SERVING THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT AUSTIN COMMUNITY SINCE 1900 @THEDAILYTEXAN | THEDAILYTEXAN.COM
THURSDAY, MARCH 22, 2018
VOLUME 118, ISSUE 123
N E WS
O PI N I O N
LI FE&A RTS
SPORTS
Female students outnumber female faculty members on campus. PAGE 3
Thoughts on representation on Spotify and data collection online. PAGE 4
Mental health column discusses techniques to help conquer social anxiety. PAGE 8
Senior Paige von Sprecken pitches a shutout as Texas defeats No. 25 Texas State, 3-0. PAGE 6
UNIVERSITY
UT remains on high alert after bombing suspect’s death
COUNTY
Wait times hindering student voters Voting Center Waiting Times Average wait times on March 6, Primary Election Day Flawn Academic Center
Travis County Average
42
3
By Brianna Stone @bristone19
Although the suspected Austin serial bomber is dead, UT will remain on high alert in regard to campus safety and security in the following weeks. Over the last couple of weeks, four explosions have shaken Austin, leaving two dead and four injured, with one explosion outside of San Antonio injuring one. Suspect Mark A. Conditt of Pflugerville, 23, was killed Wednesday morning when he detonated a bomb in his car as police closed in on him. Despite the suspect being dead, UT is not letting its guard down. “If you see something, say something,” UT Police Department Chief David Carter said. “We know that the potential bomber blew up, but it’s very important for people to understand that does not eliminate all threats.” Carter said UTPD is working hard to ensure the safety of UT, but the community has the responsibility to be vigilant. Throughout the bombings, Carter said UT was never under immediate threat. After the fourth explosion
minutes
minutes
Randalls in Lakeway, Texas
0
minutes
Travis County has 155 total polling locations Half of polling locations had a wait time close to one minute or less
SOURCE: Travis County Elections Office
Election day lines and wait times may be discouraging student voting. By Chase Karacostas @chasekaracostas
O
n primary election day earlier this month, the average wait time for the Flawn Academic Center polling booth was 42 minutes — 14 times longer than the average for all of Travis County. This number is based off of data taken from each of Travis County’s polling location 36 times on election day, March 6. The wait time at the FAC, which is typically the most convenient polling location for students and faculty, ranged from just a few minutes to more than two hours throughout the day. For some students, the FAC’s wait time meant going off campus to vote in order to avoid the line. Advertising junior Urub Khawaja and biomedical engineering senior Drew Fix both waited for more than 30 minutes at the FAC before giving up and driving to another voting center. However, Khawaja said not everyone, especially many college students, has the option of being able to drive off campus to vote.
“Often times, many people will discuss how they are frustrated with the government or things that are happening in the country, but they won’t go out and vote,” Khawaja said. “Having long lines is a problem because they won’t have a say because they’ll be discouraged from voting.” The next closest polling location to campus is at the intersection of 29th Street and Lamar Boulevard and had an average wait time of one minute on election day. However, there is no way to measure how many students chose this location, or others, to vote. Sherri Greenberg, public affairs professor who served as a state representative from 1991–2001, said people are easily deterred from voting — especially college students, who may need the time to study. “Voter turnout in Texas is abysmally, horribly low (already),” Greenberg said. “Long lines can certainly be discouraging not just for students but for the general population. … One way or the other, I would like to see a shorter wait time, but I’m not sure how to best accomplish that.” However, Greenberg said lacking proper identification, insufficient knowledge about elections and inclem-
VOTING page 2
mallika gandhi| the daily texan staff
SUSPECT page 3 SYSTEM
UNIVERSITY
UT System clarifies data on financial aid for tuition By Maria Mendez @mellow_maria
UT only covers the full tuition of roughly 60 percent of students from families earning $80,000 or less, University officials said after data from the UT System raised questions on Monday. During the Board of Regents meeting, at which the Board approved a 2 percent tuition increase, System leaders presented information that appeared to indicate UT used scholarships, grants and tuition waivers to cover 100 percent of the tuition and fees of all students with family incomes of $80,000 or less. “I am a UT-Austin grad and my family makes less than 80k and I one-hundred percent did not get my fees and tuition covered by the University,” UT alumnus Spenser Walters said on Twitter. As students on Twitter suspected after the information was reported, the data does not reflect the reality for all UT students from that income bracket. UT System spokesperson Karen Adler said the there was a “lack of explanation on the data.” The main explanation lacking in the reports was that the data was an average of how much financial aid students from families earning $80,000 or less
received in the 2015–2016 academic year. “This means there are students in this income category who receive financial aid that covers more than 100 percent of their tuition and there are students who receive financial aid that covers less than the full cost of tuition,” Adler said in an email.
Tuition Aid For how many students does UT cover tuition?
60%
of students from families earning $80,000 or less who filed a FAFSA in 2016–2017 academic year SOURCES: UT Offices of the Executive Vice President and Provost
The data also only took into account undergraduate students who qualified for resident tuition, filed a FAFSA or Texas Application for State Financial Aid, and enrolled in 12 or more credit hours in the 2015-2016 academic year. Joey Williams, communications director for the Office
of the Provost at UT, said in the 2016–2017 academic year UT used scholarships and grants to cover the tuition of more than 60 percent of students from families with an adjusted growth income of $80,000 or less and who filed a FAFSA. This percentage does not usually vary, Williams said. “The way (the data was) presented leads you to believe that all students that fall in that category get a fullride essentially,” Williams said. “That’s definitely not case. We don’t have a tuition promise that matches any income currently.” Walters, who graduated from UT in 2012, did not receive any grants, scholarships or tuition waivers until after his sophomore year, when he joined the Marine Corps Reserves. He said the misunderstanding disappointed him. “The statement suggests that UT picks up the bill for all students whose families make 80k or less per year,” Walters said in an email. “It is very misleading and makes it seem like they are doing more for their lower income students than they actually are.” But Walters said he still understands the need for the tuition increases, especially with the recent decline in state funding. “It doesn’t change how I feel about tuition going up,” Walters said in an email. “Universities have to have funding.”
