The Daily Texan 2020-01-23

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

Thursday, January 23, 2020

Volume 120, Issue 84

NEWS

OPINION

SPORTS

LIFE&ARTS

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PAGE 4

PAGE 6

PAGE 8

A UT associate professor helped establish Center for Dewey Studies in India.

Where does Shaka Smart’s job security stand after Texas’ 38-point loss?

When discussions on sexual misconduct are unavoidable, check in on your friends.

Brandy’s Braiding Business brings affordable hairstyling to Jester Residence Hall.

CAMPUS

CITY

Celebrating Daniel Johnston

UT voting orgs push students to register for primaries

By Aria Jones @AriaJonesetc

blaine young

/ the daily texan staff

Cage the Elephant closes Hi, How Are You? Day 2020 at ACL Live, an annual worldwide celebration dedicated to raising mental health awareness and remembering artist and musician Daniel Johnston, who died in 2019 from a heart attack.

Third annual Hi, How Are You? Day creates sense of community with concert, aims to destigmatize mental illness in honor of Austin muralist, musician.

By Lauren Grobe @grobe_lauren

ustin celebrated the third Hi, How Are You? Day with a concert headlined by Cage the Elephant on Wednesday. The event was held in honor of late Austin-based artist and musician Daniel Johnston to raise awareness for mental health.

The first Hi, How Are You? Day was held on Jan. 22, 2018, Johnston’s birthday, and encouraged Austinites to check in on loved ones and destigmatize mental illness.

The event is named for his famous mural “Jeremiah the Innocent,” which features a frog stating the phrase, “Hi, How Are You?” American Campus Communities sponsored and livestreamed the concert at its student housing properties in Austin. In 2018, the group purchased the Goodall Wooten building on which Johnston painted “Jeremiah the Innocent” in 1993.

American Campus Communities purchased the building to preserve the mural, according to the concert’s press release. The most recent occupant of the building, restaurant Thai, How Are You?, closed its doors earlier this month.

At Wednesday’s concert, the Hi, How Are You Project revealed that Johnston’s mural will be recreated for the first time in Seattle, Washington.

“This has resonated with people globally,” said Tom Gimbel, co-founder of the Hi, How Are You Project. “Jeremiah now stands for being open around mental health, and I think that’s a great legacy.”

Proceeds from the concert will go to the Hi, How Are You Project, a nonprofit organization that encourages open conversations about mental health.

American Campus Communities also partnered with the Hi, How Are You Project last year to implement the organization’s training sessions

on holding healthy conversations about mental illness.

Gimbel said his organization wanted a concert for their event because of the appeal to college students and the sense of community at a concert.

“When you go to a concert, you’re not in isolation,” Gimbel said.

“You’re together with others, you’re moving at the same rhythm and it’s a joyful experience.”

Gimbel also served as Johnston’s manager for over 25 years and said Johnston was an inspiration. His work often dealt with themes of mental illness as he had schizophrenia and bipolar disorder, Gimbel said.

“There were no walls,” Gimbel said. “He was very open about what was he was feeling and about what he was dealing with.”

Austinite Will Johnson said he was a fan of Johnston’s work, which led him to discover and work with the Hi, How Are You Project at their booth at Austin City Limits.

“I was a big fan of Daniel’s music before he passed,” Johnson said. “I just wanted to do anything for the organization.”

Gimbel said the organization’s partnership with American Campus Communities allowed them to reach young adults who may be learning how to deal with mental illness or who are unsure of how to help a friend.

“Thanks to our partnership with American Campus Communities, the Hi, How Are You Project is able to reach more students than ever before to spark meaningful conversations around mental health and wellness,” Gimbel said in a press release.

Austinite Maureen McCoy said Johnston’s work still holds a unique place in the city, and she hopes people continue to remember his legacy.

“It’s a fitting tribute to him,” McCoy said. “Hopefully, we keep moving forward and (mental health) stays on the forefront.”

With about two weeks left for students to register to vote in the 2020 primary elections, nonpartisan organizations Civic Engagement Alliance and TX Votes are partnering to register students and train Longhorns to be volunteer deputy registrars.

“Being registered, being educated and then going in and making sure that your voice is heard at the polls is one of the most important things that you can do in terms of making policy that reflects your values (and) in terms of electing representatives that are representative of what you believe and what you want,” CEA chair Janae Steggall said.

The last day to register to vote in the Texas 2020 primaries is Feb. 3. Early voting begins Feb. 18, and election day is March 3. The Flawn Academic Center and Perry-Castañeda Library will serve as voting locations, Steggall said.

The CEA hosted meetings on campus Tuesday and Wednesday with representatives from at least 20 different student organizations to form a plan for increasing voter registration and participation on campus. Volunteer deputy registrar training by TX Votes followed the meetings.

At the meeting, Kassie Phebillo, TX Votes program coordinator, shared the organization’s goal of having 92% of students registered to vote in 2020 and a 65% voter turnout in the election.

She said the organization also wants to have a text notification system for voters and half of all First-Year Interest Group and Transfer-Year Interest Group students participating in the 2020 election.

Phebillo said the organization is doing classroom registrations in more than 70 classrooms, and she is personally registering students in 30.

“UT students are killing it,” said Phebillo, a political V O T I N G PAGE 2

WEST CAMPUS

UNIVERSITY

Don Japanese Food Truck reopens by Co-op

UT Libraries introduces new library service platform to increase efficiency

By Neha Madhira @nehamira14

Don Japanese Kitchen reopened its popular food truck behind the University Co-op at noon Wednesday after closing its brick-andmortar store on Guadalupe Street earlier this month.

The prices are good, the portions are great and it’s close to my dorms. Every time we’d go to (Don), it’d always be packed.”

FATIMA PEREZ freshman

“(Don) is kind of nostalgic,” said Nathan Chin, electrical and computer engineering senior.

“It used to be like every Friday; I’d come here at 11:30 (a.m.), wait in line 30 minutes before they open, usually buy it for friends and eat it afterward because the line

was so long. I understood why they were closing, but I had my fingers crossed that they would reopen.”

About 60 people were lined up in front of the food truck by 11:30 a.m., and the area remained packed for the duration of its opening.

Don opened its first brick-and-mortar restaurant on The Drag in 2017 and later opened a location in San Marcos in April 2019.

