The Daily Texan 2018-11-27 by The Daily Texan

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TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 27, 2018

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NEWS

OPINION

LIFE&ARTS

SPORTS

UHS now offers gender care services for students considering hormone therapy. PA G E 2

Students’ political engagement shouldn’t end with the midterm elections. PA G E 4

Temporary housing situations become permanent option for students. PA G E 5

Roach continues to impress and develop in his final year on the 40 Acres. PA G E 8

CITY CAMPUS

CapMetro to change 25 routes, increase efficiency By Neelam Bohra @_neelam_b

Scooter safety: Respect the ride Dockless scooters face scrutiny, safety efforts increase for student riders. By Jackson Barton @Jackson_Brton

am Landingham remembers the Monday afternoon when he rode home from a friend’s house on a Lime scooter. Cruising at 15 miles per hour without a helmet past the San Antonio parking garage, Landingham said he didn’t see the car pulling out of the garage until he was airborne rolling onto the hood. “All I could think about was being in shock that this actually happened,” history sophomore Landingham said. “My second thought was, ‘Oh my god, my foot hurts like it’s never hurt before.’” X-rays at St. David’s Medical Center revealed Landingham broke his foot in the crash. According to a report released by University Health Services, scooter accidents that result in an injured rider occur almost daily. Dockless scooters first arrived

in Austin this spring before being temporarily banned by the Austin City Council and then brought back under greater regulation. But recently, as scooters face scrutiny over safety issues, companies like Bird and Lime have revamped safety efforts for riders. UHS treated 80 scooter-related injuries from when they began collecting data in September to the first half of this month. Dell Seton Medical Center treated 39 “severe” scooter-related injuries, or those that required an emergency room visit, between May 28 and Nov. 18. Dell Seton does not track injuries treated outside of the ER. “Because of the perceived increase in motorized scooter accidents, University Health Services began tracking injuries that were associated with this type of scooter in September of this fall semester,” said Sherry Bell, UHS’ consumer education coordinator. In a presentation published on Oct. 11 by the Austin City Council Mobility Committee, between May 7 and Sept. 28, there were 37 motorized dockless scooter crashes. This data was collected by emergency medical services,

TOP:

emma overholt | the daily texan staff

History sophomore Sam Landingham broke his foot riding at 15 miles per hour on a LimeBike scooter. University Health Services has treated 80 scooter-related injuries from when they began collecting data in December. brittany mendez | the daily texan staff BOTTOM:

which is different from how UHS collected their data and how the city tracks other accidents. The city tracks car crashes and bike wrecks using the Crash Record Information System. Scooter accidents are not currently tracked by this system. In the 37 scooter incidents where EMS was dispatched, 31

required an involved party to be transported to the ER. However, the city data leaves out less serious injuries where EMS was not dispatched and the individual went to a hospital or medical clinic on their own. “It’s probably a dramatic

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Daniel Porter rides the CapMetro buses to and from work every week, and he often runs late when a bus does not show up on time. “It’s very hit and miss,” government junior Porter said. “Most of the time the bus is there when it’s supposed to be, but there are enough times when it’s not. That’s definitely an issue.” As of 2019, CapMetro will make changes to solve these inefficiencies and build on the CapRemap program, according to the CapMetro website. CapMetro communications specialist Peter Partheymuller said around 25 routes will be affected. Most of the routes will stay the same, but their running times will change. “There are a lot of routes affected, but the changes are fairly minor,” Partheymuller said. “We’ll just be changing schedules and running times for each route. These adjustments are to improve the reliability and on-time performance.” Partheymuller said UT students will have to prepare for the change. “Students will have to use our trip planner to use the routes they take every day,” Partheymuller said. “They need to make sure if they take a bus every day, they’ll need to check the trip planner to see when they need to show up. But most of the actual routing isn’t changing in any way.” Bus route 315 used to stop at a closed part of the Austin Community College campus but will change routes and no

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NATION

WEST CAMPUS

Flavored Juul pod price spike due to retail suspensions

All-female dormitory bans resident’s girlfriend, guests following complaints

By Sami Sparber & Will Kosinski @samisparber @willkosinski

Students hooked on mango Juul pods must now pay more to get their nicotine fix in West Campus after Juul Labs announced Nov. 13 it stopped accepting retail orders for its flavored pods. The decision, part of a nationwide initiative to curb smoking and vaping among young people, came after the Food and Drug Administration said in September it would give the market’s top five e-cigarette manufacturers 60 days to submit “plans” to address widespread use by minors. “Our intent was never to have youth use JUUL products,” Juul Labs CEO Kevin Burns said in a statement. “But intent is not enough, the numbers are what matter, and the numbers tell us underage use of e-cigarette products is a problem.” Per the FDA’s request, Burns’ plan included suspending sales of its mango, fruit, creme and cucumber flavored pods and eliminating its social media accounts.