victoria smith | the daily texan staff
TOWER Fellows Program gives adult professionals second chance By Sara Schleede @ saraschleede
Entrepreneurs, CEOs and other experienced professionals will be trading briefcases for backpacks under UT’s new TOWER Fellows Program. Now accepting applications for the 2018–2019 academic year, the nine-month program is for those transitioning into a new career path, developing an entrepreneurial venture or hoping to explore the next stage of their life. “(We want) to provide people
with an opportunity to immerse themselves in university life today and to take advantage of the wonderful instructional facilities and resources that the University has,” said Isabella Cunningham, faculty director for the program. The program seeks fellows with 20 to 30 years of professional experience, meaning middle-aged adults and older can live the college life, from sitting in lectures to enjoying Austin’s culture. “Why is university education limited to young adults now that people can often change careers, or when they’re in their 50s and
60s and have another 15 years of productive work?” said Amon Burton, an adjunct professor of law who attended a similar program at Stanford. The program will accept 25–30 fellows, who will have to pay a fee to enroll. Fellows will have access to UT’s 12,000 courses and all UT facilities and events but will not necessarily be seeking degrees. Cunningham said undergraduates and graduates can benefit from learning from older, experienced professionals and
FELLOWS page 2
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THURSDAY, MARCH 22, 2018
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express their views — political, religious, ideological or otherwise — and others can “choose not to listen.” Government professor Lucas Powe Jr., who teaches a class about the First Amendment,
said he believes UT is doing a fair job of allowing students to speak freely on campus. “All ideas should be expressed on college campuses — there should be no censorship whatsoever,” Powe said. “If
Distinguished Careers Institute and Harvard’s Advanced Leadership Initiative. Mickey D’Armi, director of marketing for Texas Executive Education at the McCombs School of Business, said UT is attractive because of its wide breadth of disciplines and Austin’s well-known cultivation of art and technology. “There are a lot of things we offer here that no one else has,” D’Armi said. “They want
to be somewhere exciting, somewhere growing.” Burton attended Stanford’s Distinguished Careers Institute in 2016 and took classes related to climate science. Burton returned to UT in the fall to teach Law and Ethics of Climate Change and Sustainability. Burton said the experience is also an opportunity to befriend individuals from diverse backgrounds, and he plans to
meet his cohorts once a year to catch up. “Normally what happens when you (turn) 60 is your circle of friends begins to narrow,” Burton said. “What happens in a program like this is you develop an entirely new community of individuals who are curious and interested in learning something new.” Burton said with advancements in technology and
constantly changing career paths, current students may find themselves wanting to participate in the program later to rethink their options. “It’s not just for people today who are in their 50s,” Burton said. “It’s important for current students because the world is changing so rapidly that they will likely have different careers. The University needs to be involved in this changing environment.”
@mearaanee
According to a survey published this month by the Gallup-Knight Foundation, the number of U.S. college students who feel their campus climate inhibits freedom of speech may be on the rise. Out of more than 3,000 U.S. college students surveyed, 61 percent agreed their campus climate prevents people from speaking freely because others may find their opinions offensive, an increase from 54 percent in a 2016 survey. Sara Kennedy, director of strategic and executive communications, said at UT, the entire campus allows freedom of speech for faculty, staff and students, as long as it does not interfere with student learning. “We don’t limit free speech,” Kennedy said. “Our students are free to demonstrate in any common area on campus. The only limits are about the essential functions of the University, and the primary function of our University is teaching. Teaching,
Podcast Technical Producer Dani Matias
Video Editor Thomas Negrete
research and other official functions at the University will have priority in allocating the use of space on campus.” According to UT’s general information guide, faculty and staff of the University are free to
students and faculty can’t tolerate an idea, they don’t have to be there.” While Saurabh Sharma, biochemistry junior and chairman-elect of Young Conservatives of Texas, said UT does not actively oppress free speech, he said there are certain rules at the University that he feels discriminate against dissident voices. “The majority of the speakers invited by the University itself... tend to come from a non-conservative perspective,” biochemistry junior Sharma said. “That’s not oppressing anyone’s free speech, but it’s certainly amplifying a certain kind of speech over another.” Brianna Davis, education graduate student, said although she has not felt like her right to speak freely has been deterred during her time at the University, having conversations about free speech on college campuses is important. “The professors that I’ve had have been open to various ideas in the classroom,” Davis said. “It’s important to make space for a variety of different thoughts.”
By Meara Isenberg
Managing Editor Ellie Breed
News Desk Editors Will Clark, Hannah Daniel, London Gibson, Anusha Lalani, Wesley Story, Brittany Wagner
Students weigh in on free speech on university campuses, fear of backlash for opinions rises
FELLOWS
continues from page 1 vice versa. “(Students) will have people who have experience in the classroom,” Cunningham said. “They’ll be able to exchange ideas. It will be a wonderful cross-pollination of knowledge.” The TOWER Fellows program is modeled after Stanford’s
zoe fu | the daily texan file The Young Conservatives of Texas hosted a bake sale on Oct. 26, 2016 as a part of their affirmative action campaign which they said was free speech.
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CONTACT US
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ent weather can discourage potential voters as well. Zach Lewis, government and urban studies sophomore, said he had planned to vote during the two weeks of early voting but never made time. When election day came around, knowing how long the lines
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Students want more female professors
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By Mason Carrol
c
@mason carroll
Female students make up 52 percent of the student body, but only 41 percent of faculty and 25 percent of professors, according to the 2017–2018 UT Statistical Handbook. Susan Somers-Willett, Center for Women’s and Gender Studies lecturer, said if the University is not showing female-identified students at UT that women can ascend to the highest ranks of their profession, then society cannot expect them to aspire to those ranks. “When we witness women and people of color in powerful roles creating change in the world, we are more likely to understand that sharing power across gender and race lines not only as the norm, but is also essential to our collective survival,” Somers-Willett said. Disproportionate gender representation can be seen throughout different colleges and majors. The College of Education student body is 69 percent female, the Cockrell School of Engineering student body is 74 percent male and the School of Nursing student body is 88 percent female. Somers-Willett said these trends could be caused by a lack of female role models in certain majors. “In the long view, this kind of occupational segregation can lead to economic disparities across genders,” Somers-Willett said. Nursing sophomore Kayla Soileau said she has benefited from having a majority of female professors around her because it is helpful when they discuss topics concerning women’s health, such as checking for lung sounds around breast tissue. Soileau also said female professors can relate to her
personally when it comes to being a woman on campus. “Women can work just as hard and be just as smart as men,” Soileau said. “I personally have had many female professors, and they have all been just as knowledgeable about their subject as my male professors.” Accounting sophomore Madeline Adam said she notices there are more male students and professors in her field. Adam said it is discouraging, but she knows there have been improvements. “The stigma that girls aren’t as good at the math and science stuff is discouraging as a female student,” Adam said. “I think that, especially being in a (science, technology, engineering and math) major, it’s really important to recognize how far we’ve come in a male-dominated field.” Adam said while she hopes for more female representation in her major, she is making changes in other fields to help young girls receive an education. Adam is a part of the UT chapter of Girl Up, an organization that raises money for girls’ education in underdeveloped countries. “Being able to have this education is the most privileged thing, and I’m so grateful for it,” Adam said. “I think even though a lot of people don’t realize it, we need to use (our privilege) to help underdeveloped countries who have no choice on their situation.” Soileau said she sees hope for the future, but for everyone to have an equal voice, there must be equal representation in leadership positions. “Hopefully once the future generations are educated on women’s inequality, more little girls will grow up and strive to be in more leadership positions, such as a college professor,” Soileau said.
