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WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 15, 2017
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Volume 118, Issue 66
CAMPUS
SmokeOut carnival educates on tobaccorelated risks
CITY
NETWORK OF SAFE HAVENS
By Sami Sparber News Reporter
Playing into Texans’ love for Mexican food, UT’s Tobacco Free Campus program offered t-shirts, pins and phone wallets emblazoned with the motto “Tacos, not Tobacco” to smokers in exchange for their personal tobacco products at Tuesday’s Great American SmokeOut Carnival. Staff and student smokers participated in the program’s third annual “trade in and trade up” activity, with many non-smokers also taking advantage of the opportunity to educate themselves and win prizes in the process, said Dinda Aryaputri, TFC volunteer and public health junior. “There are many health benefits to quitting,” Aryaputri said. “If you quit cold turkey then you instantly reap the benefits. There will be lower risk for lung cancer, heart disease (and) respiratory (problems).” Civil engineering junior April Collette, who traded cigarettes for a t-shirt and inflatable lounger, said she was excited about the quirky, taco-themed items. “I used to smoke, so I truly do want to promote (tobacco-free living) to everyone,” Collette said. Although the promise of prizes helped draw students to the event, Aryaputri said she wanted participants to come away from the experience with more than just a new t-shirt. She said she wanted to engage them in conversation about the realities of smoking, such as how smokers in the U.S. spend over $2,000 a year on cigarettes. Collette said the event opened her eyes to the cost
Austin joins SAFE Cities Network, offers legal counsel to deportees
SAFE (Safety & Fairness for Everyone) Cities Network TX:
Austin, San Antonio
CA:
Oakland/Alameda County, Sacramento, Santa Ana
IL:
Chicago
OH:
Columbus
WI:
Dave County
MD:
Baltimore, Prince George’s County
SOURCE: Vera Institute of Justice
infographic by rena li| daily texan staff
As part of the SAFE Cities Network, Austin is now providing free legal representation to anyone facing deportation. SAFE, which stands for Safety and Fairness for Everyone, was started by the national nonprofit Vera Institute of Justice to find cities that would pledge to support their immigrant populations in the face of increasing immigration enforcement. Immigration law falls into the category of civil law. Unlike criminal law, which requires courts to provide a lawyer to a defendant free of charge, civil law does not compel courts to provide BY CHASE KARACOSTAS Senior News Reporter
free legal counsel if the defendant is unable to afford it on their own. Both Mayor Steve Adler and Council Member Gregorio Casar have been involved with SAFE Cities in Austin, according to Andy Tate, senior public information specialist for the City of Austin. They have been outspoken about protecting the immigrant community from federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement. “The mayor doesn’t believe the new ICE enforcement policies keep Austin safe,” said Jason Stanford, communications director for the mayor. “We don’t want our immigrant community
SAFE continues on page 2
SMOKEOUT page 2
CAMPUS
CAMPUS
Students share experiences abroad at We Belong Here
Rick Santorum speaks at Moral Governance event
By Stephanie Adeline cucumber, but this woman News Reporter
UT alumna Rebecca Dockall said she recognized her privilege while running an errand in India. “I wanted something American … so I was thinking I could get a cucumber,” said Dockall, who was abroad working for a nonprofit at the time. “Just cut up cucumbers, put olive oil and make a salad … (and then) I see a woman that doesn’t have arms and legs, and it was just a humbling moment. I’m getting upset that I don’t have a
doesn’t even have arms.” Dockall was one of the eight who came to tell stories about international experiences at We Belong Here, an event hosted Tuesday by the International Office as part of the International Education Week. Priscilla Lee, an international student advisor and International Education Week committee member, said the purpose of the event is to share experiences that come with spending time outside of the U.S.,
By Allyson Waller News Reporter
With his orange checkered tie and black cowboy boots, former U.S. Sen. Rick Santorum dressed in the Texas spirit as he talked about morality across the political spectrum Tuesday evening. Santorum, who ran for president twice, spoke on campus at Moral Governance, an event hosted by the Young Conservatives of Texas. Santorum, who was first elected to office in 1990 as a Pennsylvania U.S. House Representative, said changing national moral constructs have resulted in a great divide between
ABROAD page 2
SANTORUM page 2
anthony mireles | daily texan staff
Former Sen. Rick Santorum shakes hands with economics freshman John Blackburn after his talk about moral governance on Tuesday evening.
NEWS
OPINION
LIFE&ARTS
SPORTS
SCI&TECH
Texas Political Union hosts debate about tuition increase. PAGE 3
Professors should be using updated class materials. PAGE 4
CEC goes out of the box for America Recycles Day. PAGE 8
Is the revival of the Lone Star Showdown a prayer or a possibility? PAGE 6
Researchers develop new materials to improve batteries. PAGE 5
Wednesday, November 15, 2017
2 SANTORUM
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liberals and conservatives on topics such as race, marriage and health care. “People have inconsistent moral views,” Santorum said. “So there may be an opportunity at times to try to bring people together so you can build a consensus, but it’s harder.” Santorum said he acknowledges that his moral compass influences his beliefs, but said those on the left tend to be unaware that their moral judgment impedes them from hearing the other side. “If you look at the left, they are highly moralistic,” Santorum said. “In fact (they are) very emphatic about imposing their morality on the rest of the population.” Santorum said the left holds strong moral stances on causes such as LGBTQ rights, abortion and social movements such as Black Lives Matter. Santorum said the left tends to combat free speech on college campuses, categorizing some speech as hate. Twenty-two percent of college students believe there is a decline in free speech rights, compared to 40 percent of adults,
ABROAD
continues from page 1 whether it be in one’s country of origin or as a study abroad trip. “A hundred people can see the same thing but tell the story differently,” Lee said. “We hope (students) leave wanting to travel or study abroad or wanting to even meet the international student that’s next to you in class and listen for other people’s stories, not just what you see on the outside.” Nelson Millan Nales is an English senior from Puerto Rico who moved to the U.S. when he was four. He shared his story about feeling like an outsider when he first came to the U.S., but even more so when he visited Puerto Rico after living
according to a 2016 survey from the Knight Foundation, Gallup and the Newseum Institute. “When you deny people the right to say what they believe and make a case for what they believe in America, you’ve lost America,” Santorum said. Saurabh Sharma, YCT director of events, said he sees Santorum as an admirable politician and appreciates how Santorum is open about seeing government through a moralistic lens. “Government is how people enact morality in order to structure society,” biochemistry junior Sharma said. Natalie Pyle, management informations systems and finance junior, held a different viewpoint and said government should not be the deciding voice of morality. “I do think a lot of the time we need to realize that government is about protecting the Constitution, which isn’t entirely a moral-based document,” Pyle said. “I think a lot of people have come to believe that (the Constitution) should be protecting ethics and things like that when in reality, that’s not the government’s responsibility.” in the U.S. “While you were here in America building a better life for yourselves … there are events and moments in your family’s life that created a relationship and strengthened it,” Millan Nales said. “If you’re not there to experience it, what do you go back to?” Millan Nales said listening to the other stories made him realize that the problem of not belonging is often a universal feeling. “I actually know a lot of these people, but I haven’t heard … how they felt lonely and they didn’t belong,” Millan Nales said. “It’s heartbreaking because it’s something that we all feel … so it’s just beautiful to see different perspectives ultimately came together to represent the same thing.”
