c l o v c VOLUME 118, ISSUE 136 u q e SPORTS n m Love, laughter and baseball m encapsulate memorial service a for Augie Garrido. PAGE 6 d i b i d e
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Hearing the Homeless provides platform for homeless community in Austin. PAGE 2
Columnist spells out how Riverside redesign could impact, harm students. PAGE 4
A local sign artist reflects on his experiences and career in the Austin community. PAGE 8
CITY
Riverside’s affordable housing in danger with new proposal
CAMPUS
By Eilish O’Sullivan @evosullivan
Developers are proposing to rezone five properties in East Riverside, an area known among students for its affordable housing, in order to create an “urban village.” Three rezoning applications were filed for five properties spanning 97.09 acres — Town Lake apartments and the Ballpark North, East, South and West apartments. If approved, the rezoning will change the development regulations to allow for creation of housing, retail, office and hotel spaces at the intersection of East Riverside Drive and Pleasant Valley Road, according to the proposal. “The reason we choose this apartment complex over others is because it’s affordable,” said Jasmine Wong, kinesiology senior and resident at the Ballpark North apartments. “(The development project) is going to take away student housing.” The applications to rezone still need approval from the Land Use Commission and the City Council. The applications were filed by Michael Whellan, an Armbrust and Brown lawyer, on behalf of the developers, investment company Nimes Capital of Los Angeles and real estate firm Jones Lang LaSalle of Austin. Whellan has rezoned properties throughout Austin and Riverside in the past. According to a letter sent by Whellan to the city of Austin on March 9, the area currently has 1,308 apartment units, and could ultimately have 4,709 multi-family units. Whellan said their proposal would require affordable
anthony mireles | the daily texan staff Three-time Olympic gold medalist Shaun White speaks to UT students about his career and how he got there Monday evening at the Hogg Memorial Auditorium. He mentions that making mistakes and failing helped him develop his techniques throughout his career.
Olympian Shaun White visits 40 Acres ‘Greatest snowboarder of all time’ speaks about struggles, motivation. By Sara Schleede @saraschleede
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n hour before Olympic gold medalist Shaun White was slotted to take the stage at Hogg Memorial Auditorium, students whispered excitedly about, “The Flying Tomato” and, “The greatest snowboarder of all time” as they waited in a line that wrapped around the building. White spoke about his
snowboarding career and struggles with personal motivation Monday night in a conversation hosted by Texas Cowboys Lectureship. White began snowboarding at age six. He said he recalls his family of five cramming into motels on weekends, his mother cooking pasta or beans on the stovetop and setting off fire alarms, all to make it to the slopes as often as possible. White said he quickly drew attention for being small and fast, and he gained his first sponsorship at age seven. “At that point, I didn’t really think too much of myself, but then I realized, ‘Oh, I can win something,’” White said. White went on to compete in the
X Games for the first time at age 13. Today, he has a medal count of 23. He also received a gold medal at the Winter Olympics in 2006, 2010 and 2018. “I love (snowboarding) because it is the one thing that can completely take you out of anything,” White said. “It’s so peaceful to just focus on one thing.” When White goes airborne, he said he often hums Christmas songs in his head and thinks of the next move to create a balance of preparation and mindlessness. “If you focus too hard, it’s too calculated,” White said. “It’s all a feeling.” His fourth place placement at
the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi was a wake up call, so White said he spent the next few years trying to make his failure “the greatest thing that has happened to (him)” before competing in PyeongChang in 2018. “It’s a lot easier to do a bunch of sit-ups,” White said. “It’s a lot harder to fix your mental issues and motivation.” Sarah Bookout, speech language pathology senior, brought her snowboard to the event, hoping White would sign it. While she had no such luck, Bookout said she was thrilled to hear from an athlete whom she has admired since she
WHITE page 2
RIVERSIDE page 2 CAMPUS
STUDENT GOVERNMENT
Be Kind to Your Mind: CMHC promotes mental well-being in weeklong event
Stickers help victims of sexual violence By Katie Balevic @katelynbalevic
By Meghan Nguyen @megnnguyen
This week’s schedule is full. Yoga, tie-dye and sugar scrubs are just a few of the attractions offered as part of the Counseling and Mental Health Center’s Mental Health Promotion Week. A wide committee of students, peer educators, CMHC student organization members and volunteers are putting on the weeklong event, now in its third year. The week features interactive events focused on promoting mental health resources and instilling healthy habits that are conducive to mental well-being, said Kelsey Lammy, mental health promotion coordinator for the CMHC. Common themes throughout the events include self-care, mindfulness, gratitude, resilience and inclusivity. On Monday, students visited interactive booths and collected stickers to earn prizes on the Flawn Academic Center patio. Be Kind to Your Mind Fest, the kickoff event for the week, highlighted various CMHC resources including workshops, volunteer opportunities and classes. The Thrive at UT iPhone app was one resource highlighted at
Stickers with resources for victims of sexual violence are popping up in University bathrooms in an attempt to give students and faculty a private place to access resources they may need. The green and white “We believe you” stickers, which appear on some bathroom mirrors in Gregory Gym and the Recreational Sports Center, are the result of Student Government legislation co-authored by Charlie Bonner, former University-wide representative,
nearly a year ago. “Our initial proposal was to have these resource stickers in every bathroom on campus to make sure we were getting the resources to every single person possible,” said Bonner, a Plan II and government senior. “We should be doing everything we can to support these survivors … so they can stay in school and get an education like the rest of us.” The stickers list contact information for Voices Against Violence, the Counseling and Mental Health Center, the Behavior Concerns Advice Line, the Title IX investigation office
STICKERS page 3
copyright meghan nguyen, and reproduced with permission CMHC peer educators Portia Yuen and Miriam Lamoreaux discuss the variety of resources CMHC has to offer to Brenda Martinez, a journalism freshman. Monday’s events. The app helps busy students make small changes in their routines to enhance their well-being. “This is actually the first time that (Be Kind to Your Mind Fest) has been this well-received and engaging for the UT community,” said Zachary Markizer, CMHC peer educator and public health sophomore.
“Though we’ve done this event before, it’s always been at a smaller scale.” CMHC is partnering with Tejas Club to host a talk on self-care Thursday evening. On Friday, students can de-stress with therapy dogs on East Mall and then participate in the Unplug UT campaign, signing a pledge online to “unplug” for
any amount of time to do more fulfilling activities. “I think we live in an age where we often think of social connections as connections we cultivate over technology,” Lammy said. “Disconnecting from technology can help you be more present in the moment and
CMHC page 2
jessica joseph | the daily texan staff Charlie Bonner, Plan II and Government senior, co-authored a student government legislation that places “We believe you” stickers on bathroom mirrors. The green and white stickers list resources for sexual assault survivors.