would be, Lewis said he did not feel like he would have enough time to do research on candidates and wait in line to vote. “(Long voting lines) are something you just kind of accept,” Lewis said. “It’s something that I kind of knew was going to be there … since it’s on campus and is naturally something that would happen.”
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8THURSDAY, MARCH 22, 2018
ALUMNI
Alumnus capitalizes on win, makes “Pour Choices”
was at the core of Lee’s entourage during the final rounds of the World Poker Tour event in Oklahoma last August. Pao graduated from McCombs in 2010 with a degree in finance and is one of Lee’s best friends. He’s
a fellow partner at the bar, which was a lifelong dream of theirs. “It was a really thrilling eight or nine hours,” Pao said. “I came up the night before and we hung out and reminisced and we were like,
Choices and has worked on Sixth for years. The frenzied environment is a blast for thousands on the weekends, but he said the chaos is different from the other side of the bar. “There’s definitely a lot of
crazy stuff that happens that all blends in together,” Matthews said. “Me and the other manager, Aaron, have had to kick people out for trying to dump in urinals, sinks and even photo booths. I’ve seen someone spit out a shot, set it down and a minute later someone else drink it.” Matthews said he has confidence in the energetic and experienced staff at Pour Choices. “Consistency with your service, from top to bottom, is key,” Matthews said. “You can’t come in with a high level of energy Saturday, and not have the same energy on Monday.” Lee said the bar opening would not have been possible without the tournament money and the connections he made years ago with people working on Sixth, many of whom are now his staff. He said his advice for current business students is to focus on networking in college rather than the degree itself. “School itself is overrated, but McCombs and college in general teaches you to think a different way and not be stagnant,” Lee said. “The networking side of it is so crucial. I’ve met so many people that can now help me push this bar along.”
University officials said. In his 33 years of police service, Carter said he has never experienced anything like this. “A serial bomber is a unique circumstance and is terrifying for the public and terrifying for law enforcement,” Carter said. Carter said UTPD will continue to be on high alert and conduct routine bomb checks indefinitely. Early reports speculated the suspect was possibly targeting minorities because the victims of the first two explosions were minorities. Later, however, there were two white male victims. While the motive is still being investigated by authorities, neuroscience sophomore Eloise Taha said the recent bombings have still worried her.
“I don’t feel safe on campus, especially considering the bombings (were reportedly) targeting marginalized individuals,” Taha said. “As a black woman on campus, I am in constant worry for my fellow black students. I worry that UT is a target.” Jimmy Johnson, interim vice president of Campus Safety and Security, said UT has had emergency measures in place for many years. “We’re the flagship university in the UT system, which always makes us a target,” Johnson said. “We want to make this a hardened target.” anthony mireles | the daily texan file UT has several emergenUTPD officer Jeanne Hall and her K-9 partner Beta inspect a truck for cy plansand offers training to potential threats near the Flawn Academic Center. Officer Hall and students and faculty to execute Beta are a part of UT’s emergency response plan in the case similar situations arise on campus. these plans. Annex III, Building
Emergency, Management and Restricted Access includes evacuation routes, instructions for lockdown, emergency flyers and a UTPD bomb threat checklist. Every year, the University reevaluates these plans and procedures. “Each building has a building manager that we provide training for in the event of an emergency,” Johnson said. “They are very familiar with their buildings. We use them as our first line of defense.” Johnson said he strongly agrees with UTPD’s “See something, say something” motto. “This is not just a law enforcement problem, it’s a community problem,” Johnson said. “So it takes a community to solve it.”
McCombs alumnus opens bar on Sixth Street with poker winnings. By Tristan Stitt @stitttristan
A
McCombs School of Business alumnus is making “Pour Choices” on Sixth Street, opening a bar with the $593,173 grand prize he won in a poker tournament. Jay Lee and his three business partners opened Pour Choices two weeks ago and will hold a grand opening celebration on Friday. Born and raised in Austin, Lee said he has been helping his parents with their own business since graduating in 2012 with a marketing degree, delivering Chinese food for their restaurant and managing social media. “I graduated from McCombs and didn’t want to go the corporate route immediately and be a little fish in a big pond,” said Lee, now 27. “The majority of my income was coming from poker and helping with my family’s restaurant, China Palace, but, you know, that was their project.” UT alumnus Jeffrey Pao
SUSPECT
continues from page 1 Sunday, Carter said he finalized a UTPD bomb task force that was put together over spring break and has specially trained officers and bomb-detection K-9 dogs that are proactively searching the University. “We are routinely going through mailrooms and through different buildings,” Carter said. “Those officers and those dogs are there for the safety of the community.” In the last few days, UTPD has responded to nearly 30 calls of suspicious packages or items, Carter said. The University has recently increased the security of mail coming in and out of UT,
copyright joe giron, and reproduced with permission Jay Lee, a UT alumnus, and his coworkers won $593,173 at a poker tournament. Now he’s using his winnings to open a bar on Sixth Street. ‘It will be life changing no matter what.’” Pao’s mother was the first person at the hospital when Lee was born, and he and Pao have been friends ever since. Richard Matthews is one of the two managers at Pour
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LAURA HALLAS
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF @TEXANOPINION
THURSDAY, MARCH 22, 2018
COLUMN
Spotify’s efforts against sexism are a mixed bag By Sam Groves @samgroves
senior columnist
This month, Spotify unveiled two new features aimed at marrying music streaming to social good. The first, a tool called the “Equalizer,” analyzes your listening history and determines how much of the music you listen to is made by women. Then it recommends female artists you can listen to if you want to balance things out. The second, an in-app hub called “Amplify,” highlights underrepresented voices and perspectives in music. Both of these features are steps in the right direction. They’re good ideas that seem well intentioned, but there’s reason to doubt Spotify’s motive here. Ultimately, their efforts leave much to be desired. First, the Equalizer — actually, I should use its full name. It’s called the “Smirnoff Equalizer,” and if you think partnering with a vodka brand to promote social justice reeks of cashing in on the current political moment, well, you may have a point. But let’s withhold our judgment for now.