By Megan Menchaca @meganmenchaca13

Bikram Bk, employee at the Shell in West Campus, said retail prices for flavored Juul pods have increased since retailers must now order through third-party suppliers, rather than from Juul itself. Bk said before Juul’s announcement, a pack of mango Juul pods at Shell cost $15.99. Now, that same pack costs $22.99. Whatever pods retailers currently have will be sold until they run out. “The wholesale suppliers are charging us more because they know the supply is limited,” Bk said. “We used to pay between $75 and $77 for six cases of mango (Juul) pods, and now we have to pay $120. We have to make a little money, so that means we increase the price customers pay in store.” Billy Marsden, owner of The Glassmith truck in West Campus, said approximately 50 percent of his revenue comes from Juul products, almost exclusively from mint and mango pods. Marsden said he’s now charging $20 per flavored pack, compared to $15 before Juul’s announcement.

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Kaj Baker used to spend nights studying in Scottish Rite Dormitory with her girlfriend. But now, her girlfriend is no longer allowed in the dorm, as first reported by Texas Student Television. After spending a few late nights studying with her girlfriend in the SRD lounge, Baker was asked to attend a meeting on Nov. 14 with SRD Director Mary Mazurek and SRD registrar Meshelle Bourne to discuss guest rules. During the meeting, Mazurek told Baker some of the residents in the dorm were not comfortable with her sexual orientation. Bourne said Baker was no longer allowed to bring in guests for the rest of the semester. “We’re trying to make sure that everybody — all 315 residents — feels more comfortable,” Mazurek said in her meeting with Baker, based on a recording given to The Daily Texan. “And sometimes that takes compromise on both sides to do that.” SRD is a private off-campus dorm that only houses female students. According to the SRD contract, which was provided to The Daily Texan by Baker,

sarah el-zein | the daily texan staff Communication sciences and disorders freshman Kaj Baker is a resident at Scottish Rite Dormitory. Baker now feels uncomfortable staying in her dorm after being told she cannot bring her girlfriend in as a guest anymore.

male guests are only allowed in the hall from noon to 10:00 p.m on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. There are no restrictions on female guests unless they stay overnight. “Scottish Rite Dormitory strives to create an environment which allows our residents to focus on completing their higher education goals while meeting our parent’s expectation of creating an

atmosphere that fosters the growth and well-being of their daughters while attending the University,” Mazurek said in a statement to the Daily Texan. Mazurek declined to comment further. Baker, a communication sciences and disorders freshman, said people had complained about her and her girlfriend wearing pajama pants in the halls, studying late in

the lounge and brushing their teeth together in the bathroom. According to the contract, none of these actions are against the rules. “I think it’s unfair because they told me that (their decision) wasn’t based on a rule at all,” Baker said. “They backed up their decision with us being gay. That should have never

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C H A S E K A R A C O S TA S NEWS EDITOR @THEDAILYTEXAN

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UHS now offers services for gender care By Savana Dunning @savanaish

In an effort to help transgender students, University Health Services started gender care appointments to provide services for students on or interested in getting hormone replacement therapy. For students like Alex Donovan, hormone replacement therapy is an essential part of transitioning. “It’s just a way to not feel like a stranger to your body,” said Donovan, an arts and entertainment technology junior. “It helps you feel more comfortable with who you are.” Hormone replacement therapy is the practice of taking estrogen or testosterone to alter someone’s appearance and better match their gender identity. The appointments began this past September and are designed to accommodate students who have been on hormone replacement therapy for at least one year, or to help direct students interested in hormone replacement therapy to resources that can help them. Students can sign up for appointments through either the Women’s Health Clinic or the General Medicine Clinic on the MyUHS portal online. Melinda McMichael, UHS’ interim executive director, said UHS will maintain and monitor the hormone prescriptions of students who are already on hormone replacement therapy, but are currently living far away from their initial provider. “When you prescribe a medication, you’re not only prescribing it, but you’re monitoring the condition for which you’re prescribing, so that means making sure it’s the appropriate dosage, that the

