Serving The University Of Texas At Austin Community Since 1900 @thedailytexan | thedailytexan.com
Thursday, October 17, 2019
Volume 121, Issue 47
NEWS
OPINION
SPORTS
LIFE&ARTS
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Hodor speaks about his Game of Thrones career, DJ experience and coming out story.
Students need increased transparency about availiability of coding classes.
The loudest, proudest football fans in the stands: Longhorn Hellraisers.
Joyner Holmes looks to return to the court after struggles with adversity.
UNIVERSITY
UT minorities underrepresented Demographics at UT reveal lack of representation toward Native Americans, blacks and Hispanics. By Lauren Grobe @grobe_lauren
he University has committed itself to maintaining a diverse population, but according to the Chronicle of Higher Education, minorities remain disproportionately represented at UT. Of the 7,856 students admitted in 2017, only 30% of them were underrepresented racial minorities, meaning Native American, Hispanic and black students, according to the Chronicle of Higher Education. Of the college-age residents in Texas, 60% are underrepresented minorities, according to the Chronicle of Higher Education. Government junior Jesus Torres said he does not feel the University’s student body is diverse racially. “Coming to a university where I couldn’t find a single Latinx for a couple of weeks and a lot of my classes don’t have African Americans — it’s a culture shock,” Torres said. The admissions process is designed to admit a diverse population of students, said Miguel Wasielewski, executive director of admissions. If an applicant is in the top 6% of their graduating class, they are automatically admitted to the University. If not, the University does a holistic review of the application, including factors such as extracurriculars and race, Wasielewski said. “No single element within the holistic review is worth more than any other element,” Wasielewski said.
emma overholt
“It’s about the entire file together, what is that final score that’s given to the file.” Torres said the racial demographics at the University are vastly different from the environment he had grown up in and did not match his idea of Texas’ population. “I feel like Texas is a big, diverse state,” Torres said. “I didn’t feel like I belonged for a good year.” Wasielewski said the University does not try to mimic state demographics with its admissions decisions as that would be considered a racial quota, which he said is illegal. “We are in no way trying to replicate the population of this state,” Wasielewski said. Automatic admission is considered one way to diversify the
It’s a way to bring in people who have been outcasted or people who have been deprived of opportunity.” JESUS TORRES government junior
applicant pool, as it pulls from Texas public schools. Torres said automatic admission helps minority groups get into universities such as UT. “It’s a way to bring in people who have been outcasted or people who have been deprived of opportunity,” Torres said. “A lot of kids dream about coming here.” However, Suzi Goevl, government and Spanish sophomore, said she thinks automatic admissions should be removed. “I feel like holistic reviews are definitely the way to go,” Goevl said. “That’s just a better way to make sure we’re getting people who actually want to be here.” Wasielewski said the University has to meet certain conditions according to state law, so 90% of incoming freshman must
/ the daily texan staff
be Texas residents, and 75% of the Texas residents must be auto-admit students. “We have to forecast how many students will actually accept their offer for admission to UT-Austin,” Wasielewski said. Students for Fair Admissions, a nonprofit that advocates against racial consideration during admissions, filed a lawsuit against the University in May claiming using race in its admission process is discriminatory, according to the lawsuit. Torres said race should be a factor in admissions because race affects your life circumstances and can put you at a disadvantage. “The color your skin does create your experience of life, especially in the educational system,” Torres said.
WEST CAMPUS
CAMPUS
West Campus food truck diversifies food scene, introduces West African cuisine
New student committee addresses intersection of race, environment By Lauren Morales @lamor_1217
kirsten hahn
/ the daily texan staff
African Delights owner Amina serves government Ph.D. student Kevin Galambos at her food truck located behind the University Co-op on Oct. 15, 2019. The food truck is bringing traditional West African dishes to campus. By Sara Johnson @skjohn1999
A new food truck opened last Wednesday behind the University Co-op, bringing the taste of African cuisine closer to campus. African Delights offers a small, seasonal menu of West African cuisine and operates between 11:30 a.m. and 2:45
p.m., according to a sign on the front of the food truck. The owner of African Delights could not be reached to comment on their business. The current menu includes items such as Senegalese yassa chicken, fish ball stew and beef patties. Rheal Zackaria, African Student Organization outreach officer, said these are typical West African comfort foods. “This is the kind of stuff you make for close family and friends,” Zackaria, an
economics and Arabic sophomore, said. “My mom sometimes makes chicken yassa when I come back to visit, almost like a welcome home thing.” Zackaria said the arrival of the food truck makes African culture more available to students, since there are not as many African food options available near campus. CUISINE
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The Campus Environmental Center created a new committee to address the intersection of social issues and the environmental protection movement. The committee, called the Environmental Justice Committee, was created this semester and is working on filling its 15 to 20 positions, committee co-chair Fernando Casal said. Geography senior Casal said he and other environmental studies students recognized the lack of discussions around race, class and gender in their class curriculum. Casal said he decided to form the committee to facilitate discussions around these issues. “These students, like students of color and allies, have been left out of the conversation,” Casal said. “In the committee, they will have a space to talk about these issues in the full range of environmental studies. We are helping address the gaps in our curriculum.” Casal said he would like to work with professors to introduce a more critical perspective in environmental studies and host workshops about social issues and environmentalism. “People say ‘The environment can’t be racist, the science can’t be racist,’” Casal said. “People interact with the
environment, and people can be racist. For example, groups are forced to live in places that are polluted.” Committee co-chair Cerena Ermitanio said in her home country of the Philippines, the intersection of environmentalism and social issues is very prominent. Ermitanio, international relations and global studies junior, works with a human rights group in the Philippines and said the government of the Philippines has directly targeted environmental activists. “It is one of the most resource-rich countries in all of Asia,” Ermitanio said. “The current regime is suppressing all these activists to maintain big agriculture plantations. We don’t talk about these things as often because they affect the most marginalized populations.” Ermitanio said Native American and indigenous communities also face marginalization in the environmental movement. The committee hosted a discussion in the Multicultural Engagement Center called “Sustainability and Me” with the student organization Native American and Indigenous Collective on Wednesday to discuss sustainable indigenous food practices. History associate professor Erika Bsumek, who specializes in land politics, said indigenous communities face far more environmental issues R A C E PAGE 2
