fields, North Riverside and half a dozen other areas
george villegas| daily texan staff
UT President Gregory Fenves announces a $15 million appropriation for financial aid during the State of the University Address on Tuesday.
UT increases financial aid offerings By London Gibson Senior Reporter Fenves pledges more financial aid for lowincome families. UT’s promise to appropriate $15 million in financial aid for middle-income families will expand this year to include low-income families, UT President
Gregory Fenves said during the annual State of the University Address on Tuesday. Fenves announced the addition as a part of a year-long goal to improve upward mobility for students. The funds for the increased financial aid will come from a recurring Available
University Fund received from the UT Board of Regents. “When a student comes to UT, they do get a life-changing education that dramatically improves their future — but therein lies a problem,” Fenves said during the speech. “You have to get here first. You need access to
achieve success.” Citing a 2016 study, Fenves said the amount of children earning more than their parents has fallen from 90 percent in 1940 to 50 percent today. Fenves said for UT graduates, the numbers are less bleak; nearly half of the
AID page 2
SURE RIDE page 2 CAMPUS
STUDENT GOVERNMENT
Study Abroad Fair features opportunities for everyone
SG resolution backs undocumented students
By John Melendez Issue Reporter
Students filled the Gregory Gym Plaza for the fall study abroad fair Tuesday, visiting the tables of more than 80 different study abroad programs offering destinations around the globe. The fair was held from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. and is the biggest study abroad event of the year at UT, according to Laura Kaplan, study abroad program coordinator. Kaplan said she experienced firsthand how studying abroad can offer life-changing experiences and wants students to experience the same. “I studied abroad my junior year in Prague, and it was the best experience I had in college,” Kaplan said. “It’s really transformative, and I felt like I really grew into the adult that I was going to become.” Various exchange partner
schools, such as the University of Melbourne in Australia, were there to represent their universities and are looking for students who want to spend a whole semester in a different country studying at a university. Although there were only a few of these partner schools at the fair, UT has exchange agreements with over 100 universities around the world, according to the UT International Office website. Psychology and bilingual education freshman Nazlee Khadjeheian said the condensed amount of information at the fair offered a way to learn about the different opportunities available to her. “It’s a little bit overwhelming, but (the fair) was definitely helpful,” Khadjeheian said. “Now I know what resources to go to get more information that will
FAIR page 2
By Eric Vela News Reporter
The Student Government Assembly passed four pieces of legislation on Tuesday night, including a resolution to support undocumented students that was introduced last week. After a debate from opposition, the Student Government Assembly passed Assembly Resolution 14, which advocates for the support of undocumented students and raising emergency funds for them. It also calls for congressional action to pass legislation to protect “Dreamers,” recipients of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program, or DACA. Liberal arts representative Jordan Cope, an international relations and global studies senior, voiced his concern about taking sides in the undocumented student issue. “One of my biggest campaign promises when I ran was to make sure I would
try to help intellectual and academic freedom on campus by not taking any sides in any political matters that manage to find their way into student government,” Cope said. “My opposition to this resolution does not necessarily represent my
megan menchaca| daily texan staff
Student Government passes a resolution supporting undocumented students, calling for congressional action to protect DACA “Dreamers.”
personal views on undocumented students.” SG chief of staff Santiago Rosales, who co-authored the resolution, responded to this concern by stressing SG’s responsibility to undocumented students. “At the end of the day, the
student government body has, in years past and even recently, taken stances in support of undocumented students because one of their primary qualifiers is that they’re people,” Rosales
NEWS
OPINION
LIFE&ARTS
SPORTS
SCI&TECH
Greek organizations showcase their talents at Go Greek. PAGE 3
Student tracking apps pose difficult ethical questions. PAGE 4
Local drag king group, Boiz of Austin, redefine boy band image. PAGE 8
The Texas-Texas A&M rivalry approaches in volleyball. PAGE 6
Women tend to leave STEM professions early in their careers. PAGE 5
Athletics Fronts Strip ; Process color
SG page 2
2
Wednesday, September 13, 2017
CAMPUS
New startup app offers discounts for students L
This issue of The Daily Texan is valued at $1.25
PERMANENT STAFF Editor-in-Chief Laura Hallas
Assoc. Photo Editor Gabriel Lopez
Assoc. Editors Cuillin Chastain-Howley, Caleb Wong, Jaree Campbell, Liza Anderson
Senior Photographer Carlos Garcia, Angel Ulloa, Brooke Crim, Katie Bauer, Gabriella Lanza
Senior Columnists Emily Vernon, Noah Horwitz, Michael Jensen, Josie MacLean, Sam Groves, Emma Berdanier, Ryan Young
Life&Arts Editor Morgan O’Hanlon
Forum Editors Vik Shirvaikar, Janhavi Nemawarkar Managing Editor Michelle Zhang Assoc. Managing Editor Matthew Adams, Natalia Ruiz News Editor Ellie Breed Assoc. News Editor Catherine Marfin, Kayla Meyertons News Desk Editors Paul Cobler, Hannah Daniel, Lisa Dreher, Lisa Nhan, Wesley Story Senior Reporters Chase Karacostas, London Gibson, Jenan Taha, Reagan Ritterbush, Ashley Liu, Maria Mendez Enterprise Reporters Forrest Milburn, Will Clark Copy Desk Chief Bella McWhorter Associate Copy Desk Chiefs Ryan Steppe, Taylor Presley, Morgan Kuehler, Kirsten Handler Design Editor Rena Li
Assoc. Life&Arts Editor Justin Jones, Daisy Wang Sr. Life&Arts Reporters Stephen Acevedo, Chris Duncan, Acacia Coronado, Albert Zhao Sports Editor Michael Shapiro Assoc.Sports Editor Trenton Daeschner Senior Sports Reporters Alex Briseno, Drew King, Steve Helwick, Dalton Phillips Double Coverage Editor Vanessa Le Comics Editor Geovanni Casillas Assoc. Comics Editor Melanie Westfall, Victoria Smith Senior Comics Artists Channing Miller, Rachel Tyler, Alexis Acevedo, Amber Perry Social Media Editor Alexandria Dominguez Assoc. Social Media Editor Forrest Milburn Sr. Social Media Editor Giselle Suazo, Carlos Garcia Science&Tech Editor Julianne Hodges
Associate Design Editor Sunnie Lee Senior Designer Mallika Gandhi, Mingyo Lee, Aaliyah Jenkins Video Editor Thomas Negrete Assoc. Video Editor Monica Silverio, Courtney Joyney Senior Videographer Faley Goyette, Petyon Young, Van Hershey, Taylor Herselman, Audrey Black Photo Editor Juan Figueroa
Assoc. S&T Editor Freya Preimesberger, Sarah Bloodworth Senior S&T Reporters Areeba Khwaja, Aditya Singh Podcast Director Zeke Fritts Assoc. Podcast Director Sam Groves, Morgan Kuehler, JT Lindsey Digital Operations Director Anna Wang
S&T Reporter
People are buzzing about a new startup application called UNIBEES, a nationwide, one-stop-shop for deals and free food aimed at college students. Founded in 2016, the app simplifies the way students interact with their college community. The company, based in Dallas, recently expanded to UT this year, offering deals for businesses on Guadalupe Street. “We have the deals right next door to the University of Texas campus,” UNIBEES founder Abinav Kalidindi said. “These companies range from Thai, How Are You? to Smoothie King to Qdoba.” The problem, Kalidindi said, is that there are too many applications that offer deals on food and entertainment. He added that none of them are geared towards college students, and none of them let the students know where to get free food.
