The Daily Texan 2018-01-23 by The Daily Texan

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TUESDAY, JANUARY 23, 2018

VOLUME 118, ISSUE 86

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O PI N I O N

S P ORTS

LIFE&ARTS

Debra Martin Chase, producer of “The Cheetah Girls,” speaks on campus. PAGE 3

Columnists disect the model minority myth, McCombs’ limiting grading guidlines. PAGE 4

Texas implements new student seating policy in hopes of improving attendance. PAGE 6

Participants of the Women’s March share how the movement has changed since 2017. PAGE 8

CITY

‘ANYTHING BUT MUTUAL’ By Chase Karacostas & Raga Justin @ chasekaracostas @ragajus

Student apartment complex University House overbooked for 2018–19 and terminated student leases by sending ‘mutual termination’ agreements.

lan II freshman Rylan Maksoud had barely adjusted to dorm life when he signed a lease in September to live at the apartment complex University House the following year. Four months later, he received an email informing him his lease had been terminated through what UH called a “mutual termination” due to overbooking. In the email, which Maksoud provided to The Daily Texan, UH said the apartment type he selected was sold out for the 2018–19 term. Shocked by the email, Maksoud said the termination was

“anything but mutual.” “I immediately started researching laws,” Maksoud said. “It was complete chaos … (My roomates and I) were concerned with where we were going to live. Everything was going to be full.” Not remembering anything in the lease mentioning a “mutual termination,” Maksoud said he combed through it multiple times. There is nothing in the lease, which Maksoud provided to The Daily Texan, that says UH is allowed to terminate leases in cases of overbooking. Maksoud said he has already signed a new lease for next year, but his options were limited and

ashley nava | the daily texan staff Master of Public Administration Seniors Kolten Moris and Sydney Choucair walk past the over-leased University House. Several students received canceled lease emails which resulted in housing complications. the apartment is $214 more expensive than UH per month. He then requested compensation from UH to make up for the increased rent cost. Four days after receiving the mutual termination, Maksoud said he received an email saying he would receive no compensation for what had happened, so he

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Toastmasters helps staff find new voice

Austin named finalist in Amazon’s search for second headquarters

By Mason Carroll @masonccarroll

Unlike faculty, University staff do not generally have the opportunity to speak in front of classrooms full of students everyday. However, the UT Staff Toastmasters Club provides them a place to polish their speaking abilities. Toastmasters International is an organization that teaches people how to be better leaders and communicators by practicing speaking in small groups. Andrea Stanfill, program coordinator for the undergraduate program Hindu Urdu Flagship, joined the UT Staff Toastmasters Club three years ago and said she has loved it ever since. “It is a club to encourage public speaking and to help provide practice to be better public speakers,” Stanfill said. “We have members from all across campus and in all different positions in different colleges.”

The international organization has 352,000 members in 141 countries around the world. The UT club meets every Thursday at the Student Activity Center, where members give prepared and impromptu speeches. Some members, such as Liz Johnson, College of Liberal Arts administrative associate, have special tasks, such as being a timer or critic during speeches. “I will be listening for your crutch words,” Johnson said during the meeting, where she acted as critic. “I will be listening for the things you utter or say when you’re still trying to figure out what you want to say like ‘uh’ or ‘um.’” Stanfill said the club is specifically for staff because they don’t get as much exposure to public speaking as faculty does, but they still need to be professional and confident. “It just helps staff be

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joshua guenther | the daily texan staff Anita Harbor delivers a technical presentation advertising the project management and collaboration software Basecamp.

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mel westfall | the daily texan staff

By Raga Justin @ragajus

Austin has been named one of the 20 cities that still has a shot at nabbing Amazon’s second headquarters, according to a statement released by the company last Thursday. Many of the 238 cities and municipalities that submitted a bid promised large tax breaks and other economic incentives to lure Amazon, but the Austin Chamber of Commerce has remained quiet about its proposal.

At a press conference, Mayor Steve Adler said he hadn’t heard any conversations about offering incentives but promised to keep in mind the potential consequences of development. “The City Council has taken action to focus all of our economic development conversation around the city’s greatest challenges and needs, and for us that’s mobility and affordability,” Adler said. “That’s the lens that we’re going to use.” Amazon HQ2, as it was dubbed by CEO Jeff Bezos, promises to bring “as many as 50,000 high-

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Free for students with registration. EnergyWeek.utexas.edu

It’s not just the 50,000 jobs it might bring here directly, but it also drags along with it suppliers and vendors and other companies.” Ben Bentzin,

marketing adminstration lecturer

paying jobs” and $5 billion in construction to the region it decides on, not including an influx of jobs and construction money from additional investments in the community, according to a press release on the company’s website. Marketing administration lecturer Ben Bentzin estimated a total employment boost as high as 250,000 jobs and said Amazon could potentially be the No. 1 employer in the Austin area. “It would be a

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Jan 29 – Feb 2, 2018

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Energy Week includes inaugural sustainable energy competition

This issue of The Daily Texan is valued at $1.25

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S&T Reporters Lucy Cai

Longhorn Energy Summit supports a more sustainable campus. By Sara Schleede @saraschleede

wenty teams of UT students will have 24 hours to create plans for a more sustainable campus at the inaugural Longhorn Energy Summit, which will take place Jan. 27–28 as part of Energy Week 2018. Developed by the new student-run organization Energy Olympiad, the Longhorn Energy Summit is open to students of all experience levels and majors in order to

encourage participation and varied perspectives. “We want more students to be … creating ideas that will spearhead the next movement of energy sustainability,” said Vivianne Tu, deputy managing director of Energy Olympiad and business honors and management junior. Students will be placed into teams of two to four people and pick from a list of eight of the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals to build their project around. Some goals include affordable energy, clean water, sanitation and responsible consumption. “(We’re) not giving a particular topic so that it’s everyone solving one prompt in a different way,” said Karan Jareth, managing director of Energy Olympiad. “It’s a broad range

of topics that could cover anything, so it allows for more creativity and different ideas.” Throughout the weekend, faculty and mentors will offer workshops and office hours to advise the teams. Jareth, a petroleum engineering junior, said he is not expecting fully developed prototypes; however, he hopes students will create a solution to the best of their abilities and make connections with industry leaders so they can further establish their idea beyond the competition. “If they can fully understand the sustainable development goals, the market they’re entering, (and) prove that this is a viable solution and that this can then be taken forward, that’s what we’re trying to spur,” Jareth said.