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MEGAN MENCHACA
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THURSDAY, OCTOBER 17, 2019
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CAMPUS
First student to graduate in new European Studies track next semester: European thought to allow you to engage with the ‘great books’ and philosophers, and try to grapple with the meaning of humanity and other quesWhen Tarek Zaher was a fresh- tions of enduring significance man, he was a physics major mi- that sometimes are ignored in the noring in core texts and ideas. As modern universe.” he took physics classes, however, he Professors in the Jefferson realized he was more interested in Scholars Program hand-picked the human aspect and philosophy courses that matched the theme of physics. of European thought, specifical“I went to professor Lorraine ly concerning philosophy and Pangle with this problem, and she history of European society, told me that they had just created Zaher said. this (European studies track) and I Pangle, a government professhould look into it,” Zaher, a govern- sor and co-director of the Thomas ment and European Jefferson Center, studies senior, said. said she consult“Ever since then, I’ve ed with Biow to been hooked.” create the EuEuropean thought In spring of 2020, ropean thought is unique in that it Zaher said he will track. Originally, be the first student Pangle said she doesn’t focus on to graduate with a intended for Euone set time period ropean Thought major in European studies in the track of to be a new maor ... teaching you European thought. jor, but the prospecific knowledge cess for creating He said he is one of two students who that’s aimed at a par- a new major was have declared Euticular career path.” too“Itdifficult. ropean thought as has to go their track within all the way to the TAREK ZAHER the European studtop of the (Texas) government and european studiessenior ies major. The track Higher Educawas created under tion Coordinating the 2016-2018 course catalog in col- Board, and I was hearing that they laboration with the Thomas Jefferson were requiring that there be proof Center for the Study of Core Texts that this would help people to get and Ideas, according to an email from jobs with the new major,” Pangle Douglas Biow, director of the Center said. “So what we would have most for European Studies. liked would have been an interdis“European thought is unique in ciplinary major of great books. that it doesn’t focus on one set time This was a kind of second best.” period or ... teaching you specific The track will grow when more knowledge that’s aimed at a partic- Jefferson Scholars declare it with ular career path,” Zaher said. “It is interdisciplinary majors such as just a broad curriculum intended government, Pangle said. By Dex Parra @dexparra
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NEWS
erin dorney
/ the daily texan staff
Government and European studies senior Tarek Zaher is one of two students in the European thoughts track, a two-year-old program in the European studies major.
CAMPUS
Game of Thrones actor speaks on career, coming out By Carly Rose @carlyydrose
The most important piece of advice Game of Thrones actor Kristian Nairn had for students during a talk Wednesday night was was simple: Be true to yourself. “I just really believe one of the most important things in life is to stick by your guns and be yourself,” Nairn said. “And just do you. That’s what I always try to impress on people.” Game of Thrones is a popular TV series created by HBO. Nairn, who played Hodor on the show, spoke about his experience, his career as a DJ and his coming out story. The event, hosted by Campus Events + Entertainment’s Distinguished Speakers committee, took place in the William C. Powers, Jr. Student Activity Center Auditorium, with an hour dedicated to an on-stage interview with Nairn and 30 minutes for audience questions. When asked about his coming out experience, Nairn
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amna ijaz
/ the daily texan staff
Kristian Nairn, famously known for his portrayal of Hodor in the award-winning drama series Game of Thrones, sits down with Journalism and Government sophomore Neelam Bohra Wednesday night for a discussion in the SAC Auditorium. said he was “never in.” He said his experience was comparably easy, although not everyone has that privilege, and visibility can be incredibly helpful.
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“I know Austin is really well-known for food trucks and everything, but it’s more multicultural around here than I think students realize just because it’s not readily accessible,” Zackaria said. “I’d love to see more food trucks that show off just how diverse Austin is.” Computer science junior Audra Collins said she tried African Delights earlier this week because she heard good things from friends about the truck. “I love that it’s a black-owned business bringing something new to the community,” Collins said. “It’s more representation, which is always good.” Collins said she looked forward to seeing seasonal changes in the menu in the future,because she likes to see local chefs demonstrating knowledge of their food. “I’ve had a lot of food trucks before, and these people really know their stuff,” Collins said. “I don’t think a lot of people understand how much work it is to produce any menu in a really small space like (food trucks), which is awesome.” Art history freshman Belle Walston said her visit to the truck made her
“Game of Thrones has obviously been a main part of his career as an actor and as a public figure,” Grace Nguyen, event coordinator and business sophomore, said.
eager to try it again. “My friends and I were kind of just rushing for lunch when we tried it, but I’m really glad we did,” Walston said. “The portion was a good size, and it came out really quickly.” Walston said anyone nervous about trying the food truck should start with the beef patties because they resemble empanadas. “When I saw them, I thought they were folded kind of the same way and it seemed like one of the more approachable options,” Walston said. “My friends and I were able to share a little bit of everything, and I’m glad we did.” Zackaria said she recognizes students may be confused, because the truck is not offering foods like collard greens or potato salad, which is often identified with black food culture in America. She hopes the addition of the food truck will allow students to see the diversity within black culture. “I think there’s a disconnect between how people see black culture in America and black culture across the globe,” Zackaria said. “A lot of people think of black culture as one thing, like it’s just the music and the fashion and those things. There’s more than just black culture in America to celebrate.”
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“But I think there are a lot of valuable experiences that have come along with that, partially in the coming out, and then also reflecting on fame and what that looks like when
you’re a part of such a big cultural milestone.” Though admitting his worst fan experience happened when he was chased through the concourse at Austin-Bergstrom Airport, Nairn said encounters like that are worth it to be able to engage in speaking events. “I love to talk to young people and give as much advice as I can, and sort of life and career,” Nairn said. “I mean, I’m not an expert in any way. I can sort of give my perspective, and if that helps anybody, so be it.” The first 50 people in line received a wristband that gave them access to the meetand-greet with Nairn after the event, where they could talk with him one-on-one and take a picture, Nguyen said. Business sophomore Lauren Hill said she is a fan of Game of Thrones and met Nairn. “First of all, I have never met anybody who is a celebrity, and I’ve never met anybody who is a celebrity that I cared about,” Hill said. “This is a big deal.”