Editorial Adviser Peter Chen
AID
Photographers Ashley Nava, Marc Cornejo, George Villegas, Harper Yatvin, Kaylee Knights,Megan Menchaca Sports Reporters Justin Martinez, Hicks Layton Comic Artists Lauren Ibanez, Annette Meyer S&T Reporters Kevin Dural
students who graduated in the early 2000s that came from families in the lowest income percentile are now earning at least twice the amount their families earned. “From a policy perspective, this is the definition of upward mobility,” Fenves said. In 1999, the percent of undergraduates to graduate in four years was around 40 percent, Fenves said. In the most recent numbers from 2016, the four-year graduation rate was more than 60 percent. Fenves said reducing the amount of time it takes for a student to graduate lessens the cost of education and allows the school to increase the number of students it accepts every fall. He said the University admitted 1,000
ISSUE STAFF Columnists Spencer Buckner, Zach Price Reporters John Melendez, William Yang, Katie Balevic, Grace Dickens, Megan Menchaca, Megan Shankle L&A Reporters Andrea Tinning, Samantha Sparber Designers Wendy Lopez
By Kevin Dural
CONTACT US MAIN TELEPHONE (512) 471-4591
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
Laura Hallas (512) 232-2212 editor@dailytexanonline.com
MANAGING EDITOR
Michelle Zhang (512) 232-2217 managingeditor@ dailytexanonline.com
NEWS OFFICE
(512) 232-2207 news@dailytexanonline.com 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.
continues from page 1
“There are too many applications out there,” Kalidindi said. “We needed an application that took the students into a perspective that would individualize everything.” Free and fun activities on campus are one section included in the app. Kalidindi said having an application that gives deals on food and also advertises entertainment around campus would be much more useful for college students. “It’s simple: Students have to eat three times a day.” Kalindini said. “This is the focus. However, teenagers also love movies, food and especially saving money.” He also added that the application currently helps over 1,000 companies and clubs gain traction. When they host events, these organizations can post about it on the UNIBEES app to advertise to students. “We want people to show up. This allows better promotion for student organizations,” said Harlan Beverly, assistant
more freshman this year than it did six years ago. Economics junior Thibault Sharma said expanding the financial aid promise to include lower-income families is a positive step taken by the University. “A lot of lower-income people don’t have opportunities to go to college,” Sharma said. “The more chances they get to go to UT, which is one of the best public schools in the nation, the better.” Computer science sophomore Nicole Currens comes from a middle-class family, and said she supports the move to increase financial aid for lower-income families and understands the difficulty of paying for a college education. “Generally, I think it’s harder for lower-income students to pay for college,” Currens said. “I know that without a lot of my family’s
director at Texas Venture Labs. Kalidindi said that these organizations on campus are
in one place and not scattered around,” Kalidindi said. “Just open the app, and
“An application like this would connect me with students that I can collaborate with on the music I make outside of school. … Using UNIBEES would let me connect with the resources and people I need on campus.” —Ty Temple, Business sophomore
well-funded, but this application can solve the problem of marketing. Students can go to one app to see everything happening around campus. “Their attention will be support and a lot of help from financial aid, it would be really difficult for me to pay for college.” In addition to supplying increased financial aid for middle-income and low-income families, Fenves said the University will invest further in faculty through increased funding for recruitment and retention of faculty, as well as through additional merit raises for staff. Fenves said expanding resources for faculty may limit spending in other areas. The affected areas will remain undetermined until the President presents a detailed funding plan to the Board of Regents later this fall, said UT spokesman J.B. Bird. “We must invest in faculty,” Fenves said. “Our purpose as a research university can only be fulfilled by having the best faculty to drive education and discovery.”
see all of what there is to do around campus.” In addition, the application offers a new feature, called the Hive, that can connect students with particular
FAIR
continues from page 1 actually put me on the path to studying abroad. It made it a more realistic option for me.” Faculty-led programs were also showcased at the fair, with options such as Switzerland, Ireland and South Africa. Students have the option to take these kinds of classes in the summer or in a four-week study abroad semester starting in May, according to the office’s website. The fair also had information on internships that come through a variety of organizations and can be personalized by major and country of preference. Students who are
interests to one another — but this isn’t a dating app. The application matches people that would want to be friends or collaborate with one another based on their common interests. “An application like this would connect me with students that I can collaborate with on the music I make outside of school,” business sophomore Ty Temple said. “Often times, I’ve needed help from a videographer. Using UNIBEES would let me connect with the resources and people I need on campus.” UNIBEES decided to expand into the UT market because Kalidindi said the school’s population offers many opportunities for the app. “In addition to its massive size, the culture of collaboration at the school is very strong,” Kalidindi said. “Students need one application that will connect them with other students of similar interests and tell them what’s fun to do around campus.”
interested in studying abroad but are scared of the program being too costly may not be aware of the amount of financial aid options available to them, said Bridget Gonzalez, academic records and scholarship administrator. Students can find information about scholarships, loans and grants on the International Office website. “The biggest misconception among students is that study abroad is not affordable,” Gonzalez said. “Our office is dedicated to ensuring that study abroad is feasible for any and all students. We are always available to help alleviate students worrying about paying for this.”
CAMPUS AUSTIN WEATHER TODAY Sept. 13
HI LO
TOMORROW Sept. 14
95º 70º
By Megan Shankle
HI 95º LO 71º
Issue Reporter
what would we do without “Creep” by Radiohead?
BUSINESS & 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, Paulina Siller Product Manager Stephen Salisbury Senior Graphic Designer Amanda O’Brien Production Zac Crofford
THE DAILY TEXAN MAIL SUBSCRIPTION RATES $60.00
One Semester (Fall/Spring)
$120.00
Two Semesters (Fall & Spring)
$40.00
Summer Session
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.
ADVERTISING DEADLINES Monday
Wednesday, 12 p.m.
Tuesday
Thursday, 12 p.m.