SAFE
continues from page 1 mistaking our local police for ICE … That’s why it’s so important to the city council to fight this.” Following a competitive selection process in which dozens of cities applied to become members of the network, Austin, San Antonio and six other cities were chosen. But, according to Vera’s website, they plan to continue expanding the network to encompass more cities in the future. Austin appropriated $200,000 over the summer to help provide legal representation to immigrant residents. Stanford said the funds served as a response to the immigration crackdown from President Donald Trump’s administration and the possible implementation of Senate Bill 4, the state anti-sanctuary cities law which could force cities’ local police forces to work with federal immigration agents. Now, as a member of SAFE Cities Network, Austin will receive even more funding to ensure everyone, regardless of the reason for their deportation, can have legal representation during the process. American Gateways has been administering the SAFE Cities program in Austin. The local nonprofit serves as an advocacy organization that provides
HI LO
TOMORROW Nov. 16
79º 65º
HI 82º LO 64º
*juan haphazardly spends 2000 simoleons (half of his savings) on swimming pool* “oh no my money”
BUSINESS & ADVERTISING (512) 471-8590 advertise@texasstudentmedia.com Director Gerald Johnson Business/ Operations Manager Frank Serpas III Advertising Manager Emily Cohen Assistant Advertising Manager Colten Crist
angie huang | daily texan staff
UT alumna Rebecca Dockall shares a funny anecdote about a cucumber from her time spent in India for We Belong Here, an event where individuals share their international experiences.
52% WIN
48% LOSE
92.3%
win with legal representation.
7.7%
win without legal representation.
SOURCE: Vera Institute of Justice
legal counsel and other services to immigrants and refugees. Robert Painter, American Gateways director of pro bono programs and communications, said legal representation is extremely
c U c M a s c katie bauer | daily texan staff m
Pharmacy sophomore David Giang, left, explains the hazards of tobacco at the Great American SmokeOut Carnival on East Mall. UT’s Tobaco Free Campus program held its third annual carnival to promote the benefits of not smoking Tuesday afternoon.
continues from page 1
TODAY Nov. 15
Outcomes of deportation cases
necessary for deportation cases and can often drastically change their outcome. “The single greatest factor in determining your immigration case is whether or not you have representation,” Painter said. Vera conducted a study of the effects of legal representation in immigration courts, and the number of cases won by defendants jumped from less than 5 percent to 48 percent if they had a lawyer. Previously, American Gateways has been forced to turn away some individuals facing deportation due to a lack of funding and resources. Now, they will not have to turn away anyone, Painter said. “It’s been good to be able to turn around and tell the community members that we have (their) back, that we’re better equipped to have (their) back than we (were) before,” Painter said. Undocumented student Daniela Rojas, who is also a member of the immigrant advocacy group Jolt, said it’s disappointing that cities must resort to measures like this to ensure universal legal representation, something that seems like a fundamental right. “It’s more like a BandAid,” Latin American studies junior Rojas said. “But there’s at least something positive, some support (from the city).”
S c
SMOKEOUT
AUSTIN WEATHER
By the numbers
and health risks associated with smoking. “Some of my friends still smoke, and I literally cannot convince them to stop smoking,” Collette said. “I will definitely pass on the information (the volunteers) gave me to them.” Although UT-Austin has been a tobacco-free campus since 2012, TFC volunteer
LaShaun Oyibo said she still occasionally sees students smoking on campus. “It definitely annoys me whenever I see someone smoking on campus because not only are they violating the policy and putting themselves in danger, but they’re also putting other people in danger,” public health junior Oyibo said. Aryaputri, who said she also is dismayed by continued smoking on campus,
G f d acknowledged that puttingl an end to smoking is nos easy task. d “We know that it’s hardr to quit so we’re trying toS support (smokers) as muchC as we can,” Aryaputri said.p “Studies show that smok-c ing has decreased overallf since the 60’s, and I thinkv we are really on the pathb to decimating smoking in the future if we continuet to spread awareness like wep are today.” s
s $ t d c
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The Daily Texan, a student newspaper at The University of Texas at Austin, is published by Texas Student Media, 2500 Whitis Ave., Austin, TX 78712. The Daily Texan is published daily, Monday through Friday, during the regular academic year and is published once weekly during the summer semester. The Daily Texan does not publish during academic breaks, most Federal Holidays and exam periods. News contributions will be accepted by telephone (471-4591), or at the editorial office (HSM 2.120). Entire contents
pedro luna | daily texan staff
thedailytexan
Featured photo
Dieudonne Dusingizimana, a maintenance worker for UT, completes an early round of duty near the Main Mall.
