The Daily Texan 2020-01-21 by The Daily Texan

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

Tuesday, January 21, 2020

Volume 120, Issue 82

Texas Baseball celebrates a win against LSU with outfielder Austin Todd on March 3, 2019. The Longhorns swept the Tigers in a three-game series.

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NEWS

OPINION

SPORTS

LIFE&ARTS

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A UT researcher is part of a NASA team that discovered a potentially habitable planet.

Editor-in-chief Spencer Buckner invites students to join the staff of The Daily Texan.

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Mac Miller’s posthumous album Circles engages with life, pain, social expectations.

Male practice squad players elevate Texas womens’ basketball.

CITY

Austin holds 26th annual MLK celebration Thousands gather on campus to march in commemoration of Martin Luther King Jr. By Aria Jones @AriaJonesetc

housands of people celebrated Austin’s 26th annual Martin Luther King Jr. Day march, gathering at King’s statue in UT’s East Mall on Monday. The event held at the statue honored King’s legacy and civil rights work. Speakers included University President Gregory Fenves; march coordinator

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Marchers pass under the Texas State Capitol Building on their way to Huston-Tillotson University on Jan. 20, 2020. The march began under the Martin Luther King Jr. statue on the East Mall and ended at HTU, Austin’s historic HBCU.

Brenda Harris Burt, who is the director of undergraduate and alumni relations for the African and African Diaspora Studies Department; Edmund Gordon, the vice provost for diversity; Cherise Smith, a department chair for the African and African Diaspora Studies Department. “This holiday gives us a chance to reflect on and celebrate all of the individual stories and people who have followed Dr. King’s footsteps and helped improve lives for so many and lead us to a better future,” Fenves said at the event. Fenves also took a moment to recognize the 50th anniversary of the John L. Warfield Center, an institution Fenves said made diversity, inclusion and equality part of the moral foundation of UT. “In over a decade as director, (Warfield) would help lay the groundwork for a transformation of this University, where racist M L K PAGE 2

CITY

RESEARCH

3M Half Marathon course shows off Austin, UT campus to 7,000 runners

UT physics professor wins Wolf Prize for twistronics research

By Hannah Williford @HannahWillifor2

Students and faculty took part in the annual 3M Half Marathon on Sunday, where participants ran a 13.1-mile course through Austin and the UT campus as people cheered them on from the sidelines, playing instruments and holding up signs. The course ran from North to South Austin and cut through the University on Speedway and University Avenue. The race finished at the Texas Capitol.

Cameron Nguyen, a management information systems junior, said the race was part of his goal to complete multiple distance races during college. “It’s kind of crazy to pay to hate yourself for a couple miles,” Nguyen said. “I know in college a lot of people lose their physical activity and just kind of let themselves go a little bit, so I wanted to keep that up.” William Dyson, 3M Half Marathon communications manager, said one goal of the half marathon was to

incorporate more of Austin by inviting local businesses to participate and encouraging the community to cheer on runners. “If (people) are not going to run or volunteer, (they can) come out and spectate and cheer,” Dyson said. “It’s really trying to be … as inclusive as possible while also just making this essentially (an) experience. … We want the whole experience to be truly memorable for every participant.” Dyson said the half marathon drew over 7,000 runners from 47 states and 20 M A R A T H O N PAGE 2

By Nataleah Small @nataleahjoy

UT professor Allan MacDonald won the Wolf Prize in Physics for his theoretical and experimental work on the field of study twistronics, on Jan. 13. This work, which changes the electronic properties of materials by twisting atomic layers, has the potential to impact the evolution of technology, MacDonald said. The Wolf Foundation awards the prize to artists and scientists who produce work “in the

interest of mankind and friendly relations among peoples,” according to the foundation’s website. MacDonald is the fourth UT professor to win the prize, and the first to win in the field of physics. “I was surprised by the phone call,” MacDonald said. “I was actually sitting in the study area near the Starbucks in The Texas Union, which is one of my hiding places when I want to get some work done ... and that news was quite a surprise.” MacDonald shares the award with two other recipients, Pablo Jarillo-Herrero, a physics professor at Massachusetts

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Institute of Technology, and Rafi Bistritzer, who works at Applied Materials in Israel. Twistronics can control the electronic properties of certain types of materials when a oneatom-thick layer of material is placed on top of another atom-thick layer and twisted at a certain angle, Macdonald said. He said when this happens, special electronic properties can be observed. “I’m a theorist, but what (interests me) is understanding unexplained behaviors in materials and W O L F PAGE 3

S AVA N A D U N N I N G

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TUESDAY, JANUARY 21, 2020

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UT School of Architecture ranked No. 1 in nation for programs with fewer than 100 graduates By Mariane Gutierrez @marianegtrz

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The UT School of Architecture was ranked as No. 1 among architecture programs with 70-99 graduates, according to DesignIntelligence, an architecture and design industry publication. The School of Architecture was among 20 programs ranked, including those from Kansas State, Washington University and Arizona State University, according to the DesignIntelligence website. The publication also ranked UT’s interior design program as third most hired nationally and the landscape architecture program as fourth within their respective categories. Michelle Addington, dean of the School of Architecture, said DesignIntelligence is dedicated to determining the success of programs creating hireable students and ensures accuracy by grouping schools into different size categories based on the average number of graduates in their combined undergraduate and graduate programs each year. “DesignIntelligence is the only national college ranking survey that focuses exclusively on design, and it is among the most influential and oft-cited program rankings in

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architecture education,” Addington said. “Schools are competing with their peers in terms of size, and this year, they gathered data from more than 123 design schools across the country.” Tomi Yamamoto, the senior academic program coordinator in the School of Architecture, said the School of Architecture prepares students for their careers with programs where they obtain real-world experience and tools such as internships. “We want to stay ahead of the industry standards or any changes that might be going on in the various design disciplines so that our students are leaving their respective programs with up-to-date, current knowledge and skill sets,” Yamamoto said. Julie Latcham, the school’s director of career services, said the School of Architecture stands out because they collaborate with firms who provide networking opportunities and prioritize hiring students. “It’s unique to our offices that we have several connections not within just Texas but across the world,” Latcham said. “Last year, with our career fair, we had 106 firms that were registered to attend our career fair and recruit our graduates from all over the nation.”

rocky higine

With the School of Architecture having obtained three high rankings on the Design Intelligence list, Addington said they plan to continue strengthening and building on the essential

foundations of architecture and design professions. “These rankings are a testament to the quality of instruction, the experience of our faculty and

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our commitment to connecting what our students learn here to what is happening in the world around them,” Addington said. “Our curriculum prioritizes an interdisciplinary approach.”