Students can apply for the summit online until tonight at midnight. The teams will present their ideas on the afternoon of Jan. 28, and the top four teams will give a final presentation Feb. 3 before a panel of judges. The winners will receive a $5,000 cash prize. Robert Hebner, director of the Center for Electromechanics, said opportunities such as these allow students to train for big changes in energy policy, which is especially important in a time of rapidly changing energy technology. “Energy Week gives people the chance to look up from, ‘Did I recycle the right piece of plastic?’ to ‘What can I really do to make the world fundamentally better in a decade?’” Hebner said.

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tremendous economic stimulus for the region,” Bentzin said. “It’s not just the 50,000 jobs it might bring here directly, but it also drags along with it suppliers and vendors and other companies.” Even faced with the prospect of stiff competition — the shortlist includes heavyweights such as Boston and Chicago — Bentzin said he is confident in Austin’s ability to attract the retail giant, citing UT and a vibrant tech community as major assets. “They want to put their HQ2 in a city where it will be easy to attract people,” Bentzin said. “I will tell you, having hired people in Austin for decades, it’s not difficult at all to recruit great people in Austin and to keep them here because of our lifestyle.” Marketing administration professor Raji Srinivasan said naming these 20 candidates is not the last step in the process of naming a final winner. “They’ll probably go to another shortlist,” Srinivasan said. “I don’t know what happens next, but I imagine that this list is too long to move to one city from here. Is Austin likely to make it to the next level? I think yes, then I’d like to see who’s on that list.” Srinivasan said Amazon used a novel approach in publicizing the process of inviting bids from cities. “They’re in a very interesting position here,” Srinivasan said. “The U.S. has lost a lot of jobs, so job creation is a big priority for any state and the U.S. government, and now Amazon is coming and saying, ‘We’re gonna give you 50,000 jobs and these jobs are going to be good jobs, well-paying.’ Amazon has a lot to offer, and I think they’re also using this as a mechanism to generate some positive en-

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created the website austinuniversityhouse.com where he posted a review of his experience with the apartment complex. The website has been viewed by over 6,500 people and has received viral attention from students sharing similar experiences. Maksoud eventually spoke on the phone with Christina Emanuele, a representative of The Scion Group, which operates University House and 47 other student housing providers around the country. In a recording of the call provided to The Daily Texan by Maksoud, Emanuele called Maksoud’s experience a “tough situation” but said many other students have “moved on.” “I want you to move on,” Emanuele said to Maksoud during one of several calls. “I know you have other things to do.” On overbooking, Emanuele said in retrospect it was avoidable. Emanuele credited the mistake to the fact that UH has only been open two years. “It’s unnecessary,” Emanuele said during the same call. “But, it’s a learning curve, and we’ve learned our lesson.” After some negotiations, UH offered Maksoud a $2,880 settlement that included both his security deposit plus enough money to offset the cost of his new, higher rent. However, the settlement required that Maksoud take down his website and prohibited him from talking to the media. Maksoud said he wanted other students to be compensated as well but was told it wasn’t

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a better face to the University,” Stanfill said. “It is still very beneficial to staff because you’ll find yourself giving speeches or presentations, and it’s important to have a strong sense of confidence when you’re speaking.” Since joining UT Staff Toastmasters Club a

possible, so he refused to take the settlement. “I wouldn’t be able to live with myself if I just shut up and left everyone behind,” Maksoud said. “Ethically, I just could not do that.” Keith Thompson, regional vice president of operations for Scion, said the issue resulted from a software error that caused the property to be overbooked by about 5 percent. “We’ve apologized and reached out to all of those individuals (who were) affected,” Thompson said. “This isn’t something we traditionally have to endure.” Maksoud shared the review several times in the UT Class of 2021 Facebook group, and nine people commented saying they had also received mutual terminations. On Yelp, there were also several reviews describing the same experience: a lease signed early last fall followed by its termination in December. The Daily Texan confirmed that at least five students experienced the same situation this year. “Trying to find another place to stay has been difficult and super frustrating,” said biochemistry freshman Najlae Chidmi, who also received a mutual termination. “I didn’t really understand how they could just terminate people.” Juliana Gonzales, executive director of Austin Tenants’ Council, said they have yet to handle a case of a housing complex terminating leases due to overbooking. “I’ve never seen anything like this,” Gonzales said. “The terms of this lease contract seem pretty clear. I think it’s worth pushing back on (UH).”

few years ago, Stanfill said she has seen her confidence and speech aptitude increase. “I remember the first time I did my speech,” Stanfill said. “I wrote my notes on my hand and was just waving my hands to see my notes, whereas now I can tell I’m not as shaky, nd there is definitely a marked improvement.”

carlos garcia| the daily texan staff Senior lecturer Jishnu Shankar opens up his talk with a joke about Baba Kinaram’s age on Monday afternoon. Shankar examined Kinaram’s poetry pieces in front of a group of students and faculty.

Significance of Baba Kinaram’sA Hindu poetry comes to light By Estefania Rodriguez @estefana_rdz13

Senior lecturer Jishnu Shankar evaluated the writings of Baba Kinaram, a 17th century saint, social reformer and poet, to an audience of nearly 40 individuals at the Will C. Hogg Building on Monday. In the lecture, Shankar examined Kinaram’s poetry pieces “Viveksar” and “Gitavali,” specifically regarding the social and political context of the works. “I will be analyzing or looking at, in some detail, only two of them because in one hour you really cannot do much justice to all the literature he has produced,” Shankar said. Aside from publishing multiple writings, Kinaram was believed to be an incarnation of the Hindu deity Shiva, established eight monasteries and founded the Baba Kinaram Sthal, a spiritual center and pilgrimage headquarters. “It is important for people to know about this saint because he represents a fascinating personality, especially in terms of the syncretism that he displays in his literature,” Shankar said. “He is regarded as one of the treasures

of Banaras.” Despite his accomplishments and popularity in the Indian city of Banaras, Kinaram remained relatively unknown in Hindu literature and has not been studied extensively by scholars, which is one reason Shankar said he was glad to lead the event.