Psychology sophomore Sarah Jarrett said some people assumed the rent for storefronts on Guadalupe Street is the reason why the restaurant closed. The news of the closure came two days after another restaurant on The Drag, Thai, How Are You?, closed their doors.

“I Facebook messaged them asking if they were closed, and they messaged me back yesterday saying they were reopening,” Jarrett said. “I think (reopening) the food truck is a good move right now, especially with everything closing.

Honestly in the future, if they want to open a storefront, they should just not do it on Guadalupe because it’s so expensive.”

D O N PAGE 3

By Areeba Amer @areeba_amer

For the first time in about ten years, UT Libraries updated its service platform this month, said Travis Willmann, communications officer for UT Libraries.

Willmann said the new platform has all the libraries’ resources available in a single search now, so students will not have to search through multiple tools to find the information they need. Library staff will also have an easier time managing all of the libraries’ resources, Willmann said. “(The new system) should enhance people’s ability to find resources,” Willmann said. “It should also make the information that you find more relevant.”

Michele Ostrow, assistant director of teaching and learning services, said the new platform has the capacity to provide students with needed library functions as well as consolidates information among UT’s 11 libraries.

“It covers everything from selecting and actually acquiring materials to … moving them from library to library,” Ostrow said.

With the platform, students will be able to search for a book from other libraries if none of the UT libraries have the book, Willmann said. “(The new platform) is also opening up a wider world of information than just what we have in our campus in a more seamless way,” Willmann said.

The process of selecting a new platform took about two years,

rocky higine

Willmann said, and there were a few systems in consideration during the selection process.

“The big part of this (platform) was being able to handle that sort of volume of information and data that we needed to … manage and make accessible to our users,” Willmann said.

Willmann said part of the reason for

/ the daily texan staff

changing the platform was because the previous one could not meet the needs of the libraries anymore since it was not being updated fast enough.

“With the way that technology moves now and the changes in the way that resources are accessed, it’s really L I B R A R I E S PAGE 2

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NEWS

THURSDAY, JANUARY 23, 2020

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CONTACT US

STATE

Student guide to 2020 Texas election dates

By Austin Martinez

MAY 26, 2020

Primary Runoff Election Day. Mail-in ballots must be postmarked by 7 p.m.

@austinmxrtinez

In the 2020 Texas elections, students have the opportunity to vote for representative officials such as judges, senators and the president of the United States.

As these elections approach, student organization TX Votes is working to increase civic engagement by helping students register to vote in Travis County and learn about different candidates.

“It is vital you’re registered, you’re educated and you’re making sure your representatives are hearing your voice,” said Janae Steggall, civic engagement alliance chair for TX Votes.

Steggall, international relations and global studies sophomore, said students should learn about voting dates and locations and then pass along that information to family and friends.

Here is a timeline of this year’s election dates to keep up with and share.

OCTOBER 5, 2020

Last day to General Election.

OCTOBER 23, 2020

Last day to apply for a General Election mail-in ballot.

OCTOBER 30, 2020

Early voting General Election.

ends

for

the

NOVEMBER 3, 2020

cynthia trevino

FEBRUARY 18, 2020

Last day to apply for a Primary Election mail-in ballot. Mail-in ballots are an option for students who are out of their county during early voting and Election Day.

the

Early voting begins for the General Election. Travis County will publish polling locations as the election nears.

Last day to register for the Primary Election. A voter registration application must be received by the county’s Voter Registration Office in person or by mail.

FEBRUARY 21, 2020

for

OCTOBER 19, 2020

FEBRUARY 3, 2020

Early voting begins for the Primary Election. The Flawn Academic Center and the Perry-Castañeda Library will host early voting. Other locations that are close to campus include Austin City Hall, Travis County Granger Building and Carver Branch Library.

register

FEBRUARY 28, 2020

Early voting Primary Election.

ends

for

the

/ the daily texan staff

the primary runoff election and primary election voters do not need to re-register.

MAY 15, 2020

MARCH 3, 2020

Texas Primary Election Day from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. FAC and PCL are on-campus voting locations. Mail-in ballots must be postmarked by 7 p.m.

APRIL 27, 2020

Last day to register for the Primary Runoff Election. One does not have to vote in the primary election to vote in

Last day to apply for a Primary Runoff Election mail-in ballot.

MAY 18, 2020

Early voting begins for the Primary Runoff Election.

MAY 22, 2020

Early voting ends for the Primary Runoff Election.

General Election Day. Mail-in ballots must be postmarked by 7 p.m.

“You don’t have to be an expert on every candidate,” said Durrel Douglas, director of partnerships for Spread the Vote, a nonprofit that helps voters obtain identification. “You’re no less a voter in the voter booth than the president of the United States or the billionaire that owns Amazon.”

Douglas said students must become more active in voting or individuals over the age of 50 will continue to be the majority of voters in Texas.

“It’s important students get involved so they feel connected to the decisions their government makes,” said Sarah Batson, government freshman and junior chair of the research committee at TX Votes. “Ensure they’re helping create a country that reflects what you believe in by being a voter.”

This information has been gathered from the official Texas Secretary of State and Travis County webpages.

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communications graduate student. “We’re often seen as a school to emulate in this kind of work. What’s pretty incredible about what we’re doing is that it is genuinely student-driven.”

Phebillo said TX Votes is working to create legislation through Student Government to provide excused absences for voting and allow student employees to vote during work hours. She said there would also be a focus on STEM students, who have the lowest voter turnout, according to a 2016

libraries

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important that whatever system we have in place keeps up with those changes in technology,” Willmann said.

The new platform was implemented during winter break and officially went live in early January. Users are still getting used to the change, Ostrow said.

“Some people are fine,” Ostrow said.

“Some people are confused.

Some people are frustrated, like you would expect when you change the way that people do their work.”

Willmann said UT Libraries will take user feedback into consideration as it continues to

campus report by the National Study of Learning, Voting, and Engagement.

Rahul Gupta, who represented the Student Engineering Council at a meeting, said he was happy with the 65% voter turnout goal and is glad it is so high.

“It’s something we’ve been working on a few years,” electrical engineering senior Gupta said.

“We’ve known that there’s not as much excitement or energy behind civic engagement within the engineering community, but I think it’s something that can be changed through a lot of publicity and just activism within student organizations themselves.”

Phebillo gave the first TX Votes training at the CEA meeting Tuesday, where government senior Taylor Edwards became a volunteer deputy registrar.

