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NEWS PAGE 2
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COMICS PAGE 7
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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
COUNCIL page 2
Austin City Council discusses live music hours and abortion during the first meeting of the year.
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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
REASON TO PARTY
NEWS
OPINION
SPORTS
LIFE&ARTS
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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Friday, January 27, 2017
FRAMES featured photo
NEWS
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Volume 117, Issue 89
CONTACT US Main Telephone (512) 471-4591 Editor-in-Chief Alexander Chase (512) 232-2212 editor@dailytexanonline.com Managing Editor Akshay Mirchandani (512) 232-2217 managingeditor@ dailytexanonline.com News Office (512) 232-2207 news@dailytexanonline.com Sports Office sports@dailytexanonline.com Life & Arts Office (512) 232-2209 lifeandarts@dailytexanonline.com Multimedia Office (512) 471-7835 multimedia@ dailytexanonline.com Retail Advertising (512) 471-1865 advertise@texasstudentmedia.com
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Students and faculty visit the newly installed O N E E V E R Y O N E exhibit by Ann Hamilton at the Visual Arts Center on Thursday afternoon. O N E E V E R Y O N E is a public art project commissioned by Landmarks for the Dell Medical School that is framed by the idea of human touch.
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TOMORROW’S WEATHER
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single-parent, low-income household. Eltife said he understands that even $20 more a month is a lot for some families. “You have my word on that, because that’s who I am and where I come from,” Eltife said. Sen. Van Taylor, R-Plano, said Texas is not producing enough college graduates and if this problem is not solved, the GDP and standard of living in the state will decrease. “Sending you out on an important mission with our children’s future,” Taylor said. “Failure is not an option.” Another issue raised was the Top 10 Percent law, which UT Chancellor McRaven has said he wants to get rid of. All three nominees referred to their experience
This issue of The Daily Texan is valued at $1.25 Permanent Staff
Editor-in-Chief . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Alexander Chase Associate Editors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Michael Jensen, Janhavi Nemawarkar, Khadija Saifullah, Caleb Wong Managing Editor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Akshay Mirchandani Associate Managing Editors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Eva Frederick, Michelle Zhang News Editor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Ellie Breed Associate News Editor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Forrest Milburn News Desk Editors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Will Clark, Hannah Daniel, Sunny Kim, Sarah Phillips, Wesley Story Senior Reporters . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Claire Allbright, Mikaela Cannizzo, Lisa Dreher, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Anusha Lalani, Catherine Marfin, Kayla Meyertons Senior Investigative Reporter. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Van Nguyen Copy Desk Chief . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Kasey Salisbury Associate Copy Desk Chiefs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Jaree Campbell, Vanessa Martinez, Bella McWhorter, Colin Traver Design Editor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Elizabeth Jones Associate Design Editor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Megan McFarren Senior Designers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Liza Anderson, Sierra Garcia, Sunnie Lee, Rena Li Photo Editor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Zoe Fu Associate Photo Editor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Emmanuel Briseno, Gabriel Lopez Senior Photographer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Juan Figueroa, Joshua Guerra, Mary Pistorius, Briana Vargas, Rachel Zein Video Editor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Monica Silverio Senior Videographer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Thomas Negrete, Faley Goyette Science&Tech Editor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Zia Lyle Associate Science&Tech Editors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Julianne Hodges, Kate Thackrey Senior Science&Tech Reporters . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Sarah Bloodworth, Angela Kang, Freya Preimesberger Forum Editors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Jordan Shenhar, Emily Vernon Senior Columnists . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Emma Bernadier, Alyssa Fernandez, Sam Groves, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Noah M. Horwitz, Josephine MacLean, G. Elliott Morris Life&Arts Editor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Mae Hamilton Associate Life&Arts Editor. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Daisy Wang, Morgan O’Hanlon Senior Life&Arts Writers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Stephen Acevedo, Acacia Coronado, Chris Duncan, Justin Jones Sports Editor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Tyler Horka Associate Sports Editor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Sydney Rubin Senior Sports Writers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Alex Briseno, Vanessa Le, Shane Lewis Comics Editor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Audrey McNay Associate Comics Editor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Victoria Smith, Melanie Westfall Senior Comics Artists . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Geovanni Casillas, Albert Lee, Bixie Mathieu, Jacky Tovar Social Media Editor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Stephanie Martinez-Arndt Editorial Adviser. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Peter Chen
Issue Staff
Reporter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Reagan Ritterbush Columnist . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Giselle Suazo Sports Writers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Dalton Phillips, Wills Layton, Trenton Daeschner Copy Editor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Gabe Colombo Comics Artists . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Lexi Acevedo, Rachel West Photographers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Brooke Crim, Thomas, Negrete, Betsy Joles, Chase Karacostas
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with diversity issues and each said they supported the current top ten percent rules laid out by the legislature. In December, Abbott pledged to cut funding for sanctuary campuses, a stance McRaven took issue with. The nominees said they would enforce any legislative decision in regards to sanctuary cities and said they would hold the chancellor accountable for his actions. All of the senators asked about the regents’ responsibility to communicate with the legislature. This comes after a $200 million land purchase by the UT System in Houston, which the legislature said it was not warned about. The regent nominees confirmed the importance of communication and taking into account the recommendations of the legislature. “We have a lot of money, a lot of institutions
and we need to hold the chancellor accountable,” Eltife said. “I want you to give me a problem and let me fix it.” Controversy regarding the Board of Regents was hinted at throughout the confirmation hearing, including the Regent Wallace Hall case, a review of the UT system’s admissions process. Hall’s term, as well as the terms of two other UT regents, is set to expire in February. Hall asked the Texas Supreme Court to expedite his lawsuit against McRaven before the end of his term. Sen. Kirk Watson, D-Austin, and several others said throughout the hearing that they look forward to a “swift confirmation.” The Nominations Committee will reconvene next Thursday at 8 a.m. where they will vote on the UT regent appointments.