The talk was really captivating because (Shankar) took a relatively unknow person of significance and opened our eyes as to how his work was poetic but so meaningful. Sidharth Bhat, business freshman

“I’m pretty sure not too many people outside of this Meyerson Conference Room have heard of the name Baba Kinaram,” Shankar said. “It is just a little bit puzzling that Hindu literature has ignored

the contributions of a person of distinction.” Business freshman Sidharth Bhat said he appreciated the opportunity to learn about a figure as obscure as Kinaram. “The talk was really captivating because (Shankar) took a relatively unknown person of significance and opened our eyes as to how his work was poetic but so meaningful,” Bhat said. The audience for Shankar’s talk included other professionals, including Chien-Hsin Tsai, Department of Asian Studies associate professor. “I teach modern Chinese literature, but I have always been interested as to how scholars in other fields understand, read and interpret literature,” Tsai said. Shankar has been a senior lecturer at UT for 11 years and teaches Hindi classes such as Style and Register in Hindi. “I feel so fortunate that he is in the same community as I am,” said Syed Akbar Hyder, Department of Asian Studies associate professor. “We have all been part of the Hindi Urdu flagship community.” The event was hosted by the Department of Asian Studies, which will be hosting other guest speakers throughout the semester.

TUESDAY, JANUARY 23, 2018

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Christian Arabic discussion touches on Saudi Arabia culture By Miles Eackles @ muleseackles

To most, the inscription “May God Be Mindful of Yazid the King” might sound like perplexing jargon, but students from the Department of Middle Eastern Studies attended a presentation on Monday to hear about the phrase, found on an ancient artifact from northeastern Jordan. Ahmad Al-Jallad, an expert in Arabic and North Arabian history, discussed the origins of several Arabic linguistic characteristics and said the language did not develop linearly, but was developed through various influences. Al-Jallad said this range of influences can be seen in the inscription, which is written in Christian Arabic but refers to “Yazid,” the son of the first Umayyad Caliph, a ruler of one of the largest ancient Islamic civilizations. This implicates a surprising relationship between Christian Arabs and the Islamic Umayyad Caliphate civilization, Al-Jallad said. About 30 students poured into the Liberal Arts Building to learn more about anthropogenic topics concerning Saudi Arabia, such as its culture, artifacts and linguistics. Economics senior Ahmed Rehman said he was already familiar with Christian Arabic culture and knew of Yazid, but was interested in hearing a more in-depth perspective on the topic. “I’m really interested in Shia studies and seeing this quote is a really big deal,” Rehman said. “The lecture was very mindful and intriguing, and I’m super glad I got to attend.”

I believe his research to be groundbreaking and hope people will think the same.” Na’ama Pat-El,

middle eastern studies department chair

Al-Jallad is a lecturer at the Leiden University in the Netherlands and is currently working on a book about the history of the Arabic language. He wrote the first grammar of Safaitic, compiling ancient North Arabian inscriptions from Jordan and Syria. A second edition, defining more than 1400 entries, will be released this year. Na’ama Pat-El, Middle Eastern studies department chair, said Al-Jallad’s findings are interesting and the department was excited to host him at the lecture. “We’re hoping that Ahmad can make our department an empire and bring more awareness towards Middle Eastern studies,” Pat-El said. “I believe his research to be groundbreaking and hope people will think the same.” Graduate student Hassan Abid said he doesn’t typically attend these lectures, but was drawn to this Al-Jallad’s lecture by the unique subject matter. “I found the topic to be really interesting, so I thought I’d stop by and have a look at the presentation,” Abid said. Following Al-Jallad’s lecture, the audience asked questions and engaged in discussion over the provided lunch.

alexander thompson | the daily texan staff Ahmad Al-Jallad explains the origin and evolution of Arabic script by connecting the various influences throughout present-day Saudi Arabia.

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NEW Leadership Texas Program application opens for women By Madelyn Reiter @madireiter_

Undergraduate women can spend a week this summer learning about political leadership through the National Education for Women Leadership Texas Program, which is now accepting online applications. The nonpartisan program, hosted annually at UT by the Center for Women’s and Gender Studies, brings Texas

women together during a sixday residential summer program to educate them on how politics shape their daily lives and to encourage them to take an active role in politics. The program teaches attendees how to lead through public speaking, conflict resolution and advocacy workshops, according to the program’s website. “The main goal is (to) get more women into the public sphere, to get them more involved in their communities,

to bring out their activist side or advocacy interests, and ultimately to run for office,” program coordinator Nancy Ewert said. The program provides women with a supportive network in addition to leadership skills, Ewert said. “It was amazing to meet all these women who have all these great ideas and who are doing great things,” said Diani Guyton, a sociology senior who has previously attended the NEW

Leadership Texas Program. “We had the chance to talk with presenters, and were even given business cards to help us network and promote ourselves.” Ewert said former participants have used skills and networking from the program to become strong leaders in their communities, from interning in Washington D.C. to running for city councils. One past participant organized the Women’s March in El Paso on Saturday, Ewert said.

Participants come from diverse socioeconomic, political, ethnic and educational backgrounds. Past attendees have included nontraditional students, women of color and first-generation students. Students from different schools and with different majors are accepted. Ewert said although participants are diverse, they all have one commonality: leadership potential. “I’m interested in applying,” nutrition sophomore Emily Levin said. “I’m not a political

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andre fernandez | the daily texan staff Debra Martin Chase speaks about her experience in the film industry during her lecture at the Liberal Arts BUilding. Debra Martin Chase spoke about her history as a producer on Sisterhood of Traveling Pants, Princess Diaries, and Just Wright.

