1
COMICS PAGE 7
LIFE&ARTS PAGE 8
SPORTS PAGE 6
Serving the University of Texas at Austin community since 1900
@thedailytexan
facebook.com/dailytexan
Monday, January 30, 2017
dailytexanonline.com
bit.ly/dtvid
CITY
SYSTEM
Rally promotes anti-abortion advocacy
UT System regent looks back at term experiences
By Lisa Dreher @lisa_dreher97
Religious banners and pink “Defund Planned Parenthood” signs flapped in the breeze as anti-abortion rights marchers descended upon the Capitol on Saturday afternoon. The annual Texas Rally for Life march protests the Roe v. Wade decision made 44 years ago, legalizing abortion in the U.S. Biology freshman Veronica Remmert said last weekend’s global
Women’s March drowned out anti-abortion voices. “I want all women and men to be equal, but I don’t think that was exactly what their message was,” Remmert said. “The Women’s March wasn’t just about being equal, it was about promoting a culture of death as well. To be pro-life isn’t to be against women.” At 3 p.m. there were more than 5,000 marchers, according to the Austin Police Department. The voices of preteen girls led the “We are the pro-life generation” chant as
families pushed strollers uphill on Guadalupe Street. Panting dogs wore red duct tape with the word “life,” which sealed some people’s lips. Pre-med freshman Hannah Reyes said she was nervous about participating in the rally because UT and Austin are notoriously liberal. “We are the minority, and now it’s time to speak for those who can’t, despite me being nervous of being marginalized,” Reyes said. Around 2 p.m. in front
RALLY page 3
By Anusha Lalani @anusha_lalani
Joshua Guerra | Daily Texan Staff
Anti-abortion activists rallied and marched together at the State Capitol Saturday afternoon.
CITY
Airport protests target Trump’s refugee ban By Lisa Dreher @lisa_dreher97
Ashley Fosshath’s grandmother may pass away before Fosshath can visit her in Iran because of President Donald Trump’s ban on immigrants of certain countries. “It’s heartbreaking,” said Fosshath, a pharmacy graduate student. “I feel like we’re all just in a state of shock. This man has the potential to separate family members and Muslims for a long time.” Fosshath and other Austinites huddled in front of the pickup lane at the Austin-Bergstrom International Airport on Sunday afternoon to protest Trump’s travel ban signed Friday. Children on parents’ shoulders held up neon and cardboard signs saying “#NoBanNoWall” as Muslim immigrants and sons and daughters of refugees shared personal stories of hardship. Protesters circled around those who talked about the uncertainty of seeing family members. Other minority groups such as Mexican Americans, Native Americans and LGBT people expressed sympathy
Rachel Zein | Daily Texan Staff
Fatima Nidali-Levens, center, claps alongside protesters at the Austin-Bergstrom International Airport on Sunday afternoon. The demonstration was held in solidarity with several occupations in airports across the country.
and chanted “all walls must go, from Palestine to Mexico.” Cars passing by honked in agreement and protesters
cheered in thanks. Trump’s order barred refugees of seven Middle Eastern countries from entering the
U.S. for 90 days. On Saturday, a federal judge placed a stay on the ban, temporarily halting the deportation of refugees
CITY
who would have otherwise not been allowed in the U.S. under this order, but some were stuck
PROTESTS page 3
With days left as a UT System regent, Alex Cranberg said his term was characterized by an effort to provide equal opportunities to all students. Cranberg was appointed as a regent for the UT System by former Gov. Rick Perry in 2011 and has served for six years, during the time when former UT President William Powers resigned in 2015 because of questionable admission practices. “I hoped to promote innovation, fresh thinking and critical thinking through asking hard and relevant questions,” Cranberg said in an email. “I hoped to see a major improvement in the leadership of our institutions, and all toward the larger purpose of more and a broader range of students getting a more excellent preparation for their life and careers, and at a lower cost to the student.” As one of the regents, Cranberg oversaw the University’s administration along with its 14 other institutions, set tuition for students, promoted academic research and more. During his time as regent, Cranberg was considered a leader in the move to implement new leadership at the University after unfair admission practices were discovered. This lead to the resignation of Powers because of under-qualified students with influential connections being admitted to the University. “(The new leadership at UT) restored its
REGENT page 2
STATE
Museum hosts celebration for Texas Wildlife Day Finance committee calls for By Kayla Meyertons @kemeyertons
The University observed Texas Wildlife Day on Saturday, as the Texas Memorial Museum hosted free family-friendly activities to educate the public on the importance of biodiversity conservation. Admission was free to the public, with activities ranging from wildlife drawings and making pine-cone bird feeders to a fish species collection presented by UT scientist Adam Cohen. The activities and demonstrations were hosted by science educators of the museum, UT scientists
and 15 members of Texas Master Naturalists, museum associate director Pamela Owen said. Texas Master Naturalists is a volunteer-based statewide program sponsored by Texas Parks and Wildlife to educate the public on native Texas wildlife. Owen said permanent exhibits and having an event like Texas Wildlife Day increases biodiversity awareness among people in central Texas. “Our focus has been on natural history,” Owen said. “We have a lot of folks that maybe don’t have a chance to go outside or maybe they’re living in a more urban environment,
education funding reforms By Mikaela Cannizzo @mikaelac16
Noel Mahouch | Daily Texan Staff
Hudson, 4, left, and Lochland, 3, learn about the anatomy of marine wildlife Saturday.
or they may not be aware this great diversity that we have in the state of Texas.” Owen said Texas Wildlife Day is an important
reminder that humans are not separate from the environment, and human
WILDLIFE page 3
The Senate Finance Committee called for a complete reconstruction of Texas’public school finance system and higher education reforms during the committee’s first round of meetings last week. Committee Chairwoman Jane Nelson, R-Flower Mound, designated a specialized work group to “propose potential replacements for our current funding structure” in the public school system. In regards to university spending, Nelson appointed a workgroup, led by Senate Higher Education Committee Chair Kel Seliger,
Name: 5174/Champions School of Real E; Width: 60p0; Depth: 2 in; Color: Process color; Ad Number: 5174
R-Amarillo, to specifically consider non-education funding on special items. Higher Education Prior to the start of committee hearings, Nelson proposed a base budget of $213.4 billion for 2018-19, which she said is a “starting point” for discussions. The budget proposal includes an $800 million decrease in funds used for initiatives such as museums and research establishments that do not receive standard formula funding, but “support the special mission of the institution,” according to the Legislative
REFORM page 2