Serving the University of Texas at Austin community since 1900
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 2, 2017
@thedailytexan | thedailytexan.com
Volume 118, Issue 57 CITY
.V STATE
AISD, Dell Medical School to potentially collaborate By Maria Mendez Senior News Reporter
The Dell Medical School could provide health training for students in the Austin Independent School District if a $1 billion AISD bond passes. The AISD and Dell collaboration announced their proposal last week to launch a health professions program. Through the program, Dell Medical School would help develop a health career-focused curriculum, including internship and shadowing opportunities, for AISD students. Austin residents are currently voting to approve a $1 billion bond, which includes funding for the program. Mini Kahlon, vice dean for strategy and partnerships at the Dell Medical School, said Dell has been working with AISD to support local students since the medical school was established. “The very first Dell Medical School students were middle and high schoolers who enrolled in our Health Sciences Summer Camps in 2014 and 2015,” Kahlon said in a press release. “It’s both our passion and part of our mission to help students see themselves in these essential roles creating healing in the community.” Craig Shapiro, an AISD associate high school
rachel zein| daily texan staff
Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick tasked the Senate State Affairs committee with looking into free speech on college campuses. This comes shortly after State Rep. Briscoe Cain, R-Deer Park, had a speech canceled at Texas Southern University.
Senate to study campus free speech By Chase Karacostas Senior News Reporter After issues of free speech at state universities, Lt. Gov. Patrick tasks Senate with study To ensure student freedom of expression is protected, Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick tasked the Senate Committee on State Affairs to study free speech on college campuses.
The decision came two weeks after Texas Southern University canceled a speech by State Rep. Briscoe Cain, R-Deer Park, minutes before it was to start. In response to the cancellation, Cain sent a letter to Patrick and House Speaker Joe Straus, R-San Antonio, requesting that the legislature look into the issue of free speech on college campuses
before the legislature reconvenes in 2019. “Free speech is currently being endangered on college campuses,” Cain said in an email. “Universities should be a place where ideas can be exchanged and the freedom of speech protected. Unfortunately, we have seen a trend towards censorship which violates the constitutional rights of students and
ultimately does a disservice to their educational experience.” Cain’s arrival at TSU for his speech to the student group the Federalist Society sparked a protest, according to the Texas Tribune. Shortly after he arrived, TSU’s administrators appeared and declared that the speech
FREE SPEECH page 2
DELL page 2 CITY
APD hosts local safety intitative Run/Walk with Cops By Reagan Ritterbush Senior News Reporter
Following recent attacks off-campus, including one where a UT student was hit in the back of the head near Harris Park, the Austin Police Department is hosting Run/Walk with APD Cops to educate the public about running and walking safely on trails. Participants will be able to bond
with cops as they run alongside them and receive safety tips about running alone. APD Lt. Katrina Pruitt said the idea for creating the event came about after one of her police officers talked to a woman who was scared to run and walk in Austin parks. “He was upset that this lady didn’t think he or any officer could protect her,” Pruitt said. “He decided the department needed to build
a better relationship with people walking in our parks. I decided (Run/Walk with APD Cops) was the solution.” Emman Fatima, a philosophy and journalism sophomore, said she’s felt unsafe when running in off-campus parks because of the recent attacks. “It’s scarier off-campus now than I ever thought it would be,” Fatima said. “Running with cops might
build my confidence level enough to actually run on my own.” The previous events have featured officers from APD’s bomb, recruiting, SWAT and academy units. Participants have the option of running a three-mile loop, fourmile loop or two-mile walk. “Different officers with different runs, speeds or paces simply go out and run with members of the community,” Pruitt said. “All the units
that have participated have done it to be seen. They want the community to know who they are and what they can do for them.” The majority of participants from the past seven events have been runners, Pruitt said. “People who have been running in these parks and trails think this event is phenomenal,” Pruitt said.
SAFETY page 2
CAMPUS
First UT Fish Bowl helps student entrepreneurs get their feet wet By London Gibson Senior News Reporter
UT Austin’s first ever Fish Bowl business pitch competition will help entrepreneurial-minded students get their feet wet before jumping into the shark tank. Fish Bowl, a low-stakes idea-building competition hosted by Texas Convergent and UT’s new Blackstone LaunchPad, fills a
void for students who might not have business resources but are still looking to develop ideas. Pitch competitions — such as Texas Shark Tank, which takes place in the spring — are common at UT. However, these competitions usually cater to students from entrepreneurial or technological backgrounds, said Rohan Trivedi, product manager for Texas Convergent. The Fish Bowl aims to
engage a broader audience. “We noticed that the individuals … eventually succeeding and receiving funding are people who are well within the process of getting their startup onto the market, so people who already know what they’re doing and already have the resources to make things happen,” finance sophomore Trivedi said.
copyright blackstone launch pad, and reproduced with permission
FISH BOWL page 2
The first Fish Bowl pitch competition, which will be held on Nov, 11, aims to engage students who don’t come from traditional entrepreneurial backgrounds.
NEWS
OPINION
LIFE&ARTS
SPORTS
Ramy Essam discusses Egyptian revolution. PAGE 3
Columnists discuss education and bisexuality. PAGE 4
UT students discuss difficulties of flying while Muslim. PAGE 8
Women’s soccer exits Big 12 tournament with first-round loss. PAGE 6