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FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 17, 2017
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Volume 118, Issue 68
RESEARCH UNIVERSITY
UT faculty lead research for biggest space-bound telescope yet By London Gibson Senior News Reporter
In a worldwide competition, several UT faculty members were selected to be the first to work with the new James Webb Space Telescope, which will be the largest telescope to ever be sent into space. The Space Telescope Science Institute received proposals from 106 teams across 10 countries, all vying to get their hands on the largest telescope launched into the cosmos. Thirteen programs were chosen, of which UT astronomers are members in five and leading one. The size of the telescope is not the only reason scientists are clamoring to get at it. It is capable of infrared light imaging, which is vital for clearer images of galaxies, said Steven Finkelstein, the only UT scientist leading a program. The James Webb telescope is considered the informal successor to NASA’s Hubble Space Telescope, but Finkelstein said it is seven times bigger than Hubble. “Because this telescope is so much better than Hubble … we don’t know what we’re going to find,” Finkelstein said. “We’re going to be the
TELESCOPE page 3 STATE
Bad data obscures scale of opioid epidemic By Chase Karacostas Senior News Reporter
According to national opioid statistics, it would appear that Texas does not have a severe opioid abuse problem relative to the rest of the nation. Experts say the data is dangerously misleading, however. “Unfortunately, that (trend) is a direct result of bad data collection,” said Mark Kinzly, co-founder of the Texas Overdose Naloxone Initiative. “Out of 254 counties in the state of Texas, the (Center for Disease Control and Prevention) will only report on nine of those counties because of how the data is reported.” According to the Foundation for AIDS Research, the death rate per 100,000 people from opioid overdoses in Texas is barely over half that of the U.S.’s rate. This foundation studies opioid abuse because needle sharing is a common route of HIV transmission. But, Kinzly said, this is
OPIOID page 3
illustration by victoria smith| daily texan staff
Auto-graduation affects four-year plans By Maria Mendez Senior News Reporter
The unadvertised University procedure alters students’ path to graduation. Junior Quynhanh Tran had her four years at UT all laid out, but her plans were shaken up by UT’s new auto-graduation procedure. Tran planned to complete her economics and Plan II degrees next fall and finish her government degree in Washington, D.C. through the Archer Fellowship Program during the Spring of 2019. But a couple of weeks ago, an advisor warned her the University could graduate her before she finishes all of her degrees. She worried this would prevent her from participating in an Archer Program internship — something she had been dreaming of since high school. “This was the first time I had heard about auto-graduation,” Tran said. “Because of (auto-graduation), everything is getting switched around for me.” Through the auto-graduation procedure, the University identifies students with 100 percent of their degree audit completed and adds them to the graduation list instead of waiting for students to apply for graduation, said Cassandre Alvarado, director of student success and graduation initiatives. Students selected for auto-graduation are notified through a secure academic note. Since only degree-seeking students can participate in the Archer program’s spring or fall fellowships, some auto-graduated students may have run into trouble when auto-graduation was implemented last spring. However, the University has created an appeals process
for students concerned about auto-graduation, which are reviewed on a case-by-case basis. “Student Success Initiatives has not denied any appeal to date that involved participation in the Archer Fellowship program,” said Katie Romano, executive director of the Archer Center.
or Advanced Placement credits. Tran is delaying her government thesis in order to ensure her participation in the Archer program. She said she believes the University is not communicating the new auto-graduation procedure because they do not want students to work around it.
D ouble majors by the numbers
Architecture
94
Business
906
Communication
761
Education
90
= 100 double majors (rounded)
Engineering
495
Fine Arts
212
The number of students who declared a double major by the college first entered.
Geosciences
114
Liberal Arts
Natural Sciences
2,725
1,635
Nursing
10
Social Work
41
infographic by sunnie lee| daily texan staff
Tran worries auto-graduation could become a roadblock for students pursuing multiple degrees who do not know about the procedure. Through an ongoing Liberal Arts Council survey about auto-graduation, Tran has heard of students facing similar eligibility concerns with UTeach, the Humanities Program and study abroad. Tran said those who do know are trying to avoid the procedure by not claiming all of their transfer
“When you do something that so fundamentally affects students’ experiences, you should tell students what those changes are, especially if they’re meant to help students,” Tran said. “This just seems like a horrible conspiracy theory.” Last fall, 3,084 undergraduates declared double majors and, in the spring of 2017, an additional 3,229 double majors were declared. These students all face the possibility of being selected for
auto-graduation if they complete one degree before the other. Currently, there is not a campaign to tell students about auto-graduation, Alvarado said, because the University expects students to graduate upon completing their degrees. “What we’re trying to message about is the expectation that students graduate in four years,” Alvarado said. Alvarado said the University introduced the procedure last December to help students who forget to apply for graduation, but only 2 percent of students hoping to leave UT forget to apply for their degree. “All we’re doing is facilitating the process by making sure students don’t get left behind because of a silly piece of paper,” Alvarado said. Students can continue pursuing UTeach classes and other degrees after completing one, Alvarado said. English junior Claire Zimmerman said she is taking UTeach courses to get a teaching certification, but worries auto-graduation could prevent her from receiving financial aid for her last semester. “I’m going to try to get financial aid for (fall 2018), but I won’t be able to for that final semester,” Zimmerman said. Students seeking a second degree can take out loans but would no longer qualify for the Pell and Texas grants commonly awarded to undergraduates. Tran said students like herself are already on track to graduate within four years and just want to take advantage of UT’s programs. “If you want to stay here and that would better your academic experience, UT should let you, because we’re paying tuition and the purpose of the University is to serve us,” Tran said.