appropriate lab tests are monitored, screening tests, et cetera,” McMichael said. “You’re basically assuming care. Say someone has a doctor in California who is prescribing them hormones, but they can’t see that doctor any further. Then they need to find a new doctor to prescribe them hormones.” McMichael said a few appointments have been made already. She also said these appointments are a stepping stone for UHS to start initiating hormone replacement therapy in the future, though she said the date for when that will start is still unknown. “Our doctors have made the decision that they want to gain experience with this and they want to learn about it, because it’s really a relatively new thing,” McMichael said. “Really we’re on a learning curve.” In the meantime, students who are curious about hormone replacement therapy can also make gender care appointments, where doctors at UHS can help determine what they need and then refer them to outside care facilities that can help them with their needs. Liz Elsen, director of the Gender and Sexuality Center, said students have often asked the center about hormone replacement therapy, and usually the center would have to

point to outside clinics such as the Kind Clinic, a program that provides sexual health services. Now, students have UHS as a closer resource. “Not having to travel off campus to access hormones will make them more accessible to UT students,” Elsen said in an email. Although Donovan has already started hormone replacement therapy with a local Planned Parenthood, he said he would have

bixie mathieu

| the daily texan staff

done it through UHS if given the option. “I feel like this is the age, between senior year of high school and during college, where people start hormone therapy,” Donovan said. “For people who are from smaller places who, in their hometown, don’t have a lot of places to get hormones, if the University could be the person to supply that, I feel like a lot of people would take advantage of it.”

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Rise in technology decreases use of books in PCL

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THE DAILY TEXAN MAIL SUBSCRIPTION RATES

Book checkouts from UT Libraries have declined about 59 percent since 1997, around the start of the internet. To meet the demand for online materials, UT Libraries regularly evaluates which physical materials to keep and which to put only online. In 1997, the overall circulation of books in UT Libraries was 1,739,720. In the 2016–2017 school year, the circulation dropped by about one million to just over 700,000 books. Travis Willmann, communications officer for UT Libraries, said the decrease in books is a result of a technological shift brought on by the internet. “It’s the same way anytime you move from one type of media to the next,” Willmann said. “It takes some time for people to adapt to it, but technology helps us become more efficient in how we do things.” UT Libraries choose whether the resources go online or stay in the library based on their circulation. After each technological milestone, reading and writing has become more efficient for people, Willmann said. “When the printing press came into being, people didn’t read parchment anymore,” Willmann said. “When the typewriter came around people could, rather than

emma overholt

| the daily texan staff

writing things out or using the printing press, they could just create their own written resources. So, things change over the course of time and I think it’s always an improvement.” Krystal Wyatt-Baxter, head of assessment of UT Libraries, said she thinks UT Libraries struggles with checkouts more than public libraries because people tend to go to them for different reasons. “Lots of people go to their public library

for leisure reading and that’s a different kind of activity than doing research (at UT libraries),” Wyatt-Baxter said. English junior Hailey Kriska said she has only checked out two books from the Perry-Castañeda Library since her freshman year because she does not have time to read outside of class. “It was freshman year and I was wildly optimistic that I’d have leisure reading time,” Kriska said. “I just always thought of it as the

research library. I didn’t think about going to get books for fun.” Kriska said she thinks fewer library books are being checked out because of technology such as audio and e-books, but she prefers tangible readings and said she would love to read for leisure like she did when she was young. “I definitely checked out more books when I was younger and from my school library too,” Kriska said. “I like the feeling of snuggling up with a book.”

statement it currently partners with UT to ensure rider safety. The company restricts the maximum speed of scooters to 15 mph, requires riders to upload a driver’s license, provides an in-app tutorial on how to ride a Bird and how to park it and posts safety instructions on each Bird. Lime, which reached 1 million rides in Austin this July, recently launched its “Respect the Ride” campaign to encourage rider safety and plans to distribute free helmets to the first 25,000 users who sign their safety pledge. A spokesperson for Lime said in an email the company also caps scooter speed at 15 mph and requires riders to watch safety videos before unlocking their first scooter. University spokesperson J.B.

Bird said in an email that UT has worked to promote and enforce traffic and parking guidelines for scooters. Bird said a group of representatives from various UT departments, including Parking and Transportation Services and UHS, was recently formed to create possible solutions to stop the uptick in scooter injuries. “Currently, we are collecting all applicable data (like the UHS report) to help us accurately assess the situation and ultimately address both pedestrian and scooter safety,” Bird said. Ziebell said scooter manufacturers should create a formal training program and raise awareness about the potential injuries of riding scooters incorrectly or without a helmet.

“The community at large hasn’t had a chance to swallow this pill properly in how to incorporate this as a means of transportation,” Ziebell said. “If you look at what the manufacturer puts out, they recommend helmets … but I don’t see anyone carrying helmets around in case they get on one.” Landingham said anytime someone asks about the accident, the first thing he explains is how fortunate he was to only break his foot. “Had I been like a split-second earlier the car would have been clipping me at my knee level, like T-boning me on the scooter,” Landingham said. “That could have injured me a lot worse or killed me if I hit my head the wrong way … I consider myself very lucky.”

