The Daily Texan 2020-02-7 by The Daily Texan

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Friday, February 7, 2020

Volume 120, Issue 95

NEWS

OPINION

SPORTS

LIFE&ARTS

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Elizabeth Warren endorses Austin lawyer in Travis County District Attorney race.

UT needs to create a multidisciplinary undergraduate statistics major.

Students create inclusive beauty collective, brand based on classical art.

Charli Collier continues her quest for greatness during sophomore season.

UNIVERSITY

CITY

Students defend UT affirmative action

Austin, UT police departments on lookout for recruits

After a lawsuit claiming UT’s affirmative action process violates the Texas Constitution, students of color have filed a brief to defend the policies.

By Brooke Ontiveros @Brookexpanic

the court that students have a vested stake in the case. The case is waiting to be heard in court. Committee lawyer Genevieve Bonadies Torres said the committee intervened because there is still a risk for the court to rule against the affirmative action practices at UT. “It is essential to develop the strongest record possible,” Torres said. “These programs are key to ensuring talented students of all backgrounds can continue to access the flagship institution. Our student testimony is the most critical piece because they are

The Austin and UT Police Departments both employ close to the authorized number of officers but are still looking to increase recruitments. APD is budgeted for 1,959 officers and currently employs 1,833, which is a higher rate than usual for the department, APD Chief Brian Manley said. UTPD recruiting officer Vivian Benavides said his department employs 95-97 of the authorized 102 officers, which is also a higher than average rate of employment for the department. “We know that we need additional officers,” Manley said. “We’ve had several studies that have been done on the police department, and our staffing levels and those studies have all come back saying that we do need additional officers.” While both departments want additional recruits, they are unable to acquire more than the authorized amount of officers due to University and Austin City Council budgets. Benavides and Manley said they expect their authorized numbers to increase. “We look at any changes to the city that might increase the need for officers,” Manley said. “This year, I expect part of the discussion will be about the increase that we’re seeing in violent crime both in the downtown area but also understanding the concerns to other parts of Austin, including West Campus.” Kacey Vandervort, communication sciences and disorders junior, said she would like to see an increase in policing, especially in West Campus. “I know they have stepped it up in West Campus, but I think it should be a 24/7 step up rather than just the busier times,” Vandervort said. UTPD anticipates full employment within a couple of weeks, though the new officers will have to go through training before operating alone, Benavides said. He said training takes

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eddie gaspar

/ the daily texan staff

Angela Kang, biology senior and Orange Jackets president, submitted testimony in a brief filed by the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law in defense of UT’s affirmative action policies. Testimony from UT students show students’ opposition to the case, which claims University policies violate the Texas Constitution. By Laura Morales @lamor_1217

T students of color have filed testimonies with a civil rights association to defend the University’s affirmative action policy. The students are defending the policy against a national organization which claims the use of race in admissions harms white and Asian applicants. Students for Fair Admissions, a national organization of college students that fights against affirmative action, lost United States Supreme Court

cases against UT in 2013 and 2016 and a 2019 district case. The organization filed a lawsuit in the Travis County District Court last May claiming the University’s admission process violates the Texas Constitution and the Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code, which prohibits race-based discrimination in state-owned programs and schools. The University’s affirmative action policies allow race to be considered in the admissions process. Several UT students, with the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law, filed an intervention Dec. 13, 2019, with testimony from to show

ADMISSION

CITY

CAMPUS

Marijuana-themed sandwich shop coming to Guadalupe this spring

UT business student to compete on ‘Jeopardy!’ in spring for $100,000 prize

By Austin Martinez

By Nataleah Small

When the munchies hit, students will have a new option on Guadalupe Street starting this spring: Cheba Hut, a marijuana-themed sandwich shop. Father and son co-owners Vince and Joe DeMaioribus said Guadalupe will be one of three planned locations for the sandwich shop in Austin. Vince said he hopes the Guadalupe location will be open in time to celebrate 4/20. “Cheba Hut is a counterculture theme, and it fits with the counterculture ‘Keep Austin Weird’ kind of

Growing up, business sophomore Marshall Comeaux used to shout answers at the TV while watching “Jeopardy!” This spring, he will compete on the show with 14 other university students across the United States for a $100,000 grand prize. “That’s really where I got the inspiration,” said Comeaux, a Plan II, finance and business honors sophomore. “Watching it with my grandmother and my family growing up was an incredible motivational factor for me.” Starting April 6, viewers can watch Comeaux on the “Jeopardy!” College Championship. Comeaux said he decided to

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@nataleahjoy

Cheba Hut, a marijuana-themed sandwich shop, is opening on Guadalupe Street this spring. The Guadalupe location will be one of three in Austin.

try out after his friend sent him a link to an Instagram post about college “Jeopardy!” auditions last September. He is one of 300 students who was chosen to audition for the show out of the 18,000 students who took the initial online test, Comeaux said. “Those who pass the test are randomly selected for in-person auditions,” Alison Shapiro Cooke, “Jeopardy!” director of communications, said in an email. “In-person auditions consist of a second test … and some quick interview questions.” He was interviewed by producers and played mock “Jeopardy!” games during the audition. Comeaux said he froze up when the producers asked him what he did for fun. J E O P A R D Y PAGE 2

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Kirk Calhoun, UT Health Science Center Tyler president, addresses the crowd at a news conference Thursday announcing plans to establish a medical school in Tyler. By Laura Morales @lamor_1217