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The UT School of Nursing is collaborating with the Travis County Fire Rescue and Central Health to bring the first primary care clinic to Southeast Travis County. Primary care includes pediatrics, family medicine and internal medicine. According to Stephanie Morgan, director of practice innovation and professor at the UT School of Nursing, Southeast Travis County’s strong need for primary care is the driving force behind the decision to open the clinic by the end of the summer. The new clinic will offer pediatric, women’s health and chronic disease management services, as well as typical preventative services such as annual exams and physicals. Morgan said that her team is also considering incorporating other types of care, including pharmacy, dental and behavioral health services. “There is not a full-time family practice anywhere in the area,” Morgan said. “Due to the lack of public transportation, there are technically a lot of folks without any kind of healthcare. It’s a big issue.” Ken Bailey, the chief of Travis County Fire Rescue, said he sees the new
elias huerta | the daily texan staff Over 1,000 apartment units in East Riverside are a part of plans for rezoning, including Ballpark South on East Riverside Drive.
RIVERSIDE
not yet been confirmed. An initial meeting was held at Good Shepherd On The Hill Episcopal Church on April 4. Representatives of the East Riverside and Oltorf, Montopolis and Govalle and Johnston Terrace locations attended to ask questions, but the meeting drew protesters and was cut short because of its contentious nature. Daniel Llanes, chair of the Govalle and Johnston Terrace neighborhood contact team, which represents his neighborhood, said even though he does not agree with the way the protesters acted, he does not think they were wrong. “(The developers) are proposing to make more money and that’s what they do,” Llanes said. “I rather doubt that they will be successful because even amongst all this chaos, there was neighborhood representation … We all came over here to let that guy know.” Whellan said the team is many months away from moving forward on the project. Residents would receive a notice six months in advance of demolition, if the project is approved.
continues from page 1 units that would be close to $900 per month. “We are concerned about the removal of affordable housing in this area,” said Malcolm Yeatts, chair of East Riverside and Oltorf representative. “The question is, how do we go about negotiating with the developer in order to create some affordable housing units?” Whellan said a benefit of development in East Riverside is that because it is primarily student housing, large displacement would not occur. Additionally, development in the area would create a district combining residential and business complexes without the congestion seen in downtown Austin. “Additional office space will create an independent employment node outside of downtown on a key transit corridor,” Whellan said in his letter. The Land Use Commission will not be able to approve or deny the application until a neighborhood meeting is held. A meeting date and time has
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transportation). Well, now you need to get your blood drawn so you can get lab work done, and then once lab work is done, they’re going to want to see you again,” Bailey said. “So that’s two trips to the clinic. What if we send the fire department, who you know and trust, to your house beforehand and we draw your blood? So that way, when you show up to one of your visits (at the clinic), your stuff’s already there.” Most of the population, however, is under- or uninsured. Even among those who have insurance, Medicare and Medicaid are the most common forms of insurance. These two insurance plans are notorious for providing low reimbursements to providers, which, according to Morgan, make finances the biggest challenge to maintaining the clinic over the long term. Morgan and her team are looking into making the clinic federally qualified, allowing for subsidies from the federal government and higher reimbursements per patient. The response from Southeast Travis County residents concerning the clinic has been overwhelmingly positive. “I have not heard a negative comment except for, ‘It can’t happen sooner,’” Bailey said.
By Chad Lyle
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clinic as an opportunity to improve the allocation of emergency care resources. “Currently, we go to every 911 call, whether it’s someone with cardiac arrest or a stubbed toe,” Bailey said. “In this case, we’re hoping to divert some of those incidents into the clinic. At the end of the day, we want to make sure we’re using the right resource for the right incident.” The clinic will be located in redesigned and added portions of an existing fire station in Southeast Travis County. Under this model of care, the nursing staff and fire rescue staff will work closely together. According to Morgan, this is the first time that this model of care has been implemented in Texas, but a California clinic has successfully developed a similar model. “They have a full-time practitioner and they’re adding a second one, and they’ve extended hours,” Morgan said. “It’s a successful model.” The California clinic is separated from the fire department by a parking lot. The Austin model will place the two entities in the same building, offering the nursing and fire rescue staff opportunities to interact and learn from each other, Bailey said. “Let’s say you’re 65 years old and (you lack
Organization puts faces, stories with Austin’s homeless population to encourage donations
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People are more likely to help familiar faces than strangers in need, said Kevin Price, who launched Hearing the Homeless to familiarize the city of Austin with its homeless population. “The idea (for HTH) originally started as a play off of Humans of New York,” Price said. Humans of New York is a popular photoblog that chronicles the lives of everyday New Yorkers. Similar to HONY, the signature element of HTH are short video interviews of homeless individuals around Austin, which are posted on HTH’s website and social media. Price says another way HTH differentiates itself is by offering a second outlet for audiences to interact with video subjects: by donating. “If you watch a story about a guy named Charles, you can give directly to Charles,” Price said. “You’ll be able to text ‘HTH’ to 41444 and give directly, but in a way that maximizes those donations because (the recipients) can only use them for targeted needs.” Price recently partnered with Texas Tower PR, a student-run public relations firm at UT, to increase his organization’s name recognition and social media presence. Public relations senior Blaire Babyak said she met Price at an art event and immediately brought HTH on
andre fernandez | the daily texan staff Hearing the Homeless is an organization that was launched by Kevin Price (left) that plays off of Humans of New York. Hearing the Homeless offers a unique way of introducing the homeless population to the city of Austin. as a Texas Tower client. Babyak said she admired Price’s effort because she has also worked with Austin’s homeless community. “I have an internship with Art from the Streets, where homeless people create art and we sell it for them,” Babyuk said. “(Price) is so passionate, I just fell in love with his mission and I was immediately on board.” Public relations sophomore
Rachel Margolin, who is part of HTH’s team at Texas Tower, said HTH offered her a unique opportunity to work with an engaged client. “I think it helps when you’re passionate about an organization you’re working with,” Margolin said. “Now (Texas Tower PR) really (has) a chance to connect with an organization and feel passionate about it. I think that helps us work even harder.”
Price said it usually isn’t hard to find people who are willing to share their stories. “Me and my videographer will walk around, we’ll find someone that seems nice and interesting and I’ll just sit behind the camera and ask them questions,” Price said. “The heart of the program is sharing with people how incredible these people are if only they would stop and ask a question here and there.”