Wednesday, November 15, 2017
3 CAMPUS
Texas Political Union hosts debate about tuition increase By Emily O’Toole News Reporter
UT has one of the largest endowments in the world, but the threat of tuition increases still exist, according to a statement by UT’s Texas Political Union. The potential tuition increase is in response to a recent decrease in state funding that spurred a $20 million budget cut by the University, according to Maurie McInnis, executive vice president and co-chair of UT’s tuition committee. TPU, an organization promoting debate and civic engagement, held a discussion on Tuesday about the effects of possible tuition increases Tuesday. Government junior Alex Walheim said there are different points to consider before making a judgment on a tuition raise, like how it would affect low-income students. “Are we willing to accept a $100(to) $200-increase in tuition when some people can’t afford tuition at all?” Walheim said. While a tuition increase might be problematic for students who pay for their education themselves, for others, the expense is feasible and the education from UT is worth the cost, according to government sophomore Camilla Kampmann. Kampmann said she supports a tuition raise but acknowledges her privilege in having her tuition paid by her family. “We pay less for tuition than students at the University of Houston or at other flagships of UT do,” Kampmann said. “The University of Texas
ashley nava | daily texan staff
Government sophomore Camilla Kampman talks about UT raising tuition as a necessary evil to keep educational programs afloat during a Texas Political Union discussion centered around UT’s funding and spending Tuesday night.
is (one of) the highest-ranked public institutions in the nation.” Neil Shah, Plan II and neuroscience sophomore, said the University should focus on allocating funds more appropriately rather than increasing tuition. “I don’t think UT should raise tuition because (there was a budget
cut),” Shah said. “We should spend our money in better ways. Just looking at the numbers for where we spend large amounts of money, it seems odd.” Attendees of the TPU discussion debated whether it is the state’s responsibility to fund higher education because it is an investment in its
future or if the University is responsible for securing its own funding. Daniel Orr, TPU president and classics senior, said the state should provide funding for UT but not simply for future fiscal benefit. “We have spent too much time talking about primary and secondary education, also postsecondary
education, in terms of an investment,” Orr said. “I would maintain that we are not mere figures on an Excel spreadsheet that will, over time, grow in our economic worth and then justify what the state did. I think that we’re human beings that deserve, in the continuation of democracy, a liberal education.”
STUDENT GOVERNMENT
LECTURE
SG considers resolution declaring campus-wide mental health crisis
Media Ethics Initiative speaker calls for shift in climate change discussion
By London Gibson Senior News Reporter
Student Government called on multiple state- and University-level entities, including the Counseling and Mental Health Center, for aid in solving what they described as a mental health crisis on campus during a meeting Tuesday night. Members of SG and the Graduate Student Assembly formed Joint Resolution 4 declaring the crisis due to lack of funding for counseling services and the high demand for counseling. The resolution requests that the Student Services Budget Committee, which allots 90 percent of the counseling center’s budget, reevaluate funds to prioritize free services and increase the number of counselors. Currently, UT is one of two of the top 10 largest public universities in the state that charges for counseling, with charges set at $10 per session. The other, the University of Houston, declared a mental health crisis earlier this semester. “This is a really prevalent problem, and it needs to be dealt with,” said Justin Ahamed, resolution co-author and neuroscience junior. “There’s a limitation to what (the counseling center) can do with the resources they have, and I don’t think that there should be, especially when so many universities … are able to provide more services and without
a charge.” Despite nationwide demand for counseling services increasing by 55.1 percent between 2005 and 2014, the majority of 529 university and college counseling centers had operating budgets that stayed the same, according to the Association for University and College Counseling Center Directors. UT’s own counseling center has seen a 53 percent increase in student interest in counseling and an 81
(Counseling) should be something that you can just go to and you don’t have to jump through hoops to get.” —Madison Huerta, Resolution co-author
percent increase in the number of counseling sessions in the past six years, CMHC director Chris Brownson told The Daily Texan in October. Eric Saldanha, SG internal financial director and government senior, expressed concern during the meeting that the term “mental health crisis” was misleading. “I think it’s a disservice to CMHC to call it a crisis at the University,” Saldanha said. “When this passes, imagine what the response
is going to be on campus … I do think this is going incite a level of panic that I don’t think the CMHC deserves.” The University of Houston may have initiated the chain when its student government declared a mental health crisis earlier this semester, but UT hopes to continue the trend by passing on the resolution to other student governments in the state. “We recognize this is not just the University of Texas — it’s competitive campuses all across the country,” resolution co-author Madison Huerta said. “Any awareness that we can raise around an issue like mental health … the more pressure we’re going to be able to put on our legislatures at a state level and a federal level.” Business senior Huerta said even though the $10 fee for a counseling session is not much, it is still costly for some students, and she hopes the resolution will pressure administration to better fund mental health issues. “We think we should relook at our funds, and how we’re using them and figure out how … we can offer (free counseling) to our students,” Huerta said. “It should be something that you can just go to and you don’t have to jump through hoops to get.” The resolution was referred to the Student Affairs Committee for further discussion.
alexander thompson | daily texan staff
Justin Ahamed, resolution co-author and neuroscience junior, presents Joint Resolution 4 declaring a mental health crisis and requests the Student Services Budget Committee to reevaluate funds.
By Sara Schleede News Reporter
Scientists are wasting time trying to force a consensus about climate change issues when they should be focusing on strengthening their argument, said Jean Goodwin, professor in the Department of Communication at North Carolina State University. hannah simon| daily texan staff Goodwin led “Ethics and Jean Goodwin, a professor in the Department of CommunicaClimate Change Communi- tion at North Carolina University, speaks on communicating cation,” the final installment about controversial issues such as climate change. of this semester’s Media Ethics Initiative Speaker Series, sophisticated, the methods have reasoning and rationality in at the Belo Center for New become more elaborate, but our those arguments, find where Media on Tuesday. knowledge has not improved they are making important “(Climate change scientists that much.” statements and try to answer have) undertaken this burden Goodwin said climate them with evidence and not just to answer that there is a scien- change advocates have two op- conviction,” Head said. tific consensus,” Goodwin said. tions: focus on persuading their Scott Stroud, director of “But it looks like there isn’t, so audience of a consensus or sim- the Media Ethics Initiative, they’re stuck.” said choosing to dwell on ply present their findings. Goodwin said the Intergov“Dissenting reviews will be disagreements about climate ernmental Panel on Climate incorporated within the re- change rather than finding Change assesses climate change ports, so reports will get bet- solutions adds to the already science and has released five ter, and they may even clarify pressing problem. reports in the past 27 years, the the science for policy makers,” “What are the choices we most recent of which was re- Goodwin said. make in this, and what kind leased in 2014. Scientists have Scientists must have a mutual of effects and values are used these findings as the basis respect for each other’s differing those choices reflecting?” of several studies into whether opinions concerning climate Stroud asked. or not climate change is an ac- change to have a meaningful Goodwin said despite the cepted truth among the scien- dialogue, Goodwin said. Ra- uncertainty surrounding clitific community, Goodwin said. dio-television-film junior Jason mate change, scientists must “We don’t seem to be get- Head said he found this point to continue refining their research ting any closer to figuring out be especially important with re- to find a solution. whether there really is a con- gards to today’s political climate. “We can’t eliminate disagreesensus,” Goodwin said. “The “It’s important to listen to ment,” Goodwin said. “We can question has gotten more other arguments, find the choose our commitments.”
