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MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 18, 2017
@thedailytexan | thedailytexan.com
Volume 118, Issue 24 UNIVERSITY
FOOTBALL | TEXAS 24-27 NO. 4 USC
UT drops automatic acceptance rate to top 6 percent By Maria Mendez & Jenan Taha Senior Reporters
juan figueroa| daily texan staff
Sophomore running back Kyle Porter struggles to gain ground in the run game. Porter finished the game with five carries for nine yards.
Texas falls in double overtime thriller The underdog Longhorns nearly upset No. 4 USC before a late-game field goal By Alex Briseno Senior Sports Reporter
Texas nearly shocked the college football world on Saturday night — nearly. No. 4 USC wasn’t supposed to trail Texas by three points with 30 seconds remaining in regulation. And the Trojans weren’t supposed to be held to just 17 points in regulation by the same defense who gave up 51 points to Maryland two weeks before, either. But that didn’t matter on the final play. The crowd went silent as the ball soared through the air. But
when it flew through the upright, allowing the Trojans to avoid an upset with a 27-24 double overtime win, the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum broke out into absolute mayhem. Red and gold confetti flurried through the stadium as USC stormed the field. An unranked Texas team had the Trojans on the ropes, but 27-24 illuminated across the Coliseum as the Longhorns walked down the tunnel. “It’s a pretty heartbreaking loss to play with that much passion,
OVERTIME page 2
juan figueroa| daily texan staff
USC freshman kicker Chase McGrath celebrates with Trojan fans after kicking the game-clinching field goal.
Admissions to UT will become more competitive with a 6 percent automatic acceptance rate for fall 2019 applicants. The decrease to 6 percent will be UT’s lowest automatic acceptance rate since 2009. The change from the current 7 percent rate will take effect the summer of 2019 but will not impact high school seniors applying to UT for the summer or the fall of 2018, according to a Friday press release from the University. “Today, the University is enrolling about 1,000 more freshmen than it did six years ago,” UT President Gregory Fenves said in the press release. The University is required by state law to admit at least 75 percent of Texas high school graduates in the top of their class. The automatic acceptance rate has fluctuated between 7 to 9 percent since 2009, when the state legislature allowed UT flexibility in its automatic admissions, according to J.B. Bird, UT director of media relations. However, the number of applicants has increased by over 33 percent since 2013, forcing the University to accept a smaller percentage of Texas high school graduates. The number of applicants is expected to increase by several thousand in the next few years and will likely lower the percentage of automatic
ACCEPTANCE page 2 UNIVERSITY
CAMPUS
Trump appoints UT faculty member to administration
UT’s GenUN chapter develops students’ global engagement By London Gibson
By Chase Karacostas Senior Reporter
President Donald Trump appointed UT faculty member Richard Burkhauser to be a member of the administration’s Council of Economic Advisers on Friday morning. Burkhauser is currently an adjunct professor within the economics department and is a senior research fellow in the LBJ School of Public Affairs. The White House news release announcing the position referred to Burkhauser’s new role as a “key appointment.” “I was very much looking forward to teaching my undergraduate course in the Economics of Social
Security,” Burkhauser said in an email. “I would gladly be doing so right now if I had not been invited to come to Washington to be a member of the CEA … Hopefully (in the future), I will have a chance to teach that class I had to cancel this fall.” As a member of the CEA, Burkhauser will advise Trump on formulating international and domestic economic policy. He will also monitor economic development and trends to see how they affect future or current economic policy goals. Burkhauser came to UT in March 2016 after being invited to be a senior research fellow in the
LBJ School. “There are some terrific scholars with a keen interest in public policy both at the LBJ School and in the Economics Department,” Burkhauser said. “It has been an intellectual treat to interact with them over the past year and a half.” Burkhauser said he’s already feeling nostalgic about leaving Austin. He and his wife bought season tickets this year for the women’s volleyball team but gave them to their daughter when they left for Washington. Burkhauser is also a member of the National Bureau of Economic
TRUMP page 2
Senior Reporter
The first ever chapter of the United Nations student group, GenUN, will come to UT this semester, months after a failed attempt to launch this January. GenUN is a national initiative of the United Nations Association of the United States of America to get students involved with global politics and issues. Universities participate in promoting key U.N. messages related to energy, peace and security and global health, among others. Psychology senior Amman Waseem, president of the UT chapter of GenUN, said the organization will
courtesy of amman waseem
United Nations student group GenUN starts this semester after a rocky beginning in January.
give members the chance to discuss major issues and do community service in Austin. “Not only are we trying to serve the 17 U.N.
NEWS
OPINION
LIFE&ARTS
SPORTS
Austin Museum Day brings variety of exhibits. PAGE 2
Columnists examine the impacts of headline-grabbing technology. PAGE 4
UT student battles brain cancer. PAGE 8
Longhorns show how they’ve grown in loss against USC. PAGE 6
6267/UT Athletics; Process color
sustainable development issues … but we’re really trying to give students a community of people who want to be internationally
GENUN page 3
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Monday, September 18, 2017
CAMPUS
VAV features local artists in promotional fundraiser
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Research and holds positions at the University of Melbourne and Cornell University. “Burkhauser’s professional career has focused on how public policies affect the economic behavior and well-being of vulnerable populations,” the release said. CEA chairman Kevin Hassett and University of Chicago professor Tomas Philipson are joining Burkhauser as the other two members of the council. Last Friday was the official signing of Trump’s intent to appoint Burkhauser as a CEA
iris bilich| daily texan staff
Local bands perform at Space 24 Twenty Saturday afternoon during Summer Sunset Shindig.
programming, including relationship violence prevention month in October, as well as for their larger annual events, such as Breaking the Silence and Take Back the Night. Murphy said she took it upon herself to create the event
because VAV always relies on outside funding. “My goal is … to get (people) out to see we know how to have a good time and draw attention to a super, super important thing, because not everybody knows about what
VAV does,” Murphy said. Psychology sophomore Ileene Salazar said the event was enjoyable. “I think they picked the perfect spot,” Salazar said. “It’s a beautiful day, and I’m really enjoying the music.”
CITY
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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.
