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SERVING THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT AUSTIN COMMUNITY SINCE 1900 @THEDAILYTEXAN | THEDAILYTEXAN.COM
FRIDAY, APRIL 13, 2018
VOLUME 118, ISSUE 139
N E WS
O PI N I O N
S CI E NCE &TE CH
S P ORTS
LIFE&ARTS
Facebook faces backlash all week long, UT expert weighs in. PAGE 2
Perspectiva Mexicana en UT: building a cultural community. PAGE 4
UT engineers develop a method of using solar energy to purify drinking water. PAGE 5
Baseball travels to Norman for Red River Rivalry weekend series with No. 16 Oklahoma. PAGE 6
Austin Poetry Slam chooses final five competitors for national competition. PAGE 8
CAMPUS
CAMPUS
Sparse amount of students utilize UHS SAFE service By Allyson Waller @allyson_renee7
juan figueroa | the daily texan staff Orlando Beckum II, a psychology and government freshman, left, and radio-television-film freshman Paris Vincent both identify as non-binary, a term to describe gender identities outside of the traditional male or female gender.
Non-binary students find comfort at UT Non-binary students reflect on their campus experiences. By Tiana Woodard @tianarochon
T
hough radio-television-film freshman Paris Vincent was assigned female at birth, being called a girl never felt completely right. Vincent was labeled a tomboy by their peers and struggled with their gender identity throughout their childhood. It wasn’t until a light-hearted conversation with friends at UT that Vincent finally found an answer to their questions. “My two best friends would make jokes about being gay as an umbrella term, and one day, they joked about bringing me over to the ‘darker, non-heterosexual side,’” Vincent said. “After thinking about it, I didn’t think that my gender identity was aligned with male or female.” Vincent now identifies as non-binary. Non-binary is typically used as a catch-all term for gender identities outside of the traditional gender binary of male and female, but some non-binary students believe this definition is too simplistic. Vincent explained their non-binary gender depends on their mood. “Most days, I’m usually leaning towards one or the other, not being those two gender constraints,” Vincent said. “I operate in the middle more often.” Studio art sophomore Melissa Garcia said they think of their non-binary identity like their pansexuality, a sexual orientation in which an individual is attracted to members of all genders.
“I don’t feel like I’m just a girl, I don’t feel like I’m just a boy,” Garcia said. “I don’t feel like I could just identify with they/them (pronouns), and I don’t feel like I could identify as neither.” While Vincent has known since last semester that they are non-binary, they haven’t told their parents yet. Other non-binary UT students, such as psychology and government freshman Orlando Beckum II, experienced acceptance from their family after coming out. “There are so many people who are not heterosexual in my family, and my mom accepts all of them because she grew up around people who weren’t heteronormative,” Beckum said. While Garcia has not come out to their parents, they said their mom often questioned their decision not to act feminine. “The first time I cut my hair short, she got angry and asked me why I was acting like a boy, and I just said, ‘I like it,’” Garcia said. “Anytime I would not look super feminine, she would say the same thing.” Though Vincent doesn’t know how their parents will react, Vincent has had positive and encouraging experiences openly expressing themself with their peers at UT. But Vincent said they’re still afraid that people will treat them differently once they find out they’re non-binary. “I’m afraid that someone is very cool with me, understands me, realizes I identify how I do, and then from that, realizes that they have to think all these certain things about me,” Vincent said. “(Introducing) yourself with your pronouns is something that people can use to categorize you as, ‘You must be this, this and this.’” On the other hand, Beckum said internalized homophobia negatively affects their perception of everyday occurrences, recalling a time when they wore a dress on campus and a group of men
Gender Non-Binary Terms agender
does not identify as having a gender at all
bigender
person encompasses both male and female genders
gender fluid
does not have a fixed gender
gender queer
identifies as neither/both male and female genders
gender non conforming does not conform to social expectations
nearby started laughing. “I didn’t know if they were actually laughing at me, but I felt that this was society laughing at me,” Beckum said. Garcia explained that despite not facing any major challenges in regards to their gender, they have experienced some mishaps in
NON-BINARY page 2
Since 2015, University Health Services has facilitated only six sexual assault forensic exams, despite a recent UT survey showing approximately 4,600 students reported being raped since enrollment at the University. “While we’ve only had six cases of SAFE (Stop Abuse for Everyone) Alliance coming out and doing a forensic exams, that doesn’t mean (UHS is) only seeing six students (for sexual assault),” said Kathy Mosteller, director of Nursing Services for UHS. “It means only six wanted to go through with the evidence collection.” The 2017 Cultivating Learning and Safe Environments, or CLASE, report, said nine percent of the UT community reported being raped while enrolled. As reported by The Austin Chronicle, UHS announced in 2015 it would be facilitating sexual assault forensic examinations on campus. The facilitation permits sexual assault nurse examiners from SAFE Alliance, an Austin nonprofit for victims of violence and abuse, to conduct forensic exams for student sexual assault victims. Although exams are free for UT students, and student exam information is kept confidential, Mosteller said many students are still hesitant to go through with the process. “The majority of students that reach out to us (about sexual assault) are not interested (in the exam),” Mosteller said. “They all have their own reasons for that and we support them.” According to UHS, getting an exam does not require sexual assault victims to report to police. Students have up to five days after the assault to receive an exam if they prefer police involvement and up to four days if they wish not to report the incident to police. If a student reports to law enforcement, their exam, or rape kit, will then be tested. Students who wish not to talk to police
UHS SAFE page 2
HEALTH
University offers professors, staff mental health services By Mason Carroll @masonccarroll
The University offers numerous mental health resources for students on campus, but that doesn’t mean faculty and staff mental health is overlooked. In a given year, one in five adults experience some type of mental illness, according to the National Alliance on Mental Health. The team at the Employee Assistance Program is the resource faculty and staff in distress can turn to for support with any kind of mental problems. EAP Director Susan Harnden said the program promotes wellness and collaborates to develop solutions for staff and faculty. Harnden also said the University provides an insurance plan, which includes mental and
