The Daily Texan 2017-10-05

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Serving the University of Texas at Austin community since 1900

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 5, 2017

@thedailytexan | thedailytexan.com

Volume 118, Issue 37 CAMPUS

POLICE

UT reports more hazing than other Texas schools By London Gibson Senior Reporter

brooke crim| daily texan staff

Lt. Laura Davis is one of 11 female officers out of 95 UTPD officers. She has worked there for 19 years.

UTPD officer discusses her job By Reagan Ritterbush Senior Reporter

Lt. Laura Davis explores the unique circumstances of being a female cop UT Police Department Lt. Laura Davis had just finished walking a woman to her car late at night

when she first realized the difference between being a female cop and a male cop. “The woman told me that she was going to watch me safely get back to my car,” Davis said. “I doubt she would have done that for a male

police officer. I didn’t take it as something horrible though, because I knew she was just trying to look out for me too.” Davis is one of 11 female police officers for UTPD, which is comprised of about 95 police officers.

“Not a lot of kids are raised thinking that police work is for girls,” Davis said. “That’s the only reason I can think of for the small number of female officers.” Davis, who has worked at the UTPD for almost

OFFICER page 2

UT-Austin has had more organizations disciplined for hazing in the past three years than most top Texas universities, but information regarding specific incidents can be difficult for students to get their hands on. UT has sanctioned 22 student organizations for hazing in the past three years, nine more than Texas State University, which was the next highest university with public hazing information, according to both schools’ semesterly hazing reports. Texas A&M found five organizations over three years in violation of their hazing policy and releases specifics of each hazing incident as well as details regarding the sanctions on the organizations. Currently, UT does not make specific information about each incident public, such as what occurred and whether or not multiple instances were reported, unlike some other Texas universities. Sara Kennedy, manager of strategic and executive communications for the Dean of Students office, said the office typically does not give out information that could identify the students involved. “It has been the practice on our campus to not include specific incident details in order to ensure students’ privacy,” Kennedy said. “It definitely could be that the practice could change in the future, and it’s definitely something that we have and

will continue to look at.” Students looking for details on hazing violations, such as what happened and how many were involved, can call the Office of the Dean of Students to request the information, Kennedy said. However, a request might still be denied if the office decides revealing the information could invade an individual’s privacy, as each request is reviewed case-by-case. Advertising junior Johanna Cho said if she were a part of Greek life or considering rushing, she would want to have more information on hazing made available to her. “If I wanted to know more about what kind of hazing could occur during that Greek life process, then having more information given to us rather than just going to look for it on our own would definitely be more helpful,“ Cho said. The University requires organization leaders to attend a safety education workshop at the start of every year to prevent hazing. At the workshops leaders are given hazing training and then required to teach the same procedures to their organizations, though this is not enforced and the University does not verify whether they do so, Kennedy said. The vast majority of the 22 organizations disciplined for hazing violations in the past three years at UT were sororities and fraternities. Peter Stanley, vice president of

HAZING page 2

UNIVERSITY

LECTURE

New scholarship aids homeless students

Journalist recounts stories from career

By Maria Mendez Senior Reporter

The Texas Homeless Education Office at UT will award the new Barbara Wand James Homeless Student Support Scholarship for Texas homeless college students this Friday. The new scholarship was modeled after a national scholarship for homeless students, but only a few awards were available for the many homeless students in Texas under that award, said James, the former office director. After directing the homeless education office for 24 years, James said she has seen how $1,000 can help homeless

students who often do not have the support of parents or family to attend college. “The only thing that stands between (homeless students) and getting out of poverty and homelessness is money,” James said. “So, I’m just happy we can give a little bit of money to people who are very deserving and help them have a better life and future for themselves.” Senior program coordinator Patrick Lopez said one in 50 students at Texas public schools are homeless, and a considerable number of these students graduate high school each year. Yet,

By Raga Justin Reporter

Veteran journalist Dan Rather drew laughter and a standing ovation from the audience during a lecture Wednesday night about stories from his career, which spans more than 60 years. A large crowd gathered in the LBJ Auditorium to hear Rather speak as part of the Liz Carpenter Lecture series. Rather gave humorous accounts of pivotal moments in American politics. One such account featured President Lyndon B. Johnson and his relationship with reporters in the midst of waning support for the Vietnam War. “Presidents have always

SCHOLARSHIP page 2

JOURNALIST page 3

brooke crim| daily texan staff

Veteran journalist Dan Rather speaks as part of the Liz Carpenter Lecture series at the LBJ auditorium Wendesday evening. Rather started his career-defining job as a CBS reporter in 1961 and is now founder and CEO of News and Guts.

NEWS

OPINION

LIFE&ARTS

SPORTS

SCI&TECH

CapMetro route changes to affect student commutes. PAGE 2

Columnist encourages students to bond with Austin’s seniors. PAGE 4

Want to cram for your exams? Researchers say think again. PAGE 8

Volleyball’s freshmen find their niche at Texas. PAGE 6

UT geology researchers find more evidence of water on Mars. PAGE 5


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