Edwards said her goal is to get the people she sees every day — who sometimes do not know if they are registered — registered to vote in Travis County.

“I just thought that it was something that was important,” Edwards said.

“A lot of my friends and people that I’m around a lot … don’t know a lot of information about voting, and sometimes they don’t know the intricacies or the logistics of it. I wanted to be able to better help people with that.”

improve the platform.

Improvements will be done incrementally since all the data from the platform takes time to transfer and rebuild, Willmann said.

“We’re going to take feedback from our users and apply that to whatever customizations we can make going forward to make the experience for everyone better,” Willmann said.

Zachary Phi, a management information services junior, used the new system to read PDFs of textbooks, and he said he would not change anything about the system.

“It was really easy for me to find the information I needed,” Phi said.

“It served its purpose pretty well.”

P f t a c

o r a t aria jones / the daily texan staffr Government senior Taylor Edwards goes through TX Votes training at t UT to become a volunteer deputy registrar. i T m b n The information below is considered directory information. Under federal law, directory c information can be made todirectory thedirectory public.

You may Under restrictUnder access to this information

by C 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 o restrict information from appearing in the printed directory, you must that makeifyour changes at this visiting http://registrar.utexas.edu/restrictmyinfo.

Please be aware you would like to visiting https://registrar.utexas.edu/students/records/restrictmyinfo. Please be aware that if you 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 l request that be ALL your directory information about be restricted NObeinformation about you will be given information NO information you will to anyone, your fi web page by therestricted 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 h 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 a you revoke it. effect family members, except as required h you revoke it.

• name • classification • weight and height if member b of an athletic teamif member of local and permanent •• name major field(s) of study •• classification • weight and height m addresses student parking athletic team permit • local and permanent expected dateofofstudy graduation • an •• major field(s) c information • addresses phone number •• expected date of graduation g degrees, awards, and honors • student parking permit • information the most recent previous 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 • educational job title and institution dates of employattended place of birth •• public 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 a positionbythat ment wheninemployed 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 postal or e-mail address last given to the registrar; if the student has failed to correct this to the postal or e-mail address last given the registrar; if the student has 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 was not delivered.

For details about educational records and official communications correspondence was not delivered.

For details about this address, he or she will not be relieved of responsibility on 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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THURSDAY, JANUARY 23, 2020

WORLD

Professor helps open Center for Dewey Studies in India

By Areeba Amer @areeba_amer

A UT associate professor helped establish the first academic research unit dedicated to the ideas and works American philosopher e of y John Dewey in India earlier e this month.

Scott Stroud, a communication studies associate professor, and Vijay Khare, a professor l at Savitribai Phule Pune University, established the Center for Dewey Studies, which is located within the Departe ment of Ambedkar Studies at Savitribai Phule Pune University. There are various Dewey centers around the globe, but s they are not formally connected. Khare will function as the n founding director. , “In the course of my e research on the story of John r Dewey and his student, Bhimf rao Ambedkar, I realized the t deep affinity and connection between Dewey and the democracy e still-developing s of India,” Stroud said. “Given e that India’s constitution was orchestrated by Ambedkar, it d seems appropriate that an acs ademic center is established in h this democracy.”

- According to the Stanford t Encyclopedia of Philosophy, e Dewey was a prominent Amern ican intellectual figure during the first half of the 20th cend tury. His work and theories e in philosophy, education and democracy influenced his student Ambedkar, who was an

e

Indian philosopher and prominent figure of the anti-caste movement and helped to draft India’s democratic constitution, according to a Savitribai Phule Pune University press release about the center.

Stroud said the message of the Center for Dewey Studies is simple: increase research on Dewey’s works and those influenced by him in the Indian context.

“The collaboration (with the University) is largely through faculty initiatives at this time,” Stroud said. “I hope to help organize future events and courses of study with the Center as its founding international adviser and to help promote its activities to American academic communities.”

Stroud said the John Dewey Society donated 38 volumes of Dewey’s collected works to the new center. The society is dedicated to discussing and providing resources for the research of Dewey studies, according to the society’s website.

“We are delighted to work together to help establish this center,” said Sarah Stitzlein, president of the John Dewey Society. “We worked directly with Scott Stroud, who completed most of the work to establish the center and to deliver the books the John Dewey Society provided to it.”

Software company Intelex Corporation also agreed to grant the center access to an electronic edition of Dewey’s collected works.

copyright savitribai phule pune university, and reproduced with permission

Scott Stroud, communication studies associate professor, and professors from Savitribai Phule Pune University celebrate the establishment of the Center for Dewey Studies in Pune, India.

Communications graduate student Justin Pehoski said it is interesting that centers for Dewey are spreading around the world. “(India is) the largest democracy in the world, and

there’s lots of change, growth and development happening there,” Pehoski said. “Having a John Dewey center there makes a lot of connections between people or ideas.”

Stroud said he hopes to

establish more centers across India to introduce Dewey’s writings to more of the country.

“The American political scene of Dewey’s day held similar challenges of polarization

and deep animosity,” Stroud said. “Establishing a Center for John Dewey Studies in Pune represents a step toward increasing India’s reflection on the promises and challenges of (a) democratic community.”

UTPD

UTPD observes increase in emergency detentions

By Brooke Ontiveros @brookexpanic

In the last seven days, the UT Police Department has performed six emergency detentions without warrant, according to the UTPD daily crime log.

An emergency detention occurs when a police officer has reason to believe an individual poses a risk to themselves or those around them from issues related to mental illness and takes them into custody, according to the Health and Safety Code Title 7. Spikes in these detainments do not have a sole cause, but times of high stress like finals or personal pressures may contribute, UTPD Chief David Carter said.

Family members or friends of the person typically call police with concerns that alert officers of people who may need help. UTPD officers arrive at a scene and assess the mental health of a person based on their behavior and witness testimony, Carter said. Kelly Soucy, director of Student Emergency Services, said UTPD

dan martinez

officers are all trained to handle people in distress.

Carter said some indicators of mental health concerns include thoughts of suicide, appearing delusional or signs of self-harm. “(These) are circumstances

where police officers … know this person needs to be evaluated by a mental health professional to get them through that particular issue,” Carter said.

After determining need, officers will typically take the

/ the daily texan staff

person to Dell Seton Medical Center on campus, Carter said.

In the case of someone unwilling, officers have the right to transport them to a mental health facility.