behavioral health coverage for faculty and staff. “We have a great opportunity at the EAP to make a difference,” Harnden said. ”I have worked at the University of Texas at Austin for the past 25 years, and I have had the privilege to help and work beside committed and gifted individuals who are making a great contribution to our society.” Harnden said a professor’s mental health is important because they are in direct contact with students and often have a great deal of influence over them. “If they are taking care of themselves, they are more available to students and are powerful role models for career and lifestyle success,” Harnden said. English sophomore Jordan Toomey said she thinks mental health is a necessity for both students and professors, and she is
relieved there is place on campus for professors to get help. “It’s important for professors, as people, because I think we should care about everyone one campus, not just students,” Toomey said. “When you’re trusting someone to teach you information and you’re paying a lot of money, you want them to be mentally there.” Harnden said approximately 63 faculty visited the center on average 3.5 times last year to discuss concerns such as depression, anxiety and other issues outside of teaching. “Staff and faculty are concerned about their students, and in recent years they have helped students directly affected by tragic events on campus as well as by Hurricane Harvey,” Harnden said in an email. “A significant
MENTAL page 2
hannah simon | the daily texan staff Dr. Christopher Beevers, director of the Institute for Mental Health Research and psychology professor, champions the importance of self-care for students and professors alike.
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FRIDAY, APRIL 13, 2018
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Facebook provokes anger over data leak
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Facebook came under fire earlier this month after it was revealed the political data firm Cambridge Analytica had harvested data from up to 87 million users, hoping to glean insight on targeting American voters. Since Tuesday, founder and CEO Mark Zuckerberg has appeared before two committees of Congressional lawmakers to testify about the security and privacy issues raised by the data leak. “It was my mistake, and I’m sorry,” Zuckerberg said during an appearance before a U.S. House of Representatives committee Wednesday. “I started Facebook, I run it, and I’m responsible for what happens here.” While Congress lawmakers have yet to come to a unified decision on the best way to proceed, the revelations have sparked intense debates over the future of the technology industry and a potential crackdown on its regulation. But the data leak is nothing new for those already entrenched in the world of information security. The University’s School of Information has been studying the implications of Facebook and the information infrastructure for nearly a decade, said information studies professor Andrew Dillon. After listening to a student presentation on Facebook’s privacy policy nearly seven years ago, Dillon decided to delete his own Facebook account. “It caused me to look more deeply into what Facebook was doing and extract myself from it,” Dillon said. “What’s interesting is they made it extremely difficult to take yourself out. It’s very insidious.” Cambridge Analytica used details of users’ identities like political beliefs, interests, friend networks and “likes” in an
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Finance junior Katherine Zingerman said she has not thought much about buying a car after graduation because she plans on living in a big city. “Owning a car in that kind of environment just doesn’t seem practical,” Zingerman said. “I’d rather hold off until I’m older with a house and kids.” But if the Trump administration renegotiates or pulls out altogether from the North American Free Trade Agreement, experts say new car prices could spike before Zingerman ever steps foot in a dealership. As the future of NAFTA hangs in the balance, Gov. Greg Abbott urged the country’s top trade representative last week to save two provisions that most benefit the Texas economy — and affect its auto industry — from the chopping block. Abbott said Texas annually imports $6 billion in auto parts from Mexico. Many companies own factories in Mexico where car parts are made, then sent across the border for assembly, said Rachel Wellhausen, an assistant government professor. Wellhausen said the two provisions Abbott is advocating to maintain would keep car prices from inflating by protecting
investors’ rights and ensuring the final products qualify for NAFTA benefits. “If suddenly it becomes more risky to invest in Mexico and it becomes more expensive to invest in Mexico, fewer American companies will do business there,” Wellhausen said. “The worry in the auto industry is if you can’t make car parts in Mexico anymore, the price of cars will go up by hundreds or even thousands of dollars.” The first provision, called the Investor-State Dispute Settlement, allows investors from the U.S., Mexico and Canada to sue the U.S., Mexican and Canadian governments if the country in which they are investing has violated protections contained in the agreement. “The enforceability of those protections is one of the driving forces for Texas businesses and businesses across the country to invest in Mexican and Canadian infrastructure and natural resource development,” Abbott said in a letter to U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer. Abbott said ISDS lawsuits against Mexico and Canada have resulted in settlements for American companies totaling over $100 million. Wellhausen said Abbott is particularly attached to NAFTA’s ISDS provision because many Texas
corporations have investments in Mexico. “Abbott wants to make sure Texas companies keep the right to sue Mexico if something goes wrong with their investment,” Wellhausen said. Abbott also made a case against stricter rules of origin, a provision of NAFTA which specifies the percentage of U.S. or North American-made parts that must be included in one complete product in order for it to qualify for tariff exemptions. “Stricter rules of origin will force Texas businesses and businesses throughout the country to produce greater numbers of goods without NAFTA benefits, which will lead to increased production costs, higher consumer prices and job loss,” Abbott said. Wellhausen said Texas producers and consumers alike stand much to lose if Abbott’s requests go unheeded, particularly in the auto industry. While Zingerman won’t be buying a car in the immediate future, she said the thought of shelling out more money when she does — on top of paying her student loans — is stressful. “As college students, we’re already not in the best place to start any kind of large financial endeavors,” Zingerman said. “Buying a car is something I plan to put off for as long as possible.”