CAMPUS

Nonprofit SafeHorns competes for $10,000 from Tiff’s Treats to build 6 police call boxes in West Campus By Brooke Ontiveros @brookexpanicv

SafeHorns, a nonprofit UT safety advocacy program, entered to win the $10,000 grand prize from Tiff’s Treats 21st Anniversary charity competition to contribute to their goal of building six police call boxes in West Campus. The contest began on Jan. 1 and will close Jan. 31. Every time a customer uses the unique code from one of the over 300 charities in the competition, 10% of the profits from their order goes back to the charity. Codes can be redeemed at any Tiff’s Treats location in the United States. The winner with the most redemptions will be selected on Feb. 7 and receive an extra $10,000. “The feedback (about the competition) from even the people who are not winners of the grand prize is tremendous because some of these organizations are very small, so every bit counts,” said Jeff Sartor, Tiff’s Treats executive president of marketing. Tiff’s Treats hosted a similar contest for their 20th anniversary last year, and SafeHorns won a $20,000 cash prize, which they have saved to go toward the police call boxes, SafeHorns president Joell McNew said. McNew said SafeHorns is waiting to use the money until the logistics, such as cost and location, of the project are settled. McNew said her organization wants to earn enough money to build six police boxes in West Campus because it has the densest population

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NEWS

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and discriminatory practices would be challenged and changed,” Fenves said. Gordon said King’s words, such as “the arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends toward justice,” should be taken seriously. “All around us, forces of injustice seem to be advancing: white nationalism at the borders and on our campuses, predatory sexuality all over the news, gun violence seemingly unending, the failure of our schools to provide an equitable education for our most vulnerable, problems of inequity even in faculty compensation at a University as established as this one,” Gordon said. Gordon noted several historic changes at the University, including the first black students coming to campus almost 70 years ago, the first black professor receiving tenure 55 years ago and UT becoming one of the first universities in Texas to admit women in 1883. “In the past, the University has spent money, time and space to commemorate those who attempted to

of students. McNew plans to work with the Austin Police Department to find the best places to construct the call boxes. “(West Campus) leads in EDP calls, which are emotionally disturbed persons,” McNew said. “Based upon data, I asked (Austin Police Department) to give us a starting place for where we could look to put them. The first area is in the Artist Market.” The $10,000 prize money will be enough to cover two police call boxes. One wall-mounted call box costs around $4,400, McNew said. The call boxes SafeHorns wants to build are different than the $7,000 police poles on campus, McNew said. The police poles have attached cameras that allow for surveillance, unlike the wall-mounted ones. “Obviously, if we had more money, we would install them,” McNew said. “If we had more money, we would also include North Campus.” If enough individuals use SafeHorns’ code, SAFEHORN20, SafeHorns will try to install the first police call box by the fall semester of 2020. “There are currently 22,000 students in (West Campus),” McNew said. “The safety issues that are concerning and causing fear to students are impacting their quality of life, and we want to make sure that we do everything we can while students (are here), if we can work together to add more and keep improving safety.” Marketing sophomore Chloe Baker created a Change.org petition last semester calling for the University to add more police call boxes and im-

maintain injustice and exclusion,” Gordon said. “It’s time that the University take its time, its resources and its space to commemorate the advances that the University has made over the last 150 years in becoming an inclusive institution.” After the program, attendees marched to the south steps of the Texas State Capitol for a rally before continuing to Huston-Tillotson University for a community festival. Boxes to collect canned goods and nonperishable food items for the Central Texas Food Bank were placed at each stop. More than 40 elected officials were recognized at the rally for attending the event. Joseph Frilot, a 2016 UT alumnus, said he has lived in Austin for six years but never attended a Martin Luther King Jr. Day celebration. He said he was surprised to see so many people of different ethnicities attend the event. “People say that Austin is a quite liberal city, but we still have a lot of challenges when it comes to racism and inequality,” Frilot said. “To see everybody come together and rally for MLK and rally for change and rally for racial equality is awesome.”

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prove lighting in West Campus. She said SafeHorns has fought hard for student safety. “Any amount of safety measure added to West Campus — whether it’s

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small, large — any amount makes students feel safer,” Baker said. “Although only two call boxes in such a large geographical area would be a small difference, any difference is a great difference.”

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As many as 7,000 runners from 47 states and 20 countries participated in the annual 3M Half Marathon held in Austin on Jan. 19, 2020. The marathon went from North to South Austin and ended at the Texas State Capitol.

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countries. He said some of the elite runners will participate in the United States Olympic Team Marathon Trials in Atlanta. UT alumna Jessica Harper won the women’s category of the half marathon for the third consecutive year while David Fuentes, an Olympic marathon trials qualifier, won first.

“Those individuals are going to be using this race as essentially their final tuneup,” Dyson said. Biochemistry freshman Mia Lee said she enjoyed running through the Shoal Creek area because of the high-energy crowd surrounding the course. “There’s a lot of people there, and they are really supportive,” Lee said. “It’s generally a really encouraging place to run through when you’re half-

way through and you’re kind of dying. There’s always someone with a funny sign like, ‘You paid for this race, you’ve got to finish it now.’” Lee said although there were over 7,000 people competing, everyone was supportive. “Whenever someone says, ‘Oh, I can’t,’ there’s always someone next to them that says, ‘No, no you can,’” Lee said. “Everyone is kind of suffering together.”

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NEWS

TUESDAY, JANUARY 21, 2020

RESEARCH

UT researcher works with NASA scientists, discovers Earth-sized planet in habitable zone By Mariane Gutierrez @marianegtrz

A team of NASA scientists, including a UT researcher, discovered an Earth-sized planet in the star’s habitable zone, according to a College of Natural Sciences press release published on Jan. 8. Star system TOI 700, located a little more than 100 light-years away from Earth, consists of an innermost planet, middle planet, outermost planet and a cool M dwarf star the planets orbit. CNS research affiliate Andrew Vanderburg said NASA’s newest planet hunter, Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS), determined that TOI 700 d, the outermost planet in the system, orbits far enough away from the star to have the temperature needed to hold water on its surface. “We’re interested in planets like this because we want to see if life on Earth is unique or if it could have developed elsewhere in the galaxy,” Vanderburg said. “Finding these planets is one of the steps toward making that discovery.” TESS observes the sky 27 days in a row for changes in light resulting from a planet’s movement across the front of its star. After the results were released online for the public, a high school student working with Vanderburg

identified an error that described the planets as larger and hotter than they really were, the release said. “In the report for the system, it turns out that one solar radius and one solar mass were being used to determine the radius of the planet,” said Alton Spencer, a Danbury High School senior from Connecticut. “They initially looked way too big to be habitable. They were 2.5 to 5.5 times the size of Earth.” NASA’s larger Spitzer Space Telescope confirmed the existence of the planets by taking bigger measurements of the star. “Spitzer is another telescope that NASA launched a while ago, about 20 years ago, and it is bigger than TESS so you can collect more light and make more precise measurements of the brightness of the star,” Vanderburg said. Emily Gilbert, a NASA team member, said the team will continue to study TOI 700 for another year to better understand whether the planets are rocky like Earth or covered in helium like Jupiter. “We are excited for TESS to observe TOI 700, which will allow us to study the system even further,” Gilbert said. “We can get better constraints on star and planet parameters, look for gravitation effects of planets interacting and see if there may be any other planets in the system.”