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underreporting of the number (of injuries) that actually happened,” said Christopher Ziebell, medical director of the emergency department at Dell Seton Medical Center. “As we start looking at total injuries, it’s definitely an underestimate. I think if we’re looking at the number of people in the (intensive care unit), that’s probably pretty good data.” St. David’s HealthCare, another major Central Texas hospital network, does not have data on scooter related injuries are treated because their ERs do not track how injuries occur. A spokesperson for Bird said in a

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UNIVERSITY

Graduate students develop new car sensor tech By Raga Justin @ragajus

Getting stuck behind a car on a two-lane Texas highway is often why drivers swerve into the opposite lane, attempting to pass slower traffic. However, new sensory software developed through a partnership between UT graduate students and the Texas Department of Transportation may be able to help with that problem, as well as with other traffic congestion and safety issues, said Darran Anderson, TxDOT director of strategy and innovation. Steven Flolid, a computer engineering graduate student, helped design the sensor system two years ago. Flolid said the software uses radars and lasers built into a vehicle to help gauge its own position as well as the relative position of other cars on the road. That information will be then communicated to other cars around it. “The goal here is to create more synergy between car manufacturers,” Flolid said. “They can have a set protocol on how to share information between vehicles, so it can be beneficial to whole cities instead of just useful to individuals and create better traffic for everybody.” William Alexander, a civil engineering

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ever been mentioned if it was just about rules.” Carlee, Baker’s girlfriend, said she has not been taking advantage of any amenities such as the shower or dining hall. Carlee’s last name has been withheld for privacy reasons. “Every time I’ve gone there, we’ve gotten looks,” Carlee said. “At the beginning, people didn’t really know who I was, but then that all kind of subsided, and people have been really nice to us. So it was just surprising that they were trying to say that now I wasn’t allowed to be there.”

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Baker said she has been staying at Carlee’s apartment in West Campus because she feels uncomfortable staying in the dorm. Baker said Mazurek and Bourne, who have not contacted her since the original meeting, told her she was not violating the SRD contract. Baker said if SRD changed the contract to exclude female guests at certain times, she and her girlfriend would follow the contract. “It makes it sound like I don’t belong there in the dorm,” Baker said. “They’re saying, ‘Carlee is gay. She doesn’t belong there, so we’re not going to let her in the dorm.’ Well I’m gay too. Do I not belong there?”

albert lee

| the daily texan staff

graduate student, said Austin has some of the worst congestion issues in the state. “Being able to sense the state of traffic is really important for being able to adjust traffic signal timings, prices on Mopac toll lanes,” Alexander said. “In traffic management, it’s really critical to have good information or at least to know when you don’t have good information.” Amy Fong, a civil engineering graduate student, said though the research has several implications for Texas drivers, the most important benefit is preventing crashes and reducing traffic-related fatalities. “Traffic-related fatalities are one of the foremost public health issues of our time,” Fong said. “When we think about connected vehicles, the things we should be emphasizing are not the congestion benefits but the safety benefits.” Ultimately, Alexander said the most effective way to streamline Austin traffic during rush hour is to promote a less driving-dependent culture. “I think there are ways of having people drive their cars smarter,” Alexander said. “On your typical day in Austin you average 1.3 passengers in a car ... if you were to double that you cut the number of cars in half and our transportation worries would go away overnight. But convincing people to do that will not be easy.”

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longer stop there starting next year. Zenobia Joseph, Austin citizen and Title VI transit advocate, said the new changes will cover up this mistake. “You had empty buses going to an empty college,” Joseph said. “That resource could’ve been used where it was needed the most, like the routes in the northeast area where there was a reduction of service.” Students like psychology freshman Stephanie Guo, who uses the bus often, said the changes will help. “I trust CapMetro to come up with schedules that are efficient for the general populace,” Guo said.

eddie gaspar | the daily texan staff The CapMetro Riverside stop is still one of the most packed in the city. CapMetro plans to add around 25 routes in Austin to prevent late buses and make them more reliable.