Award-winning producer talks on-screen representation By Megan Menchaca @meganmenchanca13

Debra Martin Chase, award-winning producer of films such as “The Princess Diaries” and “The Cheetah Girls,” said she was motivated to create diverse roles for women because she didn’t see many people who looked like her on the screen. “I’ve always loved film and television, but I didn’t know anyone who looked like me who was in the movie business,” Martin Chase said at a lecture hosted by the College of Fine Arts. Martin Chase spoke about being the first African-American female producer to have a deal at a major studio, as well as her experiences producing many major film franchises including “The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants” and “Cinderella.” “I was motivated to produce

these movies because I was the kid who grew up watching television and didn’t see myself,” Martin Chase said. “I knew what it would have meant for me to have watched a black Cinderella.” Martin Chase said she wanted to bring more girls of color to television so audiences could see themselves represented in those roles. “Producing is not easy for anybody, but I told myself that I would rather fail than say to myself, ‘If only I had taken my shot,’” Martin Chase said. “I just didn’t want to have any regrets.” Martin Chase emphasized perseverance in the film industry to an audience of majority radio-television-film students. “When I looked for movie ideas, I tried to find the universal in the specific,” Martin Chase said. “I looked for stories that would resonate with all people, because that’s what

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good movies are about.” Danielle Galvan, radio-television-film senior, attended the event at the Liberal Arts Building and said the movies Martin Chase produced have resonated with her, specifically because of the diversity in all of her stories. “I think that a lot of the stories that she’s been a part of putting out have represented different backgrounds of women and young women, and I really admire what she’s done,” Galvan said. Natasha Cosme, theater studies freshman, said she hopes to apply the insight that Martin Chase provided as a minority woman into her future career in the theater community. “The movies that she has produced have really shaped my childhood,” Cosme said. “Growing up as a young girl, looking up to the female (actresses) in her movies was really important to me.”

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science major, but I can see myself becoming active in government and advocating for stricter food regulations and, more generally, better nutrition policies.” The online application closes on April 15. Interested students must submit two letters of recommendation and try to find a sponsorship within their college to cover the $500 program fee. Thirty-five to 40 students are expected to be admitted to the program, which will run from May 31 to June 5.

LAURA HALLAS

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF @TEXANOPINION

TUESDAY, JANUARY 23, 2018

COLUMN

Austin is still a poor fit for Amazon headquarters By Ryan Young @oldryanyoung

senior columnist

The finalists are in. Amazon narrowed down the location of its future second headquarters to 20 cities. To nobody’s surprise, Austin made the shortlist. But Amazon won’t pick Austin. True, our city comes complete with a bustling business scene and, as columnist Liam Verses noted, easy access to sharp UT graduates. That’s why so many tech companies such as Apple have established offices here already. But Amazon is looking for something more: a progressive city that can provide quality urban amenities such as public transportation and cosmopolitan living. According to John Schoettler, Amazon real estate chief, “We look forward to cities that … are thinking forward and long-term in terms of affordable housing and mass transportation and being able to move people around.” Clearly, Schoettler isn’t describing Austin. Our public transportation is nonexistent, excepting those few brave souls on Capital Metro buses. Instead, we stew for hours in MoPac and I-35 traffic. Meanwhile, gentrification — somewhat driven by tech giants such as Amazon — continues to push longtime low-income Austinites out of central neighborhoods and erode Austin’s “weird” culture.

mel westfall | the daily texan staff

To picture the kind of city Amazon has in mind, just look at Seattle, where the company’s main headquarters is located. The bustling South Lake Union neighborhood where Amazon’s headquarters is located is served by a highly popular streetcar system. And Schoettler personally

appreciates the area’s “built environment” — walkable and dense — which allows him to “know the neighborhood” and immerse himself in Seattle’s diversity. Compare that to an Austin-style tech campus located way the hell out past Loop 360, where the only transit is driving and the sole

sign of life are the food trucks in the parking lot at lunch hour. Austin simply doesn’t hold a candle to other contenders with big-city credentials, such as Los Angeles, Chicago and Philadelphia. If Austinites were so inclined, we could transform Austin into a more vibrant city, but that doesn’t seem to be our priority. When urban rail was on the ballot in 2014, planners picked a route that was easy to build on but had tepid demand. Unsurprisingly, the measure lost. And while the city’s CodeNEXT effort promises to increase affordability by easing burdensome zoning regulations, activists and homeowners have fought the process every step of the way — and on the other side, area architects now say the plan doesn’t go far enough. Austin, for better or for worse, seems content to stay a sprawling Texas suburb forever. That lends our city much of its charm, but it also holds it back from being a more cosmopolitan, inclusive place to live — where driving isn’t the only option, the streets are vibrant public spaces and our city’s cultural diversity is celebrated front and center. So if you were worried Amazon was about to obliterate Austin’s last shred of weirdness, then fear not. Expect Amazon to pass up our quirky little Texas town and pack its bags for the big city. Young is a computer science senior from Bakersfield, California.

COLUMN

McCombs recommended grading guidelines limit student success By James Treuthardt @jamestreuthardt

columnist

The McCombs School of Business’ current recommended grading guidelines prevents student success in classes. The recommended grading guidelines suggests that core business courses should have an average GPA of 3.0 to 3.2. David Platt, the Associate Dean for Undergraduate Programs at McCombs, said that they created this recommendation a few years ago to account for wildly varying course GPA averages between different sections of the same class. When Dean Platt brought this issue to the McCombs Undergraduate Programs Committee, they found most BBA McCombs Core Courses fell in the 3.0–3.2 grading range, and created their recommendation to match that average. According to Dean Platt, many top undergraduate businesses schools follow a similar guideline, but McCombs guidelines are

unusual among UT colleges. While not required policy, the recommended grading guidelines are so widely adopted by McCombs professors that the recommendations have become de facto policy. One need only look at grade distributions of BBA core classes to see the effect the recommendation has had. In his own classes, Dean Platt strives to fit that recommendation. “I aim for grade results that naturally fall in that range,” Dean Platt said. “But if I miss then I will curve as needed.” While few students will complain about a curve, problems are created when professors class averages fall too high. The recommendation advocates for curving grades up if too low and lowering students grades through tougher assignments if they’re too high, therefore limiting the amount of students who can succeed in the course. The better students do in the course, the harder the course must become. Dean Platt notes that classes follow this recommendation “unless circumstances of a specific class warrant a different outcome,” but

those circumstances are not made clear in the guidelines communicated to students. While it is logical to want to ensure that students in different sections of the same course do not have vastly different grade outcomes, the execution of this recommendation seems extreme.

While few students will complain about a curve, problems are created when professors’ class averages fall too high.” In one of my own classes, our first exam average was far above the recommendations prescribed by McCombs. Our professor told us in class that the exam was too easy and the next exam needed to be a lot harder to make sure our grades were not “too high.”