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WHITE
continues from page 1
started snowboarding 13 years ago. “I really related to him when they asked him to describe snowboarding,” Bookout said. “You aren’t really thinking of anything, but you have the melody of a song in your head. You have to … get your mindset right first.” Tadia Franko, rhetoric and writing senior, has been a fan of White since his first Olympic appearance, and said she admired his humanity. “He’s a great snowboarder and a great person in general, and that really showed tonight,” Franko said. “He is so humble and there is so much passion there.” While White loves to snowboard, he said he is constantly challenging himself to do other things, such as skateboarding and performing music, just to prove to himself that he can. White said trying things and failing is essential to growth as an
athlete and as a person. “You learn what not to do (through) mistakes,” White said. “You have to make mistakes.”
HAPPY HOUR
CMHC
continues from page 1 connect with others.” Melina Acosta, graduate student and prevention and outreach assistant at the CMHC, said normalizing conversations about mental health is integral to eliminating the stigma surrounding it. “Research shows that the majority of mental health conditions manifest between the teenage years and mid20s,” Acosta said. “Many people in this age group find themselves at institutions of higher education, making it of utmost importance for colleges and universities to have appropriate mental health resources and a mental health climate on campus that promotes discussions about help-seeking behaviors.”
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TUESDAY, APRIL 10, 2018
CAMPUS
‘Professional Black person’ drops by Belo Damon Young talks humor, cultural critque, upcoming book. By Tristan Stitt @stitttristan
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elf-proclaimed “professional Black person” Damon Young stopped by the Belo Center Monday to talk about his work in writing provocative, humorous cultural critiques as well as his upcoming book. Young co-founded the blog VerySmartBrothas and has written for publications such as GQ, The New York Times and The Washington Post. He said VSB’s content is more tonguein-cheek and relatable than other publications. “VSB is a culture blog that myself and my co-founder, Panama Jackson, started in 2008 to deal with race, culture and politics,” Young said. “We write about serious topics with a more absurdist bend to it.” On VSB’s website, you will find headlines ranging from “What We Mean When We Call White People ‘Colonizers’” to “Why Do Some of You Suck So Much at Parking?” Young uses comedy in many of his writings and said it is effective even when delving into serious topics such as race. “Humor is vital as a method of protest in activism,” Young said. “Being outraged is often the first response, but I think we can also see how silly racism can be and use that.”
STICKERS
continues from page 1 and University Health Services. Bonner and other co-authors of the legislation said they want the information to be a consistent reminder of the support available to victims. “Every time you wash your hands, you see (the sticker), and you know it’s there,” said Katherine Stadler, UT alumna
Ricarsha Mobley, public relations senior, said she was intrigued by a piece Young did on police brutality and wanted to hear him for herself. “I saw an interview of him … and it was just really amazing,” Mobley said. “Sometimes, when you want to be a journalist, you can’t really express your
personal views, but he’s doing both and I want to see how that works.” Austin native Ralph Daniel also came to hear Young speak and said he enjoys his work. “I am familiar with him from VerySmartBrothas, and I think he’s hilarious,” Daniel said. “If you enjoy something in written
form, it is always good, in my opinion, to come and hear from the writer in real life.” Young’s upcoming book will be a series of essays about his experience with racism. He said the title of the book is still being finalized, but he hinted at what it might be. “The first tentative title was
‘N*gga Neurosis’ — a term I created about not realizing that a lot of things happening to you are because you are black,” Young said. “Y’all are actually the first ones to hear this, but the title we are possibly going with now is ‘What Doesn’t Kill You Makes You Blacker,’ which I’m actually liking better.”
evelyn moreno | the daily texan staff Damon Young (left), co-founder and editor-in-chief of VerySmartBrothas, spoke to students, faculty and locals about the blog and his upcoming book. Dave Junker (right), senior lecturer and director of the Moody College of Communication honors program, facilitated the discussion before opening the floor to questions.
and co-author of the legislation. “Some people don’t want to pick up the little pamphlets and brochures and walk around with them in their bag. People don’t want to broadcast it to the world.” The initiative aims to protect victims’ privacy, said Stadler, former justice of SG Supreme Court. “You’re more likely to seek help if you don’t think anybody
else will know about it, which is sad,” Stadler said. “If it comes to the point (where) you’re not going to get help because you don’t want anyone to know about it, then I would rather provide you the resources where you can get help privately.” While sticker resources are only being implemented in two RecSports locations, Bonner said he hopes to eventually have them in every bathroom on
campus, despite the University’s concerns about its facilities having to implement and maintain the stickers. “RecSports was so generous to pilot (this initiative) and show the University that this really isn’t a hindrance on its facilities,” Bonner said. “It’s something that we should expand in the future to make sure that most people have the access, especially in places like dorms and areas where
people spend a lot of time.” Jennifer Speer, director of communications, assessment and development at the Rec Center, said helping students implement these types of initiatives is part of their job as administrators. “Historically, we as a staff are expected to meet with students, listen to ideas and see the feasibility of anything,” Speer said. “Some things can’t come to
fruition, but if we are able to do it, we will work within our power to get things done.” Despite setbacks from administration, Bonner said he and his team are determined to see the project impact the whole campus. “We would be willing to do whatever is necessary to see this program expand,” Bonner said. “I’ll go put up all the stickers myself.”