NEWS
OPINION
LIFE&ARTS
SPORTS
Senate recommends no tuition increase after student survey. PAGE 3
Students weigh in on voting, mental health and tuition increase. PAGE 4
“Justice League” introduces fun into the DC Universe. PAGE 8
Longhorns search for bowl eligibility in Morgantown. PAGE 7
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Friday, November 17, 2017
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CAMPUS
Students raise money to build sanitation station in Thailand By Brooke Vincent News Reporter
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Seven UT students will travel across the world in May to the village of Don Kang, Thailand, to build a sanitation station for an elementary school. The sanitation station will consist of plumbing and a water tank that run to 25 faucets and sinks. The facilities will give the 100 elementary school children who live in the village the opportunity to wash their hands and brush their teeth, said Pooja Trivedi, biomedical engineering sophomore and risk management director for the project. “Something my mom always would say is that if someone asks you for water, you have to give it to them,
no matter what,” Trivedi said. “That’s one thing you can give to them. This is a basic necessity, and I think it’s really powerful that we can bring water to an entire community.” The students are part of a year-long program called Projects with Underserved Communities, a collaboration among the International Office, Cockrell School of Engineering and Steve Hicks School of Social Work. “We’re trying to give students an applied, hands-on experience with international service-learning,” engineering professor James O’Connor said. “The program generates a tremendous amount of goodwill for the University. It’s probably the closest (thing to a) real-world experience they
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CAMPUS
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New Dell department aids diagnostic testing By Stephanie Adeline
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The first step in providing successful medical care is making the proper diagnosis, and the Dell Medical School’s new Department of Diagnostic Medicine aims to ensure this critical step is taken more often than not. “It is our responsibility to perform the most appropriate test at the right time on the patient and (to get) those results back to the patient and the referring doctors,” department chair Dr. R. Nick Bryan said. The department launched in early November and hopes to bring innovative approaches to diagnostic testing through the integration of pathology, radiology and laboratory medicine — disciplines which are often separated into three different departments at most other medical schools, according to a press release. This integration is made possible by the department’s collaboration with local health care partners such as the Austin Radiological Association and Clinical Pathology Association, Bryan said. Dr. C. Martin Harris, chief business officer of the Dell Medical School, said the department works very closely with physicians in the community, which can lower the cost of health care. “In many other medical schools, they have gone out and built those departments independent of what other resources are available in the community,” Harris said. “We can take advantage of the great resources that already exist here in Austin … The effect of that
is (that) it will also hold down health care costs, because we didn’t double the number of physicians provided in that service.” Harris said the department’s collaboration is proof of the success to be had when academic clinicians and community physicians work together. The new department will help physicians to make the right predictions after diagnosis is made, said Anna Sorace, an assistant professor in the department. The department will use methods that allow physicians to predict the right treatment early on. For example, Sorace said she is currently working on research that evaluates quantitative MRI techniques to improve the chances of correctly predicting a breast cancer patient’s response to chemotherapy. “The idea is, if we can predict biological changes … in the future, it would allow us to change the therapeutic strategy if a patient is not going to respond positively to that treatment, and it would save us time, money, health (and would) reduce systemic toxicity from treatments that may not be potentially effective,” Sorace said. Dr. Jonathan MacClements, associate dean of graduate medical education, said in an email that the diagnostics department will train physicians to be innovative. “These programs will train physicians who are ready to find new ways to diagnose diseases,” MacClements said. “It will create leaders who can disseminate knowledge in the medical community.”
can get at the University before they complete their studies here.” The students plan to finalize their design by the end of the semester, including a plan for how to create a sustainable system that puts runoff water back to use. “One of the biggest challenges is that we’re not physically present there,” said Aleem Ali, mechanical engineering junior and technical manager for the project. “We need to know, is there enough water already there? What’s their current system? Do we want the runoff water to go into the field? All of those things are big challenges.” Trivedi said she is looking forward to traveling to Thailand, not only to try the food and sightsee, but
copyright pooja trivedi, and reproduced with permission
Students from Projects with Underserved Communities will travel to Don Kang, Thailand, to build a sanitation station that will provide sinks and faucets to elementary school students.
also to immerse herself in the culture. “This is just so raw,” Trivedi said. “We’re going to live in the village, and we’re going to pour concrete and build pipes all day. I hope that I become more
grounded because of it and never, ever take anything for granted. I’ve learned that I should really value everything I’ve been given in this life, and hopefully I can take my career in this direction and help out other people.”
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Friday, November 17, 2017
STUDENT GOVERNMENT
Senate to recommend no tuition increase By Meara Isenberg News Reporter
A Senate survey shows students disagree with the 2 percent increase. The UT Senate of College Councils advised Thursday against increasing tuition, following the University’s announcement earlier this week of a possible 2 percent tuition increase. The Senate’s decision was based upon the opinions collected in a survey of students conducted this semester by the Senate’s College Tuition Budget Advisory Committee. “Our recommendation is essentially calling for no increase in tuition based on the fact that students … (told us) they didn’t have enough education about the tuition process … (and) couldn’t afford a tuition increase,” Senate president Austin Reynolds said. The survey received 5,573 responses from students. To the question of whether or not they supported a tuition increase, 45.92 percent of students responded
katie bauer| daily texan staff
Senate of College Councils President Austin Reynolds addresses students during Thursday night’s meeting. The Senate recommended there be no increase in tuition.
“definitely not” and 2.01 percent answered “definitely yes.” “We had some very insightful comments as to why students answered the way that they did,” said Reynolds, an English senior. “Some of (it was) not so insightful,
such as ‘Nah son,’ where more (useful) feedback was, ‘I can not afford an increase in tuition, I would literally have to drop out of school. My financial aid is limited, and Austin’s housing crisis is rapidly increasing.’”
The Tuition Policy Advisory Committee, which announced the proposed increase, explained to the council why it believes the increase is necessary. Mary Knight, University finance associate vice president, said they
would take the students’ input back to the TPAC president, who will take it into consideration before addressing the Board of Regents when it considers increasing tuition. “The preliminary recommendation of 2 percent was an early discussion, because we were looking at a modest increase to help with the budget issues that we’re having,” Knight said. “Some of it will go to faculty and salary increases, some of it for scholarships, some of it for Provost and President initiatives and priorities. It’s not just going to any specific item.” The Senate’s recommendation is still in progress, Reynolds said, but when complete, it will be sent to President Fenves and other relevant University administration. “The quantity of responses shows that there is huge student enthusiasm for getting our voice to Fenves,” said Plan II senior Trevor Heise, who attended the meeting Thursday. “If the Senate can be a conduit to that, then I’m pleased they are taking on that role.”