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The UT System announced plans to establish the only medical school in East Texas at a press conference Thursday. Kirk Calhoun, president of the UT Health Science Center at Tyler, said the region has historically faced a deficit in health care workers as the population has grown. Calhoun has worked with UT System Board of Regents Chairman Kevin Eltife to allocate resources to Tyler since Eltife was Tyler’s state representative from 2004 to 2017. “I remember chasing him into the men’s (restrooms) begging for resources for our campus and for our region with respect to health care,” Calhoun said. “There was not a legislator at the Capitol who was more respected.” Eltife said at the press conference he would propose the establishment of the school at the next Board of Regents meeting Feb. 26. If the proposition is approved, the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board and other state accrediting agencies will review the

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vibe,” Vince said. “The vibe gets you in the door and the food gets you coming back for multiple visits.” The shop’s menu features sandwiches named after marijuana strains such as Jamaica Red and Silver Haze, said Seth Larsen, chief relationship officer for Cheba Hut. None of the menu items contain marijuana in any form, Larsen said. Cheba Hut also offers a full bar of beers from local breweries and signature drinks

program for approval in the 2021 legislative session. Several state representatives attended the news conference in support of creating the school.

This community has always amazed me with its drive and determination over the years to accomplish great things for its citizens.” KEVIN ELTIFE

ut board of regents chairman

“This community has always amazed me with its drive and determination over the years to accomplish great things for its citizens,” Eltife said in the press conference. “I know we are all up to the task of working togeth-

such as Larsen’s favorite, the Hash Can, an alcoholic drink mixed with a can of Red Bull. “If you drive past the typical sandwich shop at 8 or 9 at night, you’re gonna see the chairs are on top of the table, and they’re mopping up the floor,” Vince said. “For Cheba Hut, you come by at 11 or midnight, and you’re going to see people still eating and having a drink at the bar. It’s a different experience than a typical sandwich shop, and I think the bar has a lot to do with that.” Larsen said Cheba Hut has aimed to serve quality food since its founding in Ar-

izona in 1998. He said they plan to bring more shops to Texas in Dallas, Houston and San Antonio. “We make all of our sauces from scratch and slice all meats, cheeses and veggies fresh every day,” Larsen said. “We do the little things, and we want to keep it that way.” Larsen said Cheba Hut fits perfectly with Austin’s music, art and culinary scene. He said current locations have done well in college towns, and he enjoys watching students become regulars at the shops. “Restaurants are tied in general to major points in

er to establish a medical school right here in East Texas.” The Board of Regents allocated $95 million in investment for health science center facilities at its November meeting. In December, the board voted to integrate UT-Tyler and the UT Health Science Center at Tyler into one institution. The Perryman Group, a Texas economic research firm, reports UT-Tyler facilities have contributed $1.7 billion in annual economic impact and contributes 21,529 jobs to the region. The UT Health Science Center at Tyler has an established residency program, and Calhoun said the school will allow students to complete their entire education and training in Tyler. Eltife said the medical school will provide a workforce pipeline to the three surrounding hospitals, which have faced staffing shortages in the past. “We have three great hospital systems right here in Tyler,” Eltife said at the press conference. “Having more health care professionals in our area will have a positive impact on all our hospitals, not to mention the huge economic impact it will have on our entire region.”

people’s lives,” Larsen said. “So whether you’re in college or going to work, we want it to be your muststop place. We want (Cheba Hut) to be intertwined in people’s lives.” Joe said he plans on designing Cheba Hut to complement Austin’s creative culture. They want to create a program that finds local artists to design murals on their shops’ walls, Joe said. “We definitely want to have something with Willie Nelson,” Joe said. “We might include something from the movie ‘Dazed and Confused,’ but definitely the whole

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t g fi j i A e w s i t thing is going to be formedc around Austin.” Austin food blogger Tay-f la Shalev said she likes howd Cheba Hut has vegetarian options and will be another late-night food joint for students. “It’s good they’re trying to fit for everyone’s needs and not just be a normal, mainstream shop,” marketing sophomore Shalev said. “Since it’s marijuana-themed, it’ll also be a fun experience … It’s not like the mainstream restaurant that’s been here … so I’m excited to see what it has to offer.”

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“I paused for about 30 seconds then and, in possibly one of the most embarrassing moments of my life, I told them that I did investment banking for fun,” Comeaux said. “Which is not what I do for fun, I promise.” Over winter break, he received a call stating that he was one of the 16 people, including 15 contestants and one alternate, who were chosen to compete. During the first week of February, he filmed 10 episodes over the course of two days in California and got to know the other contestants, Comeaux said .

“We’re all amazing friends now,” Comeaux said. “We went out Tuesday night … on the Hollywood Walk of Fame and got milkshakes.” Nicholas Marchenko, business honors and finance junior, said he knows Comeaux through UT organization University Securities Investment Team and has served as Comeaux’s mentor. Marchenko said he’s observed Comeaux’s intelligence, creativity and communication abilities during the time they have worked together and was not surprised when Comeaux announced that he was applying for “Jeopardy!” “He’s not a stranger to trivia, and (he is) a really bright guy,” Marchenko said.