RESEARCH
Professor uses own cancer diagnosis to fuel research By Kevin Dural @kevindural26
As an undergraduate student at the University of California, Berkeley, cancer drug researcher Jonathan Sessler was diagnosed with Hodgkin’s lymphoma. Sessler ultimately beat the disease, and now his research focuses on cancer diagnosis and treatment. Sessler, now an organic chemistry professor at UT-Austin, has over 75 issued patents with the United States Patent and Trademark Office and was the 2016 UT-Austin Inventor of the Year. Alongside Richard Miller, his doctor while pursuing a Ph.D. at Stanford, Sessler co-founded Pharmacyclics in 1991. Pharmacyclics went public in 1995 and was successful due to Sessler’s contribution to the development of the molecule texaphyrin, named for its ability to be overlaid on the Texas flag’s star. Texaphyrins have the ability to target tumors more effectively than previous treatments, Sessler said. They are a derivative of porphyrins — molecules shaped like a hollow ring that are present in red blood cells. “As much as I racked my brains, I just couldn’t figure out a way to make that new cancer drug,” Sessler said. “When I arrived in Texas, it became clear that here, everything is bigger, so I had this simple idea to make a bigger version of porphyrins.” Pharmacyclics was acquired by drugmaker AbbVie, Inc. in 2015 for $21 billion. Sessler recently founded Cible, Inc., building upon research developed while working at Pharmacyclics. Sessler’s current work focuses on using texaphyrin to deliver platinum-based chemotherapy drugs directly to tumor cells. This, according
copyright ut austin, and reproduced with permission A cancer survivor himself, UT chemistry professor Jonathan Sessler focuses his research on helping others also affected by cancer. to Sessler, is a much more effective and accurate method of administering platinum cancer treatment. “We’ve been working on it for about a year and a half,” Sessler said. “Currently, we’re actively seeking funding. We’re pursuing results and chasing money.” Erin Overstreet, program director of life science licensing at the Office of Technology Commercialization (OTC), recognizes the importance of Sessler’s work. “We are fortunate to have scientists as renowned as Dr. Sessler at UT-Austin,” Overstreet said. “Our scientists are leaders in their fields and have helped pave the way for groundbreaking discoveries to move from the academic research labs to the marketplace with an end result of improving the lives of many on a local, national and global basis.” Sessler said the main difficulty of his job is fundraising. As for the commercialization process, Sessler describes it as a challenging endeavor due to the difficulties of applying for patents, raising
funds and conducting clinical trials. However, Sessler credits the OTC at UT-Austin for making the process easier. According to its website, the OTC is responsible for the efficient transfer of University discoveries to the marketplace for the benefit of society. Betsy Merrick, OTC program director of marketing and public relations, said that commercialization can be a complex, multi-step operation as discoveries emerge from academic research and move through the path of lab to market. “The OTC helps manage patent filings and licensing for these sort of inventions,” Sessler said. “They’re vital, and they know what they’re doing.” Sessler said influencing millions of lives is what motivates him to spend hours and hours in a laboratory every day developing molecules. “The technology developed working at Pharmacyclics has been used to treat 40 percent of all leukemia patients,” Sessler said. “And I’m just a very small part of that, so it’s a good feeling.”
ELLIE BREED Managing Editor “Texas Student Media and The Daily Texan have become my home on campus over the last three years and introduced me to some of my best friends. The Texan has given me so much reporting, editing and management experience, and I am always grateful for the opportunity to work with a group of such talented students.”
LAURA HALLAS Editor-in-Chief “Working at The Daily Texan has been an invaluable part of my college experience. The basement introduced some of my best friends, built my skillset as a leader, and equipped me to write on a professional level. I have been privileged to work as editor, but pr every one of the talented students involved in Texas Student Media entities have had their own transformative experiences.”
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TUESDAY, APRIL 10, 2018
COLUMN
Riverside makeover would harm students Riverside’s student housing is in danger. Is anyone paying attention? By Ryan Young @ ryanayng
senior columnist
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raffic on Interstate 35 permitting, the student apartments at Riverside are just a 15-minute UT shuttle ride from campus. Surrounded by aging strip malls, bisected by the quiet Country Club Creek and neighboring the forests of the Ray G. Guerrero River Park, this student community is quiet, peaceful and laid-back — everything that West Campus is not.
Lifestyle preferences aside, Students call Riverside home for more quantitative reasons: good UT shuttle service and lower costs of living.” By choosing to live in Riverside, students trade closeness to campus for ample parking, tennis courts and green spaces. It’s the kind of relaxed living arrangement that Marina Flores, a fourth-year sociology major who lives in the Ballpark Apartments, appreciates. “It’s just more enjoyable to get away from campus … to not be surrounded by all that all the time,” Flores said. But Riverside may not stay that way for long. A cocky Los Angeles developer is eyeing Riverside to construct a supersized “urban village.” If approved by the city, the
plan would demolish the Ballpark East student apartments and build 160-foot skyscrapers in their place. The concept, called Project Catalyst, has been dubbed “Austin’s next Domain,” in reference to the neighborhood built in a similar fashion — close-in buildings, narrow streets and mixed-use high-rises. The Domain, located just north of the Pickle Research Campus, has itself been billed “Austin’s second downtown” for its trendy, high-priced attractions including an Apple Store. Sterile, impersonal and bourgeois, the Domain is hardly worthy of that title. Bye-bye Riverside. Redevelopment on this scale indicates that more development is on its way. “Across the entire United States, city cores are rebounding,” said Jake Wegmann, architecture assistant professor who studies affordable housing. “In a place like Austin, any property within … five, six, maybe even eight miles of downtown is going to have pressure on it going forward.” Riverside, despite its reputation for affordability, is within spitting distance of downtown. The fact that it’s already slated for redevelopment is the proverbial canary that signals demand for more to come. “Real estate development happens in response to rapidly escalating land prices,” Wegmann said. “By the time buildings are being built, it’s too late to really reverse that fundamental dynamic.” In other words, Riverside is facing the G-word: gentrification. And unlike the New York City case studies in your urban studies textbook, the people that stand to lose are the Longhorns with whom you go to class, form study groups and participate in clubs with every day. Lifestyle preferences aside, students call Riverside home for more quantitative reasons: good UT shuttle service and lower costs of living. Flores, for example,
annette meyer | the daily texan staff currently pays $600 a month for a bedroom that previously cost her $1000 in West Campus. “I think it’s a big issue for the University, a big issue for students — particularly as UT tries hard to be accessible to everyone in Texas and not only students from higher-income backgrounds,” Wegmann said. Flores was shocked when informed about the proposed development, which
COLUMN
could spell the end for affordable housing in Riverside. “Why can’t they find somewhere else to put that?” Flores said. “Where else are these students supposed to live?” If Project Catalyst kicks off a chain reaction that causes that price difference to evaporate, then it’s on the city — and UT — to answer those questions. Young is a computer science senior from Bakersfield, California.