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Voices Against Violence hosted a fundraising event for students and the community to listen to music and to promote its organization Saturday afternoon. The event, Summer Sunset Shindig, was held at Space 24 Twenty to raise money for the organization’s other events and for the Survivor’s Emergency Fund, which provides financial assistance to student survivors of sexual violence, relationship violence and stalking, said VAV member Kaitlyn Murphy. “I thought it would be the perfect opportunity to grab a bunch of the community,” said Murphy, who organized the event. “It’s fun for everyone, and it’s a form of self-care. It’s always good to get out and hangout with your friends, but it also benefits this amazing group that does so much for UT.” The event featured six local
bands and musicians: Kokopelli, Mussel, laissez faire cassette, Trace of Lime, Darja and SMiiLE. The bands performed for free to support VAV and its cause. Artists and organizations such as Free Rent ATX, Feminist Latinx and PhamNism were also there to promote themselves. Steel City Pops set up and donated 10 percent of its proceeds to the organization, and Frank restaurant’s hot dogs served guests all evening. “I was just going to come here with one friend, but I ended up coming with about seven,” theatre freshman Kaci Pelias said. “The live music definitely draws people in, especially with local bands. The fact that it’s in a space like this has a really chill vibe.” Murphy said she considered the event a big success, with more than 200 people attending throughout the day. Over $500 raised in donations from the event will go to VAV’s organization fund for future
courtesy of lbj school
Richard Burkhauser
member. Burkhauser said he will not start work until paperwork goes through regarding his FBI clearance.
stephanie martinez| daily texan staff
NEWS OFFICE
TODAY Sept. 18
News Reporter
Friday, 12 p.m. Monday, 12 p.m. Tuesday, 12 p.m. 11 a.m. (Last Business Day Prior to Publication)
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energy and commitment and love for the guy next to you,” head coach Tom Herman said. “There was a lot of tears, and sorrow, and dejection in the locker room.” Heading into Saturday night’s matchup, the Trojans weren’t expected to struggle against Texas, who started true freshman Sam Ehlinger at quarterback for his second career start in front of a jam-packed crowd at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. That wasn’t the main storyline, however. Ehlinger and the Longhorn offense struggled for much of the night, but it didn’t seem to matter with the performance Texas’ defense put together. Heisman candidate and USC quarterback Sam Darnold lit up the scoreboard in the first two weeks of the season, averaging 45.5 points a game. That didn’t happen Saturday evening. A Longhorn defense that had been maligned after its opening-day performance held an explosive Trojan offense to just 17 points in regulation. “It was fun,” junior linebacker Malik Jefferson said. “Anytime you get the chance to get on the field it’s so fun. Guys understood, that’s the mentality … that’s what made it so fun being out here with your brothers and actually stopping them.” The Longhorn defense shut out the Trojans for the majority of the night — except the last 15 seconds of each half. Texas tied the game 7-7 with 19 seconds left in the first half, doing something not many people expected by nearly going into halftime deadlocked with USC. Then Sam Darnold and the Trojan offense showed why it’s considered one of the best in the country. Darnold scrambled around the pocket, evading the Longhorn rush. As time expired, Darnold flung the ball to running back junior Ronald Jones II, who took it 56 yards to give USC a
14-7 lead at the half. Ehlinger and the Longhorn offense faced a 14-10 deficit with 5:14 remaining in the fourth quarter. Fourteen plays and 91 yards later, the Longhorn offense did something it hadn’t done all game: They found the end zone, scoring on a touchdown toss from Ehlinger to senior wide receiver Armanti Foreman. Texas took a 17-14 lead with 39 seconds, which proved to be just enough time for Darnold and the Trojans to march down the field and tie the game at 17-17 with 0:00 left on the clock. After the two teams traded touchdowns in the first overtime, Ehlinger tried to get in the end zone from three yards out in double OT. Instead, the ball was ripped out of his arms and flew into the backfield as the Trojan defense swarmed the ball. It was Ehlinger’s fourth turnover of the night. USC failed to get into the end zone, but a 43-yard field goal was all the Trojans needed to escape the Longhorns, who now sit at 1–2 on the season. And while Texas’ effort on Saturday against the heavily favored Trojans was a valiant one, it won’t be reflected in the record books.
I just love the way our guys fought. They just gave it all they got, and I gave it all I had. ” —Collin Johnson, Sophomore wide receiver
“A loss is a loss,” sophomore wide receiver Collin Johnson said. “There’s no moral victories like I said. But the thing is I just love the way our guys fought. They just gave it all they got, and I gave it all I had. We’ve just got to keep building.”
LBJ Presidential Library celebrated National Museum Day by bringing the “Sesame Street” characters to life.