COUNCIL
you’re heard, that you take that opportunity. I just want to thank all the Austinites who attended Saturday’s march.” Ellen Troxclair of District 8 abstained from the vote, saying she does not want Council to get too political with social issues and alienate people with different opinions. “I’m not here to take a stance one way or another,” Troxclair said. “Just because we live in Austin and it does tend to have one particular ideology, doesn’t mean that those views are always representative of everybody.” Houston said she supports access to a legal and safe abortion and supports Planned Parenthood, but would abstain for the same reason as Troxclair. The Council also passed a resolution approving directing resources into the creation of an LBGTQ Quality of Life Commission. Jimmy Flannigan of District 6, the first openly-gay man elected to Council, will spearhead the commission. Austin Mayor Steve Adler created the commission in October to ensure the LGBT community is represented and protected from hate crimes.
continues from page 1 eral manager Cody Cowan said the venue has not had noise violations either and extended hours would help pay for the businesses’ rent. “Additional hours on Red River could provide a hundred hours per month in addition to payroll, which could provide $10,000 in payroll for staff,” Cowan said. “We’re asking that the (venues) on Red River have the opportunity to have a few more hours … to address the issues of jobs (and) opportunities for artists.” Council Member Ora Houston of District 1 voted against the resolution and Delia Garza of District 2 abstained, with the other council members voting for it. Another resolution — which supports the access to safe, legal abortions — was approved. Garza and Kathie Tovo of District 9, which includes UT and areas around campus, said they were glad so many people attended the Women’s March last Saturday. “I think we are in some very trying times,” Garza said. “I hope that when you see an opportunity to make sure that
PCL DP
continues from page 1 the new hours and make changes as necessary, or keep things the same if it’s working out.” Joe Dobbs, head of user services for UT Libraries, said in order to extend the Sunday hours, the Saturday hours need to be shortened to prevent increases in expenditure. To ensure the
effectiveness of the hour change, Dobbs said the library will continue to monitor available data. “We’ve had people waiting to come in on Sundays, so we hope that there aren’t big crowds waiting any longer,” Dobbs said. “We’re going to try to look at things such as gate count, and computer logins to try to see if it was a good decision to make. We’re
Thomas Negrete | Daily Texan Staff
UT Senate President Sergio Cavazos leads the first legislative assembly of the spring semester Thursday evening. A main focus of the meeting involved changes to the appointment process of executive positions.
SENATE
continues from page 1 up for election. “I don’t see the risk,” Sellers said. “I think at the end of the day, that’s six positions being appointed instead of five appointments, so I think it’s a very positive change.” Policy director Bishop Wash said the creation of a council or a committee of the financial directors is going to create a platform for fair representation. “We have a system that’s flawed right now,” Wash, an advertising senior, said. “We just want financial director to be a position where we can get really, really qualified candidates from all over the University, no matter what
NEW YEAR
their background is.” Financial director Chris Whitehair said he didn’t originally realize the position was going to be opened to all of campus. “The institutional and internal knowledge that I have of how the Senate budget works through the three years that I’ve been in Senate was very important to the way I approached this role,” Whitehair, a finance senior, said. Senate Resolution 1610 passed unanimously to re-implement a year-round pell grant, or financial federal aid, for students in need. Nominations for executive positions will take place at the third Senate general assembly meeting Feb. 23.
The Lunar New Year is celebrated in an assortment of Asian countries such as Vietnam, Taiwan, China and Thailand. Primarily, the customs are centered on giving thanks for the goodness the past year brought, and the hope and prayer of a similar one to follow. The tradition is celebrated differently by different Asian countries and by the different groups present at the event. Some students said they celebrate by cleaning and cooking meals for their ancestors, while others receive red envelopes filled with money
from their elders. “My family is from Vietnam,” Christine Mai, biochemistry freshman, said. “Our tradition is to go to the temple to celebrate. We donate some money and pray for good luck for the year.” AAC is a group of students within Campus Events and Entertainment that strives to promote Asian culture awareness and host diverse events throughout the school year. “I love the people here,” Bich Nguyen, event coordinator and undeclared freshman, said. “It is like a family away from home. Everyone is very motivated and that’s why we can have events like this one.”
looking to be able to address demands as much as we can.” Mathematics senior Fahran Kamili said he spends more than 10 hours in the library almost every day and is pleased to hear about the new opening times. “I’m actually pretty happy to hear that PCL will be opened before noon on Sunday,” Kamili said. “On
Sunday, I wake up kind of early, and I’m the kind of person who can’t really work at home, so the earlier the PCL opens, the better for me. But in the grand scheme of things, an hour, it’s not that much of a change.” The PCL is open 24 hours a day Monday through Thursday and closes at 11 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays.
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Friday, January 27, 2017
CAMPUS
SYSTEM
Zoe Fu | Daily Texan Staff
Ann Hamilton speaks about the concept behind her public art project O N E E V E R Y O N E on Thursday night. Hosted by Landmarks UT, the event featured a discussion and readings from guest writers that contributed to the newsprint.
Gabriel Lopez | Daily Texan file photo
The Texas Senate Finance Committee challenged UT Chancellor William McRaven over a UT system land purchase in Houston. The $200 million, 332 acre purchase was originally announced Nov. 5, 2015.