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barbra daly

evan l’roy

/ the daily texan staff

Sophomore Marshall Comeaux poses inside the UT Tower on Thursday. Comeaux represented the UT on the Jeopardy! College Championship, where he competed for a $100,000 grand prize.

10 months for new officers and four weeks for those with experience. APD continues to recruit to fill their numbers, but due to larger classes of officers eligible for retirement, APD is losing more officers per month on average than in previous years, Manley said. On average, APD loses 60-70 officers a year, Manley said. “We’re recruiting very aggressively,” Manley said. “We have a very aggressive training schedule put together to where we’re looking to hold three cadet classes this year, each one with 80 officers in it.” Last Friday, APD graduated a cadet class that added 67 officers to their ranks, Manley said. APD will begin training three additional classes in

/ the daily texan staff

March, June and October, Manley said. UTPD on average loses five to seven officers a year and gains four to eight a year, Benavides said. “Based on budgetary restraints and things of that nature, if (the University) gives us the green light to hire 10 to 12 (more officers), we’re obviously going to try to get 10 to 12,” Benavides said. “But if that number’s a lot lower, we’ll still accomplish our mission.” Both APD and UTPD are enhancing their online presence to attract more recruits. APD updated its website in an effort to reach younger generations, Manley said. UTPD will look to social media to help fill their applicant pool, Benavides said. “The website is very much more interactive,” Manley said. “We focus on the opportunities in the police department, the different ways that you can help the community as an officer.”

NEWS

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 7, 2020

T H R O U G H T H E LENS

Featuring the best from the photo department.

blaine young

Students take pictures in front of the UT Tower on Feb. 5. The snow fell from around 10 p.m. to midnight.

/ daily texan staff

COUNTY

CAMPUS

District attorney candidate José Garza endorsed by Elizabeth Warren

Illinois Latino/a studies professor talks ‘Latinidad,’ Disney

By Hannah Williford @HannahWillifor2

Presidential candidate Elizabeth Warren endorsed a candidate for the Travis County district attorney race last week. José Garza is challenging UT law adjunct professor Erin Martinson and incumbent District Attorney Margaret Moore, who is running for reelection after her first term. “With José as District Attorney, Travis County will gain another champion in the fight to transform our criminal justice system,” Warren said in a statement to the Austin American-Statesman. “As an experienced public servant with a proven track record of standing up for working families, I know that José will be the fighter that Travis County communities deserve.” Garza said his campaign is focused on reexamining minor drug possession charges and

reducing the number of people being held in prisons who are unable to pay their cash bail. The campaign caught national attention because of the effort his volunteers have put into the campaign, Garza said. “We were incredibly humbled and grateful for that endorsement,” Garza said. “But our work … hasn’t changed, and we’re still spending the majority of our time every day trying to have real conversations with real voters, trying to spread the word about the issues that are happening in our community.” Katya Ehresman, a UT Students for Warren member, said the top-down process of endorsements is a new era for national candidates. “(The endorsement) is really allowing for more focus, more attention and more funding coming from a federal perspective than ever before,” government junior Ehresman said. Alex Evans, communications director for Univer-

destiny alexander

sity Democrats, said she is happy the race is receiving national attention. “It’s really important for people on a federal level to take the time and encourage people to vote in local elections,” Plan II freshman Evans said. “Local elections are extremely important and actually have the same, if not more, effects than a federal election will on the people in that county.” Garza said although he is grateful for the endorsement from Warren, he also values endorsements from local groups. “What I think is equally as important is that this campaign in this movement has also been endorsed by the University of Texas Democrats … and The Young Women Democratic Socialists of America chapter at the University of Texas,” Garza said. “Those are the endorsements every single day that are making a difference in this race.”

/ the daily texan staff

the ones who are impacted the most.” Students for Fair Admissions declined to comment and instead provided their lawsuit. “SFFA and its members have suffered and will continue to suffer irreparable harm

due to the acts and omissions of Defendants in violating Texas constitutional and statutory law,” the petition said. “The use of race as a factor in the admissions process at UT Austin causes certain applicants to be treated less favorably than other applicants based on their race.” Students for Fair Admissions said white and Asian students are at a disadvantage

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in the admissions system. The Lawyers’ Committee argues there is no advantage and the policies are correcting existing inequalities. Angela Kang, president of spirit group Texas Orange Jackets and an Asian American, submitted testimony on behalf of her and the Orange Jackets saying that attending classes with students of different identities changes the dis-

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Angharad Valdivia describes the relationship between Disney and Latin American culture in her lecture, “What’s up with Disney and Latinidad?” on Thursday. Her lecture was a part of the Latino Media Arts & Studies Speaker Series. By Amanda Figueroa-Nieves @amandafn_13

A Latina/Latino studies professor at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign discussed the ethnically ambiguous representation of Latinidad in Disney films and shows in a Thursday lecture at the Belo Center for New Media. The UT Latino Media Arts & Studies program presented Angharad Valdivia’s lecture, “What’s up with Disney and Latinidad? Princesses and Girls Who are Stuck in the Middle,” to more than 75 UT students and faculty. Program director Mary Beltrán called Valdivia one of the most important scholars in Latino media studies. “Valdivia has been doing this work for 20 years, which is far longer than most of us,” Beltrán said. “She’s actually mentored a lot of the other professors and scholars in Latino media studies, and I’m very excited to be

cussion of certain topics. “People often discuss how their families haven’t had access to health care or we talk about certain racialized, unethical experiments in the past,” biology senior Kang said. “I have a more informed view of what ethics looks like in biology with the voice of people who have been traditionally impacted by these decisions.”