CAMPUS
Facebook CMO encourages personal connections in career By Emily O’Toole News Reporter
Gary Briggs, chief marketing officer of Facebook since 2013, spoke Thursday on campus about how he broke into the world of big business through personal connections and pursuit of his passions. “Share a beer, it’s good practice,” Briggs said. “It’s basically all (about) personal connections with people I’ve worked with along the way.” Briggs, a former eBay, Pepsi and Google employee, said he learned that the tangible benefits of a startup are not solely economic after starting a business with two of his friends in 1999. “We eventually sold the business to Amazon, not for a lot,” Briggs said. “That was not a success, I would say. It turned out to be a really great experience from the standpoint of ‘I learned a ton about online marketing in that area.’ When I went into eBay, I was very comfortable with doing a lot of online deals.” People frequently ask what it’s like to work with Mark Zuckerberg, Briggs said. “He’s kind of amazing,” Briggs said. “He’s been doing this since he was 19.” Facebook has dominated social media and stayed at the top thanks to a strong engineering and sales team, Briggs said. “About one in five (minutes spent on
social media) are spent on Facebook,” Briggs said. “Average usage is about an hour a day, globally.” Mark Bunting, an advertising professor and owner of a Cajun restaurant who helped facilitate the discussion, talked about the benefits Facebook provides for small business owners. He praised Facebook’s advertisements, which are generated based on what the user had been searching for online. Bunting also said he appreciates the “check-in” aspect of Facebook. “If I want to identify people with a Louisina heritage … I have the ability to not only find those people but track whether or not they come to my store,” Bunting said. “This wasn’t in the hands of small businesses before.” Briggs’ general tips for entrepreneurship included going after something you are truly passionate about and hiring people you can trust to do their jobs. Public relations sophomore Janelle Sosa said what stuck with her from Briggs’ lecture was his statement on the importance of networking and being remembered. “I definitely think (networking) is important,” Sosa said. “All of us being at UT, we’re all sort of heading for the same goal, but at such a big school, it’s important to make a name for yourself and find some way to stand out.”
evelyn moreno| daily texan staff
Facebook chief marketing officer Gary Briggs spoke to a packed auditorium about entrepreneurship and his experience working in different businesses.
TELESCOPE
continues from page 1 first ones to get to look at the images, so I think there’s a pretty high chance we’re going to learn something new about the universe, something majorly new that people haven’t seen before.” The worldwide competition, which closed in August, determined which astronomers would have access to the new telescope in its first run. Still a work in progress, the telescope will not be launched until the spring of 2019. Until then, Finkelstein’s team has preparation to do for his project, which will examine faraway galaxies to determine how they evolved in the universe. He
said his proposal was chosen as a finalist partly because it involves collecting data that can be applied to help other astronomers around the world. This is the first time Finkelstein has led a major project. Kristen McQuinn is a research scientist at the McDonald Observatory and a leading member for a different program. McQuinn said in addition to conducting actual science upon the launch of the telescope, the team will also be developing new resources in anticipation for the launch that may help future endeavors. “We’ll be developing some of the tools to help the community, and it will set us up really well to be maximizing and optimizing
Texas counties without a medical examiner 15 counties: Bexar, Collin, Dallas, Ector, El Paso, Galveston, Harris, Johnson, Lubbock, Nueces, Tarrant, Parker, Denton, Travis, Wichita
By total Texas population
have medical examiner
DO NOT have medical examiner
Source: https://www.county.org/about-texas-counties/county-data/Documents/MedicalExaminer.pdf
infographic by wendy lopez| daily texan staff
OPIOID
continues from page 1 because only 15 out of 254 counties — including Travis county — in Texas have a medical examiner’s office to perform autopsies on the deceased. Only these 15 are mandated by state law to have medical professionals sign death certificates because they have a population of more than one million people. The other 239 counties allow an often non-medically trained justice of the peace, who oversees court functions, decide whether a body needs an autopsy. This can lead to underreporting of overdose deaths if the justice of the piece inaccurately reports the cause of death. Social work professor Lori Holleran Steiker, who has researched the opioid epidemic, said letting justices of the peace sign death certificates presents a serious problem with monitoring the opioid epidemic in rural areas. “To the untrained eye, an opioid overdose looks like respiratory failure,” Kinzly said. This leads to what Holleran Steiker, Kinzly and Operation
the use of the telescope,” McQuinn said. “It’s a very exciting thing, to be part of this first wave.” Involvement with the largest telescope in space is not enough for the UT astronomy department — they will also aid in constructing the largest telescope on the ground in 2023. UT is a 10-percent partner in building the Giant Magellan Telescope, which will stretch to over 25 meters wide, four times larger than the James Webb, said department chair Shardha Jogee. “The Giant Magellan Telescope will … produce images that are extremely sharp, much sharper than the James Webb telescope and 10 times sharper than the current Hubble telescope,”
Naloxone director Lucas Hill feel is a grave underreporting of opioid overdoses in rural areas, because they believe justices of the peace are unable to differentiate between causes of respiratory failure. Essentially, this issue is causing what they see as a serious disparity between the statistical appearance of the epidemic in the state and what they are actually seeing on the ground. There are several other factors that point to the severity of the opioid crisis in Texas, Kinzly said. Texas has four out of the top five cities for prescription painkiller abuse in the nation, and the state is second in the U.S. in terms of health care costs associated with opioid abuse. Hill, Kinzly and Holleran Steiker all say the most critical component for fighting the epidemic is harm reduction, which includes connection to medical treatment for drug abuse and administration of the life-saving drug naloxone, which can often reverse the effects of an opioid overdose, Hill said. “What we are doing is critical, but on some days feels like a
Jogee said. McQuinn said although the involvement in the James Webb telescope brings honor to the UT astronomy department, she is mostly just excited for the opportunity to work on new science. “It’s a high-profile thing to be a part of,” McQuinn said. “But really, we’re in it for the science. That’s what’s driving most of us, I think. It’s something we’ve never been able to do before, and that’s really exciting.”
drop in the bucket compared to what needs to be done,” Holleran Steiker said. Naloxone is now carried by most first responders, such as police officers, paramedics and fire fighters. Now, Hill said Operation Naloxone is looking at nontraditional first responders, such as baristas and librarians, who might encounter an overdose in a public bathroom. “It’s not uncommon for a barista or a librarian to encounter a person who has overdosed when they go to clean a bathroom,” Hill said. “We need to train them … to respond with naloxone, and we need to get naloxone into public places.” Holleran Steiker said she is glad the opioid epidemic is finally getting increased attention from all levels of government, but said one of the biggest issues the U.S. still faces is a stigma about opioid abuse. “A murder gets all the attention nationally, but this — because of the stigma — people stay very private about it,” Holleran Steiker said. “I understand (why), but it’s hard to keep it at the level of awareness that it needs to be.”