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effort to compile profiles of American voters, according to the original report by The New York Times. Facebook currently allows third-party apps access to Facebook information, with users’ consent. A Facebook statement last week promised to tighten control over those apps and their use of data. Dillon said although Facebook’s manipulation of users for “fairly nefarious purposes” is not a new process, many people are just now starting to realize the extent of their relationship to the company. “You are the product, and people are making money out of your transactions, your data, your behavior, your preferences,” Dillon said. “I have to laugh when Zuckerberg says our mission is to connect people. I scoff, because that’s not Facebook’s mission. Their mission is to make money out of connecting people. Otherwise they don’t exist.” But for many, the benefits of Facebook’s social connectedness and sense of intimacy outweigh the costs, said journalism professor George Sylvie, an expert on technology’s role in media. “People don’t want to quit Facebook,” Sylvie said. “It’s better than telephone — we’ve all got crazy cousins we don’t want to talk to but we can at least keep in touch with. It’s a tough situation to ask people to withdraw from Facebook, so instead of that people want some kind of action.” Plan II freshman Ross Trivisonno said though he was angered about the data leak, it would take much more for him to delete Facebook, a necessity on par with email or text for him. “I hear about all these people deleting their Facebook profiles and protesting,” Trivisonno said. “But for me, Facebook is such a major platform that I would never think about deleting my account. It’s upsetting, but it’s not like it’s going to change my life.”
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UHS SAFE
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malika gandhi | the daily texan staff will have their rape kit preserved for up to two years, said Jenny Black, SAFE Alliance’s director of forensic nursing and advocacy. Black said she is surprised more students are not aware of the exams SAFE Alliance provides on campus, as SAFE Alliance has the unique ability to come directly to students rather than students having to seek out a forensic exam themselves. “I would assume it’s a whole lot easier (to receive an exam) if people don’t have to trek across town,” Black said. SAFE Alliance has a total of 17 part-time and full-time sexual assault nurse examiners, Black said. “It’s difficult work but it’s extraordinarily rewarding, because you’re able to help people who experience something terrible,” Blwack said. Sophie Jerwick, policy and projects coordinator for UT’s Not on My Campus, a student organization working to combat sexual assault on campus, said she
found out about SAFE Alliance’s on-campus forensic exams when a student victim contacted her. “I had to learn (about) it because I had someone come to me that had been assaulted and was interested in getting a rape kit,” said Jerwick, a Plan II senior. “I had to call University Health Services and ask if they did this service at (UT), and this was after I had been a peer educator for Not on My Campus and already trained.” Although she doesn’t exactly know why a low number of students receive exams on campus, Mosteller said UHS is taking steps to make sure more students are aware UHS makes them accessible. “(We are) kind of stepping back (and) looking at how the service is promoted,” Mosteller said. “I don’t have all the answers, but I just know in the next few weeks we’re going to be looking at, ‘How do we improve (this)?’”
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COPYRIGHT Copyright 2018 Texas Student Media. All articles, photographs and graphics, both in the print and online editions, are the property of Texas Student Media and may not be reproduced or republished in part or in whole without written permission. The Daily Texan, a student newspaper at The University of Texas at Austin, is published by Texas Student Media, 2500 Whitis Ave., Austin, TX 78712. The Daily Texan is published daily, Monday through Friday, during the regular academic year and is published once weekly during the summer semester. The Daily Texan does not publish during academic breaks, most Federal Holidays and exam periods. News contributions will be accepted by telephone (471-4591), or at the editorial office (HSM 2.120). Entire contents copyright 2018 Texas Student Media.
angel ulloa | the daily texan staff Trump’s decision to pull out from the North American Free Trade Agreement could cause car prices to spike, making it harder for younger people to buy. Gov. Greg Abbott has provisions planned that can help keep these prices from rising.
NON-BINARY
continues from page 1 the classroom. “Here, when teachers would check roll, they wouldn’t know who I was because my photo didn’t look like me at that time,” Garcia said. “It doesn’t really make me uncomfortable, it’s more so funny.” In spite of the situations they may encounter, Vincent, Garcia and Beckum credit-
ed their non-binary identities with helping them in their personal pursuits. Garcia said their gender influenced their art by encouraging them to explore more personal subjects through photography, while Beckum said being non-binary helped them become a more accepting person. “I can show that the people different from you are just as kind and courageous as you can
be if you were as accepting,” Beckum said. Vincent said they plan to use their experiences to become a role model for other non-binary or queer individuals. “Being in UT’s atmosphere makes me want to show people that you can take everything this University has to offer and be queer,” Vincent said. “There are systemic issues that will stop us until change comes, but I don’t want you to stop you.”