Wednesday Thursday Friday Classified Word Ads
Texas Political Union debates impact of political personas
Friday, 12 p.m. Monday, 12 p.m. Tuesday, 12 p.m. 11 a.m. (Last Business Day Prior to Publication)
With the deafening bang of a wooden gavel, the Texas Political Union’s first debate of the semester was in session. In an open debate hosted Tuesday night by the organization, students discussed the personalities of current politicians and how personality can help or hinder their ability to enact public policy. Daniel Orr, classics senior and president of the Texas Political Union, opened the meeting with a statement on the importance of fostering discussion in the era of the Trump presidency. “Discussion has kind of fallen out of the soul of American society,” Orr said. “Not just discussion between Democrats and Republicans, but serious discussion between opposite ends of the earth. Through that kind of engagement, we become leaders, and we become better citizens.” Orr said the “cult of
personality” in politics has existed for centuries around the world. “This is a phenomenon that we’ve been living with for a long time,” Orr said. “Perhaps it’s an unshakeable part of democratic life.” The debate was then opened up to the audience, where students were encouraged to voice their opinions on the effects of politician’s personalities. “Politics is very much a ‘what have you done for me lately’ kind of game,” history sophomore Mark Mathenge said. “People are frustrated, and they don’t have very long memories.” Government sophomore Janna Sayfie said societal gender roles played an important role in the 2016 election by changing the public’s perception of the candidates. “When you have Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton, Donald Trump portrays himself as this macho man, the typical male gender role,”
Sayfie said. “And you have Hillary Clinton, who doesn’t really play to the typical female gender role. I think that hurt her in a way.” Mathenge said Trump has no ideological consistency, meaning it can be difficult to pinpoint his position on issues. “He’s Schrodinger’s politician,” Mathenge said. “For any given issue, he both supports and argues against, and you never know until you open the box.” Physics graduate student Paul Vonder Haar said Trump’s career as a celebrity and businessman led to his eventual election. “(Trump) sticks in your head,” Vonder Haar said. “He’s been sticking in the head of the American consciousness for 30 years.” The Texas Political Union’s next debate on Sept. 19 will tackle the issue of North Korea’s nuclear development and how it should be handled by global powers.
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.
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.
marc cornejo| daily texan staff
Texas Political Union opens their first debate of the semester by discussing the impact of political personas on the sociopolitical sphere.
kaylee knights| daily texan staff
Students visit booths at the Study Abroad Fair on Tuesday. More than 80 study abroad programs tabled at the event.
SG
continues from page 1 said. “The fact that they’re in this space means they deserve advocacy from the body that is elected from them.” Government junior Jacob Pena, the other author on the resolution, added that they are not the only ones advocating for support of undocumented students. “President (Gregory) Fenves and Chancellor (William) McRaven have both made statements on (DACA),” Pena said. “For a majority of issues, they remain apolitical. They don’t often comment or take sides. But here, they are supporting their students. I think that’s something we would like SG to do as well.” SG also introduced Assembly Bill 5, which would amend SG’s attendance policy with the hopes of improving the attendance record of its representatives. The amendment includes limiting unexcused absences to two per semester, after
which the representative would meet with the organization’s Ethics and Oversight Committee. “You ran for these positions,” said social work senior Natalie Engel, who co-authored the bill. “It is important that you are here to represent the people who voted for you. Last year we had a problem with attendance, and we got called out for it. We have to fix that.” In addition, SG unanimously passed Assembly Bill 4, which creates a single pool for all financial rollovers from SG committees. SG internal financial director Eric Saldanha, who authored the bill said that the bill was important to alleviate issues SG has had in the past. “Rollover, as you know, is pretty high,” Saldanha said. “There was a Daily Texan article last semester calling us out for it, so this bill is going to help us with that and make ourselves more financially accountable.” SG also approved four committee appointments.
W&N 3 3
Wednesday, September 13, 2017
CAMPUS
Latino Pan-Hellenic Council showcases diversity
—Aaron Fox, Lyft general manager
feature, Lyft Line, which set things in motion for Monday’s roll-out, Stone said. Lyft Line allows riders to take
y e -
o t o d
s . n g s t e
r
one of the best things they’ve ever done,” Tomayo said.
51
ST
ST
North Campus 38
TH
ST
T ES UP
HS
T
IH-
35
24T
Main Campus West Campus
WM
15 TH
AR TI
drop-off area
N LU
TH ER
KI NG
JR BL
VD
ST
Lake Austin 6T H
ST
Free Lyft coverage area pickup area
Other coverage areas not shown include: Far West, North Riverside, Lake Shore, Crossing Place and Red River.
SOURCE: LYFT
infographic by mallika gandhi | daily texan staff
6288/House Ads-TSM - Director’s; Process color
APPLY to work at
THEDAILYTEXAN.COM/PARTICIPATE
e -
k o s e o e d x
PTS currently has a yearly budget of $75,000 for the program, which is above the estimate Lyft gave them for
the cost of running SURE Ride until next August. However, the program is still in its pilot stages, and its popularity will decide whether or not it is renewed next fall, Stone said. Radio-television-film senior Topazia Hunter said that as someone who used to live far from campus in Riverside, it’s nice to have this program shorten student commutes at night and increase safety. “This is a really good thing that they’re doing, making transportation better for students who study here at all hours of the night,” Hunter said. “I know it can get pretty dangerous at night given all that’s been recently happening, so I think this is a nice alternative to reassure students … that we have more safety measures in place.” To sign up, students must download the Lyft app and opt into the program through a link available on the PTS website.
“People that are Greek in this council can truly say it’s
AL
“Anything that makes the campus environment safer that we can be a part of is a huge win. I’m an alum, and I really wish we had this program when I was at the school.”
change,
AD
a reduced-cost Lyft if they don’t mind riding with someone else who has close pickup and drop-off locations.
a
GU
with high concentrations of students. PTS director Bobby Stone said these areas were chosen based on data collected during an early ride-hailing pilot program and general knowledge of where students typically live. “It really will enhance access for students as well as safety,” Stone said. “I think it’s something that will be of really, really great value to everybody on campus.” Two years ago, PTS began looking for a way to fill the public transportation gap between 11 p.m., when the buses near campus stopped running, and 4 a.m., two hours after SURE Walk closes. Stone said they originally struggled to get funding because the Student Services Budget Committee was not comfortable funding a program that might not last more than a few years, and Uber and Lyft both left Austin in May 2016.
When Lyft and Uber returned over the summer, Lyft reached out about the program with a new cost-saving
about making Tamayo said.
VD
continues from page 1
harper yatvin| daily texan staff
Sigma Delta Lambda performs at the Latino Pan-Hellenic Council’s biannual showcase demonstrating Greek life diversity on Tuesday evening.