to help haven’t heard of Lady The bigger problem with Gaga. Almost all of them the (ahem) Smirnoff probably have, and they’re Equalizer is that many just not interested. To of the artists it recreally change their ommends are allistening habits, the ready established tool would have to in the industry. recommend artists I used the tool they don’t know and got suggesabout yet and might tions such as Lady be interested in. Gaga, Mariah CarThe Amplify ey, Ariana Grande hub is much better and Iggy Azalea. at doing preciseThere’s nothing ly that: introducing wrong with any of users to unfamiliar those artists. Three artists. For the month of them are great! But of March, it’s focused the landing page for the on highlighting women in tool laments that “we’re music in honor of Internamissing out on so many tional Women’s Day. To that good tunes by women,” end, it directs users to playwhich is certainly true, but it’s lists that collect the best work difficult to argue that many peoof female artists in virtually every ple are missing out on “All I Want genre. There’s one for women For Christmas Is You.” in hip-hop, one for women in Besides, it’s not like the mel westfall | the daily texan staff folk, one for women in metal. people this tool is supposed
COLUMN
COLUMN
Austin: build better relationships with construction companies By Rachel Freeman @texanopinion
columnist
Jogging at Disch-Falk field or marching into DKR, you’ve probably noticed Waller Creek weaving its way through east campus. As unassuming as the creek may appear, Waller Creek has caused some serious debate. Austin is attempting to build a Waller Creek Tunnel to provide Lady Bird Lake additional flood diversion has hit numerous roadblocks, but the project has sparked a legal battle between the city and the tunnel’s contractor.
The tunnel project and the millions of dollars it has collectively cost the city highlights the need for the city to change the way it does construction.” This tunnel project and the millions of dollars it has collectively cost the city, highlights the need for the city to change the way it does construction. Instead of contracting exclusively on an individual basis, it should pursue longterm construction deals with agencies. Making this change would result in cooperation between the city and the construction agency and ultimately produce more successful projects which better safeguard taxpayer money. The Waller Creek Tunnel is supposed to be a one-mile channel from Lady Bird Lake which protects 28 acres of downtown from the floodplain. The project was originally ap-
This kind of attention to detail is conspicuously absent from the Equalizer tool. Both of these features seem to indicate that Spotify understands the power of its playlists to lift up new artists and influence people’s listening habits. But by that same token, it’s worth examining the artists they choose to spotlight elsewhere on the service. Their hugely popular “RapCaviar” playlist currently features songs by artists such as XXXTENTACION, Kodak Black and 6ix9ine — each of whom has been accused, respectively, of domestic abuse, sexual assault and “use of a child in a sexual performance.” If Spotify is using its influence as the world’s largest streaming service to provide a signal boost to people like that, it can hardly turn around and claim to be fully committed to gender equality in the music industry. Nevertheless, there’s a lot to like about the Amplify and Equalizer tools, and other streaming services — such as Apple Music, which is on track to overtake Spotify in paid subscribers later this year — should take up this worthy cause and try to create something better. Groves is a philosophy junior from Dallas.
Surveillance capitalism is an insidious force in our lives
proved in 1998 with a budget of $25 million, but over the years due to many delays, the project is costing $161 million. Despite all the money spent, the city is dissatisfied with the result and has requested a refund of $22.3 million from the construction company, S.J. Louis. The contractor has responded by countersuing. One way to disincentivize legal battles and promote general cooperation between the city and construction agencies is to start creating contracts that cover multiple, similar projects. Urban policy specialist Professor William Spelman is in favor of creating longer term relationships between city and contractors. “If the contractor knows they have a long term relationship with the city, for not just this project but the next project, they are more likely to listen to the city,” Spelman said. “(Therefore) money spent to meet our standards is an investment into our relationship with our city. ” UT students pay taxes to the city through our rent, and we should have a reasonable expectation that our tax money be used wisely. Instead the money has been squandered again and again to fund a project that in the end, according to the city, has “diminished value.” The majority of campus and the north and west off-campus areas where many students live are represented by Austin District 9. Our current representative, Kathie Tovo, is up for re-election this November. We should collectively pressure her, and anyone else running, to represent us, to advocate for longer-term construction deals. By making some construction deals more long-term in nature both the city and the contractor will be motivated to work together to create successful, on-budget projects. Freeman is a international relations and global studies junior from Cedar Park.
By Ian Sims @texanopinion
columnist
I was fascinated when Twitter Analytics informed me that 33 percent of my followers consume “salty snacks.” While I have no specific plans for this information, I’m not the only one who has access to it. Corporations regularly purchase large swaths of user data from popular websites and use it to tailor advertisements. This gross practice, known as surveillance capitalism, enables aggressive marketing tactics and further concentrates wealth in top corporations.