“As long as I have mango pods, I’ll make more money,” Marsden said. “When mango pods run dry, then I will go back to making the amount of money that I was before because I think most people will smoke mint instead of mango.” Juul’s mint pods, along with its other tobacco and menthol-based products, were not affected by the announcement. However, young people who normally smoke flavored products are unlikely to switch to a nonflavored product, said Alexandra Loukas, principal investigator of UT’s Tobacco Research and Evaluation Team. In a study conducted last year by Loukas and other UTHealth researchers, threefourths of young users said they would no longer use the product if it was not flavored. “A tobacco-flavored product is not as appealing to new

pedro luna | the daily texan staff “Juul pods are really popular here,” said Lilia Bayo, a clerk at a popular West Campus store, seen here selling a Juul product to business junior Nahiyan Khan. Students are constantly coming in and out to buy them.”

users as a flavor is,” Loukas said. “Especially something like gummy bear or candy or fruit, which we often see when it comes to e-cigarettes.” Loukas said Juul’s decision is a step in the right direction, but there are loopholes that still leave room for youth access, including ordering online from Juul or

other suppliers. “I’m not sure just not selling them is really enough for young adults and adolescents,” Loukas said. “I think a lot of people are getting products off the internet anyway. Now it just requires a little more planning to order your stuff and still get (it) delivered within 24 hours.”

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LIZA ANDERSON EDITOR-IN-CHIEF @TEXANOPINION

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 27, 2018

alexandra vanderhider

COLUMN

brittany le

| the daily texan staff

With midterms over, students can impact politics now more than ever By Brooks Johnson Columnist

As the the election came to a close, so did a lot of student interest and involvement in politics. The weeks of political fervor came and went, and students who were swept up in the political process are likely to lessen their political activity. However, this shouldn’t be the case. Elections cannot serve as benchmarks for political interest. They shouldn’t be capturing our political attention for only a few weeks. Students must avoid disengaging politically until the next cycle. If anything, the end of elections should encourage greater political engagement from both the winning and losing sides and help promote the candidate who won or formulate a plan and platform to seek a challenger. “There always are drop-offs in excitement following elections, but because this election energized both sides so much, that should be even more of an incentive to remain politically involved,” said Zachary Price, a government junior and the interim vice president of TX Votes. “If students don’t stay aware of politics during nonelection seasons, they run the risk of becoming uninformed about issues that will directly impact them.” College is often the time when political activity among students reaches its peak, offering the most opportunities to become politically involved. A lack of political involvement should never be a reality. UT students have many options to remain politically engaged on a local level. Austin offers a list of open city council

meetings that can be attended by residents, and through attending, students can learn about what’s happening in their city. “It isn’t enough to just watch the news and view politics as static now that the elections are over,” Price said. “Looking up your state legislators, interning at the capitol and testifying on student-related issues such as sexual assault or fixed tuition are all ways to hold your officials accountable and stay engaged in politics beyond election season.”

UT students have the unique advantage of being within blocks of those who represent them. Students can interact diretly with those who govern us.” No age group has made going to the polls more of a chore than millenials and those in the pre-professional stage, which is the majority of UT’s student body. However, in producing midterm voting numbers unmatched in Travis County history, as well as the forming of coalitions and marches throughout the year, it is clear civic

engagement among UT students is alive and well. But it shouldn’t end in the coming nonelection months. Dormancy is the enemy of any movement, especially those aiming to make a difference. However, just because there is no active election does not mean these methods of civic engagement must end. Rather, students must view these elections as building blocks for the future, creating periods of using the time between elections to work towards bringing about desired changes. “Even though the election didn’t turn out quite the way some of us had hoped, there’s no doubt it has rejuvenated political discussion and involvement at UT,” said Joseph Reed, a chemical engineering freshman and first time voter. “If we as students want to keep up the momentum, we have keep doing these rallies, marches and demonstrations.” With opportunities offered in Texas’ capitol building during sessions such as legislative and district office internships, UT students have the unique advantage of being within blocks of those who represent them. Students can interact directly with those who govern us. Issues such as the fight for LGBTQ rights, stricter or relaxed gun control, the availability for women to have abortions and decreased funding for public education are all topics that are just as relevant to UT students now as they were prior to the election, and the need for students engagement, discussion and involvement in these issues remains as necessary as ever. Johnson is a journalism freshman from San Francisco, California.

COLUMN

Bring the stalking incident log back to CMHC website By Briana Torres Columnist

| the daily texan staff

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.

According to the UT Counseling and Mental Health Center website, 12 percent of college students in America are affected by stalking. Stalking can come in the form of unwarranted phone calls and texts, the physical act of following or excessive messages on social media. Students at our University are not immune to this. The CMHC offers both group and individual counseling, confidential advocacy and online links to outside resources for students affected by interpersonal violence. If a stalking victim turned to the CMHC for help and searched the word “stalking” on the website, they would find a PDF titled “Documentation STALKING INCIDENT LOG.” Incident logs include spaces for the victim to compile important information, such as an incident description, location, witnesses, etc. These documented details can be used for police reports when filing a protective or

restraining order, or to reinforce victim’s memories when testifying against their stalker. However, the PDF has not been accessible to UT students for many years. The website link was broken when I checked for the first time on Nov. 1. Kathryn Redd, the associate director for prevention and outreach at the CMHC, said the incident log page has not been on the website since 2013.