lauren ibanez

CAMPUS

University Co-op provides affordable course material options to students through revised renting policy, cheap textbooks By Lauren Grobe @grobe_lauren

The University Co-op changed its rental return policy last fall, allowing students a 10-day grace period to return rented textbooks with a small fee before charging the full price of the book, said Michael Kiely, director of course materials. “If they don’t bring it back by the time it’s due, then we will provide them 10 extra days,” Kiely said. “The fee is 10% of the cost of the book. After that 10 days, then we charge them the difference between the rental price and the selling price plus a 10% penalty fee.” Kiely said students can find the prices for both buying and renting books online and in-store, and their customer service team is the best option for students who have questions about the rental process. Nutrition freshman Emily Yager said Co-op employees helped her when

she was a first-time user of the store’s renting process. “I was kind of confused at first, but then I just asked someone who worked here, and they helped me find all my things,” Yager said. Students can rent certain course materials from the Co-op while other materials are buy only, Kiely said. The Coop works with book companies and looks at other factors such as bid price to determine the price of a book and whether it can be rented. “If a new book is going to sell for $75 and (a book company) is dan martinez

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going to pay me $60, then I would rent it for $15,” Kiely said. “Then I know I have somebody who will buy it and will make me whole.” Kiely said the Co-op works to provide course materials at the lowest price possible. “We do everything we can to keep cost of course materials down,” Kiely said. “We are very happy with breaking even.” Yager said her textbooks were affordable and allowed her to easily buy materials for multiple courses. “My chemistry book was only $25,” Yager said. “That was really good, and my biology book was only a little bit more

than that.” The Co-op is a nonprofit, Kiely said, and according to the University Co-op website, the store donates all proceeds to student success at the University, including awards to students and faculty, funding student organizations and sponsoring the University Fashion Group fashion show. Kiely said the materials available at the Co-op are chosen based on requests by faculty members. “It’s up to the faculty member to let us know what they want to use,” Kiely said. “We email all the faculty members and say, ‘Hey, it’s time.’” Kiely said that out of the roughly 11,000 unique courses at the University, the Co-op had not heard back from about 5,000 courses on whether they required any materials. “A lot of those may be seminar classes or thesis classes,” Kiely said. “They’re never going to use a book. We try to flag those … and put ‘No texts required.’”

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predicting new types of behavior of materials that nobody’s ever seen before,” MacDonald said. In 2011, MacDonald used quantum mathematics and computer modeling to predict what would happen when two single-atom-thick layers of graphene, a kind of carbon, were stacked on top of each other, according to a University press release. When twisted at a “magic angle” of 1.1 degrees, the graphene layers resemble a honeycomb-like structure, and the electrons move 100 times more slowly. When electrons slow down, special properties such as magnetism and

superconductivity emerge, said Emanuel Tutuc, physics and electrical and computer engineering professor. Tutuc has collaborated with MacDonald on twistronics research. These properties are special because the individual layers of graphene are not metallic, but when they are twisted at the “magic angle,” Tutuc said they exhibit properties characteristic of superconducting metals. “What Allan’s work showed is that we can actually use twisted bilayer graphene as a toy model and interrogate the system experimentally rather than guessing theoretically how the electrons will behave,” Tutuc said. MacDonald said although the direct applications of this work are uncertain, this research could impact the future of

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energy, computing and communications technologies. Physics department chair Jack Ritchie said he was pleased when he learned MacDonald won the prize. “I’ve always found Allan MacDonald to be a very constructive and helpful colleague,” Ritchie said. “So I think he’s not only a great physicist is also a very good person. He’s a positive contributor to our department.” Ritchie said MacDonald is recognized as a pioneer in the field of condensed matter physics and has successfully developed computational methods for understanding material properties. “It really was not surprising to me that he should win the prize,” Ritchie said. “I certainly think it’s very well deserved.”

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The law, directory information can be made todirectory thedirectory public. You may Under restrictUnder access to this information by The information below isavailable considered information. federal law, directory The information below is considered information. federal law, directory visiting http://registrar.utexas.edu/restrictmyinfo. Please be aware thattoto ifthis you would like to information can available to to the the public. public.You You mayrestrict restrict access this information information can be be made made available may access information byby restrict information from appearing in the printed directory, must that makeifyour changes at this visiting http://registrar.utexas.edu/restrictmyinfo. Please beyou aware you would visiting https://registrar.utexas.edu/students/records/restrictmyinfo. Please be aware that iflike youto web page by the twelfth class dayinofthe theprinted fall semester. you must request thatyour ALLchanges your directory restrict information from appearing directory,If you make at this request that be ALLrestricted your directory information about be restricted NObeinformation about you will be given information NO information you will to anyone, your web page by the twelfth class day of the fall semester. If yougiven request that ALL including your directory to anyone, including youras family members, except as required by law.to Any restriction make family members, except required by law. Any you restriction make will remainincluding inyou effect until information be restricted NO information about will beyou given anyone, your will remain in until you revoke it.by law. Any restriction you make will remain in effect until you revoke it. effect family members, except as required you revoke it. • name • classification • weight and height if member of an athletic teamif member of local and permanent •• name major field(s) of study •• classification • weight and height addresses student parking athletic team permit • local and permanent expected dateofofstudy graduation • an •• major field(s) information • addresses phone number •• expected date of graduation degrees, awards, and honors • student parking permit • the most recent previous information e-mail number address •• phone received awards, (including selection • degrees, and honors educational institution attended most recent previous public user name (UT EID) received •• e-mail address criteria) (including selection • the • job title and dates of employeducational institution attended •• public place of birth user name (UT EID) • criteria) participation in officially ment when by the • job title and employed dates of employrecognized activities and dates of of birth attendance •• place • participation in officially University inemployed a positionbythat ment when the sports recognized activities and enrollment status •• dates of attendance requires student status that University in a position sports • enrollment status requires student status DIRECTORY INFORMATION is is sent DIRECTORY INFORMATIONSHOULD SHOULDBE BEKEPT KEPTCURRENT. CURRENT.Official Officialcorrespondence correspondence sent to the e-mail last to the registrar; if the student hashas failed to correct this to the postal postal or or e-mailaddress address lastgiven given the registrar; if the student failed to correct DIRECTORY INFORMATION SHOULD BEtoKEPT CURRENT. Official correspondence is sent address, he orhe she not relieved of responsibility on the grounds that the correspondence this address, or will sheaddress willbe not be responsibility the grounds that the to correct to the postal or e-mail lastrelieved given toofthe registrar; ifon the student has failed wasaddress, not delivered. For about educational records official communications correspondence not For details about andon this he orwas shedetails willdelivered. not be relieved of responsibility the grounds that the with the University see General Information, 2019-2020 catalog. educational records official communications with the correspondence wasand not delivered. For details about University see General 2011–2012. with the educational records andInformation, official communications University see General Information, 2011–2012.

