Serving The University Of Texas At Austin Community Since 1900 @thedailytexan | thedailytexan.com
Thursday, February 13, 2020
Volume 120, Issue 99
NEWS
OPINION
SPORTS
LIFE&ARTS
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A faculty panel shared their experiences as first-generation students.
UT should improve road safety to prevent serious injuries from transportation accidents.
Lucy Hale and Jeff Wadlow talk working on Blumhouse’s “Fantasy Island.”
Women’s basketball shoots 26.9% in 18-point loss to Iowa State on Wednesday night.
NATION
UNIVERSITY
UTRGV has lowest student debt of any national public institution By Laura Morales @lamor_1217
the Coalition Against Sexual Misconduct released in December. Social work professor Noel Busch-Armendariz is leading the restorative justice subcommittee and said its goals would focus on faculty interactions with the University community. “I look forward to this opportunity to engage in and expand meaningful conversations and to include faculty voices in
UT-Rio Grande Valley has the least graduate debt of public institutions in the nation, while UT-Austin graduates have double the amount of debt UTRGV has, according to U.S. News & World Report’s 2020 rankings. UTRGV is fourth in the list least amount of student debt of national universities behind three private universities with an average $10,054 of debt per graduate owed to the U.S. Department of Education, according to data collected in 2017 for the ranking. UT-Austin graduates have an average debt of $21,500, according to the U.S. News and World Report’s 2020 rankings. UTRGV spokesperson Patrick Gonzales said the low debt can be attributed to a guaranteed tuition rate for four years. UTRGV caps tuition at a fixed amount for students taking over 12 hours and at a low tuition rate of $4,066.16 for 12 hours. UT-Austin has similar policies and programs in place but a higher average tuition rate of $5,485. “When (students) graduate from UTRGV with little to no debt, they can fully benefit from their career earnings instead of spending years trying to pay off their debt,” Gonzales said. UTRGV will implement the Tuition Advantage grant next fall, which covers the cost of tuition and fees for students with an income of $75,000 or less. UT-Austin implemented a similar program, the Texas Advance Commitment, which covers the same costs for students with an income of $65,000 or less. Joey Williams, director of communications for the Office of the Executive Vice President and Provost, said cost of living must also be considered in the cost of attendance. Williams said UT-Austin is a larger
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In response to student and faculty concerns, the Faculty Council Executive Committee has started a Task Force on Developing Community Standards for Faculty. Their goal is to create guidelines for faculty on community standards.
Faculty develop task force Student protests against faculty sexual misconduct spur faculty to create The Task Force for Developing Community Standards for Faculty to implement goals and values. By Lauren Grobe @grobe_lauren
aculty members will meet this Thursday to discuss their ideal campus environment and will work throughout the coming months to achieve that climate by implementing goals offered by faculty. The Task Force for Developing Community
Standards for Faculty is a Faculty Council group created in late January to establish values for the faculty community and work to implement those values into University policy. The protests against faculty sexual misconduct last semester acted as a catalyst to form a task force and develop a higher standard for the campus climate, said Brian Evans, engineering professor and Faculty Council chair. Evans said faculty want to
make campus safer just as much as students do. “We have widespread concern,” Evans said. “I hear it in my department, I hear it from my students.” Evans said the task force was formed in response to multiple ethical issues on campus. A goal for Evans is to eliminate sexual misconduct on campus. “That’s an aspirational goal,” Evans said. “It’s a big one, but it’s a good one to go for.” Instead of amending
policy regarding appropriate punishment, Evans said the task force will analyze whether it is helping the University achieve its aspirational goals. “Let’s flip this … (and) look at the opposite of this. What would we like to be in a positive sense?” Evans said. “What can we strive to be?” One of the subcommittees is focusing on restorative justice, which was included in the demands of last semester’s protesters, according to documents
STATE
UNIVERSITY
ProPublica releases offender database
UT provides resources in response to housing instability, food insecurity
By Hannah Williford @HannahWillifor2
Twenty-two clergy members from the Diocese of Austin were named in a ProPublica database of credibly accused Catholic clergy members in late January, after the original list was published last year. ProPublica‘s database includes 178 different dioceses and 6,754 names of accused clergy members. The majority of Austin clergy members on the list are deceased or have been removed from the church. Three members are listed as retired, and one is now a priest for the Archdiocese of Kingston, Jamaica. Despite Catholic churches nationwide releasing the names, there is no clear definition of what churches consider
credible accusations. The Rev. Larry Rice, director of the University Catholic Center, said there is inconsistency between diocese reports because churches have not agreed upon a standard of credibility to use when someone is accused. “The lists that the diocese have published are people that are credibly accused,” Rice said. “That does not mean that those people have been indicted (or) arrested. … Usually what that means is somebody within the structure of that individual diocese found that accusation credible, meaning it could have happened. That is not an admission or an accusation of guilt.” Rice said bishops in the United States put together the Dallas Charter PROPUBLICA