able to bring her in.” One of Valdivia’s main points is that Latino representation in the media is made ambiguous to be more attractive to audiences. Latinidad refers to the representation of Latin American culture in America. She said there are two main tropes used for Latinidad in media: tropical and Mexican. Mexicans are typically portrayed as being symbolic of Mexico, while “tropical” Latino people are symbolic of upper-class Americans, Valdivia said. “These serve largely to lump and differentiate categories of Latinos into a binary of tradition,” Valdivia said. Valdivia said the media shows Latinos and their families in certain stereotypical celebrations, such as Quinceañeras, the Day of the Dead and Navidad. Valdivia said American media prefers to hire talent from Latin America, rather than from Latino people in the Unit-

English junior Adaylin Alvarez also provided testimony. Her mother immigrated to Texas before she was born, and she said her mother struggled financially and with her citizenship status. Alvarez was automatically admitted into UT, but she said she faced inequalities in her educational opportunities, such as summer camps and tutoring, because of her background.

ed States. Valdivia also discussed Disney’s branding of Selena Gomez and Demi Lovato, who are both daughters of interracial couples. “It does almost seem like Disney purposefully likes to cast these young ladies who are mixed Caucasian, Latino and Italian because I think that gives them the somatic look that they are looking for to interpolate different members of the audience without repelling racist members of the audience,” Valdivia said. Harley Gutierrez, a psychology and Plan II freshman, said the presentation reminded people of how Latinidad in media is usually not the same as Latinidad in real life. “It reiterated that it’s important for audience members and viewers of media, especially when you’re watching Disney channel, to acknowledge that the portrayal of Latinas in popular culture is often a more palatable version of what Latinidad is,” Gutierrez said.

“My high school didn’t have funds for certain classes and extracurriculars,” Alvarez said. “Based on the setbacks that I had, (UT) needs to grade people like me at that level and not at the same level as everyone else who had more opportunities growing up. The fact that we still got good grades while struggling with all these other things is worth a lot.”

SPENCER BUCKNER

Editor-In-Chief | @THEDAILYTEXAN

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 7, 2020

COLUMN

OPINION COLUMN

grey rauscher

/ the daily texan staff

Students must use their voice for political advocacy abriella corker

/ the daily texan staff

UT needs multi-disciplinary undergraduate statistics major By Hannah Lopez Associate editor

There are around 200 schools that offer statistics as a major in the United States, but UT is not one of them. UT’s position, both geographically and academically, is perfect for future statistics majors. With companies such as Apple, Microsoft and Google opening new campuses in Austin, UT offers a perfect landscape for students who are looking for job openings in data science. In an age when tech is booming and Austin is heralded as the next Silicon Valley, UT needs to invest in their students’ future by creating a multidisciplinary undergraduate statistics major. Since its creation in 2014, UT’s Department of Statistics and Data Sciences has only offered two types of certificates through their undergraduate program. UT’s lack of statistics major is causing potential students to find other universities that can accommodate their desired field of education. Kai Hung, a senior from Dulles High School in Sugar Land, Texas, committed to Rice University as a statistics major after discovering that UT only offered a statistics certificate. “If UT and Rice education were both the same cost to me, UT having a statistics major would definitely have swayed me more towards UT,” Hung said. “I think that an undergraduate major should be created at UT because, essentially, UT right now has a unique position in terms of how the world trend is going.” Fortunately, Christine Sinatra,

director of communications for the College of Natural Sciences, said there has been recent conversation among CNS faculty about the creation of a statistics major. “We have been doing a curriculum restructuring across all of the science majors in natural sciences for the past several years, and statistics and data sciences are of a lot of interest,” Sinatra said. “We have a brand new chair who joined us last year leading a lot of exciting change and helping recruit faculty … and one of the things that is in that portfolio of what’s happening and what’s coming is to create an undergraduate (statistics) major.”

UT’s lack of statistics major is causing potential students to find other universities that can accomodate their desired field.” Linda Dickens, associate vice provost for Strategic Academic Initiatives, said this portfolio is only the first step in creating a major. At this stage, faculty must build a major curriculum and degree program before it can be officially proposed to the faculty council. Currently, our statistics curriculum is very limited. The existing statistics certificates only focus on science and math-based

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.

We should view politics as an opportunity to actively voice our concerns and advocate for change that matters to us.”

GALLERY

/ 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.

Columnist

With the prevalence of politics on social media, it’s no surprise that students are informed about pressing issues. We mindlessly tweet, like and share our way through our daily dose of political news. The most thrilling headlines — the impeachment, the 2020 presidential election — capture our attention and perhaps inspire a fleeting emotional response. For many students, engaging with politics has little to do with active civic participation and more to do with this passive ritual of staying informed through online interactions and reactions. In a lot of ways, our efforts are well-intentioned. “You gotta read the news and you gotta be an informed consumer of political stories,” said Christine Vo, a Ph.D candidate in government. However, this isn’t where our civic obligation should end. We should view politics as an opportunity to actively voice our concerns and advocate for change that matters to us. Government freshman Aisha Lee is a member of The Onyx Honor Society, which organizes a black caucus every semester. Lee said this event is an opportunity “to give the Black community at UT a forum where everyone can discuss struggles and actively work to fix them.”