BL
SURE RIDE
have as many students with Latino backgrounds. “It really provides a sense of comfort,” Rangel said. “At least, I know that is what it did for me.” Psychology junior Ana Duran said she was seeking a community at UT after transferring into the University this fall. “I really want to get involved,” Duran said. “I’m a transfer student, so it’s my first year here, and I really don’t know anyone yet. I feel like I’m away from my family, and I just want to have someone.” Duran said she is excited to have sorority sisters that she can share her personal and academic experiences with and to have people that will push her to do better. The Greek organizations of the LPHC are looking for new members that are passionate
AR
The Latino Pan-Hellenic Council, LPHC, hosted its biannual showcase event Tuesday evening to show potential new members the values and traditions of its sororities and fraternities. Five sororities and three fraternities talked about their organizations and performed various traditional dances and salutes. “Many people have bad connotations about Greek (life), but our organizations truly do believe in graduating our members because that’s what we’re here for,” said Bryan Tamayo, LPHC president and civil engineering senior. “To us, (skin color) is not important at all.” The LPHC is an organization of fraternities and
sororities who are passionate about the Latino culture, and the LPHC is a place where students can find their place on campus, Tamayo said. “UT is a really big campus. It’s kind of hard sometimes making friends,” Tamayo said. “Most of these (LPHC) organizations do believe that this is a bond for life.” The LPHC also prioritizes making sure students have a strong support system, said Carla Rangel, a member of Lambda Theta Alpha Latin Sorority Incorporated. “We’re here … to really support a platform for other Latino students to come and see that they have a home within UT,” said Rangel, a bilingual education junior. Rangel said she sees the LPHC as a way to bring together Latino students at a large campus that does not
AM
Issue Reporter
NL
By Katie Balevic
6299/Wildflower OB/GYN; Process color
SEPTEMBER 20, 2017 10 AM - 3 PM SPEEDWAY PLAZA
• UTexas.Rent Tent with tons of student housing options • Exhibitor booths with awesome samples, giveaways and special offers • Recruiters with internship and job opportunities, interview tips and more VISIT WWW.UTAUSTINMARKETPLACE.COM FOR MORE INFO.
4
LAURA HALLAS EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
@TexasOpinion
Wednesday, September 13, 2017
COLUMN
Student tracking raises ethical dilemmas By Josie MacLean Senior Columnist
Arkaive is a free app that uses geolocation to track your class attendance. Created by two USC graduates, Arkaive sells itself as simplifying the attendance process, but the reality of requiring an app that tracks students should raise eyebrows. Dr. Lucky Atkinson, Associate Professor in the Stan Richards School, told me her two priorities, when searching for a new system to take attendance,were that it be cost-free and impossible to cheat. Arkaive seemed to fit the bill for both. After describing the challenges of random attendance checks, overworked TA’s hand-entering scribbled EIDs, and most importantly, trying to keep the cost of attending her classes as low as possible. “Arkaive seemed like a better solution,” Atkinson said, “but still not a perfect one.” While Atkinson is aware that most students automatically balk at the idea of having one of their professors be able to geolocate them, “I kind of placate my concerns by thinking all [my students] are giving them is your email address, location and the class that you’re taking,” Dr. Atkinson said. But when you read the terms and conditions on Arkaive’s website, there’s a bit more to it than
illustration by channing miller | daily texan staff
that. Like most “free” apps, you’re paying with your information instead of cash. According to Arkaive’s Terms and Conditions (that link next to the box you have to check before moving to the next screen) when using Arkaive, “You will be exposed to User Content and Submissions from a variety of sources,” and “Arkaive is not responsible for the accuracy or truthfulness relating to such User Content and Submissions.” This means that
Arkaive is selling ad space- you are their product, not their customer. “I’m in favor of technologies that enable instructors and TAs to spend more time supporting student learning rather than taking care of tedious administrative tasks. But there are privacy and security issues.” Mary Crawford, an Instructional Designer with Moody College, wrote in an email about the use of Arkaive. While Arkaive itself does not let professors look up a student’s
GUEST COLUMN
exact location at any given timeit simply blocks “check in” if your phone is in not in the designated classroom- using the app displays advertisements and forces the user to turn on Location Services, which some students choose to turn off for privacy or ad-avoidance reasons. According to Crawford, the university doesn’t allow professors to require students to download an app if they don’t want to. And, to Dr. Atkinson’s credit, she’s
been flexible and understanding with students who have had technical difficulties or, like myself, ethical dilemmas. On a university-wide level, there’s no policy about whether or not it’s okay for professors to use a geo-location app. “The University gives faculty members really broad discretion to do what they need to in their classes.” explained Joey Williams, Director of Communications in the Office of the Exec VP and Provost?. “The faculty members to decide how and if they’ll take attendance, because the classes offered here are so diverse,” Williams said. Privacy concerns have faded from the public view in the last few years, especially within our own generation. In 2016, 90 percent of smartphone owners used their phones for directions or other location related services. In Wisconsin, one technology company even started offering microchip implants to their employees. Arkaive wants to geolocate you to make sure you’re in class. Personal technology that tracks the user has become ubiquitous, but that does not make this trend benign. While all of these services no doubt have the potential to be helpful in day to day life- it leaves me wondering- where do we draw the line? MacLean is an advertising and geography junior from Austin.
COLUMN
Rise of cities necessitates further civic engagement By Spencer Buckner Guest Columnist
In his roaring re-entry to the Senate after surgery in July, Sen. John McCain stated the obvious — “(congress) is getting nothing done.” With hyper-partisanship rendering federal and state governments unreliable sources of policy and progress, it’s time for Americans to recognize the potential that cities hold in the policymaking process — and finally do their part to end the apathy at local polling booths. While the 115th Congress has been more successful in passing legislation than the previous three, continued political blunders — such as the inability for the majority Republican congress to repeal Obamacare, a centerpiece of the party platform — remind us of how inept the federal government can be at passing substantive legislation. It’s no surprise then that with a myriad of issues across the country demanding urgent action, other actors have begun to fill the shoes that federal and state governments have been unable to. Whether it be Seattle’s $15 minimum wage experiment; the over 350 mayors (including Austin’s Steve Adler) pledging to uphold the Paris Agreement that the Trump administration left; New Orleans’ charter school success story; or the heavily debated sanctuary city movement, cities have become the new American laboratories of democracy. This recent trend of city empowerment has largely been spurred by a dramatic increase in economic clout in American cities and metropolitan areas. With 80 percent of Americans now living in cities, and urban centers forming the core of the national economy, the goals of city leaders are shifting more toward caring for current residents. Through a broad web of partnerships, cities are using their newfound relevance to enact serious policy agendas. City projects are spending more money, implementing broad policy initiatives and claiming a more tangible impact on the lives of constituents than either state or federal governments. Even with
this ascension to relevance, however, Americans remain willfully aloof to city politics. While cities currently face resistance to their forays into new policy arenas, the largest challenge to the success of burgeoning city politics comes from within. Local elections coinciding
If Americans continue to believe that the only elections worth voting in are presidential and midterm races, they leave the fate of city governance in the hands of a tiny sliver of the population.” with presidential races see voter turnout rates consistent with national levels of around 60 percent, but special elections and city elections not coinciding with national races see turnout rates plummet. Austin’s last joint general and special election in May of this year saw registered voter turn-out at an abysmal 6.26 percent. When city governments are continually growing in relevance, scope and power, it becomes imperative that Americans take part in city elections. If Americans continue to believe that the only elections worth voting in are Presidential and midterm races, they leave the fate of city governance in the hands of a tiny sliver of the population. With cities more empowered than ever to venture into new realms of policy, it is irresponsible to ignore them. If the federal and state government continue to fall short of enacting meaningful policy, cities will act. The question now is whether the American people will too. Spencer is a Plan II and government freshman from Austin.