Landmarks photo series Land purchase provokes explores physical touch Senate-System dispute By Reagan Ritterbush @Rer720
ONEEVERYONE is the newest photographic portrait series commissioned by UT’s public art program, Landmarks, for the Dell Medical School. Artist Ann Hamilton photographed over 530 participants from the Austin community to emphasize the connection between contact and caring. The faces are elusive, obscured from the viewer. The camera concentrates on one thing: the contact of touch. The project has expanded from its original medium, taking multiple forms including approximately 70 architectural porcelain enamel panels that will line the corridors of the Dell Medical School and a newsprint publication featuring contributions Staff by poets, philosophers, scienative tists and essayists. ain “This project’s basis was nt in trust and in making people open up to the possibility of contact through photographs,” Hamilton said. “Trust is the only way to make people receptive to the work we do.” As part of the unveiling
of this project, a discussion was held at the LBJ Auditorium on Thursday night with Hamilton as well as Matthew Goulish, Brian Rotman and Natalie Shapero, whose writings are featured with some of the photographs in its newsprint edition. The speakers debated the themes of the photographs. “There is a uniqueness to touching,” Rotman said. “Unlike the other senses, you can’t touch without being touched. This sense, in my opinion, sets the ground for empathy.” According to Landmarks’s website, participants stood behind a frosted, plastic material that puts whatever it touches in sharp focus and softens receding features. To viewers of the resulting portraits, the cloudy screen becomes the image surface, binding visual and tactile perception. Hamilton said the project was framed from the idea that human touch is an essential means of contact and, more importantly, a fundamental expression of physical care. “There’s a posture of vulnerability to these photographs,” Shapero said. “To show themselves to a camera
By Claire Allbright @claireallbright
There is a uniqueness to touching. Unlike the other senses, you can’t touch without being touched. This sense, in my opinion, sets the ground for empathy.” —Ann Hamilton, Artist
or a giant screen, these people have proven to me that trust is possible even in the strangest of situations.” Sean Kuehn, applied movement science freshman, said the project showed him how fragile human beings are when they are vulnerable. “It really shows the humanity of people,” Kuehn said. “As a scientist, finding a person’s humanity is the most important part of working with humans.” A selection of Hamilton’s photographs will be featured in the Visual Arts Center from Friday night to Monday, Feb. 24 before being moved to the panels in Dell Medical School.
The Texas Senate Finance Committee challenged UT Chancellor William McRaven Thursday over a UT System land purchase in Houston. Originally announced Nov. 5, 2015 at a Board of Regents meeting, the $200 million, 332 acre purchase, left lawmakers frustrated as they were left in the dark about the system’s proceedings. “In all due respect, I don’t think you give a damn what the Legislature thinks,” state Sen. John Whitmire, D-Houston, said during the hearing. “I believe your style is it’s your way or the highway. The Legislature is not involved in your decisions.” McRaven apologized, but said he wanted to keep the deal a secret, because he was worried the value of the land would increase. While no official plans for the land have been announced, McRaven said the land would not be used for a four-year university, but could house a research facility for all UT campuses, according to the Austin American-Statesman. At the
time of his announcement, McRaven stressed Houston’s importance in the nation and internationally. “Too often university systems maintain the status quo because they’re forced to do so,” McRaven said. “We intend to stay a great system, and in order to do that you have to take some risks you have to make some gambles.” Talk of the Houston purchase made it into the newly appointed regents confirmation hearing Thursday. Several senators, including Sen. Brian Birdwell, R-Granbury, said the regents need to be in contact with the Legislature and take their opinions seriously. Birdwell said the Legislature deserves to be respected and the Houston land purchase happened after last session had adjourned and the Legislature fell out of the loop. The regent nominees all said they would work to improve the relationship between the Board of Regents and the Legislature. Former Sen. Kevin Eltife, one of the nominees, said the system needs a plan for the land. “It makes no sense to me to go spend $200 million,” Eltife said. “You better take care
of what you own before you build new things.” Regent nominee Janiece Longoria said she would not be comfortable moving forward with the Houston development without the support of Houston legislators. The money used for the purchase came in part from the Available University Fund, which is defined in the budget as providing for support and maintenance, to pay debt service on bonds, to acquire land, to construct and equip buildings and other permanent improvements for eligible universities. “A purchase of this magnitude is certainly something that I would say is unique in the history of Texas,” Sen. Paul Bettencourt, R-Houston, said. McRaven agreed to make no further decisions about the use of the land until the new regents are confirmed. The Nominations Committee will vote on the regents next week, then their confirmation will go to the full Senate for a vote. The Finance Committee is schedule to meet everyday next week at 9 a.m.
CITY
Sheriff Hernandez stands by immigration policy stance By Lisa Dreher @lisa_dreher97
Travis County Sheriff Sally Hernandez said Thursday she will not reverse her policy to refuse to comply with federal immigration agents, despite Gov. Greg Abbott’s threat to remove her from office. “I will not allow fear and misinformation to be my guiding principles as a leader sworn to protect this community,” Hernandez said in a statement from the Travis County Sheriff’s Office. “Our community is safer when people can report crimes without fear of deportation.” On Wednesday, Abbott told
Fox News he will work with state lawmakers on a law to remove state officials who do not comply with federal immigration enforcement. Abbott said under such a law, sheriffs would face civil and criminal charges if they do not accept Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents’ detainer requests to investigate and deport undocumented immigrants in local jails. Hernandez said she will accept the requests if they are for individuals who have committed sexual assault, murder or human trafficking, according to the Austin American-Statesman. Abbott said Travis County will not receive up to
$1.8 million in-state grant funds if Hernandez’s policy goes into effect. “We are in a legislative session — we are working on laws that will, one, ban sanctuary cities, remove from office any office holder who promotes sanctuary cities and impose criminal penalties as well as financial penalties,” Abbott told Fox News. Abbott’s statement coincides with a state and federal crackdown on undocumented immigration. On Wednesday, President Donald Trump made an executive order to defund “sanctuary cities.” Austin currently receives $43 million in federal grants, according to
the Austin Monitor. In Novemeber, State Sen. Charles Perry, R-Lubbock, filed a bill backed by Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick to ban “sanctuary cities.” Perry filed a bill in 2015 requiring county jails to comply with ICE agents, but it did not pass, according to the Texas Tribune. Several state officials and activists weighed in on Abbott’s proposals over the past few days. U.S. Rep. Lloyd Doggett, D-Texas, said in a statement on Wednesday he supports Hernandez’s fight to keep out ICE agents and that Abbott’s actions are unconstitutional. “Neither Gov. Abbott nor the Legislature have any
authority to remove a duly elected sheriff, whose office is established by the Texas Constitution,” Doggett said in the statement. Earlier that day, four Democratic state representatives of Austin — Eddie Rodriguez, Donna Howard, Gina Hinojosa and Celia Israel — said in a joint statement they condemn Abbott’s proposed policy. “While we support your commitment to protecting the people of our state, we strongly disagree with your strategy,” the statement said. “Threatening Sheriff Hernandez with removal from office and withholding much-needed funding … is a vast overreach of
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executive authority.” Travis County Judge Sarah Eckhardt said Hernandez is respecting undocumented immigrants’ rights by not letting federal agents detain them without warrants in a statement Tuesday. “Jailers and immigration agents do not determine probable cause to detain a person,” Eckhardt said. “Only a judge can make that determination. It’s called a warrant.” Austin Mayor Steve Adler and several City Council members said they vow to protect undocumented immigrants but are hesitant to define Austin as a “sanctuary city.”