Surveillance capitalism enables aggressive marketing tactics and further concentrates wealth in top corporations.” Some would call this the natural forces of the market. I call this ugly. In an age where Amazon is expected to become the first trillion dollar company, it is immensely important to critique the methods in which the privileged gain more power. While people in America face poverty everyday, the three richest Americans have more wealth than the entire bottom 50 percent. Surveillance capitalism was a term popularized in 2015 by Harvard academic Shoshana Zuboff and describes the mass acquisition of digital data by advertisers. Although often invisible to the public, corporations frequently buy large data sets that include information such as
browser history and purchasing habits. This information is then sorted and categorized to develop market profiles and predict which target audiences will be most receptive to marketing. For example, someone who Googles “Plane tickets to Bahamas” could be served online ads for sunscreen and encounter higher prices for plane tickets. Data collection occurs en masse. Recently, voting-profiling company Cambridge Analytica harvested the data of 50 million Facebook users without their knowledge when they or their friends downloaded a personality quiz. Although current news is focused on Facebook, let us not forget the list of companies Facebook has acquired is 66 deep — including Instagram and WhatsApp. Although Cambridge Analytica could face legal charges and Facebook stock is plummeting, selling user data is still highly profitable. The U.S. digital advertising industry has an estimated annual value of $83 billion. Unsurprisingly, this wealth is concentrated. In 2017, 10 companies took home more than 67 percent of revenue from the mobile ad market. Google, the most popular search engine, controls 40.7 percent of the U.S. digital ad market. We all use the same websites and have the same apps on our precious phones, so these same companies continue to profit off of our prolonged internet use. If the internet was decentralized, money made from advertising would be more evenly distributed. Even worse, the repeal of net neutrality means that decentralization won’t be happening anytime soon. In the meantime, surveillance capitalism will continue to enrich those who are already powerful. So, maybe Siri isn’t the best entity to go to for comfort. Maybe Amazon’s Alexa in your living room isn’t your best friend. Sims is an international relations and global studies sophomore from Houston.
COLUMN
Federal subsidies to dying coal industry must stop By Liam Verses @liamverses
columnist
Department of Energy Secretary Rick Perry unveiled a plan earlier this year to prop up coal and nuclear power through federal subsidies. His plan was swiftly criticized by environmentalists and free market enthusiasts alike — it was unanimously voted down by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission. Yet even without Perry’s over-the-top plan, the United States is still providing financial support to both renewable and nonrenewable energy in the amount of 11.5 billion dollars per year, 1.4 billion of which is for coal. That sizable financial support should end. Several years ago, a totally free market approach to the energy sector wasn’t feasible. Renewables such as solar and wind energy just weren’t cost competitive with conventional nonrenewable sources such as coal. In fact, according to the Energy Institute of the University of Texas, back in 2013, subsidies for clean energy were staggeringly high, around $321 per megawatt-hour for solar and $34 per MWh for wind, as compared to under $2.5 per MWh for both coal and nuclear. More recently, though, wind and solar energy have taken off. Wind and solar power added 95 percent of electricity capacity last year, even though direct subsidies for solar and wind were reduced by more than 50 percent over four years. More recent analyses show that solar
and wind are cheaper than coal and compete with natural gas, even without any subsidies. Solar and wind will undoubtedly continue to grow in market share on their own. Coal has enormous environmental and social costs that far outweigh its utility. Coal is being displaced, and that trend shows no signs of stopping — with or without government intervention. Elsewhere, coal continues its unceremonious decline into oblivion, with 27 plants announcing closure or conversion in 2017. That’s one announcement every 15 days. Natural gas, by contrast, continues to grow as it remains cheap from the fracking, or hydraulic fracturing, revolution, which has provided access to previously inaccessible gas formations. This resulted in a decline of natural gas prices from $13 per 1000 cubic feet to around $4.25. Natural gas and renewables are ramping up while coal is ramping down. That’s great news. Coal causes the premature deaths of around 13,000 people in the United States every year while every other energy source causes significantly less. According to law professor David Spence, “You don’t need coal. It’s good politics to subsidize coal (but) bad economics.” “Coal is out of the money.” Spence said. Support for this dying industry is misplaced. Some coal proponents are sounding the alarm about grid reliability, but the closure of coal-firing plants is not a huge concern for the reliability of the electric grid, as long as natural gas remains. In fact, the closures
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.
mel westfall | the daily texan staff are mitigating the billions of dollars in health costs each year from smog, toxic mercury and soot — all byproducts of coal power. Natural gas will stay cheap and plentiful for the foreseeable future. Solar and wind will continue to become cheaper and more efficient. The market is driving this new energy revolution. By combining constant generation from natural gas and nuclear energy and integrating intermittent generation from solar and wind, the United States will produce a lower carbon and lower pollution
SUBMIT A FIRING LINE | Email your Firing Lines to editor@dailytexanonline.com. Letters must be more than 100 and fewer than 300 words. The Texan reserves the right to edit all submissions for brevity, clarity and liability.
future without compromising grid integrity. The government should stop its subsidies and place the money into future-oriented areas, such as education and services for coal workers losing their jobs. The free market economy is a powerful force when you remove artificial financial support. The numbers say it’s time we take the handicap away, so let’s take those training wheels off and let the energy sector ride by itself. Verses is a Plan II and environmental engineering freshman from San Antonio.
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.
5
THURSDAY, MARCH 22, 2018
ALUMNI
Mishap to fab: alumnus-led art class uses glitches as medium By Sierra Quarzaza @squarssq
When a TV signal “glitches,” the signal is lost; playoffs game could be missed, cartoons become morphed versions of themselves and entertainment is ruined. To Austin-based technology and art school dadageek, glitching is not a frustration but rather a source of inspiration. Glitch art is a medium where glitches in any type of digital media are turned into a creative piece. For Jerome Martinez, a UT computer science and linguistics alumnus, dadageek gives him the opportunity to teach in a field he never expected to. Martinez’s class teaches glitch art through the free coding software, Processing. Even though Martinez said he originally wanted to work a regular tech job, he always felt an interest in art. Lisa B. Woods, one of dadageek’s co-founders, said she recognized this passion and his work in coding, and decided to hire him. “He was a software developer and really interested in art,” Woods said. “I knew he knew Processing, so I asked if he wanted to teach.” Woods said Martinez’s computer science background influences his
FINE ARTS
continues from page 8 I think if people open their eyes to how interesting and thrilling seeing a show can be as the next Marvel movie, people would see theater in a much more accurate view.” Tacked onto this stigma is the notion that fine arts is only made for creative types. Crowell addresses those out there who are convinced it’s impossible to uncover something they will like
ashley nava | the daily texan staff Glitches were once an annoyance which disrupted our lives. Now, it’s an art form. teaching style and is useful for the programming aspect, but he simplifies it enough for beginners. For Krisite Bocanegna, one of Martinez’s students, his teaching style helped her learn and love both coding and the art style.
