The Daily Texan 2019-12-09

Serving The University Of Texas At Austin Community Since 1900 @thedailytexan | thedailytexan.com

Monday, December 9, 2019

Volume 121, Issue 81

NEWS

University, students response to UT professors violating sexual misconduct policies.

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30 COLUMNS

Texan permanent staffers say goodbye to the Texan with personal 30 columns.

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LIFE&ARTS

Student figure skating group creates new community for performers.

OPINION

The fight against professor misconduct must continue next semester.

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SPORTS

Both men’s and women’s basketball achieved wins over opponents this weekend.

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MONDAY, DECEMBER 9, 2019

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CITY

In October, Austin City Council banned camping on sidewalks and within 15 feet of business doors and the governor sent the Texas Department of Transportation to clear camps from under overpasses.

PERMANENT STAFF Editor-in-Chief Spencer Buckner Managing Editor Catherine Marfin Assoc. Managing Editors Alex Briseño, Lisa Nhan Assoc. Editors Angélica López, Emily Caldwell, Abby Springs, Sanika Nayak Forum Editors Julia Zaksek, Kateri David News Editor Megan Menchaca Assoc. News Editors Gracie Awalt, Savana Dunning News Desk Editors Hayden Baggett, Nicole Stuessy, Jackson Barton, Hannah Ortega Beat Reporters Neelam Bohra, Lauren Grobe, Laura Morales, Emily Hernandez, Lauren Girgis, Graysen Golter, Tori May, Areeba Amer Projects Editor Chase Karacostas Projects Reporters Trinady Joslin, Tiana Woodard, Savana Dunning Projects Designer Emma Overholt Copy Desk Chiefs Jason Lihuang, Brittany Miller Associate Copy Desk Chiefs Lawson Freeman, Irissa Omandam, Jimena Pinzon Design Editor Christiana Peek Associate Design Editor Reneé Koite Senior Designers Kendall Jordan, Nila Selvaraj, Sierra Wiggers Video Editor

Faith Castle Assoc. Video Editor Jackson Barton Photo Editor Eddie Gaspar Assoc. Photo Editors Anthony Mireles Senior Photographers Amna Ijaz, Ryan Lam, Brittany Mendez, Blaine Young, Jack Myer Life&Arts Editor Jordyn Zitman Assoc. Life&Arts Editors Trinady Joslin, Brooke Sjoberg Sr. Life&Arts Writers Noah Levine, Mackenzie Dyer

CITY

Sports Editor Donnavan Smoot

Austin City Council approved the redevelopment of student apartment complexes in Riverside in October. The 1,308 mainly student-occupied apartment units will be replaced by multifamily units, hotel rooms and office and retail space.

Assoc. Sports Editor Wills Layton Senior Sports Reporters Daniela Perez, Myah Taylor, Stephen Wagner, Marcus Krum Comics Editors Channing Miller, Lauren Ibanez Assoc. Comics Editor Alekka Hernandez Senior Comics Artists Ella Williams, Rocky Higine, Barbra Daly, Steph Sonik Social Media Editor Rebeccah Macias Assoc. Social Media Editor Michael Hernandez Newsletters Editor Taylor Leen Audio Editor Sara Schleede Audio Producers Divya Jagadeesh, Harper Carlton Editorial Adviser Peter Chen

CONTACT US MAIN TELEPHONE (512) 471-4591

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

Spencer Buckner (512) 232-2212 editor@dailytexanonline.com

MANAGING EDITOR Catherine Marfin (512) 232-2217 managingeditor@ dailytexanonline.com

NEWS OFFICE

(512) 232-2207 news@dailytexanonline.com The Texan strives to present all information fairly, accurately and completely. If we have made an error, let us know about it. Call (512) 232-2217 or e-mail managingeditor@ dailytexanonline.com.

STATE

Travis County recorded the highest number of registered voters in October, and residents voted in November to approve several statewide amendments, including increased regulations for legislators to enact an individual income tax.

UNIVERSITY

In September, UT administration barred composition professor Dan Welcher from contact with students following the publication of an article in VAN Magazine alleging years of sexual misconduct with students.

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CAMPUS

“The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon” invited more than 3,000 students to watch the show’s first live taping on a university campus in November with Matthew McConaughey and Gucci Mane.

UNIVERSITY

Former men’s tennis coach Michael Center pleaded guilty in April to conspiracy to commit mail fraud and honest services mail fraud. His sentencing hearing is scheduled for Feb. 4, 2020, in Boston.

SG

Student Government plans to increase the number of bathrooms containing free menstrual products, advocate for a diversity training for professors and lay the groundwork for a nontraditional student center.

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STATE

Starting in March, students can vote in the 2020 primary election for Democratic or Republican candidates running for office on the local, statewide and national level.

The Daily Texan, a student newspaper at The University of Texas at Austin, is published by Texas Student Media, 2500 Whitis Ave., Austin, TX 78712. The Daily Texan is published daily, Monday through Friday, during the regular academic year and is published once weekly during the summer semester. The Daily Texan does not publish during academic breaks, most Federal Holidays and exam periods. News contributions will be accepted by telephone

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2.120). Entire contents copyright 2019 Texas Student Media.

The UT System Board of Regents voted during its November meeting to increase tuition by 2.6% per year for the next two years at all UT System academic institutions.

CAMPUS

Construction for The Texas One Stop for Enrollment Services, Anna Hiss Gymnasium robotics research facilities, Welch Hall and Steak ‘n Shake in the Texas Union are expected to be completed in the spring. photos on front page

(left to right, top to bottom) by / jamie hwang, joshua guenther, eddie gaspar, courtesy of andrew lipovsky, jack myer (top to bottom) by the daily texan staff / eddie gaspar, anthony mireles, miller filla, jack myer, joshua guenther

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NEWS

NEWS

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MEGAN MENCHACA

News Editor | @THEDAILYTEXAN

MONDAY, DECEMBER 9, 2019

UNIVERSITY

Timeline of University, student responses to sexual misconduct allegations regarding current associate English professor, integrative biology professor.