4 OPINION
ALEXANDER CHASE, EDITOR-IN-CHIEF | @TexanEditorial Friday, January 27, 2017
4
COLUMN
Trump leads America into wild post-fact world By Sam Groves
Daily Texan Senior Columnist @samgroves
One of the most refreshing things about having Barack Obama as president was his embrace of science and technology. After eight years under President Bush, an administration which actually took the facts regarding things like climate change and women’s health seriously was a relief. Unsurprisingly, the same can’t be said of President Donald Trump. It turns out that when you elect a longtime purveyor of conspiracy theories and a cable news addict who doesn’t read, what you get is the most anti-science administration since, well, the last time Republicans held the White House. What’s more, you get an administration that is fundamentally anti-fact. Much of the president’s war on reality has been conducted on social media. On Inauguration Day, someone with control of the Twitter account for the National Park Service retweeted two posts critical of the incoming administration. One had to do with the inaugural crowd size; the other had to do with climate change. Both were deleted and the NPS was banned from tweeting until further notice. Since then, at least five agencies including the Environmental Protection Agency and the Department of Agriculture have been ordered silent by the Trump administration. On Tuesday, the Twitter account for Badlands National Park seemingly defied these
orders, firing off a series of tweets highlighting the facts of climate change. The account had made similar posts in the past, but apparently someone at the Interior Department or higher up believed these tweets were ill-advised in the context of the new administration. They were deleted in short order. Press secretary Sean Spicer has denied any White House involvement in deleting these tweets, but it’s unclear if he can be trusted. On Saturday, Spicer held a surreal press conference in which he lied gleefully, aggressively and repeatedly to the media and the entire country. Defending an earlier claim by the president, he insisted that photos depicting mediocre turnout at the inauguration had been somehow falsified, and further claimed Trump’s audience had been the largest ever — which it wasn’t. Spicer lied again at a press conference on Tuesday, defending President Trump’s claim that massive voter fraud had cost him the popular vote. There is no evidence suggesting voter fraud on a scale even remotely close to that which Trump and Spicer allege, and yet both say that there is, and have promised to spearhead an investigation into the matter. This amounts to Trump’s ego being wounded by his loss of the popular vote to Hillary Clinton. Trump’s assault on the EPA for the egregious crime of supporting meticulously researched scientific consensus goes beyond social media. Employees are forbidden from talking to
COLUMN
Courtesy of Badlands National Park
An American Bison stands in Badlands National Park in South Dakota on Jan. 10, 2010.
reporters. Current EPA scientific studies and data must now undergo review by political staff before publication. And the president is expected to enact severe budget and staff cuts at the agency, according to a former transition official. I could go on, but you get the idea. Trump is fostering a culture within his administration that
encourages people to reject reality. By waging a war against the media, he’s encouraging the American people to do the same. Dissemination of science and facts is, to this anti-science and anti-fact administration, a form of dissent. And dissent will not be tolerated. Groves is a government sophomore from Dallas.
COLUMN
Men must get used to idea Policing livestreamed suicide of dating ambitious women proves difficult to navigate By Alyssa Fernandez
Daily Texan Senior Columnist
Rachel Zein | Daily Texan Staff
Protestors march outside the Texas Capitol during the Women’s March on Austin on Jan. 21.
By Giselle Suazo
Daily Texan Columnist @giselle_suazo
As a young, single woman I would want my future husband to find my ambition and accomplishments attractive. The idea that these qualities would make me less desirable is ludicrous — but sadly, this is the world women still live in. Nobody, man or woman, should make you feel like you deserve less. Despite the strides we’ve made toward attaining equality, many women still believe they have to downplay their career goals in order to find a husband. A recent study surveyed 355 randomly selected MBA students on job preferences and personality traits. When the single women in the group were told that classmates would see their answers, they claimed they desired a lower salary, less hours per week and less travel days. But the answers were different when they were told no one would see them. “Young, single women are simultaneously operating in the labor market and the marriage market— and those spheres value different qualities.” said Amanda Pallais, a Harvard economist and a co-author of the study. The existence of a double-standard isn’t news to anyone — men have always been praised for
being assertive, in both their home and work life, while women receive backlash for it. It is nonsensical and sad that single women believe no man will want them for displaying such qualities. Society has long taught women to not go against the status quo. Actions that can help a woman advance in the workplace, such as taking leadership roles or asking for a raise, signal confidence and ambition, but penalize them in the marriage market. Studies before this one have shown that men like the idea of a smart woman, but when it comes to dating one they feel their intelligence is being threatened. Why is an intelligent woman a threat? And why does it become our responsibility to not make men feel threatened? I don’t want to dumb myself down in order to appeal to a larger pool of men. Part of being an intelligent woman is understanding that there are men out there that will appreciate your brains and who won’t be threatened. Maybe it will take a little longer to find that kind of man, but in the end it will be worth it. Women enjoy more freedom today than we had in the past and we need to ensure this continues. We’ve come a long way, but there is still work to do. “Playing dumb” isn’t going to move us forward. Suazo is a communication studies senior from Honduras.