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than food sovereignty. She said throughout history, the lands of Native American tribes have been used for natural resource extractions. Bsumek said this is a particular issue with uranium mining and disposal on Native American lands, which expose communities to radiation. However, she said Native Americans are at the forefront of the environmental movement, especially in the case of the Water Protectors, Native American environmental activist group. “The Water Protectors ushered in a new moment of connecting the rights of indigenous people and the protection of the environment,”
/ the daily texan staff
Bsumek said. “There were historical moments where their voices were excluded and now, hopefully, they are being listened to.” The Environmental Justice Committee’s next general meeting is Thursday at the William C. Powers, Jr. Student Activity Center in room 2.112 for students who are interested in joining, Ermitanio said. Casal said the committee will be focusing on introducing environmental issues in the first meetings so they can move forward with possible solutions throughout the year. “Everything in the world intersects,” Casal said. “Race, class and gender have implication for everything in society. Of course, there is an intersection with environmentalism as well, and we need to have a discussion about this before we solve the issues.”
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NEWS
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THURSDAY, OCTOBER 17, 2019 UNIVERSITY
UTPD to engage in transgender awareness training By Emily Hernandez @emilylhernandez
The UT Police Department will participate in transgender awareness training to educate officers on proper LGBTQIA+ vocabulary, hate crime and gender marker laws and how to respect gender identities. The training, which is being developed by UTPD LGBTQIA+ representative detective David Chambers and aims to begin next semester, is part of the Campus Pride Index requirements to make the University a LGBTQ-friendly institution. Campus Pride is a national nonprofit that provides tools to help colleges and universities become more inclusive to the LGBTQ community, according to the Campus Pride website. UT is currently rated four out of five stars in the index, according to the website. Chambers said while the training will help fulfill index requirements, it is also important for officers to better interact with the campus community. “I am a gay male … but when it comes to the transgender community, there’s still some questions and learning that I have to have,” Chambers said. “If someone has to call the police, it’s already a hard time for them. We don’t want our ignorance to make that worse for someone.” Chambers said the two-hour-long training will consist of a PowerPoint presentation, handouts and four educational components — LGBTQIA+ terminology, LGBTQIA+ hate crime laws and University policies, gender markers on state IDs and driver’s licenses, and communication with transgender students who can talk about their experiences with discrimination and answer officers’ questions. “It’s the basic information to prevent you from showing up in the media for doing something really wrong,” Chambers said. “It may not mean that we’re going to ask for pronouns at every single stop, but it may be instead of saying, Mr. Smith and Mrs. Smith, we may use the first name that the person introduces
jack myer
/ the daily texan staff
LGBTQIA+ representative detective David Chambers aims to make interacting with the police easier for LGBTQ individuals by educating police officers and ensuring they can do their jobs respectfully and effectively. themselves as ... instead of just making those assumptions about gender.” Radio-television-film sophomore Map Pesqueira, a transgender man, said the training sounds like a step toward bridging the gap between law enforcement and the LGBTQIA+ community. “It’s going to be a really great way for the LGBT community and the law enforcement to be able to see eye to eye on these types of issues, and it’s an even better way to get around the curve of having police brutality against LGBTQ people, especially black and trans
LGBTQ people,” Pesqueira said. Pesqueira said police officers asking for pronouns and using a person’s chosen name will make a transgender or gender noncomforming person more comfortable in a stressful interaction. “A lot of times when police interact with trans and (gender-nonconforming) people, it could escalate very quickly because cops don’t want to call them by their chosen name or they don’t want to use the right pronouns, and that can just make the situation even worse,” Pesqueira said.
Chambers said he is part of the Queer and Trans Services Alliance, which is headed by the Gender and Sexuality Center and helps solve LGBTQIA+ issues across campus. The center’s staff said the alliance will provide definitions and vocabulary for the training. “We think that more training for several offices on campus, as well as policy changes, can bring UT to the top of the index and ensure that queer and trans students are treated with respect and have the same opportunities to succeed as students who are not queer and trans,” the center’s staff said in an email.
CITY
Austin increases trash bill for residents as part of Zero Waste Initiative By Emma Gueorguieva @emmagueorguieva
Austin Resource Recovery customers, including students who live in West Campus, will be paying more for trash collection starting this month. Austin Resource Recovery collects residential curbside trash, recycling and yard trimmings, according to the city of Austin website. The city of Austin has a Zero Waste goal, an effort to reduce the amount of trash sent to landfills by 90% by 2040, according to the website. In an effort to reach that goal, Austin City Council approved Austin Resource Recovery’s proposed trash collection fee increase as a part of the 2019-2020 city budget. After reevaluating the cost of services, Austin Resource Recovery found the base collection fee that covers trash, recycling, brush and bulk collection was too low. To offset the increasing fees, Resource Recovery proposed to decrease the clean community fee, which covers street sweeping and public event cleanups, said Susanne Harm, Austin Resource Recovery public information specialist. “We originally did not want rates to increase because we don’t want folks to be less enthusiastic about helping us reach Zero Waste by 2040,” Harm said. She said Austin City Council decided against decreasing the clean community
fee to allow the city time to generate a report on funding requirements. Harm said she thought City Council was cautious when deciding not to offset the cost of the increased trash collection fee. “Every time I turn around, there’s another event or another marathon, and it is just these constant massive cleanups in downtown Austin,” Harm said. “It costs a lot of money to make people work overnight. It’s a lot of overtime.” Robert Moddrell, the University’s Resource Recovery manager, said the University — including educational and general use buildings and auxiliaries such as University Housing and Dining — produced 2,117 tons of recycling, 996 tons of compost and 4,951 tons of landfill in the 2018-2019 school year. He said both landfill and recycling has decreased by 2% from 2017. “(The increased trash bill) really won’t affect the University,” Moddrell said. “That’s a residential program … At University Housing and Dining it won’t have an effect.” Cerena Ermitanio, a co-leader on the Environmental Justice Committee, said that as a culture, people live very disposable lifestyles. “I think not getting ourselves involved with recycling and composting has a lot of implications,” international relations and global studies junior Ermitanio said. “We can’t live sustainably if we continue on this path of constantly throwing things away.”