“If we have reason to believe that they took a lot of

medication … but they say I don’t want to go to the hospital, we say, ‘Well we’re calling (emergency medical services),’ and EMS will see if they need immediate treatment,” Carter said. “In most cases, (EMS) will transport them. If the person refuses to go with them, we put them under a police officer emergency detention. Then we transport them to the hospital.”

Psychology freshman Sophia Gonzalez said she is concerned about the potential emotional damage that emergency detentions could have on students. She said the credibility of a witness account is difficult to determine.

“That could be traumatic, not just for the people that are watching it but also for the person — because if I think that something’s wrong with (my roommate) …

I might be wrong,” Gonzalez said. “I might be misreading the vibe she’s giving me, and (she’s) actually okay.”

Carter said officers look for corroboration between a family

member or friend’s testimony and observed behavior.

“We’re going to assume that if a person calls 911, somebody is in trouble,” Carter said. “We don’t base a call solely on what an individual tells us on that phone call. … We are obligated to respond and look into the situation to see if it supports what is being said.”

Once at the hospital, detainment does not last more than 48 hours. A physician will evaluate and release the detained person unless they deem admission necessary, according to the Health and Safety Code Title 7.

Soucy said Student Emergency Services can offer support to students who return from an emergency detention.

“We don’t focus on the diagnosis,” Soucy said. “It’s more how are you connected — how can we make sure that the next time something comes up, you have the skills and the resources to make sure you’re safe.”

AUSTIN...IT’S TIME TO LIBERATE YOUR TACO!

VELVET TACO

jacob fraga

/ the daily texan staff

The reopening of Don Japanese Food Truck at the University Co-op Food Court drew a large crowd of UT students on Jan. 22, 2020.

don

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1

English freshman Fatima Perez said she “zoomed” over to Don as soon as she got out of class.

“The reason why I know

about (Don) is because at orientation my group leader brought us here for our wing dinner,” Perez said. “The prices are good, the portions are great and it’s close to my dorms. Every time we’d go to (Don), it’d always be packed.

If any business were to be

open on The Drag, I would expect (Don) to be.”

Sen Mao, owner of Insennity Food Truck, said he was familiar with Don’s popularity when he opened his truck about a year ago. “(Don) used to be a very successful food truck in

this specific park,” Mao said. “(Don’s reopening) is very good because it’s a popular food truck, and it helps everybody’s business go up. That’s the way I see it. There’s more traffic and visibility for every business here.”

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SPENCER BUCKNER

Editor-In-Chief | @THEDAILYTEXAN

THURSDAY, JANUARY 23, 2020

FORUM

OPINION COLUMN

charlie hyman/ the daily texan staff

Remember to check in on survivors of sexual violence

By Abby Springs Associate Editor

alexandra vanderhider/ the daily texan staff

Facing mental health crisis should lead to psychiatric help, not UTPD arrest

By Asha Jain, Parth Gupta & Rosaleen Xiong Contributors

On Thursday, Nov. 7, the UT Police Department reported the arrest of Matthew Dominguez on charges of making terroristic threats to “go on a shooting spree at the UT School of Social Work.” Given recent school shootings nationwide, UTPD was “grateful to have had the opportunity to intervene and prevent potential harm to our community.”

However, this arrest was a mistake. Instead of a felony charge and a $100,000 bond, Dominguez should have received psychiatric treatment — the very help he had voluntarily sought.

According to UTPD’s incident notification, “Dominguez drove to a psychiatric treatment center requesting help” regarding his violent thoughts.

After meeting with Dominguez at the treatment center, the Austin Police Department placed him on emergency psychiatric hold and transferred him to Dell Seton Medical Center. There, he expressed threats to harm himself and the UT School of Social Work, as well as his anger regarding the difficulty to get psychiatric treatment. Overnight, “the doctor at Dell Seton Medical Center determined Dominguez did not meet the requirement for a psychiatric commitment and was released,” according to UTPD’s Affidavit for Warrant of Arrest and Detention.

Yet, police arrested Dominguez at his home at 7:38 a.m. the next morning. Dominguez’s affidavit indicates UTPD sought arrest for threats made at mental help facilities and does not reference other offensible actions.

There is a strange disconnect between Dell Seton’s decisions and UTPD’s actions. It is unclear how Dominguez’s thoughts could be viewed both as insufficient for psychiatric commitment, but dangerous enough to warrant arrest.

For psychiatric commitment, a doctor would have to deem Dominguez mentally ill with imminent threats to harm self or others and that emergency detention is the least restrictive way to restrain, according to the Texas Mental Health Code. We can only speculate why Dominguez failed to meet psychiatric commitment; UTPD’s public police report fails to give any insight on Dell Seton’s decision to release Dominguez, and we were unable to obtain details regarding Dominguez’s psychiatric evaluation despite speaking with Dell Seton. Maybe Dell Seton believed Dominguez was not mentally ill or that emergency detention was not the least restrictive way to restrain him.

Even so, arrest was not the answer.

Those facing mental health crises should not fear jail while seeking help.”

After Dell Seton’s release of Dominguez, UTPD was in a precarious situation. UTPD could no longer can detain Dominguez via emergency psychiatric hold, and Dominguez might still have reason to act on his thoughts, especially after being denied medical care.

UTPD decided to pursue arrest to protect the community.

Even so, arrest was not the answer.

Those facing mental health crises should not fear jail while seeking help.

The police need to have intermediate options before turning to arrest. UTPD should have the ability to deploy surveillance units around Dominguez’s home or to check if he possessed a gun. UTPD could have also conducted welfare checks to

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.

With four student protests, a petition with over 1,000 signatures, widely circulated social media posts, and coverage in local and national news, sexual misconduct at UT has finally come to a head. Last semester, it seemed like the conversation was everywhere — in our email inboxes, on Facebook and Twitter, and even on the front page of The Daily Texan.

As students continue to discuss and protest sexual misconduct, conversations about sexual abuse will remain hard to ignore. To ensure everyone has the support they need when reminded of traumatic subjects, it’s essential that you check on and support your friends who are survivors.

Far too many students at UT experience sexual violence, abuse or harassment. Data from 2017 shows that 15% of UT undergraduate women have been raped, 28% experienced unwanted sexual touching and 13% of graduate student women faced “crude sexual harassment perpetrated by a staff or faculty member.”

assess Dominguez’s mental state and intent. These actions combined with UTPD’s patrols and searches would have secured UT’s campus without turning to arrest.