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continues from page 1 number are stressed about relationships, work/life balance, career decisions, adjusting to personal circumstances, parenting, and navigating the culture of academia.” Psychology professor Christopher Beevers said there is some evidence showing the rates of depression and anxiety increasing on college campuses, and it is important for faculty and staff to take care of their mental health. “The costs of mental health on societies are in the hundreds of millions of dollars
when you think about the loss of productivity and mental health treatment costs,” Beevers said. “It is critical of us as a society to try and treat (mental health issues) as effectively as we can.” As a professor, Beevers said he prioritizes self care due to the stress that comes with teaching. “I’m not that different from most people,” Beevers said. “I think being a professor can be stressful, so I just make sure I do some (selfcare) things and making sure I have a lot of positive activities in my life in times that are really stressful.”
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FRIDAY, APRIL 13, 2018
TSTV
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ashley nava | the daily texan file Top row left to right, Radio-Film-Television students Brittany Sanchez, Christina Staggs, bottom row left to right, Eric Ingersoll and Morgan Bennett are creators of a TSTV “Grass Roots” show. The drama show follows an aspiring musician.
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narratives to continue for RTF students. She said narratives done by students typically don’t last long, but she hopes “Grass Roots” can change that. “We are trying to make the characters very real so students can relate to them better,” Staggs said. Script supervisor Brittany Sanchez, an RTF sophomore, said the character development was inspired a lot from their own lives.
“We literally based one of the characters off of one of Eric’s roommates,” Sanchez said. Ingersoll said some of the relationships Jared faces in the show mirrors certain relationships in his life. Key grip Morgan Bennett, a radio-television-film freshman, said going from writing to filming the story was an amazing experience “Grass Roots” put her through.
“I have always been into writing, but with film it is a whole different idea,” Bennett said. She said the story of “Grass Roots” is one oftroubles and heartache through the eyes of Jared, whose career means more to him than anything. “I hope the students react well to it,” Staggs said. “Even if it’s just a laugh over its production, we really want the reaction.”
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LAURA HALLAS
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF @TEXANOPINION
FRIDAY, APRIL 13, 2018
COLUMN
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A Mexican’s perspective on UT: El león no es como ellos lo pintan Editor’s Note: A Mexican study abroad student speaks to her experiences in both English and Spanish. Por Adriana Lara @adrilandd
columnista Estamos en una época un poco hostil para los inmigrantes. Con la elección del presidente Donald Trump, culminación de la Acción Diferida para Llegadas Infantiles o DACA, y la construcción de un muro más grande — es normal sentirse inseguro como Latinoamericano y, más que nada, como mexicano. Sin embargo, con el apoyo de tu universidad, las situaciones adversas se pueden sobrellevar de una manera más amable. Solía sentirme insegura con mi acento cuando me mudé a Austin, pero la mucha o poca diversidad que hay, me hizo sentir apoyada por los demás. Y esto no solo me pasó a mí. Los estudiantes mexicanos y mexicoamericanos tienen historias muy diferentes, sin embargo se sienten protegidos por la Universidad. Aunque no hay una organización sólo para mexicanos y/o mexicoamericanos. Puedes encontrar la comunidad en muchas, clases y organizaciones. Hay mucho que aprender de otras culturas y puede ser abrumador. Pero lo más bello de ser un estudiante internacional es justamente eso, aprender de los demás y educar a los demás. Lo maravilloso de ser mexicano es poder mostrar tu cultura y desenmascarar los estereotipos y conceptos equivocados que otras personas internacionales tengan de nosotros. “Al final del día el segundo idioma más hablado del mundo es el español” César López, estudiante de maestría en periodismo, nos explica. Al ver tantas religiones, creencias, etnicidades y culturas, es normal como estudiante del extranjero tener un famoso “shock cultural.” Pero como muchos saben, “el león no es como lo pintan.” Las muchas fotos que vi de UT, no reflejaban al 100 por ciento la diversidad y la belleza del campus y la comunidad. López, explica que la primera experiencia que tuvo al llegar a UT a la mitad del verano del 2016 fue confusa y positiva. “Llegué al SSB con mi maleta enorme y super cansado del sol, para que me pusieran una vacuna, y la gente fué de lo más amable que te puedes imaginar.” Se siente lindo encontrarte con gente que hable tu mismo idioma, pero cuando te quedas en la misma zona toda tu vida, no puedes aprender de otras personas. Yo como mujer de la Ciudad de México, tengo una experiencia de vida completamente diferente a Eduardo Charles, estudiante de licenciatura en Estudios Sustentables originario Houston que creció en Tamaulipas. Mas no significa que no nos cause una felicidad
tremenda el encontrar gente que hable español. Sin embargo, si no hubiera sido por la Universidad, nosotros nunca hubiéramos cruzado caminos, y nunca se nos habría ocurrido una idea para una nueva organización. Para los estudiantes Mexicanos en UT ser mexicano significa: “Tener una visión diferente,” “trabajar duro,” “ser alegre” y “Hacer posible lo imposible” como Guillermo del Toro dijo. Aunque muchas de las experiencias son positivas, el sistema educativo puede mejorar para ser más amistoso con los estudiantes cuyo primer idioma no
By Adriana Lara @adrilandd
columnist
These days are a little bit hostile for immigrants. With the election of President Donald Trump, the end of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program and the construction of a bigger Wall, it is normal to feel insecure as a Latin American and, more than anything, as a Mexican. However, with the support of your University, adverse situations can be handled in a