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Editor-In-Chief | @THEDAILYTEXAN

TUESDAY, JANUARY 21, 2020

OPINION COLUMN

LETTER FROM THE EDITOR

abriella corker

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Include mental health days in accepted absences By Hannah Lopez Associate editor

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You have a place in The Daily Texan’s newsroom By Spencer Buckner Editor-in-chief

The Daily Texan boasts an impressive legacy. In the 119-year history of the Texan, our paper has won countless awards. We boast more Pulitzer Prize winners than any of our peers. Among our alumni are Walter Cronkite, Lady Bird Johnson, Robert Rodriguez and Sen. Judith Zaffirini. You too can find a place at our paper. As the spring semester begins, the Texan has again opened its doors for production. Regardless of your background, interests or year, there is a place for you here. Our 13 departments offer a unique and rewarding range of opportunities for people of all skill sets. You don’t need to be a journalism major or have any previous experience to apply — our staff comes from schools and departments across campus. If you want to help break campus and city news, apply for our news department. Apply for Life&Arts if covering Austin’s vibrant music and arts scene is more your speed. Are you obsessed with football, baseball, basketball or quidditch? Check out our sports department. If you’re passionate about

on-campus activism, join us in the opinion department. Our department has a rich history of producing columns and editorials that push for change on the Forty Acres. In our drive to argue for issues we care about, our opinion staff has interviewed UT presidents, senators and hundreds of faculty and experts around campus.

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Or at: bit.ly/DTSpring2020 If you’re Twitter famous (or aspiring to be), join our social media department and use memes to connect with and grow our audience. For Longhorns who can’t turn off a good podcast, join our audio department, where you can learn to make one yourself. In our video department, you can turn news into sleek and engaging videos. If you want to

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As the spring semester begins, students’ stress levels will soon be at an all-time high. Between the pressures of academic performance, working a job, attending extracurriculars and maintaining a social life, many students have been stretching themselves thin. Currently, there is not enough time allocated for students to take care of their mental health. Therefore, when determining their attendance policy for the spring semester, professors should include mental health days in their number of accepted absences. Multiple courses at UT have strict attendance policies that allow one or no unexcused absences. With so few allotted absences, most students probably won’t take a mental health day. I know I wouldn’t.

take the photos that make up our paper and website, apply for the photo department. For student artists and generally witty Longhorns, we have our comics department, whose illustrations make our paper come alive. If digital art is more your style, opinion illustrators combine traditional art with digital style to create illustrations for each week’s opinion page. Our design department lays out each page in the Texan and constantly pushes the boundaries of how print news can — and should — be presented. Are you detail oriented with a knack for editing? You’ll find yourself at home in our copy department, where our copy editors check every story in the Texan for factual and grammatical errors. To apply for any and all of these positions, simply fill out our issue staff interest form and select the departments you’re interested in joining. The editors of each department will reach out to you with information about their specific tryout process. As UT’s student newspaper, we cannot do our job unless we reflect the community we report on. So many of us have found our home at UT here at the Texan. You can too. Buckner is a Plan II junior from Austin. He is the editor-in-chief.

If professors added one extra allowed absence to their attendence policies, it could give students a chance to take a mental health day.”

GALLERY

charlie hyman

/ 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.

According to a 2018 survey by the American College Health Association, anxiety and depression are the biggest factors that negatively impact student academic performance. Additionally, 42% of students who took the survey stated that at some point in the past year they had felt too depressed to function. Mental exhaustion, often accompanied by anxiety and depression, has become a stark reality for college students. For many UT students, including computer science freshman Grace Liu, mental health days would have been greatly appreciated last semester. “There have been a few days where I have gotten two or three hours of sleep, but I still showed up to class because it would have negatively impacted my grade if I had not shown up,” Liu said. “I think in most classes (professors) don’t really account for things like how one day you have three tests and don’t really have time to recuperate … It would be really beneficial to have a break from that to just gather your thoughts.” Currently, many students are forgoing their mental health in order to avoid having points deducted from their grade. Stress and anxiety accompanied by lack of sleep and an overwhelming amount of coursework can have a major mental toll on students. If professors added just one extra allowed absence to their attendance policies, it could give students a chance to take a mental health day without fear of an absence hurting their GPA. Student Emergency Services offers aid to students who have missed class due to mental health or other types of emergency situations by sending documented absence notifications to faculty members. However, Sara Kennedy, manager of strategic and executive communications for the Office of the Dean of Students, said even though they can confirm a student had an emergency situation and urge for necessary accommodations, it really is up to the professor’s discretion whether or not the absence will affect the student’s grade. “We are not in charge of excusing absences,” Kennedy said. “Faculty is the ultimate authority in the classroom. They still have the discretion to choose how they are going to work with a student, and in almost all cases, it’s going to be up to the faculty member to make that final decision.” While Student Emergency Services does a great job reacting to students’ needs and providing resources after a crisis, there needs to be proactive measures in the classroom to help prevent mental health emergencies from happening in the first place. Professors should incorporate mental health days into their attendance policy in order to allow students time to recharge before their mental health deteriorates to a point where emergency services needs to intervene. Lopez is a rhetoric and writing sophomore from Nederland, Texas.

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.

NEWS

TUESDAY, JANUARY 21, 2020

T H R O U G H T H E LENS

Featuring the best from the photo department.

The view from the New York City skyline from a window in the Empire State building on Christmas eve.

amna ijaz

| daily texan staff

CITY

311 app allows cyclists to report parking obstructions in bike lanes By Brooke Ontiveros @Brookexpanic