curriculum. Statistics, however, is not just limited to these fields. In addition to math and science, students need social statistics courses in economics, psychology, political science, sociology and anthropology. An emphasis on these subjects would expand a student’s worldview of statistics and allow them to apply it to more situations in the workforce. Creating this kind of statistics degree at UT wouldn’t be hard because, at one point, it used to exist. UT used to offer a B.S. in mathematical sciences with a specialization in statistics, probability and data science. According to the UT website, the degree aimed to prepare students for careers in government, industry and business, as well as professions in public health, public policy, educational testing and measurement, biostatistics, epidemiology and operations research. For students such as Hung, a statistics program would have to be multidisciplinary in order to sway his college decision. “Having a statistics major can’t be just all UT decides to do,” Hung said. “Statistics needs to be combined with other disciplines in order to really advance someone’s idea of how to advance after college.” While faculty is in the process of developing this major, they need to focus on adding outside fields into the curriculum. With the foundation to a course curriculum already set, interested students and a job market looking for young statisticians, there is no reason this major should not be created. Let’s make sure it’s one worth creating. Lopez is a rhetoric and writing sophomore from Nederland, Texas.

charlie hyman

By Maria Sailale

Lee and many other students on campus find meaningful ways to contribute to their communities through forums, caucuses and town halls. Other civic engagement organizations such as TX Votes and Texas Rising encourage students to participate in politics by showing up to the polls to vote in local and national elections. This type of participation is meaningful because it allows students to assert their political identity through active engagement rather than just fade into the void of social commentary through various media platforms. However, it is easy to feel frustrated because despite being informed, we don’t feel as if we have a personal stake in these issues. This makes it difficult to define our roles within the mammoth state of our national affairs. But we don’t necessarily have to look nationally to take action. “All politics is local,” Vo said. “Being at a town hall meeting is one of the most high-impact things a person can do.” Ultimately, politics isn’t just about information. More importantly, it is about affirming one’s identity and seeking empowerment through established political processes. Students such as Lee look for the issues they can identify with and work to find ways to improve their communities accordingly. “Instead of just wishing a change could be made, it’s important to have these forums where a community of people can come together, have the tough conversations, share experiences and work from the inside to help others with their daily struggles,” Lee said. We all have our own personal issues and priorities. The first step is identifying these issues, and then it’s about finding the communities that can help us bring them to light and establish the solutions we want. Once we organize in these ways, we begin to understand the inherent power in voting in local as well as national elections and appreciate more the role of politically focused campus organizations in reinforcing political engagement among students. I don’t think that you have to lead a rally or be a government official to affect purposeful and meaningful change. I am just a student who believes that politics is for me and you. Sailale is an undeclared freshman from Dallas.

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LIFE&ARTS

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 7, 2020

FILM REVIEW | ‘EMMA.’

‘Emma.’ brings satirical delight to Jane Austen classic By Brooke Sjoberg @Sjobergreport

Based on the eponymous novel by Jane Austen and reimagined by the writer-director team Eleanor Catton and Autumn de Wilde, “Emma.” is a delightfully candy-colored satirical exercise in presumption. The story is one that’s been told before: Emma, a young woman of wealth but not consequence in 19th century England, finds that her matchmaking abilities are not as good as she thought through several romantic misadventures. The plot of “Emma.” isn’t new — the 1995 film “Clueless” is also an adaptation of Austen’s 1815 novel, but with a contemporary spin. However, de Wilde’s 2020 take on early 1800s social life is something special. The casting done for this film, with Anya Taylor-Joy (“The Witch,” “Thoroughbreds”) as the title character, Johnny Flynn as Mr. Knightley and Bill Nighy as Emma’s father, Mr. Woodhouse, is spot on. Taylor-Joy has perfected her craft of portraying sassy teenage

girls to the point that it’s a stereotype of her career. In “Emma.” this works to her advantage. Emma Woodhouse is a gracious queen bee without equal in the small village of Highbury. Her portrayal epitomizes the tone of the novel, where presumptions and assumptions land her in an egg-faced mess. Flynn is Taylor-Joy’s match in his portrayal of Mr. Knightley. His delivery of what can only be described as 19th century shade will leave the audience in fits of laughter, which is a real feat considering how difficult it is to convey humor in high-class English. The serious, overdramatic nature of the communication style characteristic to the time period isn’t a hindrance in this case, as Flynn’s facial expressions and body language convey all the sass his polite tone does not. In the novel, Mr. Woodhouse is a funny character. In the 2020 film, Nighy is an absolute riot. There is a particular scene pulled straight from the novel where Mr. Woodhouse uses draft screens of varying sizes to give his daughter and Mr. Knightley the illusion of privacy, which Nighy executes

“Emma.” GENRE

Comedy PG

R AT I N G SCORE

with all the zest and zeal the film commands. His quiet, judgmental delivery of duplicitous politeness is the perfect accompaniment to Emma’s social blunders. The color grading and overall set design of the film is in the style of the Gilded Age, with pastels and golds reigning supreme. Using a rococo revivalist approach, art director Alice Sutton and set designer Stella Fox have created a virtual confectioner’s dream, where everything looks like a well-decorated cake. Aside from the set design, the cinematography is reminiscent of Wes Anderson’s “Moonrise Kingdom,” with stationary shots showcasing movement from a fixed vantage point. This places the viewer in the middle of the passive actions of Emma Woodhouse and her friends. It’s directly juxtaposed with a head-on shot

In ‘Emma.’ Anya Taylor-Joy is a fantastically nosy mis-matchmaker. of Taylor-Joy delivering Emma’s advice to her dearest friends about love and relationships with PSA-like seriousness. While the story of “Emma.”

is nowhere near being new, de Wilde and Catton’s take on the classic is divine. Taylor-Joy is a delight as Emma Woodhouse herself, complemented by the

casting of Flynn and Nighy, who create soft satire with bite. As beautiful to see as it is to hear, “Emma.” sets the bar high for classic adaptations this decade.