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.
Austin mayor Steve Adler speaks at a press conference in February after meeting with eight other Texas mayors.
carlo nasisse daily texan file
ashley nava| daily texan staff
An installation at the Blanton Art Museum by Brazilian artist Cildo Meireles promotes conversations about religion and history in South America.
Texans must engage with Latin American histories in artwork By Audrey Larcher Columnist
Working as an art museum guard, you develop an eye for small things. My job at the Blanton Museum of Art requires attention to skewed angles and tilted frames. I notice visitors with fingers that twitch to touch artwork. I search for miniscule painting scratches. And every day, I witness when guests meander our halls, consistently spending a little more time in the Latin American gallery than any other section. It makes sense why this gallery compels visitors. Pieces like Jorge de la Vega’s anxious oils, Oscar Munoz’s contemplative sketches and Julio Alpuy’s joyous prints all capture innately human experiences. They tangibly illustrate the abstract complexities of existence, subjecting viewers to a wide range of powerful emotions that command more of their attention. But while most Texans can enjoy a trip to the Latin American gallery, Trump’s recent DACA repeal threatens 200,000 mostly Latinx people into fear of leaving their homes. This political reality and its surrounding experiences are inextricable from Latinx art. Considering our nation’s surge in xenophobia and racism, it is more important than ever to connect with the broader narrative behind Latin American art. Museum curators must incorporate the political history behind this art and its relation to current events into exhibits. Latin American art’s emotional command is rooted in politics. The region’s characteristic imagery and personal themes erupted out of colonial history, a product of pre-Colombian art’s evolution to cope with genocide, slavery and cultural destruction. These political influences
SUBMIT A FIRING LINE | E-mail 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.
permeate Latin American art history, taking form in traditions from muralis to magic realist literature. This political lineage still holds strong. Mexican citizen and permanent U.S. resident Angelique Rosales-Salgado studies art history at UT, but creates her own art to celebrate Latinx identity. In her opinion, this celebration inextricably encompasses a critique of power structures. “I don’t think you can separate the fact that Latin American art is influenced by historical, political conflict,” she remarked. Similar artistic approaches are visible in Latin American art across Austin. The Harry Ransom Center’s new exhibition on modern Mexican art showcases Diego Rivera and Frida Kahlo, two artists known for incorporating vocal politics into their art (the former of whom featured Lenin in one of his murals). Gabriel Garcia Marquez’s manuscripts, which illustrate imperialism’s impact on Latin American culture, live in the archives just above. The Mexic-Arte Museum on Congress provides a space dedicated to highlighting Mexican artists and their experiences. These artists’ political voices ring clear, but arts patrons may not necessarily be aware of them. As Latin American communities continue to resist hegemonic powers such as the Trump administration, Senate Bill 4 and heightened day-to-day racism, the responsibility falls on curators to amplify these voices and bring their political message to exhibition’s forefront. People are moved by this art. If we expose them to the stories of who made this art and why they made this art, we can foster greater understanding of immigrants’ struggles. And maybe that will translate into more compassionate law. Larcher is a Plan II sophomore from Austin.
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 (@TexanOpinion) and receive updates on our latest editorials and columns.
5
JULIANNE HODGES SCIENCE&TECH EDITOR
@thedailytexan
Wednesday, September 13, 2017
HEALTH
Medical school pilot program cuts wait times By Areeba Khwaja Senior S&T Reporter
A pilot program launched by Dell Medical School, Community Care Health Centers and Community Care Collaborative, has reduced wait times for women in Travis County who have no insurance or low incomes. The program has managed to reduce wait times by more than four weeks. Previously, these women waited approximately 55 days to get appointments or to receive treatment for their conditions. Now, the wait time is 24 days for firsttime appointments and only 10 days for follow-up appointments, according to a press release from Dell Medical School. The program treats women who have a condition that
falls under the umbrella of pelvic floor disorders. According to the National Institutes of Health, pelvic floor disorders result from weakened or injured muscles and connective tissue in the pelvic area, often leading to incontinence or bladder pain. One in four adult women in the U.S. suffer from at least one pelvic floor disorder, according to a 2014 study in the journal Obstetrics and Gynecology. “The pilot is a new model where a team of providers, including a nurse practitioner, pelvic floor therapist, a specialist and a social worker, practice collaboratively to better address the needs of the patient,” said Dr. Amy Young, chair of Dell Medical School’s Department of Women’s Health. “We aim to
brittany le| daily texan staff
A program launched by Dell Medical School has reduced wait times for uninsured or low income women in Travis County.
collect as much information from patients prior to the visit to maximize our time with a patient.” Patient cases are reviewed in conferences prior to their appointment so that
a potential plan for care is already established. “These changes ensure that patients arrive and that they can start the care journey without a lot of wasted time finding records,” said
the Women’s Health team at CommUnityCare Clinic. Patients do their part by completing patient-reported outcomes before their visit. At their first point of contact, patients see a nurse practitioner who follows an evidence-based pathway to care. If needed, the nurse practitioner can then forward the patient to a specialist, a requirement for only 20 percent of patients. “The visit is guided by patient goal-setting and their own reported outcomes,” Young said. “Each provider works at the top of their training, guided by a care pathway established by best available evidence. Thus, we are able to meet the needs of more patients in a better way.” The pilot program has also started offering in-house
pelvic floor physical therapy and behavioral health services to more comprehensively address the needs of their patient population socially and emotionally. In the future, there are plans to open two more integrated practice units, or units organized around a particular medical condition, in the Women’s Health Institute that will focus on chronic pelvic pain and vulvovaginal disorders. “We will eventually open a number of care pathways for women that include treatments for cancer and other complex conditions,” said the Women’s Health team at CommUnityCare Clinic. “We are always committed to measuring the outcomes that matter to patients to measure how good our care is.”
