The Daily Texan 2017-10-10

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Serving the University of Texas at Austin community since 1900

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 10, 2017

@thedailytexan | thedailytexan.com

Volume 118, Issue 40

HEALTH POLICE

UT grant fills gaps in mental healthcare accessibility By Anna Lassmann News Reporter

Maria Mendez Senior News Reporter

With a new $1.8 million federal grant, UT will train students to improve mental health care for low-income and uninsured populations in Travis County. To address the lack of mental health care professionals in Travis County, the Health Resources and Services Administration awarded the federal grant to UT’s Integrated Behavioral Health Scholars program last Tuesday. Students in the multidisciplinary program will train with community partners, including local mental health authority Integral Care. “This grant is an amazing opportunity to address the longstanding shortage of mental health professionals,” said Kathleen Casey, a clinical director for Integral Care. “We have a much greater need for an expanded mental health workforce that is culturally and linguistically competent.” Austin’s recent growth has created a need for mental health professionals that can connect with underserved populations, Casey said. The program will focus on training 84 graduate students to become culturally aware mental health professionals. “As Austin grows, so does its diversity, and we know that the research is pretty clear that therapeutic bond is enhanced by working with professionals who are culturally competent and are from similar backgrounds as those that are seeking services,” Casey said.

illustration by rachel tyler | daily texan staff

Travis County offers 911 texting By Ashley Liu Senior News Reporter

Officials say texting allows easier contact with first responders. Those in need of emergency services can now text 911 instead of dialing in Travis County. The Capital Area Council of Governments launched the new function last Thursday with 31 call centers in Central Texas. The

service is now available through Verizon, AT&T, T-Mobile and Sprint. Although the service is readily available, Ann Treffer, emergency communication manager of UT Police Department, said messaging 911 is only a “best effort service.” “Providers cannot guarantee a message will be delivered,” Treffer said. “If you didn’t get a message back from the dispatch center, you have to assume

they didn’t receive the message, and then either text again or try calling.” Communicating an emergency through text might take longer because of certain limitations, Treffer said. “You can’t send group messages, emojis, pictures or videos,” Treffer said. “Also, try to refrain from using slang terms and abbreviations. It’s important for students to use regular building names and addresses if possible.”

Call centers do not automatically receive the cell user’s location, Treffer said, and texting through social media apps such as WhatsApp is not supported. “Remember, it’s ‘call 911 if you can, text if you can’t.’” Treffer said. “We still want our students to call if possible because texting will take longer.” Treffer said the new texting function will benefit many

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GRANT page 2 HOLIDAY

BUSINESS

UT hosts first Indigenous Peoples’ Week McCombs unveils IT-focused masters By Raga Justin News Reporter

The first Indigenous Peoples’ Week is being held through Friday by the Native American and Indigenous Collective. While Indigenous Peoples’ Day has been recognized at UT in past years, this is the first time a weeklong program of events has been organized. Alicia Ramirez, administrative assistant for the Native American and Indigenous Studies Department, said student groups were preparing for Indigenous Peoples’ Week before the Austin City Council voted to rename Columbus Day to Indigenous Peoples’ Day on Thursday and were not aware the high-profile decision would happen just days before their first event. “There’s definitely always been interest on campus, but that interest has gone up like 80 percent with

By London Gibson Senior News Reporter

anthony mireles| daily texan staff

From left to right, Mario Alberto Ramirez, Angela Lorena Vela, Dr. Mario Garza and Maria Rocha speak to UT students about the importance of observing Indigenous Peoples’ Day.

the announcement of Austin renaming the date,” Ramirez said. “There’s more media attention and notoriety. Hopefully, it’ll bring out more people and get more people involved with

the conversation.” Luis Carcamo-Huechante, director of the Program in Native American and Indigenous Studies, said the extension reflects the importance of

indigenous rights. “Across the years, students and members of our academic community have realized that to have only

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A new McCombs School of Business masters program will fill the need for education in information technology and management skills starting in July 2018. The Master of Science in Information Technology and Management (MSITM) program will accept students from a variety of majors and backgrounds to develop skills working with emerging technologies in a creative space, program director Caryn Conley said. “There aren’t a whole lot of people out there with this skill in business to help figure out how we can use these emerging technologies to generate social value or business value,” Conley said. “This is the primary opportunity to create one of these programs with courses that bring business

NEWS

OPINION

LIFE&ARTS

SPORTS

Student group brings bluegrass music to campus. PAGE 2

Columnists call for openmindness to gun owners, real gun reform. PAGE 4

Bullock panelists discuss bootlegging booze in South Texas. PAGE 8

Outlook on Texas’ season takes a turn after Saturday’s win. PAGE 6

UT Athletics; Process color

together with these newer technologies.” For ten months, enrolled students will learn about a variety of topics including advanced programming, web development and technology design, Conley said. The program is 36 hours and lasts three semesters, beginning in July and ending in May. Only current UT undergraduates will have the opportunity to apply for the program early their junior year, said Briana Weiland, senior academics program coordinator for McCombs. These students will take their first semester of the program the summer between junior and senior year and finish the final two semesters the fall and spring semesters after graduation. Weiland said applying to the program early allows

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