4
LAURA HALLAS EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
@TexanOpinion
Wednesday, November 15, 2017
COLUMN
COLUMN
EPA leaders’ unwillingness to fix pollution is hurting kids
Professors should be responsible for using contemporary, reliable learning materials
By Zachary Price Columnist
During the campaign, then-candidate Donald Trump repeatedly threatened to dismantle “the Department of Environment Protection,” or what most of us know as the Environmental Protection Agency. While there was little reason to think he’d carry through with that threat, he has developed a pattern of nominating climate change skeptics to the federal government’s foremost environmental agency, effectively dismantling it.
Air pollution has been shown to increase rates of childhood asthma and allergies and leads to higher numbers of heart attacks and lung cancer.” Take EPA head Scott Pruitt, who, as Oklahoma’s attorney general, sued the EPA 14 times. Robert Phalen, one of 17 appointees to the EPA’s Scientific Advisory Board, is just the latest in a string of unqualified appointees with dubious environmental beliefs. In 2012, while serving as an air pollution researcher at the University of California, Irvine, Phalen told the American Association for the Advancement of Science that “modern air is a little too clean for optimum health.” This idea is not only wrong, it’s disgusting. Air pollution has been shown to increase rates of childhood asthma and allergies and leads to higher numbers of heart attacks and lung cancer. The skepticism toward this science is personal for me; I was diagnosed with, and outgrew, childhood asthma in Chattanooga, Tennessee, which was once the city with the most polluted air in the United States. Decades of hard work have transformed the city into a national model for environmental improvement, but a pervasive smog choked out downtown Chattanooga for years. People moved out of downtown, ground zero of the pollution problem, and businesses refused to move there. Pictures from the time period show the city covered in a layer of smoke, and it’s hard to think about the devastating economic and health implications it had for the local population. I’m afraid that the degradation of the EPA will lead to the resurfacing of environmental problems such as these. Despite our recent history, bad science keeps getting a platform. Shortly after his 2012 speech, Phalen backed up his argument by pointing out that children who grew up on farms or had family pets tend to have lower asthma rates. He is referencing what’s known as the hygiene hypothesis, which argues that children who are exposed to dirt in early life are less likely to have allergies. This hypothesis has nothing to do with clean air. While there’s some reason to think handling dirt can improve health, increased amounts of particulate matter in the air makes people less healthy and doesn’t protect kids from allergies or asthma as he’s claiming. Phalen’s attempts to tie the two together are disingenuous and potentially deeply harmful. Thankfully, states and cities are free to make progress on their own, but the effective muzzling of the federal government’s chief environmental watchdog is deeply troubling. Even more concerning is the Trump administration’s promotion of fringe environmental beliefs. It’s disconcerting that an important scientific nominee can claim that our air is too clean while reports come in that tens of thousands of Dallas-area children could have asthma attacks from drilling-related smog by 2025. Instead of addressing this problem by proposing new regulations or pushing stronger enforcement of existing regulations such as the Clean Air Act, the EPA is doing very little to promote a cleaner environment. It’s unclear what we can do except vote for a president who understands the high stakes of environmental regulation in 2020 and demand that our senators vote against climate change deniers. We just have to hope that the EPA, and the health of our nation’s children, can hang on until then. Price is a sophomore government major from Chatanooga, Tenn.
By Josie MacLean Senior Columnist
“Every year when I show ‘Prisoners of Silence,’ I get an emotional response from some students,” integrative biology professor James Bull told me after showing a 1993 documentary on facilitated communication — a debunked field of autism research, as an example of the scientific method. While it’s true that the documentary “Prisoners of Silence” shows an experiment that helped debunk facilitated communication, the documentary addresses other aspects of autism in an outdated and harmful way that makes it a questionable choice to show to undergraduates with no prior knowledge of the autism spectrum. The documentary ends by drawing the conclusion that, without facilitated communication, people with autism are mostly incapable of communicating or understanding the world around them. This kind of narrative is considered by the autism community today as outdated as phrenology is by sociologists. When I asked if the video may have negatively affected students’ perceptions of people with autism, Bull defended his curriculum choice. “I’m sure it did, but I also don’t want autism to become the focus … I want to use whole diversity of situations to say, ‘Here’s where you can apply the same type of evidence-based reasoning to analyze evidence,’” Bull said. But the context, or lack thereof, in which the documentary was shown makes it impossible to separate the subject from the content. Only about 1.5 percent of children in the United States are on the autism spectrum, and few people without direct experience understand much about the disorder. To test the impact the video had on students in my class, Bull generously let me conduct a survey of both sessions of his
illustration by geo casillas| daily texan staff
class post-viewing. While many of the students seemed to understand that the purpose of the video was to show how facilitated communication was debunked, it’s clear from student responses that the inaccurate facts in the video also affected them. Fifty-nine percent of students in the class said that the video taught them something about autism unrelated to facilitated communication. One of the most inaccurate but striking facts the video shared was that 80 percent of people with autism were mentally retarded. I asked our class what they thought the estimate was today, and 38 percent answered that they thought about 50 percent or more of people with autism had an intellectual disability. Modern estimates put that number around 38 percent, at the most. Miranda Georgeson is a mechanical engineering sophomore who has autism. “Our inner worlds are just as rich and complex and human as yours. That’s the harm of leaving the video as is, without contextualizing it,” she said. “To think that a professor at UT would pass that insensitivity on to a roomful of
undergraduates, that hurts our movement,” said Ann Hart, board member and parent-support volunteer with the Autism Society of Texas. “I have no doubt that it’s innocent on his part, but I would say there has to be a better example.” It would be easy for Bull to find evidence and research to provide better context. “There is very current, high-end research (on autism) happening at UT, it’s not hard to find. The neuroscience department had a free lecture a few weeks ago,” Hart said. When a professor shows blatantly wrong material to students, the only ethical action is to provide plenty of context and correction to go along with the example. UT is a world-class university for a reason. When asked, 67 percent of the class said they wanted the professor to give context when showing outdated materials to the class. Since surveying the class, Bull said he plans to write an introduction for the video for use in future classes. UT professors at large should follow his example and review their own curricula. MacLean is an advertising and geography junior from Austin.