Apr. 2018 OIE finds Hutchison failed to disclose a relationship with a student and made inappropriate comments to graduate students.

oct. 16, 2019 The University releases the spring 2020 course schedule, and Sarkar and Hutchison are listed as teaching undergraduate courses.

By Lauren Grobe @grobe_lauren

tudents held four protests this semester against faculty sexual misconduct and the continued employment of English associate professor Coleman Hutchison and Sahotra Sarkar, an integrated biology and philosophy professor. Both professors are scheduled to teach classes in the spring of 2020 after they were temporarily suspended by the University for violating sexual misconduct policies.

Here is the timeline of of Sarkar and Hutchison’s cases and the response by students and the University to faculty sexual misconduct.

SUMMER 2016

Students and student employees file anonymous Title IX complaints against Sarkar, according to a summary provided by the University. According to the complaints, Sarkar solicited nudes, invited students to nude beaches, held academic meetings in bars and had conversations in class of a sexual nature that made students uncomfortable.

OCTOBER 25, 2016

Sarkar responds to the Office of Inclusion and Equity’s investigation and acknowledges he may have created an uncomfortable lab environment, but quickly implemented changes, according to his letter. He did confirm going to a nude beach for field work and invited a student with him. He denies taking nude photos of students or asking for nudes.

JANUARY 2017

OIE finds Sarkar in violation of sexual misconduct policies. Maurie McInnis, executive vice president and provost, suspends Sarkar from teaching, advising or conducting research on campus for one semester and places him on half-time leave, according to the investigation summary.

OCTOBER 2017

Anonymous complaints are filed through the University’s Compliance Services Reporting Hotline against Hutchison, according to an investigation summary provided by the University.

The complaints allege that Hutchison sexually harassed one graduate student and four more students were subject to sexual misconduct.

will be hiring outside experts to review the University’s Title IX policies.

OIE finds Hutchison failed to disclose a relationship with a student and made inappropriate comments to graduate students. According to the OIE investigation, he violated a sexual misconduct policy, sex discrimination and sexual harassment policy, consensual relationship policy, nondiscrimination policy and a prohibition of sexual discrimination, sexual harassment, sexual assault, sexual misconduct, interpersonal violence and stalking policy.

NOVEMBER 8, 2019

APRIL 2018

JUNE 2018

McInnis suspends Hutchison for two years and prohibits him from supervising graduate students alone during his suspension. According to a letter sent by McInnis, Hutchison said the disciplinary action is “both appropriate and proportionate.”

SUMMER-FALL 2018

The University removes Hutchison from the fall 2018 and spring 2019 course schedule after it receives public criticism.

APRIL 2019

The University schedules Hutchison to teach two undergraduate English classes in fall 2019.

OCTOBER 16, 2019

The University releases the spring 2020 course schedule, and Sarkar and Hutchison are listed as teaching undergraduate courses.

OCTOBER 25, 2019

Around 60 students hold the first Sit-In for Student Safety outside the provost’s office to demand the termination of Sarkar and Hutchison and a clear listing of professors investigated for sexual misconduct.

OCTOBER 30, 2019

In the University’s first statement regarding the protest, McInnis announces the University

NOVEMBER 7, 2019

UT President Gregory Fenves sends out a campuswide email referencing the hiring of outside experts and announces the University will be forming an internal working group to review sexual misconduct policies.

About 20 students hold a second sit-in outside the Provost’s office to call for a campuswide email explicitly naming Hutchison and Sarkar and an apology for employing professors found guilty of sexual misconduct.

NOVEMBER 19, 2019

In a campuswide email, Fenves says the Misconduct Working Group will consist of graduate students, faculty and staff, and that membership will be finalized in December. He also announces the hiring of law firm Husch-Blackwell as the outside experts to review the University’s Title IX policies.

NOVEMBER 20, 2019

Students hold a third sit-in outside the Provost’s office and request a universitywide report of faculty found guilty of misconduct, a student-led town hall, more investment into interpersonal violence prevention and the creation of a restorative justice program.

DECEMBER 6, 2019

Students hold a fourth protest outside the Tower and demand the University release a report with the names, courses and actions of professors found guilty of sexual misconduct, an explanation of how the University decides sanctions for sexual misconduct, a restorative justice program and more on campus confidential advocates.

SPRING 2020

A student-led town hall will be held on Jan. 27, where University administration and students will discuss sexual misconduct policies, McInnis said. The Misconduct Working Group will also issue its recommendations in April, according to the group’s website.

oct. 25, 2019 Around 60 students hold the first Sit-In for Student Safety outside the provost’s office to demand the termination of Sarkar and Hutchison and a clear listing of professors investigated for sexual misconduct.

spring 2020 A student-led town hall will be held on Jan. 27, where University administration and students will discuss sexual misconduct policies, McInnis said

nov. 19, 2019 In a campuswide email, Fenves says the Misconduct Working Group will consist of graduate students, faculty and staff, and that membership will be finalized in December.

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D O N N AVA N S M O O T

Sports Editor | @TEXANSPORTS

MONDAY, DECEMBER 9, 2019

MEN’S BASKETBALL

Febres helps defeat Aggies

Guard Jase Febres played a huge role in Texas 60-50 win over the Texas A&M Aggies in rivalry revival.

By Stephen Wagner @stephenwag22

or the 224th matchup between Texas and Texas A&M, the atmosphere inside Fort Worth’s Dickies Arena was less than the electric aura players anticipated.

While the arena’s energy and intensity may have been lacking — student attendance at the game was sparse — junior guard Jase Febres’ wasn’t.

The 3-point specialist managed to find his long-lost shooting rhythm, exploding for a gamehigh 17 points on four 3-pointers in Texas’ 60-50 win in its restored rivalry with A&M. But even with Febres off to his worst shooting start to a season since his freshman year and struggling with confidence in his own abilities, his teammates’ and coach’s faith in him hasn’t wavered.