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JANHAVI NEMAWARKAR & VIK SHIRVAIKAR FORUM EDITORS
@TexanOpinion
Friday, November 17, 2017
On voting, mental health care and students’ money By Janhavi Nemawarkar and Vik Shirvaikar Forum Editors
This week, we feature student perspectives on issues that intimately affect us: on access to mental health resources, on tuition increases and on voter engagement. Jeramy Howell, a government senior from
East Texas, relates his personal experiences with sexual assault and the resulting mental health consequences. He highlights the life-long effects of these events, and calls on our university and our society to do more to ensure that survivors can access the mental healthcare they need. Next, we asked students to share their reactions to the recent announcement of a possible tuition increase by UT’s Tuition Policy Advisory
Committee. The Editorial Board weighed in on this issue yesterday, and today we share some of the most common student responses. A full “We Asked” video is online. Finally, Cade Stone, a research assistant at the Annete Strauss Institute for Civic Life, makes the case for our state to change its policies regarding voter registration. He outlines the causes of our current woes with low voter turnout,
GUEST COLUMN
EDITORIAL
Victims require access to mental healthcare By Jeramy Howell Forum Contributor
The stories are haunting. The dark underbelly of our society has been exposed as women and men have bravely come out of the shadows to express “me too” across our social media platforms. As I read the accusations for the predatory actions of actor Kevin Spacey, I find myself being traumatized all over again. I was young, vulnerable and closeted in East Texas. A man with power over me took advantage of it. The mental scars from that experience plus the prolonged exposure from childhood sexual and physical abuse run deep within me — sometimes feeling like I am unable to escape their firm grasp on my psyche. Resulting from these adverse experiences, I was diagnosed with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, PTSD, and Major Depressive Disorder, MDD. Statistics dictate that my life path should be drastically different than being at a top university. Data from the non-profit Darkness to Light, an organization committed to ending child sexual abuse, finds that child sexual abuse survivors have a 3 in 5 chance of descending into delinquency, and a 4 in 5 chance of becoming substance abuse users. Harmful effects of the abuse linger throughout the victim’s life, causing greater chances of being diagnosed with a variety of diseases and disorders and costing our healthcare system an estimated $210,012 per victim according to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention. Our society perpetuates this cycle of abuse by blocking victim’s access to mental healthcare. Although it has become a more approachable subject to talk about, mental health continues to not be prioritized on our campus and, on a larger scale, our body politic. Furthermore, victims are unable, not due to unwillingness, to find mental
and he argues that we should learn from better-engaged states and countries by instituting a system of automatic voter registration. If you have an opinion on these issues or any others, please reach out to us at editor@dailytexanonline.com. Nemawarkar is a Plan II and government junior from Austin. Shirvaikar is a math and economics junior from Frisco.
We Asked: Tuition What do you think of the proposed tuition increase? I think the biggest concern for students is the increase in transcript payments. That has been the loudest voice on campus — why isn’t our tuition money going to decrease these practical costs for students? So maybe more transparency of where tuition money is going would be helpful.” Shraddha Madham, international relations and global studies junior
illustration by melanie westfall| daily texan staff
healthcare. Here on campus, our counseling center is overworked and can only provide services to students for six sessions (per semester) with a $10 fee per
Although it has become a more approachable subject to talk about, mental health continues to not be prioritized on our campus and, on a larger scale, our body politic.” counseling session. When your time runs out you’re subject to finding something off campus that can cost cash-strapped students $75-$125 per session. This lack
of access is not only present on the UT campus, it’s part of an epidemic plaguing our state. There are about eight suicide deaths per day in Texas and 200 out of our 254 counties are designated as mental health professional shortage areas according to the Texas Tribune. That designation entails that there is one mental health professional for more than 30,000 people, constructing a barrier to accessing mental healthcare in our state. In addition, the state’s existing mental healthcare hospitals are hemorrhaging beds and are in severe disrepair. I could rattle off more statistics, but I am sure that we’re all aware of these issues and how their tentacles reach into all corners of our society. As stewards of the future, it is our responsibility to lower these statistics and eliminate them altogether. We must provide better access to care, and we must work together to lift victims up out of the shadows. Howell is a government senior.
The cost ... is remarkably low here compared to other state schools, and the education is wonderful, so I don’t intrinsically have a problem with it.” Timothy Jones, parent of UT student
I have a couple of friends who are out-of-state or international students, and a price increase of $200 is a significant amount for them. It is for us as well, but they already pay significantly higher tuition to come here.” Diyaanka Jhaveri, international relations and global studies junior
GUEST COLUMN
It is time to revamp Texas’ voter registration policies By Cade Stone Forum Contributor
As reported in the Daily Texan’s Oct. 24 cover piece, the University of Texas was named the most improved university in undergraduate voting turnout in the country by the ALL IN Campus Democracy Challenge. The University’s undergraduate voter turnout rate increased from 41.7 percent to 56.5 percent between 2012 and 2016. The gains in voting were the result of determination and a massive voter registration effort undertaken by Travis County voter registration officials and student leaders across campus, including TX Votes and a campus-wide Civic Engagement Alliance launched to increase voter registration. Through outreach to classrooms and organizations, tabling around campus and training several hundred students as volunteer deputy registrars, the alliance and its affiliated UT organizations registered more than 17,000 UT students to vote leading up to the 2016 election.
Deconstructing the undersized influence of Texans at the polls begins with the state’s approach to voter registration.”
