The Daily Texan 2018-03-29 by The Daily Texan

SERVING THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT AUSTIN COMMUNITY SINCE 1900 @THEDAILYTEXAN | THEDAILYTEXAN.COM

THURSDAY, MARCH 29, 2018

VOLUME 118, ISSUE 128

N E WS

O PI N I O N

LI FE&A RTS

SPORTS

Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, former president of Liberia, speaks at Hogg Auditorium. PAGE 2

Thoughts on the SG elections and UT’s data allotment to students. PAGE 4

Combining Tarot with the stage, Vortex crafts their own Westworld with Performance Park. PAGE 8

Sixteen Longhorns looked to build their NFL resumes at Texas’ Pro Day. PAGE 6

STATE

rena li | the daily texan staff

Cuts to higher education funding possible next session By Maria Mendez @mellow_maria

fter lawmakers’ attempts to overhaul higher education funding during the last legislative session, Texas universities may still face potential changes in 2019. A committee of 10 state senators and representatives is drafting a report recommending changes in how the state delivers funds to public universities, such as UT. The bipartisan committee is expected to release the report by April. The committee held two public hearings with higher

education leaders in February to review the two ways Texas supports universities: formula funding and non-formula, or “special item,” funding. Formula funding refers to appropriations that the state distributes after using a formula factoring how many students a university has and the students’ fields of study. Through special items funding, the Legislature also funds special projects such as UT’s McDonald Observatory. Sen. Juan “Chuy” Hinojosa, D-McAllen, serves on the committee and said it is particularly focused on reviewing special items funding, which was almost eliminated by the state Senate during last year’s session. “What happens is colleges become dependent on special items funding,” Hinojosa said, echoing concerns that this

secondary form of funding has become overused. However, Hinojosa said if special item funding is cut, universities could lose a large portion of their budgets. After the Texas House of Representatives set aside money for special items last session, UT received roughly $20 million for 14 special items for the 2017-18 fiscal year. But Raymund Paredes, the state’s commissioner of higher education, said the increased number of special items may not be sustainable. “Special items, they have just gotten out of control,” Paredes said. “Not necessarily in terms of money, but just in the accumulation of more and more programs that should be funded through the formula rather than special items category.”

LEGISLATURE page 2

CAMPUS

Legislative committee looks to reprioritize funding allocations. By Chase Karacostas @chasekaracostas

ith low starting budget projections and large bills for Hurricane Harvey aid and Medicaid, higher education funding may be in danger of being cut when the state Legislature reconvenes next year. State Comptroller Glenn Hegar, who collects the state’s taxes and monitors its revenue, said in a January Senate Finance Committee hearing that the state will only have a $94 million “beginning balance” compared to $880 million in 2017 and $7.3 billion in 2015. The finance committee

helps write the state’s biennial budget each session. To make up for budget constraints, the first thing the Legislature does is turn to the comptroller to find more money, education and law professor Norma Cantu said. “The next reaction for the Legislature would be to look at reallocating resources, which means that one part of the state budget would be starved in order to support another part,” Cantu said. “That becomes a very divisive exercise, and the last recourse would be to look at raising taxes.” State Rep. Donna Howard, D-Austin, is a member of the House’s Higher Education Committee and is currently working on an interim legislative committee looking at improving higher education funding. Howard said historically, when the state faces

severe budget constraints, higher education is often cut. This is because unlike K-12 public education or Medicaid, higher education is not mandated to receive a certain level of state funding each year, which Howard said makes it an easy target for funding cuts. “It’s not really the first (the Legislature) goes to, so much as it’s the last that gets anything,” Howard said. “(Nevertheless), the majority of legislators highly value higher education and want to support it.” Raymund Paredes, commissioner of the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board, said he doubts higher education will receive drastic changes in funding. However, Paredes said if the budget is tight, then it is hard to argue higher

COMMITTEE page 2

STUDENT GOVERNMENT

Israel Block Party, ProPalestine protest return to UT By Brianna Stone @ bristone19

The Israel Block Party celebrated its 20-year anniversary Wednesday afternoon, bringing with it a community celebration to learn about Israel — the good and the bad. Organized by Texas Hillel and Texans for Israel, the event celebrates the culture of Israel through food, activities and education. People of all backgrounds gathered in the East Mall for the annual celebration after a delayed start due to weather. “The event is celebrating the culture and diversity of Israel and how amazing of a country it is,” event organizer Rachel Sasiene said. “We celebrate Israel for being a leader in investment capital and innovation

ISRAEL page 3

Guzman-Wolf executive alliance reflects on accomplishments, goals for University By Katie Balevic @katelynbalevic

As the administration of the 111th Student Government Assembly draws to a close, Student Body President Alejandrina Guzman and Vice President Micky Wolf reflected on what they accomplished and what they are passing on to the next administration. The team says they have championed students in the form of initiatives and legislation, but ultimately, they hope to pass on an emphasis on advocacy for and by students. “Really these roles are about showing up every day and being prepared to advocate on behalf of students,” said Wolf, a Plan II and business honors senior. The Guzman-Wolf team will be stepping down next Tuesday when president-elect Colton Becker, a nutrition senior, and vice president-elect Mehraz Rahman, a marketing and Plan II junior, take office. Representing 51,000 students is a thankless job, and a lot goes into it that students do not see, Guzman said. “You’re really dedicating everything you have to give to the students,” said Guzman, government and Mexican-American studies senior. “It’s worthwhile, but it’s so difficult …. People forget that you’re human, and you’re

gabriel lopez | the daily texan file Former student body president Alejandrina Guzman and vice President Micky Wolf finish their administration this semester. a student.” Their term was hectic from the beginning with several controversies and crimes occurring on campus week after week, Guzman said. “Some things pop up out of nowhere, and you have to react,” Guzman said. “When we first began our term … it was racist fliers, the vandalism and graffiti at Greek houses and then there was the May 1 (tragedy) where a student was murdered on campus.”