The rise of technology goes handin-hand with the amount of media we consume. By some accounts the average person spends 490 minutes a day doing just that. In the past we were primarily passive participants of media consumption through tweets, likes and comments. Then came livestreaming and suddenly we’re active participants. Livestreaming is a feature on certain apps such as Facebook or Periscope, where an individual can stream an event in real-time giving anyone with a smartphone the opportunity to chronicle his or her own life. What we’re dealing with is a revolution in which citizens suddenly have access to raw, unfiltered content that comes instantaneously. However, there are consequences to this, and we have to consider imposing certain limits on this technological function. On Dec. 30, 12-year-old Katelyn Nicole Davis committed suicide and streamed it on Live.Me. It is currently streaming on Facebook and the police can’t do anything to take it down. Unfortunately, her decision to stream her suicide isn’t an isolated incident. Within the past week Frederick Jay Bowdy and Naika Venant have done the same. When I first read about Davis, I was outraged. I’m not naive and know that the internet has its fair share of depraved and illegal content, so the fact that a suicide video exists on the internet isn’t what bothered me. It was the fact that this video is accessible on a popular social media platform. It’s one thing to go out of your way to use Tor to find questionable content, but it’s another to see something like this alongside your friend’s post. Additionally, there is a small window of time during livestreaming where the viewer involuntarily becomes an active participant. In the case of livestreamed suicide, a viewer is a witness so shouldn’t they be assumed partially responsible? While there haven’t been any studies conducted on this, I would think that livestreaming could create a digital bystander effect, in which
It’s one thing to go out of your way to use Tor to find questionable content, but it’s another to see something like this alongside your friend’s post. the presence of many viewers discourages someone from intervening. It has typically been the filmers who have faced legal scrutiny over illegal livestream content, such as the teen who was arrested for streaming her friend’s rape. But suggesting that viewers should also be held accountable is a stretch and I understand how difficult it would be to regulate. As of now I can only see two options. The first is strict regulation similar to what China is currently doing by restricting the flow of certain content they deem offensive or inappropriate. The second option is to leave it as is. While I do favor some sort of limitations or accountability there has been some good that has come out of the unfiltered nature of livestream. Last semester UT students were able to see the bake sale protests through Facebook Live, and the public has been exposed to police brutality through sharing videos such as Alton Sterling’s death. While the content of these videos are in some cases violent, sensitive and difficult to watch, their social impact is immeasurable in how they bring communities together to fight for justice. This raises the question: How is Alton Sterling’s livestreamed death different from Katelyn Nicole Davis’? The answer is that Sterling’s death sparked a national movement while Katelyn’s video streams for the sake of streaming. There is no right way to address how we react to these videos, but what we should take away from this is to reconsider our own roles when we find ourselves in a position to be either an activist or witness to the content we watch. Fernandez is a rhetoric and writing and Spanish senior from Allen.
FORUM
Daily Texan Forum needs new voices to take on new challenges By Jordan Shenhar and Emily Vernon
Daily Texan Forum Editors
On June 16, 2015, Donald Trump hijacked America’s political culture and transfixed its staid media institutions with a single escalator ride to the lobby of his eponymous skyscraper. Three days earlier, and with considerably less fanfare, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott signed into law a bill that allowed students to carry concealed weapons on the state’s public college campuses. Those two events — and the outpourings of
fervent support and opposition they inspired at the federal and state level — laid the foundation for the stormy political climate that has descended on Austin this month, equal parts nebulous and energized in the wake of President Trump’s inauguration and the beginning of Texas’ 85th legislative session. Against this backdrop, we’re excited to kickstart The Daily Texan Forum page next week, where we’ll continue to facilitate conversations among the Austin community on local and national affairs. In the meantime, we’re running the largest number of tryout pieces from aspiring columnists
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.
in our history — period. Whether you’re an experienced writer, have strong convictions, or just enjoy the occasional Twitter fight, we encourage you to join us and make your voice heard. After the end of the tryout period, we’ll turn our eye towards the State Capitol, where lawmakers and activists are preparing for contentious debates on national touchstones like transgender rights and immigration reform. We’ll also incorporate coverage of UT’s Student Government in advance of March’s elections, highlighting both its successful initiatives and the steps it can take to improve. And as the dramatic upheaval of Wash-
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.
ington DC continues to unfold, we’ll curate a diverse array of perspectives on what changes we can expect on the Forty Acres. We cannot bridge the divides that have emerged over these past 18 months without conversations grounded in mutual respect and understanding. Drop us a line at editor@dailytexanonline.com if you’re interested in joining in. Once again, we look forward to hearing from you! Shenhar is a Plan II, economics, and government senior from Westport, Connecticut. Vernon is a rhetoric and writing sophomore from The Woodlands.
RECYCLE | Please recycle this copy of The Daily Texan. Place the paper in one of the recycling bins on campus or back in the burnt-orange newsstand where you found it. EDITORIAL TWITTER | Follow The Daily Texan Editorial Board on Twitter (@TexanEditorial) and receive updates on our latest editorials and columns.