The Austin 311 mobile app now allows cyclists to report bike lane parking violations directly through the app. There were approximately 70 violations of improperly parked vehicles in bike lanes since October 2019. The new subcategory “bike lanes” was added to the category “parking violations” in the app last month, said Jacob Barrett, a public information specialist in the Austin Transportation Department. Users can add photos of the parking violation, the location and a description of the vehicle. Barrett said bike lane parking violations can decrease city mobility. “If you have a car blocking a bike lane, that means the cyclist has to take another route, whether it be around the car, into a lane or onto the sidewalk,” Barrett said. Alice Hui, supply chain management senior, said she biked to campus three or four days out of the week last semester but chose not to use bike lanes because they were

often obstructed. “(The 311 app) is helpful,” Hui said. “Whenever I have a complaint, it’s always nice to have a place to submit them.” The 311 app is part of the 311 call center, which handles nonemergency issues within the city, such as a loose dog or a need for graffiti removal, said Patty Martinez, a public information officer for 311. “The 311 app is just another channel of communication with the city of Austin,” Martinez said. “We have it available for citizens and community residents to use it as a way to communicate with the city.” When bike lane violation requests are submitted, the city parking enforcement is notified and can issue a violation to the person blocking the bike lane, Barrett said. “If we have parking enforcement folks close to an area, it may be really quick, but it really depends on a case-by-case basis,” Barrett said. By adding the bike lane category to the parking violations service request, Barrett said the Austin Transportation Department will be able to gather

more specific data regarding traffic violations. “(The data) enables us to actually track that category more specifically, and more data is better data,” Barrett said. The app provides citizens with a list of service requests that can be filled out via a mobile device and sent to the city for remediation, Martinez said. The parking violation service request category was added Dec. 10, with subcategories such as “bike lanes” added continually. Barrett said the community asked for this new update. “We’ve had requests for this feature, whether it’s folks tweeting at us on Twitter or actually telling us in person that this is a desired feature,” Barrett said. “It is a great addition for the community.” Barrett said he hopes to continually update and improve the app to fit the needs of the citizens. “We’re always looking to add more features to improve safety in our community, whether that be reporting features through 311 or other ways that citizens or residents can get involved,” Barrett said.

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TUESDAY, JANUARY 21, 2020

WOMEN’S BASKETBALL

FOOTBALL

Practice makes perfect

Longhorns rebuild staff, ride Alamo Bowl victory into 2020 By Donnavan Smoot @Dsmoot3D

Members of the women’s basketball team practice squad pose for a photo with Texas head coach Karen Aston.

Texas women’s basketball practice squad players help the Longhorns reach new heights. By Myah Taylor @t_myah

or the Texas women’s basketball team, winning means hitting the weight room and staying focused. It also means being pushed hard in practice. When the Longhorns aren’t going to war on the hardwood against opponents from around the country, they’re battling in practice against an all-male squad. Texas’ 19 male practice squad

members aren’t necessarily Division I talents. But Nick Bovine, a graduate assistant for the women’s basketball team, said their speed and athleticism prepares the Longhorns for competitive matchups. “We’re really blessed to have good players that come in and play really hard for us,” Bovine said. “They give us a great look that I think is comparable to what these girls are going to see night in and night out in the Big 12.” Men across the UT campus can join the squad in numerous ways, but Bovine said he recruited several players

this season by going to the Recreational Sports Center and watching guys play pickup basketball. Positive individuals who played hard captured Bovine’s attention. Brandon Okeke, a biochemistry senior from Houston, has been dominating others on the court at Gregory Gym during his time at UT. When Okeke discovered his friend was on the practice squad, the senior expressed an interest in joining himself, and Bovine eventually reached out. “Right before this past fall semester started, (Bovine) texted me and said he wanted to come

see me play a little bit, just to see if I would be a good fit for the team,” Okeke said. “Immediately (after the tryout), he said if I wanted to play on the team, the spot’s mine.” Sports management junior Ryan Yablonsky has practiced with the women’s team since December 2018. As a freshman, Yablonsky took a basketball class and eventually became a teaching assistant for the course before the opportunity came to join the squad. The Plano, Texas native hopes to work with Texas Athletics in the future. “I really want to work for either the men or women’s

team postgraduation (and) become a graduate assistant,” Yablonsky said. “My ultimate goal is to coach basketball at a D1 college or even on a professional level.” After playing basketball in high school, civil engineering sophomore Spencer Johnson joined the practice squad the summer before his freshman year at UT. Hailing from Dripping Springs, Texas, Johnson said the team was a good way to continue playing basketball at a competitive level. “I’m not good enough to play P R A C T I C E PAGE 10

For every week in the 2019 season, it seemed like a new challenge posed itself to the Texas Longhorns. A series of injuries to running backs and defensive backs left both sides of the ball hanging on by a thread for stretches of the season. Texas failed to meet its lofty expectations, both internal and external, which left the Longhorns in the Alamo Bowl and eventually led to both offensive coordinator Tim Beck and defensive coordinator Todd Orlando being relieved of their duties before the bowl game. “Distractions are only that if you choose to let them be, and these guys did a great job of tuning out the noise,” head coach Tom Herman said on playing New Year’s Eve. Focus was evident against then-No. 11 Utah. The Longhorns went into the Alamodome for the final game of the decade and dominated, 38-10. If only for a night, Texas lived up to its potential. “We just finally put it together,” sophomore safety Caden Sterns said. “When we go out there and we play free and not timid … you saw today we (were) just out there flying around.” The Longhorns, who were the healthiest they’d been in months, were dominant on both sides of the ball. Defensively, the 10 points allowed speak for themselves. Offensively, each of the top three skill position players — senior wide receivers Collin Johnson and Devin Duvernay and sophomore running back Keaontay Ingram — all scored touchdowns. Even the special teams got in on the action, with sophomore defensive back D’Shawn Jamison returning a punt for 71 yards in B O W L PAGE 10

MEN’S BASKETBALL

Longhorns blown out in Morgantown By Stephen Wagner @stephenwag22

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The days of “Press Virginia” may be behind West Virginia men’s basketball, but escaping the West Virginia University Coliseum with a victory is no simple feat. This is not new information to Texas, as the Longhorns — who have recorded just two wins in Morgantown under head coach Shaka Smart — were painfully reminded how difficult the road trip can be in Monday evening’s 97-59 loss to the No. 14 Mountaineers. The game was Texas’ worst loss of the Smart era. While both teams were coming off difficult losses, only one seemed to have moved on. The Mountaineers put an uncharacteristic and lackluster performance against Kansas State behind them and turned their full attention to the Longhorns. “When you have a group of five guys that will play for each other, that play for the name

on the front of the jersey, you have a chance in a game like tonight,” Smart said in a postgame interview. “We didn’t have that tonight.” Usually optimistic, Smart’s criticism was not unwarranted as Texas was completely unprepared for the storm about to hit it. West Virginia’s blitz combination of suffocating defense, brutal physicality and steady shooting proved too much for the Longhorns from the opening tip. The Mountaineers jumped out to a quick 12-4 lead in the first six minutes, setting a pesky defensive tone which would continue throughout the night. But Texas withstood the first wave of West Virginia’s bombardment, rallying with a 9-3 run of its own. With the crowd temporarily silenced, it momentarily appeared as if Texas could overcome its early turnovers and match West Virginia’s frenetic pace. Then the run began.

