Serving The University Of Texas At Austin Community Since 1900 @thedailytexan | thedailytexan.com
Wednesday, January 22, 2020
Volume 120, Issue 83
NEWS
OPINION
SPORTS
LIFE&ARTS
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UT Immigration Law Clinic compiles report on human rights conditions at the border.
UT must proactively release the names of faculty who violate misconduct policy.
“The Wave” writing and directing team talk production and budget changes.
Tom Herman puts the finishing touches on his new coaching staff.
WEST CAMPUS
CAMPUS
Restaurants around UT close, open over winter break By Lauren Girgis @laurengirgis
Students are finding that many of their favorite restaurants have shut their doors after a series of business closures over the break. Earlier this month, the owners of Thai, How Are You? announced they would be closing their Thai and sushi restaurant on Guadalupe Street after 12 years of business. Don Japanese Kitchen on Guadalupe also closed, according to Yelp. In December, P. Terry’s Burger Stand announced it would be replacing the Taco Ranch on MLK Boulevard. Grace Frazor, Middle Eastern studies graduate student, said she did not notice the recent business closures but thinks businesses frequently come and go on Guadalupe. “Rent prices are so expensive that it’s hard for businesses to stay open,” Frazor said. “They are catering to prices that students are willing to pay, and that probably puts businesses at a disadvantage.” Frazor said one of her favorite coffee carts on campus had to move because rent was so high, and she did not like seeing the constant fluctuation in businesses. Taco Ranch, set to be replaced with the first UT location of P. Terry’s Burger Stand, closed in December. “As much as we love Taco Ranch, as a company with all eyes on expanding P. Terry’s, it just made sense to have a presence at the University of Texas,” said Patrick Terry, P. Terry’s and Taco Ranch co-founder, in a press release. Current Taco Ranch employees will be able to work at another P. Terry’s location or the original Taco Ranch location, according to the release. Nursing senior Joyce Kim
eddie gaspar
/ the daily texan staff
A UT Police Department vehicle keeps watch at the east side of campus on Jan. 21, 2020. The rise in activity comes after the governor’s order to increase law enforcement activity around state buildings following violent attacks downtown.
Campus patrols surge UTPD, Texas DPS partner to increase security at UT after Gov. Abbott orders more law enforcement. By Claudia Ng @claudiang
T Police Department and the Texas Department of Public Safety campus patrols surged as students returned to campus following an order issued by Gov. Greg Abbott for increased law enforcement around state buildings. In the Jan. 9 letter addressed to DPS director Steve McCraw, Abbott ordered DPS troopers to monitor within two blocks of all Austin state buildings, including the University. Abbott’s letter came in response to two separate downtown Austin stabbings involving homeless people,
which left one restaurant employee dead, according to The Texas Tribune. Texas DPS troopers are patrolling Guadalupe Street in cars and motorcycles labeled “Texas State Trooper.” DPS troopers on bikes wear a red shoulder patch on their uniform sleeves labeled “Department of Public Safety.” Austin Police Cmdr. Tim Pruett oversees West Campus patrols and said about 10 to 12 officers are assigned to West Campus on any given day. Pruett said APD divides their patrols by sector, and the number of officers assigned to a sector depends on the geographic size of the area and the number of 911 calls reported. “We have officers on bikes that are already out there, and they’re looking where the high concentration of (911) calls would be,” Pruett said. Pruett said the number of officers stationed in West Campus is consistent with the number of officers stationed to other sectors in Austin. Pruett said APD previously partnered with UTPD for on-campus patrols and with DPS for higher-risk events such as music festivals and protests. He said
the partnership with DPS and UTPD will not be any different from past patrol experiences. SafeHorns, a nonprofit organization that advocates for increased safety on campus and in student neighborhoods, thanked Abbott via Twitter for involving DPS and said there are still off-campus safety improvements to be made. SafeHorns president Joell McNew said they previously met with the University of Southern California to learn about their campus safety model, which involves brighter street lights at night, high-definition cameras and an extended patrol zone of two-and-a-half miles beyond campus. McNew said although SafeHorns proposed USC’s model to UT, the University did not extend safety measures to beyond campus. “When you look at the history and creation of (West Campus) specifically intended to be housing for students, there’s responsibility in that,” McNew said. “So why didn’t (the City of Austin and the University), as they created that area, create crime prevention by environmental design? Why P A T R O L S PAGE 3