In addition, mental health facilities and local police actions should align to ensure a coordinated response — one that does not jail people for seeking help. Sadly, this collaboration does not seem to be present in this case.

Although he was recently released, Dominguez sat in county jail without family support or proper medical care. He faced a considerable felony charge, an unreasonable bond — especially since Dominguez was found without a gun — and possible penalties for violating his probation. In addition, his full name, age, hometown and even where he sought help were mass-distributed to the public. The combination makes for a stressful situation that is certainly not helping his suicidal state.

Dominguez’s case may have a chilling effect on people’s willingness to seek help when dealing with violent thoughts. Austin police already have a poor track record with the mentally ill. A 2018 city auditor report found that “people experiencing a mental health crisis in Austin may be at higher risk of having a negative police interaction” than those in peer cities, such as Dallas, Houston or Phoenix.

Dominguez’s arrest may have now escaped the media’s center attention, but his case is still important for the wider Austin community to understand. Dominguez’s case highlights a rooted problem in our local criminal justice system. We must increase the options Austin-based police have when interacting with the mentally ill, thereby encouraging those who are struggling to seek help. That is how we will achieve a safer community — not by arresting the vulnerable.

Jain is an aerospace engineering junior. Gupta is a computational engineering and Plan II Honors senior.

Xiong is a computer science junior.

These statistics are incredibly troubling, and they make one thing clear — you may know at least one survivor of sexual abuse.”

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.

These statistics are incredibly troubling, and they make one thing clear — you may know at least one survivor of sexual abuse.

Being constantly reminded of trauma can negatively impact mental health, causing stress, sadness, anxiety and panic.

While this isn’t the experience of all survivors, it doesn’t hurt to check in on your friends who have experienced sexual abuse to see if they need support.

Voices Against Violence, a division of the Counseling and Mental Health Center, uses the acronym BLOG as a guide to best support a survivor. It stands for believe, listen, offer resources and get support for yourself.

“Believe is always the first and most important thing we can do,” said Sharon Hoefer, prevention specialist for Voices Against Violence.

According to Hoefer, you should make sure to validate their experience and show active listening. It’s also important to offer options and resources.

“Whether someone has recently experienced an incident of interpersonal violence or if maybe they … are feeling reactivated by conversations happening around campus, it’s always up to survivors to make their own decisions about what works best for them,” Hoefer said.

Options could range from simply being with them and making dinner together, helping them sign up for confidential appointments at the CMHC or letting them have time alone. Most importantly, show that you are there to support them.

“Checking in with your friends and being able to be present and really respect the choices that they make … would be helpful,” Hoefer said.

Resources for survivors can be found at the Voices Against Violence website. Any student can also book a free, confidential appointment at the CMHC, attend a group therapy session or visit the MindBody labs for a quiet, safe space on campus.

Even if you don’t know a survivor personally, sharing these resources in a group chat for your student organization or reminding your friends that you’re there for them can make a bigger difference than you know. You could also consider adding content warnings to social media posts about sexual misconduct to help survivors decide whether or not they want to read about it.

Last semester showed that students are willing to stand up to protect each other from predatory professors and sexual abusers. As we continue to do so this semester, make sure your friends and peers have the support they need to be successful and mentally healthy on campus.

Springs is a government and political communication sophomore from Dallas.

RECYCLE | Please recycle this copy of The Daily Texan.

Place the paper in one of the recycling bins on campus or back in the burnt-orange newsstand where you found it.

EDITORIAL TWITTER | Follow The Daily Texan Editorial Board on Twitter (@TexanOpinion) and receive updates on our latest editorials and columns.

LIFE&ARTS

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THURSDAY, JANUARY 23, 2020

FILM REVIEW | ‘THE GENTLEMEN’

Q&A

McConaughey talks filmmaking, lessons learned

By Noah Levine

Scott Rice: What’s the one thing you want students to learn from your course Script to Screen?

After facing an onslaught of syllabi on UT’s first day of spring session, some students also received a special screening of “The Gentlemen,” followed by a Q&A with the minister of culture himself.

The Daily Texan attended the event, which was monitored by Scott Rice, radio-television-film associate professor of practice, and organized some of Matthew McConaughey’s responses here.

MM: Prepare. Do the work. But then be open

@ZProductionz

copyright miramax, and reproduced with permission

The Daily Texan: What qualities do you

Matthew McConaughey, UT minister of culture and radio-television-film professor of practice, takes on the role of a drug lord in his latest film “The Gentlemen.”

‘The Gentlemen’ delivers unique, action-packed film ‘The Gentlemen’

By Avery Wohleb @averywohleb

GENRE

Crime/Action R

R AT I N G

Back on the big screen, Matthew McConaughey is certainly in his element with this latest endeavor.

Directed by Guy Ritchie, “The Gentlemen” is a whirlwind of a movie telling the story of Mickey Pearson (McConaughey), an American running a marijuana empire based in London. After whispers spread that Mickey intends to sell his business and retire with his wife Rosalind (Michelle Dockery), a series of chaotic events begin to unfold as multiple attempts are made to obtain Mickey’s business by unsavory criminals.

The movie opens with a classic McConaughey monologue. He discusses what it takes to be a man in his position. Referring to himself as a “king,” Mickey is quickly surprised to be put in a perilous situation, immediately twisting the tone and strapping viewers in for the intense ride that follows. At the start, the overload of characters and storylines makes the beginning of the movie feel overwhelming and confusing. However, as the story progresses, it quickly becomes clear how these elements tie into each other.

The movie is pulled together by a talented and engaging cast. McConaughey perfectly embodies Mickey, a nuanced character that remains calm and gives no reason to have his confidence or power questioned. However, when Rosalind is put in danger, McConaughey effortlessly transitions from a composed boss to a rageful and desperate husband, showcasing his broad emotional capacity in subtle yet impactful ways.

Although the movie tells a rather linear story, it is mostly told in flashbacks from the viewpoint of Fletcher (Hugh Grant), a private investigator hired to spy on Mickey and the chaos surrounding his business. In his narration, Fletcher reveals all of the men who have attempted to acquire Mickey’s business in the form of a threat for per-

braids

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can be kind of long, it’s fun.”

Brandy said she offers various braiding and twisting styles in her entry-level business, such as box braids, Senegalese twists and Marley twists.