COLUMN
The media must change the way it covers mass shootings, shift its focus to victims By Jacob Kunz Columnist
The man responsible for the mass shooting in Sutherland Springs last Sunday lived 15.1 miles from my house. National news broadcasted this information hours after the massacre, flying helicopters overhead for an aerial view of his home as newscasters tried to understand: Why would someone do something like this? As the week progressed, news channels released more and more information about the shooter: his name, his age, his face and the guns he had used to carry out the killing. The victims of this man’s actions, however, were relegated to a number — a statistic for America to rank alongside other massacres in recent memory. This is not and cannot be the new normal. Not only does this kind of reporting cement the act of mass murder into American culture, it glorifies the shooter and likely emboldens potential killers. In a 2015 study from Arizona State University, researchers found that mass shootings often appear in bunches and that media exposure can act as a medium for infecting possible murderers, not unlike a contagion. Sherry Towers, the ASU paper’s main author, considers the sensationalist content of television and radio coverage of shootings to be almost like an advertisement for the malicious. Forensic psychiatrist Dr. Park Dietz admits that the “happy and well-adjusted” aren’t going to commit mass murder because they saw it on the news, but there are those already at risk in any news audience. “The more we provoke that segment of the audience in ways that predictably move them to action, the more we continue this lineage of mass murder,” said Dietz in a 2015 interview. “… Every time we have intense saturation coverage of a mass murder, we expect to see one or two more within a week.” Following the Virginia Tech massacre, both Dietz, in a 2009 BBC interview, and the American Psychiatric Association put forward a set
LEGALESE | Opinions expressed in The Daily Texan are those of the editor, the Editorial Board or the writer of the article. They are not necessarily those of the UT administration, the Board of Regents or the Texas Student Media Board of Operating Trustees.
illustration by veronica jones | daily texan staff
of guidelines the media could follow to prevent copycatting: Don’t show the killer’s face or incessantly repeat his name or any of his manifestos or grievances. Report the facts soberly, only treating it as urgent if there is still a clear and present danger. Most notably, the guidelines insist that when there must be coverage, lead with the victims’ stories at length instead of stories of the shooter. Of all the grievances held against the media’s approach to these stories, this seems to be the one they can’t get a grip on. For every story the news tells about a country music fan using a bump stock to kill dozens or a man attending a fall festival before unloading into a church, there isn’t a story about Joann Ward, who died alongside two of her young
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daughters, Emily and Brooke, while trying to protect them and their siblings. There isn’t a headline about Richard and Theresa Rodriguez, who liked to care for their garden beds when not in church. The story of Sutherland Springs is actually about a girl aspiring to be a nurse and a pastor’s daughter and a mother expecting her sixth child. Media outlets must understand the balance between the public’s right to know and the ethical responsibility necessitated by the powerful role the media plays in influencing people’s thoughts and actions. They might not understand why someone would do something like this, but if they continue to portray shooters as they do, they’ll find the reason may be themselves. Kunz is an English freshman from New Braunfels.
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JULIANNE HODGES SCIENCE&TECH EDITOR
@thedailytexan
Wednesday, November 15, 2017
ENGINEERING
Researchers develop new materials to improve batteries By Thanvi Thodati S&T Reporter
Cheaper, more efficient batteries could result from new anode materials developed by Cockrell School of Engineering researchers. The Interdigitated Eutectic Alloy, or IdEA, anode was designed by Texas Materials Institute director Arumugam Manthiram’s lab to improve lithium-ion batteries, which are found in several everyday devices from cell phones to electric cars. According to Karl Kreder, postdoctoral fellow in the Manthiram Lab, traditional lithium-ion batteries use graphite anodes, which require a multi-step process and contain inactive materials that reduce energy density. Kreder said a lot of battery research has focused on anodes with alloying materials, or mixed metals, that require nanotechnology in order to be effective. However, the research on these
nanostructure-based alloy anodes was limited by a significant parameter: cost. “It’s good, interesting science, and you definitely learn from doing it, but a lot of (the nanotechnology-based anodes) couldn’t actually be made in a factory, just because they would cost way too much,” graduate research assistant Brian Heligman said. The UT researchers sought to find more cost-effective and efficient battery anode materials than traditional graphite and previously studied alloys. Kreder, Heligman and Manthiram published their findings in the journal American Chemical Society Energy Letters. “Karl (Kreder) had thought of this really elegant way, in my mind, to make a nanomaterial but make it in this cheap, scalable way,” Heligman said. Kreder’s design reduces a multi-step manufacturing process into a single, simple step — the same step that is used to
make aluminum foil. “It’s so simple and it works quite well. That’s why it’s super interesting to us,” Kreder said. According to the researchers, the process is not only far cheaper than previously used or studied methods, but it also results in an anode with higher energy density per unit mass and per unit volume than a traditional graphite anode. “There’s really only ever been five mass-produced materials that have been made into a lithium-ion battery (anode),” Kreder said. “We think this could be a sixth.” The researchers have tested a tin-aluminum alloy, which is only one of the IdEA anode materials, and it still needs refinement before it can be commercialized. The team is working to improve the anode’s cyclability, a measure of how many times the anode can be recharged, to a commercial level. “We’re substantially farther
on the curve than graphite was to start out,” Kreder said. “I think it can definitely be achieved. It’s just going to take time and money to do it.” In addition to refining the tin-aluminium anode, the team will continue to explore the ten different IdEA anode materials. “The idea of cold-rolling alloys into nanostructure has never really been explored for these batteries,” Heligman said. “We’ve been … trying to demonstrate that this is a broadly applicable design framework, rather than just an individual material.” Kreder said that knowledge of metallurgy, or the study of metals, inspired him to develop his research ideas. According to Kreder, metallurgy is a relatively well-described subject, so most material scientists do not look to the field for novel research ideas. “No ‘battery person’ is sitting there thinking about
karl krader | daily texan staff
The tin-aluminum anode, right, was developed in the Manthiram Lab, compared to the traditional anode material of graphite over copper foil, left.
metallurgy,” Kreder said. He added that if he hadn’t been a teaching assistant for a specific class, he too might have never thought about it. As a TA for the materials engineering lab, Kreder became familiar with the type of alloys that would be used in IdEA anodes. Kreder said that two years later, he was
able to connect battery research to the metallurgy knowledge he gained from his TA experience. “That’s the cool thing about science. You’re always trying to bring disparate things together,” Kreder said. “At some point, you’re gonna connect the dots that you wouldn’t have otherwise seen.”
