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Thursday, November 21, 2019
Volume 121, Issue 72
NEWS
OPINION
SPORTS
LIFE&ARTS
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Eliminate Tobacco Use Day raises student awareness of the campuswide tobacco ban.
UT needs to create a satisfactory/no credit system in order to better serve students.
Pop-punk boomer artist and UT alum Jean Caffeine on EP, Austin living.
No. 1 Texas Volleyball falls to No. 3 Baylor on Wednesday night in five-set match.
CAMPUS
Student Sit-ins continue casey crowe
/ the daily texan staff
Adriana Diaz-Mayens chants in unison with the crowd, holding up a sign demanding protection for all UT students. This is the third sit-in to take place outside the Office of the Executive Vice President and Provost.
Over 30 students protest University’s handling of faculty misconduct during 3rd Sit-In for Student Safety, lack of response to student concerns, request long-term solutions. By Lauren Grobe & Laura Morales @grobe_lauren @lamor_1217
ore than 30 students chanted, hung signs and called University officials outside the provost’s office Wednesday while protesting the University’s handling of faculty sexual misconduct. Sit-In for Student Safety 3.0 is the third student-organized protest against the University’s employment of two professors
found in violation of misconduct policies: English associate professor Coleman Hutchison and Sahotra Sarkar, integrated biology and philosophy professor. Protest organizer Simone Harry said today’s protest was specifically against the University’s lack of response to student concerns. The organizers demanded the University release reports naming professors found guilty of misconduct and host a town hall led by the provost. The organizers also requested long-term solutions, such as an increased investment in interpersonal
violence prevention and the formation of a program similar to New York University’s restorative justice program by 2021. “This is more in response to the lack of tangible action, immediate solutions,” said Harry, an English and black studies junior. “Everything seems very delayed. A delay is a disservice to the students.” In a campuswide email, UT President Gregory Fenves announced Tuesday the University was forming a new working group to address sexual misconduct and hiring an outside law firm, Husch Blackwell, to review UT’s Title IX policies.
“We understand that students feel the university can do better, and we agree,” University spokesperson Shilpa Bakre said in an email. “We look forward to the findings of the external review and receiving further input from the Misconduct Working Group.” Protest organizer Shelby Hobohm said the email did not satisfy student demands. “(Title IX policies are) not the issue that we’re addressing here, and we weren’t asking for that specifically,” said Hobohm, P R O T E S T PAGE 2
CAMPUS
UNIVERSITY
Students celebrate International Culture Festival, create cross-cultural dialogue
University colleges hire additional administrators to increase diversity
By Bethany Stork
By Neelam Bohra
@bethgstork
The sound of upbeat music, laughter and conversation attracted passersby walking by Gregory Gym Plaza on Wednesday night to learn more about international culture and enjoy games, pizza and a dancing performance. The International Culture Festival, hosted by the Ismaili Muslim Students Association, brought together nine cultural student organizations to present games and information on cultural celebrations around the world. “Our goal is to increase cross-culture dialogue and promote a pluralist space on campus,” said Ammn Meghani, finance sophomore and vice president of external affairs for the association. “It’s important to discuss these sorts of things to bring culture into discussion so we can all be more aware, respectful and informed.” Meghani said the celebration was the second culture festival hosted by the organization, and four organizations participated in the event
@neelambohratx
presley glotfelty
/ the daily texan staff
Texas Dragon/Lion Dance Team performs Nov. 20, 2019 during the International Cultural Festival at Gregory Gym Plaza. The festival encouraged students to learn about international cultures while enjoying food and dance. last fall. Mahek Teajani, vice president of internal affairs for the association, has participated in the organization since her freshman year and said she is excited to see the festival grow. “It’s really great to see people engage with each other and with the organizations we have
here to learn more about the world around them,” said Teajani, management information systems senior. “It makes me happy to know we’re doing something that benefits both organizations and the students who visit us.” Attendees filled out cards with stamps each time they
visited an organization’s table and participated in an activity or dialogue. They also played with a Japanese wooden toy called kendama, filled out sticky notes with ways they celebrated cultural differences and talked to organizations. F E S T I VA L
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Most colleges across campus have established an administrator for diversity. This semester, these officials have started meeting and discussing ways to increase diversity on campus. The administrative positions include associate deans, assistant deans and advisers for diversity, inclusion and equity in all but four colleges on campus. They work to recruit more diverse faculty and create a more welcoming environment for all students through workshops and trainings, said Edmund Gordon, vice provost for diversity. He said all administrators for diversity met for the first time in early November, and his office will continue to host monthly meetings. “Faculty hiring, retention and climate within (colleges) is dictated by deans,” Gordon said. “We really need this person who can act as a liaison between the committee and the dean, who can help the dean create a vision for
diversity in their (colleges).” Raji Srinivasan, associate dean for diversity and inclusion in the McCombs School of Business, said she was hired in 2018 as one of the first associate deans for diversity at the University. She said she seeks student opinions while also working to help hire diverse faculty. “(Diverse faculty) is good for students, faculty and the community to have,” Srinivasan said. “It is so students of color will see someone who looks like them, and it’s easier to work when you see someone who is a role model for you.” Richard Reddick, associate dean for equity, community engagement and outreach for the College of Education, took the position during the summer. He said it is important to have these diversity-related administrators as well as the Division of Diversity and Community Engagement and similar efforts in the provost’s office, because it shows the University prioritizes diversity. D I V E R S I T Y PAGE 2