The PDF has not been accessible to UT students for many years. The website link was broken when I checked for the first time on Nov. 1.”

According to Redd, the CMHC does not offer this printable PDF resource anymore, but they offer a stalking documentation section on their website with tips. Giving survivors the tangible resource of an incident log

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is a more effective and a direct way to help. Recently, the link was amended to redirect to an informational page about stalking. While the information is helpful, the website should provide the resource the link originally provided. Incident logs are a direct way to help students affected by stalking to fight the problem effectively. Juan Alvarez, an advertising and journalism junior, has been impacted by stalking in the past. Alvarez said a report log would have been beneficial to him when keeping track of the stalking encounters he faced. The CMHC must reinstate this PDF as a resource for stalking victims. There is an entire page dedicated to stalking documentation. Simply adding a link to a working PDF of the incident log would be beneficial for UT students such as Alvarez. It is a simple solution but one that will aid students who are dealing with interpersonal violence. It is a resource that prompts victims to remember important information and serves as an organized way for victims to document stalking instances and file protective orders against stalkers. Torres is a Plan II, English & creative writing junior from San Antonio.

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, NOVEMBER 27, 2018

CAMPUS

Temporary fix becomes permanent home Students assigned to supplemental housing at start of the semester choose to make living situation permanent. By Trinady Joslin @trinady05

t the beginning of the semester, students hauled boxes and shouldered suitcases into their new homes. The majority were setting up their living spaces for the next year, but for students assigned a supplemental contract, the rooms’ permanence remained to be seen. This year, 184 students were assigned to supplemental rooms across campus. Unlike traditional housing, these rooms were previously study lounges or spare rooms and have been renovated to accommodate students who didn’t receive a housing

contract initially. According to Ryan Colvin, assistant director for Occupancy Management, 21 students have been offered permanent rooms and of those, five were forced to move while the others chose to make their supplemental rooms permanent. “If over 51 percent (of students in the room) want to stay, we’ll allow them to stay in that room,” Colvin said. “But if it dips below that 51 percent, all the students within that room will have to accept a permanent room change.” However, a small number of students, regardless of whether or not they meet the percentage, are required to leave their rooms when offered a permanent contract. Colvin said the Occupancy Management office works with these students first in order to give them more options. Mechanical engineering freshman Dagmawi Gebreyes, was one of 11 students this year placed in one of these rooms. He said he and his roommates were unaware that they would be forced to move rather than given a choice like everyone else. “Something the school could’ve done better was let us know (our living situation) wasn’t a permanent case,” Gebreyes said. “We went through the

ice-breaking stage and then had to move out without any choice.” Gebreyes said although he didn’t know at the time, he now understands the reason for the move. The location of his first dorm didn’t require a UT EID swipe-in to access the door, making it a safety issue. Unlike Gebreyes, undeclared freshman Jack Stone has the option to remain in his supplemental room and said if his roommate agrees, he will decide to stay because he doesn’t want to move again. “I wish I could be in a normal room but I’ve been coping with it,” Stone said. “It’s kinda rough to not have a sink or a closet, but it’s not the worst room.” During the previous two years, all students in supplemental housing were offered contracts by November, but traditionally this isn’t the case. Colvin said this year, the University is so full that more students will be offered permanent rooms as winter break approaches. Like 70 percent of students, journalism freshman Will LeHardy will choose to stay in supplemental housing if offered a contract and said the University has been as communicative as they can be. Colvin said the Occupancy Management office responds to

ella williams

students’ questions and gives a survey every other year to receive feedback from students on the process. Despite these efforts, Stone said he wishes the University would be more upfront about the process and update students more frequently.

| the daily texan staff

“I know of other people on my floor who are in a supplemental room,” Stone said. “I don’t know what’s going to happen to them either, (we’ve) been just waiting until someone says something about it.”