CLASS 5
LIFE&ARTS
5
Friday, January 27, 2017
CALLIGRAPHY
HOLIDAY International communication studies freshman Evelyn Chen (left) and international business freshman Clementine Zhang (right) stand with Lunar New Year banners in Littlefield Dormitory on Wednesday.
continues from page 8
Betsy Joles Daily Texan Staff
International students recall Lunar New Years spent abroad By Acacia Coronado @acaciatree18
Even though Evelyn Chen, international communications studies freshman, moved to America four years ago, she honors the tradition of celebrating Lunar New Year with close family by spending it with her closest friends and eating dumplings while watching TV as they once used to in China. “(Lunar New Year) means family, unification,” Chen, a member of the Chinese Students and Scholars Association, said. “It is not like we don’t get together with the family very often besides Lunar New Year, but it is different. You just want to (be with) all members of the family, and it doesn’t really matter what you do or where to eat, you just want to give each other the best wish for the new year and treasure the time you spend together.” Lunar New Year is mainly celebrated in East and Southeast Asia and marks the end of winter by the Chinese agricultural calendar. The celebration includes traditional foods, like dumplings and gluttonous rice cake, and lasts
from three to five days. This year, it will be celebrated on Jan. 28 and marks the beginning of the year of the rooster. Camilla Hsieh, Asian studies senior lecturer, said the Lunar New Year and its traditions date back to ancient times, when China was a farming based society. “When China was an agrarian society, people would not be working (during) the winter time,” Hsieh said. “We call Lunar New Year the spring festival because it’s the first day of spring. To prepare for it, everybody does a thorough cleanup of the house. If you owe any money, you have to pay or the debtor can come and collect debt until the last day, New Year’s Eve, and after that you have to wait until the next year, even the debtor.” Hsieh said her family in Taiwan would try to come together every year and take part in their own special traditions. “On the first day of the new year, my mother would cut (red paper) into sizes, and we used a brush to write good things,” Hsieh said. “One of the first characters you write for the new year means your stud-
ies will go well, and you will have good grades. You could also write your wish for the year.” The first Lunar New Year Clementine Zhang, international business freshman, remembers was spent with her grandparents, watching TV and eating. In China, Zhang said traditions include buying new clothes and hanging couplets, called chunlian, for good fortune in the new year. “It is very important to buy clothes because we have the tradition to have everything new for the new year,” Zhang said. “I think (the biggest traditions) is the couplets. It is one of the necessary things to do, like the traditional decoration. It basically means we are sending the past year away and we welcome the new year.” Though they’ll be spending the new year in America with friends, Chen and Zhang said they will be missing their families and their traditions this year, especially the food. “You don’t have that much choice,” Zhang said. “You don’t have your grandma’s favorite dish. You can’t make something like what she made. The taste of home.”
look at it, does it make you feel comfortable?” During the Cultural Revolution, Maoist government officials campaigned to destroy elements of traditional culture in order to promote communism. Calligraphers were executed and many masterpieces were either lost or destroyed. In addition to the popularization of printing and electronics, calligraphy was poised to become extinct. Though much history was lost, Chinese professor Yongfeng Liu, who studied calligraphy during university, said there has been recent a push to reclaim the art. “Chinese people are beginning to realize that some of the culture has been lost during the past years and have started paying attention to this,” Liu said. “The traditional culture is becoming popular again.” Though some modern calligraphers often incorporate elements of modern Western art into their
FILM
continues from page 8 having to be imported from neighboring nations. Chinese film and literature professor Yvonne Chang considered all films of the time propaganda. “From 1949 to 1976 (films) were propaganda for educational purposes, but then they were shifted back to capitalist mode in the ’80s,” she said. “People studying in the west and from Hong Kong kind of had to introduce the idea of a commercial film.” Chang credits the first Chinese New Year movie, Feng Xiaogang’s “The Dream Factory,” not just with introducing the genre to the mainland but for expanding Chinese film as a whole into a commercial industry, for better or worse. “The emergence of New Year films had landmark importance because it opened
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Ph.D. student Yulong Li and other members of the organization practice the formal style of Chinese calligraphy.
pieces, Wang is dedicated to preserving the artwork in its truest forms. “In order to break away from the basics, you have to be a master of the traditional form first,” Wang said. “Modern Chinese calligraphy artists, most of them go the other way and try to break all the rules without knowing all the rules.” Nutritional science graduate student Xiyuan Lu joined Wang’s club because she always had an interest in calligraphy, but never got the chance to
practice before. “When you write you keep your mind settled,” Li said. “It helps you calm yourself and your mind because you want to write as good as you can.” Though Wang has a deep love for the ancient art and holds himself to high artistic standards, his vision for the future is modest. “I don’t hope to become a master myself,” Wang said. “I hope to influence people around me. Hopefully it will grow exponentially or at least one more person will know it. That’s what I hope.”
up this very important position of commercial film in China,” Cheng said. “Commercial film started with Feng Xiaogang. But today, if you talk to Chinese people about New Year films, they are not so excited. They have grown into this mainstream dominant film, very much like Hollywood. After a few years, the films were not as well-made.” After this initial growth spurt, New Year films ingrained themselves into East Asian culture, and became another one of the many ways people celebrate the holiday. Franny Fang, Accounting senior and president of the Taiwanese International Students Association, loves New Year films and the way they celebrate culture. “They’re really funny and you can watch them with your family,” Fang said. “It incorporates a lot of Taiwanese
culture. They will use Taiwanese actors and Taiwanese slang.” Yi Lu, UT alumna who earned a Ph.D. in radio-television-film after studying film at the Beijing Film Academy, said New Year films tend to be of the same comedic, yet shallow breed. “At the beginning those films tried to create a story that really get into the holiday spirit,” Lu said. “But as time goes on, those are not necessarily this way, but they just try to make people laugh.” But despite their superficiality, Lu said she loves the impact New Year films have and their newfound importance to culture. “For Chinese people, the festival is very important to us,” Lu said. “The family gets together, eats and now watching films becomes a part of traditional celebrating activities.”