C L O S E PAGE 3 STUDENT GOVERNMENT
CAMPUS
SG prepares to file for elections, focuses on safety, long-term goals
Union restaurants reopen after repairs
By Anna Canizales
@grobe_lauren
@annaleonorc
Filing for Student Government positions, including president, vice president and University representatives, began Tuesday. Campaigning begins Feb. 17 and runs through elections on March 2–3, according to the Dean of Students website. Jakob Lucas, speaker of the Student Government, said the filing period is the best for current members to work on policy because most of the attention is on the potential candidates. Lucas also said current leaders are more productive during this time, so they get reelected. “There is always a difference between politics and policy, and this period affords us the ability to work on policy, not politics,” Lucas said. Before the elections, Student Government’s general objective is to finish legislation that was started last semester before the new term begins in March, Lucas said. Student Government will focus more on faculty misconduct policies this semester following the allegations of sexual misconduct against professors Coleman Hutchison and Sahotra Sarkar. Last semester, Student Government decided to take a backseat on legislation regarding these issues to allow other organizations to have a stronger role, Lucas said. “The issue of faculty misconduct (is) something that last semester Student Government didn’t (previously)
Akinnibosun said the Starbucks provides a good place for students to get a quick snack or drink on campus. As Starbucks reopens, other ar“I know for a lot of people who eas of The Texas Union are under- have classes over there or their going multiple changes, with a new dorms, that is a convenient spot,” restaurant opening and roof con- Akinnibosun said. struction starting over the Shirley Psychology sophomore Marilyn Bird Perry Ballroom. Ajami said she is new to campus The Starbucks reopened Tues- but has used local and campus day after closing last November due Starbucks frequently. to a leak underneath the restau“I just transferred here so I harant, said James ven’t tried much, Buckley, direcbut I will use the tor of facilities resources that and operations are around me,” for University Ajami said. Unions. The leak Steak ‘n Shake also caused the opened at the restrooms on Union last Tuesthe first floor to day, Buckley said, close, but now and will serve all restrooms exonly the restaucept the ones by rant’s most popthe Cactus Café ular menu items are open. similarly to the Buckley said Chick-fil-A Exthe Starbucks press at the WilJAMES BUCKLEY leak was unrelatliam C. Powers, director of facilities and operations ed to the Union Jr. Student ActivUnderground ity Center. While flooding that caused the building the restaurant has been open for a to temporarily close last October. week, Buckley said the Union plans He said that the Union is looking to hold grand opening festivities at for a permanent solution to last the end of the month. year’s flooding. “Earlier this week, President “Everything is operating as nor- (Gregory) Fenves and the athletic mal,” Buckley said. “We have a director came over and had lunch perfectly good solution in place, at Steak ‘n Shake,” Buckley said. but we’re looking for a long term, “Apparently, President Fenves is a permanent solution.” longtime big fan of Steak ‘n Shake.” Marketing sophomore Gloria U N I O N PAGE 3 By Lauren Grobe
We have a perfectly good solution in place, but we’re looking for a long term, permanent solution.
stephanie sonik
have a huge voice in because all of the leaders realized it was good for us to take a step back,” Lucas said. Lucas said the other issues Student Government will prioritize this semester include affordability, accessibility, tuition and textbook costs. All of these issues will be further discussed in the upcoming Student Government meeting. Ricky Cooks, Student Government chief of staff, said that the executive
/ the daily texan staff
branch is working on expanding the SURE Walk program and wants to work with Texas Athletics on adding golf carts to the program. Cooks also said the Continuity Committee, which is focused on continuing work on past unfinished legislation without starting from scratch, is working to wrap up previous projects. “With elections coming up … we’re being pushed against the end of our E L E C T I O N S PAGE 3