ENERGY
Campus solar chargers to begin broadcasting panel usage data By Jessica Shu S&T Reporter
The future looks bright for solar energy as urban sustainability company, Sol Design Lab, said they hope to improve energy knowledge by making the data from UT’s two solar charging stations visible. The two on-campus solar charging stations are located at the intersection of 23rd Street and San Jacinto Boulevard as well as the Perry-Castañeda Library Plaza. They were installed in 2014 by Sol Design Lab and feature high-quality, monocrystalline silicon Lumos solar panels, which have a 30year lifetime. Each station produces an
average of 1.4 kilowatt hours per day. That energy can charge about 280 cellphones, according to Beth Ferguson, visiting research scholar and Sol Design Lab director. The goal, however, is not just to charge phones, Ferguson added. “We want to provide the first (solar) experience and get people thinking about solar for other parts of their lives,” Ferguson said. “Solar power has come far. Prices have gone down.” Ferguson’s solar energy visualization project, called SolaViz, was awarded a research grant from UT’s Longhorn Innovation Fund for Technology and is picking up the pace,
according to Ferguson. “We weren’t able to connect (the stations) to a consistent network until March this year, so the data is just coming in,” Ferguson said. Soon, a mobile website or app will show exactly how much energy is produced and used at these stations. In particular, Ferguson said she hopes to collect data on how frequently each station is being used. Jim Walker, director of sustainability at UT, said he’s excited about the SolaViz project because there hasn’t been a lot of outreach for solar energy on campus. “Our natural gas power plant is super efficient, so in terms of energy production, our solar
panels don’t do much,” Walker said. “They do, however, help students recognize and learn about solar.” Ferguson led a design workshop last week to create infographics on solar energy production for educational use. She and her team also recently won the Austin Green Award for the Electric Drive solar station, which encourages energy-efficient transportation. Ferguson added that she hopes that by sharing her research, off-grid solar charging stations will gain traction. Walker said he supports future solar advancements like this on campus. “Solar is definitely in our future,” Walker said.
beth ferguson | daily texan staff
One of Austin’s newest solar panels is located downtown.
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6
MICHAEL SHAPIRO SPORTS EDITOR
@texansports
Wednesday, November 15, 2017
FOOTBALL
Governor hopes to renew Lone Star Showdown Trenton Daeschner Assoc. Sports Editor
Editor’s note: This article originally appeared in Reporting Texas. Nearly six years have passed since Texas kicker Justin Tucker’s game-winning 40-yard field goal that beat Texas A&M at Kyle Field. The rivalry was finished, 117 years after the Longhorns and the Aggies had first met on a football field, with Texas holding the 76–37–5 advantage. Texas A&M was leaving the Big 12 for the Southeastern Conference, and the Lone Star Showdown was no more. In the years since, there has been plenty of chatter about one day reviving the rivalry, but nothing palpable to ever make anyone believe it would happen soon. Texas head coach Tom Herman and Texas A&M head coach Kevin Sumlin both have said they hope the game will come back. Earlier this semester, Texas’ student government sent out a poll asking if the game should return. Nearly 8,000 students responded, with 97 percent voting in favor of it. Actually bringing the game back is much more complicated, of course. But don’t tell that to the governor of Texas. As he addressed reporters last
month before a men’s basket- each legislative session, Ab- The way he expresses it is ‘I hope ball exhibition between Texas bott signs off on the Texas state you’ll look into this,’ and they and Texas A&M, Gov. and Tex- budget, which provides fund- know what he means.” as alumnus Greg Abbott boldly ing to Texas and Texas A&M. Even if Abbott got both sides stated: “My next goal as gover- Abbott also appoints all regents to meet, it is far from a guarnor is to reunite the Texas-Tex- for both schools, with confir- antee that an agreement to play as A&M football rivalry.” Social mation from the Texas Sen- would ensue. Scheduling is the media lit up. Was Abbott just ate. He holds influence over biggest obstacle. pandering to fans, or had he just senior officials at both schools In today’s college football publicly disclosed agenda item through his governing power world, teams don’t want to No. 1? over the Texas Higher Education overload their non-conference “Governors say things that Coordinating Board. schedule with multiple Powthey might wish to er 5 opponents, see happen in the particularly mulbest of all possible tiple traditional worlds, but that (are) powers. Arthur nowhere near realJohnson, UT’s asity, nowhere near sociate athletic dihappening anytime rector for football soon,” said Cal Jillson, operations, said a political science that is especially professor at Southern the case for TexMethodist University as, which already in Dallas. plays nine conferBut what could ence games each Abbott realisticalyear in the Big elisabeth dillon | daily texan staff 12, whereas Texas ly do to get the two schools to meet again Former Texas kicker Justin Tucker attempts a 40-yard A&M plays eight field goal to beat Texas A&M on Thanksgiving in 2011. on the football field? in the SEC. Abbott has the conTexas has a vening authority to call together Jillson said it would be highly non-conference Power 5 opkey decision makers from both unlikely for Abbott to ever use ponent scheduled every year schools. Jillson said Abbott any of that as leverage. through 2024. The earliest could simply ask both sides to “The governor gets much of open window to schedule Texwork on getting an agreement what he accomplishes done by as A&M for a home-and-home done and report back to him. discussion, by a statement of series would be in 2025-26. The If Abbott truly is committed preferences,” Jillson said. “Not Longhorns have a series schedto do whatever it takes to bring much that the governor accom- uled with Michigan in 2024 and back the rivalry, he does theoret- plishes is done by actually slap- 2027, but they are trying to get ically have the leverage to do so. ping people around and telling the 2027 game moved to 2025, For instance, at the end of them what he wants them to do. Johnson said.
That would help line up with Texas A&M’s future schedule. The Aggies have a non-conference Power 5 opponent scheduled every season through 2025, with 2026 and beyond open. Texas A&M declined Reporting Texas’ request to interview athletic director Scott Woodward for this story. Both schools still could possibly play each other before then, but it is unlikely. At least one school would likely have to back out of a contract with one of the non-conference teams already on its schedule. If Texas were to do that, the Longhorns would have to pay that opponent a heavy buyout, usually over $1 million for each game canceled. “Scheduling is hard, man,” Johnson said. “It is really hard.” A lot of moving pieces would all have to fall into place for Texas and Texas A&M to meet again on the football field. The pressure from both fan bases is tangible. Each side’s head coach, athletic director and system chancellor have publicly supported the idea of bringing back the game. “With anything, it has to be an alignment and it would have to work,” Johnson said. “But only one person can influence both institutions equally.” And that person is Abbott, the biggest player in the game.