“With guys like (Febres), who have shown that they can make shots and put time in … eventually it comes around when you’re that good of a shooter,” Texas head coach Shaka Smart said, insisting Febres’ slump was due to a mental block. “He’s that good of a shooter.”

On Sunday afternoon, Smart’s patience was rewarded.

Following a morning shootaround with redshirt sophomore guard Andrew Jones

dakota kern

/ the daily texan file

Junior guard Jase Febres beats Prairie View A&M defenders in Texas’ Nov. 15 game in the Frank Erwin Center. The Longhorns would go on to win the game 70-56.

I just keep stepping in and being confident, more natural and more fluid.”

JASE FEBRES guard

and several other teammates, Febres found comfort in his revamped, natural approach.

“It’s really just been me slowing down,” Febres said. “I just keep stepping in and being confident, more natural and more fluid.”

Febres’ electric midday

outing marked a season high in points and featured a new, more aggressive mindset Febres has been working on this season.

However, Febres’ afternoon performance was a result of more than just a change in shooting mechanics and mental approach. He managed to get some help from his teammates, too.

His teammates found him in transition throughout the day as the Longhorns scored 14 points off of 21 Aggie turnovers and held the Aggies to 17 first-half points, tying their season low.

“Coach (Smart) was telling us to keep being aggressive, and it started on the defensive end,” said Febres, who pitched

in a steal of his own.

Texas’ defensive first half was nothing short of dominant.

Texas consistently smothered its Aggie counterparts, forcing 11 first-half turnovers. A&M’s largest lead — one point — lasted only 21 seconds.

Offensively, Texas’ firsthalf performance left much to be desired.

Through six minutes, the two teams combined for a mere seven points while shooting under 20%. Febres’ 3-point shooting was limited to just one successful attempt from deep, although he did convert on a pair of attempts from inside the arc.

“Coach was preaching about … getting a paint touch before we shoot,” Febres said.

“We got into the paint, and (my teammates) keep putting confidence in me. I know these past few games I haven’t been shooting as well as I know I can, but hopefully with this game I can bounce back and contribute like I have (been).”

Now, with final exams approaching, Texas players will have nearly a week off before Star Wars Night against Central Michigan next Saturday and then play their last two nonconference games.

“We’ll have time to grow as a team through this long break we have for the winter,” Febres said. “This is when teams take a step, and we’re looking to take a step in the right direction.”

WOMEN’S BASKETBALL

Texas upsets Tennessee in UT clash

amna ijaz

/ the daily texan file

Senior point guard Sug Sutton attempts to score against University of Texas-Rio Grande Valley defenders in Texas’ 85-69 home win Nov 20. On Sunday, Sutton scored a season-high 19 points against Tennessee.

By Myah Taylor @t_myah

Even though Texas traveled over 1,000 miles to face No. 17 Tennessee, the Longhorns looked right at home — almost.

The sea of orange in the stands at Thompson-Boling Arena in Knoxville and the big T’s on fans’ hats paralleled game scenes in Austin. But the shade of orange wasn’t quite the same, and fans flashing the “Horns Down” gesture indicated that Texas was the enemy.

Neither the hostile environment nor their 4–4 start mattered for the Longhorns, though, who defeated the Lady Vols 66-60 Sunday afternoon.

Head coach Karen Aston’s squad fought until the end, reinforcing the argument that Texas — not Tennessee — is the “real UT.” “It’s very significant,” Aston told KXAN news after the game. “Our team has struggled — everybody knows that — and I think for them to come in here in someone else’s house with this kind of crowd and (Tennessee) being undefeated … I thought our effort and connection was tremendous.”

In most games this season, it’s been senior forward Joyner Holmes’ and sophomore center Charli Collier’s show. But foul trouble and a tweaked ankle Holmes sustained in Saturday’s practice allowed senior point guards Sug Sutton and Lashann Higgs to begin their rise.

Sutton wasn’t herself earlier this season because a stress fracture in her foot kept her out of summer and fall practice. But Sutton seemed to get her rhythm back Sunday, starring in a game where she played 38 minutes and scored a season-high 19 points from the paint and the perimeter. “(I’m) just trying to build my confidence back

and get into my flow, so the past few games have been rough for us,” Sutton said. “ I think everything just worked out for itself today and showed that we’ve been working really hard to try to get a really good win under our belt.”

Higgs, who is returning to form after a season-ending ACL injury last year, shined in the second quarter. One moment Higgs was floating up a jumper. The next moment, she was powering through defenders for a layup. After a few more scoring plays, she accumulated her first 14 points of the game.

“I … think (Higgs’ and Suttons’) ability to stay locked into the game plan and think a little bit for others is what we need from them,” Aston said.

“It helped because we had a couple of other players — young ones — that maybe struggled with some decision-making.”

By the end of the second quarter, the Longhorns led the Lady Vols 42-36. But Texas had to hang on when Tennessee reclaimed the lead heading into the fourth quarter.

“It’s happened to us a lot these past few games before we played Tennessee,” Sutton said. “So just … telling each other, ‘We have to stay poised and it’s happened to us before, but let’s come out and punch back and respond to the runs that they gave us in the third quarter’… helped us a lot.”

The Lady Vols proved a challenge for the struggling Longhorns. Tennessee’s players average 6-foot-2 in height, boasting depth and physicality. Shouts of “Air ball!” and other chants throughout The arena made the matchup even tougher. But the Longhorns fought hard in the final minutes of the fourth quarter to return to Austin with a much-needed win.

“I’ve just been preaching to them to stay with the process and get better and better every day,” Aston said. “And I think they’re trying to do that, and this was a reward for that.”

LIFE&ARTS

Life&Arts Editor | @JORDYNZITMAN

MONDAY, DECEMBER 9, 2019

STUDENT LIFE

Figure skating club offers community for students 32 Degrees Figure Skating Club allows students to figure skate noncompetitively, foster friendships.