“With the world of social media, there’s always some new trend with braiding and twisting,” Brandy said. “People are like, ‘Can you do this? Can you do this?’ and I’m like, ‘Dang, I just started doing this.’”

Bianca Langford, a graduate student at UT-Tyler, has been one of Brandy’s customers for two years.

“It’s important for me personally to maintain it, keep it clean and protect it at all costs,” Langford said. “It’s a very important part of not only my appearance, but who

SCORE

sonal gain. In doing so, Grant embodies his most comedic role to date, bringing banter to the movie with hilarious albeit absurd storytelling.

Fletcher is strategically leveled out by Mickey’s most trustworthy confidant Ray (Charlie Hunnam).

Despite the stress he endures, Ray and his loyalty to Mickey can never be questioned with Hunnam’s daring and layered performance. Although he is confronted with many dangerous men and situations, Ray makes intelligent and careful decisions, which are brought to life by Hunnam and his chemistry with every other actor sharing the screen.

On top of a stellar cast, the writing and production of the film are spectacular. Despite toggling between the past and the present, the overall structure of the film is highly successful. No scene feels too long or too short, and the sequence in which the action takes place is created into a wellthought-out and perfectly timed order.

Attention to detail also makes the film incredibly strong. Colors play a key role in the storytelling. Strategically placed gold and red props and clothing with Mickey to showcase his power as the king of his business contrast with the dark colors surrounding Fletcher and his cowardice. With a buoyant musical score and consistently pleasing shots, it is not hard to get completely drawn into the characters and their stories.

Contrary to what might be expected of the genre, “The Gentlemen” tells a unique story that is sure to entertain. Despite initial confusion over multiple plotlines, numerous twists and a great deal of action eventually bring the story together, and viewers will certainly have fun watching the amusing chaos unfold on their screens.

I am as a person. It’s a part of (Black) history.”

Langford said she prefers Brandy’s services over other stylists because of the lower prices, quick braiding time, braid durability and quality. She said Brandy’s work typically takes no more than three hours.

“I’ve had my hair braided by other people before where I’ve had to sit for six to eight hours,” Langford said.

Although the hours are long and balancing her business with schoolwork will be challenging, Brandy said her passion for braiding wins in the end.

“This past semester, I went through periods where I didn’t (braid), and I told my best friend, ‘Heaven, come here and let me braid your hair.’ I was just tired of not braiding,” Brandy said. “It sounds weird, but I just love braiding.”

d at i n g

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to being inspired. You don’t have to lock yourself into a one-lane direction. Pick your direction (and) have an idea about what you want the movie to be about. You want (your crew) to bring something new to it that you didn’t even think of. You want to empower your crew to be inspired themselves to take ownership in what they do. One of the most powerful words you can tell an actor is “Yes.” The least creative word is “No.”

look for in a director?

SR: What do you get out of being a teacher?

Matthew McConaughey: Good storyteller.

There are plenty of great performances that none of us have ever seen because they ended up on the cutting room floor. The story wasn’t told well. It’s the director’s story. I want to have a similar measure of excellence as the director, a similar sense of humor. I want to have at least a general agreement just so I know the tone (and) have an idea of what movie I’m in. (On the set of) “Free State of Jones,” eight days in, (the director) Gary Ross and I did eight takes. I came back and watched all eight takes and told him, “I’m going to write down what I think the edit choices are, you write down what you think the edit choices are. We’ll switch papers and see what we think.” (The papers) said the same thing. We were seeing the same way.

MM: I realized that I have 20 years of ex-

perience under my belt. I can give you some science behind the magic, some science behind these questions about “What am I, the student, gonna do? How am I gonna do it?”

That’s hopefully helpful. When I was studying directing I thought I had to know every single answer, and if I didn’t have the answer then I was failing. What I learned from going to make films was that that’s not the case. (Richard Linklater) would take a good idea from a (production assistant). It doesn’t matter where the good idea comes from. Best idea wins. If someone’s got 25 good ideas in a row and you don’t have one, root for them to have a 26th. Don’t let your ego get in the way.

Put fuel on their fire. It’s not about ownership of the idea. Best directors say less than they say more.

jamie hwang

/ the daily texan staff

Matthew McConaughey sits down with Scott Rice, radio-television-film associate professor of practice, and Cristin Stephens, film production graduate student, for a Q&A session after a prescreening of “The Gentlemen” on Jan. 21, 2019.

8

said. “(Waupsh) had this fuel to solve the problem.”

Founded in 2018, Swoovy pairs with local nonprofits to provide date options such as playing with or walking dogs at the Austin Animal Center, gardening or prepping meals at the Central Texas Food Bank and beautifying Austin with TreeFolks or Austin Parks Foundation. They also partner with smaller organizations such as Hound Rescue, a bootstrap group that works to find homeless hound dogs a foster or adopted home.

“Sometimes people back out of dating or volunteering because there’s

an added pressure,” said Holly Kennedy, president of the board of directors of Hound Rescue.

Kennedy said when Swoovy members do come to adoption events, she gives them the option to play with the dogs while she does the talking.

“We’re excited about Swoovy because it will bring in more volunteers and spread the word about Hound Rescue,” Kennedy said. “Sometimes, we don’t know when people are there from the app, but I think less focus on communicating or what’s going on with your date and more about having a good time with the dogs (will) take some of the pressure off.”

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6

MARCUS KRUM

Sports Editor | @TEXANSPORTS

THURSDAY, JANUARY 23, 2020

WOMEN’S BASKETBALL

Veterans lead Texas to victory The Longhorns relied on seniors Joyner Holmes and Sug Sutton to secure their 1,100th win.

By Robert Trevino

@robtrev22

espite welcoming in a Kansas team that limped into Austin after a 1–4 start to conference play, the Longhorns had their share of struggles early on.

While it took strong performances from some of Texas’ seniors, Texas pulled out the 85-77 win at home.

Even as all their conference losses came by double digits, including a 43-point loss to Baylor at home, the Jayhawks rode a 9-for-18 performance from the field in the opening period to a four-point lead over a Longhorn team that had won three of their last four.

“Today in particular, we just didn’t have that sense of urgency for the entire game,” Texas head coach Karen Aston said.

“When they came out of halftime, I thought that our older players asserted themselves because they’re experienced. I thought we played really well in the second and third quarter.”