National Museum Day brings ‘Sesame Street’ to LBJ Library By Mason Carroll News Reporter
The LBJ Presidential Library brought in beloved characters from the PBS show “Sesame Street” to celebrate Austin Museum Day on Sunday and to commemorate the 50th anniversary of President Lyndon B. Johnson signing the Public Broadcasting Act. The Public Broadcasting Act made shows such as “Sesame Street” possible by creating public broadcasting and radio through public funding in 1967. Entry was free on Sunday and children got the chance to meet Grover from the show, listen to live music and have story time with “The Monster at the End of This Book.” “Our exhibit today is called ‘On the Air: 50 Years of Public Broadcasting,’” LBJ Museum communications director Anne Wheeler said. “It’s a great
ACCEPTANCE
continues from page 1 acceptance even further with improved Texas high school graduation rates. “I think the 6 percent (decrease) is going to have a much bigger impact on the smaller, more academically rigorous high schools,” advertising junior Soheyla Escher said. Escher transferred into UT because her rank placed her just outside of the top 7 percent of her class. Despite this, Escher said she feels the automatic acceptance usually benefits Texas students. Undeclared freshman Gabriela Rojas and philosophy freshman Yeni Torres both graduated from a class of 65 students. Torres was second in her class and would still have been admitted under a 6 percent acceptance rate. However,
opportunity for kids who have seen these characters on TV to see them in real life.” Jennifer Perry, vice president and publisher at Sesame Workshop, said the act had a positive impact on mainstream television. Sesame Workshop is a nonprofit associated with the show to promote education. “Without the public funding that flooded into public television and radio as a result of (the Public Broadcasting Act), signing shows like ‘Sesame Street’ were able to hit the airways and become the impactful, educational entities that they are and remain today,” Perry said. Perry said “Sesame Street” and the museum also share similar values on educating children. “For Museum Day, the library decided to focus on one of the core missions of ‘Sesame Street,’ which is literacy,” Perry said. “We have
Rojas said she would not have been able to attend UT under the new automatic acceptance cutoff. “I put all my thought and effort into the application, but it was a safety net,” Rojas said. “In regards to them dropping it to 6 percent, I don’t know how I feel about it. I was fifth out of 65, so if they had decreased it then, I don’t think I would have gone here.” Fenves said in the press release that four-year graduation rates have increased, and UT will seek to expand access for Texas high school graduates. Torres said she feels the new drop might hurt motivated high school students. “I sense the unfairness in the fact these kids aren’t getting the same opportunity,” Torres said. “If more
a day completely centered around ‘The Monster at the End of This Book,’ which is the best-selling ‘Sesame Street’ book of all time.” The TV show is widely popular, having aired for more than 48 years and in more than 140 countries and territories around the world today. “It’s pretty amazing that this is a show that’s been around for so long,” said Jeremy Dean, who brought his kids to Austin Museum Day. “I grew up with it, and now my kids are watching.” Perry said one of the most important things for everyone who helped in the event is the impact on the kids. “(We) approach everything we do with a mission at heart,” Perry said. “We firmly believe that everything we do has to start from our mission, which is to serve kids and families, so that’s why we’re here and it truly gladdens my heart.”
By the numbers A look at the UT admissions policy There has been a
33%
increase in applicants since 2013.
1,000
more freshmen were admitted every year, since 2011 SOURCES: UT News
are graduating that should be a good thing, they should be celebrating and colleges should be happy to take them in.”
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Monday, September 18, 2017
NATIONAL
Sessions blocked from denying grants to ‘sanctuary cities’
Chicagoans safer,” Chicago said in its complaint to the court. In a memorandum and order, Leinenweber said he was granting the nationwide block against the restrictions because there was “no reason” to think these issues wouldn’t apply to other cities. Leinenweber also said under
Sessions’ conditions, cities are forced to make an impossible choice: ruin the trust held with their immigrant communities or risk losing funding that keeps their streets safe. “Once such trust is lost, it cannot be repaired through an award of money damages, making it the type of harm
that is especially hard to ‘rectif(y) by (a) final judgment,’” Leinenweber said. The grant in question, commonly known as the Byrne JAG Grant, is used to provide extra funding for personnel, equipment and training for local law enforcement. As a formula grant, each state’s allocation of funding is
decided based on population and reported amount of violent crimes. The Trump administration originally announced the sweeping grant restrictions in July shortly after Senate Bill 4, also known as the “sanctuary cities” bill, finished battling its way through the Texas Legislature.
Undocumented student Samuel Cervantes said for those in the undocumented community, it was like being attacked from every level of government. Cervantes is also a member of University Leadership Initiative, a group that advocates for the undocumented community. “The federal government is trying to take this abrasive (approach to law enforcement),” said Cervantes, a government and communication studies senior. “It’s just not very smart to cut funding that affects citizens and non-citizens just to get a point across. It’s very egotistical.” ULI member Vanessa Rodriguez, a government sophomore, agreed that the federal government was overstepping its bounds in attempting to place these requirements to receive public safety grants. Cities, she said, are closer to their constituents and can better ascertain how to handle public safety than a distant national entity. “The (preliminary injunction) was just,” Rodriguez said. “The purpose of law enforcement is to protect people, and no money is taken specifically to say, ‘Hey, let me help you, undocumented person.’ It’s only funding for the (entire) city. It’s been going on for years before it became such a conflicting argument to think about.”
“Coming from the inside, I just saw that no one really did any work; there was no directive,” Waseem said. “Most of the officers just showed up for a resume booster and then left, which was extremely disheartening for me.” Waseem and Nitya Chivukula, vice president of GenUT, worked throughout the summer to establish the base work for the organization to launch this fall. Chivukula, a finance and
economics junior, said she used to be a part of other service organizations but felt that UT needed one that worked directly with the community. “I wasn’t the type of person who just wanted to raise money and donate it to an organization where you couldn’t see the effects, and that’s what I saw a majority of these organizations doing,” Chivukula said. “I wanted to be inclusive of many things, and I wanted
to physically do something.” Chivukula is currently working on planning the chapter’s main service project for the semester, which involves adding sustainable improvements such as compost bins to Posada Esperanza, an Austin refugee center, as well as directly helping the residents there. Biology senior Britney Dau is the internal director for GenUN and said she hopes the organization expands from its roughly 45
members so more can be involved in global issues. “I do believe that every single person has a unique background that can contribute to GenUN,” Dau said. “I see the potential in this organization. I want it to grow.” Aside from biweekly meetings and events, the organization will host a variety of guest speakers. One of these first speakers will be Michelle Morse, senior advisor to the United Nations Foundation and acting vice
president for its Girls and Women Strategy. Waseem said open-mindedness and diversity in backgrounds were priorities in selecting the roughly 45 members involved. “Our club basically only requires that you at least try to seek another perspective,” Waseem said. “People are literally just coming from all walks of UT just to try to learn from each other, and I think that’s a beautiful thing.”
By Chase Karacostas Senior Reporter
U.S. District Judge Harry D. Leinenweber issued a nationwide order on Friday afternoon to block Attorney General Jeff Sessions from denying law enforcement grants to so-called “sanctuary cities.” Leinenweber, a judge for the Northern District of Illinois, said Sessions had likely exceeded his authority by imposing restrictions on the Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant Program. Sessions required local law enforcement to cof operate with federal immigrations authorities, detain possibly unauthorized immigrants in jail for an extra 48 hours and allow immigration agents into jails to apprehend detainees. Chicago filed a complaint against Sessions on Aug. 7 to have the restrictions overturned, and Leinenweber released both an opinion and an order against them, preventing Sessions from implementing the restrictions in any other cities. “These new conditions … fly in the face of longstanding city policy that promotes cooperation between local law enforcement and immigrant communities, ensures access to essential city services for all residents, and makes all
GENUN
continues from page 1 minded and who want to develop their own global thinking skills,” Waseem said. The UT chapter was first attempted last semester by a different group of officers, Waseem said. Waseem was secretary for the organization at the time and took over the initiative after several meetings with little to no progress made.
joshua guerra | daily texan file photo
The Trump administration announced grant restrictions in late July but was sued by the city of Chicago soon after.