By Catherine Cardenas @c_aaattt

listering feet, bruises and a group of UT students have gathered to become a much-needed home for a group of figure skaters looking to find their place on campus and on the ice.

Figure skating organization 32 Degrees Figure Skating Club was founded by a trio of students who noticed a lack of a figure skating community at UT, said Alice Gee, a sophomore biochemistry major and co-founder of 32 Degrees.

The organization does not compete and is just for fun, which provides members with the opportunity to meet other skaters and form a community, Gee said.

“Everyone has a similar lifestyle,” Gee said. “It’s easier to work together, make new friends and ease into college life.”

Public health freshman Sarah Mayberry, said she found the group on her cohort’s Facebook page.

“Whenever we were looking at the UT ‘23 Facebook page, I put that I was a skater,” Mayberry said. “Immediately, you see other people that are like, ‘Oh my gosh, me too.’ It’s an immediate connection.”

Not only did they start the organization to build a

rocky higine

team of skaters, Gee said the benefits from skating were a major factor.

“In skating, you feel the frustration and you feel all of these emotions,” Gee said.

“It’s kind of cathartic in a way.

It’s a good stress reliever.”

Lucy Lee, a psychology sophomore and member of 32 Degrees, said she decided to join the organization because she missed the satisfaction that comes with skating. Lee said she skated competitively until her sophomore year of high school. “(I missed) that feeling of accomplishment after a competition, or like when they get a new jump,” Lee said. “You won’t ever get that feeling unless you actually experience that feeling of landing a jump.

That’s so satisfying, and it’s what keeps me going.”

Journalism freshman Shreya Chari said this organization has helped change her perspective on skating. She now views skating as less of a competitive sport and more as a fun activity.

“I kind of see skating in a new light,” Chari said. “I feel

/ the daily texan staff

like I put a lot of years into this sport, so I don’t want to just suddenly stop it because it was a big part of my life for so many years.”

Lee said she also believes that skating for fun, rather than competition, has helped her enjoy the sport more.

“I think through this organization I can get back on my feet and back into skating,” Lee said. “After I quit, I was throwing away everything except for my skates. It was so stressful.

But this organization, I think, since I’m skating for fun and for my own joy — I think I’m (going to) have a different perspective on skating.”

Gee said building this community of skaters has been a comforting experience for her because quitting skating meant a potential career change. She eventually decided to become a doctor after considering becoming a skating coach.

“It is comforting knowing that I always have a home wherever I go,” Gee said. “So whether (I’m) at the rink or just with other skaters I can find a place to be comfortable.”

FEATURE

Org teaches entrepreneurship abroad

By Katya Bandouli @kat372

By discussing case studies from engineered drones that clean up ocean trash to financially accessible prosthetics, a UT-based nonprofit helped Colombian students recognize their ability to pursue business for social good during a weeklong program.

The Exponentialists work with high school students in Austin from various background and resources to help them pursue their business ideas through a mentorship program.

“We’re there to give (the students) more information and more knowledge in the field of business and help lead them through a business plan,” said Kevin LePage, podcast director and business honors junior.

This year, The Exponentialists took their program abroad to introduce children in Medellin, Colombia, to the world of entrepreneurship and teach the students about how they could make it a reality for themselves.

“We aim to introduce entrepreneurship as a viable career path to these students,” said Rahul Das, business honors junior and The Exponentialists COO. “We want to make (them) self-sufficient and self-sustainable.”

In preparation for Colombia, the team worked to adapt the

team focused on relating the topics back to the students and their community in Medellin.

While showing a case study on Airbnb, students in the camp had trouble identifying with the story because it was not a prominent company in their lives.

Many had never heard of it.

The team consulted with a local volunteer to bring in an example that the students could relate to.

“We played the video about (a Colombian entrepreneur) in Spanish and Medellin was highlighted in that video,” Bracamontes said. “So they were able to see their city and someone that spoke their language.”

By the end, the students gained a better understanding of how they could realistically impact their communities through entrepreneurship and were eager to learn more, Bracamontes said.

The Exponentialists are planning to return to this community and create an extension of the camp that partners students with local mentors who can guide them through a business plan.

Ultimately, their main goal is to unlock the potential that these students already have, Bracamontes said.

“Our job at that point is not to have the kids learn about revenues and profits,” Bracamontes said. “It’s just to inspire (the students) to change their communities.”

copyright alma lara pérez, and reproduced with permission

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business curriculum they had in place for Austin students to better fit the 56 Colombian students living in a different environment more than 2,000 miles away. They called the program Los Exponencialistas, a nod to the similarities between its goals and the original program’s, and also an acknowledgment of the cultural differences.

“We have curriculum here in Austin, but it is very specialized,” said Clarisa Bracamontes, Los Exponencialistas director and business administration sophomore. “So, we planned the curriculum in Spanish from scratch.”

After arriving in Colombia, the team got a closer look at the student’s interests and altered the program day-by-day based on how students responded.

“The first day we started talking about social entrepreneurship, and the kids were just blank. So we realized right there and then that it was not what they needed,” Bracamontes said. “We asked them what they were actually interested in learning and right there we just changed the entire curriculum.”

At the end of the first day, the team spent the evening at a coffee shop planning and rewriting all of the curriculum for the following days. They wanted the students to get the most out of their learning experience, Bracamontes said.

In the following days, the

An Exponentialist volunteer speaks to a group on their first venture to Colombia.

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SPENCER BUCKNER

Editor-In-Chief | @THEDAILYTEXAN

MONDAY, DECEMBER 9, 2019

COLUMN

OPINION

charlie hyman

/ the daily texan staff

Fight against misconduct is far from over

By The Daily Texan Editorial Board Three sit-ins, a protest on the tower’s steps, countless experiences shared on social media, a classroom disrupted, national news coverage, a petition with over 1,000 signatures.

This semester, the UT community made it impossible for the administration to stay silent on professor misconduct.