COLUMN

The adjustment felt clear. Our first exam had an A- average. The second had a D+ average. There are countless anecdotes that testify to similar experiences. It’s an open secret that if grades are too high, professors will have to do something to correct that. Even if that means harming students who could have done far better in the course. “It’s something every McCombs student knows is gonna happen at least once or twice throughout their career in the school,” Garza said. “But there’s not much to be done about it.” Rather than encouraging students to succeed in mastery of the course, the recommendation encourages them to succeed relative to everyone else, regardless of whether or not they fully learn the material. Instead of focusing on making sure that grades fall within a very specific 3.0–3.2 GPA range, McCombs needs to re-prioritize and aim for an option where all students can succeed and master the material. Treuthardt is a marketing and journalism sophomore from Allen.

COLUMN

Facebook’s policy reform could The model minority myth is detrimental to Asian-Americans cause as much harm as good By Jacob Kunz @kunzjacob

guest columnist

How does Mark Zuckerberg plan to fix Facebook in 2018? It seems the first step is a little less news in your news feed. In a post on Jan. 11, Zuckerberg detailed an outline of things to come for the social media giant, opting for a shift in Facebook’s algorithm away from “public content” — media outlets and businesses — and instead focusing on posts from friends and family above all else. This response comes from blame Facebook received for perpetuating the spread of misinformed or deliberately misleading articles after replacing a human curation team with an algorithm to bring popular content to users. In creating an algorithm that prioritizes the amount of time a user

“Facebook’s algorithm has been mired in confusion and misinformation since its very beginning, and will continue to be an issue...” engages with the platform to maximize advertising revenue, Facebook’s disastrous system devalued balanced journalism and promoted clickbait articles and fake news. While this is a step in the right direction for the site at the cost of potential

revenue, it’s hardly atonement for how the platform has shifted digital content creation. Facebook’s attempt to reduce public content hinders journalists and spells disaster for students and prospective content creators looking for a wide audience online. With this new policy shift, Facebook largely aims to promote publishers that post longer, well-produced videos and articles with less frequency, which will hurt those who aim for viral success with live videos and short clips. Meanwhile, the readjustment hardly affects large publishing companies that can afford professional production and distribution. “Since we don’t rely on Facebook for a lot of distribution, the changes may not be all bad,” said Raju Narisetti, CEO of Gizmodo Media Group, in an interview. “But it should be the final kiss of death for those pivoting to video betting on getting video views via Facebook.” For smaller production groups, startups, or even successful digital publications such as Buzzfeed and Vice, Facebook will be abandoning a creator base it formed. The change will rob the traffic of short-form video and article production, a format that Facebook’s previous algorithm popularized. Facebook’s algorithm has been mired in confusion and misinformation since its very beginning, and will continue to be an issue no matter how many tweaks they make to the system. The platform needs to revert back to a human team to make precise, weighted decisions on what to allow and promote on the site. For years, Zuckerberg has stated that Facebook is “a tech company, not a media company.” But he couldn’t be more wrong. Facebook is responsible for more than 40 percent of traffic to news sites, and any editorial choices the platform makes has vast repercussions on the media landscape. Now, more than ever, we must hold Facebook accountable for more than just broad strokes. Kunz is an English freshman from New Braunfels.

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.

By Caleb Wong @calebawong

senior columnist

“You’re so smart — and good at math. Which college are you going to?” Well-meaning people lob these seemingly positive assumptions at Asian-Americans. The widespread “model minority myth” suggests that Asian-Americans are monolithically successful. After a lifetime of these comments, I began to think that my own success came from my Asian-American background. I was wrong. The model minority is defined by positive stereotypes that suggest Asian-Americans are culturally more likely to be successful. I thought that accepting the pressure to succeed made me a more successful person. However, these positive stereotypes, which attribute “benevolent” characteristics to a group, hurt people they claim to uplift. They can cement the idea that these differences arise from fundamental traits about the group. And when outsiders make sweeping generalizations about a particular group, the door is also opened to negative stereotypes about the group. Well-known academics such as Amy Chua and Jed Rubenfeld have argued that Asian-Americans’ hyperfocus on academic performance from the model minority myth “creates one of the most liberating and productive places a person can inhabit.” Their assertion isn’t entirely true. While some studies show that emphasizing positive ethnic stereotypes could increase performance, doing so can also cause “choking under pressure,” diminishing academic outcomes and placing undue stress on students. However, this pressure to perform can undoubtedly lead to depression and anxiety. Societal and family pressures make many Asian-American students feel like they have to represent their race — that their failure is the group’s failure. They deserve better. Beyond the sense of self, the model minority myth looks past the poverty that can affect Asian-American students and their families. Asian-Americans are not a monolithic group that uniformly attends college and gets

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geo casillas | the daily texan staff high-paying jobs. Research from the Pew Research Center shows that Southeast Asian groups like the Hmong and the Burmese in particular tend to have lower incomes and experience higher rates of poverty than the general population. Yet many Southeast Asian students on UT’s campus are saddled with the mirage of success that belies challenges facing their communities. “The reality of the Asian-American is that there are hundreds of Asian-Americans who are low-income,” said Milla Lubis, a social work and psychology senior. “The whole minority myth not only plays out on college campuses, but also the whole world that pretends microaggressions and discrimination does not exist.” Positive stereotypes bind Asian-Americans as captives of their particular race — and for some Asian-Americans, that’s good enough. I wish them happiness. But for my peers who choose a different path as the captains of their own destiny, I wish them success on their own terms. Wong is a government and Plan II junior from McKinney.

RECYCLE | Please recycle this copy of The Daily Texan. Place the paper in one of the recycling bins on campus or back in the burnt-orange newsstand where you found it. EDITORIAL TWITTER | Follow The Daily Texan Editorial Board on Twitter (@TexanOpinion) and receive updates on our latest editorials and columns.