FILM REVIEW | ‘BIRDS OF PREY’

‘Birds of Prey’ presents twisted, deranged Harley Quinn By Noah Levine @ZProductionz

In a franchise seemingly dominated by the Joker, Harley Quinn is back to steal the spotlight with twisted pride. “Birds of Prey” marks the return of Margot Robbie’s iconic Harleen Quinzel. The film takes place in the aftermath of Harley’s cataclysmic breakup with the Clown Prince of Crime as she simultaneously struggles and thrives with her newfound independence. When a valuable diamond ends up in the wrong hands, Harley, along with an ensemble of DC Comics crime fighters, become entangled in an adventure at the peril of Gotham City supervillains Black Mask and Victor Zsasz. Robbie gracefully returns to the deranged, yet lovable character of Harley Quinn with the benefit of a flexible R rating. Robbie’s brighteyed and infectious energy shines throughout her performance. Her erroneous one liners, sound effects and erratic movements complement every single one of her interactions. When something truly hurts the character, Robbie’s subtle yet heartbreaking facial expressions strike emotions effectively. Robbie’s Quinn is the twisted bloody heart of this film, and it never ceases to thump out endlessly maniacal entertainment. As for the rest of the Birds, each of them inject their own unique personality and style to the ensemble. Rosie Perez is admirably persistent and powerful with her performance of Renee Montoya. Jurnee Smollett-Bell brings Black Canary to life with ferocity. Mary Elizabeth Winstead is comedic as well as menacing in her performance as the Huntress. Ella

Jay Basco rounds out the crew with her wisecracking, youthful Cassandra Cain. Black Mask (Ewan McGregor) and Victor Zsasz (Chris Messina) are a perfectly stylistic duo of villains, echoing the same twisted bedazzlement and performative behavior as Harley’s former lover, Joker, played by Jared Leto in 2016’s “Suicide Squad.” McGregor devours his scenes, demanding to be the center of attention. His charismatic quips and unpredictable dance moves add an uncomfortable charm to his sinister character. Messina’s Victor Zsasz is downright disgusting, embodying the worst that Gotham has to offer. The fluid cinematography combined with the intensive soundtrack and score create several memorable sequences. Continuous dynamic shots, such as one following Cassandra Cain on a pickpocketing spree with “Sway With Me” by GALXARA and Saweetie blaring, are delightful. The action sequences are flashy and visceral. Bones and bodies break in all kinds of places as the Birds of Prey work their magic on ensembles of goons. The smooth movement of the camera greatly complement the kickass choreography. The overall tone and story perfectly coincide with Harley Quinn’s unhinged point of view. She twists up the narrative structure of the events, pausing in the middle of scenes to rewind and clarify certain events. Harley begins the narrative at a place of personal struggle, but as a series of unforeseen events occur, her mission becomes one of unity and being the author of her own story. The entangling chaos of Harley’s predicament eventually culminates in the cathartic teaming up of the Birds of Prey in a sequence that is equally zany as it is heroic. “Birds of Prey” is a monumental entry into

Harley Quinn (Margot Robbie) smiles amid the madness in “Birds of Prey.”

“Birds of Prey”

GENRE

Action R

C AT E G O RY SCORE

the superhero genre and a “fantabulous” fever dream of entertainment that will hopefully pave the way for more unique and diverse voices to dominate action-packed screens.

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Comics Editors| @THEDAILYTEXAN

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 7, 2020

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Longhorns Get Home Safe 85%

of Longhorns arrange for a safe ride home at the end of the night if they decide to drink. @UTBruceTheBat 2019 UT Austin National Social Norms Center Survey

MARCUS KRUM

Sports Editor | @TEXANSPORTS

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 7, 2020

WOMEN’S BASKETBALL

Collier looks to continue her rise

Charli Collier has worked her entire career to be great, and she has no plans on stopping anytime soon. By Myah Taylor @t_myah

harli Collier’s sophomore campaign has been one of ascension. But before she could rise, Collier had to battle through the disappointment of unmet expectations and untapped potential. While Texas’ sophomore center is a 6-foot-5 force of nature who can knock down 3-pointers, the key to Collier’s success on the court this season has been her unwavering pursuit of greatness. “You can never be satisfied,” Collier said. “You never want to settle. I think that’s the most exciting part about me playing the sport, is that I know I have so much more.” It’s this kind of ambition that has enabled Collier to transform her game. As a freshman last season, she averaged 5.9 points per contest and recorded just one start. This year, Collier averages a double-double per game and has played well enough to earn both Big 12 and espnW National Player of the Week honors. But her stardom didn’t come overnight. The excellence Collier has exhibited on the court this season is a result of the numerous hours she has spent in the gym since the Longhorns lost to Indiana in the first round of the NCAA Tournament last March. “She understood what she needed to get better at, and she immediately went to work and started working on her strength,