COLUMN
It is time for the University to make buildings entirely accessible By William Kosinski @willkosinski
columnist
melanie westfall | the daily texan staff
Students will miss out on fun, networking at SXSW next year By Caleb Wong @ calebawong
senior columnist
For years, South by Southwest has offered the rarest of opportunities: professional experience and unabashed revelry — often at the same time. A lowly student without a badge can wait in line and get free drinks at a bar without paying cover, courtesy of a giant brand. During my freshman and sophomore years, I volunteered over 40 hours during spring break to earn a badge so I could see the CEO of Lyft speak, got business cards from technology reporters and saw some forgettable movie premieres. This spring, I teared up watching a documentary about the educational TV host Mr. Rogers at the Alamo Drafthouse on South Lamar. Doing these events required a sizable amount of time waiting in line and volunteering — and I would do it all over again. But students won’t be able to access these opportunities anymore next year. The dates for UT’s spring break and SXSW no longer align. “Looking forward, the University has been talking to SXSW after this and trying to work as well together as possible,” UT spokesman J.B. Bird said. “We really regret the two spring breaks didn’t line up this time.” Revelers will miss out on the complimentary drinks and the opportunity to see undercover acts play at late nights at the festival — unless they skip class. More importantly, students studying radio-television-film or other creative media will be hurt even more because they won’t be able to take part in one of biggest conferences in their field. Ten days of exposure to industry leaders can help them make headway in careers that depend on connections. “If I wasn’t doing SXSW, then there’s not any real incentive to be developing myself as a filmmaker,” said Will Haughey, radio-television-film sophomore and aspiring commercial photographer. “Now what am I going to do?”
The overlap in dates is not the fault of students like Haughey. Instead, responsibility lies with the University Calendar Academic Committee. The committee has scheduled spring break, for decades, to take place during the third week of March. However, breaking with precedent, the committee scheduled 2019 spring break to take place during the fourth week of March. SXSW spokeswoman Elizabeth Derczo said they planned the 2019 dates a decade in advance based on that established precedent. The University committee should have got together with festival representatives during the planning stages of the academic calendar, which took place two years in advance of the 2018-2019 year. If the University had included SXSW in the early planning of the academic calendar, both institutions could have aligned their dates.
Despite all of the positive attributes of a world-class campus, access continues to weigh down UT. Specifically, there are barriers in dormitories and other buildings that prohibit disabled individuals from fully accessing them. UT must build elevators, improve existing ramps and build new ramps to fully create a inclusive environment for our disabled classmates. Now, UT building policy mandates there to be at least one way for a disabled person to get in to a building. This definition must be expanded to give disabled people access to the entirety of the campus. Government sophomore Caroline Graves uses a wheelchair to get around campus. She lives in San Jacinto, where she has complete access to all parts of the building thanks to a plethora of ramps and elevators. In other places, though, current construction prevents Graves’ ability to move freely about a building. “I have friends who live in the (Brackenridge, Roberts and Prather Residence Halls) or the
It’s hard to imagine how students will benefit from missing a world-class festival that brings industry leaders.” In a statement, the University said that 2019’s spring break dates are grounded in the “educational needs of our students.” However, when faculty include SXSW in their curriculum planning and students use the festival to put their classroom knowledge to practice, it’s hard to imagine how students will benefit from missing a world-class festival that brings industry leaders from “Star Wars” producers to headliners like Chance the Rapper. “It’s a fun thing to do with your friends. It feels like you’re part of something bigger,” said Shalave Cawley, a radio-television-film junior. “I hope they realize how big of a deal this is to students.” Wong is a government and Plan II senior from McKinney.
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.
few ramps leading to the first floor of the building, but those in wheelchairs are extremely limited in their access once inside. These two examples — and Graves’ revealing experience — beg the question: Why build ramps to inaccessible floors? These buildings are effectively shut off to disabled students if there is no elevator. Part of the college experience is socializing in dorms and joining clubs in new buildings, and disabled students’ rights to these experiences are limited because of this technicality. This must change. The school is subject to federal law, of which the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 states, “No otherwise qualified individual with a disability in the United States … shall, solely by reason of her or his disability, be excluded from the participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any program or activity.” Something as simple as visiting a friend is an activity every college student should be able to do, and this can be made possible to disabled students via ramps and elevators. Beyond the law, disabled people simply deserve equity. “People with disabilities just want to have t h e same
rachel tyler | the daily texan staff Blanton and Carothers quad area and can’t really visit them in their rooms because, as far as I know, these buildings aren’t accessible or have elevators,” Graves said. The same is true for Kinsolving, where one of the two accessible entrances is on the side of the building and is not immediately open to use. One elevator takes you from the first floor to a study lounge. There is no way a person in a wheelchair can access rooms on any of the other upper floors. Moore Hill is similar — there are a
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.
opportunities and experiences as able-bodied people do,” Graves said. “We want to go to class, hang out with friends and go to events just like anyone else would.” UT cannot claim to be a fully inclusive institution while failing to allow disabled students into every part of campus. The school must be proactive for its disabled students by installing the infrastructure necessary. Proper access is vital to the livelihood of a valuable community. Kosinski is a journalism freshman from San Rafael, California.
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.
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TUESDAY, APRIL 10, 2018
FASHION
SHORT STORY
Excerpt of ‘The Eulogist,’ Andrea Tinning’s fictional short story By Andrea Tinning @ andreawinning
anthony mireles| the daily texan staff At Austin Intercultural Network’s fashion show, designers and attendees were exposed to fashion from African, Indian and Native American culture, all to raise awareness.
At Intercultural Fashion Show, the runway reflects the world By Danielle Ortiz @danielleaortiz
Coco Chanel said the world is the runway, but for the five designers who showcased their clothes at the Austin Intercultural Fashion Show, the runway should reflect the world. The stereotypical image of tall, skinny and mostly white models wearing clothes designed by white designers is ingrained in popular culture. For decades, the fashion world has been a target of criticism for not reflecting the range of cultures and ethnicities that make up the world’s population. According to the Fashion Spot’s diversity report, the fall 2018 fashion season is the most racially diverse and gender-inclusive one yet, indicating that fashion’s narrow view is slowly changing. The Austin Intercultural Network wants to bring about and accelerate this change locally. With their 5th annual Intercultural Fashion Show, the organization promotes cultural awareness through its lineup of designers, including Theo Shayo from Africa and Divya Bharal from India. The show also featured its first Native American designer, Nan Blassingame.