It began quietly — first with West Virginia junior forward Gabe Osabuohien hitting an inside shot, then with a handful of empty possessions from each team. Then came a no-holds-barred onslaught from the Mountaineers, wreaking havoc, forcing turnovers and dominating the rebounding battle. The Mountaineers would go on a baffling 28-2 run, with the Longhorns turning the ball over and going cold. “We didn’t respond well to their aggressiveness,” Smart said. “They had the better collective fight, energy, spirit.” Smart said he told his team roughly eight minutes into the game that the looks on the players’ faces had to change, but they never did. Making matters worse for Smart was the looming foul trouble his bigs couldn’t seem to stay out of. Junior center Jericho Sims, fresh off possibly the best performance of his career in BASKETBALL

PAGE 10

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LIFE&ARTS

T R I N A DY J O S L I N

Life&Arts Editor | @TRINADY05

TUESDAY, JANUARY 21, 2020

ALBUM REVIEW | CIRCLES

Late Mac Miller speaks of life, pain in album Circles

Over a year after the artist’s passing, Mac Miller’s sixth studio album Circles was released on Jan. 17. The companion album to Swimming was finished by Miller’s production partner, Jon Brion,

Over a year after the artist’s passing, Mac Miller’s sixth studio album focuses on social expectations. By Nataleah Small

@nataleahjoy

n artist’s legacy is cemented the moment they pass from one world into the next. They can no longer affect how they are perceived, who they can influence or how they will be remembered. With the posthumous release of his sixth studio album, Mac Miller has created another impression on his legacy. Before his death in 2018, the artist was deep into the recording process for his final album, Circles. Miller’s production partner, multi-instrumentalist Jon

Brion, completed the album, which was released on Jan. 17. Circles was intended to be a companion to his critically acclaimed 2018 album, Swimming. Each of the 12 songs on the 48-minute album are hard to listen to. Compared to Miller’s earlier records where he raps seductively about love or rebelliously about breaking the law, the sadness and exhaustion in his lyrics are palpable. “Circles,” the album’s opening track, begins with a 36-second instrumental intro before Miller takes a deep breath and sings, “Well, this is what it look like right before you fall.” The universe could fit in the pause between the first two words of the opening

lyrics. Although his tone could be perceived as sad or remorseful, he sounds tired and thoroughly reserved to the reality that years of drug and alcohol use have taken a toll on his body. When he sings “I don’t have a name” and “I cannot be changed,” he takes responsibility for who he has become without lowering himself to apologize for his choices. In the fourth track, “Good News,” Miller confronts the disconnect between what his audience expects from him and what he’s able to deliver. He sings about being lost in his head, apologizing to his fans and family for acting distant and how it’s impossible to please everyone. It’s a subtle, yet poignant track. Miller raps gently over a steady

drum line and chords plucked on string instruments. When he sings, “Sometimes the truth don’t sound like the truth/Maybe ‘cause it ain’t/I just love the way it sound when I say it,” he confesses that his successful, put-together outward appearance is deceptive. He’s hurting, but it’s a difficult admission. As the final track on the album, “Once A Day” has the most to say with the simplest lyrics. A listener’s first impression might be that Miller is singing to a family member or lover. He nearly whispers, “Once a day, I rise/ Once a day, I fall asleep with you/ Once a day, I try, but I can’t find a single word.” But after hearing it again, the listener realizes that the artist is singing to himself. He

Family-friendly ‘Dolittle’ does little to entertain older audience

@mackdyerr

Robert Downey Jr. stars as John Dolittle, a man with a special talent for talking to animals who goes on a mission to save his home.

‘Dolittle’ GENRE

Trading in a suit of armor for a doctor’s coat, Robert Downey Jr. returns as a hero of a different breed in the latest installment of the family classic. Directed by Stephen Gaghan, “Dolittle” is yet another film based upon the famous children’s book series “Doctor Dolittle.” The movie tells the story of John Dolittle (Robert Downey Jr.), an extraordinary doctor with a talent for talking to animals. When the Queen of England falls ill, Dolittle and his animals embark on a quest to find her a cure and save both her life and Dolittle’s beloved animal sanctuary, which is threatened to close if the queen succumbs to her illness. Alongside a relatively straightforward narrative, the editing of the movie is subpar. With a $175 million budget, the distractingly bad CGI is a major issue. While certain animal characters are fun and pleasant to watch, others look as if they have been copied and pasted from a 50-year-old cartoon, rendering the overall cinematic experience unbalanced and inconsistent. Although the plot of the movie is engaging, the overall writing and production could be better. Many jokes throughout the film are bizarre and out of place, drawing little reaction from the audience. While there are many enjoyable moments that are sure to have children laughing, other

Fantasy/Action PG

R AT I N G SCORE

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reminisces about the expectations he had for his life and career but resigns himself to the fact that he can’t change what he’s become. The song was written from a place of sadness that is difficult to comprehend. There is nothing bad to say about Circles. It is both a personal eulogy and an epilogue to a career that ended too soon. This was Miller’s deepest, most heartfelt album. These songs from beyond the grave will solidify this place in music history as one of the greats.

The Onion co-founder talks fake news, why he left his company By Mackenzie Dyer

@averywohleb

SCORE

Q&A

FILM REVIEW | DOLITTLE

By Avery Wohleb

Circles

GENRE

jokes carry on for too long or are slightly uncomfortable. Several moments might leave viewers wondering whether the creators actually watched the film and truly enjoyed these jokes or if they blindly distributed the film to the world without a second thought. It’s hard to tell which would be worse. Bogged down by the overall production quality, the film is partially saved by an enjoyable and talented cast. RDJ, although inconsistent in his character’s accent, is transformed in his funny and captivating performance as Dolittle. Strange moments, such as Dolittle’s communication with animals from the perspective of an outsider who cannot hear animals, are successfully conveyed by RDJ’s convincing portrayal of such a unique and interesting character. Other friendly voices bring a high energy to the film, highlighting entertaining moments that might have otherwise gone unnoticed in a different casting. Rami Malek brings vulnerability to the movie as a cowardly gorilla who learns courage along the way, and Tom Holland brings laughter as D O L I T T L E PAGE 12

Scott Dikkers grew up trying to humor his unamused peers. Seeing it as a way to connect with others, Dikkers eventually co-founded an international satirical newspaper, The Onion, before leaving in 2014. On Thursday, the comedic entrepreneur performed at Fallout Theater in “Worded Funny,” a literary comedy show. Before his business of comedy workshop the following Saturday, Dikkers sat down with the Texan to talk comedy, fake news and why he left his own publication. The Daily Texan: How did you get into the comedy writing game? Scott Dikkers: As far back as I can remember, I was writing comedy, making cartoons and trying to make people laugh. I

discovered at a very early age that it was a great way to get attention from family members and peers at school. It didn’t quite work with my peers at school at first, but it definitely worked with my grandma. Once you figure out a social connector like that, you roll with it. It probably took me 10 years before I was even barely adequate in terms of professional-caliber comedy, but I kept doing it because I loved it. DT: Why did you leave The Onion in 2014? SD: A billionaire bought most of the ownership. He was a nice guy, but it became a different thing. I can say with confidence that I will not be back … (The paper) is much more of a strict news parody voice now. It took us a long time to zero in on that voice, but we used to experiment more. I like when they mix it up and try to do new things. They haven’t done that in a while. The

brand is very consistent but … it has good years and bad years. DT: The last time you were in Austin, you visited UT. What brought you to campus? SD: I gave a talk at UT … about my history with The Onion. (I told) some funny stories about The Onion growing from a small college newspaper to a massive media conglomerate. I also met with the kids at the campus humor publication, the (Texas) Travesty … My main words of advice were, “Don’t do fake news.” DT: How would you describe fake news? SD: The first time I ever saw that phrase was when “The Daily Show” was marketing itself as a serious news show that was just jokes. They used the term “fake news” in a print ad, and it struck me. Why would you use that phrase?