Since the first sit-in, protest organizers, the Student Government executive alliance and a former Daily Texan editor-in-chief, among others, have been meeting with University administration to discuss the next steps.

Change at UT comes through student protest and pressure, and the fight is far from over. Next semester we have no choice but to continue to demand action from this administration. Even with the immense pressure created this semester, there is much to be accomplished.

So what has been discussed, and what can we expect moving forward?

The good news Next semester, students will finally have the opportunity to hold University administration accountable for sexual misconduct. On January 27, UT President Gregory Fenves and Provost Maurie McInnis will be joined by other administrators to answer student questions. They have yet to decide the exact time and location of the town hall.

It’s not perfect, but it’s a start. We need a fundamental change in the University’s attitude toward sexual misconduct. Students are undeniably and justifiably angry over how UT has handled sexual misconduct. We now have a forum to voice our frustration directly to those who control the policy. Don’t let them tell you they can’t do anything about this — they can.

The University has also contracted law firm Husch Blackwell to assess UT’s Title IX policies and compliance system. While it’s hard to get excited about what seems like another deferral of University responsibility, Husch Blackwell actually has an impressive track record of helping universities better align their misconduct policy with student safety in mind. Take a look at the recommendations Husch Blackwell made at Texas A&M, Michigan State University, the University of Maryland and others after dissecting their Title IX systems.

Our editorial board was told by a UT administrator that Husch Blackwell’s recommendations

will be made public after they’re completed, likely by late next spring. Big changes could be coming — if the University implements them.

Students will also be learning more names of professors who have violated sexual misconduct policy. The University’s Open Record Request service is compiling all violations of University sexual misconduct policy since November 2017 — you just have to file a Freedom of Information Act request to find it.

More transparency about predatory professors is always worth celebrating, but it can’t stop here. As we’ve said before, all violations — past and future — need to be public and accessible.

Not hidden behind open records requests.

The bad news The town hall needed to happen this semester. Since the first sit-in, students have demanded that the administration respond to student concerns as quickly as possible. That was in late October.

The town hall is scheduled for late January, after a six-week break from classes. Organizers were under the impression that the town hall would take place this semester until word came from President Fenves’ office that it was being postponed. It’s worth noting that while Fenves has the final say in all of these decisions, his office has been largely absent from current meetings.

When we and our peers have consistently been left in harm’s way with professors that have a history of misconduct, we deserve the ability to ask administrators face-to-face why it happened. We have shared our stories, our frustration and our demands. We need to be directly heard by those who have the greatest ability to make us safer.

As of now, the only official University communication about the town hall has been through a recently created website about misconduct and a mailing list that, as of Dec. 5, had only 49 people on it. If the University is serious about including students in a conversation about misconduct, this has to change. The University has a myriad of ways to tell all of us about this event. They need to use them.

The town hall is being planned by the Misconduct Working Group — a group of students, faculty and administrators tasked with serving as a liaison between Husch Blackwell, students and administration as well as recommending changes to UT’s sexual misconduct and harassment verbiage. These recommendations, along with Husch Blackwell’s, will be sent to Fenves’ desk next spring.

Some of the students on this working group

have already been meeting with administrators.

Their power in the working group, however, is not yet defined. The editorial board was told that the division of labor in the working group is yet to be determined, but the students on it will at the very least be leading campus engagement.

Students in the working group were told in a meeting with administrators that they would likely be left out of making policy recommendations next semester. This is unacceptable. When it is our safety on the line, we deserve a voice in making recommendations that will personally affect us and our peers.

Students are more than just a mouthpiece for the administration. When students are in charge of explaining policy changes — or lack thereof — created by administration to campus, they can easily become a shield to protect the administration from its own failures.

Organizers and the student body at large must ensure that this doesn’t happen.

If we don’t fight for our peers in the administration’s working group to have the power to make our voices known in policy while continuing to make our demands as a student body known via protest, who is to say the University will listen?

Looking forward Progress is on the horizon. The University is finally talking about sexual misconduct. At least some names will be made public. A town hall will be held.

Until then, we must keep protesting. Our power as a student body has always been our voice, and our voice has power in numbers. We must continue to show up and express our disgust at the professors still on payroll after misconduct violations. We must continue to show up and demand to know which professors have histories of abusing students. We must continue to show up and fight for the safety of ourselves and our peers.

Never forget where the power in our administration lies — on Fenves’ desk. The only way for Fenves to hear us is if we make our demands as loud as possible.

We cannot let winter break silence our voice or crush our momentum. The administration is feeling the pressure of a student body that is unwilling to be left in harm’s way. The moment we step foot on campus in the spring, the fight will continue.

The editorial board is composed of associate editors Emily Caldwell, Angélica López, Sanika Nayak, Abby Springs and editor-in-chief Spencer Buckner.

30

Self-absorbed former columnist writes one more column about self

By Angélica López Associate Editor

I wasn’t supposed to be a newspaper kid. I did band in high school — very different type of person.

But then, as a first-semester junior who came home around 5 p.m. every day I asked myself — how can I make it even more difficult to budget my time?

Little did I know, that semester would become one of the most difficult semesters of my life. I’m not being hyperbolic. I dealt with things that I never expected I would deal with as a 20 year old. At every turn, it felt like it got worse. My best friend had cancer.

To distract myself, I found my place in the Texan basement. When I felt like I wasn’t myself, I wrote about identity. When I felt like talking to someone, I became an active listener in interviews. I worked hard to be a voice for others in my columns, even when I felt like I couldn’t talk about what I was going through.

When I needed a laugh, I looked to the comments section on my columns. Sometimes you need someone to call you an idiot to really know that it’s going to be okay.

One unhealthy coping mechanism later, in the spring, I became an associate editor in opinion. I couldn’t be more grateful for this experience.

To all the columnists who trusted me with editing their columns, thank you. Time and time again, you’ve reminded me that yes, the University can do better. Your ideas have been so impressive, and I’m inspired by your ambition to make UT a better place.

Keep writing.

