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Friday, January 27, 2017
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CITY
Council debates late music hours By Lisa Dreher @lisa_dreher97
The Austin City Council convened for its first meeting since the Nov. 8 elections and mainly discussed letting music venues on Red River Street perform for two hours longer at night. Council members approved the testing of extending the hours when live music can be played from venues on Red River Street to 2 a.m. to bring in more revenue for businesses. The pilot program for the cultural district will run from
May to November and will be considered for renewal for another six months in October. The program would also set the noise limit at 85 decibels, the same as on 6th Street, for the music venues it applies to. Hotel owners who testified said the noise would drive away customers, and some residents said loud music has disturbed their homes miles away. Mary Ingle, president of Austin Neighborhoods Council, said she lives 30 blocks away from Red River and the music has reached her home for over
a decade. “We’ve been vigilant about calling and (complaining) to 311 with no results for years,” Ingle said. “It ruins our quality of life.” Business owners and managers said there is no data proving the noise travels far. Allowing bands to play later creates jobs and increases profit, they said. Ryan Garrett said Stubb’s BBQ has not received any noise complaints since he became general manager in 2008. Mohawk gen-
Zoe Fu | Daily Texan Staff
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Austin City Council discusses live music hours and abortion during the first meeting of the year.
bit.ly/dtvid
SYSTEM
Regent nominees stress cost, diversity By Claire Allbright @claireallbright
CAMPUS
Traditions blend at Lunar New Year fest By Ally Ortegon @atxallyyy
Last night, the Asian American Culture student organization celebrated the Lunar New Year with an event that showcased the vibrancy of the traditional Asian celebration. The event was held in the Student Activity Center ballroom on Jan. 26. The true day of celebration is Saturday, Jan. 28, however, AAC decided the Thursday prior would be more convenient for students. The event was marked by traditional activities, foods, music and performances characteristic of this celebration. Students of different descents gathered to take part in the festivities. Different campus organizations had booths such as Taiwanese American Students Association, Student Community of Asian Nurses, Center for Asian American Studies and Chinese Chase Karacostas | Daily Texan Staff Student Association. In ad- For the Lunar Near Year Celebration, the Lion-Dragon Dance Team performed in front of hundreds of attendees. The celebradition to these booths, the tion was hosted by the Asian American Culture committee of the Centers for Student Life. event featured a calligraphy The tradition of hang- music and dance perforbooth, which represented Caleb Chang, event coor- are important to let people another traditional aspect of dinator and biochemistry look at our culture. The or- ing the red banner dates mances. Traditional Japjunior, said. “My family ganization booths represent back 4,000 years and con- anese and Mediterranean the celebration. “I wanted it (the cele- would always hang red ban- the modern and the cal- tains written wishes for the food were also prepared for bration) to show both the ners with wishes for the ligraphy booth represents New Year. The event featured live NEW YEAR page 2 modern and the traditional,” New Year. The organizations the traditional.”
During the confirmation hearings for three UT System regent nominees Thursday, discussion quickly turned to college accessibility, tuition costs and the importance of communication between the legislature and the Board of Regents. In their first meeting of the session, the Senate Nominations Committee, joined by members of the Senate Finance Committee, heard testimonies from Gov. Greg Abbott’s regent appointees, former Texas Sen. Kevin Eltife, businessman James Conrad Weaver and attorney Janiece Longoria. Each nominee addressed the importance of making public higher education accessible and affordable to all Texans. “I understand the need to develop talent in the state of Texas and look forward to putting my shoulder toward that will,” Weaver said, outlining his priority as regent. Sen. Brian Birdwell, R-Granbury, chair of the nominations committee, said being appointed regent is a serious matter and stressed the importance of accountability. “What you are about to step into is very important,” Birdwell said. “You are there to impose the will of the people of Texas on the University of Texas community.” Eltife said he was committed to making tuition affordable, citing his upbringing in a
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CAMPUS
STUDENT GOVERNMENT
Senate amends constitution PCL shifts weekend hours, to toughen interview process accommodates student needs By Kayla Meyertons @kemeyertons
The 2016 election season may be over, but the Senate of College Councils did not hesitate Thursday night to modify its election code for the coming semester. The majority of the meeting was spent discussing Senate Bill 1606 and Senate Resolution 1607, which would both make major modifications to the appointment process of the executive board. SB 1606 called to amend the Senate constitution to require a more arduous interview process. Senate President Sergio Cavazos said the resolution would include two minutes of candidate presentation and
three minutes for question and answer during the tryout period for executive positions. “Basically in every other (legislative student organization), when you’re appointing someone to a position, you have some sort of confirmation hearing or even a presentation of why that person is qualified for a position,” Cavazos, a government senior, said. “Right now in Senate, for y’all that are here if you remember back to April, Austin, Chris and I put up a bill that said this is our executive board … and everyone approved them without really getting into a discussion why.” Cavazos said confirmation hearings are important to understand what each
candidates brings to the table in the interest of transparency. Similarly, SB 1607 is a senate bill in support of transitioning the financial director from an elected position to an appointment by the president-elect and vice president-elect. The bill will make the financial director position open to the entire student body as opposed to the individuals who are currently eligible to run for Senate. Business Council president Sean Sellers, Plan II and business honors senior, said he thinks it’s a little arbitrary to have a position that relies on functional expertise put
SENATE page 2
By Stephanie Adeline @stephadeline
The Perry-Castañeda Library changed its weekend hours, opening an hour earlier on Sunday and an hour later on Saturday, to meet student demands. The library will now open at 10 a.m. rather than 9 a.m. on Saturdays and 11 a.m. instead of noon on Sundays. The new weekend hours will go into effect this Saturday, Jan. 28.w Travis Willmann, communications officer for UT Libraries, said the PCL is extending its Sunday hours because students tend to spend more time there on Sundays than Saturdays. “It’s my understanding
Katie Bauer | Daily Texan file photo
Beginning Jan. 28 the Perry-Castañeda Library will alter its hours to better accommodate students’ study hours.
from the people who study the patterns here that there was a desire for the building to be open an hour earlier on Sunday, and usage on Saturday wasn’t
as heavy as on Sunday,” Willmann said. “They’re going to study the new patterns that emerge from
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ONLINE
Senate argues System purchase of Houston land. PAGE 3
Sam Groves on fact-checking Donald Trump. PAGE 4
Men’s basketball ready for matchup against Georgia. PAGE 6
Calligraphy organization keeps art alive. PAGE 8
Scientists investigate genetics of binge drinking.
Sherriff Hernandez stands by immigration stance. PAGE 3
Forum editors lay out semester’s agenda. PAGE 4
Women’s basketball hosts West Virginia on Sunday. PAGE 6
Lunar New Year films offer different way to celebrate. PAGE 8
Read more at dailytexanonline.com
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