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6 COMICS 6
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COMICS
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TYLER HORKA, SPORTS EDITOR | @texansports Friday, January 27, 2017
MEN’S BASKETBALL
Texas rejuvenated for match with Georgia By Trenton Daeschner @TrentDaeschner
It may be premature and inexpedient to label Monday night’s climactic victory over Oklahoma as a turning point for Texas. It was just one game — but it was one that snapped a miserable five-game losing streak. The Longhorns were desperate to stop the bleeding after a rough stretch that featured a brutal schedule of three straight top-10 opponents. Texas had to get a win. “It was really big for our team,” head coach Shaka Smart said. “I guess from that standpoint you can say we needed it.” Freshman guard Andrew Jones, who nailed the game-winning three, believes the win over Oklahoma could even be a sign of better things to come. “I feel like it’s going to give us a lot of momentum and a lot of confidence,” Jones said. While Jones will be remembered as the hero to Monday night’s thriller, it was the clinic that senior forward Shaquille Cleare displayed in the paint with his baby-hook shot that bolstered the Longhorns all night. Cleare finished with a
career-high 23 points, made 10 of 14 field goals and grabbed eight rebounds. Turn back the clock to a year ago and Cleare might not have been capable of producing such a performance. “I don’t think last year he would’ve been able to play 31 minutes in an intense game like (Monday) night and be able to be so productive,” Smart said. “I think he would’ve gotten tired, but he didn’t look very tired (Monday) night.” Cleare has come a long way this season, but he’s not the only one. Freshman forward Jarrett Allen has turned into a star and Jones is on the cusp of becoming one. Of course, the growing pains have been there quite often, as is the case with young teams. But Smart believes there’s been improvement and hopes that things can only continue to get better. “You definitely can see a lot of progress when you look at individual guys,” Smart said. “We have to continue to be more consistent as a team. Now what we need to do is just put stretches of good play together and have more guys play well at the same time.” Smart admitted at his Tuesday press conference that one of his primary focuses this
season has been to be around his players as much as possible. Smart has often been regarded as a players’ coach, but with the youth on this year’s team, he feels a greater obligation to interact with his players. “(I) spend more time with the guys than I ever have,” Smart said. “I’ve always tried to pride myself in spending time around the guys. I’ve tried to really encourage our staff to do the same thing.” Saturday’s road matchup with Georgia represents an unusual twist in the schedule. The annual Big 12-SEC Challenge’s placement right in the middle of conference play gives both sides a break from its usual conference competition. The Bulldogs (12–8, 4–4 SEC) head into Saturday fresh off back-to-back losses to Texas A&M and Alabama, who Texas beat at home back in December, 77-68. The Longhorns will be put to the test by junior forward Yante Maten and senior guard J.J. Frazier. Maten averages 19.6 points and 7.9 rebounds per game, and Frazier averages 16.2 points and 4.3 assists. “Georgia’s got a really good team,” Smart said. “It’s a unique opportunity to see our league against the SEC and the different matchups and see how
WOMEN’S BASKETBALL
Aston’s squad looks to defend hot winning streak at home By Dalton Phillips @Dalton_Tweets
Coming off a narrow victory in Fort Worth, the No. 12 Longhorns return home Sunday for a rematch against No. 22 West Virginia. Texas moved to 9–0 in conference play for the first time in program history on Wednesday with a 77-69 win over TCU. The Horned Frogs proved to be a far tougher matchup in the second meeting between the two teams, holding the Longhorns to just 30 percent shooting from behind the arc and 45 percent from the free throw line. “I think that our young players are getting better, all of our new ones are starting to get more comfortable,” head coach Karen Aston said in a press conference on Tuesday. “But in the same breath I think our older players are the ones who have matured.” That growth was on full display on Wednesday evening as junior guard Ariel Atkins scored 10 of her team-high 17 points in the
fourth quarter, including seven straight down the stretch to put Texas ahead for good. Freshmen forward Joyner Holmes also put on a show for Texas despite some early foul trouble. Holmes recorded her fifth double-double of the season, scoring 15 points and grabbing a game-high 14 rebounds in 31 minutes of play. Entering Sunday’s matchup, Texas may not be able to lean on the glass control it’s enjoyed for the majority of games this season. The Longhorns rank second in the Big 12 in rebounding advantage at plus 12.2. West Virginia sits not far behind with an average margin of plus 8.1. The Mountaineers are one of only two teams to beat the Longhorns on the boards this season, out-rebounding the burnt orange 35-28 in their last meeting. West Virginia also presents a tough defense, holding opponents to an average 59.4 points per game. The Mountaineers sit at fifth place in the Big 12, touting a 4–5 conference record after a win against
—Karen Aston, Head coach
Texas Tech on Wednesday. The Longhorns, who enter Sunday’s matchup tied for first in the conference with No. 2 Baylor, look to extend their winning streak to 14 games. The only home loss for the Longhorns this season came in December against then-No. 3 South Carolina. Despite the stretch of wins, Aston continues to put emphasis on each individual game. “I think that it’s really, really important that our team continues to just take one day at a time.” Aston said. The Longhorns host the Mountaineers on Sunday at 3 p.m. at the Frank Erwin Center.
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TODAY IN HISTORY
1956
The New York Giants move their games from the Polo Grounds to Yankee Stadium.
SPORTS BRIEFLY Joshua Guerra | Daily Texan Staff
Senior forward Shaquille Cleare goes for the net against Oklahoma defenders in an 84-83 win on Jan. 23. Cleare had a career-high 23 points against the Sooners.
teams do, so we’re excited about it.”
Texas tips off with Georgia in Athens on Saturday at 3 p.m.
SWIMMING AND DIVING
Longhorns host Arizona, celebrate senior classes By Wills Layton @willsdebeast
I think that it’s really, really important that our team continues to just take it one day at a time.