friendlier way. I used to feel geo casillas | the daily texan staff insecure about my accent when I moved to Austin, but all the dies el inglés. versity at UT made me feel supVenimos aquí para expandir ported by others. And this did nuestros horizontes y abrir las not just happen to me. Mexican mentes de los demás. Sin aspeand Mexican-American students rezas ni malentendidos, sabemos have very different stories, nevque estamos codo a codo con muertheless they feel protected by chas mentes muy importantes y the University. valiosas, y queremos dar las graAlthough there isn’t an orgacias por dejarnos mostrar nuesnization only for Mexicans and/ tra música, comida, tradiciones e or Mexican-Americans, you can intereses sociales — todas las cofind the community in many sas que hacen nuestra cultura ser classrooms and organizations. tan diversa como la Universidad There is so much to learn de Texas. from other cultures, and it can Lara es una estudiante de be overwhelming. But the most tecnologías de arte y entretenbeautiful thing about being an miento de segundo años de la international student is just ciudad de Mexico.
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.
that: learning from others and teaching others. The wonderful thing about being Mexican is being able to share your culture and debunk stereotypes and misconceptions that people from other countries have about us. “Spanish is the second most spoken language in the world.” Cesar Lopez, a journalism masters student, explains. When seeing so many religions, beliefs, ethnicities and cultures, it is normal for study abroad students to experience the famous “cultural shock.” But as the Spanish saying goes, “el león no es como lo pintan” which loosely translates to “reality is different from perspective.” The many photos I saw of UT did not accurately reflect the diversity or the beauty of this campus and its community. Lopez, explained that the first experience he had coming to UT in summer 2016 was both disorienting and positive. “I arrived at the (Student Services Building) with my huge suitcase and super tired of the sun, and I had to get a vaccination, but the people were as kind as you can imagine.” It feels nice to meet people who speak your own language, but when you stay in the same area all your life, you can not learn from other people. As a woman from Mexico City, I have a completely different life experience from Eduardo Charles, a sustainable studies undergrad student from Houston who grew up in Tamaulipas. But that doesn’t diminish the tremendous happiness in meeting someone who also speaks Spanish. However, if it had not been for the University, we would never have crossed paths, and an idea for a new organization would never have occurred to us. For Mexican students at UT, being Mexican means: “Have a different vision,” “work hard,” “be cheerful” and “make possible the impossible” as Guillermo del Toro said. Even though most of the experiences are positive, the system can improve to be more accessible for people whose first language isn’t English. We come here to expand our horizons and open the minds of others. Without harshness or misunderstanding, we know that we are side by side with many very important and valuable minds. And we want to thank you for letting us share our music, food, traditions and social interests — all of the things that make our culture as diverse as the University of Texas. Lara is an arts and enertainment sophomore from Mexico City.
GALLERY
yulissa chavez | the daily texan staff
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McCombs’ absence policies lack nuance
mel westfall | the daily texan staff
By Usmaan Hasan @uzziehasan
columnist
In the high-stress environment of college, students focus on achieving high grades and setting themselves up for a career after graduation. But for a business major, the McCombs School of Business’s academic policies hinder students’ ability to pursue their careers. McCombs must become more accommodating for recruiting obligations. The problem begins with absence policies. The rigor of recruiting can mean spontaneously scheduled interviews, long flights and unexpected meetings. In McCombs, the only excused absences are for illness and religious holidays. Every business major is required to take B A 324, but it has a draconian absence policy that allows very little room for students with recruiting obligations. The class allows only two absences, and any absence after that reduces a student’s final grade by at least 1 percent. However, when it comes to recruiting obligations, like an interview or superday, allowance is not made. B A 324 is crafted to help students with professional development like interview techniques, resume writing and cold-calling to help them get jobs. But if a student is interviewing for an actual job, their grade in the class suffers. The Daily Texan reached out to the section’s professor for comment but did not receive a response — course policies were clarified by current students and former TA’s.
The flaws of the current system McCombs has will only become more apparent as this program flourishes.”
Juan Mogollon, a sophomore finance major, explains that “it’s nerve-wracking to have to choose between getting a good grade in class and having to excel in recruiting.” This stress will continue to grow. The introduction of New York for McCombs will push more students to recruit for high-value New York firms. Sophie Susser, a finance sophomore, notes that recruiting for firms in New York extends the length and intensity of her trips, meaning she misses more class. The flaws of the current system McCombs has will only become more apparent as this program flourishes and pushes more students to recruit farther and farther away. The McCombs attendance system is also at odds with the events the school puts on. Every semester, McCombs hosts a week of career-related events dubbed Career Week. The largest event is Career Expo, and McCombs dedicates newsletters and classroom announcements asking students to attend the Expo and related events. Yet during the times Expo is scheduled, professors still require students to attend their classes, or else risk getting counted absent or missing a quiz. Administration has conflicting priorities and failing to reconcile them means students will have to continue to pick between class and career. Ultimately, administration strives to find a balance between recruiting and academics, and it’s a difficult balance to strike. McCombs has the reputation, somewhat justifiably, of being a soulless corporate den, and drawing back too far away from academics can cement that perception. But if students are to succeed after college and pursue the best opportunities McCombs must create allowances for interview absences. Hasan is a finance and international relations and global studies sophomore from Plano.