MEN’S BASKETBALL
Osetkowski, Texas roll New Hampshire for 2-0 start Steve Helwick Senior Sports Reporter
On Tuesday night, Texas would be called upon to defend an undefeated record on its home floor. One problem stood in the way: The team would be without star freshman forward Mo Bamba, who suffered a concussion during practice on Sunday. But the rest of the Longhorns would take care of business against New Hampshire, readily disposing the team that made a 2,000-mile trip to the Frank Erwin Center. When the final buzzer sounded, Texas came away with a 78-60 victory. “Mo’s a great player, but we’ve got 12 other scholarship guys, so if one goes down, we’ve got a whole lot of dudes that will step up and fill in his absence,” transfer junior forward Dylan Osetkowski said. Just 20 seconds into the game, Osetkowski confidently nailed a three from the top of the key to give Texas a 3-0 lead. In the absence of his frontcourt counterpart and the team’s leading
scorer, Osetkowski would take over as the team’s offensive leader on Tuesday night. The first-year Longhorn finished with a 17-point, 13-rebound double-double — his second of the young season. Osetkowski utilized his physicality down low and his arsenal of post moves consistently powered him past New Hampshire defenders. Head coach Shaka Smart claims Osetkowski is his team’s “Draymond Green,” always bringing the aggressive mentality to the hardwood. This style of play succeeded Tuesday night, as Texas drew 21 fouls in a physical game where no basket in the paint was guaranteed. “When (Osetkowski’s) out there having fun, playing with a clear mind, trying to be a leader with his teammates, trying to orchestrate our offense, defense and talking at a high level, then he’s really good,” Smart said. One of the players who stepped up to make an impact was forward Jericho Sims. It was a particularly special night for
the freshman, who scored eight points and blocked three shots in his first collegiate start. “This is all so new to him,” Smart said. “Of all of our freshmen, he’s had the biggest jump in terms of level and competition night in and night out compared to what he saw last year. But you see some glimpses of what he can do out there.” Texas did not pull away from New Hampshire until the tail end of the first half. The Wildcats were within six points with 3:45 remaining but they kept gifting Texas free throw attempts, and the Longhorns concluded the half with a perfect 8-of-8 from the charity stripe. “We were in a good spot late in the first half,” New Hampshire coach Bill Herrion said. “We had a little control on our end, and then we foul a cutter off a back screen when he doesn’t have the ball, and then they just paraded to the free throw line the last five minutes of the first half.” Texas scored 39 points in each half, displaying offensive
katie bauer | daily texan staff
Texas forward Dylan Osetkowski drives down the floor during the Longhorns’ 78-60 win over New Hampshire. The junior finished with team highs of 17 points and 13 rebounds.
consistency throughout. But the team improved its field goal percentage with time and looked much more adept at the threepoint ball in the second half en route to a 2–0 start to the season. “It’s only been two games,”
junior guard Eric Davis Jr. said. “We can keep growing. We don’t want to get complacent and harp on the positives too much. Our main thing we’re focusing on is continuing to
get better.” Texas will continue its early non-conference schedule on Saturday when the Longhorns host Lipscomb. Tipoff is slated for 4 p.m.
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Wednesday, November 15, 2017
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MORGAN O’HANLON LIFE&ARTS EDITOR
@thedailytexan
Wednesday, November 15, 2017
CAMPUS
CAMPUS
Recycled box forts rise in East Mall By Andrea Tinning Senior L&A Reporter
Longhorn students no longer have any reason to fear invading medieval armies, because some students are finally building a fortress on the East Mall — moat not included. The Campus Environmental Center is inviting all students to help construct a fortress made from cardboard boxes on the East Mall in honor of the 20th celebration of America Recycles Day this Wednesday. Along with the construction of the fortress, CEC invites students to join them for hot chocolate provided by the Division of Housing and Food Service. Brianna Duran, CEC program coordinator and staff advisor for the Office of Sustainability, said she came across the idea after looking for creative ways to engage students. While searching, she said she discovered that in 2012, CEC invited students to help construct a cardboard longhorn. “I was really excited about it, so I shared it with the other staff people here and was like, ‘This is the kind of thing CEC needs to do,’” Duran said. Environmental science senior Katie Aplis is an education and outreach leader for CEC and helped prepare for the event. After weeks of gathering supplies, she said members are expecting a large turnout. “We’ve already collected around 2,000 boxes for the box fort,” Aplis said. “We’re hoping to build the base of the fort and students tack on to it so it’s an organic shape by the end of the day.” Aplis said she believes the idea will not only help educate students about recycling, but also appeal to their inner child. “I think it’s kind of nostalgic,” Aplis said. “I imagine the Box Fort being created and then people studying inside of it.” Members of CEC may have meticulously planned for the
By Jordyn Zitman L&A Reporter
nikole pena| daily texan staff
box fort’s construction, but Vaishali Jayaraman, computer science and Sanskrit junior, made sure the fortress’s inevitable demolition would be eco-friendly too. “One thing that we’ve done is have recyclable tape involved,” said Jayaraman, CEC education and outreach leader. “Afterwards, we’re going to dismantle the boxes and send it to recycling.” Though the project is meant to be a fun activity for students, it’s also designed to draw attention to the larger issue of recycling in the United States, where less than 22 percent of all discarded materials are recycled, according to a Yale
University/EPA study. UT is taking its own steps to be more environmentally friendly through the campus Zero Waste initiative. By 2020, it is proposed that 90 percent of the University’s garbage will be diverted to compost or recycling instead of going to a landfill. According to Jayaraman, who is involved with the Zero Waste workplace as well as CEC, student recycling is an important aspect of the initiative. “It’s the easiest thing a student can do to make progress reaching our goal,” Jayaraman said. “I also think recycling is the easiest thing anyone can
do to create an impact for the environment.” At the end of the day, America Recycles Day is meant to bring out the conservationist in everyone. For Duran, it is a way to engage students who are still learning to be environmentally conscientious and a gateway for students to become more proactive members of society. “To me, recycling is the stepping stone to more aware environmentalism,” Duran said. “It’s pretty convenient, especially in Austin, so if you can at least do that, you’re doing something for the environment, and hopefully people continue to take it up a level from there.”