TUESDAY, JANUARY 23, 2018

‘EARTHTONES’

BAHAMAS

continues from page 8 of folk, but rarely strayed far. On his newest album, Earthtones, Jurvanen debuts a more funky, bluesy sound resulting in an enjoyable modern folk blues album. In recent interviews, Jurvanen revealed many of Earthtone’s songs concern unsatisfactory relationships. Setting the tone of the album, the first track, “Alone” uses a dramatic entrance with a pulsing keyboard. As Jurvanen softly sings, he follows with calming, layered rhythmic vocals. As the song builds to its finish, the repeated lyric, “Yes men and women equal, but we’re not the same” encompasses frustrations, conflicts and struggles two lovers may face, saying there might be some things they can never agree on. “Bad Boys Need Love Too” sustains the focus on relationships, addressing “all the deadbeat dads” as Jurvanen runs through a list of grievances he has with his own father. The slow and heavy blues-influenced song is a breath of fresh air from the repetitiveness of the previous songs and features one of the better guitar solos on the album. Jurvanen shifts gears with doo-wop vocals, and upbeat clapping rhythm takes over with the next song titled “Opening Act (The Shooby Doo Song).” The groovy melody and claps make it easy to snap and swing to the beat while singing along to the yelling chorus. This swing rhythm appears on much of the album but after a while loses its luster, and it’s only occasionally saved by poetic lyrics and the occasional guitar solo like the one at the end of “No Expectation.”

ARTIST: Bahamas GENRE: Folk SCORE: Another one of the project’s stand out songs is “So Free.” Running just over seven minutes, it’s a soulful, head-bobbing cry of frustration, capturing the essence of feeling stuck in life. Jurvanen’s lyric, “I don’t think that I can make a difference,” hits this feeling at its core, with its drawn-out, pleading tone. With the next song, “No Depression,” Jurvanen discusses his own battle with depression through a light-hearted, groovy song. The easy-going instrumentals clearly make it easier for Jurvanen to discuss difficult subject matter, helping explain his emotions. With this in mind, you feel much better singing about mental illness to an upbeat tone. Ending Earthtones on an impactful note with the deeply soulful, nostalgic tune “Anyplace,” Jurvanen uses a deep voice and somber tone to discuss better times and his never-ending search for an escape from his problems. “Anyplace” truly embodies the mood of the album. Behind the swinging rhythms, upbeat background vocals and guitar solos found throughout the album is an artist exposing some of the deepest feelings of doubt, loss and struggle that many of us might face one day. Earthtones may feel repetitive, but after you listen to it a few times through, the monotonous melodies become catchy. As a result, Bahamas’ latest project is a worthwhile listen, showing that the oneman show isn’t just a onetrick pony.

MOVEMENT

continues from page 8 that while last year’s march felt hopeful, this year’s felt more like a “warrior” call to action. “Now the tone is much more serious,” Bateman said. “Shit’s gettin’ real, the party is over and it’s time to get down to business.” According to Bateman, last year’s women’s march kicked off the year of reckoning in which women’s voices finally seemed to be heard. “We were all waiting to see what would happen,” Bateman said. “That momentum was built, and I don’t know if the #MeToo movement would have happened if the women’s march hadn’t.” This sentiment was shared by Barbara Hines, adjunct professor in the School of Law and a marcher, who said the events of the past year have inspired women to take action. “I think that there is more space for women,” Hines said. “More women have been elected, more women are running for office and there is more awareness about sexual assault, so out of this terrible

MOVIES

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environment that’s one of the positive things.” Hines wasn’t the only university faculty member present at the march. Marti Kennedy, a women’s studies professor, was also in attendance. Kennedy is a founding member of the Texas Handmaids, an activism group that dresses as characters from

the novel and television series “The Handmaid’s Tale.” Kennedy, who led this year’s women’s march, recalled a promise she made to herself in 1987 that she would never give up on women’s rights, and encourages other women to do the same until real progress is made.

“I said, ‘I will never quit.’ When I’m an old, gray-haired grandma, I’m gonna be in a wheelchair, in front of the march with a banner, shouting,” Kennedy said. “Here I am. That was 31 years ago and here I am — except we’re still fighting for the same issues.”

doubts, shortcomings and bad blood to save the universe from annihilation. “Avengers: Infinity War” features the largest cast of any Marvel movie yet, with Robert Downey Jr., Chris Evans, Mark Ruffalo, Chris Hemsworth, Scarlett Johansson, Chris Pratt, Tom Holland, Chadwick Boseman and Benedict Cumberbatch among many, many others.

newcomer Cable (Josh Brolin), a time-traveling mutant who is in many ways the opposite of Deadpool himself.

the eco-friendly message of “The Lost World: Jurassic Park” as Owen Grady (Chris Pratt) and Claire Dearing (Bryce Dallas Howard) return to Isla Nublar to save the dinosaurs from an impending volcanic eruption. It will be intriguing to see how director J.A. Bayona (“The Orphanage,” “A Monster Calls”) shapes the future of the “Jurassic” universe with his horror sensibilities.

‘Deadpool 2’ - May 18 copyright marvel studios, and reproduced with permission

‘Avengers: Infinity War’ May 4

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anothony mireles| the daily texan staff Jennifer Bateman bangs on a drum with homemade decorations in support of Woman’s reproductive rights during the Roe v. Wade rally this past Saturday at the Texas Capitol.

The end of Marvel as we know it begins here. As Thanos (Josh Brolin) mounts a campaign to gather the Infinity Stones and wipe out the superheroes who stand in his way, the fractured Avengers and the Guardians of the Galaxy must overcome their

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The Merc with a Mouth gets his second go-around in “Deadpool 2.” Little is known about the movie, thanks to its irreverently uninformative trailers and plot synopsis, but Ryan Reynolds will certainly deliver once again with a lovable, fourth wall-breaking performance. Expect some extra action spice from David Leitch, who co-directed “John Wick” and directed “Atomic Blonde,” and prepare yourself for

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‘Aquaman’ - Dec. 21

When will people stop getting in deep trouble with dinosaurs? The “Jurassic Park” franchise resurrects

Feel the power of the sea in Aquaman’s (Jason Momoa) first solo outing on the big screen. After becoming a hero in “Justice League,” he now takes on the role of Atlantis’ super-powered protector. Along the way, he must battle the Black Manta (Yahya Abdul-Mateen II) and the Ocean Master (Patrick Wilson). Director James Wan, who has shown his action chops with “Furious 7,” will bring a creative eye to DC’s continued comeback.