Abby — I love your ideas. You know how to find institutional loose ends and unravel those threads until people get mad.

I’m excited to see what you editorialize in the future.

Sanika — we started in opinion the same semester, and have always received about the same number of hateful comments on our articles, so you get it. Thanks for being so cool to work with, and for bringing me snacks.

Keep amplifying the voices that get left out of the conversation.

Emily, dear Emily. Thank you for everything these past two semesters. Thank you for being the person I could turn to whenever I was completely and entirely worn out. Thank you for giving me a Clif bar that one time when I really needed to eat something — you know the time. Thank you for being the person I could talk to about (redacted). You were always one Slack message away and for that, I am immensely grateful. Please keep being your amazing self, and while you’re at it, maybe try being a little ruthless, just for fun.

Bella — I know you’re already gone, but every time someone leaves a wrapper in the office, I think of you. You’re the kind of person who’s so easy to talk to, and I love what you’re about. Tinu — thank you for being the best editor, for also being from the RGV, for being so cool, for validating me when I pitched about personal experiences and for telling me to apply for associate.

Liza — God. You are the most competent person I know. You were one of the best bosses I ever had, and the friend everyone hopes to find. I respect you like crazy. You pushed me to be better and stand up for myself, and you even stood up for me. I don’t know what you’ll accomplish or become in life, but I know it’ll be beyond my greatest expectations.

Now, Spencer. Thank you for questioning the bounds of this department. Thank you for wearing incredibly niche t-shirts. Thank you for keeping me around, even when you decided to change things up a little. Thank you for continuing Liza’s reporting on Hutchison. Thank you for answering my countless design questions. Call me back next semester if you need someone to handwrite highly personal gossip columns that no one will read.

And to everyone else who has seen me through my time here (looking at you Tall Paul), as well as Peter and all the other grown-ups who keep this paper running, thank you.

That’s all I have. But while I’m here: Is anybody actually reading these?

López is a rhetoric and writing senior from McAllen. She was associate editor.

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.

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.

eddie gaspar

/ the daily texan staff

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.

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8

MONDAY, DECEMBER 9, 2019

Editor’s note: A 30 column is a chance for departing permanent staff to say farewell and reflect on their time spent at The Daily Texan. The term comes from the old typesetting mark (-30-) to denote the end of a line.

Managing editor refuses to order pizza one final time

By Catherine Marfin @catherinemarfin

How could I possibly describe how much the Texan means to me in just 360 words?

I’ve spent all 13 semesters of college in the Texan office (still not sure if that’s a brag or not). This basement has been my home for the last four and a half years — it’s the place that turned a shy young girl into a confident young professional. It’s where I found my love for reporting and where I’ve made friends I know will last a lifetime.

To Ellie and Forrest — you two have always been my most trusted friends and biggest supporters. Thank you.

Shoutout to the 2017 Texan staff (Anusha, Van, Paul, Claire, Cassi … you know who you are) — the original Texan crew who taught me not to take everything so seriously.

Alex, thanks for teaching me what “downs” are. Lisa, thanks for laughing at my copy log memes. You two have always had my back and have made my last semester truly wonderful.

Kirsten, thank you for being one of the

most loyal and true friends I know. Keshav and Mireya, thank you for being such wholesome people and for making Thursdays my favorite day of the week. And Ross, Andrea and Donnavan — I think we peaked in spring 2019 (karaoke, anyone?). You may not know it, but my friendship with all of you came at a time when I needed it most. I’ll always be thankful for that.

Kathleen and Gerald — thank you for your support this semester, especially when things got tough. And a special shoutout to Peter, who has guided me through this semester and beyond. Sorry for crying in your office a couple times.

Thank you to everyone else I have laughed with and learned with along the way. Thanks for tolerating my love of birds and Longhorn Band — and for not getting too upset when I didn’t order pizza.

And finally, to the entire fall 2019 Texan staff — I have had such an incredible time with you this semester. I can’t think of a more rewarding job than serving as your ME. Thank you for all of your hard work — I can’t wait to see what you do in the semesters to come!

30S

A typically atypical farewell

By Channing Miller @chanthedino

After six semesters, six comics editors, three different job descriptions and four sketchbooks, it is finally time for me to say goodbye to my beloved corner of the basement.

This corner isn’t just a place where I have sat with aching knuckles and a sketchbook in my lap. This was where I came up with “Typically Atypical” as the name of my comic strip. I developed and changed my art style so many times as I was constantly inspired by the different kinds of talent that graced that corner. I spent four and a half hours there putting the page together for the first time on my first night as editor.

More importantly, though, that corner is where I made memories with people I will always consider my friends. This was where Rachel and I would fawn over The Rocky Horror Picture Show, where Lexi would regale me with how she picked out her lip gloss for the day, where Bixie and I would talk about podcasts we wanted to make together and where Albert and I would discuss our most recent Game of Thrones theories. Maybe what I will remember most of all, however, is how few places there are where I

channing miller

feel as comfortable as I do listening to a true crime story with Lauren by my side as we scribble away.

Don’t get me wrong. That corner has heard a lot of stressed out mumbling and even seen a few tears, but I have seen so much growth there, not just in myself, but in so many others. Alekka, Barb, Rocky and Steph, I have watched the four of you develop incredible skills as artists, but I have also seen you become impeccable leaders, and I could not be prouder to be leaving

/ the daily texan staff

one of my favorite places in your very capable hands.

Lauren, thank you for completing this last round with me. You are my best friend and the memories we made in our little corner will be something I cherish for a lifetime.

Thank you all for entrusting me with the page y’all turn to first — even if only for the sudoku — for the past three semesters.

It has been the most rewarding experience of my college career. Farewell, comic’s corner.

Anti-social staffer signs off social media for the last time

By Alexis Green @alexisgreen98

eddie gaspar

/ the daily texan staff Before entering the basement, I was terrified about The Texan. It’s just THAT place. A place that’s filled with talented students who are doing amazing work.