jamie hwang

ONION

PAGE 12

/ the daily texan staff

On Jan. 16, Scott Dikkers, co-founder of The Onion, performs during “Worded Funny,” a literary comedy show featuring live readings. In addition to performing the show, Dikkers held a comedy business workshop at Fallout Theater.

TUESDAY, JANUARY 21, 2020

SPORTS

jack myer

/ the daily texan file

TENNIS By Nathan Han @NathanHan13

Fresh off a national championship, it didn’t take long for No. 2 Texas men’s tennis to be tested in a marquee matchup against the No. 1-ranked Florida Gators to start the season. But the Longhorns didn’t break under the pressure of playing from behind, winning 5-2 in Gainesville’s hostile environment. Before the match, head coach Bruce Berque said Florida would be a great test of the team’s toughness for a group that had four out of seven players on the court playing their first college dual match. “This match is about seeing how tough we are,” Berque said before the match. “We’ll see if we can get six guys who look hungry from start to finish.” The team certainly showed their toughness in a comeback victory, not only in overall points but in several

practice

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on the actual UT team, of course,” Johnson said. “But I wanted to be a part of something within UT’s sports teams, and (the practice squad) was the easiest way for me to do it.”

singles matches. The match against Florida was eerily similar to last May’s semifinal showdown between the two teams. In both matches, the Longhorns had to play in front of impressive fan turnouts. In both matches, it came down to the final two singles matches. And in both matches, Texas came delivered late to secure a big victory. The team followed the impressive win with a 6-1 victory in Dallas against SMU, completing its first road trip of the season. In both games on the road trip, the Longhorns dropped their doubles point. But the Longhorns went 11–1 in singles and notched several impressive comebacks against a Florida squad that had all six singles players ranked nationally. “If we can establish the competitiveness and the toughness that we need to have early, then I think the sky’s the limit for this team,” Berque said. The biggest comeback of

them all was No. 2-ranked senior Yuya Ito’s win over No. 31 Oliver Crawford. Ito dropped the first set 3-6 but stormed back to win the second 6-1 and clinched the victory for the Longhorns in a 6-4 third set win. Ito has now won 16 straight singles matches. But perhaps even more encouraging for Texas was senior Christian Sigsgaard’s return to form after spraining his foot last fall in a 6-1, 6-4 victory over Florida’s No. 4-ranked Sam Riffice. Freshmen Siem Woldeab and Eliot Spizzirri seem to have cemented their place in the lineup at third and fourth singles. Woldeab faced No. 17-ranked Duarte Vale of Florida and fell behind early 5-1 but rattled off 11 straight games that secured a critical singles win. In the fifth and sixth singles spots, Berque rotated between sophomore Chih Chi Huang, freshman Jacob Bullard and redshirt freshman Cleeve Harper.

Despite their busy schedules, Bovine said the three men are the squad’s most committed players, voluntarily devoting 15-20 hours of their time during longer weeks. And they do it all for free — their love for basketball and desire to have an impact returns them to the practice facility. “It’s one thing to just go

and play pickup basketball at the gym,” Okeke said. “It’s another thing to be part of something that means a lot more.” Being on the squad is important to the men who enjoy seeing the intensity they bring to practice help the Longhorns in games. Most people who

bowl

No. 2 Longhorns take down No. 1 Gators to open season

Senior Yuya Ito strikes the ball in a match on Nov. 21, 2019. Ito has won 16 straight singles matches.

“We’ve got four or five guys that are pretty close toward the bottom of the lineup,” Berque said. “You could make a convincing argument for any of

those four guys.” Despite lineup uncertainty and doubles woes, Texas started off the season strong. Last year, the Longhorns dropped three losses

in their path to a national championship. This year, with fresh faces, the expectations are set sky high for a team that’s looking to do much of the same.

sign up for the team don’t just do it for fun; they also want to contribute. For this reason, Okeke, Yablonsky and Johnson rarely miss practice. Their dedication doesn’t go unnoticed. Players on the women’s team appreciate the practice squad’s commitment to the Longhorns’ success.

“Some of them were here during Christmas break, and they weren’t even with their families,” senior point guard Sug Sutton said. “We’re really thankful to have practice guys who are selfless and are willing to help us every day.” However, it’s not all business. The practice squad members

enjoy several perks, though perhaps none bigger than a sense of community. “One of my favorite things is the relationships we’ve developed,” Johnson said. “All the people within the program I know by name. … It’s a good group of people for sure.”

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eddie gasper

/ the daily texan file

Sophomore linebacker Joseph Ossai tackles a Utah defender in Texas’ Alamo Bowl victory on Dec. 31, 2019.

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the second quarter. Herman and the Longhorns moved to 3–0 in bowl games since Herman took over the program in 2017. Whether it be extra motivation or added preparation time, there’s just something about the bowl season that tends to bring out the best in the Longhorns. “Our talent can take us pretty far,” junior quarterback Sam Ehlinger said. “Then once you add in mistake-free football, watch out.” The 2019 Alamo Bowl mirrored aspects of Texas’

Sugar Bowl win over Georgia on Jan. 1, 2019 — Texas was the underdog to a team left out of the playoff. The Longhorns responded in exactly the same way. They were able to out-physical one of the most physical teams in the country. “This was a great game,” sophomore linebacker Joseph Ossai said. “It gave the guys a lot of confidence in what we can do and what we stand for, what we can be on defense (and) how dangerous we can be on defense.” In the same way the Sugar Bowl victory raised expectations along with morale for the program, the Alamo Bowl win does little

to temper the hype of the Longhorn faithful. However, having already been through a season following a bowl victory, Texas knows it has to take the success with caution. “We had our ups and downs with that crew throughout the season,” Herman said. “But I think throughout not just the four hours tonight, but throughout the bowl preparation, I think the light bulb went on as to what it takes to win at a championship level, and I’m excited to carry over those lessons into the offseason.” The offseason will bring big changes for Texas. Nearly the

basketball continues from page

a loss to Kansas, was no match for West Virginia’s inside combo of Big 12-leading rebounders Oscar Tshiebwe and Derek Culver. Sims picked up three fouls before halftime, forcing Smart to bench the emerging star for crucial stretches of the first half. But with Texas trailing 45-20 at the break, it seemed to make little difference. Sims would foul out less than six minutes into the second half, finishing with just three points and two rebounds. The second half saw no

joshua guenther

/ the daily texan file

Texas head coach Shaka Smart yells on the sidelines in the game against Northern Colorado on Nov. 5, 2019.