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By Nataleah Small @nataleahjoy
Homelessness affected 17% of “surveyed” college students in the past year nationally, according to a Hope Center for College, Community and Justice report. “In the United States, we have a history of shame attached to need and that means that a lot of the time, folks are not as likely to see themselves as deserving of care and support,” Sara Kennedy, director of strategic and executive communications for the Office of the Dean of Students, said. UT does not know the exact number of students who are homeless because many students don’t report to the University when they are experiencing homelessness, Kennedy said. Petroleum engineering
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senior Mirka Mendez experienced homelessness when she was in high school. Mendez said she grew up in Mexico with her parents and
then moved to El Paso, Texas, when she was 15. Mendez said she didn’t know English and struggled to adapt because she did not
/ the daily texan staff
receive support at home after she moved. She went to school and worked part time H O U S I N G PAGE 2
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US Food and Drug Administration approves first drug, Palforzia, to treat children with peanut allergy
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The United States Food and Drug Administration approved the first drug to treat children with peanut allergies on Jan. 31. The drug, Palforzia, is a powdered medicine that can be sprinkled on foods to build up peanut tolerance for children diagnosed with a peanut allergy. According to the FDA, Palforzia is currently approved for patients ages 4-17 and use can be continued into adulthood. After her son was diagnosed with a peanut allergy, Becky Bergman created the blog, “Peanut Allergy Mom,” to connect with other families affected by peanut allergies. Bergman said even though her 16-year-old son will most likely not receive this newly approved treatment, she is excited about the attention peanut allergies could get from this approval. “It really opens the doors for enormous possibilities forward,” Bergman said. “It puts (peanut allergies) on the radar in the medical community.” The estimated cost of Palforzia is $890 per month per year, but the company is willing to help patients by reducing the monthly cost to $20, according to The Washington Post. “That price is insane, and I’m disappointed,” Bergman said. “We need to make sure this is affordable and accessible to all people with peanut allergies regardless of income, race or gender.” Dr. Melinda McMichael, a staff
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to pay rent for a bed in her relatives’ home, she said. Mendez was never given a key and sometimes had to sleep outside when her relatives were not home, she said. “I didn’t have Wi-Fi there, so I used to ‘live’ in the library and do my homework,” Mendez said. “My whole purpose was to do well in school.” Mendez said she experienced housing instability and moved from her relatives home to a homeless shelter to a children’s home throughout high school. Mendez said she worked hard to graduate in three years and then decided to apply to petroleum engineering programs across the country. “I chose my major because, number one on the list, I wanted … financial stability,” Mendez said. “I didn’t want to have to deal with all this drama anymore.” When she first came to UT, Mendez said she didn’t feel like she fit in. But during her junior year, she said she connected with Horns Helping Horns, a student services program for financially independent students. Mendez said if she had connected with the program as a freshman, it would have positively impacted her time
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physician for University Health Services, said a peanut allergy can cause an anaphylactic reaction with symptoms such as trouble swallowing, abdominal cramping and fainting. McMichael said UHS does not have allergists to diagnose and prescribe treatment to students with food allergies, but UHS can administer injections prescribed by an outside allergist.
Gonzales said this affordability allows for upward mobility, which would otherwise be more difficult if a student had to pay off debts after they graduate. The median household income in Edinburg, Texas, the city where one of the UTRGV campuses sits, is $46,862, according to 2018 U.S. Census Bureau data. The same data show Austin’s as $67,462. Alexandra Smith-Macias, Edinburg vice president of UTRGV’s Student Government Association, said many
at UT and helped her feel equal to her classmates. The Hope Center reported that nearly 40% of students were food insecure in the past 30 days and 46% of students were housing insecure within the past year. Kennedy said when people picture hunger, they think of Depression-era bread lines. Kennedy said food insecurity can be skipped meals because people do not have enough money to pay for food, and housing insecurity can be couch surfing or staying with friends. Along with Horns Helping Horns, there are many on-campus resources available to students in need, including the UT Outpost, which has a food pantry and career closet that provides professional clothes to students. UT Outpost coordinator William Ross, said students who use resources provided by the University are on a spectrum of need. Ross said some may see these services as a tool for their success whereas others are embarrassed about their stories. Ross said the Outpost doesn’t force students to share their stories when they take advantage of these resources. “It doesn’t matter why you’re here,” Ross said. “We’re here to serve you. You’re valued.”