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JULIANNE HODGES
SCIENCE&TECH EDITOR @THEDAILYTEXAN
FRDAY, APRIL 13, 2018
HEALTH
Using chosen names improves transgender health Study shows using preferred names helps mental health of transgender youth. By Sarah Seraj @serajsarah_
T
he ability to use chosen or preferred names in a variety of contexts improves mental health of transgender youth, UT researchers have found. Transgender people often have chosen names different from their birth name. In a study recently published in the Journal of Adolescent Health, a team of researchers led by UT found that the ability to use chosen names in different contexts such as at school, work and with family and friends reduces rates of depression and suicide. Chosen names are particularly important for transgender people, because birth names can often be tied to a specific gender identity
which they no longer identify with, said Amanda Pollitt, postdoctoral fellow at the UT Population Research Center and researcher in the study. Pollitt said that if an individual’s legal name does not coincide with their gender appearance but they are forced to use it in certain contexts, such as in the classroom, then they may inadvertently be identified by outsiders as transgender. The researchers surveyed 129 transgender youth aged 15 to 21 years from three different regions in the US. The participants were surveyed four times with follow-ups every nine months. Despite the small sample size, it was the largest and most diverse sample of transgender youth to date, said Gu Li, postdoctoral fellow at the University of British Columbia and researcher in the study. It’s difficult to recruit transgender people for studies, but it is important to continue studying the mental health of transgender youth, who, Pollitt said, experience
higher risks for suicide and depression than their cisgender — or people who are not transgender — counterparts. There are several barriers to accommodating chosen names indifferent environments such as schools or workplaces. Stephen Russell, chair of the human development and family sciences department at UT and researcher in the study, said one of the barriers is negative or discriminatory attitudes towards transgender people. However, there are some less obvious barriers: data management problems. Some data systems at schools or workplaces simply don’t have a separate field for nicknames or preferred names. “If you’re a kid and … the teacher gets a printout and … everything that gets written about you is with a name that is not your name over and over again, all day long, every day,” Russell said. “It undermines who you are.” Russell also stressed the importance of being
victoria smith | the daily texan staff supportive of parents as they get used to their child going by a name different from their given one.
“There’s some work to do … in supporting parents to understand that this is a really critical part of the social
transition process for transgender youth and it’s not just a momentary phase,” Russell said.
UNIVERSITY
Research: Sunlight can help provide clean drinking water By Shezaz Hannan @shezazhannan
According to the World Health Organization, 2.1 billion people around the world lack access to safe drinking water in their homes. A new development at UT may have the ability to change that. A research team led by Guihua Yu, a professor of materials science in the mechanical engineering department, has found a way to purify water using sunlight and hydrogels, which are highly absorbent networks of polymer chains. The hydrogels are able to both absorb water and harvest
solar energy, which is used to evaporate the water. When the evaporated water is condensed back to a liquid, it is more pure because contaminants are left behind in a process known as distillation. “(The technology) is for both water purification and seawater desalination,” Yu said. “It can be at a large, global scale or water purification for household needs.” Yu said his team had already been working with hydrogels when they dtechnology for environmental or energy applications, such as lithium-ion batteries and capacitors. When a new postdoc researcher, Fei Zhao, joined Yu’s
research, Zhao brought his experience with using solar energy in water evaporation. Evaporation, he said, is one of the fundamental steps in distilling seawater into driwnkable water. Zhao said the idea to look into how the hydrogels could play a role in water evaporation first came when they were preparing a set of two hydrogels in the lab and left them out over the weekend. When the researchers returned to the lab, one hydrogel was dehydrated and the other was not. “The only difference (in the hydrogels) was the basic polymer,” Zhao said. “We tried to
figure out why there is different evaporation behavior in these gels.” The two were fascinated by how solar evaporation technology could come together with these hydrogels they were preparing. Previously, Zhao had worked with graphene, a carbon-based material which had solar-absorbing capabilities. This property was due to the nanostructure of the material, Zhao said. Hydrogels, on the other hand, are known for their water-absorbing qualities which stem from their hydrophilic, or water-attracting, nature. Zhao said, it is
nearly impossible to squeeze water out of a hydrogel. The research group decided to look into how the nanostructure of the gel could lead to it having similar properties to graphene in harvesting solar energy, and how the hydrophilicity of the hydrogel could be used to apply these properties to water. While the breakthrough is significant, Yu is looking to build upon his discovery. He wants to further research the specific mechanisms which enable this technology and better the materials. There are plans to commercialize the technology. This involves scaling up
the materials. “When you scale the materials, we have to see how efficiency will scale along with it,” Yu said. However, on a household scale, the technology is essentially ready. “What we tested in lab is relevant to household-scale needs,” Yu said. “We are working with some potential industry (partners), they are interested in commercializing this technology.” While the researchers still have some work to do, the ability of this new technology to provide safer water shows that what starts here really does change the world.