Shalini Komarla, the event organizer of Intercultural Fashion Show, said that the show was founded on the basis of bringing people together. The idea took shape after the organization hosted an informal fashion show and saw a great turnout. Now its shows sell out. “There are restaurants where you can eat food from different parts of the world,” Komarla said. “But there was no platform for people to wear clothing from their part of the world.” According to Komarla, Austin has had a diverse fashion scene for many years and having a show to reflect that diversity seemed right. Shayo, founder of the clothing shop Shavanthe, was one of the designers featured in the show. She specializes in traditional and contemporary clothing made from African prints, where she draws inspiration from her culture and travels to 21 countries. Shayo said she moved from Tanzania to Texas seven years ago and noticed the lack of diversity in fashion. For Shayo, the show isn’t just about sharing her clothes, but rather getting to see different cultures herself. “I look around and there’s
models from South America, Asia, and here, it’s beautiful,” Shayo said. “I’m even getting inspired by the show.” Zane McCarthy, chairman of the board for AIC, said he looks forward to the show every year because it’s not just about the fashion. “It’s very easy to get caught around people like yourself, but events like these expose you to different cultures and people,” McCarthy said. “It allows people to socialize and understand — a fashion show gives us something to talk about.” The platform the show provides draws in attendees such as UT alumna, Denise Sanchez, who loves what AIC is doing for multicultural designers. “Yes, this is a fashion show, but it’s more about the diversity,” Sanchez said. “The designers have a wonderful opportunity to showcase their beautiful creative pieces when they don’t have that chance elsewhere.” For Shayo, there’s still work to be done to create more diversity in Austin, but as a designer she feels like she can be part of the change. “I want to be relatable to everybody so they can wear my clothing,” Shayo said.
Editor’s Note: This is an excerpt of “The Eulogist,” a fictional short story. You can read the rest at dailytexanonline.com. The waitress brought me a cup of coffee and I looked out the window. A Ford Pinto rolled up through the parking lot and that could only mean one thing: Veronica was finally here. She was my cousin, and she got the car. We were meeting for lunch before she went back to college. I was staying in town for another week helping my sister go through Great Aunt Ellie’s things after the funeral.
diane sun & johnathan daniels | the daily texan staff
she wore sunglasses right until she got up to the podium to deliver the eulogy. I figured she sat in the back or maybe even left right after because I didn’t see her at all until the reception. “Hey, Veronica,” I said cheerfully. “Hey,” she said as she plopped herself down on the opposite side of the booth. The waitress came by and offered her a menu, but Veronica shook her hands and declined, asking only for a coffee with half and half. “Not hungry?” I asked. “Nope,” she said. “I’ll be honest and say I’m kind of in a rush to get out of this shithole village before I contract a disease.” One or two people looked at her disdainfully when she said that. I think she realized it and quickly pivoted to a different conversation topic. “Anyway, Greg,” she at last took off her sunglasses to look me in the eye, “what did you want to talk about?” It’s true, I had an agenda. When I heard the family writer would be coming, I had to make sure I got a chance to talk to her. Veronica was the only one of us who was making it—or at
Veronica was eight years younger than me. She had grown up as the baby in the family and I remember her being coddled and passed around by all my aunts and uncles nonstop. They all wanted to look at her and take some of her cute, loving, innocent baby energy and relish in it for themselves, because maybe her perfect youth would give them an extra year of life or something. Now Veronica was older, her hair was darker, and she always wore sunglasses, which I thought was obnoxious. Even at the funeral,
least trying to. She was getting an English degree at Stanford and was published once or twice in literary magazines or online somewhere. I forget which. I thought at least this would be a good networking opportunity in spite of the funeral. “I’m writing a book,” I said. “Oh?” Her eyes sunk a little bit. “Yeah,” I told her. “It’s about World War II.” “Cool.” She stirred her coffee and took a sip. “I’m guessing you want me to look it over then or something?” “Yeah, if you have time,” I said. I didn’t think this conversation would be so awkward, but here we are in this coffee shop, and for some reason I already feel sorry for mentioning it. “How long is it?” “120 pages right now, double-spaced. I’m almost done.” She nodded. “Well, you know my email address. Send it over.” She left a few bucks on the table for her coffee, said, “Later, Greg,” and left. I don’t know how she turned out to be such a prick, but I guess that’s what expensive schooling does to people.
mel westfall | the daily texan staff
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6
TRENTON DAESCHNER
SPORTS EDITOR @TEXANSPORTS
TUESDAY, APRIL 10, 2018
BASEBALL
Hundreds gather to remember Augie Garrido Gone but not forgotten; Garrido’s legacy lives on. By Travis Hlavinka @travhlav
T
he man who hired legendary baseball coach Augie Garrido in 1997, former Texas athletic director DeLoss Dodds, smiled as he spoke of something subtle that reminded him of his late friend early Monday afternoon. “When I walked in, I saw that Longhorn Network truck. It reminded me of Augie’s coaching show, ‘Home Plate,’” Dodds said. “And it got me thinking, ‘What baseball coach would have a coaching show about cooking food?’ And I’ll admit, it was the only coaching show I ever watched.” Those words embody everything that made Garrido unlike anybody else in the profession and endeared by so many. He wasn’t your average coach. He wasn’t your conventional personality. He represented everything great about positively impacting the lives of those around you. A memorial service for Garrido, who passed away on March 15 following a stroke, was held Monday afternoon at the Frank Erwin Center. Notable attendees included multiple former and current Texas head coaches for various sports — Mack Brown, Rick Barnes, Shaka Smart and David Pierce to name a few — former MLB and
anthony mireles | the daily texan file Friends and fans united Monday at the Frank Erwin Center to remember Garrido. The former Texas head coach embodied winning, totaling a collegiate-record 1,975 victories before retiring in 2016. college baseball players from both Texas and Cal State Fullerton — Garrido’s coaching stop prior to Texas — and other big names from various occupations associated with the University of Texas. Hundreds of others showed up to honor the life of Garrido. And for most of the two-hour ceremony, there weren’t many dry eyes in the room. It started with former Texas pitcher and MLB All-Star Huston Street, who couldn’t hold back his overwhelming feelings toward his former coach. His message
“(Augie) wasn’t timid. He wasn’t fake. He was one of the most vulnerable people that I have ever known in my entire life.” Huston Street, former texas pitcher
was one of love, specifically the love that Garrido possessed for his players. “(Augie) wasn’t timid. He wasn’t fake,” Street said. “He was one of the most vulnerable people that I have ever known in my entire life. Because he loved us. He loved us so much. He loved each and every one of his students.” Some shared messages of jubilation while others told stories of Garrido’s eccentric nature. Others just shared statistics showing the utter dominance that Garrido
possessed throughout his coaching career. Brown shared multiple figures, including Garrido’s 1,975 total wins, five College World Series championships and seven Big 12 regular season titles. The overwhelming amount of success was sobering. It’s hard to comprehend just how good Garrido was at his job. Brown also told some comical stories about his time with Garrido. He mentioned Garrido’s high standards when telling a story about checking his players into a small motel, then driving across town to check himself into the Four Seasons. He made a joke about how when Garrido arrived at heaven’s gates, he’d ask St. Peter for an upgrade. He told of Garrido’s twinkling eyes and love of laughter. While Brown, Dodds and Barnes had the privilege of knowing him for decades, Garrido also made an impact on those he knew for only a brief moment. A good example of this was with Smart, who loved Garrido dearly and spoke about how the two became close friends in Smart’s three years on the 40 Acres. He spoke of the messages they shared and the bond they created by the love for pulling the best results out of young people. “I didn’t have the privilege of knowing Augie as long,” Smart said. “But I was really, really fortunate that he took an interest in me when I got to Texas. And he became a great, great friend and mentor.”