Reacting quickly while absorbing a variety of student opinions is key to succeeding, Wolf said. “Being able to act in those moments and be in the public eye but also taking in a lot of perspectives and act in a relatively quick manner is integral to what you’re doing in the job,” Wolf said. Their list of goals included empowering students and getting them involved in bettering their student experience, which Wolf said the alliance actively

worked on. “It’s advocating for students in spaces where they can’t always access (support), improving the student experience at the University and empowering students to better improve their experiences themselves,” Wolf said. The executive alliance spearheaded student volunteering initiatives, such as Passion with a Purpose, and celebrations of student groups such as the First Generation College Celebration, Wolf said. As their term progressed, they let students lead projects by connecting student advocates with administrators who could help them achieve their goals, Guzman said. “SG is in so many circles that students don’t typically have access to,” Guzman said. “We were able to begin the conversation with students … and bring those students to President Fenves and connect those issues to faces. That’s how powerful the voice of Student Government and student voices (are) when you connect these bridges.” Guzman said students should remember SG is an avenue of change that is theirs for the taking. “It’s theirs just as much as the next person’s,” Guzman said. “Keep demanding. Keep pressuring. Keep being the activist or advocate or student leader that you are. People are listening.”

THURSDAY, MARCH 29, 2018T

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PERMANENT STAFF Editor-in-Chief Laura Hallas Assoc. Editors Liza Anderson, Jaree Campbell, Cuillin Chastain-Howley, Josie Maclean Senior Columnists Elizabeth Braaten, Laura Doan, Noah Horwitz, Caleb Wong, Ryan Young Forum Editors Vik Shirvaikar, Janhavi Nemawarkar, Liza Anderson

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EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

Laura Hallas (512) 232-2212 editor@dailytexanonline.com

katie bauer | the daily texan staff Former Liberian President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, left, spoke to a full Hogg Auditorium Wednesday night about how far Liberia has developed as a country under her administration. Sirleaf was the first female head of state in Liberia after experiencing imprisonment and exile from the state.

Nobel laureate, former Liberian president speaks on political hurdles, women’s empowerment By Bevyn Howard @bevohoward

With near full occupancy at Hogg Memorial Auditorium, UT campus took in the words of the first African female head of state and 2011’s Nobel Peace Prize recipient, Ellen Johnson Sirleaf. Dubbed “Africa’s Iron Lady,” Sirleaf’s path to power was not a straight one. After being exiled to Kenya twice and wrongfully imprisoned, she had to fight to assume her power in 2006. Yet

once she earned her presidency, she quickly secured millions of dollars of foreign investment for Liberia whilst entirely erasing its debt, according to Britannica. “At 79 years of age, I have been fighting Liberia’s battles for more than half a century — all of my adult life,” Sirleaf said. “When I was sworn in … I had great expectations for Liberia’s recovery, but the scope of the challenges was staggering, and most were skeptical. Could Africa’s first democratically-elected woman president bring peace to a

country destroyed by war? Historians will look back and answer, ‘Yes.’ In Liberia, the ballot box has replaced bullets.” Sirleaf talked about her hurdles in politics but focused heavily on her obstacles as a woman. She underscored feminism when she said the importance of empowering women and girls was one of the top three lessons she urges politicians to learn. She said women are a powerful force, especially when they decide they are going to come together.

“There are certain obstacles women face, but they are surmountable,” Sirleaf said. “The women’s time has c ome, period.” Public health sophomore Rovianne Tindaan said she found Sirleaf’s comments on women inspiring. “I think it was important for her to say women and girls in Liberia now have a role model to look up to,” Tindaan said. “I thought that was very powerful because in America we’re taught to know that whatever we want

MANAGING EDITOR

Ellie Breed (512) 232-2217 managingeditor@ dailytexanonline.com

COMMITEE

continues from page 1

NEWS OFFICE

(512) 232-2207 news@dailytexanonline.com The Texan strives to present all information fairly, accurately and completely. If we have made an error, let us know about it. Call (512) 232-2217 or e-mail managingeditor@ dailytexanonline.com.

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education should receive increased funding when other areas need more resources. “Texas is growing very fast, and I’m not sure the tax base is growing as fast as the population and our needs are,” Paredes said. With all of these factors, Cantu said it makes it hard for students to predict what the cost of a degree might look like. “They are not receiving a commitment that guarantees that the funding will be there,” Cantu said. UT has already felt the pressure of budget constraints in the past. In 2016, the summer before the 2017 legislative session, the state asked all agencies to tighten up their budgets. At UT, this resulted

LEGISLATURE

continues from page 1 Rep. Donna Howard, D-Austin, another committee member, said lawmakers are now considering dividing special items into different categories: short-term and long-term. Under this idea, the state would help programs cover startup costs until most programs become self-sufficient. But Howard said special items like the McDonald Observatory, which do not qualify for formula funding, should continue receiving state support, even if it is not through the special item category. “They have significance and importance to the state,” Howard said. “So (we’re) looking at how to fund those on an ongoing basis rather than looking at them as being the traditional context of special items.” The committee also hopes to

in a $20 million budget reduction. If the state makes any cuts to higher education, Cantu said it would be done under the watchful eye of the state’s business community, which relies on an educated workforce to continue growing. “The Legislature would be taking the pulse of the business (community) to ascertain what their needs are,” Cantu said. The cuts would likely reduce the number of staff that run the University, such as academic advisers and administrative officials, rather than professors and their research budgets, Cantu said. “What our business community relies on pretty heavily is our research because we’re a research campus,” Cantu said. “That’s what makes us unique at UT-Austin. When we prepare a budget, we have to plan for research costs.” improve formula funding through “outcomes-based funding,” which would also factor in universities’ student success. But Howard said lawmakers are still divided on whether to keep the current formula-funding model. “No one, I think, questions the value of looking at some kind of incentive funding that is based on achieving certain metrics,” Howard said. “The concern is whether this should be funding on top of formula funding that already exists.” Whether lawmakers can successfully turn the April proposal’s recommendations into a reality in the next session will depend on the midterm elections in November. “We really don’t know what the next session is going to be like at this point because we’re going through elections,” Howard said. “All of that is going to have an impact on the agenda of the session and how things shake out.”

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TRANSFER

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classes. This is long after applications are due for on-campus housing, and many apartments fill their occupancy as early as the previous fall. Economics junior Tom Erlich said moving to Austin from UT-Arlington meant an almost $8,000 increase in housing expenses. “My first year at the dorm I stayed in was a really nice, almost brand-new dorm for $450 a month,” Erlich said of his dorm in Arlington. “You could never find anything like that here.” Brian Rider, a law professor and real estate specialist, said rents in Austin are only going to increase.