joshua guenther

/ the daily texan file

Sophomore center Charli Collier puts up a shot against Texas Tech on Jan. 15. Collier has made great strides in her second season with the Longhorns, and looks to continue to improve while leading the Longhorns back to the NCAA Tournament. working on her conditioning, getting in the gym, working on her shooting,” Texas head coach Karen Aston said. “I think it was a natural progression for her.” This “natural progression” has been ongoing since college scouts began watching Collier while she was in middle school, and it continued into high school. Tri Danley, Collier’s coach at Barbers Hill High School in Mont Belvieu, Texas, said she excelled the moment she stepped on the court and only got better over time. “She had the foundation,” Danley said. “She had all the necessary traits. She just really

worked hard at working on her craft. When she came to us as a freshman, she wanted to handle the ball and she wanted to shoot more from the perimeter ... and she just kept working on it and she got to where she is now. It’s all her doing, and it’s really paid off for her.” By 2018, Collier was a McDonald’s High School All-American and the nation’s top-ranked player, according to Prospects Nation and the Blue Star Report. Her track record and accolades said it all: Collier was destined for greatness. So when

the Mont Belvieu native had a relatively quiet freshman season at Texas, she was frustrated. “I’m not going to lie, freshman year was really hard,” Collier said. “It’s just high expectations when you come out of high school as good as I was.” Instead of transferring or settling, she turned her shortcomings into opportunities for growth. “I had to flip everything and forget about everything that happened last year and turn on a different side of me, so to speak,” Collier said. “This was the year I had to step up — basically being

MEN’S BASKETBALL

Texas dominates in doubleheader to open season By Seth Forman @SethForman4

/ the daily texan file

Redshirt sophomore Andrew Jones dribbles past a Kansas defender Jan 18. Jones has been an essential part of the team coming off of the bench this season. By Wills Layton @willsdebeast

Following another inconsistent performance that saw the Longhorns give away another halftime lead, the margin of error for the Texas team has gone from slim to razor thin as they head into a crucial matchup with Texas Tech at the Frank Erwin Center on Saturday. Losing to No. 3 Kansas on the road last week was the expected result, but the team gave fans hope after a strong first half that gave Texas a two-point lead. But all season, the team has failed to stay consistent from half to half. “I thought that a majority of the first half, our guys did a really good job at least being even on the aggressiveness battle,” head coach Shaka Smart said following the loss to Kansas. “I thought in the second half, they (Kansas) really flipped that. They really ramped up their assertiveness, put their head down and drove the ball.” Playing well for just one half has become a recurring theme of this season. In the 6967 loss to LSU on Jan. 25, the Longhorns mounted a furious comeback after being down double digits at the break. But the deficit was too much to overcome. “You can play any defense anywhere, you can draw up any scheme, but it’s about how we play,” redshirt sophomore guard Andrew Jones after the loss to LSU. “So it’s time to split the script, play harder and more aggressive, and on the defensive end get stops

aspirations, but she also dreams of someday becoming an ESPN sports analyst like Maria Taylor or Stephen A. Smith. Collier also wants to be a model. While the future is uncertain, Collier’s determination isn’t. She’ll maintain the same winning mindset in whatever she pursues. “I feel like you have to put in a good effort in everything you do,” Collier said. “And basketball helps me a lot in life skills … I’m never the type of person to not finish something. You work until you get it.”

SOFTBALL

No margin for error for Longhorns as they welcome Texas Tech to Austin

joshua guenther

thrown into the fire.” With conference opponents sending double teams her way each game, Collier has handled the flames so far this season. She hopes to help lead the Longhorns to a Big 12 Championship and take the team even further than last year by winning the NCAA Championship. Collier excels at her sport, but is more than just an athlete. Danley said she is amazing because she can do a lot more than basketball, and that’s exactly what Collier intends to do after her time at Texas. The star center has WNBA

so we can play the way we want to.” The Longhorns still have a chance to turn the season around, but they are running out of time to do so. The climb back to tournament contention continues against Tech on Saturday. Texas Tech and Texas are both sitting at 14–8, but are coming into the matchup in much different places. Tech made the NCAA Championship Game last season, and while they have not performed up to that standard thus far this season, they are still likely to make the tournament barring a collapse. The Red Raiders have a couple of upsets on their résumé as well, having defeated then-No.1 Louisville and then-No.12 West Virginia. Texas has lost to every ranked team it has played this season apart from an early season win over Purdue, who is now 13–10. The close losses will mean very little to the selection committee, so it is time for the Longhorns to start collecting victories. If Texas wants to make the tournament, they have to start by improving their consistency and winning the must-win matchup at home. No matter how disappointing this season has been so far, there is still hope and something to fight for. If the Longhorns can fight for 40 minutes, they can give themselves a shot at saving the season. “Disappointing, but we dug ourselves in that hole, so there’s nobody to be mad at but ourselves,” junior guard Matt Coleman said following the LSU game. “It’s a 40-minute game, so we have to do that for 40 minutes.”