CAMPUS
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t t alec blair| daily texan staff
-Austin locals explore fossils during Identification Day at the Texas Memorial Museum on nSunday afternoon. e t h e s
Amateur scientists identify fossils at Identification Day By Meara Isenberg News Reporter
As soon as the doors to the Texas Memorial Museum opened Sunday afternoon, 5-year-old Andres Trujillo bolted up the steps, clutching a ziplock bag with unique contents — a tiny skull. “Look at the jaws on it!” Trujillo said, waving the bag in the air. Trujillo and his family drove to Austin from San Marcos to attend the 15th annual Identification Day, which brought in paleontologists and archaeologists to share their experience of identifying objects such as bones and rocks with museum-goers. The event was part of Austin Museum Day, which opened the museum from 1–5 p.m. for free to the community. “Every day there is an opportunity for somebody
to make a find, be it in their backyard or walking on a trail,” said Pamela Owen, associate director of Texas Memorial Museum. “People are naturally curious, so we want to be able to provide our community with experts and have this opportunity to learn about what their find is.” Trujillo took advantage of the expertise. He ran up to the fossils and bones identification station and sat opposite paleontologist Chris Sagebiel, who shined his skull under a magnifying light. Sagebiel examined the skull and told Trujillo it belonged to a striped skunk. “It’s just pure fun,” Sagebiel said. “It’s nice when you get a response out of the kids. You never know what to expect. Sometimes just seeing the excitement on their face is worth the whole day of sitting here for five hours.”
The fossil identification event brought not only curious young minds but intrigued adults to the museum as well. Austin resident Melita Abrego waited outside the museum before doors opened, determined to identify the mysterious mineral in her mini backpack. Abrego made her way to the rocks and minerals table and waited intently as a scientist observed her rock. What she had was a concretion, a mass of sediments thousands of years old. Abrego’s concretion had little black crystals that made it unique. “I’m going to display it. It’s a good conversational piece,” Abrego said. “All rocks are special, but this rock is a little unusual, so it’s a little more special.” The Texas Memorial Museum will hold its next event, National Fossil Day, on Wednesday, Oct. 11.
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LAURA HALLAS EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
@TexasOpinion
Monday, September 18, 2017
COLUMN
GALLERY
Impacts of toxic masculinity By Elizabeth Braaten Columnist
Some of the strongest, sweetest and most intelligent men I’ve had the pleasure of meeting have struggled with mental illness related issues. I’ve had men I care deeply about tell me that they are not going to seek mental health treatment “because I’m a guy.” They are more comfortable suffering through their illness alone than allowing others to view their emotions. This problem is not unique to the men in my life — it is a reflection of the broader phenomenon of toxic masculinity. This can be defined as those values perpetuated throughout our society that lead to, in part, an unhealthy desire for dominance. Raised to meet these expectations, men are conditioned to suppress their feelings. This can lead to real, longterm emotional issues, substance abuse and even suicide. According to the National Health Interview Surveys data from 20102013, nine percent of men in the United States reported having depression and anxiety, but only one in four of those reported speaking to a mental health professional. Another survey published by the medical journal Psychotherapy in 1993 found that only onethird of all visits to mental health professionals were made by men. Despite the fact that women report experiencing depression at about twice the rate of men, men commit suicide four times as often. While men face many of the same mental health issues that women do, they are far less likely to speak up about it and seek professional assistance, oftentimes forcing them to feel like suicide is the only way out. College is a particularly critical time for men, as
potentially lifelong mental health issues can begin to form. According to the National Alliance on Mental Illness, over 75 percent of mental health problems begin before the age of 24. In addition, the transition from high school to college for students often entails a more immediate access to drugs and alcohol than at any point previously in their lives. This can be particularly dangerous for college men, as they are almost twice as likely as women to suffer from substance abuse. One study of California college students indicated that men were more likely to engage in high-risk behaviors than women, and another found that male college students spent more time drinking than did their female counterparts. However, because of the societal expectation of what it means to be a man, many guys stay quiet about what they’re feeling inside, contributing to self-harm, depression and anxiety. The fall semester can be a particularly rough one for many students, especially for freshmen still adjusting to their new environment. As midterms approach and stress levels rise across campus, it’s important that we make an effort to offer emotional support and a shoulder to lean on to one another. If you notice one of your friends skipping class often or not displaying interest in their academic performance, reach out, listen and, ultimately, be there for them. Let the men in your life know that it’s okay to not feel okay, encourage them to talk about what’s on their mind and, most importantly, show them love every chance that you get. Elizabeth Braaten is an international relations and global studies junior from Conroe.