steph sonik
/ the daily texan staff
RESEARCH
Study shows ancient Mayan environmental impacts worse than predicted By Avery Wohleb @averywohleb
Geographical research conducted by University researchers in Belize found that the ancient Mayan civilization had a greater environmental impact than previously believed. The Maya were likely responding to environmental hardships, including harsh droughts, when they created expansive wetlands for farming, according to the study. Timothy Beach, author of the study and fleader of the Soils and Geoarchaeology Lab, said the research began in the early 1990s as part of the Programme for Belize Archaeological Project. He said at that time, a multidisciplinary team discovered there was significantly more ancient Mayan settlement in Belize, including canals and wetland fields, than they had previously believed. “We did 15 to 20 years of slogging through trails doing excavations,” Beach said. “And through that work, we developed a hypothesis that perhaps there’s a lot more of these wetland canals and fields.” In 2016, Beach said researchers were able to shoot laser pulses through a dense forest canopy and produced a high-resolution recording of the forest floor. He said this technology revealed more of the canal features and the canal system surrounding the fields. Sheryl Luzzadder-Beach, co-author of the study and professor in the Department of Geography and the Environment, said the
barb daly
/ the daily texan staff
more that is discovered about ancient farming, the more that can be understood about the greenhouse gases they produced in the past. She said in addition to the human impact, the research also tells a story about human innovation. “The ancient Maya adapted fields that had been previously dry-farmed ... and built an incredible infrastructure to continue farming,” Luzzadder-Beach said. The clearing and enlarging of the fields may have come at an environmental cost by increasing atmospheric carbon dioxide and methane from land-clearing burning events and farming, a problem that has implications toward the volume of greenhouse gas emissions around the world today, according to a press release from the College of Liberal Arts. Fred Valdez, co-author of the study and anthropology professor, said looking at the Maya from thousands of years ago helps us understand how humans adapt to a changing environment. “The general trend worldwide, through all of human history, is that humans are very slow to pay attention to the warning signs and we usually react too late,” Valdez said. “All of those indicators have a lot of valuable information that applies to us today. The catch in that is whether people will pay attention to it.”
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SPENCER BUCKNER
Editor-In-Chief | @THEDAILYTEXAN
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 17, 2019
COLUMN
OPINION COLUMN
helen brown/ the daily texan staff
RecSports website technology needs an update By Sam Thielman Columnist
abriella corker/ the daily texan staff
UT must be more transparent about availability of coding classes By Kisara Dang Columnist
It’s no secret that there is an increase in interest for computer programming in the era of digital technology. Not only does it develop critical problem solving and technological skills, it’s professionally relevant. Coding is increasingly becoming a core skill even in industries outside of technology, like finance and healthcare. In fact, business leaders have called coding “the most important form of communication on the planet.” Regardless of major, students are drawn to the elements of computing certificate to gain valuable technological skills. It requires 18 hours of coursework focused on programming and software design to support their studies in other disciplines. However, this may be difficult to achieve if students are unable to get into the classes they need to complete the certificate. The University should address this concern to students considering this program in advising or information sessions before they decide to pursue the certificate. “(With) approximately 1,850 undergraduate majors, 400 graduate students and 700 students pursuing certificates, computer science is among the University’s most popular courses of study,” said Christine Sinatra, director of communications for the College of Natural Sciences. Sinatra said the number of people pursuing a computer science major has more than doubled in just the last six
years nationwide. “The University makes sure all our computer science students get access to the courses they need to complete their degrees in a timely fashion,” Sinatra said. However, this may not hold true for students hoping to add the elements of computing certification. At the moment, UT is not always able to accommodate the demand for courses required for this certificate, which is something they could be more transparent about to students. Mathematics senior Aldo Villarreal decided to pursue the elements of computing certificate in his second year, but he may not finish because of the difficulty of registering for the required courses in the program. “It’s a domino effect,” Villarreal said. “I wasn’t able to get the classes as a junior and it just kept adding up.” Currently, he is still deciding whether or not to continue pursuing the certificate because he would have to take nine hours of computer science classes in his last semester — that is, if he can even get in. “I’ve only taken half of the required courses, and to be completely honest, I don’t think I will be able to finish it just because the availability of the classes,” Villarreal said. “It’s really hard to get into some of those classes, even as a senior.” For one course, Villarreal was not able to get off the wait-list and had to show up to the class itself to ask the professor if they would be willing to add him. However, there are many ways that the College of Natural Sciences is working to address the lack of room, such as
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.
increasing the number of seats and sections available. In the future, CNS hopes to expand their faculty size — with eight new faculty commitments in this year alone. “We have expanded seating capacity for non-majors in computer science wherever possible and are committed to continuing to do so,” Sinatra said. But for students like Villarreal, change hasn’t come soon enough. While the University recognizes the high demand for computer science coursework and works toward increasing capacity, they should also be more transparent about the difficulty for registering for the computer science classes earlier on, especially for students considering the elements of computing certificate. “We let students in the large introductory courses for the certificate know that the upper-division elements of computing courses have a more limited capacity at this time,” Sinatra said. But by the time they are in the introductory classes, they’ve already signed up for the commitment. Students deserve to know beforehand that there is a possibility they won’t get the classes they need due to the high volume of students before then. While this could come in the form of either a written acknowledgement, a mandatory advising session or adding a disclaimer to the elements of computing certificate page, it is clear that students should be made aware about programming class availability. Dang is a sustainability studies and business honors freshman from Kerrville, Texas.
GALLERY
yulissa chavez
/ the daily texan staff
SUBMIT A FIRING LINE | Email your Firing Lines to editor@dailytexanonline.com. Letters must be more than 100 and fewer than 300 words. The Texan reserves the right to edit all submissions for brevity, clarity and liability.
Sports clubs are great, right? You know what else would be great? If UT RecSports devoted more of its resources to improving its website. Sports clubs are a large part of campus life for many students. They give students a space to pick up that sport they dropped in middle school, try out that one sport that was always just a bit too far of a drive, or even just share their passion for a sport with other students. But the life of a sports club can be difficult. Fundraising, community service, making sure everybody pays their dues—there are a million and one things that have to be done, and they’re not always very streamlined. To help correct this and ease the burden on club officers, RecSports should work to improve its use of technology in order to help sports clubs with administrative work. “There’s stuff on the administrative and technology side that I’ve had problems with,” computer science alum (2019) Michael Tirtowidjojo, former president of the International Taekwondo Federation club at UT, said. “For example, everyone in the club has to fill out a membership packet, and (club officers) have no way of seeing who’s submitted their membership packet until it’s approved, which doesn’t happen immediately. It’s our job to get on to people to make sure they get this done, but we have no way of seeing who’s submitted theirs already and if one got rejected, then why it got rejected.”