within the fine arts. “There is stuff out there for people, not just theater people,” Crowell said. “I’m into video games, and there are some video game plays that take you into the world. There are plays that go into sports and what it’s like to be in the career. There are shows out there for everybody, you just need to find the right show.” Crowell also said that stepping out into an unfamiliar, yet fun and inviting atmosphere, can really help a person
“It’s very collaborative,” Bocanegna said. “He’s our instructor, but we all learn off of each other because we are all from different backgrounds.” Bocanegna said the class can be intimidating because of the experience level of
develop a person their personality. Kirk Baltzell, undeclared freshman and Hook ‘em Arts member, expressed the impact fine arts has on his life. “Once I got into fine arts and really committed to it, I’d say there is more substance to my life,” Baltzell said. “You don’t want to be stuck in the same rut in your life. You want some contrast and difference in it, and I think that will make you a happier person.”
some students, but the curriculum is based on creativity rather than skill level. For someone who has worked on the professional side of the art industry, Rachelle Diaz, freelance graphic designer and visual artist, glitch art has been a source
SCHOLARSHIP
continues from page 8 scholarship applications immediately. Don’t waste time! Starting your applications early will ensure that you have plenty of time to be articulate, gather all your materials and double-check all of your work. Getting an early start is also helpful to the person writing a reference letter on your behalf. By requesting your reference letter early, you’ll be more likely to get it.
of inspiration. “I got into glitch art because I was following a Tumblr about nine or 10 years ago called Glitch News,” Diaz said. “This blog would take screen grabs of the news that were inadvertently glitched out through TV signals, and
I was fascinated by that, and I think other artists are inspired by it too.” Both Diaz and Woods believe that glitch art can have a plethora of applications in many industries. Diaz said she could see glitch art used ads or in graphic design, and she already sees companies doing this. Woods said that she can see glitch art being a part of fabrics for clothing or furniture. Diaz said glitching appeals to her because modern devices don’t make static when disrupted. Instead, they distort and break, making a glitch. “I can see it as a style that will continue as we develop technology through our time,” Diaz said. For Martinez, the connection between art and technology is an important one, and teaching in subjects he loved was a life changing experience he would definitely consider doing again. Martinez said he may return in the future to UT to teach creative coding at the collegiate level. As for his glitch art, he is still new to the art style as a medium and has not published any of his own art. “I think everyone has a life journey and I’m still finding out if this is for me, but I really do enjoy it,” Martinez said.
Use your UT resources and counselors.
UT offers departmental, merit based and need-based scholarships every year. You can often find these scholarships through the MyUT web portal and the university’s main website. These scholarships are especially important to apply for because they are specialized for Longhorns. There’s a multitude of services right on campus to help you get started. Contact the academic advisor for your major to start your search.
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6
TRENTON DAESCHNER
SPORTS EDITOR @TEXANSPORTS
THURSDAY, MARCH 22, 2018
MEN’S BASKETBALL
Column: Texas bound to bounce back sans Bamba The Longhorn freshmen will ease Texas’ transition into life after Bamba. By Dalton Phillips @dalton_tweets
T
exas has fallen flat in two seasons now, propelled by freshman big men. After eight months with the burnt orange, the time has already come for the most recent of the two, Mo Bamba, to move on. The Longhorn star center declared for the draft Tuesday to the surprise of nobody, officially bringing an end to his brief stop on the 40 Acres. But life marches on for Texas. With or without Bamba, the team that collapsed in the first round of the NCAA Tournament looks ahead to its next campaign with careful optimism. In retrospect, this season will be seen as a wasted opportunity — a promising rebuild, derailed by injury, illness, scandals and inconsistency. Texas was one of many teams this year that failed to gain any real traction with a one-and-done prospect. Like Arizona and conference rival Oklahoma — teams built around NBA-ready talent — the Longhorns lost out to a veteran team with postseason experience. Back in November’s preseason, Texas came close to taking down two of those 16 remaining teams. Duke and Gonzaga both needed
overtime to defeat Longhorns, and excitement then was at an all-time high. Texas fans hadn’t tasted real playoff success in nearly a decade, and here their team was, going toe-to-toe with the then-No. 1 and No. 17 ranked programs. The Longhorns were ready to arrive. But Texas’ game wasn’t sustainable. Junior forward Dylan Osetkowski got stockier, slower; worse on both ends of the floor. Sophomore guard Jacob Young, freshman guard Matt Coleman and junior guard Kerwin Roach II, were up and down all season — wildly inconsistent and unable to build any kind of rhythm. The good news for Texas fans is that the Longhorns are well-equipped for life after Bamba. His fellow classmates take the reins as the future of Texas basketball, as the team heads away from its model of the past two seasons. Today’s team boasts a deep set of freshmen to build around moving forward. Former Longhorn Jarrett Allen and Bamba are gone. All that remain are guys ready to play out their entire career under head coach Shaka Smart. Coleman is going to be for Texas what senior guard Jevon Carter has been for West Virginia — a four-year cornerstone to build the team around. Coleman registered in the top 10 in the Big 12 in assists, steals and assist-to-turnover ratio, all in his freshman season. Freshman forward Jericho Sims will never be the defensive stopper Bamba
was, but he’s as athletic as any forward in the nation and more than capable of matching and eventually out-producing Bamba on offense. After a long offseason, which Sims insists will be spent honing his outside shot, the forward will be primed for a breakout year. Sophomore guard Andrew Jones is on the road to recovery and Roach is all but guaranteed to return for his senior season. All of this combined as valuable, long-term pieces continue to be added by Shaka. Texas boasts a top-15 recruiting class nationally, behind only Kansas in the Big 12. The team has replaced Bamba with a pair of four-star forwards, and added a long athletic wing — something the team has desperately lacked the past few seasons. Four-star prospect Gerald Liddell will become a household name among Texas fans. The 6-foot-6-inch small forward from Steele High School could earn a starting nod his freshman season, providing perimeter defense and shooting essential to Smart’s style of play. In short, the future is bright. Broadly, there are two ways to earn a national title: Load up on five-star recruits and hope to outplay your opponents, or cultivate a program of juniors and seniors who have the mental toughness and experience to go on a deep run. Now is the time for Smart to flip the script and invest for the long haul.
anthony mireles | the daily texan file Freshman point guard Matt Coleman lifts a floater over a Baylor defender on Feb. 12, 2018. Coleman averaged 10.2 points and 4.1 assists in his freshman season as a Longhorn.