“There’s been a greater surge of demand because we have a significant build-up of new people,” Rider said. He said although new complexes are constantly under construction, the process can take up to three years, meaning developers will never catch up to the influx of residents. Ardian Shaholli, sociology and government junior, said although he was happy with his decision to transfer, he wishes the school did more to help ease the burden on transfer students, such as the expansion of scholarships and need-based aid. “There are certain scholarships that are available to the average UT student, that aren’t available for transfer students,” Shaholli said. “It makes us feel like we’re just extras.”

to do in this life we can do it, but there are not that many role models in the fields we want to go in to.” During the Q&A portion, chemical engineering sophomore Mamadou Balde asked Sirleaf about her determination to come back to Liberia in the face of two exiles. “My mom was born in Liberia, and she couldn’t go back because there was a war and her family left,” Balde said. “The only time she could go back was when she (Sirleaf) became president.”

CITY

anthony mireles | the daily texan staff Austin Mayor Steve Alder speaks to protesters at the March for Our Lives rally at the Texas State Capitol building last Saturday evening.

Austin approves contract for immigrant legal services By Raga Justin @ragajus

Starting in April, the city of Austin will provide $135,000 for immigrant legal services in the area. Last Thursday, the City Council approved a year-long contract with American Gateways, a nonprofit that provides affordable legal counsel and representation to immigrants and refugees. Robert Painter, communications director for American Gateways, said the organization can assist with cases relating to asylum, different types of humanitarian visas, relief for domestic abuse survivors, issues relating to DACA and citizenship requests. “This is something the city chose to do because they take this issue seriously,” Painter said. “They want to do what they can to protect the local immigrant community and make sure they have access to representation.” Often nonprofits have to make “tough calls” with who they represent because of a finite amount of resources and limited capacity, Painter said. He said the funding from City Council will provide a boost not only for existing programs and services, but also by helping the agency follow a “universal representation”

model. Under this policy, the agency tries not to screen for how likely an individual case will be successful in court. Rather, Painter said they try to take the case as it is and see what can be done. “We wanted to change that model and make sure everybody who would not otherwise be able to access representation would be able to (do so) irrespective of the merits of the case,” Painter said. In 2017, Painter said American Gateways closed 1,100 cases and opened nearly as many more. Jason Stanford, communications director for Austin Mayor Steve Adler, said safety was the number one priority for the city. “The mayor thinks everyone in Austin should be safe no matter where they come from, and sometimes being safe requires knowing what your rights are,” Stanford said. “This is a way that City Council thought would be helpful to let these Austinites have access to legal representation.” Stanford pointed to the Austin Shelter for Women and Children, which he said experienced a large decrease in the number of Hispanic women reporting rapes to the police after recent Immigration and Customs Enforcement raids. “Not reporting crimes … makes an entire population

more vulnerable,” Stanford said. “When the immigrant population has access to legal help, that makes us a safer city.” Daniela Rojas, Latin American studies senior and undocumented student, said the funding comes at a crucial time with immigration crackdowns. “In a time of so much uncertainty and so much fear, legal representation is so crucial to a community that already feels so undermined,” Rojas said. “There are people who feel so helpless and scared of the future …. It’s great that Austin is pushing for accessibility of (legal representation).” Vella Karman, an Austin public health manager, said American Gateways was chosen after the city issued a “competitive solicitation” for organizations dealing with immigrant assistance and asked for applications. American Gateways was one of two groups to submit a proposal. Karman said the name of the other competitor and details on the strengths and weaknesses of American Gateway’s proposal will not be released until the beginning of April, when the contract will go into effect. The contract also stipulates extension options that could potentially see funding total more than $300,000 over a five year period.

THURSDAY, MARCH 29, 2018

CITY

Austin rents highest in Texas, and getting higher $1,200

Austin average Austin median U.S. median

$1,100

Texas median

$1,000

$900

$800

$700

2006

2008

2010

2012

2014

Median gross rent in Texas cities, 2012-2016 $1,106

$888

$882

$896

$898

$769

Austin

Dallas

San Antonio

Arlington

Houston

El Paso

SOURCE: US Census Bureau

mallika gandhi | the daily texan staff

Transfer students address living costs By Sol Chase

@solchaseforsure

Ayleen Arteaga always dreamed of transferring to UT, but the cost of living in Austin made that an impossible reality. “When it came down to it, UT and Austin were too expensive,” said Arteaga, a biomedical engineering sophomore at UT-Arlington. She said scholarships cover the entirety of her tuition at Arlington, and low rent prices will allow her to graduate debt-free, something that would never have been possible in Austin. Geography sophomore Samid Mirza said this was a common occurrence among his peers before he transferred. “Everyone wants to come to Austin,” Mirza said. “I know a lot of people who dropped out of the CAP program because they know the cost of living in Austin is going to be so expensive.” According to the United States Census Bureau, the Austin metro area has the highest cost of living index of any city

in Texas. The median rent between 2012 and 2016 in Austin was $1,106 a month, compared to the statewide average of $949, also according to the Census Bureau. High prices and limited housing options hit transfer students particularly hard because of their often precarious financial positions and late notifications of acceptance into UT. Jeffrey Mayo, senior program coordinator for the FirstYear Experience Office, said transfer students are 50 percent more likely to report a household income below $40,000 and this financial strain shows itself most in students’ ability to find housing. “In June and July, it feels like three out of four posts are about housing and how to find affordable housing,” Mayo said of the transfer student Facebook page. Mayo said most transfer students do not find out they have been admitted to UT until the summer before they begin

TRANSFER page 2

ISRAEL

Sophomores Nikki Nissan and Lea Donenberg line up to taste traditional falafel sandwiches with hummus and French fries. jamie powers | the daily texan staff

TOP:

continues from page 1 and technology. We have over 20 vendors and booths here to explain any aspect of Israel to anyone passing by.” Another 20-year anniversary was the annual protest of the event by the Palestine Solidarity Committee and pro-Palestine students. About 30 students gathered outside of the Block Party handing out flyers about Palestine, holding anti-Israel signs and chanting “Free Palestine.” In a statement, the Palestine Solidarity Committee said it protests this event every year to speak out against what they say is an ethnic cleansing of Palestinian people in Israel. “The Block Party portrays Israel as a fun and carefree place, one where Palestinians and the daily violence committed against them does not exist,” the statement said. “By whitewashing Israel’s crimes and disseminating false propaganda about Israel, Zionist organizations that host the party seek to normalize the genocide and forced removal of Palestinians from their lands. … An apartheid state should not be celebrated on this campus.” Members of the committee and several protesters declined