SOCIOLOGY
Sociology professor researches gender gap in STEM fields By Shezaz Hannan S&T Issue Reporter
Although the number of women studying engineering has steadily increased over the past few decades, women are more likely to leave the profession early in their careers. Graduates of STEM — science, technology, engineering and math — degree programs tend to leave their field earlier than graduates with nonSTEM degrees in general, and there is a gender component to this trend. Women tend to leave STEM fields twice as fast as men, according to sociology professor Jennifer Glass. A study conducted by researchers at MIT in 2016 found that the experiences of women in engineering during their internships, particularly when
participating on team projects, may be the explanation for the move away from the field. Glass is also researching this phenomenon; by following chemistry and chemical engineering graduates through the beginning of their careers, Glass hopes to learn why women leave STEM fields earlier. According to Glass, men and women in those majors hold internships at the same rate. However, there is evidence that women are less satisfied with their internships. This may point to social climate issues in these jobs, something Glass hopes to better understand through her research. Tricia Berry, director of the Women in Engineering Program at UT, said culture may also be the issue. She said
company leadership plays a role in shaping a more accepting space for women. “It’s set from the stance of the leadership in what’s tolerated, what’s allowed, their policies and strategies,” Berry said. Numbers also play a role in shaping the culture of a company. “When you have a low percentage of women, it’s hard,” Berry said. “You start to question your belonging.” Berry said students should really consider the culture of these companies when applying for internships. Architectural engineering senior Destiny Gamble said the culture of a company is not one of the main things she specifically looks for in an internship. “If the interests and values of a company align with my
interests and values, then their culture is my culture,” Gamble said. Gamble does, however, think there is a culture issue in engineering overall. “People don’t really work together or say what they’re feeling,” Gamble said. “It’s okay to talk about what’s hard and talk about things.” In addition to the empathy issue, she said there are greater communication issues which plague engineering culture. “There’s a blurred line in communication between men and women,” Gamble said. “In industry, women and men just need to communicate better with each other and understand each other better.” Berry said she thinks there are ways in which UT can better prepare students for
illustration by mel westfall | daily texan staff
internships, such as building communication skills for students by giving them more opportunities to do presentations. She added that it is important for there to be realistic conversations about what to expect in the workplace. “There needs to be a balance
between realistic conversations and equipping minority students to be prepared to handle those situations, without scaring them away from engineering,” Berry said. “We need to empower them and equip them while also working on the culture.”
CLASSIFIEDS; Black
TIFF’S TREATS IS HIRING Tiff’s Treats Cookie Delivery is looking for happy, hard-working people who are quick on their feet, passionate and LOVE customer service to deliver treats to our customers! Drivers use their own vehicles for delivery and must have a valid driver’s license and insurance. Delivery Drivers Earn: $10/hour plus tips and delivery fees for a total averaging $15-20/hour. TO APPLY please visit our website at: www.cookiedelivery.com
THIS WEEK IN TEXAS ATHLETICS THURSDAY, SEPT. 14 | 6:30 P.M.
XC TEXAS INVITATIONAL OLD SETTLERS PARK, ROUND ROCK
MEDICAL
Donate Sperm, Get Paid! Healthy men, age 18-39 apply at
Admission is FREE for all fans!
FRIDAY, SEPT. 15 | 7 P.M.
SOCCER VS. UTRGV MIKE A. MYERS STADIUM
CACTUSYEARBOOK.COM
The first 250 fans at Myers Stadium receive a Texas Soccer keychain!
YOUR PURCHASE SUPPORTS STUDENT JOURNALISM
UT STUDENTS!
THE DAILY TEXAN LONGHORN LIFE TEXAS TRAVESTY CACTUS YEARBOOK BURNT X KVRX RADIO TSTV
TO PURCHASE AND SHOW YOUR SUPPORT VISIT WWW.SINCE1791.US
THE BIG TICKET MORE THAN JUST A TICKET.
Just $175 gets you access to all regular season Texas Athletics home events. That's over 120 games, matches, and meets on the Forty Acres!
TexasSports.com/BigTicket TexasSports.com/FacStaffTix TexasSports.com/Tickets 512-471-3333 digest.texasstudentmedia.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
MICHAEL SHAPIRO SPORTS EDITOR
@texansports
Wednesday, September 13, 2017
FOOTBALL
Longhorns prepare for USC showdown By Trenton Daeschner Assoc. Sports Editor Texas meets No. 4 USC on Saturday at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. It’s the first time the Longhorns have played the Trojans since the 2005 national championship game — a 41-38 victory for Texas. Here are four notes from Tuesday’s practice. Buechele practices for first time since injury Sophomore quarterback Shane Buechele practiced on Tuesday for the first time since suffering a bruised throwing shoulder in the season opener against Maryland. Texas announced that Buechele participated in all of practice and had “limited throws.” Buechele sat out the contest against San Jose State last Saturday, with freshman Sam Ehlinger making his debut for the Longhorns. It’s still uncertain if Buechele will play on Saturday, but Tuesday was a positive step in the sophomore’s progress. “He looked pretty good to me,” junior running back Chris Warren III said. Texas’ players didn’t reveal much else about Buechele’s status. Maybe that’s part of the plan, too, as the Longhorns may not want to give away too much about the nature of their starting quarterback situation.
2005 season, Texas will clash with USC. The programs have ventured in different directions since, as ESPN has the Longhorns as 15.5-point underdogs on Saturday. “I would say it is what it is,” junior cornerback P.J. Locke III said. “I feel like it’s supposed to be like that. USC’s a great football team. We’re gonna prepare the same way we always do.”
gabriel lopez| daily texan staff
Junior running back Chris Warren III rushes the ball in Texas’ 56-0 win over San Jose State.
Sophomore wide receiver Collin Johnson didn’t budge on any questions about Buechele practicing Tuesday. “You’re gonna have to ask the coaches that,” Johnson said. “I have no idea.” Warren shines in win over San Jose State Chris Warren III has experienced a run of bad health for close to a year. He played in only four games last season before
suffering a knee injury against Oklahoma State, forcing him to miss the rest of 2016. Warren also suffered a hamstring injury in spring camp, battled a case of the mumps in the summer and suffered a concussion in preseason camp. But on Saturday against San Jose State, Warren finally got a chance to prove he is back. Warren carried the ball 16 times for 166 yards and two touchdowns in Texas’ 56-0 vic-
tory over the Spartans. Warren, who is splitting carries with sophomore Kyle Porter this season, said he feels like he’s back to doing what he does best. “I feel really healthy,” Warren said. “I feel able to go out there and run and do what I do. Just waiting for game day now. It’s all in the preparation.” Longhorns heavy underdogs against USC For the first time since the
Jefferson responds to “Horns down” gesture USC junior running back Ronald Jones II may have ignited a fire inside the Texas locker room during the Trojans’ game against then-No. 14 Stanford last Saturday. Late in the fourth quarter of USC’s 42-24 victory at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, Jones — a McKinney, Texas, native — rushed for a 23-yard touchdown and made a bold statement in the end zone, putting down the Hook ‘em, Horns hand sign. On Tuesday, junior linebacker Malik Jefferson responded to Jones’ gesture. “If that’s his preference, I’m gonna let him live with it if he feels that way,” Jefferson said. “If he’s trying to send a message, well it’s been sent. I receive it, so that’s how I’m gonna take it.”