FOOTBALL
BASEBALL
anthony mireles | the daily texan file With spring football underway, Texas head coach Tom Herman looks to continue to shift the culture in Austin. The program is trending upward, landing the nation’s No. 3 recruiting class for 2018.
katie bauer | the daily texan file Blair Henley takes the mound with authority. The sophomore pitcher dominated on Sunday, allowing just one run in Texas’ 3-1 victory over of Baylor.
Herman: Texas ‘headed in the right direction’
Longhorns rekindle rivalry in College Station
By Keshav Prathivadi @kpthefirst
Every spring practice starts the same way — not at the coach’s whistle, but at the cue of blaring music around the Frank Denius Fields. But at the onset of Tuesday’s practice, an abnormal silence settled around the field. Instead of thumping bass, the din of clashing shoulder pads and vocal coaches and players echoed throughout. That’s exactly what Texas head coach Tom Herman wanted. “Sometimes silence can be distracting when you’re used to chaos and noise,” Herman said. “I wanted guys to bring their own energy level … probably most importantly, I wanted to hear guys communicate.” During the past three weeks of spring football, Herman and his coaching staff have preached effort in all aspects of the game. Now a little under two weeks out from the spring game, execution is next on the laundry list. Saturday’s scrimmage pitted both units against each other, bringing out the competitive nature and challenging each side to execute. Much to Herman’s satisfaction, each unit had its moments.
“Both sides of the ball are having some success,” Herman said. “As long as it’s balanced, I think we’re headed in the right direction. It certainly appears that way now.” On the offensive side of the ball, the Longhorns are continuing to look for ways to utilize their reloaded wide receiver core. With a long list of receivers on the depth chart, including sophomore Lil’Jordan Humphrey and freshman Brennan Eagles, Texas will focus a lot of its time on finding personnel for its slot position and three-wide-receiver sets. The Longhorns’ offensive struggles over the past two seasons have been attributed in part to inconsistent wide receiver play, and that’s something offensive coordinator Tim Beck wants to nail down this spring. “I think that the guys that are here are getting better,” Beck said. “It’s us coaching them. We know these guys a little bit more.” One of Texas’ main struggles this spring has been in the backfield, as a slew of fumbles in recent weeks prompted Herman to have open tryouts for the position. The losses of juniors Kyle Porter, Tristian Houston and Kirk Johnson to injury have forced sophomores Toneil Carter and Daniel Young to carry the load.
More importantly, addressing the running back position will take pressure off Texas’ quarterbacks. Sophomore quarterback Sam Ehlinger led the Longhorns in rushing yards last season, mostly due to an inconsistent running game. As a result, Texas has made the ground game a top priority this spring. “I think the first thing we said was that we’ve got to run the football better,” Beck said. “It takes some pressure and stress off (the quarterbacks) to have to feel like they have to make all the throws, all the plays, all the time.” Despite the Longhorns’ growing pains on offense, Herman and his staff have seen a more important development in their players from year one to two: buying in. During the first half-hour of practice, there’s a noticeable amount of players taking charge and coaching their teammates on effort and technique. This type of leadership helps increase accountability among players, and lets coaches do their job: coach and develop. “There’s a lot less coaching of culture and effort, or demanding of that,” Herman said. “The guys understand the expectations of practice which allows us to develop our new guys … we’re well ahead of where we were.”
By Shane Lewis @shanelewis4204
When Texas takes on Texas A&M in College Station Tuesday night, there will be no conference implications at stake. Now, almost six years after the Aggies left the Big 12 for the SEC, you would think the animosity between the teams would have died down. But make no mistake, these long-time rivals want to beat each other just as badly as ever. “C’mon, Longhorns versus Aggies?” Texas head coach David Pierce said. “It doesn’t matter if it’s in the parking lot or in a midweek game or in a super regional — it’s going to be fun. They’ve got a great club, and it’s going to be a hostile environment. It’s going to be a great experience for our team.” Texas and Texas A&M have matched up only five times since the Aggies departed the Big 12 in 2012. For the Longhorns, the midweek road trip is a chance to continue a tradition. “It’s one of the best rivalries,” sophomore pitcher Blair Henley said. “I’ve always loved watching the Texas A&M rivalries, whether it be football, basketball or baseball when I was younger. It’s going to be fun competing.” Both teams enter
Tuesday night’s game at Blue Bell Park playing some of their best baseball of the season. The Aggies have won three of their last four games, including a statement series win over No. 20 LSU. Texas, meanwhile, is in the midst of its longest winning streak of the season. Since a dramatic 11-10 loss to Kansas State on March 30, the Longhorns have pulled off six consecutive wins. Texas (22–12, 9–3 Big 12) now sits at third in the Big 12 standings and is only two games back of firstplace Oklahoma, who Texas faces in a three-game series in Norman this weekend. With both teams finding their groove, Tuesday’s showdown comes with an added degree of intensity. “The egos are big for both teams,” Henley said. “We have to go out there and do our job (to compete).” Texas has showcased a will to win by any means necessary during its winning streak. The Longhorns powered their way to a 9-3 win over Texas A&M-Corpus Christi last Tuesday thanks to a three-home-run game. Against Baylor on Saturday, Texas leaned heavily on its pitching, grinding out a 2-0 victory. Pierce attributed the team’s ability to win in different ways to the versatility of his lineup. “I love the fact that we’re
It’s one of the best rivalries. I’ve always loved watching the Texas-A&M rivalries... It’s going to be fun competing.” Blair Henley,
sophomore pitcher
able to utilize different players,” Pierce said. “When you’re able to utilize a diverse group, then you see guys really working hard in their preparation because there’s a chance of opportunity or loss of opportunity.” As the team heads into the second half of the season, it may be tempting to say that Texas is hitting its stride. But three times this year the Longhorns have had winning streaks of three or more games; after two of them, the Longhorns lost at least consecutive games. More consistency will be important down the stretch, and Henley thinks that the team has found just that. “I would say we’re peaking,” Henley said. “We’ve had it in us this whole time. It’s just now coming together.”