I didn’t think I can live up to that standard. Honestly, I probably didn’t, but I had fun anyway.

I don’t know why they let this introverted girl join the social media staff, but it was one of the most rewarding college experiences.

From being the punching bag to older Facebook users to having to stay up until 3 a.m. to write posts for the next morning, I wouldn’t change anything about my time here.

Except maybe the latter part. I really love sleep.

Although I don’t know most of the staffers, and they’re probably wondering, “Who even is this girl?”

I’m proud of all the work we’ve done. I mean, Jimmy Fallon follows us on Twitter now. If that doesn’t say something, I don’t know what does.

To Becca, thanks for being an incredible editor and always having my back when I needed help. You’re a social media queen and a

NO SLEIGH NECESSARY. Free rides to the airport and major bus stations with your valid UT ID. Don’t forget about the shuttle schedule changes during finals. Plan ahead and pass your test.

great friend.

To Michael and Hal, I’m truly going to miss our meme-filled group chat. Although I wasn’t always responding, I was always laughing.

To Carrissa, you’re the best roommate and friend a girl could ask for. I will always cherish our late-night Taco Bell runs and getting to see your comics before anyone else did. You’re way more talented and funny than you give yourself credit for. Because of you, Dracula holds a special

place in my heart.

Last but not least, thank you so much, mom and dad. I could always count on you to like my posts and help me pay for rent and food because lord knows my salary wasn’t going to do it.

Working at The Daily Texan was never part of my plan, but I was never good at having plans anyways. Sometimes the best experiences are the ones you don’t see coming.

Those can also be the worst experiences, but luckily this one worked out for me.

barb daly

/ the daily texan staff

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/ the daily texan staff

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30S

9

MONDAY, DECEMBER 9, 2019

Sports reporter calls baseball player by wrong name, world almost ended

By Daniela Perez @danielap3rez

Duke Ellis, you 100% do not know who I am, but I’m sorry.

Let me take you back to February 2019. It’s my first month on the Texas baseball beat, and I am a nervous wreck. The other reporters had the whole press conference thing down to a science.

Me, not so much.

I don’t remember what game it was, but I finally built up the courage to ask something. It’s my job, after all. I wrote down the question, recited it to myself 100 times and waited for the perfect time to interject.

Someone asked you a question about teammate Masen Hibbeler. Your answer is a blur, but what came out of

my mouth next is not.

“Masen — ur, I mean Duke —.”

You said something like “Don’t worry about it,” and then answered my question.

But I’ll never forget those around me — the awkward shuffling, the audible “oh, my God” that came from an older journalist, reaffirming my severe imposter syndrome.

(Duke you can stop reading now, not that you ever were) It felt like the end of the world because it was, right?

Surprisingly it wasn’t. I returned to the Disch for the next game and asked another question. Then another, and then another. Looking back, it was a defining moment; I realized the world wouldn’t end, my career wouldn’t end and making those mistakes early on only made me better for

the future.

It’s one of the many lessons I’ll carry with me from The Daily Texan forever. For those who I worked with, Ross, Alex, Donnavan, Marcus and Stephen, thank you for making me a better journalist and person every day.

To my sorority sisters, who never complained when I’d take over the couch in the living room to watch football games instead of Gossip Girl, 2711 Nueces St. will always be my home.

To Mom, Paps, Art, Leo and Raf, I love you more than you’ll ever know.

To professor Dawson and Kevin, Wednesdays will always be my favorite day.

So maybe the headline should be thank you Duke Ellis. I know I’ll never mess that name up ever again.

Senior designer still doesn’t know what she’s even doing here

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nila selvaraj

By Nila Selvaraj @twitterhandle

Through my nine years working on five different yearbook committees, I never once imagined I would eventually defect to newspaper.

In fact, the first time Jason realized I was a computer science honors major working in the design department, he asked me, “What are you even doing here?”

Three semesters later, I still don’t quite know the answer, but regardless, I know that joining The Daily Texan has been one of the best decisions of my college career. It’s been three semesters of wrestling with InDesign, of making underappreciated (in my opinion) design memes, of begging

management for pizza during tryouts. Three semesters of spying on my fellow staffers (especially Lisa) in order to find the perfect quote for funny weather, with just the right amount of walking the line between hilarious and slightly concerning. Three semesters of racing against time one night every week to get everything uploaded and approved, the midnight deadline looming over me like I was some kind of design Cinderella.

Of course, I couldn’t have accomplished so much without the support of my amazing design editors. Thanks, Andrea, for introducing me to design at the Texan and encouraging me to apply for senior.

Thanks, Mireya, for taking this bizarre journey with me from TWHS yearbook to The

/ the daily texan staff

Daily Texan newspaper; may we both continue to embody the mantra, “What would Hal do?” Thanks, Christiana, for being super dependable and for planning awesome design socials that bring us together as a team.

I’m sad to be leaving you guys (well, not that sad because I’m leaving to go study abroad in Singapore). I’m going to miss all the memories I’ve made here, like copy’s parody of The Office, eating Oreos off of my own face for one of Peter’s challenges and that feeling of unadulterated pride and delight when I come up with a particularly creative design idea. I guess that’s what I’ve been doing here all along: having a good time and making the paper look pretty.

eddie gaspar

/ the daily texan staff

Miraculously, it all turned out fine

By Kendall Jordan @WynnKendall Wynn

Earlier this semester, I found myself in the precarious position of being the only design staffer present during open house. As a young freshman interested the Texan stood beaming in front of me, I was momentarily mute, contemplating how to best explain that my department is the physical embodiment of the “This is fine” meme without scaring her away. I wound up spouting something about how design works with every department, is responsible for laying out pages and sending the paper to print. But design is a more complicated mistress than that.

Design is a department that doesn’t often get noticed. As Peter tells us at the beginning of every semester, we’re vital to the production of the Texan, but you probably won’t hear anything about us unless something has gone horribly wrong.

And things do go wrong. But learning to roll with the punches and still meet deadline is the essence of working design.