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TUESDAY, JANUARY 23, 2018

FOOTBALL

New DKR student structure was a long time coming Lack of student turnouts addressed by Student Government, Athletic Department. By Alex Briseño @alexxbriseno

ll it took was a time lapse of Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium on Oct. 21 to realize there was a significant issue. Brad Wolff, the assistant director of Student Government’s Longhorn Athletic Agency, distinctly remembers making a trip up to the operations booth in the stadium that day during Texas’ game against Oklahoma State. That was the first time he fully understood just how big of a problem student seating at football games was. He watched a side-by-side time lapse of the student section. What should have been an electric atmosphere for the Longhorns’ matchup with then-No. 10 Oklahoma State turned into anything but. What Wolff saw from the operations booth made one thing clear: something needed to change — and sooner rather than later. As 11 a.m. struck and the game began, sections in the lower northeast corner, where hundreds of students usually reside, revealed gaping holes of empty seats. “It was the 10th-ranked team,” Wolff said. “At the same time, we had concerns about that early kickoff, but analyzing that data on my end, we ultimately realized it didn’t really matter what time kickoff was — that students weren’t showing up regardless.” Texas lost to the Cowboys that day in overtime, 13-10, which was perhaps the most heart-wrenching loss in a season that had plenty of them. But the overtime loss wasn’t the only thing Texas head coach Tom Herman was asked about during his weekly press conference the following Monday.

anthony mireles | the daily texan file The student sections of Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium were noticeably more empty this past season. New changes to the seating policy hope to fix that. He was also asked about the largely empty student section. “I was disappointed,” Herman said. “We’ve got to win. Everybody loves a winner. So some of that is on us. I was disappointed that we had performed to the point where the students had that kind of apathy for it.” That even came after Texas football’s seemingly immediate changes upon Herman’s arrival in Austin which focused on an increase in student interaction, such as the student appreciation practice held last spring. “We even, the first couple games, tried to do a little ‘swag surf’ with (the students) as we left the field. That wasn’t as big a hit as I thought it would be,” Herman said. “And so, we got to do better. The marketing and fan engagement, student engagement people need to do better. I need to do better, we all

need to do better and the students need to do better.” But Herman wasn’t the only person on the sideline who noticed the lacking student attendance against Oklahoma State. “Yeah, it sucks. But that’s their decision,” junior linebacker Malik Jefferson said the following week. “I guess (the students) had better things to do, and I’m not gonna point fingers or be mad at them. It’s their life, it’s their choice. They do whatever they want.” Although the student section eventually appeared to fill in a bit more against Oklahoma State, it wasn’t until later in the game. But before the lacking student attendance on that October day, there was the season opener against Maryland on Sept. 2. The student section experienced a plethora of issues during that game

due to overcrowding in certain sections in the northeast corner. This led to the installation of a new wristband policy, which remained in place for the rest of the season. It required students in sections 26–28 to pick up special wristbands at Mike A. Myers Stadium across the street before entering the football game. It also forced people who didn’t have a wristband to remain in their respective section. Brooke Daily, who graduated from UT in December with a degree in youth and community studies, experienced the wristband policy and tougher seating enforcement up close. “Security (was) checking wristband colors, literally walking up and down the rows in the middle of the game,” Daily said. “And they (made) them move immediately, even standing there to watch

them move. It was the third quarter and no one was around, and I watched a guy make a group of four move over all of about 10 feet to the right section.” Wolff and other members of SG began meeting with former athletic director Mike Perrin during the season on a possible solution for the student seating issues, including a move to general admission. Wolff said they met throughout the semester, but the push for general admission was nothing new for Perrin. “The idea of general admission was raised with me almost two years ago,” Perrin said. “We had already begun renewals of season tickets when it was first brought to my attention by Student Government leaders, and it was simply too late to make changes for that season.” On Jan. 11, however, Texas Athletics announced that not only was there an end to the wristband policy, but that there will be a contiguous, general admission student section in the lower southeast corner and south end zone starting next season. “We will hope that the seating changes will create a more energetic atmosphere in the stadium,” Perrin said. “ … If the students are energized and the music is reverberating around the stadium, it just creates a much more enjoyable fan experience.” The new policy will create a first-come, first-serve system, meaning the students who show up earliest will be rewarded by getting the seat of their choice. It isn’t a guarantee that a stronger student section will result, but it won’t force students to pick up a wristband, and it will allow students to sit wherever and with whoever they want. This new seating structure has been several years in the making, but Perrin said he keeps a list of things he thinks about working on — and this issue had remained on the list until he got it done. “I think it’s important that the students know that Mr. Perrin, knowing that he’s retiring this year, is still willing to speak to students all year,” Wolff said, “and was willing to really make this change no matter what it took.”

MEN’S BASKETBALL

Bamba, Texas bounce back to rock Cyclones, 73-57 By Steve Helwick @s_helwick

Less than two minutes into the game, junior guard Kerwin Roach II pulled up from beyond the arc at the Frank Erwin Center. Bucket. Then he launched another triple. Bucket. His next two threes? Both buckets. Roach’s offensive surge has given the Longhorns a spark in both of the past two home games now. On Monday night, Roach bolstered Texas’ 73-57 win over Iowa State. Entering the matchup as a 29.5 percent 3-point shooter, Roach’s immaculate 4-of-4 shooting from deep in the first half lifted Texas to one of its best offensive showings of the season. Surprisingly, Roach’s recent breakthrough simultaneously lines up with his return from a fractured left hand. “I’m a junior, so I’ve been playing the game for a while,” Roach said. “Just being out just burned that fire into me. The time I spent off, I did a lot of form shooting and got my mechanics together — just slowed down and took my time during my shots.”

The junior guard tied his career high with 22 points, but Texas was blessed with a second star on the offensive end — Mo Bamba. The freshman forward splashed onto the scene Monday by sinking a spot-up three and slamming multiple authoritative dunks over the Cyclones’ defense. Bamba posted a career-high 24 points, 12 rebounds and three blocks in his strongest game at Texas. “His motor has really improved,” head coach Shaka Smart said. “He’s really responded better and quicker, when before, it just took him longer. I thought tonight was about as clean of a game as he’s played in terms of efficiency.” Iowa State’s offense gathered some momentum in the second half and managed to strike as close as six points. But before the Cyclones could turn the corner, Bamba’s scoring swung the game back in the Longhorns’ favor. The future lottery pick nailed 9-of-11 shots on the night and refused to allow any easy baskets on the defensive end. Texas relied on its defense in the closing moments. The Longhorns didn’t score a single point from the 6:24 mark until just 1:03 remained in the game. But the Cyclones hit a skid of

