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FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 14, 2018
volume
119,
issue
NEWS
OPINION
LIFE&ARTS
SPORTS
Nueces Mosque to hold mental health training teaching how to better help clients. PA G E 2
‘Protecting the Herd’ should focus on the realities of sexual assault. PA G E 4
CBD oil rises in popularity as an alternative treatment for anxiety symptoms. PA G E 8
Texas welcomes USC to DKR this weekend for an early season test. PA G E 6
CAMPUS
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CITY
UTPD, Title IX offices offer guides on how to report sexual assault
CapRemap overcrowds buses CapMetro’s new routes cause shutdowns, problems for students.
By Meghan Nguyen @ultravioletmegs
The University of Texas Police Department published a sexual assault reporting guide Monday afternoon outlining procedures to follow and authorities to contact in the case of a sexual assault. The Title IX office also released a University-wide notice encouraging students to report violations of sexual misconduct. The reporting guide provides contact information for UTPD in the case that students want to contact police. If a student chooses to contact UTPD, UTPD can facilitate medical assistance, connect the student to an advocate or a counselor and discuss options moving forward, such as a criminal investigation or a Title IX investigation. Contacting UTPD is private and does not require students to pursue criminal charges, according to the guide. If students do not wish to immediately involve police, UTPD urges them to seek medical attention by undergoing a free sexual assault forensic exam through SAFE Alliance, University Health Services or a local emergency room. “Bottom line, we want victims to know just because you call police doesn’t mean you must file charges,” UTPD spokesperson Noelle Newton said. “Our top priority is your health and safety. Let us make sure you are okay physically and emotionally by connecting you to the vast amount of helpful resources on campus.” UTPD’s guide will be
GUIDE
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anthony mireles | the daily texan staff Angel Munoz stands close to other bus riders on Capitol Metro’s route 10 heading toward North Campus on Thursday afternoon. Route changes in CapMetro’s “Remap” initiative are resulting in overfilled buses at peak times and skipped stops altogether.
By Nicole Stuessy @NicoleStuessy
Students taking the bus from North Campus and Riverside may be in for a packed ride. Because of recent route changes, Capital Metro buses are overfilling with students during peak times, leaving little seating space and sometimes skipping stops altogether. As part of their “Cap Remap” this
June, CapMetro eliminated route 653, which used to run along Red River Street to the UT campus. It was replaced with route 10, a high frequency route that runs every 15 minutes. Before June, route 653 was the same route as route 10, and CapMetro wanted to reduce duplicate routes, CapMetro communications specialist Mariette Hummel said. Routes going to Riverside had minor frequency adjustments.
“Now there is only one bus that runs on Red River that goes to campus,” said Lauren Rosa, a human development and family sciences senior. “So pretty much anyone that lives on North Campus has to take that one bus to get to school.” The 653 was a UT shuttle that mostly served those near campus, while route 10 is an extended route which also runs into downtown.
REMAP
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CITY
UNIVERSITY
Austin City Council reviews homeless ordinance after federal court ruling
Fenves: Financial aid to increase next year
By Meghan Nguyen
The City of Austin is evaluating a recent opinion from the federal 9th Circuit Court of Appeals, which ruled that prosecuting people for sleeping on the streets is unconstitutional because it amounts to cruel and unusual punishment. Under Austin City Code Section 9-4-14, commonly referred to as the “No Sit/ No Lie” ordinance, people in Austin currently experiencing homelessness can be ticketed, arrested and jailed for lying or sitting down in certain public spaces. The ordinance provides exceptions for medical emergencies and disabilities and allows police “broad discretion with regard to enforcement involving individuals with physical or mental health needs”. “While not directly binding on Austin, the City is evaluating that opinion as part of its ongoing review of local laws that may affect individuals experiencing homelessness,” said Andy Tate, spokesperson for the City of Austin. Though the court decision will not affect Austin directly,
By Gracie Awalt @GracieAwalt5
@ultravioletmegs
alekka hernandez
Austin City Council is aware of the recent ruling and is beginning to weigh changes to its ordinances, which primarily target the city’s
homeless population. Cities such as Houston, Dallas and San Antonio have similar ordinances that prohibit forms of sleeping or sitting in
| the daily texan staff
public spaces. According to the Austin American-Statesman, the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of
ORDINANCE
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UT President Gregory Fenves announced at the State of the University Address on Thursday that all eligible undergraduates will have access to guaranteed financial aid through Texas Advance Commitment funding. Introduced last spring, the TAC originally offered guaranteed financial aid to only freshmen with household incomes of up to $100,000 and minimum full coverage of tuition for students with household incomes of $30,000 or less. Now, this financial aid is available for all qualifying students. Fenves did not specify during the address from where the financial aid would be allocated. “To keep improving access and student success, we need to make a UT education financially possible for more qualified students than ever before,” Fenves said. “We will do this by investing in financial aid to benefit students and families from all over Texas. Everyone’s a part of this commitment now.” Student Government president Colton Becker said this increased financial aid will help lower and middle income students navigate the rising cost
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of tuition. “Programs like (the Texas Advance Commitment) and everything else the University is doing to improve access will help students overcome that burden so that we’re not creating disparities in access,” Becker said. Fenves also said in 2019, a new University-wide center for students called the Center for Career Exploration and Development will be placed in the Flawn Academic Center. “Many students already receive excellent career counseling through their colleges and schools,” Fenves said. “This new center will build upon that strong foundation and offer additional resources that will help undergraduate and graduate students succeed after graduation.” Fenves was introduced by Faculty Council chair Charlotte Canning, who called Fenves the “first social media president of UT,” referring to his level of Twitter activity. “Fenves is demonstrating that we need to meet our communities where they are,” said Canning, a theatre and dance professor. “Historians will be able to depict accurately the
FENVES
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