WOMEN’S GOLF
VOLLEYBALL
Texas golf finishes first tournament
Lone star showdown awaits Longhorns in College Station
By Hicks Layton Sports Reporter
The Longhorns kicked off the 2017 season at the Dick McGuire Invitational in New Mexico on Monday and Tuesday, placing 10th out of 18 teams competing. Despite team standouts senior Sophia Schubert and freshman Agathe Laisne — winner of the 2017 European Ladies Amateur Championship — missing the tournament to compete in the Evian Championship, the Longhorns still notched three top-25 individual finalists. “You have to have a team that’s capable,” head coach Ryan Murphy said. “You have to prepare well, and then you have to have some lucky things happen that week.” Freshman Kaitlyn Papp, a local star from the Austin area, made her college debut this week and finished tied for 20th. Papp entered college ranked as the No. 5 prep golfer in the nation per Golfweek and was part of the 2017 Junior Solheim Cup Team for the U.S. that emerged victorious over the European squad. Papp started off hot in the first round of the tournament on Monday, firing off a 2-under par 70 at the Championship Course at University
By Justin Martinez Sports Reporter
photographer name here| daily texan staff
Sophomore Maddie Luitwieler swings her driver at the Betsy Rawls Invitational in Austin during the 2016-17 season.
of New Mexico. “This is a great course — it’s challenging and you have to place the ball well,” Papp said. “I am really happy with how I played (Monday) morning; played bogey free for my first collegiate round.” Sophomore Greta Voelker, the 2017 Big 12 Freshman of the Year and recipient of an All-Big 12 Conference selection, didn’t get off to the start she wanted with a 3-over par 75 in the opening round. But Voelker fought back with a 1-under par 71 in round 2 and an even par 72 in round three to finish tied for No. 18 individually. “Today was a grind,” Voelker said Tuesday. “I struggled
a little bit this morning with my putter and wedge game, but I turned it around this afternoon. I was really happy with how I drove the ball.” Sophomore Emilee Hoffman, a 2017 World University Games team gold medalist, shot a 3-over par 75 in the first round, but came back with second and third round scores of even par 72 and par 1-over par 73, respectively. With the Invitational now in the rearview mirror, the Longhorns will look to cap off the month of September with a strong finish in the Schooner Invitational at the Belmar Country Club in Oklahoma. Tournament play will begin on Sept. 23.
6232/McCombs School of Business; Process color
There’s something about the color maroon that gets people fired up in Austin. Texas A&M left the Big 12 in 2011, but that didn’t dissolve tensions between the two teams. The renowned rivalry is alive and well in Texas, just waiting for the next chapter to be written. That chapter will unfold this Wednesday as the No. 6 Longhorns head to College Station to take on Texas A&M. Texas enters the match looking to rebound off a hard-fought 3-1 loss to No. 1 Minnesota at home. The Longhorns kept it close, but the Golden Gophers’ explosive offense, led by freshman opposite Stephanie Samedy’s 22 kills, proved too much to overcome. The Longhorns walked off their home court knowing they just missed out on a statement win. “We were just too emotional,” senior libero Cat McCoy said. “It sucks to lose, but it’s still so early in the season. We have a long way to go until the summer, so we just have to get back to work.” Texas has now faltered against its two best opponents this year, losing to No. 3 Florida at the VERT
Challenge before last week’s defeat to Minnesota. But every loss brings a lesson, and Texas hopes to use this tough competition as a learning block for the future.
But any time we play a team in Texas, it’s a different mindset. We run Texas.” —Cat McCoy, Senior libero
“We could have easily scheduled matches where we would be undefeated right now,” head coach Jerritt Elliott said. “But we wanted to put our kids in some adverse situations so they can adapt and grow.” Now the Longhorns have their sights set on Texas A&M. And although the Aggies are just 3–3 this season, they have no intentions of losing on their home court, especially to Texas. “(Texas A&M) is very battled-tested too,” Elliott said. “It’s just another situation where we’ll have to
adapt early on to the stresses, and I want to see if we can do that.” Texas has plenty motivation of its own though. The Longhorns have won their last 16 matches against instate opponents, and they take pride in ruling the Lone Star State. “(Texas A&M) is a good team,” McCoy said. “But any time we play a team in Texas, it’s a different mindset. We run Texas.” This trip up I-35 won’t be uncharted territory for just Texas’ freshmen. The Longhorns haven’t played in College Station since 2011, making Reed Arena a foreign atmosphere for even the team’s veteran players. “It’ll be fun to get to play at their place this time,” McCoy said. “It’s going to be a great environment, and I’m sure they’re going to bring their A-game.” After already facing so much adversity this season, the Longhorns aren’t backing down from the challenge. And although it’ll be an uphill battle on the road, all bets are off when they see the Aggies in their signature shade of maroon. “This is an important one,” Elliott said. “This is what makes college athletics so fun.” First serve for Texas vs. Texas A&M is scheduled for Wednesday at 7 p.m.
brooke crimm| daily texan staff
Senior libero Cat McCoy hits the ball at a match in Gregory Gym. McCoy has produced five points and 23 assists for the No. 6 Longhorns in her final season.
7
Wednesday, September 13, 2017
Annette Meyer
CROSSWORD; Black
Today’s solution will appear here next issue
3 5 8 6 2 3 2 1 4 1 7 3 1 4 8
4 7 7 9 1 6 4 8 7 1 2 3 8 5 8 9 6 7
SUDOKUFORYOU 3 1 5 6 7 2 8 4 9
4 9 8 3 5 1 6 7 2
2 7 6 9 8 4 1 3 5
7 6 4 5 3 9 2 1 8
9 8 3 1 2 7 5 6 4
1 5 2 4 6 8 3 9 7
8 2 9 7 1 6 4 5 3
5 4 1 8 9 3 7 2 6
6 3 7 2 4 5 9 8 1
8
MORGAN O’HANLON LIFE&ARTS EDITOR
@thedailytexan
Wednesday, September 13, 2017
CITY
Drag king troupe reigns over Austin By Andrea Tinning L&A Reporter
The crowd at Elysium screams, squeals and swoons for the same performers every month with the same vigor as preteens do at an Ed Sheeran concert. Austin’s only drag king troupe, the Boiz of Austin, bucks against the conventional boy band mold and redefines what it means to be a heartthrob. On the second Tuesday of each month, the Boiz produce a new routine at Elysium on Red River and will celebrate their second anniversary this December. Troupers dress in costumes, dance and lip sync popular songs often to convey a message of self-acceptance and provide visibility to members of the LGBTQ community. For many, such visibility is life-changing. Malakai Beausoleil, a performer in the Boiz, said the troupe actually saved his life. “When I joined the Boiz, I was in a horrible mental spot. I had plans to drive off of 183
and kill myself,” Beausoleil said. “The only thing that prevented me from doing that was I thought, ‘I have a show next week, I have to perform.’” Beausoleil, who performs as Jonah Archs, is known for his choreography. He said the troupe itself is important because it empowers members of the audience who might not feel accepted elsewhere. “We’ve actually had people come up to us after shows and say, ‘Thank you so much, that number that you did on stage really helped me feel more comfortable with myself,’” Beausoleil said. Drag kings are often thought of as female performance artists who dress in drag to exemplify male stereotypes. However, for many performers, that definition is inaccurate if not flat-out wrong. “Drag is not pink and blue — it’s a full rainbow,” said Alex Andersen, a producer and performer for Boiz. “Anyone of any identity can do any type of drag. That’s the fun of it. There’s no right or wrong way to do
it as long as you’re just being yourself on stage.” Andersen said performances from the Boiz and similar groups are necessary because they give members of the LGBTQ community the confidence to express themselves and prove there is a place for them as artists. Although some Boiz members, including Andersen, are professional dancers, expertise is not a requirement. Ashley Clark joined the Boiz after moving to Austin and expressing an interest in musical theatre and drag to friends. Clark had experience with musical theater and drag from high school and college and found the group to be welcoming. “In general, they’re very open to people who are invested in the art of drag in some way or want to learn,” Clark said. “I do it because it’s important to be radically and enthusiastically queer in public. It’s really liberating and empowering.” Clark said she knew she had found her niche after her first
CAMPUS
alex andersen| daily texan staff
The Boiz of Austin are currently the only drag king troupe in the city.