Last season, the Texas softball team scored 16 runs across two shutout games to start the campaign. Powered by strong performances by the pitchers on the team, this year’s squad came to Red & Charline McCombs Field ready to compete. In the first night of the 2020 season, No. 6 Texas opened with back-to-back convincing victories in the season opening doubleheader by a combined 25 runs. The Texas pitchers powered the Longhorns to wins in both games from both the mound and the plate. The season began with a 10-2 six-inning victory over Wichita State. Senior pitcher Miranda Elish and freshman pitcher and utility player Courtney Day, who stepped in as a designated hitter, combined to go 4 for 4 at the plate, with Day collecting three of those hits. Elish managed 10 strikeouts in the game, allowing only five hits and pitching all six innings to record a

complete game victory in her first game back after suffering a freak injury to end her 2019 campaign. Elish continued to display why she’s one of Texas’ star players in the second game of the night against Maryland. She hit 4 for 4 with a home run and six RBIs, contributing to the team’s dominant 17-0 victory over the Terrapins. After coming into the game ranked inside of the top 10 teams in the country, this kind of a hot start was no surprise. Elish and Day’s play was not a surprise either, as both have been hitting well even before the season began. “Miranda Elish has been hitting the ball really well,” Texas head coach Mike White said. “Courtney Day has been one of the best power hitters in preseason.” Yet another Texas pitcher had a standout night in sophomore pitcher Shealyn O’Leary, who threw five strikeouts and didn’t allow a single run against the Terps. O’Leary pitched all five innings in Texas’ victory to start the season 2–0.

Coming off an All-American season in 2019, junior infielder Janae Jefferson also had a phenomenal performance with six runs and four hits on the night with two stolen bases to top it off. “(Jefferson) is outstanding,” sophomore catcher Colleen Sullivan said. “She’s always pushing the limits besides just getting on base … She’s so smart on the bases and she’s such a key player at second base.” The key for the rest of the weekend is waiting to see if the Longhorns can keep this momentum for the rest of the Texas Classic. The talent that was on full display in the two dominant wins Thursday night show that this is more than possible. “I think it’s just not getting too far ahead of yourself,” White said. “Just gotta make sure you don’t drink too much of that Kool-Aid.” Texas will play Lamar on Friday, then Colorado State on Saturday followed by a Saturday rematch with Wichita State. The Longhorns will end the weekend with a game Sunday against Texas A&M-Corpus Christi.

jack myer

/ the daily texan staff

Senior pitcher Miranda Elish rears back ready to deliver a pitch against Wichita State in the first game of the doubleheader on Feb 6.

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

Life&Arts Editor | @TRINADY05

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 7, 2020

FEATURE

LIFE&ARTS

Musée: A different kind of canvas

UT students develop artinspired makeup brand and artist collective, empowering women of color. By Carlie Whisman @ummcarlie

ejal Bhikha paints using a different kind of canvas — her face. Curious to use cosmetics in an exploratory way rather than a means of getting ready in the morning, marketing junior Bhikha began experimenting with creative makeup. She said she was originally inspired by art history in college, recreating famous paintings such as Gustav Klimt’s “The Kiss.” This was the inspiration behind her brand Musée Beauty, a magazine and collective focused on the intersection between art and makeup. Bhikha started Musée in 2019 with the intention to build a community first and brand second. “I wanted to create something that people felt invested in and then create a makeup brand from that,” Bhikha said. Originally a team of 11 people, Musée has grown into a collective of over 40 makeup artists, models, writers and photographers. Its first print issue was released in fall 2019 and features 13 art-inspired looks. Musée’s zine pays homage to famous artists, with the makeup and design of each photo shoot modeled after specific paintings while the

written stories explore the meaning behind the art. “Creating the print magazine was a way to get creatives involved and allow them to create art with each other while also getting our name out there and (giving) people more visibility,” Bhikha said. Mariam Ali, Musée’s vice president and assistant creative director and corporate communications sophomore, said the zine is intended to be inclusive and empowering. “Most of the people involved in leadership are women of color,” Ali said. “It’s all about empowering us to be able to be creative in a way that we’re not held back.” Bhikha said her experience as a woman of color working in an industry traditionally centered around white women also helped inspire the creation of Musée. “For so long we’ve been shut out of the space that’s been just for a very specific kind of white woman,” Bhikha said. “Now we can be in on the space. We can create something that’s an inclusive area for all of us to express ourselves.” With their first issue published and the brand established, Musée is taking bigger steps in 2020 with the launch of their first beauty product in May, the Impressionism eyeshadow palette. Based on the art movement, the Impressionism palette emphasizes the play of light and shadow, Bhikha said. With a variety of shades both neutral and bold, it caters to consumers on both ends of the makeup spectrum and bridges the gap between everyday looks and unique experimentation, Bhikha said. “We’re trying to set up the palette in a way that’s inviting for everyone,” Ali said.

Adrianna Sadler, model and applied movement science sophomore, sits for a photoshoot with Museé. Tosin Mercy, a model for Musée and a human development and family sciences junior, said the brand is making a space for women of color to defy beauty standards.

“Not only are they making sure that women of color are viewed as art, they’re even making their own brand of makeup,” Mercy said. As an Indian woman,

Bhikha said it’s difficult to go into a creative career because it isn’t seen as acceptable, but having a team that shares her drive and vision makes it possible.

“Makeup is seen as something that’s so frivolous, (but it’s) such a powerful industry,” Bhikha said. “(My team and I) want to create something for everyone.”

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