SERVING THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT AUSTIN COMMUNITY SINCE 1900 @THEDAILYTEXAN | THEDAILYTEXAN.COM
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 1, 2018
VOLUME 118, ISSUE 93
N E WS
O PI N I O N
LI FE&A RTS
SPORTS
Men describe difficulties and new experiences when working in female-dominated fields. PAGE 2
Thoughts on West Campus crime and how to survive flu season. PAGE 4
Waller Creek’s recovery is underway, but the project may lead to severe consequences. PAGE 8
Doug Ghim kicks off his last season with Texas on Thursday in Hawaii. PAGE 6
WORLD
UT-France endowment honors late professor French ambassador to the U.S. signed Cécile DeWitt-Morette fund. By Maria Mendez @mellow_maria
W
ith a visit from the French ambassador and the creation of an endowment, UT commemorated its ties to France while ensuring future international academic collaboration. Gerard Araud, the French ambassador to the U.S., signed the Cécile DeWitt-Morette France-UT Endowed Excellence Fund with UT President Gregory Fenves during a Wednesday ceremony. The endowment honors the life of French physicist and UT professor Cécile DeWitt-Morette by promoting collaboration between the UT community and French universities. “We’re here to solidify a partnership that’s been built on many years, decades of collaboration between the University and the people of France,” Fenves said during the ceremony. “The fund is named after one of the most iconic UT professors, Cecile DeWitt-Morette.” DeWitt-Morette taught astronomy and physics at UT, but she also established a high-level physics summer school, L’École de Physique des Houches, in France. DeWitt-Morette’s summer school is world-renowned for producing more than 20 Nobel laureates. “Her legacy is a reflection of what is possible when people from across the world come together, open their minds and boldly work together,” Fenves said. Before her death in May 2017,
juan figueroa | the daily texan staff Chris DeWitt, center, watches as UT President Gregory Fenves, left, and Gerard Araud, the French ambassador to the U.S, exchange gifts after signing a UT-France endownment in honor of DeWitt’s mother and deceased UT professor Cécile DeWitt-Morette DeWitt-Morette and her family hoped to establish a fund that would ensure collaboration between French scholars and UT. Chris DeWitt, DeWitt-Morette’s daughter, said her mother was passionate about helping her students both at UT and in France. “She was French and American and
(the endowment) will really enrich the cooperation between France and Texas, which she very much was (a part of),” Chris Dewitt said. The endowment was finalized in the summer, but Araud visited UT on Wednesday to sign the agreement and encourage U.S. and French collabo-
ration on global issues. During a talk at the LBJ School for Public Affairs, Araud said political collaboration between the U.S. and France is important because both countries are affected by issues such as secularism, the rise of populism and climate change. Despite President Trump’s
CITY STATE
Colleges talk free speech at Senate hearing By Meara Isenberg @mearaannee
Last November, masked men bearing torches gathered on UT’s main mall, breaking multiple free speech codes, including one prohibited items policy that was implemented just a day before. The men were quickly escorted off campus, but the incident joined others across the state. As the conversation around free speech on college campuses has grown, Sharphorn and five other representatives from Texas schools convened at a Texas Senate Committee on State Affairs meeting Wednesday to compare and contrast policies and possible improvements. “One of the changes that UT-Austin made recently was to update the list of items that were prohibited at protests,” said Dan Sharphorn, UT System Vice Chancellor. “(This includes) sticks, poles, clubs, helmets, body armor, open flames and masks that may obstruct law enforcement.” The meeting, held at Texas State University, was a response to Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick’s request for the Senate to look into possible infringements on free speech rights on college campuses. Patrick made the request after State Rep. Briscoe Cain’s, R-Deer Park, canceled speech at Texas
FREE SPEECH page 2
decision to pull the U.S. out of the Paris Climate Accords, Araud said universities such as UT hold the key for collaboration and finding solutions. “Environmental issues are an important focus for the French govern ment,” Araud said during the
ENDOWMENT page 2
NATION
SafeHorns program helps homeless By Anna Lassmann @annalassmann
Last Thursday, SafeHorns attended the first stakeholder meeting about a potential program to give panhandlers and the homeless a second chance. Austin residents could give feedback on the Residents in Search of Empowerment ATX pilot program, which would be led by Austin City Council member Ellen Troxclair. The pilot program focuses on a partnership between the city and nonprofits that would conduct mobile outreach to panhandlers and the homeless by offering them cash for day labor jobs such as beautification projects, a press release said. RISE ATX was inspired by There’s a Better Way, a similar program in Albuquerque, New Mexico. “With the rise of homelessness and panhandling in Austin in recent years, this
proven, effective program offers the dignity and empowerment of work,” Troxclair said in a press release. “They’ll be offered work, given a sack lunch, have cash in their pockets at the end of the day and get connected with services and organizations that can help get them back on their feet. This is one way we can give them a hand up, not a hand out.” SafeHorns, a nonprofit advocating for safety on and around the UT campus, is advocating for RISE ATX with hopes to get part of the pilot program implemented in West Campus. SafeHorns Vice President Joell McNew said there is a huge concern about the transient and homeless population in West Campus and their effects on student safety. “Ideally, what would be great is that rather than soliciting students, (the homeless) went out and would be
SAFEHORNS page 2
victoria smith | the daily texan staff
Record amount of LGBTQ candidates to run in 2018 By Sami Sparber @samisparber
At least 49 openly LGBTQ Texans are running for public office this year, each vying for spots at the federal, state and local levels. The turnout is unprecedented — roughly three times higher than any previous election cycle in Texas — according to OutSmart, a Houston LGBTQ magazine. In light of last legislative session’s Senate Bill 6, or the Texas “bathroom bill,” which would have prevented transgender individuals from using their preferred choice of bathroom in most public spaces, jeb milling | the daily texan staff
and the Trump administration’s proposal to ban transgender people from serving in the military, some experts said members of the LGBTQ community feel threatened, and, consequently, motivated to create change. “It makes perfect sense,” government professor Sean Theriault said. “People are feeling like they’re under attack, so they’re using their voices and mobilizing. When other people see that, they mobilize too. There’s a mobilization snowball effect happening.” The phenomenon isn’t just occurring in Texas, but Theriault said he suspects the state’s culture and political past have created a sweet spot for change.
The pool of LGBTQ candidates includes two for governor, one for Texas Supreme Court, three for Texas Senate, 11 for Texas House, eight for Congress and one for Austin City Council, Out Smart reported. These candidates include Dallas natives Jeffrey Payne and Lupe Valdez, who are both running for governor. Come March, they will face off in the Democratic gubernatorial primary. Jensen Soderlund, president of UT’s chapter of Texas Rising, a progressive nonpartisan political group, said electing more LGBTQ people
CANDIDATES page 2