d l v t T f
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FRIDAY, APRIL 13, 2018
SUDOKUFORYOU
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TRENTON DAESCHNER SPORTS EDITOR @TEXANSPORTS
FRIDAY, APRIL 13, 2018
BASEBALL
Longhorns ready for Red River Rivalry
atie bauer| the daily texan file Junior pitcher Chase Shugart throws a pitch during Texas’ 5-3 victory over Louisiana at UFCU Disch-Falk Field on Feb. 17. Shugart pitched 6.2 innings with three strikeouts in the game.
Texas hopes to come alive on the road against Oklahoma. By Shane Lewis @shanelewis4204
R
ivalry week continues for Texas. After falling 6-5 to former Big 12 foe Texas A&M on Tuesday, the Longhorns prepare for a conference clash this weekend with No. 16 Oklahoma. Last year, Texas (22–13, 9–3 Big 12) was victorious in
the season series against the Sooners, winning two out of three in the friendly confines of UFCU Disch-Falk Field. But this time around, Texas will be traveling to Norman, Oklahoma, in what is sure to be a hostile environment. “Last year, it was pretty intense,” junior pitcher Chase Shugart said. “We thrived in that environment last year (at home). Now we have to go into their place and thrive in that environment.” While bragging rights are always at stake between the two teams, there will be much more in play in the series. Oklahoma (25–11, 8–1 Big
12) sits at first place in the conference, while Texas sits two games back in third. With a series win, the Longhorns would gain ground on first place in the conference and a step closer to hosting the regional game that comes with winning the Big 12. “It’s obviously on our minds, and we realize that they’re first,” junior pitcher Josh Sawyer said. “But at the end of the day, it’s just another baseball game for us. If we play our game I expect us to come out on top. It’ll be a good challenge for our team. It’s time to make a statement and
try to host a regional.” To take the series, the Longhorns will have to do something they haven’t done well all year — win on the road. Texas is just 4–7 away from the Disch this year, losing three of its last four road games. But Texas believes its struggles away from home will help prepare the team for tough away environments down the road. Already the Longhorns have played road games against ranked opponents LSU, Texas A&M and Arkansas. “I feel like this team’s maturing, and we’re not even paying attention to the environment anymore,” Shugart said.
“It’s all about staying within ourselves. We know we’re really good when we score first, and we’ll have the opportunity being the visitor. Hopefully we can scrap a couple runs across and get some good pitching.” While a trip to Norman for a chance to take hold of the Big 12 may seem like a big opportunity, Texas head coach David Pierce has played it off, maintaining that there should be no extra weight of playing a conference rival. “I think it’s a poor mistake if I go in and try to build this series up,” Pierce said. “I like to talk about RPIs (rating percentage index) and I like
to talk about standings, and I want them to be educated. That will be a part of our meetings and conversations, but it won’t get to the point where we have to win this.” Even though Pierce has downplayed the series, players realize the importance of going out and beating a conference rival. Junior infielder Kody Clemens stressed that the team needs to go out and capture a series victory. “Obviously we need to take two out of the three, and hopefully if we’re playing well, we can sweep,” Clemens said. “We’re definitely looking to win the series.”
SOFTBALL
brooke crim | the daily texan file Head coach Connie Clark discusses a play with senior pitcher Paige von Sprecken and sophomore catcher Taylor Ellsworth during Texas’ 2-0 loss to then-No. 9 Arizona at McCombs Field on March 2.
Texas looks to stay perfect in conference against Texas Tech By Robert Larkin @r_larkintexas
It was only two weeks ago that the Longhorns (23–15, 6–0 Big 12) were playing with extreme confidence and a playful swagger. Fresh off three-game sweeps over Big 12 foes Kansas and Iowa State, Texas appeared ready to turn the corner on an otherwise inconsistent season. But the timespan since indicates the Longhorns still have work to do before they prepare to compete against the Big 12 elite. The record hasn’t been the problem. In fact, Texas has gone 4–2 since its threegame sweep of Iowa State that took the Longhorns to 6–0 in Big 12 play. The more concerning matter for the Longhorns and head coach Connie Clark is the Texas hitters’ regression at the plate. Outside of a three-game sweep over Samford, Clark’s squad put together only three runs in its three other contests against Texas State, UTSA and Houston, leaving 17 runners on base in those three games.