To ease the burden on club officers, RecSports should work to improve its use of technology in order to help sports clubs with administrative work.”
To give another example, officers also have a hard time verifying that everyone paid the correct amount for dues. Booking facilities can be difficult, and sometimes operate on very fast turnarounds. Initially, the solution seems simple enough — bust out the torches and pitchforks, scream at RecSports to fix everything, pat ourselves on the back and call it a day. However, RecSports is already trying to do everything they can. “(Officers not being able to check the status of membership packets) is just a current limitation of our system,” Chad Zimmerman, senior assistant director of sports clubs, said. “Membership packets as recently as five or six years ago were pen and paper. Five years ago, we put it on HornsLink, and two or three years ago we made this system. I would like for us to be able to show a pending status, but right now we have an IT staff of three individuals.” Some old problems have also been addressed in recent years. Clubs have been able to collect dues online for several years, but issues arose when clubs wanted to charge for extra things like t-shirts or trips,because there wasn’t an option for that online and officers aren’t allowed to use banking services like Venmo. Membership packets are all online now, and members can customize their payments if they want to add or opt out of any extra purchases. But there’s still a lot to be done, and right now there just aren’t enough resources to get them done quickly. So here’s what really needs to happen: RecSports needs to prioritize improving its website. It should make an effort to expand its IT staff or enlist help from other UT staff with technical expertise —whatever they can to better accommodate the needs of club members. The people running these clubs are full time students, and don’t have the time or energy to burn on problems that have implementable solutions. Thielman is a history and rhetoric & writing sophomore from Fort Worth. RECYCLE | Please recycle this copy of The Daily Texan. 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.
LIFE&ARTS
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THURSDAY, OCTOBER 17, 2019
EVENT PREVIEW
New events pop in, out of Austin As Halloween approaches, Austin plays host to themed concerts, art shows, costume parties, more. By Amarachi Ngwakwe @angwakwe
ike an unexpected monster in a haunted house, a series of events will be popping up around Austin during the month of October. The Daily Texan has compiled a list of shows and events to help students take advantage of these seasonal opportunities before they’re gone. Popup Art Show
Modern and abstract art fans can view the work of seven local artists at the upcoming Lather Salon Pop Up Series show on Oct. 19. Curated by Austin-based artist Bobby Whitley, the hair salon is transformed into a pop up art gallery for a night, showcasing the work of artists including Catherine Allen and Micayla Garza. The event takes place from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m at Lather Salon. The Freshman Tour Pop Up & Concert: Doordash, Cup Noodles, Visible, Fuse TV
The Freshman Tour is visiting 30 campuses nationwide, and will make its way to UT on
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tradition. We have many alumni who have waited until they were further along in their careers to purchase a ring, and they join in the celebration when they do. You can always have your ring dedicated in the Tower the year that you purchase.” Using PayPal Credit, a third-party payment option, Kim was able to purchase her upgraded ring. Although Balfour offers one payment plan, it is split up into three months and Kim did not find it practical for her situation. “I have a PayPal Credit account which gives me six months to pay off my bill and it’s a lot easier that way,” Kim said. “If the ring was originally $450 like I thought it would be, I think I would’ve been more open
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of marriage. Eisenberg’s Columbus returns with supreme nerdiness. His soft line delivery and quirky movements breathe comedic life into the character. His banter with Harrelson and romantic relationship with Stone’s character are a joy to watch as they beautifully recapture the magic of the original film. Eisenberg’s memorable narration returns as he relays the rules of surviving the apocalypse throughout. Stone’s snarkiness and cold sarcasm plays well off of the comedic absurdity of the rest of the cast. Harrelson turns up the nonsense, returning as his iconic character Tallahassee. The loud mouthed, Elvis-loving survivor amplifies the wackiness of “Zombieland’s” world through several unpredictable costume changes, songs and one-liners. He’s the
Oct. 23 for a pop-up shop and concert at Spider House from 2 p.m. to 9 p.m. Attendees can enjoy free entry to the event, which will feature free food and “Swag bags” for students, freshmen and upperclassmen alike. Prizes and free activation codes will be available from popular companies such as Cup Noodles, Doordash, Visible, StudentUniverse, Getaround and Fuse. Attendees are also eligible to win a spring break vacation from the Freshman Tour company, Doordash every day for a semester, an iPhone and one lucky ticket holder will get their tuition paid. After the pop-ups pop out, the electronic music duo Zaena x Jason Maek will take the stage from 7:30 p.m to 9 p.m to perform songs from their latest album before it’s released. Pup & Plant Halloween Costume Party Photo Pop Up
Animal-loving husband and wife duo Mumford Pet Photos have partnered with succulent shop Succulent Native to host a Halloween costume party and photo shoot mash-up at the shop on Oct. 27, from 11 a.m to 4 p.m. The indoor photo shoot taken under studio lights includes a custom backdrop decked out in Halloween props and decorations. Pet owners can join the photo shoot with their animals, and each costumed dog will receive a free bandana at the event. After a few days, the photos will be delivered via email to share with friends and family. ATX Fail Club presents Failed It! Cake Pop Edition
For those looking to make Hal-
rocky higine/ the daily texan staff
loween a little bit sweeter, ATX Fail Club is hosting a dessert craft night on Oct. 26 from 5 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. at CRAFT on East Cesar Chavez Street. Inspired by the Netflix show “Nailed It!” where amateur home bakers attempt to
recreate edible masterpieces, attendees can look to satisfy their holiday sweet tooth at this event. Admission to the event is $38 and includes sparkling drinks and different flavored cake pops, including pumpkin spice, choco-
late and vanilla. Guests can also take advantage of the variety of sweet supplies and packages to dip and decorate the ghoulish treats and safely transport the masterpiece home.
