The Daily Texan 2017-11-09

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Serving the University of Texas at Austin community since 1900

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 9, 2017

@thedailytexan | thedailytexan.com

Volume 118, Issue 62 CAMPUS

CITY

Speedway lacks easy access for physically disabled By Allyson Walker News Reporter

panies),” Konana said. “There’s going to be an entire ecosystem that is going to develop around it. Hopefully our students can work with Amazon, and Amazon is going to come to UT for talent and expertise.” Amazon announced its intentions to establish a new headquarters in September and promised to bring up to 50,000 jobs to the surrounding areas,

Navigating Speedway construction is not easy for government junior Archer Hadley. Hadley, who has cerebral palsy and uses a wheelchair, is reassessing how he gets around UT in a time when some accessibility features are being altered for the sake of development. “Have you ever been in a marathon or a race or something, and at the beginning of the race, they put you all in like a little section that’s gated off?” Hadley said. “That’s how it is when you’re rolling down Inner Campus Drive or Speedway in a wheelchair.” Temporary ramps, alternate routes and tighter pathways have been implemented on campus due to construction. Speedway construction will not be completed until early April 2018 when almost all Speedway bricks are replaced, said Jim Shackelford, director of Capital Planning and Construction. Buildings in construction are required to comply with Texas Accessibility Standards and the American Disabilities Act. The department does its best to ensure accessibility and address student concerns, Shackelford said. “We make changes as

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illustration by mel westfall| daily texan staff

Amazon may be too big for Austin By London Gibson Senior News Reporter

UT experts weigh pros, cons of tech giant’s possible move to Austin. With Amazon on the hunt for its second North American headquarters, the company promises to bring a big name, big research and big jobs to the city it chooses — and with Austin in the running, it might

mean some changes for UT. If Amazon were to establish a base in Austin, it would bring with it increased job opportunities for students and faculty as well as increased status for the city as a tech community, according to UT business and technology experts. However, although the company may come bearing gifts, it might also bring with it higher living cots and increased competition. Everything may be bigger

CITY

in Texas, but some experts said Amazon might be a little too big for Austin. Prabhudev Konana is the academic director for the Master of Science in Business Analytics program at UT. He said for any large company in a major city, the schools in the area benefit from its economic impacts and the companies benefit in turn from the schools’ resources. “Amazon is one of the largest and fastest-growing (com-

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UT Dell Medical Carpentry shop unveils custom School expands lectern for student body president health care access By Grace Speas News Reporter

By Anna Lassmann News Reporter

Dell Medical School is working to expand access to local health providers for communities in Austin, as highlighted in the 2017 Community Benefit Report. The report, released by the school in August and updated on Monday, said the number of doctors in residency in Travis County has grown almost 32 percent since 2012 to include 287 residents and is projected to grow to more than 300 residents by 2020. “There’s a very high percentage of residents that remain practicing in Texas,” said Stephen Scheibal, spokesperson for Dell Medical School. “What the expanded residency programs do is enhance the pipeline of physicians into communities.”

Five years ago from Monday, Travis County residents voted for a proposition to create the Dell Medical School on Nov. 6, 2012. The report has been released annually since the school opened to its inuagural class in 2016, detailing the impact of the school on Austin. Six medical residency programs are now operating in CommUnityCare Health Centers and include 130 residents and 49 faculty members, according to the report. CommUnityCare centers act as primary care centers across Austin. “It brings the academic prowess to the clinical environments and helps to expand the possibility for caring for more folks who are under-resourced,” said Alan

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As Student Body president Alejandrina Guzman entered the quiet auditorium, dimly lit in an orange glow, she saw her custom-made lectern for the first time. Crafted in UT’s carpentry shop, the lectern, or podium, is modeled after the one used by President Gregory Fenves and former student body presidents during commencement ceremonies. “My whole life, I’ve learned to just adapt, so I did not expect this,” said Guzman, who uses a wheelchair. “I know being inclusive is a standard, but the fact that you are all here, and you took the time to meet me and make this, is amazing.” Doug Bolin, associate director for University Events, said the

ashley ephraim| daily texan staff

Student Body president Alejandrina Guzman was presented with a custom-made lectern to fit her needs on Nov. 8 in the SAC auditorium. Her new lectern was crafted in UT’s carpentry shop and it is hers to keep even after she leaves UT.

University got the idea for the lectern when faculty realized Guzman needed a custom-made piece to

accommodate her as a physically differently-abled person. Although he needed to change the size of

NEWS

OPINION

LIFE&ARTS

SPORTS

Olympic gold medalist Shawn Johnson discusses personal challenges. PAGE 2

Democrats should stop expecting Texas to turn blue. PAGE 4

Texan writer returns from Spain with stories to tell. PAGE 8

Versatile Ashley Shook leads Texas volleyball to sweep over TCU. PAGE 6

the lectern, Bolin said he wanted the style to match

CARPENTRY page 2


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