With missed chances continually piling up, Clark knows her team must find a way to push more runners across when they get in scoring position. “I think those missed opportunities are something that we have to be able to take away and be just a little better on,” Clark said. “You gotta be able to have answers when they score, and when they score, you got to have answers back.” Whether or not the Longhorns can take advantage of their offensive opportunities will be put to the test quickly, as the Longhorns return to Big 12 play this weekend against the Texas Tech Red Raiders (21–19, 1–8 Big 12). A weekend series against the Red Raiders provides a chance to earn more than just bragging rights against an in-state rival. With the Longhorns entering the weekend with an undefeated conference record, Texas will have an opportunity to maintain its status near the top of the Big 12 standings with a strong series. Couple that with a rivalry and the added intensity of conference
play, and the weekend series should provide a thrilling atmosphere between the two in-state rivals. “The atmosphere of the Big 12 (makes it very special),” sophomore shortstop Kaitlyn Slack said. “Every team in the Big 12 is challenging, so you want to go out there and give it your best every time.” Texas Tech arrives in Austin on a cold streak of its own. Losers of nine of their last 10 contests, including four straight in conference play, the Red Raiders will desperately be searching for a win against the Longhorns. While the Red Raiders appear to be struggling on paper, Clark understands her ball club can’t afford to overlook a team who competes every game in an elite softball conference. “Obviously it’s going to be on our turf, that’s always nice,” Clark said. “But Texas Tech, just like our other conference opponents, they just compete well, so we’re going to have to compete.” The Longhorns’ series against Texas Tech begins Friday night at McCombs Field. First pitch is scheduled for 7 p.m.
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CHARLES LIU & CHRIS DUNCAN
LIFE&ARTS EDITORS @THEDAILYTEXAN
8FRIDAY, APRIL 13, 2018
CITY
Austin Poetry Slam prepares for national smackdown Austin Poetry Slam held their grand slam finale competition on April 7. By Collyn Burke @_collyn_
T
he lights are dimmed, focused only on the straight-backed poet preparing for his performance. The audience fills the room with sound: snaps, shouts of encouragement, whistles and the rare boo of discontent when they disapprove of the score. Everyone is waiting patiently to see which poet will garner one of the five remaining spots on the Austin Poetry Slam’s national team. The national team — which will compete in the 2018 National Poetry Slam in Chicago from Aug. 13 until Aug. 18 against more than 70 other teams — filled its five remaining spots at APS’s grand slam finale, held at the Paramount stateside theatre last Saturday. Andre Bradford, who performs under the name S.C. Says, was crowned the grand slam champion, accumulating the highest score after performing two pieces that discussed his battle with depression and the loss of a friend. “I’m a huge admirer of pretty much everyone who is on that stage,” Bradford said. “To compete and be able to win that night in particular, the hardest night to win, is really humbling for me.” This will be Bradford’s fourth national competition with APS. Bradford described the national poetry slam community as one of the most open and welcoming groups he has ever been a part of. “You kind of get to hear stories from all kind of walks of life and different perspectives, and they really embody that
mel westfall | the daily texan staff
at nationals,” Bradford said. “You have people from all across the country, different socioeconomic backgrounds, and you get to hear their stories.” As for the slam poetry scene in Austin, Bradford said it is one of the best he’s seen, and that the competitiveness of the group actually helps when it comes to their performances at nationals. “I think we have one of the best scenes in the country,” Bradford said. “The show is constantly packed, we’re very fortunate we’re also a really competitive scene … I think that works out in our favor, the work that we are able to bring to nationals is of a caliber that really helps us succeed there.” To prepare for the national competition, Joanna Barnett, another one of the advancing poets, said it can be easy to focus solely on the strategy of your group’s performance as a means for control. “It is tempting to focus on the strategy of slam because it’s the one factor, beyond our performance, that we have some semblance of control over,” Barnett said. “Slam can be quite arbitrary, because the judges are just random audience members and no one has any kind of rubric … so we latch on to strategy because, whether effective or not, that’s what we have.” Christopher Michael, a member of APS’s national team, said strategy includes what types of poems you perform, and how those poems are delivered, either in a group or individually. While performing emotional pieces can be a form of coping for the artist, they also tend to score higher. “It’s beneficial to the individual on levels of discussing it or getting it off your chest,” Michaels said. “It is also beneficial for individuals because those poems tend to score higher cause people score you higher when you’re exposing yourself.”
CAMPUS
Rare drama ‘Grass Roots’ hopes to shake things up with spot on TSTV By Sierra Quarzaza @squarssq
Radio-television-film students bring their works to life on Texas Student Television every semester to entertain the UT student body. The channel predominantly features comedies and talk shows. However, while some
students and student filmmakers may prefer the more lighthearted lineup, others want to bring darker topics to light. One of these darker shows, “Grass Roots,” is the newest student-produced drama show for TSTV. The series chronicles the struggles of an aspiring musician, and is written and directed
by radio-television-film junior Eric Ingersoll, who hopes to secure a permanent spota on TSTV. “At the moment TSTV doesn’t have a drama airing and it has been years since they have had one; it’s more comedies,” Ingersoll said. Ingersoll said he really wanted to make a relatable dramatic
series that focuses on musicians coming up in the Austin music scene. The main character, Jared (Roshaun Valentine), has to face many trials and tribulations in his personal life but still wants to have a career in music, no matter what it takes. “Writing Jared, in a way, was me writing myself if I had pursued a music career,”
Ingersoll said. Ingersoll said he is no longer pursuing a career in music, but he feels like he can live his previous dream through his storytelling in film. Producer Christina Staggs, a radio-television-film sophomore, said she helped create the series because of its powerful storytelling. “We hope the series will
be groundbreaking for Texas Student Television,” Staggs said. “Dramas don’t typically have a long run for students series because they can be difficult to continue.” She said bringing popular drama to students is a major goal for student media, along with possibly allowing dramatic
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