Members of the Palestine Solidarity Committee dance together in protest of the Israel Block Party. nikita sveshnikov | the daily texan staff L E F T:

to individually comment on dialogue to address the good this story. and the bad.” Sasiene, a Sasiene said Jewish studies many students and history seworking the block nior, said the party have been event makes an to Israel and seen effort to educate The event is cele- the country firstthe community hand. She hopes about the is- brating the culture students coming sues that exist the block party and diversity of Isra- to in Israel. will look at Isra“To us, it’s el and how amazing el as a whole and really important not focus on one of a country it is.” particular issue to not only celebrate Israel for as defining the all of its great whole country. aspects but to “We have our Rachel Sasiene, also address the own Jewish center event organizer problematic asoff campus where pects,” Sasiene we talk and desaid. “Over the last 20 years, bate Israel and talk about Jewwe have added lots of forms of ish culture,” Sasiene said. “To

really educate people who may not know, we bring this event to campus to educate the masses.” Attendees of the Block Party were able to visit educational booths to learn about the Israeli government, politics and Jewish culture. Vendors sold Jewish foods and items including hamsa necklaces, burekas, shawarma and falafel. Two camels even made an appearance and were available for photos. The event welcomed Jewish and non-Jewish members alike from the UT and Austin community. “Israel is the only country in the world where it’s not only normal to be Jewish, but where Jews control our own political future,” said Jason Taper, campus relations for Texas Hillel. “I am very passionate about celebrating the culture and celebrating its existence.”

LAURA HALLAS

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF @TEXANOPINION

THURSDAY, MARCH 29, 2018

COLUMN

This year’s ESB has set a dangerous precedent By The Daily Texan Editorial Board This year’s executive alliance election was not the first time complaints have nullified results, a runoff extended the campaign period, or students pilloried the Election Supervisory Board for its rulings. However, the ESB’s actions this campaign period introduced a dangerous new precedent. On March 1, the ESB decided that a tweet liked by the Guneez & Hannah official campaign account exemplified deceptive campaigning and placed a moratorium on the campaign for most of the last day of voting. On March 22, Colton Becker received a moratorium for what the ESB deemed verbal harassment: a “love-react” on Facebook. Both rulings were made in the absence of pre-existing guidelines governing how campaigns can act on social media. These decisions are dangerous. They go beyond regulating adherence to predetermined campaign rules and enter the realm of deciding what is and is not acceptable campaign content. The ESB sought to control candidates’ expression of their opinions on social media and, in doing so, stunted debate on campus. Censuring campaign content and ideological expression crosses a line. During election season, the ESB oversees

campaigning. Any UT student can file complaints with a candidate or a campaign if they suspect a violation of the election code. Once a complaint is filed, the ESB interprets the election code and applies judgments in each individual case. Every candidate on UT’s ballot is subject to the Campus-Wide Election Code, as well as the code for their specific

Guneez-Hannah campaign cites section 4.12 of the SG Election Code, which outlaws so-called “Deceptive Campaigning.” Never before has the ESB interpreted a campaign’s underlying message in order to deem the campaigning “deceptive.” In the past three years (the period considered “precedent” in ESB’s ruling) this clause has been interpreted as a preventative

“The ESB sought to control candidates’ expression of their opinions on social media and, in doing so, stunted debate on campus.”

entity. In this year’s executive alliance hearings, the ESB made their ruling based on the Campus-Wide Election Code and the Student Government Election Code. The ESB based its rulings not only on their interpretation of the election codes but, crucially, the precedent set by the past three years of ESB rulings. The ESB’s March 1 ruling against the

measure against campaigns lying to achieve specific ends. Previous ESBs had a much higher standard for proving deceptive campaigning — this is the first time in the past three years a campaign has actually been penalized for it. When the ESB ruled against the Guneez-Hannah campaign, it set a new precedent: The ESB can rule against what a campaign does online.

This interpretation of a campaign’s expression of opinion — through likes and “love reacts” — seems careless, but the legacy of this decision will remain long after this ESB leaves office. Although this ruling was ultimately overturned, the Supreme Court’s decision did not specifically address the core problem with the ESB decision — their interference with student expression. With its March 22 decision, the ESB doubled down and again ruled that it had the power to censure campaign behavior online. This time, it was in response to a “love-react” from presidential candidate Colton Becker’s personal Facebook page. Becker liked a post by UT Jewish community leaders responding to the SG campaign, which the ESB deemed verbal harassment. Once again, no precedent existed to treat a Facebook reaction as verbal harassment. But it exists now. Policing the personal viewpoints of candidates and supporters is unacceptable. The ESB’s actions cannot be excused as a symptom of a uniquely contentious election cycle. Now that election results are finalized and the dust has settled, we need a clear-eyed understanding of the irregularity and danger of ESB decisions this election cycle. Last night, the 2018 ESB was disbanded. Next spring’s ESB will be appointed in December, and they will inherit a dangerous precedent. However, they must not limit campaign’s expression online, or anywhere else.