FILM REVIEW | ‘CREED II’

‘Creed II’ packs punch, exceeds low expectations for franchise sequels By Noah Levine @ZProductionz

Sequels don’t suck after all. “Creed II” is the sequel to 2015’s well-received “Creed.” This follow-up film takes Adonis Creed (Michael B. Jordan), the son of iconic “Rocky” character Apollo Creed, and puts him in the ring opposite Viktor Drago (Florian Munteanu), the son of the infamous “Rocky IV” villain Ivan Drago (Dolph Lundgren), who killed Apollo. Adonis faces heavy doubts and pressure from his friends and family as he

prepares for the most meaningful fight of his life. Director Steven Caple Jr. expands on the world of boxing through the eyes of a black protagonist, atypical of the “Rocky” series. By adding to the first film’s intriguing storyline, “Creed II” helps establish Adonis at the forefront of his own franchise. Jordan plays Adonis with an undying determination that’s very apparent in his portrayal. Franchise staple Sylvester Stallone masterfully returns to his iconic role of Rocky yet again, this time as a wisdom-filled uncle figure, instead of a ruthless fighter. Adonis’ wife Bianca (Tessa

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and his team. Still reeling from the devastating loss Ivan faced in the ring against Rocky, the duo is desperate to regain respect from Russia. This gives the film’s villain a compelling motive, often making the viewer contemplate which side they are rooting for. However, the nostalgia and history associated with original villain Ivan often overshadow the underdeveloped Viktor. It’s a shame, considering Viktor is Adonis’ true opponent. It would have been beneficial to include more dialogue from the antagonist. The film is fantastic in its ability to tell a cohesive,

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compelling and high-stakes story that remains familiar, despite having so many moving parts. Throughout the overall plot of Adonis training to fight Viktor, scenes highlighting character growth and family struggles are seamlessly interwoven. Even with a vast cast, every character has extensive impact on the film’s story in progressive ways. This makes huge narrative events within the film feel more rewarding for the audience. Another incredible asset of the film is its calculated cinematography and directing. Training sequences are smoothly framed and

choreographed to show the growth and struggles that occur in preparation for a huge fight. These scenes and montages are accompanied by a riveting soundtrack that includes the likes of hip hop duo Rae Sremmurd and rapper Kodak Black. Overall, “Creed II” is a relentless and nearly perfect entry into the long-running “Rocky” series. The characters and plot are seamlessly interwoven to tell a fascinating narrative about the struggles of following through with passion while also trying to aid loved ones. Viewers shouldn’t be scared of sequel fatigue, as this film is as fresh as it gets.

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Thompson) offers a helping hand with impeccable onscreen chemistry with Adonis. Scenes featuring the two characters are crafted with romantic care, taking time to detail their intimate relationship. Rocky and Adonis work to fully explore their motivations and thought processes as they face the events in the film. This is one of the most beautiful aspects of “Creed II,” as each character portrays raw emotion and reacts naturally to plot events. With this realism, the audience can better resonate with the film’s storyline. Ivan and his son Viktor are worthy adversaries to Creed

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TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 27, 2018

BASKETBALL

Roach’s development continues

From dunking to draft stock, Roach is improving in all respects. By Steve Helwick @s_helwick

fter three years, it could have been the end of the road. A dejected Texas Longhorn squad walked through the tunnel at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Tennessee, clutching onto a shattering overtime loss to Nevada in the first round of the NCAA Tournament. Shooting guard Kerwin Roach II left career numbers of 26 points and five rebounds on college basketball’s biggest stage. As a member of Rick Barnes’ final recruiting class and head coach Shaka Smart’s inaugural freshman class, Roach had been through it all — from last place finishes in the Big 12 to falling short in March Madness thrillers. Many anticipated the next step for the two-way swingman was to declare for the NBA Draft, and that’s exactly what Roach announced on March 27. But two months later, things changed. Roach withdrew his name from consideration, and because he did not hire an agent, he was allowed to return to Texas. After hearing from NBA scouts and team personnel, Roach determined remaining in Austin to develop his game was in the best interest of his basketball career. “It was very informational,” Roach said on the draft experience. “They really give it to you cold-blooded. It makes you better. It’s a business, and you just got to get better. I was telling the guys, it’s a numbers game. Most of the things they want to see is

angela wang | the daily texan file Guard Kerwin Roach II pulls up for a jump shot in Texas’ 65-55 win over Louisiana Monroe on Nov. 12 at the Frank Erwin Center. After initially declaring for the 2018 NBA Draft earlier this year, Roach withdrew his name and returned to the 40 Acres, averaging 18.6 points per game this season.

just wins. Just get wins, and if we win, everything else will take care of itself.” When asked about what missing element from his game was in highest demand, Roach didn’t hesitate. “Shooting, just being more consistent,” Roach said. “I’ve been working on this offseason shooting from NBA range, college range, putting up a lot of threes, shooting a lot of free throws. Hopefully it just translates to the game this season.” Roach is primarily renowned for his perimeter defense. He

opened the 2017–18 season by declaring his goal was to be the national Defensive Player of the Year. Roach also frequently attacks the rim with aggressiveness as a ferocious dunker, and is a staple in college basketball highlight reels. Smart thinks overall, Roach is trending in the right direction toward his eventual goal. “He’s, at times, been spectacular on defense for us,” Smart said. “He’s done a phenomenal job on guys that ended up being NBA first-round picks, lottery picks. But he needs to gain a level