SOFTBALL | TEXAS 3-0 TEXAS STATE
LONGHORNS IN THE NBA
SEASON AVERAGES
LAMARCUS ALDRIDGE
MYLES TURNER
points per game
22.7
13.7
rebounds per game
8.4
6.9
field goal percentage
50.2
50.6
Aldridge and Turner help teams during playoff push By Abhishek Mukund @abhishek_mukund
anthony mireles | the daily texan staff Texas freshman second baseman Janae Jefferson tags out Texas State freshman second baseman Tara Oltman on Wednesday at McCombs field. Jefferson picked up a single in two at-bats in the Longhorns 3-0 victory over the No. 25 Bobcats.
Von Sprecken pitches shutout as Longhorns find footing against Texas State By Robert Larkin @r_larkintexas
Head coach Connie Clark gathered her team four days ago. Frustrated by her team’s uninspired start to the season, she explained how expectations differ for the Texas softball program. “(Coach Clark) talked about how we carry ourselves and how we wear the logo on our chest,” sophomore shortstop Kaitlyn Slack said. “We came out and represented that well tonight.” On Wednesday night, the Texas players responded to their coach’s message. In their last nonconference game before the start of Big 12 play, the Longhorns (13-13) were led by a two-run RBI double by Slack and a three-hit shutout from senior pitcher Paige von Sprecken, cruising to a 3-0 victory against No. 25 Texas State (22-8). “It’s big for our confidence heading into the Big 12 conference this weekend,” Clark said. “I thought we played solid all the way around, and we were able to make the adjustments we needed to make offensively after tweaking our lineup.” The Longhorns struck for the game’s first run in the bottom of the third inning, ditching a recent inability to capitalize on scoring chances. With junior center fielder Ki’Audra Hayter at second base after reaching on
an error, senior pitcher Paige von Sprecken helped her own cause by lining a shot through the left side of the infield to score Hayter for a 1-0 lead. More defensive mistakes by the Bobcats set up the Longhorns again in the bottom of the fourth. Facing a pitcher’s count with two outs, sophomore left fielder Kaitlyn Washington kept the inning alive after putting a ball in play that resulted in a throwing error by Texas State shortstop Ariel Ortiz.
I thought we played solid all the way around, and we were able to make the adjustments we needed to make ... “ Connie Clark,
texas head coach
A walk by sophomore first baseman Malory Schattle set the table for Slack who took advantage, driving a breaking ball through the gap in left centerfield
that cleared the bases for a 3-0 lead. “I was just sitting late to get my pitch and wanted to get the runs for my team,” Slack said. “I focused on my timing and was fortunate enough to get a change up and drive it in the gap.” Von Sprecken finally ran into trouble in the fifth inning after retiring 11 hitters in a row. Following two walks and a single, the Bobcats had the bases loaded with two outs, but the Longhorns’ senior pitcher masterfully worked out of the inning without forfeiting a run, stranding the bases loaded with a strikeout to end the frame. With the Longhorns unable to add any insurance runs in the bottom of the sixth inning, Texas State had an opportunity to tie the game in the top of the seventh after consecutive hitters reached base to start the inning. However, von Sprecken sent down the next three hitters in order, securing the 3-0 win. “We had really good scouting on their team, so (sophomore catcher Taylor Ellsworth) and I had a really strong game plan going into it,” von Sprecken said. “I trusted her play calling, and she trusts me, so we were just rolling through and I was feeling good.” Texas will host Kansas on Friday in the Longhorns’ first conference game this season. First pitch is scheduled for 4:30 p.m. at McCombs Field.
With roughly 12 games left for every team, the end of the NBA season is quickly approaching. Only two games separate the fourth-seeded Oklahoma City Thunder from the eighth-seeded Utah Jazz in the Western Conference. Former Longhorn LaMarcus Aldridge finds his San Antonio Spurs stuck right in the middle of this fight. Meanwhile, the Eastern Conference has also picked up in competition. The third-seeded Cleveland Cavaliers lead the fifth-seeded Philadelphia 76ers by only 1.5 games. The Indiana Pacers are also stuck in their own fight, with former Longhorn Myles Turner still struggling to find consistent minutes late into the season.
LaMarcus Aldridge
The Spurs fell out of the playoff picture for a quick second but recovered following the return of all-star forward Aldridge. San Antonio has won four games in a row by an average of 18 points, with wins against the Minnesota Timberwolves, New Orleans Pelicans and the depleted Golden State Warriors. Aldridge has averaged 30.3 points, nine rebounds, 1.3 blocks and only 1.3 turnovers while shooting 55.7 percent from the field and 88.5 percent from the free throw line over the four-game stretch. In the Spurs’ game against Golden State on Monday, Aldridge single-handedly outscored the Warriors, in the fourth quarter, 19-12. San Antonio desperately needs Aldridge to continue
playing at this level if they hope to win 50 games this season. The Spurs have won 50 or more games in each of the past 20 seasons, the longest such record in the NBA. They play at home against the Washington Wizards on Wednesday at 8:30 p.m.
Myles Turner
Turner has been fantastic when he’s managed to stay on the court consistently. The young center collected 21 points, seven rebounds, three assists and two blocks in 30 minutes against the Los Angeles Lakers on Monday night. Turner scored the first seven points for the Pacers, each of which showcased a different offensive talent. He hit a soft runner in the lane coming off a roll to the basket to start the night, a 3-pointer off of a pickand-pop and two free throws after getting fouled driving to the basket. He kept producing all night, eventually helping the Pacers outscore the Lakers, 3521, in the third quarter to close out the game. However, Turner has continued to struggle staying healthy this season. He has missed 17 games this year and has played limited minutes in roughly another dozen games. He played just 20 minutes and scored two points in last Thursday evening’s loss to the Raptors and was sidelined during the Saturday loss to the Wizards with a sprained ankle. While the Pacers have definitely overachieved as a team this season, they will need a healthy Turner if they hope to stay competitive through the end of the season and into the playoffs. The Pacers will play on the road against the Pelicans on Wednesday evening.