And yet, in Texas and many other states, voting and registration rates remain relatively underwhelming due, in large part, to registration policies that pose a barrier to voting. To further ease access to the polls, it’s time to make institutional changes —
such as same-day registration and automatic voter registration. According to the U.S. Census Bureau about 55.7 percent of the U.S. voting-age population voted in the 2016 presidential election, with Texas ranking among the bottom five states in terms of turnout for the third consecutive presidential election at 51.6 percent of eligible voters. Among the 32 OECD nations (the organization of highly developed, democratic nations), these results land the U.S. in 28th place. Were Texas measured as an independent nation, it would beat out only Switzerland and Chile. Texas, predictably, fell well below the U.S. average registration rate of 64 percent, with just 58 percent of eligible citizens registered to vote prior to the election. Deconstructing the undersized influence of Texans at the polls begins with the state’s approach to voter registration. In order to vote in Texas, one must be registered 30 days prior to Election Day. According to a 2017 Texas Media & Society Survey, when asked if they could register to vote on Election Day, 22 percent of Texans said yes and 33 percent said they were not sure. This divergence means thousands of potential voters are turned away frustrated from the polls, with transient populations such as university students particularly disenfranchised. Hawaii, Mississippi and West Virginia, the only three states with worse turnout than Texas in 2016, have similar laws requiring registration to be completed weeks in advance. We can learn much from the states and nations who demonstrate higher voter turnout. While the U.S. leaves registration to individual onus, nations such as the UK and Australia aggressively seek out and register eligible voters. In Germany and Sweden, citizens are automatically registered upon reaching eligible voting age. The six states with the highest voter turn-
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 victoria smith| daily texan staff
out in 2016 all offered same-day registration, which allows voters to register and vote on the same day, at the same place as the election. Since 2014, 15 states and the District of Columbia have passed some form of automatic voter registration, many automatically registering citizens who interact with a government agency or who come of eligible voting age. As the Brennan Center for Justice at the NYU School Law argues, this “boosts registration rates, cleans up the rolls, makes voting more convenient and reduces the potential for voter fraud, all while lowering costs.” In each case, the institutions that thrive on active, engaged voters sought to empower and encourage the populations they depend upon. They recognized a registered citizen is a citizen that much closer to voting. There are a multitude of governmen-
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tal options to boost voter turnout, but the simplest and most effective revolve around shouldering the burden of responsibility for registration and easing the process through which Americans can fulfill their civic duty. Higher voter turnout and civic engagement are inherent goods, vital to a well-functioning democracy. Organizations like TX Votes and the Civic Engagement Alliance, no matter how effective, need not be asked to overcome hurdles the government can itself remove. Be it through automatic or sameday voter registration, unnecessary obstacles in the path of a democratic right should be eliminated. Stone is a Plan II and government major. He works as a research assistant at the Annette Strauss Institute for Civic Life.
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Friday, November 17, 2017
BUSINESS
INTERDISCIPLINARY
Improv plays lead role in helping young scientists communicate By Elizabeth Robinson S&T Reporter
Improv plays a lead role in helping some young scientists communicate. Last spring semester, College of Natural Sciences lecturer Amira Pollock taught an honors seminar centered around practicing improv theater to help young scientists improve their skills in teamwork, awareness, positivity, spontaneity and adaptation to failure. The class, called “Improvisation Foundations for the Science Student,” centers around games and activities that engages student participation and teaches basic improv principles, Pollock said. Due to the time-consuming nature of the games, the seminar was offered in six two-hour sessions, as opposed to the typical twelve one-hour classes. “At the beginning, we watched a few TED Talks (about the benefits of improv) and (Pollock) told us to go to an improv show,” seminar student Vivian Tat said. “Then (in later classes) we would play the (improv) games.” The games were designed to eliminate hesitation and promote quick thinking, active listening and attention to detail, Pollock said. One of the greatest tools taught by improv is the “yes and” technique, through which one player both accepts a suggestion and adds to it. “In the brainstorming process (and) in critiquing journal articles, it can become so negative that there’s nothing positive left, and that’s very limiting,” Pollock said. “How can we build on (scientific) ideas instead of just rejecting them all?” The improv activities also emphasized clear presentational skills, Pollock said. This can help scientists better communicate with the general public as well as other
illustration by sian rips| daily texan staff
researchers or teammates. “If you’re talking to a patient and they don’t understand the procedure, sometimes the doctor will explain it to them in the same way again,” Pollock said. “How can you present your ideas as though you’re presenting to a 10 year old and have it be clear as a bell?” Each improv game has a set of rules but allows students to direct the outcome of the game in imaginative ways, encouraging students to pay close attention to detail while still channeling their creativity, Pollock added. For instance, a game called “alphabet” requires each player to begin a sentence with each successive letter of the alphabet. “There’s so many activities centered around constraint,” Pollock said. “If you’re being forced to do a game like alphabet … you’re so focused on (following the rules) that you’re not worried anymore about your inner critic. … The more you’re committing to your ideas, the better you can connect to others and think on your feet.” Pollock added that skills taught in the seminar, such as adapting quickly to change and actively listening to others, can also help participants in their personal lives. Careful listening can facilitate communication with friends and loved ones, and the ability to think quickly is crucial
continues from page 8 because service is a standard at any business, and it teaches patience and problem solving. “A lot of that can be transferable not only to my company but also my career path,” Anthony Matthews said. Firsthand understanding is an important element to how Anthony Matthews chooses to approach not only his company but also his degree. Business lecturer John Highbarger, retired global managing partner for strategy practice of Accenture, said Anthony Matthews is someone not to be
when adapting to unexpected changes, she said. “When things aren’t going well, we sometimes try to continue as though we can make it work,” Pollock said. “But you have to be able to pivot and try something else.” Having confidence and ignoring one’s inner critic has also had positive effects on students’ lives, according to Tat. For instance, speaking up in class even when she is uncertain about her suggestions has become much easier. “I’m still applying improv principles to my life now,” Tat said. “I’m really seeing it right now in my (visual and performing arts) class.” The seminar concluded with a live graduation improv show put on by the students, Tat said. This event allowed students to exercise their new skills and help expand their comfort zones. “The difference between a successful science professional and one who’s unsuccessful is how you respond to stress and discomfort,” Pollock said. Apart from stepping outside of their comfort zones, Tat said the seminar also allowed the students to experience different viewpoints. “I felt like this seminar was a really good example of stepping outside into a different field and looking at science in a different perspective,” Tat said.