MUSIC
East Austin rock band showcases mixed sound By Pierson Hawkins L&A Reporter
Editor’s Note: Life &Arts Reporter Pierson Hawkins visited local band Annabelle Chairlegs at their East Austin residence to watch them rehearse and catch up with their latest work. Outside Annabelle Chairlegs’ east side compound, the unrelenting noise of a practice session leaked through the walls. I waited for them to put the finishing touches on the song before knocking on their door, thinking they must be on good terms with their neighbors. Frontwoman Lindsey Mackin greeted me inside the psychedelic convent, plastered wall-to-wall with bright posters showcasing psychedelic curves and bands ranging from The 13th Floor Elevators to Omar Souleyman. “We did our first album in this living room,” Mackin said, guiding me over the snaking wires and pedals covering the floor. We moved into the adjacent room, centered around the troupe’s prized turntable and surrounded by high stacks of worn vinyl jackets. The band recently returned from a short tour for which they packed themselves and all of their equipment into a small minivan and traveled as far as Toronto, Canada. “We played really great shows,” Mackin said. “We haven’t really toured in a couple years, and it was really cool to go out on the road and catch up with old friends and make new friends.” After their 2015 self-release Watermelon Summer, Annabelle Chairlegs defined themselves with a strong sense of direction, reaching into the realm of psych rock and
Hair-raising campaigns take over November
alexander thompson| daily texan staff
Local Austin rock band Annabelle Chairlegs has grown their popularity after their sought-after performance at Austin City Limits Festival 2017.
picking up a few elements of punk, pop and blues. Their debut feels anything but amateur, masterfully adopting reverb and delay effects in their short yet punchy tracks. “We all kind of come from a wide range of background,” Mackin said. “The psych rock thing is overused. I feel like we just play rock’n’roll.” “It’s hard to say where the inspiration comes from,” bassist Derek Strahan said. “We all like the Grateful Dead a lot (now), but it was garage rock a few years ago.” Despite their growing popularity, the band’s members told me they continue their full-time day jobs serving pizza and juicing fruit during the day and refining their tunes on Tuesday nights. “We pretty much have an album and some change that were ready to record,” Mackin said. “We want to be able to take a step back from
recording it ourselves and, like, really play. It’s just weird for us to ask someone else to do it — it’s kind of scary to trust anyone else.” As the band geared up for their rehearsal, guitarist Matt Schweinberg switched on their tape machine. Each individual took up a corner of the room, facing each other as they lurched into “Silent Spring,” a rockabilly tune with a twist. Drummer Billy Wong set the tempo for the others as the new song sped into an uncontrollable vortex, freeing the quartet into a spontaneous jam. After a few notes, they start again with “Brain Freeze,” diverging from the bite-sized pieces of Annabelle Chairlegs’ debut, taking its time and letting its listener indulge in its grimy tones. The band’s roommates sat on the sidelines, passing around a box of pizza and soaking in the sounds.
Schweinberg utilized a slide on the track, hinting at the band’s Texas influence and adding a new tool to their repertoire. Annabelle Chairlegs will be at a number of shows and venues across Austin in the next few months. Trekking forward, the band hopes to continue making music, not expecting much else than wanting someone to drive them from show to show. “We want to put some albums out, we want to travel the world,” Mackin said. “It would be cool to have all these pockets of time from over the years and all this shared experience.” As the ensemble continues to mature and refine their sound, they move closer and closer to one of those names on their walls. Doubtless, Annabelle Chairlegs defines the East Austin sound with their DIY upstart approach.
As the winter months come rolling in, so do sweaters and an excuse to skip morning shaves. Though the need to keep warm isn’t as common here in Texas, the incentive to forgo shaving during the month of November remains strong for those who champion raising awareness and funds for cancer research and men’s health. In the hairy frenzy, things can get confusing, but participants in the trend can largely be broken down into advocates of two separate movements: “No-Shave November” and “Movember.” Both require abstinence from shaving in some form for the duration of the month, but are individually run by nonprofit organizations that focus on different philanthropic causes. No-Shave November is a nonprofit organization aiming to raise cancer awareness and funds for the American Cancer Society as well as other officially partnered organizations. Participants are encouraged to refrain from shaving for the month of November, a nod to cancer patients losing their hair during treatment. Because beards are visible, they help raise awareness of the cause in addition to raising funds through sponsors of the organization. Undeclared freshman Josh Antell said he has been participating in No-Shave November for over three years. He said his participation this year holds special significance because the funds will be donated to the Alzheimer’s Association, a cause Antell has personally witnessed. “I started in 10th grade when I couldn’t even grow facial hair, so now that I’m in college, it’s cool to show off my beard,” Antell said. “My grandfather was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease a while ago, so I don’t take moments with him for granted. I do this to honor him.”
It is typically lesser known to UT students that another campaign, Movember, entails extremely similar criteria to No-Shave November. Conceived by a group of Australian men in 2003, Movember challenges men to grow mustaches in an effort raise awareness and funds for prostate cancer research, testicular cancer research and men’s health. While an abundance of men participate in both events, few are aware of the distinction between the causes behind each organization. Business freshman Jonathan Stern said he was only aware of the difference in facial hair styles required by the campaigns. Movember participants are only required to grow a mustache, while No-Shave November participants are encouraged not to shave any part of their body. “My entire fraternity is participating in No-Shave November this year,” Stern said. “That’s the reason I’m doing it, but the cause is also very personal because many women in my family have had breast cancer.” Some participants have already seen results from their efforts. Sports management freshman Landry Levinson said he has gone over 17 days without shaving or cutting his hair. He said he has raised over $25 from sponsors of No-Shave November and hopes to donate even more by the end of the month. Though men on campus, as well as around the world, will continue to grow out their beards and mustaches until Dec. 1 on behalf of both organizations, Levinson said he believes it is essential for them to identify and understand the purpose behind their efforts. “I think it is important for people to know which cause they’re raising money for,” Levinson said. “They’re both really important, but I know I feel better about doing it when I see what cause my efforts are helping.”
ethan oblak| daily texan staff
Boondock barber Angelia Milam shaves Isaac Reyes in October 2014. No-Shave November raises cancer awareness and funds for the American Cancer Society.
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