meeting with the Boiz, and that the friendly atmosphere is what made her stick with the troupe. “It was a very supportive environment to wander into,” Clark said. “Any one of these people, after you meet them for the first time, would do
anything for you.” For Andersen, drag is not just a genre, it’s about validating his identity as a transgender performer and giving representation to members of the community. “We show them by being on stage, your existence is valid,”
Andersen said. “You are represented on stage. You can have a career as a performer looking like this, identifying like this. I think it’s very important to have that kind of representation for all kinds of people and not just drag queens or gay men.”
CITY
Austin Museum Day celebrates 20 years By Sami Sparber L&A Issue Reporter
juan figueroa| daily texan staff
Mitchell Sommer works out on the rock wall at Gregory Gym, where students should follow the Texan’s etiquette tips for a stress-free workout.
Four principles of etiquette to follow at Gregory Gym By Albert Zhao Senior L&A Reporter
The 40 Acres can feel cramped at times, but few places rival the congestion of Gregory Gym. Between the gym’s peak hours of 5-8 p.m., a combination of inadequate space, sweaty stench and competing hip-hop and electronic music blaring from personal speakers can be excruciating. Whether you are peacefully jogging or aggressively deadlifting, your workout can be spoiled by someone’s lack of consideration. Here are some rules to follow on your next trip to Gregory Gym so you and your fellow Longhorns can peacefully coexist and exercise. Put it in your cubby When Gregory gets crowded, the last thing you expect is to trip over a stranger’s backpack because the person came straight from class and didn’t know where to put it. You need to put your belongings in a locker if you don’t have time to run home or back to your car before your workout. A number of campus buildings, from McCombs to Garrison, supply lockers
for students. They usually require you to bring your own lock, so head over to GRE 2.204 to see which locker you can use. You can also place your things directly in Gregory’s $32-per-semester lockers or its daily coin-lockers, which cost a quarter each time. Remember, don’t blockade your fellow gym mates. Be a sweetie, wipe the seatie Gyms smell because sweat smells. The issue isn’t the liquid itself but your skin bacteria breaking down sweat secretions, thus releasing your unique blend of body odor. This is a bit gross to think about, but picture the hundreds of people whose sweat compounds on gym equipment daily. Don’t be the person contributing to this collection after using the gym bench. Bring a towel to wipe down equipment after use. Exercise mats, the seats of exercise machines and displays on treadmills should all be dry and presentable for your fellow gym mate’s use. Gregory Gym fortunately provides towels for students to borrow; however, they cost either $1 a day
check us out
ONLINE
or $28 a semester, so remember to pack one with you beforehand. Clean up, clean up, everybody do your share Failing to return equipment after using it is a novice mistake committed by people in gyms everywhere, but in one as crowded as Gregory, it causes an extra level of chaos. If you are using dumbbells, medicine balls or any other retrievable equipment, you should put it back right after use. Not only is it rude to hog shared equipment, but people who just came in will not know what’s available. This advice is particularly aimed at people lifting, especially those who leave a junkyard of weights at their feet. Sharing is caring If you’re new to exercising in Gregory Gym, you may feel confused by what’s available for you to use since so many people are there. Don’t be afraid to ask someone if he or she is finished with the equipment. If the person is not, then ask for a time estimate. You’re as entitled to the equipment as the marathon runner in training.
stories videos photo galleries thedailytexan.com
Take a second and picture a museum — it’s probably old, dusty and full of memorabilia preserving the past. But for Austin Museum Day’s 20th anniversary this Sunday, organizers are focusing on the future. On Sept. 17, 39 museums in the Austin area will offer free admission as well as several new interactive features. Between new technology, new content and even new museums beyond Austin’s city limits, the Austin Museum Partnership is sending a message: This isn’t your parents’ Museum Day. According to Nick Nobel, co-chair of the partnership, Austin Museum Partnership has updated its app and now allows users to create an individualized itinerary of museums and activities. “We’ve been working really hard to fine-tune the app, and something that people had requested was the ability to set their own agenda,” Nobel said. “We’re excited to give visitors the opportunity to tailor their experiences to their own personal tastes.” Alex Morrison, co-chair of the Austin Museum Day Committee, said the app update will allow visitors to maximize their time on Museum Day. “Last year I met a family who was trying to visit five museums in the one day,” Morrison said. “Hopefully more families will be able to do that this year thanks to the new feature on our app.” Austin Museum Partnership
illustration by amber perry | daily texan staff
will also debut an Austin Museum Day Snapchat geofilter, which Morrison said will help create a living memory of the event. This sharing and celebrating of seemingly ordinary moments is the focus of this year’s programming at the Austin History Center, an institution that’s been part of the annual event since 2012. Mike Miller, managing archivist for the Austin History Center, said the center’s “Families in the Archives” activities will shed light on everyday families and their stories. A preservation station, pop-up exhibit and oral history recording booth will allow visitors to utilize new technology and interact with history in new ways. “It’s fascinating to recognize that to be a part of history doesn’t mean you have to be an important government official or a big business owner,” Miller said. “People who just get up in the morning, work an 8-, 10-, 12-hour day, go home to their families, go to bed, get up and do it all over again — they’re important to the history of our town, too.”
6202/Capital Metro; Process color
Austin Museum Partnership has also expanded its museum network to include institutions in other parts of the Texas Hill Country, such as Georgetown and Johnson City. According to Morrison, more participating museums mean more potential visitors. “We try to serve as many people in the Austin area as we can,” Morrison said. “Last year, we served a little over 28,000 visitors, and we’ll probably have about 28,000 to 30,000 visitors this year.” Although this year marks an important milestone, Nobel said he believes the partnership is just getting started. Austin Museum Partnership has big plans for the future of Austin Museum Day. “When Museum Day started, it was just a handful of institutions,” Nobel said. “Now we’ve expanded to 39 institutions, so really, the best commemoration that we can do is to keep expanding, keep serving the community, keep serving our institutions and just continuing to make Museum Day a much bigger deal than the year before.”