Design is getting hit with management-copy-news-photo standing over your shoulder like the ghost of Christmas future at 10:30 p.m. Design is sports stories that come in an hour before deadline, photos and illos that somehow don’t exist, fonts missing and picas wrong, and making liberal use of house ads and white space.

Design is predesigning for an hour, waiting four hours for content, spending two hours redesigning and placing that content, and then frantically working the last hour to make deadline. Design is looking management in the face and saying, “Everything is going

to be fine” when InDesign is literally deleting stories off the page.

But the amazing thing about design, the thing I couldn’t figure out how to describe to a freshman who’s never worked here before, is what it feels like to meet deadline, regardless

of what happened during your shift. It’s seeing all the amazing content from every department, and the sense of accomplishment that you’ve managed to bring all of it together. That’s the sense of accomplishment I’ll take away from working at the Texan.

copyright mckenna jordan, and reproduced with permission

Absent-minded director recalls her time at the Texan, feels like home

By Malú González @malugonzaleza

Walking across campus with Spotify on shuffle, I pause midstep when Jorge Drexler’s “Todo se transforma” starts to play.

The song immediately brings up feelings of the love, humor and experiences I left in my hometown of Tampico, followed by the spirit of the phrase, “You gotta start somewhere.”

When does a new place stop feeling like new? Attending a university with 51,000 other students, I thought it would be hard to feel at home — until The Daily Texan opened its doors to me.

I continue my journey towards the office and see myself, the wide-eyed freshman who shortly after interviewing for the University’s newspaper thought “SMH” was a sound, not an acronym. I suppose these are the dangers of

t

hiring a first-year international student for a social media role.

“Shaking my head” is the correct way to describe my quest holding up a 2010 MacBook for over a mile livestreaming a University protest from a phone that had no battery.

For three years, I grew trying, searching, finding and not giving in. Learning from Alex, Forrest and Stephanie, I developed the skills needed to build a digital presence and write engaging content. I directed livestreams, developed threads and crafted material for panel discussions with students, lawmakers and media professionals. We did The Ellen DeGeneres Show’s visit to campus and Beto O’Rourke’s town hall. See? It was fun, too.

Seeing myself grow from an issue staffer to a department head speaks volumes to how much one can learn from the people working around you. Year after year, I kept coming back because the

Texan has an undeniable allure — its people.

Alex, Megan, Taylor, Mauricio, Peter and the rest of the team: Thank you for making these past three years meaningful.

To everyone I worked with and learned from during these years, thank you for the passion for what you do. No matter the role or department, the work you do is important. And the world needs you.

The song’s coming to an end as I walk past HSM, past the Texan staircase and past a couple of square-shaped orange boxes holding newspapers produced by the most uncanny, driven people I think I will ever meet.

College is never easy, but finding my place at the Texan made it all worthwhile. Down the line, I know I’ll walk again past these orange boxes, past someone in a gray Texan sweatshirt or past those awful stairs and think to myself … “What a journey.”

eddie gaspar

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10

MONDAY, DECEMBER 9, 2019

Comics editor closes book on her time at The Daily Texan

By Lauren Ibanez @ibanez-lauren

If someone had told me that I would be a comics editor, sitting in The Daily Texan basement batting illustration ideas back and forth between the senior staff, laughing until I had tears in my eyes and working next to amazingly driven people, I would not have believed it. Nearly three years ago, I tentatively applied to be a comic artist, with the simple hope of getting a chance to doodle every so often with no expectations beyond that. I couldn’t be happier at how wrong I was. Since then, I have created my treasured comic series Zoophobia and Deri, and the dozens of comics I have made through that journey have made me a better artist and storyteller. But that’s not what I really take from my time at the Texan. Because it is here that I have met many lifelong friends and made a family I

30S

Photographer pursued passion at Texan, owes it all to wife

love dearly.

I think much of my journey really began when I started as a senior staffer and into becoming an associate editor for comics.

Working with Bixie and Channing was a time filled with talks of conspiracy theories, wild humor and friendship that only grew in this last semester. This fall I was a co-editor with Channing, and it has been a highlight of my last remaining semester at UT, as well as the founding of one of the best friendships I have ever known. Now, Channing and I are closing the book (comic book?) on our last semester at The Daily Texan, and the feeling goes beyond bittersweet.

I will miss the wonderful friends I have made here in The Daily Texan basement and wish the best of luck to those who take on the comics department. This has been the best of times, and I will hold the memories I made down here close to my heart — always.

copyright ox visuals, and reproduced with permission

By Joshua Guenther @yoshguenther

lauren ibanez

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I’ve never been good at introductions, highs-andlows or being put on the spot for that matter. In these situations, the truth became my recurring joke.

With every semester, photo meetings would start by going around and sharing an interesting fact about

ourselves. When it was my turn, I could only think to shout “I’m married!” From then on, it was a conversation piece: “Oh, you didn’t know Josh is married?”

The photo department did a good job joshing me: “Look out ladies. He’s taken.” The playful banter was a reminder of who takes the sacrifice for letting me do what I love.

My wife Rebecca.

Get same-day care close to work Walk-in Clinic Convenient treatment for: Allergies and Cedar Fever Bug Bites & Rashes Colds and Flu Cough Ear Infections Eye Infections Food Poisoning Fever Headache Kidney & Bladder Infections (UTIs) Sinus Infection Sprains & Strains Upset Stomach Vomiting OOering: Flu shots and other vaccinations $10 copay for BCBS UT Select Walk-in hours: Monday – Friday 8am-5pm 1601 Trinity St., Bldg. A 1st Floor Austin, TX 78712

We accept BCBS UT Select Insurance and most insurance plans including Medicare.

Thank you for letting me spend all my time doing photography. For encouraging me to go shoot when I’m stressed from school. For your patience when I work at the Texan until midnight and we haven’t seen each other in days because our schedules don’t align.

Thank you for your strength and devotion to my passion. I hope I can push you towards yours.