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Azizza Williams, a 2018 UT alumna, said it has been hard to watch her siblings deal with mild to severe food allergies. She said her siblings’ experiences inspired them to create Allergy Ease, a clothing line with the mission of spreading awareness of food allergies. “Food allergy awareness is very important,” Williams said. “A lot of people who I wouldn’t suspect have food
of the students she spoke with have said they come from lower income backgrounds. She said many of these students do not have to take out loans because the university is so affordable. “Yes, people do come here because we are affordable, but I think once you are in UTRGV, you see the value of what you are getting,” political science junior Smith-Macias said. “It does start because we won’t have debt when we graduate, but it ends with us staying and feeling like we belong here.”
allergies have them. It’s important to get the word out about food allergies and be a system of support for those with food allergies.” Williams said Palforzia is a great step in developing treatments for food allergies, but she is concerned about how safe the drug is. “I’m just hoping they have something in place for if things go wrong (with the drug),” Williams said. “There definitely needs to be a larger discussion on the security and safety because not everyone just breaks out in hives. Some people can actually die from food allergies.” Lindsay Wilson, a registered dietitian for University Housing and Dining, helps students with dietary restrictions find on-campus meal options. Wilson said Cypress Bend Cafe and Littlefield Patio Cafe are UHD locations that offer a made-to-order meal option for students with food allergies. “We have a separate area within each of those kitchens that has equipment and a pantry dedicated to students who are receiving meal accommodations,” Wilson said. Wilson said J2 Dining’s Fresh and Simple Tastes line is free of the nation’s eight major food allergens: fish, shellfish, soy, eggs, milk, gluten, soymilk and peanuts. Bergman said it’s an exciting time for people dealing with peanut allergies. “We’ve come a long way in the last 10 years,” Bergman said. “But we still have huge strides to make, and I think we’re heading in that direction.”
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THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 2020
CAMPUS
Jester hosts interpersonal violence presentation for Valentine’s Day By Michael Byrd @thedailytexan
Students learned how to help survivors of emotional abuse, sexual assault, stalking and physical abuse in the presentation “How to support a survivor” in Jester West on Wednesday. Interpersonal Violence Peer Support representatives led the presentation for Relational-Love Wednesday, a part of the Valentine’s-themed “A Week of Love” in Jester West. A group of about eight students trickled into the Jester West lobby to watch the presentation. “The Interpersonal Violence Peer Support program is a program that started three years ago, and it is a program made up of graduate and undergraduate students who are passionate about interpersonal violence prevention as well as supporting students who have been directly or indirectly impacted by interpersonal violence,” said Angela Kang, a presenter at the event. The presentation, which biology senior Kang said was created last year, started with defining
interpersonal violence Then it focused on the different reactions to interpersonal violence and how to support a friend or peer who has experienced any form of interpersonal violence. “Interpersonal violence is often a term that’s thrown around and has a lot of weight, but not a lot of people know what exactly it entails,” said Kang. “So we go over basic definitions and then also talk about what you might run into in terms of situations if your friend has undergone interpersonal violence … and what responses might be appropriate and inappropriate.” Partway through the presentation, speakers asked attendees about whether common phrases such as “I understand” are actually supportive or not. They also practiced responses in hypothetical scenarios relating to helping those suffering from interpersonal violence. Claire Tichy, an advertising sophomore and resident assistant who helped organize the event, said the goal of the event was “for people to walk away with more knowledge, more education on the topic and knowing what to say in
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those situations.” The event provided mini corn dogs and chicken strips, as well as stress balls for attendees to take home with
them. Afterward, program representatives stayed and chatted with attendees and answered questions about the presentation.
“The thing that really stood out to me was the things they say not to do, like a lot of small things you don’t realize you do,” said Morgan
First-gen faculty share personal experiences to relate to students By Katie Clausen @KatieClausen2
evan l’roy
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Ambassador Dennis Ross speaks at the LBJ School of Public Affairs on Wednesday.
@noah_rose_
Ambassador Dennis Ross, former special assistant to former President Barack Obama, spoke to students and faculty about his book “Be Strong and of Good Courage: How Israel’s Most Important Leaders Shaped Its Destiny,” on Wednesday. The recently published book is a political commentary about Israel’s leaders and the Palestinian-Israeli conflict. “The title is basically referring to two things: first Israel has to be strong, but Israel also has to be wise,” Ross said. “If Israel stays on the path it’s on, it will become one state for two people.” Ross is well known for his foreign policy work during the Bill Clinton administration, during which he said he played a pivotal role in securing the acceptance of the Clinton Parameters. The parameters were
a basis for further negotiations between the Israelis and Palestinians, Ross said. During the talk, Ross shared his thoughts on President Donald Trump’s peace plan, a recent proposal aimed at resolving the Palestinian-Israeili conflict. “The Trump plan calls for two states,” Ross said. “Unfortunately, his plan probably makes the outcome of one state for two people more likely.” However, Ross praised the Trump administration for calling the peace plan a vision rather than a set plan. Ross then emphasized the importance of establishing a four-year window for further negotiations. Patrick O’Connor, a government and international relations and global studies sophomore, decided to attend because he is interested in national security, intelligence and diplomacy as a career path. “(Ross) is bringing a lot of information in regard to Middle Eastern policy, foreign policy with the U.S., as well as his
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Thompson, an international relations and global studies freshman. ”It’s about being there for them and letting them tell you how they feel.”