COLUMN
Newest iPhone technology is latest example of planned obsolesence By Josie MacLean Senior Columnist
In 1960, journalist Vance Packard coined the term “replacement revolution” as a social critique against our then-newfound but false belief in consumerism. Packard pointed out that our “buy buy buy” mentality simply leads to a futile, never-satisfied existence. What Packard could not foresee was the practical effect this consumerist ideology would have on our Earth. Western society depends on brands to project personal identity to the rest of the world. Perhaps one of the most ingeniously created of these is Apple. In advertising and business classes, students salivate over the kind of diehard brand loyalty that Apple originally inspired with its “Think Different” campaign in 1997. Fanaticism for the iPhone still exists today. People lined up for the iPhone 8 two days before they even knew what day it would be announced. This practice of planning obsolescence started in the 1920s, according to Dr. Lucy Atkinson, who teaches a class on the history of advertising. General Motors was the first to do it, and they called it dynamic obsolescence. “Each year, GM’s cars changed slightly in terms of design and look … so that consumers driving a model from 1924 would look at a 1929 model and perceive that their car was out of date and old,” Atkinson wrote. “Part of the reasoning for
incorporating planned obsolescence was that GM — and Ford and all the other car companies — were selling to a saturated market.” The only way to sell more is to convince people they need more. But what we as consumers don’t see is all the waste that goes into our cyclical consumption. “Lurking below the surface of our digital age is the life cycle of our electronic gadgets — mining, assembly, use, disposal — and the toll that rabid consumption and rapid obsolescence of electronics is taking on the environment and workers’ lives,” said Jennifer Good, an advertising professor from Brock University. A life cycle assessment of the iPhone done in 2015 found that the majority of environmental harm from the iPhone is caused in the early stages of its cycle, due to the use of rare earth minerals, REMs, extracted and transported to build iPhones. “The iPhone is intentionally designed to have a shortened life cycle, which leads to increased mining of REMs and more fossil-fuel usage in production and transportation,” the
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.
assessment concluded. Even if you ignore the labor and resources used to make an iPhone in the first place, the disposal of one has its own problems. Rapidly growing e-waste has been directly linked to negative health effects for those exposed to it. By the end of 2018, it’s expected that we will have created almost 50 million metric tons of e-waste globally. While it’s not inherently bad to get excited about new technology, or have products that make you happy, our blind allegiance to the idea that newer is always better rapidly degrades resources we use to make our new things. You shouldn’t,
but if you do choose to buy an iPhone 8 or iPhone X, the very least you can do is recycle your old phone. You can look up how to do that on the City of Austin website. Maclean is a geography and advertising junior from Austin.
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.
illustration by yulissa chavez | daily texan staff
COLUMN
Hyporloop contest must be more holistic By Ryan Young Senior Columnist
On any given school year, corporate players in STEM fields host numerous competitions to excite students about engineering and the sciences. They dangle the usual goals: Build the perfect electric car. Stop environmental devastation. Fix Austin traffic at rush hour. If you’ll forgive the trite expression, students compete to “make the world a better place.” Right now, one competition is stealing all the headlines: The race to build Elon Musk’s Hyperloop. The concept would zoom travelers between cities at 760 mph in high-speed tubes, granting instant, affordable mobility. Instead of developing the idea himself, Musk is passing the challenge to university teams to “encourage student innovation.” Unfortunately, his competition focuses solely on the nuts and bolts. It doesn’t leave room to consider broader social implications, thereby shortchanging the bright minds participating in it. Musk should encourage student innovation on all aspects of the idea, not just the engineering. The second round of the Hyperloop competition wrapped up at SpaceX’s Los Angeles headquarters back in late August. Two of the teams were comprised of Longhorns — Guadaloop and 512 Hyperloop — with Guadaloop eventually winning an innovation award for their unique levitation system. Speaking to both teams, I learned that the overarching goal was to construct a working Hyperloop pod. Musk and SpaceX did not include more practical or social concerns in the competition, such as how expensive it would be to construct Hyperloop tubes between cities or whether the system’s limited capacity might result in high ticket prices only elites could afford. Deborah Navarro, with Guadaloop, received an undergraduate degree in
biology from UT. At first, she considered analyzing Hyperloop from a non-technical standpoint. She thought about examining those gnarly G-forces Hyperloop would impose on its passengers when starting and stopping, but concluded “it was way too soon” to do so. However, it’s never too early. The human and social sciences dictate the real-world consequences of any new technology just as much as the hard sciences. Given the chance, we could debate, discuss and solve these kinds of problems that are just as relevant to building Hyperloop. When I met Sahar Rashed of 512 Hyperloop, she had one more point to add: “I believe Elon Musk is a pusher of innovation.” Rashed noted that even if moonshot projects such as NASA’s Space Shuttle don’t work out, they ultimately lead to great benefits for society. Undoubtedly, the Shuttle was an engineering triumph that inspired countless Americans to pursue STEM studies. But as a means of transporting things into space, it was fabulously inefficient, costing 20 times more to fly than it was supposed to. Though Hyperloop is still in development, we should be asking if the concept — at least as Musk envisioned it — is heading down the same track. More holistic planning, led by students with diverse perspectives, could avoid costly future mistakes. SpaceX is currently gearing up for the third Hyperloop competition, in which pods will be judged solely on “maximum speed.” I commend Musk for inspiring so many students, especially fellow Longhorns, but if he wants to be a visionary, he should go one step further with a round just for socioeconomic questions and policy wonks. Give us the complete equation, Mr. Musk. We’re smart enough to solve it. Young is a computer science senior from Bakersfield, California.