Campus CampusCoupons Coupons
to using the Balfour three monthly payments.” Roxanne Springman, an arts and entertainment technologies junior, said providing cheaper ring alternatives could help students like her and Kim participate in the school tradition. “I knew I wanted a ring, however, I didn’t expect it to be over a half grand,” Springman said. “The pricing of the ring restricts it to only the wealthier class of UT students and causes many to miss out on that feeling of accomplishment.” Springman also said altering the payment plans could make a difference in students’ ability to purchase a ring. “Having longer payment plans and ring options would absolutely motivate me to buy a ring right now,” Springman said. “I simply cannot pay off a ring in three months.” Kim proposed that UT
should consider allowing more financially feasible options for students. “If UT were open to including the cheaper
metals that Balfour offers to allow the rings to be more affordable, I’m sure more people would buy,” Kim said.
embodiment of an alpha-male zombie survivor and plays the part beautifully. In addition to its over the top gore, the “Zombieland” series is well known for its comedy. “Double Tap” delivers a heavy dosage of laugh-inducing moments, many of them resulting from the genius chemistry of its main cast. Zoey Deutch, portraying a new character named Madison, brings a glitzy and outdated caricature of a late-2000s ditz to the table. Her character’s lack of intelligence lends itself to some genuinely funny moments that could’ve easily become cringeworthy with the wrong performance. The film does rely a bit too heavily on constant puking gags, crotch injuries and marijuana references, but in a film where the world ended in 2009, the outdated jokes do fit to an extent. Part of “Double Tap’s” charm is its unchained attitude towards showcasing intense editing styles and
virtual effects. Columbus’ signature rules and terms appear in 3D animated letters throughout the film. During many occasions, characters and objects in the environment directly interact with these virtual effects, creating some enticing visual moments. In terms of editing, “Double Tap” makes wonderful use of overly dramatic slow motion scenes that are nothing short of pure badassery. It’s moments like these that help “Zombieland: Double Tap” stand out amongst oversaturated onslaught of zombie-themed media. “Zombieland: Double Tap” works off the incredible chemistry between the first film’s cast and throws them into yet another erroneous survival journey that touches down in several unique locales, including a small Elvis museum and a commune. The plot takes a stab at further developing its characters, straining the pre-established love between Columbus
and Wichita and the fatherly dynamic between Tallahassee and Little Rock. Although not all of these elements work in an empowering and meaningful way. “Double Tap” is an appropriately worthy follow-up to the undead romp from 2009.
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Zombieland: Double Tap
GENRE
Horror comedy R
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D O N N AVA N S M O O T
Sports Editor | @TEXANSPORTS
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 17, 2019
WOMEN’S BASKETBALL
Adversity prepares Holmes for her senior season After suffering a broken ankle and a suspension, Holmes is ready to make her return to the court. By Myah Taylor @t_myah
enior forward Joyner Holmes embodies the comeback story. Since the conclusion of her freshman season in 2017, Holmes’ tenure at Texas has been characterized by a constant battle to get back on the court. The Cedar Hill native was a key player for the Longhorns during her first season. In 32 starts, Holmes averaged 12.1 points per game and a team high 8.2 rebounds per game. Her play earned her All Big 12 First Team and Big 12 Freshman of the Year honors. “It was good, it was fun,” Holmes said of her freshman season. “It was a lot to put on my plate when I first got here … but I mean, I just took on a role. It wasn’t too bad.” Although Holmes excelled on the court, the struggle of transitioning from high school to college plagued her behind the scenes. As is common with most freshmen, time management and being away from home for the first time were difficult challenges to overcome. “Everything is on a schedule (in college), so you have to be there on time,” Holmes said. “‘On time’ is not on time. It’s fifteen minutes before everything.” After a freshman year that Holmes described as “rough,” things continued to crumble. The summer before her sophomore year, news came that Holmes would be suspended from UT after committing a University violation. The punishment also barred her from competing for the
basketball team in the fall semester. Athletes miss portions of their seasons all the time for various reasons, but Holmes said the fact that she wasn’t even enrolled in school took a toll on her. “(The suspension) was hard,” Holmes said. “I don’t think many people have been through that here.” Having parental support helped Holmes power through, as they refused to give up on her during the suspension. While she was away, her parents made her get a job. The experience of working was good for her and the lessons her parents taught her made a big difference in how Holmes spent her time. “At first, I didn’t want to go out and do anything,” Holmes said. “But then, (I) was like, ‘I think this would be better for me to get out and meet new people and just do something. Don’t sit around and just be sad.’” Head coach Karen Aston also stood behind Holmes, welcoming the forward’s future return with open arms. Holmes and Aston spoke with each other at least twice a week during the suspension, with Aston offering support to the young player. Aston could have pulled her scholarship at any time, but opted not to. Aston witnessed Holmes’ resilience, which reinforced her faith in the player. However, there is still room for tough love in any coach to athlete relationship. “She didn’t really ever bail on anything,” Aston said. “She owned up to mistakes. She handled her adversity. I think now she’s at a place where when you try to coach her hard ... she takes it and she understands that it’s to make her better.” When Holmes returned to the court for the second half of her sophomore season, she took some time to adjust. Aston said the forward was “out of sync” after missing summer practices and the entire fall portion of the 2017-2018 season. The next summer, Holmes worked hard in the gym so that
eddie gaspar
/ the daily texan file
Senior Joyner Holmes goes up for a layup during a game against Texas Tech. Feb. 24th, 2019. Holmes hasn’t played in a game during the fall for the Longhorns since her freshman year. she could be in top form for her junior year. Then, just weeks before the season opener, Holmes suffered another setback — a broken ankle. The injury would sideline her for eight games. After missing the previous fall semester, Holmes initially had trouble coming to terms with another obstacle. “It was just hard because it’s like at that point you’re just
thinking ‘Okay, why? Why me, God?’” Holmes said. While she was hurt, Heidi Wlezien, associate athletic trainer for the women’s basketball team, was someone Holmes spoke with a lot. Wlezien has worked with Holmes since her freshman year and has seen the forward become a stronger person. “She’s had to deal with a lot,” Wlezien said. “She’s always overcome it and gotten back on the court
and back to performing.” When Holmes steps onto the court for Texas’ scrimmage against Lubbock Christian University on Oct. 28, she will be starting her first fall semester of play in three years. It hasn’t been an easy road for Holmes, but it has been a growing experience. “Adversity is going to happen,” Holmes said. “Look at me today … I think that all those issues have made me who I am today because I’ve overcome them.”