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TUESDAY, APRIL 10, 2018
SUDOKUFORYOU
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CHARLES LIU & CHRIS DUNCAN
LIFE&ARTS EDITORS @THEDAILYTEXAN
TUESDAY, APRIL 10, 2018
ART
Local artist Todd Sanders is keeping Austin weird Sanders has carved niche for himself with striking neon signs. By Anna-Kay Reeves @annakay_reeves
T
he bright lights of the big city glow a little brighter at the corner of South 1st and Annie Street. It’s here, behind the iconic “Greetings from Austin” mural, that artist Todd Sanders operates his studio and gallery. While the mural is a big draw, Sanders’ work, with something quite literally electric about it, isn’t to be outshined. “I fell in love with typography and signage when I was in college for graphic design,” Sanders said. “I made it three years in school when I took a trip to what was supposed to be New Braunfels, but I missed my turn and ended up in Austin.” For Sanders, this one wrong turn would turn out very right, putting him on the road to Austin and showing art in a gallery in New York City alongside the likes of Andy Warhol and Damien Hirst. “When we came into town, I saw all these neon signs and girls with tattoos and I just felt the city,” Sanders said. “I felt that Austin weird that people talk about, and I decided to move here and make neon signs.” Sanders did just that, quitting school to work for a signage company in Austin. He created contemporary works for a time until a retro style commission inspired him to venture out on his own and devote himself exclusively to signs built in the 1950s style. “I advertised around town, and the business really took off,” Sanders said. “It was
elias huerta | the daily texan staff Local artist Todd Sanders thrives in the Keep Austin Weird culture. successful, but I still wanted to shift more into the fine art side of working with neon and get away from the commercial side. So in 2005, I stopped taking business commissions. I felt like in time I could find a market for this kind of art.” Celina Zisman, a gallerist at the nearby South 1st Yard Dog Art, pointed out that the district offers art for a niche market. “Austin has great resources for experiencing what’s traditionally seen as fine art with places like the Blanton,” Zisman said. “But
the art that you can find in this district is a bit more down-home, a bit more accessible. And because of that I think you see a greater scope of Austinites both contributing to and admiring this art.” Despite the district’s established reputation as a source for accessible art, Sanders said he had a few tough years eking out an income from his neon pieces without the cushion of commercial commissions. With his wife encouraging him to press on in making fine
art, Sanders worked on promotion strategies, and eventually business began to boom. “It was like starting a fire. There was just a spark at first, barely there, but then you watch it and feed it and it becomes something huge that you can’t put out,” Sanders said. “I’ve been able to make connections in this community that really pushed me forward.” Ismael Mauricio Cavazos, fellow artist and former owner of the South 1st gal-
lery “In a Nutshell,” agreed that despite rising costs in the area, there’s a great community of artists in South Austin. “There’s definitely a shift going on right now just because of rising rent in the area, which has forced a lot of artists to move,” Cavazos said. “But people are getting creative about that and figuring out how to do collectives and support one another to keep the area thriving artistically.” These days, Roadhouse Relics isn’t sweating whether
to take commercial business. With celebrity clients such as Billy Gibbons from ZZ Top and Miranda Lambert, as well as clients around the world, Sanders said that these days he’s satisfied with where he is both professionally and geographically. “California’s neat, but it’s not Texas,” Sanders said. “This, Austin, is it for me. What’s happened with my art couldn’t have happened anywhere else. I’ll never live in any other city.”
MUSIC
Jake Bugg discusses life on road, inspirations for newest album
anothony mireles | the daily texan staff Jake Bugg discusses his most recent album, Hearts That Strain.
DAVID WILLIAMS “Texas Student Media gave me the opportunity to put years of jokes about people pretending to be animals to good use. The Texas Travesty has prepared me for a lifetime of using humor to hide my true feelings.”
Go to supportstudentvoices.org today to contribute to the next generation of leaders in media!
By Christa McWhirter @chrismac1193
Jake Bugg, now 24, released his UK double-platinum, self-titled debut in 2012. The singer-songwriter, who has been dubbed the Bob Dylan of his generation, sat down with The Daily Texan to talk about his newest album, Hearts That Strain, and other music on the way. DT: Your most recent album has more ballads on it than your previous albums. Was that something you planned? JB: No, I never really plan what songs I’m gonna write. It’s part of the adventure for me — just sitting there and seeing what’s gonna come out. I just sat in my flat in London and write these songs and take them over to Nashville, and sometimes they turn out ballads and sometimes otherwise. DT: What were some of your inspirations for this album? JB: I don’t know really. I was listening to a bit of country music. I love Tammy Wynette and Glen Campbell. I was listening to a lot of that stuff at the time. I guess I was getting myself prepared to go out to Nashville. DT: Yeah, you can definitely hear the Nashville vibes in there.
JB: I think that probably came from the musicians as well because some of the songs didn’t have country elements at all when I wrote them until I took them over (to Nashville), and the band I was playing with, Gene Chrisman and Bobby Wood, they played with Elvis. DT: What was the writing process like for some of the songs — “Southern Rain” in particular? JB: Funny enough, that was the last song I wrote for the record, and I already had the melody. And then when I was on my way to Nashville for the final time to finish the record, I did the lyrics at the airport on the way. And then when I got there, the band and the producers were like, “We need another song for the record. It needs one more song.” And I said, “Well I brought this song.” And they liked it. And then when they started playing along with it, it just brought the song to life. DT: What have been some of your favorite songs to perform this tour? JB: I like playing “Southern Rain,” actually. That’s a nice one to play. “Bigger Love” is one I enjoy playing from the record. It’s a lot of fun, it has a different dynamic live.
I’d be interested to see what it sounds like re-recorded. I like playing “Waiting” as well. I guess I’m saying all the new ones because it’s nice to have some new songs in the set and keep (it) fresh for myself and for the fans as well. DT: When people hear your music, what do you want them to get out of it? JB: Well, I believe music and songs (are) for people who can receive them, and how they receive them is up to themselves. What a song means to me as a writer can have a different interpretation from the listener and whatever people take away from that, that’s great. And sometimes people will come up to me and say a song has helped them through a hard time and inspired them to do something. And that’s inspiring in itself and it’s what keeps me going, keeps me wanting to write more songs. DT: Can we expect any new music anytime soon? JB: Yeah, I’m already working on my new record. I want to go a little more up-tempo this time, and they’re gonna pull the electric guitars out and I’ve got a couple songs already. Hopefully I can really get to work quickly and work with new people and do something fresh as well.