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REVIEW
continues from page 8 song that brings the charm. The saxophone on “Rudy” brings the track’s melody to a new height, and the cajon and harpsichord combo on “Sumer” make the song glisten with beauty. Each track has something special, displaying exactly why Rostam is one of the hottest producers and songwriters in music today. The biggest question mark of this album is not Rostam as a musician or producer, but as a singer. His voice flutters, sometimes missing its mark, resulting in some inconsistencies. With the right song, Rostam’s shaky voice works extremely well; “EOS” shines with melancholic piano chords and emotional vocals, and other songs such as “Gwan” and “I Will See You Again” stand out because of the perceived sensitivity in Rostam’s voice. Yet, for every moment Rostam’s voice blends well, there’s another time it fails. The instrumentals of “Bike Dream” make it an extremely appealing song, using grimy rock vibes and a pounding drum beat to set the mood. However, paired with wavering vocals, the entire track sounds off-kilter, as if Rostam is about to burst out laughing at any moment. The same instance occurs with Half-Light’s seventh track, “Don’t Let It Get To You,” a
BOOK
continues from page 8 Clean Air Act three years later by the British Parliament, Christie’s arrest immediately spawned a barrage of sensationalist stories, his face everywhere from tabloids to televisions. “Despite both events unfolding somewhat simultaneously, Christie’s murders became this glamorized event in the eyes of the press and even the British Parliament,” Dawson said. “In comparison, it seemed that there was very little alarm to what was considered a
HALF-LIGHT ARTIST: Rostam GENRE: Alternative/Indie SCORE:
song that starts out strong but falls apart after a couple minutes of repetition. Thematically, Rostam keeps his messages vague. Painting a picture of his life in New York, Rostam pens stories of lost love, the changing seasons and even the sensation of waking up. Read off of paper, most of his songs read like poetry, focusing on the simple and mundane parts of life to encourage the listener to dream. Although some listeners might accept this and put their own spin on the album, others will be left wondering what half of the album even meant. The uncertainty of HalfLight is startling, especially considering Rostam’s 10+ year experience in music. It’s difficult to dispute the energy of the project’s instrumentals and production, but whether or not Rostam’s singing and lyrics hit their mark will certainly vary depending on the listener’s taste. Art and indie pop fans should give this album a shot, but fans of the more jovial and uppity Vampire Weekend-esque tunes might find themselves a bit lost on this one. pollution event, a markedly different reaction.” Kathleen McElroy, associate director of the School of Journalism, said that the reasons for one’s popularity over the other may extend beyond sensationalism. “We study sensationalism in class, what makes some stories seem more newsworthy and others less so,” McElroy said. “Serial killers to this day are especially attractive due to their oddity, while other stories don’t demand as much of our attention.” In addition, McElroy con-
illustration by victoria smith| daily texan staff
VINYL
listening to music in the analog, the old-school way,” Hanners said. Doug Hanners said he suspects his son grew fond of vinyl for this very reason. As a child, Nathan Hanners often accompanied his father to the convention, where his education in vinyl records continued. “I grew up in a house stacked full of vinyl records,” Nathan Hanners
continues from page 8 college-aged students now than we did when I first started working here,” Monsees said. “We are seeing a great resurgence in vinyl.” Though longtime collectors still frequent her store, Monsees said she’s noticed many young people prefer vinyl records to digital music. “Our ears are made for nected the element of closeness to the phenomenon. “People are always fascinated by crime, especially when it is local,” McElroy said. “We see the same thing when there’s a tragedy on campus. It’s easier to sympathize with the human element of a tragedy that strikes closer to us.” Despite the seemingly different magnitudes of these two tragedies, Dawson said it wasn’t a competition of calamity between the two events. “Which story really is more important?” Dawson
People are always fascinated by crime, especially when it’s local.”
said. “They were always sort of in the background of my whole childhood.” Nathan Hanners has two young daughters of his own and has already begun to expose them to vinyl. “The oldest one is starting to get into music … she’s sometimes interested in having it on a record,” Nathan Hanners said. “My littlest is obsessed with Michael Jackson’s ‘Beat It’ record.”
Nathan Hanners hopes his own daughters will carry on the convention one day. As long as vinyl records continue to reach a community of collectors, listeners and fans, he said there will be a place for them at the Austin Record Convention. “Vinyl will always have a significant part to play in music,” Doug Hanners said. “I don’t see how it could be any other way.” Professor Kate Dawson’s narrative non-fiction book, “Death in the Air,” comes out Oct. 17.
—Kathleen McElroy, Associate director of the School of Journalism
said. “It’s a story of indiscriminate murder; both murderers kill without reason, their only objective to end as many lives as possible.”
courtesy of kate dawson
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MICHAEL SHAPIRO SPORTS EDITOR
@texansports
Monday, September 18, 2017
FOOTBALL
Even in defeat, Longhorns show they’ve grown By Trenton Daeschner Associate Sports Editor
Much of what transpired between Texas and No. 4 USC on Saturday night may have seemed unreal to fathom. For starters, the Longhorns looked tough — really tough — on defense. So tough that Texas picked off USC star quarterback Sam Darnold twice — including a pick-six — held him to a 57 percent completion rate and sacked him three times. And for the first time in a long time, Texas looked like a completely different program — one not mired in mediocrity, but instead, one that looked like it belonged on the same field as the Trojans. “I told them in the locker room, ‘There’s no moral victories in college football,’” head coach Tom Herman said. “We lost. But if we can’t hold our head high and learn from all of the good that came from this game … after everything that had happened, especially on offense, that happened poorly, to be in a position to win the game, I think that says a lot about how far we’ve grown up
as a team in the last two weeks.” The Longhorns entered their highly anticipated road matchup with No. 4 USC as 16.5-point underdogs. Sophomore quarterback Shane Buechele did not play for a second-straight week, and junior left tackle Connor Williams, a preseason first team All-American, injured his left knee in the second quarter and did not return. But with under a minute to play, freshman quarterback Sam Ehlinger scrambled to his right and fired a dart to senior wide receiver Armanti Foreman in the corner of the end zone to give the Longhorns the lead with 45 seconds left in regulation. The play itself was every bit as perplexing as what the scoreboard read: Texas 17, USC 14. Many Texas fans were probably thinking the same thing — how in the world could this be happening? But it was happening, until Darnold spoiled the party and led a late, game-tying drive to send the game into overtime. In the second overtime, the Longhorns watched USC freshman kicker Chase McGrath boot a 43-yard field
Junior defensive lineman Charles Omenihu registers his second sack of the season. Omenihu racked up three tackles in the process as the Texas defense stifled the Trojans, holding them to a season-low 27 points.
juan figueroa daily texan staff
goal through the uprights to give the Trojans a 27-24 victory. Texas fell to 1–2, marking the fourth time in the last five seasons that the Longhorns have gotten off to a 1–2 start. But there was one difference about Saturday night. “We are finally understanding that we need to play every game like a championship game,” junior linebacker
Malik Jefferson said. “Not that we thought this was a championship game, but we needed to find that out and go out and find our identity.” There was a noticeable difference on defense, too. On Saturday, Texas did what it had been clamoring for since the loss to Maryland — “cut it loose.” The Longhorns held a potent
USC offense to just 17 points in regulation after the Trojans had put up 49 and 42 points in their first two games. Jefferson delivered pad-popping hits, and junior safety DeShon Elliott had two interceptions, including one returned for a touchdown. Even in defeat, the Longhorns changed the narrative about their program Saturday night and gained back
Freshman midfielder and forward Haley Berg threatens the Vaquero defense. Berg played a major part in the Longhorns’ 1-0 victory over UT-Rio Grande Valley despite never scoring in the game.
