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serving the university of texas at austin community since
@thedailytexan |
thedailytexan . com
1900
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 29, 2018
volume
charlie hyman
119,
issue
74
| the daily texan staff
A day in the bipolar life By Kayla Meyertons @kemeyertons
of 18+ y.o people experience bipolar disorder
age when symptoms become prevalent
F
or Andrea Garza, being diagnosed with bipolar II disorder her first year at UT was a blessing in disguise. “I just thought I was broken. I just thought there was something wrong,” said Garza, an advertising junior. “It was just so relieving to finally feel like … my life doesn’t have to be like this forever’... I can be, quote unquote, normal.” Bipolar disorder is a chronic mental illness characterized by extreme highs and lows in mood behavior known as episodes of mania or depression, according to the National Institute of Mental Health. These periods can last weeks, months or even years at a time. The institute reports that 2.8 percent of the U.S. population age 18 and older experiences bipolar disorder. Symptoms normally become prevalent between the ages of 15 and 24, often when students are in high school or college, said Julie Fast. “It makes sense that if your average bipolar starts in mid to late teens that we would have our first really big episode at college,” said Fast, a world leading mental health expert and the author of several bipolar books. To be diagnosed bipolar, one has to experience at least one episode of mania or hypomania, the less severe version of mania, in addition to depressive episodes.
Bipolar I and II are distinguished by the severity of their respective “up” episodes, mania and hypomania, according to Jorge Almeida, director of the UT Health Austin Bipolar Disorder Center. Manic episodes of extremely elevated moods result in frantic activity, grandiose thoughts of self, impulsivity, lack of sleep, talking very quickly and high risk-taking behavior, such as spending a lot of money and having reckless sex, according to the National Institute on Mental Health. “It has gotten me in trouble before,” Garza said. “I’ve definitely purchased tickets to Paris before without having the money for it, but my depressive episodes are definitely a l ot worse.” Depressive episodes of bipolar are marked by extreme sadness, low energy, feelings of worthlessness, difficulty concentrating and even suicidal thoughts. With her depressive episodes, Garza said she has struggled to attend classes and study. “Every task is an impossible task,” Garza said. “Getting out of bed is just the worst …. I can’t even process the thought of showering or eating.” Before her diagnosis, Garza had shown symptoms of
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STATE
CAMPUS
Texas House bill aims to digitize identification
Students facing failing grades turn to Q-drop
By Chad Lyle @lylechad
Texas will begin a pilot program for providing digital copies of drivers licenses and other forms of state-issued identification if House Bill 181 passes in the upcoming legislative session. The bill was proposed by State Rep. Terry Canales after he received encouraging results from a Texas Department of Public Safety study. “The conversation about digital IDs was started when we asked DPS to create the study — that was the first part of a three-part process,” Canales said. “The first part was the study. We asked DPS, ‘Can you do it?’ They came back and said not only can they do it, ‘We have these concerns, but here also are some of the benefits.’” Digital copies of licenses and other forms of ID would be convenient, Canales said, because 77 percent
of Americans already own smartphones and many are beginning to use programs such as Apple Pay. Canales also said digital forms of ID could have security measures not possible in a physical copy. “Some of the features of the digital license are more advanced than any physical copy of a license could have,” Canales said. “For instance, 3D images of your face and biometrics are some of the features that, as technology continues to get better and better, could be included.” The DPS study, which was conducted in August 2016, listed numerous potential benefits in its conclusion, but also indicated more research needed to be done. “A digital DL/ID solution has the potential to improve the assurance of a person’s identity … and optimize government resources,” the report said. “However, digital DL/ID solutions are in the early stages of
implementation and remain largely unproven.” Susan Nold, the director of the Annette Strauss Institute for Civic Engagement, said a pilot program such as the one proposed by Canales is typically a good method for testing new policies. “It is often a very smart strategy to start with a pilot to have an opportunity that’s limited in scope to see how something would work,” Nold said. “That should be instructive as to whether the solution proposed in this bill is one that is a good one.” Despite the benefits of digital IDs, Canales said the goal is not to replace physical forms of ID entirely. “The intention is to have a secondary convenience source that’s not necessarily replacing the physical card,” Canales said. “Nothing about the bill or the idea of a digital license is meant to replace the original. It’s meant to give users an option if they would
By Heather Kirby @heatherkirby97
andrew choi
like it.” Canales said he sees this as an opportunity for Texas to be a leader in innovation. “We could set the benchmark for other states and be the prototype that the federal government approves,” Canales said.
| the daily texan staff
“Somebody’s got to make the first digital ID. I believe there’s at least one other state that has a working prototype, and there’s no reason that Texas should be left behind. We’re the greatest state in the union and that should apply technologically as well.”
Last spring, more than 1,500 students failed at least one class and more than 6,000 students Q-dropped at least one class. Q-dropping a class can prevent a student from having an ‘F’ grade calculated into their GPA. A Q-drop means the student withdraws from the class and a “Q” is placed on their transcript for that course. “UT-Austin’s academic standards are very high, and our students consistently rise to the challenge of our courses,” said Rachelle Hernandez, senior vice provost for enrollment management. Albert Medina, a radio-television-film junior, said he has failed a class and used all of his allotted Q drops to protect his GPA. “We go to a top-tier university, and some people are really scared to affect their GPA, so they would rather Q-drop than fail,”
Medina said. “UT can be tough … and it’s something that we can all relate to.” Jay Guevara, student program coordinator in the University Leadership Network and Academic Counselor’s Association president, said students should take advantage of resources to help them with classes, such as the Sanger Learning Center and the University Writing Center. “Students should check in with their academic advisor to find out about resources that might be specific for their college or school,” Guevara said. The deadline for Q-dropping courses was Nov. 1. The only other way a student can drop a class is by using their “one time exception,” or OTE. This is a one-time course drop that can be used at any point in the semester. Medina said failing is just a step toward success. He said he thinks it’s common to hear other students talk about failing, because
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