serving the university of texas at austin community since
@thedailytexan |
thedailytexan . com
1900
TUESDAY, OCTOBER 23, 2018
volume
NEWS
OPINION
LIFE&ARTS
SPORTS
UT is reaching sustainability master plan goals faster than expected. PA G E 3
Dating on a budget is not only economical, but more fulfilling for students. PA G E 4
Nonbinary author discusses mental health and identity in new book. PA G E 5
Following battle with cancer, Andrew Jones looks to make a return to the court. PA G E 6
119,
issue
50
CITY
City of Austin declares water crisis, shortage
CAMPUS
UTPD introduces 11 new public safety officers By Megan Menchaca @meganmenchaca13
pedro luna | the daily texan staff Senior advertising major Max Harberg and senior finance major Lance of the Inter Fraternity Council give away water Monday. This came after the city’s water boil announcement Monday morning, which left many students without potable water.
Austin tells residents to boil water after floods
Boil water notice: Your questions answered
By Katie Balevic
By Megan Menchaca
The City of Austin issued a boil water notice Monday following recent flooding, telling residents to boil water before using it for drinking, cooking or making ice. “The notice is being issued as the utility works to stabilize the water treatment system,” the notice said. Boil notices usually only last 24 to 48 hours, but updates will be posted daily about the actions taken to treat the water and how long the advisory will last, the notice said. By the end of the day Monday, the boil water notice escalated and the City urgently called for residents to limit their personal water usage. “Water reservoir levels are reaching minimal levels,” the notice said. “This is an emergency situation.” Recent flooding caused high levels of silt to flow
A citywide boil water notice has been issued for the first time in the history of the Austin water utility. Here are some answers to questions frequently asked by students.
@KatelynBalevic
@meganmenchaca13
NOTICE
SO CAN I...
Wash my hands? Do laundry?
page
Why do I need to boil the water?
After historic flooding in Central Texas, the water supply is now full of debris, silt and mud and requires extended filtration by the city. These conditions are making it difficult for the water plant to filter the volume of water needed for the entire city. Although there is no evidence of bacterial infiltration, Austin Water is advising residents to boil the water to ensure that it is safe to drink until further notice.
HOW TO
2
Yes
Drink the water with a filter?
Yes
Use ice from an ice maker?
page
3
No
Shower?
Yes
No
Drink from campus water fountains?
No
Along with officers wearing blue, black and white, the UT Police Department now has 11 officers patrolling campus in fluorescent yellow uniforms. UTPD previously had more than 50 security guards at various locations around campus, along with regular police officers. UTPD Chief David Carter said he made 11 of these guards into public safety officers by changing their titles and uniforms in early September to fit with the jobs of similar officers at other public universities. “Other universities have police officers and they have public safety officers, which are basically mobile security guards,” Carter said. “But we see them a little bit differently. Their primary mission is to be ambassadors and go out and be extra eyes and ears for the campus and UTPD.” Carter said these new officers respond to non-emergency alarms, collect lostand-found items, take police reports from students and answer questions. “They’re not police officers per se, but they are out there as community servants working to support our University and especially our students, as well as faculty, staff and visitors,” Carter said. “It’s healthy for students to see these officers out there and know that they can report things to them.” Because the officers are non-commissioned and are not licensed to be police officers, they do not have the ability to arrest people, carry a weapon or respond to emergencies on campus. Donald Smith, one of the public safety officers, said despite not being a commissioned officer, he still works to keep the University safe by easing the workload of commissioned officers who are often preoccupied
UTPD
page
2
CAMPUS
New PCL polling location experiences long early voting lines By Savana Dunning @savanaish
A line of students extended from the ballot boxes in the back of the Perry-Casteñeda Library to the metal detectors at the entrance Monday as students participated on the first day of early voting. “I think people are pleased with the new location,” said student body president Colton Becker, who waited in line with vice president Mehraz Rahman for early voting. “It’s located conveniently next to a lot of the dorms in a very high-concentrated, central location, and I
hope that will translate to greater student engagement.” While Monday marks the first day of early voting for midterm elections, it also marks the first day the PCL would be used as the campus’ second polling location. The Flawn Academic Center served as UT’s only polling location since 2005, but increasing voter turnout since 2016 made wait times hours long. This prompted Travis County Clerk Dana DeBeauvoir to pass legislation to open the PCL as a secondary location with help from TX Votes, UT Democrats and State Rep. Gina Hinojosa. Maya Patel, TX Votes vice president, said voter turnout at
STEER CLEAR!
TEXAS ATHLETICS GAMEDAY CLEAR BAG POLICY
the PCL needs to be high in order for it to remain a permanent polling location. “Polling locations are large costs for the county, especially early voting locations, so they can’t justify the costs of having a second location on campus if we don’t use it,” chemistry senior Patel said. Around midday, some students in line reported wait times at the PCL to be around an hour long. Kelton Dillard, temporary deputy county clerk in charge of the PCL polling location, said he considered the turnout at the PCL to be moderate to high around midday even though turnout in the morning was low.
“It really wasn’t until about 10:30 a.m. when there were any significant lines,” Dillard said. “Even though it’s a midterm election, there’s an awful lot on the ballot, and we were expecting to have that turnout.” Téya Kroeker, French and apparel designs senior, said she did not mind waiting at the PCL for an hour and a half before reaching the front of the line. “Time went by really quickly, and I think voting is super important, so I’m down to wait,” Kroeker said. “If we want a government that represents the views of the people, we’re not going to get that if we aren’t out here telling them what we want.”
amanda saunders
| the daily texan staff
The first day of early voting for midterm elections in Texas resulted in lines out the door at Perry-Casteñeda Library. The PCL was designated as the second polling place on campus due to increased voter turnout.
APPROVED BAGS • Bags that are clear plastic and do not exceed 12” x 6” x 12” • One-gallon clear resealable plastic storage bags • Small clutch bags or purses that do not exceed 4.5” x 6.5”
PROHIBITED BAGS • Backpacks, purses, diaper bags, cases (camera, binocular, etc.), fanny packs, printed pattern plastic bags, reusable grocery totes, mesh or straw bags, duffle bags, large totes
TexasSports.com/clearbag