SOCCER
Texas ekes out eighth-straight victory, goes undefeated in nonconference play By Matthew Truty Sports Reporter
Texas’ numerous scoring chances never translated into goals in regulation. Despite leading Rio Grande Valley in shots 28–5, both teams entered overtime scoreless. Friday’s overtime ending mirrored last week’s victory over Northeastern, except on this occasion, sophomore forward Cyera Hintzen finished the game. Hintzen’s left-footed strike from the right corner of the 18-yard box sealed the undefeated nonconference streak for Texas, giving the Longhorns a 1-0 victory. The burnt orange will next take the field on Aug. 22 as they take on Iowa State to begin conference play. Kickoff from Austin will be at 7:00 p.m. “Now the real season begins,” Kelly said. “Now it’s a battle, and it’s what we’re here for. It’s conference play and, as a competitor, that really excites me, and I’m going to make sure that our squad is a lot more excited than I am.”
TENNIS
Longhorns win doubles final at Racquet Club Collegiate Invitational By Wills Layton Sports Reporter
Texas claimed its first victory of the season over the weekend, capturing the doubles title at the Racquet Club Collegiate Invitational in Midland. Longhorn juniors Adrian Ortiz and Colin Markes won the last five games of their championship match and claimed the men’s doubles title versus Abilene Christian. Ortiz and Markes took on the sibling team of Jonathan and Josh Sheehy in Sunday’s final. The brothers took a 5-3 lead in the eight-game pro set final, but Ortiz and Markes swept the final five games to pull off the 8-5 win. The Invitational served as the venue for Ortiz’s return to collegiate tennis, as he missed all of last season with an injury. After posting a record of 18–9 in singles play two years ago, Ortiz has already made an impact on the Longhorns’
success this season. “That was a good performance today by those guys,” head coach Michael Center said. “Adrian hadn’t played in over a year. We were actually down a break early, but the guys won the last five games of the match and played really well down the stretch. The Abilene Christian team plays excellent doubles, so that was a great effort by our guys to win the final.” Winner of last year’s singles final, Markes lost 6-4, 6-4 to Oklahoma’s Ferran Calvo. While unable to repeat his singles performance from last year’s tournament, Markes still played a large role in bringing the doubles title home. “Colin lost one break in each set, and that ultimately decided the match, but he played a great tournament,” Center said. “He served well all week and made another final. Colin has a lot to feel good about this weekend.”
courtesy of texas sports
Redshirt junior Adrian Ortiz
The Longhorn men have had an athlete play in the singles final the past three years, winning the previous two. In the past two seasons, Texas sent a pairing to the doubles final as well. The burnt orange will continue its fall slate later this week at the Cajun Tennis Classic in Lafayette, Louisiana. Play will begin Friday.
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Another overtime victory provided No. 21 Texas with its eighth-straight nonconference victory on Friday night, the second-straight game in which the Longhorns won past regulation. After a scoreless 90 minutes, the Longhorns found the net early in the overtime period, besting UT-Rio Grande Valley 1-0. Despite coming in as underdogs, Rio Grande Valley held its own on the defensive end heading into Friday’s match, never allowing more than one goal per contest. And while the Longhorn attack excelled at putting the ball in the net against then-ranked Colorado and reigning Colonial Athletic Association champion Northeastern a week prior, the opposite was true against the Vaqueros. Texas struggled to conjure up a goal in the first half, despite outshooting Rio Grande Valley 10–2.
Slow starts were an issue for Texas head coach Angela Kelly’s squad last week against Northeastern, where the Longhorns fell down 1-0 before returning the favor with two goals in the opening 10 minutes of the second half. “You have to be methodical, you have to be disciplined, you can’t allow yourself to get frustrated,” Kelly said. “The longer a team stays in it, then (bad) things can happen.” The story of Friday’s second half was much of the same, with Texas controlling the pace, but Rio Grande resisting the waves of attacks. Freshman midfielder and forward Haley Berg posed a major threat to the Vaquero defense throughout the course of the game, despite never delivering a goal directly. “It gets frustrating obviously, for everyone,” Berg said. “But we know that if we just keep going, (a goal) is going to happen no matter what.”
some national respect. It’s a team that still got smoked by Maryland at home, but also one that took Darnold and the No. 4 Trojans to the wire at the Coliseum. “I’m grateful that we caught them early,” USC head coach Clay Helton said after the game. “Because that team is going to be good.” Only time will tell.
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Monday, September 18, 2017
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MORGAN O’HANLON LIFE&ARTS EDITOR
@thedailytexan
Monday, September 18, 2017
FEATURE
Student braves cancer with mountain of support By Andrea Tinning Senior L&A Reporter
Every senior faces hurdles before graduation. For accounting and philosophy senior Michael Mott, the long list of senior year hurdles is punctuated by a battle with bone cancer. Last month, doctors diagnosed Michael with Ewing’s Sarcoma, a form of bone cancer that started in his foot, and told him he has an 85 percent chance of survival. In the coming months, Michael will have his foot amputated and undergo 17 chemotherapy sessions. Michael is no stranger to adversity, and self-reliance became part of his personality at an early age. He said one of the hardest changes he’s had to make is asking others for help. “My mom taught me to be really independent,” Michael said. “As a single parent, she works full-time, more than 40 hours a week. That makes it almost a requirement for her to teach me and my sister to be able to survive on our own.” A GoFundMe page created by Michael’s twin sister has gone viral and earned more than 12,000 dollars. Kaitlin Mott, an education senior at The University of North Texas, said she created the page not only to help Michael, but also to take some stress off of her mother’s shoulders. Michael and Kaitlin’s grandmother died shortly before Michael’s diagnosis, and their mother, Sherry Mott,
hannah simon| daily texan staff
Despite a diagnosis of bone cancer, senior Michael Mott will graduate this December with dual degrees in accounting and philosophy and begin graduate school next year.
is still paying off the funeral expenses. This isn’t the family’s first crisis either. Sherry’s husband, Michael and Kaitlin’s father, Steven Mott, died eight years ago. “My husband had a history of heart problems and had a lot of health issues,” Sherry said. “It was sudden when he died, but I can’t really say we were surprised because he
was sick for a long time. But to have my son tell me that he has a life-threatening disease, that’s just not right. That’s the hardest thing I’ve had to go through.” Kaitlin said the success of the page, as well as her brother’s strength throughout, has surprised her. “None of us ever expected it to get to that point (because)
we’re from a small town. We thought maybe 300 or 400 people would see it, and (we’d) get $800 to $1000,” Kaitlin said. “Anyone else I know would be so knocked down by this, but he is not. He said this word for word: ‘Dying from cancer is too mainstream for me.’ He has been so incredibly positive, he’s a big rock for the family.”