WOMEN’S SOCCER
Longhorns look to end losing streak against Baylor By Aneesh Namburi @AneeshNamburi
Frustration is building for the Texas soccer team. After winning the first three games of Big 12 play, the Longhorns have lost two matches in a row, falling from first to third in the Big 12 standings. Following the heartbreaking double-overtime loss to West Virginia and a disappointing loss against the No. 18 Oklahoma State Cowgirls, the pressure is on to perform well against Baylor. “It’s frustrating. If we could all work more off one another and not collapsing, it would have been a better result,” senior forward Cyera Hintzen said after the loss to Oklahoma State. “We’re just going to talk about this and things we can work on and go in with a strong mentality against Baylor.” Improvement will depend on how the team performs in a couple of the most key areas in soccer: keeping the ball and making shots. “I thought we just gave the ball away too often,” head coach Angela Kelly said. “We just needed to connect more passes and had poor decision-making at times.” Part of the issue in the most recent loss was Oklahoma State’s deployment of five defensive backs, which created separation between the midfielders and forwards. However, if the issue presents itself again, the Longhorns feel like they know what needs to be done. “When it gets like that, the central playmakers are really what we need — us trying to move in better positions for the team and make plays so we get more of a flow in the game,” Hintzen said. Finishing on offensive opportunities has been an issue for Texas all season. Despite ranking near the top of the
dakota kern
/ the daily texan file
Senior Cyera Hintzen aggresively attempts to get a shot against TCU on Oct. 3, 2019. Hintzen is third on the team with 12 total points, and has served as the veteran leader of the team so far this season. conference in shots and shots on goal, the amount of strikes that find the back of the net drop a significant amount compared to the other two numbers. Missed opportunities often make the difference in close games. “I thought we had a good response at the beginning of the second half and created quite a few scoring opportunities,” Kelly said. “We just need to put
one away. I mean, if Sydney Nobles hits that one back post (the header) or Emma Regan’s shot goes in, you’re talking about different feelings, different responses.” Texas has a good opportunity to grab a win against a Bears team whose success during Big 12 play has matched the inconsistency of the Longhorns. Over the past five games, Baylor has gone 3–2 and are coming off of a 2-1 loss
to Oklahoma. The Bears will be looking for freshman forward Elizabeth Kooiman to lead the charge. Kooiman scored a hat trick against West Virginia last week and looks to continue that kind of production against the Longhorns. To win Friday’s match, the Longhorns will have to overcome the Bears’ physicality on defense. Baylor averages 10.46 fouls
per game, third highest in the conference. Comparatively, Texas has the lowest mark, as the team relies more on the speed and finesse of their players. “We know they’re a physical and aggressive team,” Hintzen said. “But anything can happen in this conference, and I think we are ready to go and win.” The game will kick off at 7 p.m. at Betty Lou Mays Soccer Field.
COMICS
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CHANNING MILLER & LAUREN IBANEZ
Comics Editors| @THEDAILYTEXAN
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 17, 2019
The New York Times Syndication Sales Corporation 620 Eighth Avenue, New York, N.Y. 10018 For Information Call: 1-800-972-3550 For Release Thursday, October 17, 2019
Crossword
SUDOKUFORYOU 5 3
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Today’s solution will appear here next issue
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ACROSS 1 Extremity 5 Snags 9 2001 title role for Audrey Tautou 15 What Elvis Aaron Presley’s middle name is spelled with on his birth certificate 16 Part of Q.E.D. 17 Spinal Tap vis-à-vis 1980s rock bands 18 Thataway, from a crow’s-nest 19 Fury at a husband leaving his entire estate to his mistress? 21 Mitch who wrote “Tuesdays With Morrie” 23 Escape 24 Sturm ___ Drang 25 What an in-group uses for fishing? 27 Actor Reeves 29 Look at, biblically 30 Flight board abbr. 31 Pull a cork from
32 Org. that might pocket your checks
57 Author of the best-selling children’s book “Matilda” 33 Org. that might 58 Place in canopic check your jars, say pockets 59 Smudge on a 35 Top of a theater sign? schedule, maybe 63 Secondhand sale 37 “Oh, I’m supposed stipulation to be in the line 65 Quick over there”? 66 Sunburn aid 41 Dog with an 67 Many a scuba upturned tail destination 42 One using foul 68 “Fuhgeddaboudit!” language? 69 Those against 43 World of Warcraft, e.g., for 70 “Happy Motoring” sloganeer, once short 46 Image on the back of a Canadian nickel 49 What “team” has, it’s said 51 Ed of “Up” 53 Short staff? 54 Some alcohol smuggled into a rodeo, say? 56 Silverback, e.g.
ANSWER TO PREVIOUS PUZZLE Z A H N
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DOWN 1 Alitalia : Italy :: ___ : Poland 2 Asthmatic’s aid 3 Least crisp, as an apple 4 Some Labor Day events, informally 5 “It’s a ___” (“I’ve changed”) 6 NPR host Shapiro 7 Butter, in a dieter’s eyes 8 Without betraying emotion 9 Stained-glass window locale 10 Posting at many a park entrance 11 Verdi’s “___ tu” 12 Japanese plum 13 “You got me” 14 Assessed lasciviously 20 Word with suit or blanket 22 Bonus features on some DVDs 25 Longtime staple of Thurs. night TV
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PUZZLE BY GRANT THACKRAY
26 Grendel, e.g. 27 Reason to wear a brace 28 Grandson of Abraham 31 One, on a one 34 Flutter one’s eyelids, say 36 Words after “You can’t fire me!” 38 Eat 39 “Hoo boy!” 40 Some triage pros
50 “Well, isn’t that fancy!” 52 Cat’s opposite 54 Modern sweetie 45 Trespasser’s 55 Count for a warning Facebook post 46 Refrain from 57 Very thought“Mulan” before provoking “With all the 60 Status ___ force of a great typhoon” 61 Tony winner Hagen 47 City once represented in 62 Walt Disney’s Congress by Beto older brother O’Rourke 64 Air hub between LAX and Sea-Tac 48 Prevents 44 Flowers named after the Greek physician of the gods
Online subscriptions: Today’s puzzle and more than 7,000 past puzzles, nytimes.com/crosswords ($39.95 a year). Read about and comment on each puzzle: nytimes.com/wordplay. .