overlooked in class discussions and is able to offer feedback based off of his own experience owning iGoRepair. It’s not unusual for McCombs students to own small businesses or startups, but Highbarger said it’s possibly the best thing a business student can do to prepare for life after graduation. “My personal feeling is that students who start business and get them going successfully are doing a lot to prepare themselves for success in the business world,” Highbarger said. This sentiment rings true for Anthony Matthews, who credits his status as a
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young entrepreneur and business owner for catching Google’s definition. Although iGoRepair is a special part of Anthony Matthews’ career, the improvement of cell phone technology has made screens less breakable and consequently more expensive. Regardless of his company’s future, Matthews’ said he’s ready for the next step and is thankful for the experience owning his own business has brought him. “Whether you succeed or fail, it’s really a success,” Anthony Matthews said. “It gives you something to talk about, and it’s still a good learning experience.”
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MICHAEL SHAPIRO SPORTS EDITOR
@texansports
Friday, November 17, 2017
SOCCER
In season of goals, freshman Haley Berg kicks Texas soccer to prominence By Dalton Phillips Senior Sports Reporter
Editor’s Note: This article originally appeared in Reporting Texas. Freshman Haley Berg sat under the cool evening sky, taking in the last game of her freshman season at Texas. She considered the past three months. A 5-foot-6 forward and midfielder from tiny Celina in North Texas, Berg came to Austin to honor a commitment she made over four years ago. She assisted on a goal in an exhibition match against Incarnate Word. She earned a starting spot in her first collegiate match against Rice. Twenty-five seconds in, she scored her first goal. It didn’t take long for Berg — whom Texas head coach Karen Aston praised as the “closest definition to the consummate goal scorer that I’ve seen” — to make her mark on Texas soccer. Before Berg arrived, Texas was projected by the conference preseason poll to finish above only two other programs in the Big 12. Last year’s team posted a 1–6–1 conference record and missed the conference and national championships. Led by Berg and her former teammate from FC Dallas, sophomore forward Cyera Hintzen, Texas rattled off a program-record 12 straight wins and finished fourth in the Big 12 conference, taking down the NCAA
carlos garcia| daily texan staff
Freshman forward and midfielder Haley Berg has quickly made a name for herself in her first season on the 40 Acres. Berg was second on the team in goals this season with five, including three game-winners.
tournament runner-up, thenNo. 5 West Virginia, in the process. Berg finished the season with five goals, three of them game-winners — the second-most on the team behind Hintzen. The team’s most valuable pair finished with a combined 32 of Texas’ 76 total season points and helped the Longhorns reach a season high of No. 7 in the country — its highest ranking since 2008. Now, on the field on senior night, Berg huddled on her black Texas jacket and felt the pieces had fallen into place. Texas had lost the matchup in overtime, its first loss of the season in
extra minutes, on a shot that, as sophomore goalie Nicole Curry described it, the Cowgirls “kind of got lucky with.” But the sour end couldn’t dampen the 17game stretch that transformed the program narrative and catapulted the Longhorns back into the national spotlight. “Getting wins has been my proudest moment this season,” Berg said. “And proving people wrong. They ranked us No. 8 in the conference preseason poll. So ending the season and proving those people wrong has been a really proud moment for me and everyone else.” This season proved the
realization of a dream years in the making. Entering the ninth grade, she was fielding full scholarship offers from the University of Colorado, Texas A&M and the University of Texas. She was the subject of a 2014 story in The New York Times about college recruiting and youth soccer. But there was never any question where she’d end up. Well before her commitment, and even before she had any idea she might play at the collegiate level, Berg was drawn to Texas. “I remember when I was 4, my dad coached my team, and he asked me to name it,” Berg
FOOTBALL
said. “So I named it the Longhorns. I have always had a love for Texas.” Berg was named the conference freshman of the year, following in the footsteps of Hintzen — last year’s recipient. The duo, along with junior midfielder Katie Glenn, also earned spots on the Big 12 All-Conference teams. “Our friendship has definitely helped the chemistry between us,” Hintzen said. “It’s great having another player on the field that reads the game the same way as you. Like, I know if I made this run she can get the ball to me. It’s a great relationship to have on and off the field.” The pair helped one another all season long. Hintzen was a source of experience. She kept things light through months of grinding. “Cyera is a great leader,” Berg said. “Her and I have been really close friends since I was little. I’m just glad that we got to play in college together. And we will for the next two years.” Two more seasons spell trouble for the rest of the Big 12. After a storybook start, Berg still has a lot left to prove. And three years to make it happen. “I think that it’s been a great season, it’s been everything I hoped it would be and more, but I think don’t think that we’ve accomplished much yet,” Berg said. “We have so much left.”
SOCCER
Texas prepares for second round of NCAA tournament By Dalton Phillips Senior Sports Reporter
zoe fu| daily texan staff
Former Texas wide receiver Jacorey Warrick fends off a West Virginia tackler during the Mountaineers’ 24-20 victory on Nov. 12, 2016 at Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium.