That veteran leadership helped Texas pull away in the second quarter, as senior guards Jada Underwood and Sug Sutton were involved in 12 of the Longhorns’ 18 second-quarter points to take a five-point lead at halftime.

Sutton, in particular, has been a key piece of the Longhorns’ recent success in Big 12 play. Despite averaging just 9.1 points per game in nonconference play, a step down from her 12.7 average last season, she has

jack myer

/ the daily texan staff

Senior guard Jada Underwood drives past a Kansas defender and toward the basket during Texas’ 85-77 win over the Jayhawks at the Frank Erwin Center on Wednesday night. Underwood finished with nine points. put on her best performances against the toughest competition, with 12 points against then-No. 1 Stanford and a 19-point, no-turnover game at Tennessee.

And on Wednesday night, it was Sutton who assisted the first two baskets for the Longhorns and then made a layup of her own in the opening two minutes of the second half to push the lead to 11 and force a Kansas timeout.

“We just needed to lock in, and I needed to get my head straight, run the team and be the leader that I am,” Sutton said. “I thought coming out of halftime, I had that focus, and I knew what

We just needed to lock in, and I needed to get my head straight, run the team and be the leader that I am.”

SUG SUTTON senior guard

to do. I knew we needed a lead, and we needed to get going.”

Sutton finished with 18 points and a game-high eight assists along with a game-sealing steal after a late-game scare saw the Longhorns’ lead cut to five with 40 seconds left.

However, with just seconds remaining, Sutton fell awkwardly after losing the ball and had to be helped off the floor, with the Frank Erwin Center falling completely silent as the senior leader went down with what was officially ruled a right knee sprain.

Sutton later said after the game that she’d “be fine.”

Sophomore standout center Charli

Collier gave the Longhorns another impressive double-double. And with Sutton and Holmes at the helm, Texas held off a Kansas team who kept the game close throughout.

As the Longhorns make a push for a tournament bid with March just around the corner, the leadership that Sutton brings to the table will prove to be invaluable in the coming weeks just as it was on Wednesday night.

With four wins in their last five, Aston believes the team is headed in the right direction, even with small scares like Wednesday’s.

“We’ll be better. We’ll be better,” Aston said. “I’m not worried.”

WOMEN’S BASKETBALL

COLUMN

Longhorns overcome slew of turnovers in milestone victory over Kansas

It’s time for Longhorns to make Smart decision

By Myah Taylor @t_myah

Texas’ 21 turnovers nearly spoiled a night in which it grinded out an 85-77 victory over Kansas.

But in the middle of a slow drizzle in Austin, the Longhorns rained down enough 3-pointers to overcome the sloppy play en route to win No. 1,100 for the Texas program.

The evening looked promising right after tipoff. Texas gained possession first, and sophomore center Charli Collier made a 3-pointer within the first minute.

Senior forward Joyner Holmes got involved early, too, scoring on assists from Collier and senior point guard Sug Sutton.

Then at around the six-minute mark, freshman guard Celeste Taylor rainbowed a pass.

It went right into the hands of a Jayhawk. In the subsequent play, Kansas took the ball back down the court to score and tie the game up 9-9.

“It’s our first week back in school,” Texas head coach Karen Aston said. “We experienced kind of the same mental lull last year when we started classes, so maybe that was a little bit of our lack of focus today.”

Despite more turnovers from Holmes and senior guard Lashann Higgs, the Longhorns

kept up with the Jayhawks who led 23-19 at the end of the first.

The second quarter began much like the previous one. Collier sank a three, and then senior guard Jada Underwood bounced a pass right to Kansas. The Jayhawks almost scored off a Texas turnover again, but Holmes swatted the ball away.

“When we needed to execute,

Knowing the amount of work it takes to make 1,100 wins … No one does that, so that’s amazing. Just gotta add onto that.”

CHARLI COLLIER sophomore center

we executed really well,” Aston said. “When we didn’t need to, we didn’t pay one ounce of attention to execution when we had a lead.

And that’s bothersome to me that we didn’t put them away when we had the opportunity to do that.”

The block from Holmes seemed to trigger a momentum shift as the Longhorns tied the game up and eventually led

Kansas by five points at the half.

Collier ramped up her defense and sophomore guard Joanne Allen-Taylor hit two jumpers off the bench.

Out of the locker room, the clouds lifted and Texas became more aggressive. Collier, Holmes and Sutton scored quickly. Meanwhile, Allen-Taylor kept plays alive, dancing all over the court and showcasing the energy Aston said the young player brings to the team. Once Higgs started making more shots, it looked like the Longhorns were beginning to run away with the game.

Then one Jayhawk let her emotions get the best of her and pushed Holmes. The push drew a technical foul and brought Holmes to the free throw line all by herself, where she sank one of two attempts.

In a way, the moment depicted the state of Big 12 play so far.

Teams in the conference have beat up on each other all month.

But even though Kansas rallied late and capitalized off the Longhorns’ 21 turnovers, Texas ultimately won the battle and the 1,100th all-time victory for the program.

“I’m blessed to be here and be a part of such a great tradition,” Collier said. “Knowing the amount of work it takes to make 1,100 wins … No one does that, so that’s amazing. Just gotta add onto that.”

jack myer

/ the daily texan staff

Senior guard Sug Sutton goes up for a layup during Texas’ 85-77 win over Kansas. Sutton finished with18 points and eight assists.

joshua guenther

/ the daily texan file

Shaka Smart coaches during Texas’ 66-57 loss to No. 6 Kansas at the Frank Erwin Center Saturday. Texas lost to No. 12 West Virginia by 38 points Monday.

By Donnavan Smoot @Dsmoot3D

If head coach Shaka Smart’s seat wasn’t hot before the week started, it’s scalding now.

Texas men’s basketball traveled to West Virginia and received a first-class Mountaineer molly-whopping, yet the game still wasn’t as close as the 97-59 score indicated.

“We can play a lot better than that,” Smart said after the loss. “We didn’t tonight. There are some reasons for that. Those all need to be put out on the table and addressed.”

It was a Murphy’s law type of game for the Longhorns. Shots weren’t falling, the defense struggled and their effort seemed to leave the floor five minutes into the first half. If it wasn’t clear yet, Texas’ 38-point loss Monday delivered the message loud and clear — it is time to move on.