COLUMN

Complacency on campus hurts marginalized By Jaree Campbell @jar_ee

associate editor

Student engagement with the Student Government campaign cycle spiked this year — but not entirely for good reason. Students espoused hateful rhetoric, ultimately abusing and berating three women of color for their identities. And, we cannot accept this. As women of color, Guneez, Hannah and Mehraz used their exclusion from institutions on this campus to spur activism. They uplifted underrepresented voices in order to etch a place for their communities in SG. It is a self-serving endeavor at its core, but a diversity of identities and opinions can only benefit all students. Reactionary respondents, alternatively, used their selfish and fearful reactions to dismiss healthy critique of the communities they occupy. For the first time, students watched how marginalization plays out on this campus. Candidates set a precedent for all students to further educate themselves on the challenges facing our peers. But we didn’t. We failed to support the voices of marginalized communities who have little to gain from a governing body operating under a system

that is universal in its benefits — critiques of these familiar institutions were silenced. But, acting to only support a bigger picture under the guise of universal inclusion perpetuates white supremacy. Let’s take The Daily Texan’s endorsement for example. Excluding the editorial board’s decision and the result of the election, we tried to endorse based on the feasibility of project completion and achievement of tangible change on campus. Prior to Executive Alliance filing, we outlined a framework for supporting an objectively beneficial candidacy and decided that accounting for campus climate implications and our personal politics would’ve only made for an unnecessarily reactionary argument. We made a decision that would benefit as many students as possible, striving to be deliberate in outlining the kind of change that needs to happen at this university no matter which candidate might be proposing it. But looking out for the interest of the “typical” student means looking out for the interests of the white and wealthy. Universality does not benefit black and brown students whose experiences are silenced by our white peers who “don’t see color.” Universality does not benefit disabled students who are disadvantaged because we

see ramps and deem our campus accessible. Universality does not benefit all Longhorns because we are not all treated equitably. A belief in such can only be practiced from a place of privilege — through willful ignorance of marginalization that never happens to you.

Universality does not benefit black and brown students whose experiences are silenced by our white peers who ‘don’t see color.’”

My own attempt to reconcile my roles as a black student and member of the Texan Editorial Board came down to determining what is more valuable: listening to underrepresented groups or making objectively good changes that are within SG’s realm of ability. But my

eventual encouragement of the latter meant submitting to complacency around systemic flaws — no matter how well-intentioned expensive initiatives are, or how many students they will benefit. Sometimes the most important change is a conversation between a non-homogeneous group of people. We all must be honest about how we as individuals fit into university institutions, for the good and the bad, if campus climate and diversity are ever going to be more than just buzzwords and cute campaign platform points. But this time we failed to have a real conversation, and students devolved to dismissal and vitriol. Vowing to be more kind to one another steadily perpetuates deep-rooted, systemic inequality that is bigger than an endorsement, bigger than an election. Don’t ignore the fact that three of our executive alliance candidates were women of color. Don’t ignore the reactions to their critiques of exclusionary institutions on this campus. Don’t pretend that they were not berated for encouraging change that did not directly benefit white students. And don’t pretend that this process — the islamophobia, the racism, the sexism —would’ve happened the same way if they were white. Campbell is an English junior from El Paso.

COLUMN

Title still loading due to insufficient UT data allotment By Rachel Freeman @rachel_frmn

columnist

It’s 11:58 p.m. You’ve just finished your final paper, and you are frantically clicking to a second window to submit. But suddenly, when you need it most, Canvas. Won’t. Load. The minute passes. It’s 11:59, the deadline has passed and your life is over. A situation like this shouldn’t be possible while connected to UT Wi-Fi. Off-campus students are allocated only 1GB per week, while on-campus students receive 10GB. The current free allotment for off-campus Longhorns is simply not enough for the 21st century student. UT administration should provide all students with a higher free Wi-Fi allotment to help Longhorns be successful and happy students. UT administration recognizes this student need. At the beginning of this school year, they formed a one-time review committee, the Central IT Executive Commission, on University IT problems, including Wi-Fi allotment for students. Michael Cunningham, UT’s interim chief information officer said that CITEC will release its decisions in the next couple of weeks. Such a small WI-FI allotment for off-campus students forces Longhorns to be careful about their web browsing choices. To put this in perspective, just one hour of Netflix during a lunch break will use the entire gigabyte. Cunningham said 45-50 percent of students’ WI-FI needs “are not met by the free tier.”

This means students are either accepting a slower speed or have to pay to move up to a bigger data tier. WI-FI speed automatically slows when students reach the end of their free allotment. Although some websites, like utexas.edu, always have unlimited speeds, most websites slow down to 250 Kbps (about the speed of DSL in the 1990s). Canvas and Gmail are both subjected to the slow down. UT policy is to officially communicate through email and most professors require assignments to be turned in on Canvas. Unexpectedly running out of free data can have a direct and detrimental effect on students. Despite it’s treatment of students, UT recognizes how essential internet access is to academic work in their generous allotment to faculty. UT professors receive 2,000 GB for free per week. While professors certainly have legitimate needs for internet access, 2,000 GB is an excessive amount and makes the student allotment look like scraps. Giving such a large amount of data to professors but not even 1 percent of their allotment to students makes it seem like the University excessively prioritizes the needs of faculty members and ignores those of students. The administration provides approximately 6,256,000 GB total per week to our 3,128 faculty members, but only approximately 134,486 GB total per week to our student body of more than 51,000 students. When comparing allotments and just how much data UT is already providing, it doesn’t seem unreasonable for students to ask for a few more gigs. Even if total GBs provided had to

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.

Data distribution at UT The administration provides approximately 6,256,000 GB per week to 3,128 faculty members, but only 134,486 GB per week to the student body of more than 51,000 students”

98% of data is allocated to faculty which makes up of the population on campus.

mallika gandhi | the daily texan staff stay the same for budgetary reasons, if professor allotment was limited to 500 GB per week (the $10 per semester highest tier available to off-campus students, the total gigabytes left for student use would be approximately 4,866,486 GB. With this total amount, off-campus students could have 35 GB free per week. This would still leave 350 GB a week for on-campus students and preserve the 10 to 1 ratio.

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.

Looking at these numbers, it simply doesn’t make sense for off-campus student data allotment to be so small. Not only is it unrealistic for student use, it’s insulting to receive so little from a university we already pay to attend. CITEC and UT administration should give us the data we deserve. Freeman is a international relations and global studies junior from Cedar Park.

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.

THURSDAY, MARCH 29, 2018

MENTAL HEALTH

mel westfall | the daily texan staff

Column: Supporting friends with mental health issues By Christa McWhirter @chrismac1193

Mental illnesses make people uncomfortable, but it’s not because of the actual illness — it’s that people simply don’t know what to say. It isn’t their fault, though. No one ever tells you what to say when these situations arise, and if they do, it’s to sympathize by pitying instead of empathizing by attempting to understand. But this is the thing: There are plenty of helpful things you can say and I’m here to tell you what you can say. The most important thing is to never assume you know exactly what to do in any situation. Mental illnesses are complex and deeply personal, and what may help in a given scenario varies from person to person.