Longhorns return to Morgantown needing victory for bowl eligibility By Alex Briseno Senior Sports Reporter The Longhorns don’t have the fondest memories of Morgantown, West Virginia. Texas stands one win away from ending its skid of backto-back 5–7 seasons and becoming bowl-eligible for the first time since 2014. But the road to bowl eligibility goes through Morgantown and the Mountaineers. The Longhorns last traveled to West Virginia in 2015, when they suffered a 38-20 defeat in front of a raucous crowd full of “hillbillies and moonshine,” according to junior defensive end Breckyn Hager. “It’s a bunch of hillbillies drinking moonshine,” Hager said following Tuesday’s practice. “I remember it all. I remember looking up, seeing someone with no teeth singing. I remember I was all mad, about to cry, trying to block all of that stuff out and get to the locker room.” Fast forward two years, and Texas is returning to Mountaineer Field at Milan Puskar Stadium. The electric
crowd won’t be Texas’ biggest issue come Saturday, however. The Longhorns’ main concern will be junior quarterback Will Grier and the Mountaineer offense. Grier hasn’t received nearly as much national attention as Oklahoma quarterback Baker Mayfield or Oklahoma State quarterback Mason Rudolph, but his performance this season speaks for itself. Grier leads the Big 12 in touchdown passes (34) and is second in completions (244) this season. This high-powered offense will provide one of the biggest tests of the year for Texas’ defense. “I’m really excited. I think this offense that we’re going against is real special,” Hager said. “I like Grier. He’s a great quarterback. I think he’s one of the great quarterbacks in the Big 12.” Texas has yet to claim a marquee victory this season, and it only has one more chance. The Longhorns’ close losses to then-No. 4 USC, then-No. 12 Oklahoma and then-No. 10 Oklahoma State are in the past. Now, as Texas looks to earn
bowl eligibility, it has one more opportunity to get a victory against a top-25 caliber opponent in the Mountaineers. West Virginia is unranked in the College Football Playoff poll but is ranked No. 24 in the AP poll. With two games remaining in the season, Texas players claim that desperation has not begun to set in just yet. “We’re not desperate,” junior safety DeShon Elliott said. “But we do know we need to win at least one of the next two games — not just to build on next year, but to get our seniors to a bowl game.” A 6–6 record usually doesn’t fly by Texas’ standards, but this year is different. The Longhorns have made their goal crystal clear: make a bowl, for the seniors. “I think we have a senior class, an experienced class, that, although small, is very well respected,” head coach Tom Herman said. “I really do think that there is a genuine desire for our guys to make sure that we get them to the postseason, that they can play one more game in the burnt orange and white.”
The first round of the NCAA tournament provided Texas with some much-needed momentum. The second round is where the team will be tested. The No. 4 Longhorns head to Duke on Friday evening for their first-ever postseason contest with Clemson. After dispatching North Texas 3-0 a week ago on a pair of goals from sophomore Cyera Hintzen, Texas stands 90 minutes away from advancing to the quarterfinals for the first time in a decade. For head coach Angela Kelly, the stadium is only a short drive away from the University of North Carolina — her alma mater and site of four consecutive NCAA national titles. The former Tar Heel All-American led the UNC team from 1991–94 during its 13-year dynasty run. “Back to a familiar spot for me,” Kelly said. “Back in my neck of the woods from my collegiate career. I’m very familiar with Duke University and their facility and playing on that field. So I’m excited to take this young squad through this next round, and they’re excited and ready to play.” Clemson enters Friday having blown past Alabama 2-1 in the first round on a pair of lightning-fast second-half goals. The Tigers, now 10–5–3, are enjoying a third straight second round appearance, propelled by their own forward dynamic duo of graduate senior Jenna Polonsky and freshman
brooke crim| daily texan staff
Sophomore Cyera Hintzen, the Longhorns’ best goal-scorer, leads Texas into the second round of the NCAAs on Friday.
Mariana Speckmaier. The pair have each tallied seven goals this season and have a combined 35 of the team’s 84 points. Compared to the counterattack-heavy style often favored in the Big 12, Clemson and the ACC employ a far more deliberate brand of soccer — an approach that actually aligns more closely with Kelly’s system at Texas. The Longhorns haven’t faced an East Coast opponent this season but will benefit from Kelly’s experience. “Clemson would be a squad, if you gave them time, they’d like to play attractively (very technically),” Kelly said. “But they have some fast personalities who can get behind a backline
as well.” Already coming off a record-setting season, the team again appears poised to plunge Texas deeper into history. This current crop of Longhorns hasn’t been here before — but they are led by a head coach who has. The collection of underclassmen have already defied a season’s worth of expectations, but Kelly says they aren’t finished yet. “These are small conversations I have with our players,” Kelly said. “Are we satisfied with just advancing to the next round, or are we ready to take that next step? And over the course of this season, it’s been next step, next step, next step.”
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MORGAN O’HANLON LIFE&ARTS EDITOR
@thedailytexan
Friday, Novemeber 17, 2017
BOOKS
Professor discusses book, research on Cuba By Acacia Coronado Senior L&A Reporter
Amid remnants of the Cuban revolution, history professor Jonathan Brown climbed the island’s Sierra Maestra, 10 kilometers off the beaten path of Fidel Castro, Che Guevara and Raul Castro, the soles of his shoes flapping. He walked behind communist tour guide Manolo toward a military-protected, high-security guerilla headquarters. This was just one of the many adventures Brown embarked upon while researching the revolutionary war in Cuba and its worldwide impact for his recent book, “Cuba’s Revolutionary World.” After more than a decade of research, the release of Brown’s book in April finally allowed him to present his research and reflections to his colleagues at UT. The 13-year road to Brown’s finished project began with one student’s inquiry at the University of British Columbia, where Brown was teaching at the time. “They said, ‘Why don’t we have any good books?’” Brown said. “I said the last good book we had for this class went out of print. And the young student said, ‘Why don’t you write one?’” Brown said he began his research with the Benson Latin American Collection and the LBJ Presidential Library, which he used to gather information for the
copyright jonathan brown, and reproduced with permission
History professor Jonathan Brown leans against a 30-year-old car in Cuba with his guide Manolo.
first few chapters of his book. “I discovered the CIA was funding, but not directing, a group of Cuban exiles who became commandos of the Caribbean,” Brown said. “They were given tons of money in order to buy military equipment and guns.” He continued his research with the Nixon, Kennedy and Eisenhower presidential libraries and eventually traveled to Cuba on multiple
occasions to research documents there. Brown said he liked visiting the places he was writing about and conducting field research. “I felt adventurous,” Brown said. “Cuba is so different from the rest of Latin America. Havana, for example: (Its) cityscape has not changed since 1959.” Brown’s wife, Lynore, traveled with him on most of his research, making stops with him in libraries
MOVIE REVIEW | ‘JUSTICE LEAGUE’
across the globe, from Europe to Cuba. She said the most interesting part of the experience was the opportunity to hold pieces of history once written by world leaders and attempt to understand their thought process. “We were very fortunate, because we went to Trinidad and we were the first Americans since Castro (took power) to ever go into this library in Trinidad,”
Lynore Brown said. “They were so good to us, and we found all kinds of information.” Over the course of a decade and a half, Lynore and Jonathan Brown gathered information as he wrote each chapter. Lynore Brown said they experienced life in Cuba as locals and were welcomed with open arms by the population. “We had the best food when we were invited to people’s homes, and reason is, they went and bought shrimp or chicken on the black market,” Lynore Brown said. “Sometimes, it was their whole monthly salary.” When he finished collecting his research, Jonathan Brown said he had enough information for two books, one on South America and one on Cuba. But his editor at Harvard University Press advised that it would be best to combine his work into one book. Ethnomusicology professor Robin Moore said it is important to have a book like this in the classroom today to show students perspectives on U.S. and Cuba relations that might reveal more than they would otherwise learn from U.S. media and government. “It is important to think about that moment of revolution, (which) provides a window into different kinds of attitudes and experiences that provide a unique perspective on the United States and what it was doing,” Moore said.