Smart’s tenure as head coach has been one of dignity, insight and thoughtfulness, but it hasn’t led to results. Aside from his first year in Austin in 2015, when the Longhorns were upset in the first round of the NCAA tournament as a No. 6 seed, Texas has finished under .500 in conference play each season. The Longhorns have missed The Big Dance twice and lost in the first round the two years they made it. Even when they had some level of success, like when they won the NIT championship in 2019, it wasn’t in the right tournament.

“Me personally, I didn’t come to college to play in the NIT,” sophomore guard Courtney Ramey said after last year’s NIT championship. “I’ve been a winner all my life, so I just want to win. So winning that was I guess you could say a step, but the NCAA (Tournament) is why people play Division I basketball.”

Smart’s reputation coming from VCU was a defensive coach who was able to maximize

talent. Smart has abandoned the “Havoc” mentality he adopted at VCU, but the offense is where the lack of improvement has led to perpetual struggles — Texas currently ranks 305th in the nation in points per game. It’s not hard to acknowledge the fact that Texas isn’t a basketball school. They have remained in the backseat throughout the entirety of the Smart era, but there isn’t an excuse for the Longhorns to have this many issues.

Obviously, there are other factors as to why Smart is still the coach. First, the buyout on his contract would be approximately $10.5 million. That eight-figure check has been a good deterrent up to now, but Texas can’t keep having these performances. Most of Texas’ losses this season have been by double digits.

And as unsatisfying as the NIT championship was for Ramey and the Longhorn faithful, the title of champion goes a long way to keep Smart in his position.

With the performances Texas has put up to start Big 12 play, it looks as if the Longhorns will finish with a losing conference record for the fourth consecutive year. As a program, Texas has had streaks of losing seasons that lasted four years, but never under one coach.

It would be unfair to compare Smart to his predecessor Rick Barnes, considering Barnes is the winningest coach in program history.

But fair isn’t always factored into the equation when wins are the expectation.

While Texas doesn’t have a history of firing coaches midseason, mediocrity isn’t something that is rewarded with extensions and top-flight job security. Every other coach who has been in his position of performing to a specific standard has been fired. It doesn’t matter whether the decision is today or at the end of the season. If Texas is going simply based on the precedent it has set for itself, Smart has overstayed his welcome.

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Comics Editors| @THEDAILYTEXAN

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

Life&Arts Editor | @TRINADY05

THURSDAY, JANUARY 23, 2020

LIFE&ARTS

FEATURE

From Bratz to business

Freshman Brandy Branham starts a hair braiding business to provide cheaper services for students.

By Aisling Ayers @aisling_ayers

ike most 7-year-old girls, Brandy Branham grew up playing with her two sisters’ hair. From a young age, Brandy began to learn how to braid and twist, even practicing on her sisters’ Bratz dolls.

“At first, when she started braiding, it would take six hours and sometimes be crooked and bad,” Brandy’s sister Brooke Branham said. “But as she kept practicing, it got better.”

When it was time for the girls to have their hair seriously braided, the family went to a local stylist in their hometown of Tyler, Texas. But at the age of 15, Brandy’s braiding skills shifted from a hobby to a necessity.

“There weren’t very many African American people (in my hometown), especially at the high school I went to,” Brandy said. “Since the market was not saturated, prices were extremely high.

joshua guenther

/ the daily texan staff

Government freshman Brandy Branham runs a braiding and twisting business from her sixth floor Jester East dorm room.

Branham began braiding three years ago because it’s an expensive service and there was a lack of salons offering it.

For you to go to someone and get your hair braided was $150—$200.”

Now a 17-year-old government freshman, Brandy recognized the same need for haircare in the I think this is a really good UT community and wanted to opportunity to engage with offer African American students they could afford. other African American prices In 2018, Nielson reported students.” Black customers comprised the largest consumer spending in BRANDY BRANHAM ethnic hair and beauty. However, because Austin’s African government freshman

American population has struggled to keep up with the rest of the city’s growth over the last decade, the hair braiding market in Austin remains expensive.

“People are in college, and money is tight,” Brandy said. “No one just has $200 laying around that they can spend on their hair.”

After focusing on adjusting to UT during her first semester, Brandy decided to set up shop after winter break. She said she thought, “I’m broke, so I guess it’s time to tell the world,” and posted

a video showcasing her previous work on Twitter.

Brandy said she immediately received direct messages asking for her services from students she had never met before.

Now, her post has over 1,200 views.

“I think this is a really good opportunity to engage with other African American students,” Brandy said. “We sit down and watch movies while we’re doing it, so it goes by quick. Even though the process B R A I D S PAGE 5

CITY

Austin-based dating app encourages volunteering of Americans who don’t volunteer cite a lack of free time, 25% said no one asked them to and others claim they lack the information necessary.

While dating app usage spikes during Waupsh said she saw a rapid increase the holiday season, nonprofits suffer from in her friends and family using apps to sharp declines in volunteerism right after. connect with others. Published in 2019, Organizations that rely heavily on vola Stanford University study reports that unteerism are then left high and dry and meeting online is the most popular way struggle to maintain participation beyond couples meet in the United States. the holidays.

Similar to traditional dating apps, One Austin-based Swoovy users create dating app, Swoovy, is profiles outlining age, looking to change that height, gender and inby matching singles terests. They also choose You need to get back which causes they prefer through service work.

“You need to get back to support, but selectto the way people to the way people used to used to connect — in a ing different charities connect — in a real envidoesn’t restrict members real environment do- from finding their most ronment doing something ing something outside suitable match. outside of just you and outside of trying to put on Unlike Bumble and of trying to put on a a show for that other perTinder, Swoovy encourshow for that other son,” co-founder Brooke ages people to meet in person.”

Waupsh said. a group setting with Waupsh said Swoovy’s something to do. That BROOKE WAUPSH goal is to give the mass way, they have natural co-founder market of single people icebreakers for conversaan incentive to voluntion, Waupsh said. If the teer all year long through matching them spark isn’t there, the “feel-good” aspect of with other single people to go on a date at helping the community lets daters feel like a nonprofit. they didn’t waste their time, Waupsh said.

According to an article published by “We founded Swoovy after so many disthe Stanford Center on Longevity, while cussions with friends and family about all 90% of adult Americans say they want to of their negative experiences using other volunteer, only 1 in 4 do. There are three dating apps,” co-founder Jody McCrary common barriers to volunteering. Half D A T I N G PAGE 5

By Mackenzie Dyer @mackdyerr

destiny alexander

/ the daily texan staff