ORTBERG

continues from page 8

angel tell-all. If “Fear Not” is the best example of Ortberg’s ability to write humor, “The Rabbit” is the finest example of his ability to write horror. In a rewriting of Margery Williams’ “The Velveteen Rabbit,” Ortberg crafts a cunning stuffed bunny who is all consumed by the desire to become real and is slowly draining the little boy of his life. In a short 13 pages Ortberg manages to create a most haunting villain out of one of the world’s most beloved characters. In addition to being delightful to read, Ortberg’s stories also tackle issues of gender, abuse, abortion and religion.

Start by asking what you can do to help. When friends ask what they can do for me in moments when I clearly can’t handle my emotions on my own, I hear much more than that question alone. Their question is a way of showing they want me around and they care enough to want me to be happy. A simple question can make all the difference and is a safe way to start any conversation with empathy, especially in a sensitive scenario. If you ask what you can do and get something back like “Nothing,” or “I don’t know,” don’t stop. There are other things you can say for support. Ask more specific questions, such as if they want a hug or if they want to be left alone. When friends or peers ask me these kinds of questions, they bring the focus back to the solution and issue at hand, something many struggle with. If your friend is opening up to you

Throughout the book, many of the character’s gender roles are swapped, and are even, at certain points, presented with the choice of whether they’d “like to be the husband or the wife.” Ortberg himself has recently come out as transgender after the publication of the book. In addition to the varying gender identities the book also has an overarching feminist theme — unsurprising since the novel stems from a popular column on “The Toast” site. Just like in the beloved classic fairy tales, women are shown to bear the brunt of the situation, but in a refreshing twist, get revenge in the end. Within each story, Ortberg manages to build a world unique to itself, one with its

and telling you about how they feel, saying something as simple as, “That sucks,” helps validate that your friend’s emotions are acceptable and that you don’t judge them for feeling that way. This has personally helped me in times when, feeling really depressed or anxious, all I wanted is to know that I’m not crazy. For those with mental illness, validation is one of the most overlooked ways that they can be helped. It can be difficult to know what to validate, so you need to be careful about the words you choose, but saying a situation sucks is a pretty safe bet if you’re really unsure. As far as what not to say, I only have one piece of advice: Never offer unsolicited advice. If someone you know has not asked for advice, don’t give it. Most people are not medical professionals and have no idea what it takes to treat a mental illness. Like I mentioned be-

own rules and customs wholly different from ours. While his world building is intriguing, it can confuse and lose the reader. Each story falls between 10-20 pages and doesn’t allow for a full understanding of the story before its end. “The Thankless Child,” for instance, is a tale born out of many others including “Cinderella” and Shakespeare’s “King Lear.” The reader has enough time to wonder “Wait, is this Cinderella?” before the story has come to a dizzying conclusion, and the fear sets in that you may have missed something. While it proves puzzling in many parts, “The Merry Spinster” provides incredibly funny and utterly horrific versions of the stories we all grew up knowing and loving.

fore, these are extremely complex and personal conditions. Think of it this way: If you give the wrong person the wrong advice, you could send them down a really bad path, even if you had good intentions. It’s important to recognize when you are out of your realm of expertise. Mental illness is no time to get caught up in trying to fix a “lost soul.” Knowing who you are talking to is the most foolproof way to help someone. Being a good friend and allowing people with mental illness to have an outlet to talk about their situations is the most helpful thing you can ever do for them. It has taken me a very long time to understand that I am allowed to feel however I want to and that my feelings are valid. But I would have had a much shorter road had more people tried to empathize with me instead of sympathize with me.

Ortberg’s use of distant narrators only adds to the absurdity of each story and makes them that much more enjoyable. Ortberg has absolutely nailed the insurmountable task of story retelling.

THE MERRY SPINSTER PAGES: 190 SCORE:

copyright holt paperbacks, and reproduced with permission Daniel Mallory Ortberg’s “The Merry Spinster: Tales of Everyday Horror” is an anthology book of old fairy tales told with a new voice.

TRENTON DAESCHNER

SPORTS EDITOR @TEXANSPORTS

THURSDAY, MARCH 29, 2018

FOOTBALL

NFL prospects capitalize on Pro Day spotlight Longhorns display skills in front of scouts from all 32 NFL teams. By Keshav Prathivadi @kpthefirst

eventy yards separated Texas’ Pro Day participants from media, their families and prospective agents. What was confusion on one side of the barricade was pure focus on the other side. On a rainy Wednesday morning, scouts from all 32 NFL teams poured into the Bubble for Texas’ annual Pro Day. Sixteen players participated in this year’s edition, making the most of the opportunity afforded to them ahead of the 2018 NFL Draft. For some players, including those who participated at the NFL Combine, Pro Day on the 40 Acres was a familiar setting. “Being back in the Longhorn atmosphere was amazing,” cornerback Holton Hill said. “I’m an only child, but (my teammates) are like my brothers … it feels like home.” NFL Combine participants such as offensive tackle Connor Williams and strong safety DeShon Elliott did not participate in all of the day’s drills, but did work on some position drills with their teammates that they couldn’t do in Indianapolis. Of the 16 players that participated in Texas’ Pro Day, only six were invited to the 2018 NFL Combine earlier this year. The other 10 had a lot to prove, and made the most of the one chance they’d been afforded. For fifth-year senior defensive back Antwuan Davis, this was a culmination of all of the effort he and his teammates put forth from the time they stepped on the 40 Acres. “I definitely let people know I’m a competitor. Twenty-two years of my life, I trained for this day,” Davis said. “Through a lot of adversity, I was still able to get an opportunity. That’s all you can

katie bauer | the daily texan staff Defensive back Holton Hill sprints up the field at the Frank Denius Fields. Hill picked off two passes in the 2017 season and ran a 4.49-second 40-yard dash at the NFL combine on March 5 in Indianapolis. ask for in this life.” Players like Davis, wide receiver Armanti Foreman, and defensive lineman Poona Ford are examples of players who were often overlooked during their time at Texas. Today, Ford posted times in the broad jump and shuffle that were on par with those of the top-5 defensive tackles at the Combine, an event for which he didn’t receive an invite to. Foreman and Davis both posted impressive 40-yard dash times and piqued scouts’ attention with a will and