FEATURE
Student takes business from dorm room to boardroom By Andrea Tinning Senior L&A Reporter
copyright warner bros pictures, and reproduced with permission
‘Justice League’ not super, but marks step forward By Charles Liu L&A Reporter
After spending years in development hell and encountering numerous production setbacks, DC’s “Justice League” finally makes its long-awaited splash on the silver screen. Like Zack Snyder’s previous effort, “Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice,” this is big budget moviemaking at some of its most epic and visceral. But while that excessively grim stinker failed to be smart and mature, “Justice League,” with the help of co-writer and Marvel alumnus Joss Whedon, course-corrects with a crowd-pleasing but sloppy adventure for its iconic superheroes. At the forefront are Batman (Ben Affleck) and Wonder Woman (Gal Gadot), on a mission to unite powerful beings and defend a world mourning the deceased Superman (Henry Cavill). There’s the speedy Flash (Ezra Miller), who quips as fast as he runs, and the grungy, dude-bro Aquaman (Jason Momoa), who quickly dispels the popular notion that he can’t be cool. Last but not least is Cyborg (Ray Fisher), a former college football star who is haunted by his existence as part man, part robot. The charming ensemble plays wonderfully together, with Miller being the definite standout, whether he’s ranting about the foreign concept of brunch or bonding with Cyborg over a risky “Pet Sematary” plan. Affleck’s Batman feels at home among
gods despite his lack of powers, which is no small feat, while Gal Gadot is to Wonder Woman as Christopher Reeve was to Superman. Speaking of Superman — it’s no secret he’s returning, and when he does, Cavill finally gets to be a symbol of optimism and oozes boy scout goodness. Just try not to be distracted by the terrible CGI removal of Cavill’s mustache. The threat our heroes face is Steppenwolf (Ciaran Hinds), an alien baddie intent on reclaiming ancient artifacts called Mother Boxes and devastating our world. However, the first act ineptly establishes this conflict, suddenly shoving in new developments and inelegantly dumping copious amounts of backstory for its heroes and villains without pausing to reflect. Despite all the exposition, some motivations remain murky, and Steppenwolf is nothing more than an excuse for the plot to happen. Comic fans will get with the program quickly, but others will likely have too many questions to glean the same enjoyment, and the narrative’s rapid pace won’t do them any favors. The messiness thankfully ends when the heroes unite and take the fight to Steppenwolf. The action is well-staged and choreographed, the visual spectacle is top-notch, and the Justice League consistently exchanges great one-liners and works together in delightful ways. Each character gets a memorable moment and
JUSTICE LEAGUE RATING: PG-13 CATEGORY: 120 minutes SCORE: undergoes a meaningful arc. These heroes come together from places of pain and loneliness, and they ultimately find hope and strength through unity and compassion. Strangely, while these heroes learn to open up to others, their adventures still feel disconnected from the world they are trying to save. Apart from an impoverished Russian town and a group of scientists, most of public doesn’t encounter the alien invaders and likely won’t even know that the Justice League has stopped them until after the fact. It’s a glaring narrative oversight that reduces the stakes and payoff of the League’s efforts, and it makes the entire adventure seem rather insulated. Nonetheless, when the Batmobile races down a street with Parademons in pursuit, Wonder Woman takes on Steppenwolf in single combat or the Flash saves a family from harm, “Justice League” proves too fun to pass up. It’s a sincere, giddy celebration of DC’s flagship characters, and its enjoyable moments are miles ahead of its rough patches, helping the picture overcome Snyder’s failings as a storyteller. Given time, the seeds that “Justice League” plants may blossom into something truly super.
From replacing broken iPhone screens from the comfort of his old dorm in Jester to interning at Google in Boulder, Colorado, one UT student is making money moves. Marketing junior Anthony Matthews built his resume by expanding his small business, iGoRepair, from sole proprietorship in Austin to an LLC operating in Austin, College Station and Abilene. The expansion happened after a friend attending Texas A&M offered to bring the business to College Station, and in order to operate in Abilene, Matthews’ hometown, he enlisted a close family member. “I technically hired my dad. I mean, legally, that’s what I did,” Matthews said. “He’s been killing it over there.” iGoRepair is just one the things Matthews’ father is proud of his son for achieving — Anthony Matthews is also a first-generation college student. “School is important; I didn’t have the opportunity
gabby lanza| daily texan staff
Marketing junior Anthony Matthews expanded his own business iGoRepair to LLC operating in Austin, College Station, and Abilene. iGoRepair is an on-the-go iPhone repair shop.
when I was a kid, so school is important for all of my kids,” Shane Matthews said. “It’s the biggest accomplishment.” Looking into the future, Shane Matthews is confident his son will succeed wherever life takes him. “He’s a smart kid,” Shane Matthews said. “If he tries, he can pretty much accomplish whatever he wants.” For Anthony Matthews, the best career moves come from problem solving, and often the solution is the most simple one. “You don’t have to make the next app or the next Uber,” Anthony Matthews said.
“iGoRepair is just a normal iPhone repair shop, except we’re on the go. I just tied two categories together and saw the demand for it. If you see a problem somewhere, get the solution.” That attitude is what attracted attention from Google recruiters, and starting this May, Anthony Matthews will work from Boulder, Colorado, as a Global Customer Experience team member for Google AdWords. Anthony Matthews said he chose to intern as a customer service agent
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