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anthony mireles | the daily texan staff Freshman forward Mo Bamba shows off a soft touch in Texas’ 73-57 victory over Iowa State on Monday night. their own, going scoreless over the last four minutes and 10 seconds. The final buzzer concluded a rare wire-to-wire Big 12 victory for Texas — good for a third-straight home win. “We tried to go small the last couple minutes, and I don’t know if that was a factor with our rhythm because we don’t play that a lot,” Iowa State head coach Steve Prohm said. “We

were going to try to go small and see if we could cause some problems for them down the stretch. It wasn’t good for us.” Both teams in this Big 12 clash fared very differently in their games this past Saturday. Texas suffered a 35-point demolition to a talented West Virginia team, while Iowa State breezed past then-No. 8 Texas Tech, 70-52. But the Longhorns

and Cyclones trended in opposite directions when battling Monday night. “It was a quick turnaround, but at the same time, we had to go into self-reflection mode and build off of what we could do better,” Bamba said. “Our motto coming into this was ‘somebody has to pay for it,’ and unfortunately for Iowa State it was them. The league is

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very competitive, and you definitely don’t want to go on a losing streak.” Texas (13–7, 4–4 Big 12) hasn’t won consecutive games since mid-December. The Longhorns will get the opportunity to do so on their own hardwood on Saturday when they host a 10–9 Ole Miss squad in the Big 12/SEC Challenge.

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JANUARY 23, 2018

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TUESDAY, JANUARY 23, 2018

WOMEN’S MARCH

Marchers multiply as concerns grow stronger Protesters reflect on their experiences in the year of #MeToo. By Collyn Burke @_collyn_

angelo ulloa | the daily texan staff A group of supporters at the Women’s March cheer during Jolt Texas’ Daniela Rojas’ speech on Saturday afternoon at the Capitol. This year’s Women’s March highlighted current issues relating to women’s rights and the movements that have broken out regarding sexual assault this past year.

year ago, hopeful marchers filled the streets of Austin donning pink “pussy hats,” determined to show the newly elected president they wouldn’t be so easily subdued. This year, marchers returned to the streets to demonstrate the same message: The fight is still not over. On Saturday, Austin hosted a myriad of protests, which included an impeachment rally, a women’s march and a celebration of the 45th anniversary of the

ALBUM REVIEW | ‘EARTHTONES’

Roe v. Wade court case. Among the protesters were those coming together to vocalize their support for women’s rights in the aftermath of the #MeToo campaign, a social media movement in which both men and women shared their sexual assault stories. Mayor Steve Adler, who was present among the protesters, noted that the past year has been a transformative one for the country, and while it still has a long way to go in terms of women’s rights, events such as the march help blaze the trail. “I just think this is a really important time for people and communities to stand up,” Adler said. “I think that’s especially important for communities like Austin. Our culture and our values and our example are critically needed

right now.” Erin Eggleston, international relations senior, said she believes that many people came out to the march simply because they were angry with what was happening around them. “We’ve seen so many women come out with sexual assault stories,” Eggleston said. “People are just angry about what is going on and feel a need to be with a community that is accepting of them, especially at a time when it’s easy to feel like they’re being attacked.” Jennifer Bateman, an Austin-based actor and advocate, said she came out to the march with a drum because she was angry and just wanted to hit something. Bateman also said

MOVEMENT page 5

MOVIES

Bahamas finds unique way to channel blues in new album By Ruben Paquian @rubenpaq

Songs about depression, changing times and nostalgic self-reflection aren’t usually paired with upbeat rhythms and funky guitar riffs, but that’s exactly what Toronto-based singer-songwriter Afie Jurvanen pulls off in his fourth Bahamas LP, Earthtones. Using the stage name Bahamas, Jurvanen made his debut in 2009 with Pink Strat, an album that held to traditional folk and alternative country roots. Throughout his career, the 27-year-old Canadian musician has fluctuated between more experimental variations

BAHAMAS page 5

copyright marvel studios, and reproduced with permission Chadwick Boseman stars in director Ryan Coogler’s “Black Panther,” which is set to take the Marvel world by storm when it hits the big screen next month.

copyright brushfire records, and reproduced with permission Afie Jurvanen, who performs under the stage name ‘Bahamas,’ recently released a new album entitled Earthtones.

The Daily Texan’s most anticipated movies of 2018 film’s heroes — a trio of precocious kids — may end up being the picture’s shining elements with talented youngsters Storm Reid, Levi Miller and Deric McCabe at the helm.

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2017 had some heavy hitters at the box office, but 2018 promises to be even more jam-packed with superheroes and sequels — for better or for worse. To help you navigate the busy film roster of 2018, The Daily Texan has compiled a list of this year’s most anticipated movies.

‘Black Panther’ - Feb. 16

The revolution will be live when Marvel’s Black Panther finally takes the reins of his own movie. Starring Chadwick Boseman as the honorable but formidable superhero king, “Black Panther” will be a unique, socially aware addition to its genre thanks to its depiction of a highly advanced African nation and its apparent rejection of imperialism. Its director, Ryan Coogler, will be the first African-American filmmaker to helm a Marvel project.

‘Isle of Dogs’ - March 23

‘A Wrinkle in Time’ - March 9

Madeleine L’Engle’s classic science fantasy novel gets a modern update this March. “A Wrinkle in Time” is a blockbuster powered by women: Ava DuVernay (“Selma”) directs a screenplay by Jennifer Lee (“Frozen”), while Oprah Winfrey leads the cast as the supernatural Mrs. Which. The

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Texas Student Media is seeking students for its Board of Operating Trustees. Positions are available for students in the Moody College of Communication and for other majors as well. Visit texasstudentmedia.com to download an application. Board members will be chosen in the upcoming campuswide elections. The terms of office run through May 2020. The application deadline is Monday, January 29 at 12:00pm.

UT alumnus Wes Anderson’s quirky imagination takes us to an island where dogs stricken by the “canine flu” have been abandoned. When a Japanese boy, Atari (Koyu Rankin), arrives on the Isle of Dogs to search for his beloved dog, Spots, a group of heroic canines led by Chief (Bryan Cranston) vows to help him. Anderson’s cinematic sensibilities once again find their home in the stop-motion format, and his ensemble cast, rounded out by Edward Norton and Bill Murray, will be a force to be reckoned with.

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