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entire coaching staff has had turnover, new offensive and defensive coordinators have been hired and five of its six captains are leaving. Texas is going to be left with a senior Sam Ehlinger and young playmakers, but that won’t be a viable excuse if the Longhorns are going to finally reach new heights as a program. “We’ve got to develop that depth, and it’s my job to make sure (that happens),” Herman said. “I don’t have all the answers right now on New Year’s Eve, but I’m excited for the offseason to challenge these guys to understand what they’re capable of.”

improvement, as the Longhorns worsened an already-comatose performance by being outscored 52-39. West Virginia’s 45 points in the first half and 52 in the second half are Texas’ two worst halves of the season. The worst news? Things don’t appear to ease up any time soon. The Longhorns face off against a potent and tenacious LSU team Saturday in the seventh annual Big 12/SEC Challenge before traveling to TCU, where Smart’s Horns have typically struggled. “We just didn’t have the collective togetherness we need to have,” Smart said. “(Tonight) has to be a turning point.”

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• Search by distance/ neighborhoods • Read reviews of current THE EASIEST WAY TO FIND and former tenants • Contact properties OFF-CAMPUS HOUSING for more information • Compare properties side by side • Compare amenities, monthly rates, etc. VISIT UTEXAS.RENT

COMICS

A L E K K A H E R N A N D E Z & B A R B R A D A LY

Comics Editors| @THEDAILYTEXAN

TUESDAY, JANUARY 21, 2020

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TUESDAY, JANUARY 21, 2020

LIFE&ARTS

FILM

Catnip to lightsabers: Guide to winter break films

As UT closed for the winter, cinemas were bombarded with new films. The Daily Texan has put together a review recap for the frosty flicks. By Noah Levine

@ZProductionz

dan martinez

Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker

Director J.J. Abrams ushered in the Skywalker saga’s ninth and final episode. “The Rise of Skywalker” saw Rey venture against the final test in her journey to become a Jedi while supreme leader Kylo Ren struggled with his own legacy and orders from returning villain Emperor Palpatine. The film feels just as grand as any of the previous films, featuring the scariest depiction of an antagonist in the series. The moral dilemma of Rey and Kylo is beautifully mirrored through their personal journeys, culminating in an epic conclusion that feels powerful, rewarding and heartbreaking. Casual fans of the iconic Star Wars adventures will be more than pleased with yet another high stakes, visually striking and enjoyable visit to a galaxy far far away.

dolittle

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Dolittle’s adorable, glasseswearing pet dog. Most pleasantly, the film gives a raw and honest portrayal of grief. When Dolittle’s wife tragically passes away, he succumbs to a reclusive lifestyle and shuts his animal

1917

“1917” is an extremely ambitious and heartbreaking war adventure from director Sam Mendes. The film follows a duo of young soldiers, played by Dean-Charles Chapman and George MacKay, who are sent on a treacherous mission to deliver a critical message across enemy territory. What follows is a masterclass in suspense and cinematography. Edited to seem like one continuous shot, “1917” transports audiences directly onto the battlefield, refusing to allow any breaks from the constant fear of danger. Compared to other war epics, “1917” emphasizes the suspense and terror of lurking on the battlefield as opposed to the explosive action found in most blockbusters. At times, “1917” truly felt more like a horror film than an action thriller. The nail-biting sequences of the soldier duo exploring the grisly remains of no man’s land will surely evoke terror for audiences worldwide.

sanctuary for many years. It is not until he is sent on a mission for the queen that Dolittle, aided by the encouragement of both human and animal friends, relearns who he is. A message is sent to a young audience about the importance of family, whether by blood or by choice, and the human nature and power of grief.

While “Dolittle” is certainly far from perfect, it achieves its ultimate goal of entertaining its target audience. Looking past small plot holes and scattered inconsistencies, most children are sure to enjoy the movie and have many laughs along the way. Talking animals promise to entertain, and even in an imperfect journey, they successfully do.

Cats

“Cats” is an adaption of Andrew Lloyd Weber’s play of the same name, which is based on the writings of T.S. Eliot. While the plot of the experience still seems shrouded in ancient mystery even after seeing it, we’re pretty sure it follows a cat named Angelica who is introduced to a large group of felines who call themselves “Jellicles.” Each year, the cats hold a competition in which they select one of their own to travel to the “Heaviside Layer,” which may or may not be kitty heaven. We have no idea what a Jellicle cat is, but there sure are a lot of them. Most of the narrative is composed of musical numbers that introduce the various Jellicles and all of their wonderful traits. “Cats” features an uncomfortably entertaining star-studded cast of celebrities — Taylor Swift, James Corden and Idris Elba, to name a few — and a few catchy musical sequences, but the nightmare-inducing human cat hybrid effects will certainly affect audiences profoundly. “Cats” may not be a narrative masterpiece, but it will surely be remembered for all of the right and wrong reasons.

onion

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It’s funnier when you pretend it’s real. The Onion always pretends it’s real. Then, the whole idea of fake news ballooned to the point where I think of it now as propaganda on

/ the daily texan staff

Black Christmas

Writer April Wolfe and director Sophia Takal conjured their own reinvention of the iconic 1974 Christmas horror film “Black Christmas.” This new iteration of the chilling winter tale follows a group of sorority sisters who fend off a terrifying attack from an army of cloaked stalkers spawning from a menacing fraternity house. “Black Christmas” features several unsettling shots, haunting set design, a killer musical performance and some wonderfully fun action sequences. The overall narrative is not super strong, often following a straightforward slasher arc and throwing the subtlety of the original film out the window. The performances are suitable for the film, and it’s refreshing to see strong female protagonists played by Imogen Poots, Aleyse Shannon, Lily Donoghue and Brittany O’Grady in a mainstream blockbuster. “Black Christmas” is your classic helping of entertaining PG-13 horror, offering a bit more of a clear-cut and relevant message.

Facebook during an election. The meaning between satire, news parody and fake news has all gotten jumbled up. They’re all very distinct things in my mind, and fake news is the worst of them. DT: How do you differentiate fake news from what The Onion publishes? SD: The Onion does

comedy. You’re not meant to be fooled, but if you are fooled, the joke’s on you. You’ll figure it out soon enough, and that’s all good fun. Fake news is when devious people are trying to trick others into believing things that aren’t true. Or, in the way Trump uses the phrase, it’s media that is obviously biased.