of consistency there. Offensively, near the end of the year last year, he really took a jump. He started making more outside shots, he was making better decisions, using pick-and-roll became a strength of his.” Through five games in 2018– 19, Roach leads the Longhorns in points (18.6), assists (4.6) and steals (2.6). He recorded a career-high 32 points against then-No. 7 North Carolina and earned a double-double against Arkansas, complete with a bizarre 3-point buzzer-beater to send the game into overtime. It’s

safe to say the senior’s game has taken a leap with NBA teams fixated on him as a candidate in this year’s draft. “If I work for it, have the right mindset and approach it right, I feel like I can (develop consistency),” Roach said. “When stuff gets good, people tend to get relaxed and complacent, and that’s one thing I have to fight this year.” But the NBA Draft isn’t exactly a senior’s game. In 2018, the highest selected senior was Grayson Allen, who landed on the Utah Jazz with the 21st pick. Only two seniors were first round

selections, with nine hearing their name in the second round — primarily falling in the final quarter of the draft. Roach can use his perimeter defense as a springboard into the league, but his development in other areas can secure a draft selection. “I try to get him feedback from the scouts that come into practice now,” Smart said. “I’ll text those guys after and say, ‘Hey, what did you think of Snoop, and what can you give me to give him?’ Now, we want him to be a playmaker for our team, not just for himself, but for the other guys around him.”

FOOTBALL

Herman previews week ahead in buildup to Red River Rematch

angela wang | the daily texan file Head coach Tom Herman patrols the sidelines in Texas’ 24-10 win over Iowa State on Nov. 16. Herman is preparing the Longhorns for their first conference championship game since 2009.

By Ross Burkhart @ross_burkhart

Texas head coach Tom Herman is five days away from the biggest game of his career. Ahead of the title fight between Herman’s Longhorns and the Oklahoma Sooners, the second-year coach met with the media Monday. He discussed the Red River Rematch, the impending questions surrounding the health of quarterback Sam Ehlinger and the tall task of containing Oklahoma quarterback Kyler Murray. Here’s what Herman had to say:

We’re not in Dallas anymore

While Texas-OU is headed back to the Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington metroplex for Saturday’s 11 a.m. kickoff, this time, the two rivals will face off at AT&T Stadium in Arlington instead of Fair Park in Dallas, and Herman quickly reminded his players the stakes are different this time around. The Longhorns are fully aware of the task at hand entering this week of practice but will operate under the same 1–0 mentality they’ve had all season, despite this game paying out much more than a year’s worth of bragging rights. “I did tell our guys, this is not the Red River Showdown, this

is not October,” Herman said. “That game was played in the Cotton Bowl, and that’s played for the Golden Hat, and that one is over. Our motivation, I would hope, playing in the conference championship game would be the same were it any other opponent. I think our team believes that and buys into that.”

Ehlinger’s health still in question

After last Friday’s win over Kansas, Ehlinger told Longhorn Network the AC contusion he suffered against Iowa State was aggravated after taking some hits, but wasn’t limiting in any way. While Ehlinger was quick to downplay the severity of the injury, his box score numbers were affected as he threw his first two interceptions since the season opener on Sept. 1. However, with an extra day of preparation, the injury should bother him less than it did last week, according to Herman. “Yeah, it was bothering him,” Herman said. “It’s going to bother him this week, too, but … I think it’s going to bother him significantly less playing Oklahoma in the Big 12 Championship game than it bothered him against Kansas. We had that extra day, too, which is critical, and he’ll be throwing again on Tuesday, which last week, he didn’t even throw on the Tues-

day version of that week’s practice, which was on a Monday.”

Containing the Heisman hopeful

The last time the Longhorns and Sooners met, Kyler Murray was a major factor during OU’s late-game push, accounting for nearly 400 total yards through the air and on the ground, but also gave up two costly turnovers. Murray’s stellar season hasn’t slowed down in the two months since then, and it’s not likely to on Saturday, giving Herman and his coaching staff another difficult opportunity to limit his production. “I think we did a good job of collapsing the pocket (last time),” Herman said. “We did not want him on read plays. We certainly didn’t want him carrying the football out there on the loose.” Herman also announced safety Brandon Jones is on track for a return to the field, saying the junior will likely practice Wednesday or Thursday at the latest. Jones recorded a team-high seven tackles before leaving the Kansas game with a head injury. Jones, who is Texas’ fourth-leading tackler of the season despite missing four games, should certainly provide a boost for the Longhorns on Saturday.

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 27, 2018

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