determination that most burnt orange faithful were familiar with until this point. For Foreman, Pro Day had another element: sibling rivalry. “I knew (former Texas running back D’onta Foreman’s) numbers and everything he did, so I just wanted to come out here and beat that,” Foreman said. “That alone just motivated me to come out here and compete and have a good day.” Armanti beat his twin brother in every aspect — except the bench press. Pro Day also marked one of the last

times these players would be in Austin as a member of the Longhorns, letting players reflect on their time on the 40 Acres. Happy faces, snarky jokes and some friendly teasing with media closed out arguably the biggest day of these Longhorns’ careers. “It’s been amazing,” Williams said. “I think four years ago I didn’t have one offer so it’s been a transition, it’s been growing, and it’s been a learning curve, but it’s been exciting.” As one of Texas’ most

highly-touted draft classes in recent years leaves the 40 Acres, those departing believe the Longhorns are headed in a positive direction. “The guys they have now should succeed,” Jefferson said. “I think they should win twelve games … I’m tired of saying it because it needs to happen.” As former head coach Charlie Strong famously said before his exit, “the cake has been baked.” With new classes and high expectations in tow, it’s up to Herman to get that cake out of the oven.

BASEBALL

WOMEN’S BASKETBALL

Aston takes things day-by-day to another Sweet Sixteen exit By Drew King @ drewking0222

Nobody wanted to get ahead of themselves. Entering the season, the Longhorns could have been riding high. Junior center Jatarie White was finally available after sitting out all of the 2016-17 season due to the transfer rules. Freshman forward Rellah Boothe and guards Chasity Patterson and Destiny Littleton comprised the No. 3 recruiting class in the nation. Ranked No. 2, the Longhorns had every reason to think they would be more successful this season after losing to 3-seeded Stanford in the 2017 NCAA Tournament. They also knew better. “Sky’s the limit (for us),” senior guard Ariel Atkins said before the season. “But it takes a lot to be able to reach your potential. You have to show up every day, and it takes a lot of good things to line up for us to get to where we want to go.” Atkins’ teammates agreed. “You’ve got to feel like every team is Final Four caliber,” fellow senior guard Brooke McCarty said shortly after. “I think if we work hard every day and just focus on us, we’ll be good.” Head coach Karen Aston drilled the day-by-day approach into the team’s identity. She had to. The Longhorns would be without sophomore and previous regular starter Joyner Holmes for the fall semester due to suspension. Aston didn’t want the team to get overwhelmed by the adjustments they needed to make. Taking things one day at a time would help the transition. The plan worked, for the most part. Texas started the season 9–1 without Holmes, the only loss coming against No. 11 Tennessee on Dec. 10, 2017. But when Holmes returned on Dec. 23, she and the rest of the team had to adjust again. Holmes slowly earned a spot back in the rotation and cemented her place with an 11-point, 9-rebound performance against Kansas on Jan. 13. Despite her talent, working Holmes back into the lineup proved challenging. The Longhorns went 6–3 in their next few games. But they continued working to get better. Following a loss to No. 3 Baylor on Jan. 25, Texas

katie bauer | the daily texan file Sophomore shortstop David Hamilton follows through on a swing. Hamilton is batting .263 with 17 runs and nine RBI this season.

Longhorns fly to Manhattan, Kansas to face Wildcats By Travis Hlavinka @ travhlav

angela wang | the daily texan file Sophomore forward Joyner Holmes posts up a Maine defender on March 17 at the Frank Erwin Center. Holmes scored nine points. went on a five-game win streak before suffering another setback. Late in the second quarter against Kansas State on Feb. 10, senior forward Audrey-Ann Caron-Goudreau fell awkwardly on her wrist going after a loose ball. The play left Caron-Goudreau with a bruise that ultimately kept her sidelined for the rest of the season. With Caron-Goudreau out, Holmes was moved back into a starting role. It wasn’t easy. “Starting (is more challenging),” Holmes said. “When you sit, you can see the mistakes that (your teammates) are making and what coach wants you to go in there and do differently. When you start the game, you’ve just got to go in and do what you’ve learned through shootaround and through practice throughout that week.” Still, Texas figured things out. The team closed the regular season out with a 24–5 record, two games better than a year before. The Longhorns advanced to the Big 12 Championships before losing to Baylor again, a round

further than they had in 2017. Focusing on one day at a time had worked. There was no reason for the team to change mindsets heading into the NCAA Tournament. “Getting to play here for probably our last time, it’s just a lot of emotions that go into it,” McCarty said. “I’m taking it day by day and going with the process.” The changes weren’t effective enough. Though Texas advanced to the Sweet 16 for the fourth-consecutive time, they were upset by UCLA, 84-75, on March 23. Aston saw enough progress, though. She knows moving on now without Atkins and McCarty will be strenuous. She also knows her team will need to continue taking things day by day to do it. “There may be in my lifetime as a coach that I have coached more talented players,” Aston said. “But I don’t know that I will coach two better role models, two better leaders, two better gym rats, two better workers than Brooke and Ariel.”

The red-hot Longhorns look to continue their wave of success this weekend as they make the journey to Manhattan, Kansas, to face the Kansas State Wildcats (13–12, 0–3 Big 12) squad. Texas (16–10, 5–1 Big 12) has won seven of its last eight and looks to continue that success in a big way. Sophomore shortstop David Hamilton, who recorded the first home run of his career this past Tuesday against Texas State, has already mentioned that the team is looking to bring out the brooms. “We’d like to take all three (games),” Hamilton said. “But they’re a good team, it’s going to be tough. We’re playing at their field. We’re just going to have to bring it.” Hamilton also said that one of the reasons he believes his team is playing so well has a lot to do with the Longhorns’ tough preseason schedule. He said playing teams like LSU, Stanford and Arkansas, even with some losses, added a lot of experience and grit. “We’re used to battling in games,” Hamilton said. “We’re used to not killing teams in the preseason. I’d say that (our pre-conference schedule) helped.”