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THURSDAY, MARCH 22, 2018
Today’s solution will appear here next issue
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CHARLES LIU & CHRIS DUNCAN
LIFE&ARTS EDITORS @THEDAILYTEXAN
THURDAY, MARCH 22, 2018
HEALTH
mel westfall | the daily texan staff
Can social anxiety prevent you from enjoying life? Editor’s Note: Mental Wealth is a weekly column about mental health. If you or someone you know is suffering from social anxiety, consult the Counseling and Mental Health Center on campus for further resources. By Christa McWhirter @chrismac1193
S
ocial anxiety has been a pain in my ass for the last five years of my life. It has prevented me from doing things I enjoy and even from making friends. Over the years, I found
ways of coping with my social anxiety that have allowed me to be in situations that would have previously led to a sweating, crying, panicky mess. Today, when anxiety creeps up and tries to stop me in my tracks, I remind myself of all the techniques that keep me calm and level-headed when it matters most. My family went to the Houston Rodeo with me over spring break and, at one point, I got left behind while at the chicken exhibit. I was marveling at a chicken with really crazy feathers and when I turned around, was shocked to find that my family was nowhere in sight. My
heart started racing and sweat beads formed on the bridge of my nose. I felt alone, unsafe and overwhelmingly anxious. I love the rodeo and go every year. But with a crowd of up to 185,000 people, I had to set myself up for success before entering the event. Luckily, I prepared for this. When planning an outing to any large event, I always make sure to go with people whom I trust. This is my way of making sure that should things go downhill, someone will be there instead of ditching me the first time they see a souvenir margarita for sale.
By going with trusted family or friends, there’s a safety net and it immediately reduces my anxiety. Large crowds give me anxiety in part because they make me feel powerless. When going into a situation that will probably make me feel that way, creating an exit plan helps me feel more in control and calmer about the event overall. Once I get to an event, I immediately scope out areas that have fewer people so that in the event that I get overwhelmed, I can make my way to those areas to recover. I have actually run into Port-A-Potty to get away
from the crowds before. When it comes to anxiety, especially anxiety that escalates quickly, it’s helpful to be ready to do whatever it takes. Despite all my planning, in the moment, I was still unable to control my anxiety. When this happened, I had to resort to a grounding technique I have been using for years — breathing. The tactic sounds self-explanatory, but it isn’t just as easy as breathing in and out at any rate. Breathing in for three seconds and exhaling for five allows me to slow down my breathing and focus on a relatively simple task rather
than my racing thoughts, giving my brain the time it needs to slow down. Finding the techniques that work for me allows me to enjoy my life in a way that I haven’t been able to for years. It’s important to note the strategies that work for me may not for everyone, and it’s crucial to talk to a professional. Listening to your mind and body will also help reveal which techniques work best for you. Today, I have the ability live my life to the fullest despite the anxiety that used to dictate my every move. Social anxiety, you no longer control me.
CAMPUS
Student org emphasizes importance of fine arts in college By Trent Thompson @trentthompsonut
Every Monday in The Loft of Bass Concert Hall, a passionate group of students gather as Hook ‘em Arts to promote and connect students to Texas Performing Arts. Regardless of a student’s field of study, they believe that fine arts should be an integral part of a college student’s lifestyle. As the student voice of Texas Performing Arts at UT, their aim is to foster the importance of creativity and produce connections within a common thread by
attending and engaging fine arts events as a group. Jose Guillen, aerospace engineering junior, is the marketing officer of Hook ‘em Arts. According to Guillen, being engaged with the arts helps him in ways people
wouldn’t necessarily expect. “Arts makes you think much more deeply because you are
forced to interact with it for so long,” Guillen said. “We are always doing
something all the time, and when you put all of your attention into one thing, it becomes a part of you.” Students majoring in everything from social work to computer science to ancient
history belong to Hook ‘em Arts. But despite the seemingly wide appeal of the fine arts to students across campus, a few stigmas persist that consequently turn heads away from the arts. Susannah Crowell, theatre and dance senior and President of Hook ‘em Arts offered a fresh perspective in an attempt to extinguish these stigmas. “A lot of people don’t want to see Shakespeare because they had to read it in English in high school.” Crowell said. “But seeing the show really can take you to another
FINE ARTS page 5 ADVICE
mel westfall | the daily texan staff
Fishing for money: how to make the best of scholarship season By Alexis Tatum @tatumalexis
Spring means warm weather, flowers and yearly scholarship applications. Numerous students miss out on opportunities they never knew were available. The Daily Texan has compiled some of the best ways to ensure success this season.
Master the reference letter.
Reference letters are extremely important because they offer a voice, other than your own, promoting you as a worthwhile candidate. There’s a few things to remember when obtaining one for an application. First, try to avoid getting family and close personal friends to write on your behalf. It doesn’t help to hear that your cousin or your best friend thinks you’re great. Instead, ask your professors, teaching assistants, employers and other professionals
in your life to give you a solid letter of recommendation. Additionally, it’s important to get to know your reference contact and make sure they recognize you early on — no one wants to write a reference letter for someone they barely know or have spoken to. Finally, make sure to ask for your letter early and give the person a lot of time to write a polished, informative letter on your behalf.
Be honest in your personal essay.
The personal essay can be daunting, but it can often boost an applicant’s chances if it’s done well. Don’t be generic, and tell your reader that you want to somehow change the world with your scholarship. Most students make the mistake of writing unclear ideas about how they will go on to ‘change the world’ or ‘make a difference’ if they earn a scholarship. Instead, explain your career aspirations. Be honest about why you chose them.
Transparency, rather than regurgitation of improbable or false expectations, will make you stand out much more as an applicant.
Apply for everything you qualify for — and even some things you don’t.
Applying for multiple scholarships raises your chances of earning, so seek out several scholarships and apply to all you can. The process of searching can be tedious, but it is worthwhile to earn the financial assistance you need. If you believe that you’re a good candidate for a scholarship you don’t meet every requirement for, apply to that too.
Remember, the worst thing that can happen is being told no. Start EARLY.
One common mistake applicants make is not starting
SCHOLARSHIP page 5