Sherry was initially hesitant at the idea of starting a GoFundMe page, but she said the way people have reached out to the family has helped immensely. “I never expected the response or the money that we’ve gotten,” Sherry said. “But looking at the medical bills that are starting to come in, it’s very much needed.”
Even though the diagnosis has caused financial stress, Sherry said the costs are the least of her worries. “It’s a secondary concern,” Sherry said. “Michael’s life is worth way more than any financial bills that will come later. The bills will just have to wait — they’ll get paid when they get paid.” Since his family cannot be in Austin all the time, Michael said he is grateful for his friends at UT who are constantly at his side. Bilingual education senior Alex Chavez has considered Michael to be her best friend since they met in sixth grade during band practice. For Alex, looking after Michael came naturally. “We’ve always been really close and checking in on him has always been a normal part of our friendship,” Alex said. “The hardest part is knowing there is not anything specifically that you can do to change anything. It’s just being there for support and making it more comfortable for him.” Though the diagnosis has changed his life, Michael said it’s certainly not the end of it and his outlook on life has stayed the same. “For me, this is just a mountain you have to get over. It’s something that happened, and something I’m going to have to deal with,” Michael said. “I also think it’s great to get knocked on your ass every once in a while. It shows you what you’re made of and how tough you are.”
MUSIC
ALBUM REVIEW | ‘HALF-LIGHT’
Rostam releases solo debut Austin Record Convention founder fosters love of vinyl By Chris Duncan Senior L&A Reporter
Rostam had a heavy hand in determining indie trends since his professional debut, but he’s evolved into an important hero in modern music. He’s one of the most prolific producers of the era, bringing a new breath to often exhausted genres. On his latest album, HalfLight, Rostam aims for the same fresh take and finds mixed results while showing surprising hesitation. After becoming a near-instant indie star with Vampire Weekend, Rostam Batmanglij left the group to pursue a career as a solo musician and producer. Working with the likes of Frank Ocean, Ra Ra Riot and Solange to spark magic in their music, Rostam quickly established himself as a jack of all trades and a master of many. Until last Friday, his only major work since leaving Vampire Weekend was I
By Jordyn Zitman L&A Reporter
courtesy of nonesuch records
Had a Dream That You Were Mine, a collaborative effort with Hamilton Leithauser that was one of the best albums of last year. However, his solo debut misses the mark, pairing simplistic production and instrumentation with hit-or-miss vocal performances.
Half-Light’s most impressive component is the elegance of its composition. Most tracks are built with simple piano or guitar chords and basic drum beats, but it’s the accoutrement for each individual
REVIEW page 5
Vinyl records have been a major player in the American music industry for almost a century, despite the development of new ways to listen. Records will always have a place in music if Doug Hanners has anything to say about it. On Sept. 30, thousands of LPs, vinyl records and customers eager to sift through them will fill the Palmer Events Center for the Austin Record Convention. For event founder Doug Hanners, this year’s event represents decades of hard work and a multi-generational love of vinyl records. At a young age, Doug Hanners was introduced to vinyl records by his father, who organized community dances at a YMCA in West Texas — the soundtrack to
which was a collection of carefully selected vinyl. After moving to Austin for college, Doug Hanners carried on his family’s love of vinyl by working at a record shop on Guadalupe Street, which he said was his ultimate inspiration to create the convention.
I realized that vinyl records, new and old, were very desirable to people.” —Doug Hanners, Austin Record Convention founder
“I realized that vinyl records, new and old, were very desirable to people,” Doug Hanners said. “We decided to start a show of
it so record collectors of all types could enjoy them.” In 1981, Doug Hanners and fellow vinyl enthusiasts created the Austin Record Convention, which accommodates over 300 vinyl dealers and is now the largest of its kind in the country. Although the rise of new modes of listening, such as iTunes and CD, may lead some to believe that vinyl music has lost its footing in the music industry, record sales have been increasing for the past decade. Forbes predicts that more than 40 million records will be sold in 2017, nearly matching sales in 1981. Eve Monsees, owner of Antone’s Record Shop on Guadalupe Street, has been a firsthand witness to this trend. “We definitely have more
VINYL page 5
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In the winter of 1952, murderer John Reginald Christie prowled the streets of London as the worst incident of air pollution in the city’s history suffocated its own victims. While the world fixated on the first killer, the second curiously receded from history’s collective memory. “Death in the Air,” a narrative nonfiction book by journalism senior lecturer Kate Dawson, addresses these two connected crises. The book will be released Oct. 17. “The comparison lies not only in the fact that both killers used air
pollution as a means of ending lives — as Christie would often disable his victims with coal gas before strangling them — but in the overarching theme of indiscriminate murder,” Dawson said. Although this connection seems clear, the book didn’t begin as a correlation between these two killers. “I initially began it solely on the effects of the Great London Smog and subsequent reaction of the press,” Dawson said. Dawson said she had a particularly emotional encounter with a woman whose father died at the hands of the smog. “She was only 13 when it occurred,” Dawson said.
“It was clear to see the considerable pain it took to dredge up these memories.” During a two-year period of extensive research about the human effects of the smog, including combing through archival records and conducting additional interviews, Dawson found that a murderer at large during the same time period seemed more prolific, his crimes more notorious in comparison to those of the Great Smog. After murdering six women, including his wife, Christie was found guilty and executed in 1953. While the Great Smog induced the passage of the
BOOK page 5