Sophomore third baseman Ryan Reynolds prophesied what Texas fans should expect to see this weekend. He thinks the test will be tough, but welcomed by a team that has played a majority of its games at home. “(This road trip is) going to show the different adversities we can overcome,” Reynolds said. “Just

We’re used to battling in games. We’re used to not killing teams in the preseason. I’d say that helped.” David Hamilton,

sophomore shortstop

playing on the road. Different umpires, different field conditions, weather, all that.” Reynolds, who has recently taken over the clean-up spot in the batting lineup behind junior infielder Kody Clemens as of late, mentioned that he enjoys the spot, but more specifically those around him when he’s hitting in

the four-hole. “This lineup is just stacked,” Reynolds said. “I like hitting behind Kody because they’re going to want to pitch to him. He’s always going to get on. Then I’ll have (Masen) Hibbeler and (Zach) Zubia behind me. It’s comfortable to me.” To Hamilton and Reynolds, the results may mean a bit more than they do to Texas head coach David Pierce. He says that his personal hope is that he sees a quality approach from his team throughout this road trip. “We’re looking forward to another series,” Pierce said. “I think our biggest key is to continue to play and not get caught up in the results and understand that you can have great at-bats or great pitches and not always get the results we’re looking for.” He also said he believes the team is doing much better at staying focused throughout the whole game. “Playing the game to its entirety is critical for us,” Pierce said. “And I think we’ve done that better in the past few games.” Texas will play its first game of the series Thursday night at Tointon Family Stadium in Manhattan, Kansas. First pitch is scheduled for 6:30 p.m.

THURSDAY, MARCH 29, 2018

The New York Times Syndication Sales Corporation 620 Eighth Avenue, New York, N.Y. 10018 For Information Call: 1-800-972-3550 For Release Friday, March 16, 2018

Crossword ACROSS

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CHARLES LIU & CHRIS DUNCAN

LIFE&ARTS EDITORS @THEDAILYTEXAN

THURSDAY, MARCH 29, 2018

CITY

Austin sees Tarot come to life Vortex launches arcana-inspired project for 30th Performance Park

By Liliana Hall |

@lilihallllllll

fter three years in the making, Performance Park is now live at the Vortex. Conceived and directed by Bonnie Cullum, Performance Park is an interactive game, original musical, art installation and a magical divination through Tarot. The cast consists of all of the major arcana — the most impactful cards in a Tarot deck such as the Emperor, Strength, Justice, Star, Moon and Baba Yaga. “In terms of scale, this is just grander than anything we have ever done,” Cullum said. “This is our 30th season (at the Vortex), so I wanted to do a big splash project that would encompass the entire compound and really bring the theater out of the theater.” Instead of buying a ticket, participants buy toolkits that each contain a map, clues, poker chips and other items needed to start the game. As they go along, participants collect things for their toolkits. If they manage to collect all the right objects, they are allowed into the magician’s sanctum and have a unique experience with the magician. Along with the toolkit, guests receive a costume piece to wear. This not only makes them feel like they are part of the performance, but also helps the 28-member cast know who is playing and who is just waiting for their pasta from Patrizi’s — the Italian food truck on the grounds of the Vortex. Melissa Vogt plays Baba Yaga in Performance Park. She said having the audience play a vital part of the show is stretching the skill sets of all of the cast members, but in the best kind of way. “For me personally, every show is new and different,” Vogt said. “The citizens coming through the door don’t know what to expect, nor do I know what they’re going to bring into the mix. Every night I’ve walked away with at least a couple of instances where I’ve learned just as much from the people interacting with me.” Cullum said she wanted people to treat Performance Park like an amusement park, national park or museum, where you can take in as much or as little of it as you want. “I had a very vivid dream in my sleep

T O P : The Empress of Performance Park, played by Tiffany Nicely-Williams, presents the Park’s “Midway” with various games and activities for the citizens. | L E F T : Baba Yaga, played by Melissa Yogt, haunts a small shack near the edge of the Park. This supernatural character from Slavic folklore occupies one of the many distinct exhibits throughout the park. | R I G H T : The Hermit, played by Heidi Penix, reads in a corner of the backyard, isolated from the rest of the Park by

a photos by griffin smith | the daily texan staff

waterfall and a long path.

one night where audience members were engaging in the performance,” Cullum said. “They were singing, dancing, wearing costumes, and they were on some kind of quest.” Using research from Jane McGonigal’s book, “Reality is Broken,” Cullum implemented game theory to embed the game into a show. Cullum said she ultimately wanted to adapt Performance Park from a fairy tale, but she struggled to find one that really spoke to modern issues. Cullum said working with the universal archetypes that the major arcana characters embody speak to us about where we are in our own lives while being able to reflect back on our challenges, successes and dilemmas. “I thought what better way to kind of take on what I was feeling then to really go on and dig into the arcana and really let them help inform the citizens who came to the Performance Park,” Cullum said. “It is in a way inviting everyone to really step up, to become active and to be a voice of resistance in the park.” Actress Sandie Donzica plays the Star in Performance Park, and she said it is a wonderful experience to finally be a part of a show where everyone can be the protagonist. “The degree of interactivity with the audience fascinates me,” Donzica said. “Performance Park takes you to a different world, and you don’t want to leave it.”

BOOK REVIEW | ‘THE MERRY SPINSTER’

Daniel Mallory Ortberg puts wicked twists into classics By Collyn Burke @_collyn_

The velveteen rabbit is a vampire, the angel that fights Jacob gives his tell-all, and the little mermaid just really wants to go home — these are just a few of the twisted tales found in Daniel Mallory Ortberg’s “The Merry Spinster: Tales of Everyday Horror.” Ortberg, co-creator of feminist writing site “The Toast” and author of “Texts From Jane Eyre,” compiles all of his charm and wit into “The Merry Spinster,” an anthology of classic stories and fairy tales retold in a new completely charming and terrifying way. Within 11 separate stories,

In a short 13 pages Ortberg manages to create a most haunting villain out of one of the world’s most beloved characters.

Ortberg takes the known and unknown and binds them together, reinventing well known classics such as “The Little Mermaid” and “Beauty and the Beast,” in addition to lesser known tales such as “The Six Swans” and “The Daemon lover.” Each story is infused with elements of horror, humor and modern day struggles. It is all together strange and wonderful. Inarguably, the shining stars of the book come in the form of “Fear Not: An Incident Log” and “The Rabbit.” With “Fear Not,” Ortberg imagines the errors that must arise from being one of God’s angels with such dry and poignant humor that it reads like a gossipy

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