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J O R DY N Z I T M A N
Life&Arts Editor | @JORDYNZITMAN
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 17, 2019
CAMPUS
LIFE&ARTS
Come early, stay late, get loud
Longhorn Hellraisers tell story of how they bleed burnt orange, encourage school spirit at games. By Mackenzie Dyer @mackdyerr
overed in paint and sweat, the Longhorn Hellraisers stand in the front row at the student section every game to cheer Texas on. They arrive when the gates open and stay until well after the countdown
clock buzzes. This is what it means to be a Hellraiser. Avery Matheson, a Speech-language pathology sophomore and Hellraiser treasurer said this is the impression made by her organization every fall football season. “We go to one of the most amazing universities in the world,” Matheson said. “There’s pride in that. Our organization centers around how lucky we are to have this experience. (Supporting UT Athletics) is the best way we can show our gratitude, spirit and school pride.” The Longhorn Hellraisers began painting their faces and ferociously cheering in the stands in 1988, when two UT students noticed school spirit was at an “all-time low” after the UT football team finished their season 4—7. These students made it their
mission to encourage the team’s fan base and give UT football the support they believe they deserved. “Anybody who wants to be a Hellraiser should be a Hellraiser,” Matheson said. “You’ve proven yourself good enough to be at this university. Therefore, you’re good enough to be one of us.” Matheson said she discovered the organization her freshman year when she saw a group of students playing “water-pong” — beer pong, but with water in solo cups — on Speedway. It was the Hellraisers, who she said she thought was a boys club for sports fans only. However, when she approached them and said she had never attended a UT Athletics event, they welcomed her with open arms. PACE freshman Amber Filia said this
attitude makes her feel at home even though she is considered a rookie. “I’m an awkward and shy person, and Hellraisers is helping me break out of that shell,” Filio said. “So far, I think it’s going pretty great.” Over the years, Matheson said the organization has coined multiple traditions, most of which are on display at fall football games. For a typical home game, Matheson said the Hellraisers’ board members set up their tailgate as early as possible. “One day, we started at 11 a.m. for a 7 p.m. game,” Matheson said. “It’s over a 12-hour day easily every single time.” After the Hellraisers tailgate, members paint their faces white and orange, called “painting up.” Then,
the Hellraisers president John Craig randomly selects two members based on their spirit and commitment to the organization to be the Horns at the football game. The Horns stand on either side of the five privileged members with “TEXAS” letters painted across their chests. This, Matheson said, gives “normal members” a chance to talk to the elite lettermen, including Craig, who has worn the “S” proudly since it was passed down to him in 2017. But before painting their bodies to spell “TEXAS” comes the “Running of the Hill.” After a march through the University Co-op and down Guadalupe Street, the group turns down 21st Street for a hype-building tradition. “We run down the hill yelling and chanting, and we don’t stop until we
eddie gaspar
The Hellraisers’ motto, “Mess with the bull, get the horns,” comes from the 1985 film The Breakfast Club. STUDENT LIFE
Students face difficulties paying for class rings By Katya Bandouil @kat372
As a first-generation student, chemistry junior Nicole Kim wanted to take part in the celebratory ring ceremony tradition. What she didn’t know was that it would end up costing her hundreds of dollars in unanticipated expenses and a ring upgrade she wasn’t looking for. Upon completing 75 hours of coursework, it is a time-honored tradition for students to reward themselves with a shiny keepsake to commemorate their time at UT. However, this tradition often comes with a financial burden. “On the website there’s an option called ‘Metal Type,’” Kim said. “You have to choose a type or you can’t check out. The cheapest metal type offered is $670.00 10 (karat) gold. I was confused because I thought that the base price for rings was $450.00, not almost $700.” After inquiring with a Balfour representative about the possibility of a cheaper option, Kim learned that 10 karat gold is the minimum-cost option
that UT offers for students to purchase. “I feel like when I saw the $450 (ring cost), I could kind of justify it in my mind a little bit,” Kim said. “But that $670 hit me hard.” Texas Exes, the UT alumni group that oversees continuing the tradition of selling class rings, regarded the minimum metal requirement as a question of quality rather than cost. “Because of its longevity, quality and durability, the official University of Texas class ring is offered in 10 (karat), 14 (karat), or 18 (karat) gold,” vice president of engagement Courtney Roehling said. According to Texas Exes vice president of communications Dorothy Guerrero, there are other options available for students to purchase a ring when they are able to financially. “We understand that purchasing a ring isn’t financially feasible for everyone,” Guerrero said. “Beyond the payment plan, we want students to know that once you earn 75 credit hours, you will always be eligible to participate in the R I N G S PAGE 5
hit the gate,” biomedical engineering senior Craig said. The Hellraisers have long stood out among the crowd at Texas sporting events because of their members covered in face paint. They bear extreme heat, wind chills, downpours and even long drives to exhibit their dedication to the Longhorns, Craig said. From meetings on Mondays to resting up on Sundays, Matheson said each member is a Hellraiser, all day, every day. “No matter where you are, if 10 people in Hellraisers are together, when the clock strikes midnight, you’re singing the ‘Eyes of Texas,’” Matheson said. “I was at the movies once, and it struck midnight. There were 10 of us, so it was time. ‘The Eyes’ were a go.”
/ the daily texan staff
FILM REVIEW | ‘ZOMBILAND: DOUBLE TAP’
‘Zombieland: Double Tap’ brings comedic mayhem By Noah Levine @ZProductionz
According to the second survival rule of Zombieland, one must always Double Tap, even if it takes 10 years
to do it. The gang returns in the long-awaited sequel to 2009’s “Zombieland,” titled “Zombieland: Double Tap.” Ruben Fleischer (“Venom”) returns to direct the star-studded cast of Jesse
Eisenberg, Woody Harrelson, Emma Stone and Abigail Breslin. After forming an uncanny bond whilst surviving zombie onslaught in the first film, “Double Tap” follows up with the original characters as they adjust to
living during the end of the world. Along this new adventure, the makeshift family faces off against evolved zombies, kooky survivors and, of all things, the fear Z O M B I E PAGE 5
copyright columbia pictures, and reproduced with permission
Jesse Eisenberg, Woody Harrelson, Emma Stone and Abigail Breslin all return in “Zombieland: Double Tap”