SIDELINE
The Longhorn men and women celebrate their senior classes this Saturday at a home meet against Arizona. Both teams come loaded with seniors who have lifted Texas to numerous achievements. Senior Clark Smith helped Texas to national titles in 2015 and 2016. He said he’s prepared for a chance at another. “It’s gone by pretty fast,” Smith said. “The first three years have kind of flown by. But I’m kind of ready for the NCAAs.” The emotional nature of senior day affects more than just the competitors. Women’s head coach Carol Capitani said she knows how hard it is to lose a senior class. “It means I’m going to be really sad when they leave,” Capitani said. “They’re amazing women and it’s an amazing group of all of them together have all come together and done something special.” Capitani understands the value the seniors have provided in pushing the women’s team to No. 1 in the nation, including senior standout Madisyn Cox. “Seniors are unbelievable,” Capitani said. “The captains oversee everything, but the
senior class, they do the majority of the heavy lifting and then everybody else kind of fills in where they need to do it and that’s pretty fun.” Men’s head coach Eddie Reese has coached at Texas for 39 years. He’s lost many senior classes, but parting ways with a swimmer as talented as Smith isn’t a burden that occurs every year. “Well when you look at somebody like Clark, there’s nobody that can beat him during the dual-meet season and probably not at NCAAs and you just cannot replace him,” Reese said. “You can say the same thing about Jack Conger and Will Licon. They’re just really hard to beat.” Reese has a very simple message for the graduating seniors, a lesson he has tried to preach to them for years. “They have to go out of their way to help each other and our motto is take care of yourselves, take care of each other, and that takes care of everything else,” Reese said. “That’s all I want from them.” Texas continues dual-meet competition on Friday when it hosts Arizona in a two-day meet at Lee and Joe Jamail Texas Swimming Center. Senior day festivities take place on Saturday.
Longhorn men gear up for ITA Kickoff Weekend
Teams from around the country head to Austin this weekend as No. 9 Texas hosts 1 of 15 ITA Kick-Off events happening around the country. The Longhorns return home after a three-game road swing for a matchup with Drake University at 1 p.m. on Saturday. The winner will advance to the second round to face either Oregon or Rice in hopes of earning a spot in the ITA National Team Indoor Championships in February. The two losing teams will play Sunday afternoon in the consolation round. Texas improved to 4–1 this past weekend with a victory over then-No. 19 Arkansas, including a huge upset by Texas freshman Christian Sigsgaard. The native of Denmark defeated Arkansas’ No. 3 Mike Redlicki in a singles match, less than three months after Redlicki claimed first place at the 2016 USTA/ITA National Indoor Intercollegiate Championships in New York. The achievement earned Sigsgaard the Big 12 Men’s Tennis Player of the Week honor and marked his third victory over an ITA ranked top-15 opponent. Less than a year into his collegiate career, Sigsgaard stands at No. 6 in the ITA national rankings, boasting an impressive 20–4 singles record. After the ITA KickOff event, the team hosts Virginia Tech, followed by Purdue. –Dalton Phillips
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Emmanuel Briseño | Daily Texan Staff
Junior guard Ariel Atkins glides past TCU defenders during her 14-point performance on Jan. 7. Texas completed the season sweep of TCU with a 77-69 victory on Wednesday night.
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LIFE&ARTS
New Year films shape Asian tradition By Justin Jones @justjustin42
Many Southeast and East Asian nations celebrate Lunar New Year, and the films they watch fit into each country’s own distinct customs and traditions to honor the holiday. For 20 years, New Year films have dominated the Asian box office, and 2017 will be no exception to the trend. This year sees the release of “Journey to the West: The Demons Strike Back,” a sequel to one of the most successful New Year films. Even the U.S. will join in on the
season this year. Zhang Yimou, one of China’s most popular directors, has a new fantasy monster film starring Matt Damon,
“The Great Wall,” which will release in the U.S. a little over two weeks after Lunar New Year. After Hong Kong pioneered the genre in the early ’80s, these
blockbuster movies caught on in much of East Asia, but not in China, where films were not even considered a commercial industry yet by the government, with entertainment films
FILM page 5
Illustrations by Geo Casillas & Albert Lee| Daily Texan Staff
Stroke by stroke: Calligraphers keep Chinese culture alive By Mae Hamilton @thedailytexan
When Bill Wang was first introduced to calligraphy as a child, he quickly lost interest because there was only one color – black. But six years ago, Wang felt compelled to pick up his brush again to relearn the art that almost died. Calligraphy is the ancient Chinese art of stylized writing that combines aesthetic beauty with dynamic movement and poetry. In September 2016, Wang, a biomedical engineering graduate student, formed UT’s first organization dedicated to calligraphy. He holds class once a week to teach the craft and practice with
friends. Growing up in the northern province of Jilin, China, Wang was surrounded by calligraphy his whole life but never learned to appreciate it until he began practicing himself. “I used to look at a highly valued piece and think ‘what is this crap?’” Wang said. “I didn’t understand it, so I judged it superficially. But the more I learn, the more I (realize) how far I am away from that and how great that piece really is.” During Lunar New Year, calligraphy plays an integral role in celebrating the holiday. People will often hang calligraphic couplets around their doors to invite good luck into their home for the upcoming year.
“Usually you see it in every door,” Wang said. “It’s like a Christmas tree.” In dynastic times, calligraphy wasn’t an art, but a way for nobles to communicate with one another. Since then, calligraphy has taken on a highly revered status. It can take years of practice before artists develop a basic understanding of the art. “Even the slightest movement of your fingers can affect strokes a lot,” Wang said. “There’s different levels to judge a piece by. Stroke, quality, the formation of the character, the balance of spacing between strokes and the spacing between each character. When you
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