CAMPUS
Former Obama assistant speaks to students interested in foreign policy
By Noah Rose
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Biology senior Angela Kang talks about interpersonal violence at Wednesday’s presentation hosted by The Interpersonal Violence Peer Support program in Jester West.
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past peace discussions with the Soviet Union,” O’Connor said. “This relates very well with what I want to do. I could see myself going into the state department or perhaps one of the intelligence agencies.” The Clements Center for National Security and the Robert Strauss Center for International Security and Law hosted the talk with Ross and holds several guest speakers throughout each semester. These events offer students who are interested in diplomacy and foreign policy the opportunity to hear from and engage with experts in their areas of interest and research. Government junior Eduardo Flores wanted to hear from Ross because he wants to learn more about current events related to government. “I want to get to know more about international affairs and see the state of national defense,” Flores said. “I came here mainly to be more informed about topics such as (foreign policy).”
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needed solutions,” BuschArmendariz said. Evans said the demand from the Coalition was one part of the decision to include the subcommittee. “The concept was always of interest to me,” Evans said. “(Busch-Armendariz) has some really nice visions for the future.” Staff member Melanie Susswein, said restorative justice is a tool to help those hurt by others reach healing and closure. “Having a task force on (restorative justice) is innovative and filled with possibility,” said Susswein, the Steve Hicks School of Social Work director of marketing and communications. Victoria DeFrancesco Soto, head of the communications
First-generation studentsturned-faculty members spoke about their college experiences to help current students who are facing the same struggles. The UT Senate of College Councils hosted a First-Generation Faculty Panel in the William C. Powers Jr. Student Activity Center on Wednesday. The faculty members shared many personal anecdotes from their college years, but all had one common theme: Every first-generation student feels like they do not belong when they come to a university, but there’s a place for everyone at UT. Roxanne Schroeder-Arce, director of UTeach Fine Arts in the College of Fine Arts, said it’s important for people to see others with shared experiences succeeding at UT and in
academic spaces. “As a young person, I know that was really important to me as a first-generation college student,” Schroeder-Arce said. “I didn’t have aunts and uncles and cousins and siblings and parents who had been successful in academia or even knew anything about it, so I needed other models and mentors, and I needed people who had a similar background to mine to say, ‘You can do it.’” Architecture junior Kassandra Lee said she wants to see how UT is reaching out to prospective first-generation students. “I really want to see the initiative from the school and see what they’re doing to help first-gen students come to a big university where it provides a lot of opportunity for people that really don’t have a lot of insight about going to college,” Lee said. Paul Goldbart, dean of the College of Natural Sciences, said
programs such as peer mentorship help support students coming to a large university like UT. “We know this is a big and complicated place,“ Goldbart said. “For some of us, we have a little easier experience because we happen to have family and friends who have been through the experience, but for those who haven’t, it’s absolutely essential that we level the playing field and make sure that everybody gets access.” Several faculty members said they could use their personal experiences to empathize with and help students dealing with imposter syndrome and the guilt of leaving their families. “I just hope that students are able to see in faculty that many of us have taken the same path and it can be a challenging one and that there’s people who understand that challenge,” said Rachelle Chiang, clinical assistant professor in the School of Human Ecology.
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Students speak with Dr. Kevin Cokley after the First Generation Panel in the William C. Powers Jr. Student Activity Center building on Wednesday.
subcommittee, will oversee how the task force releases their findings. DeFrancesco Soto, the assistant dean of civic engagement for the Lyndon B. Johnson School of Public Affairs, said it is important for the University community to decide its own rules. “I just personally care deeply about this,” DeFrancesco Soto said. “Civic engagement is having communities that are healthy and … coming together and making their voice heard of what they need and what they prioritize.” DeFrancesco Soto said her passion for the University community was not unique to just her and applied to a majority of the faculty. “The overwhelming majority of people who choose university life, it’s because they like teaching, they like students,” DeFrancesco Soto said. “We all have the same mission of cultivating education and safe and positive environments.”
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for the Protection of Children and Vulnerable Adults in 2002. The document outlines standards for how the church should deal with accused offenders and victims of abuse and create programs to help prevent abuse in the future. The Dallas Charter prompted the creation of the Diocese of Austin’s Ethics and Integrity in Ministry program, Rice said. The program includes training for how to recognize signs of abuse, how to respond when it is reported and resources for victims. “I don’t say that we’ve taken those steps as if somehow that ex-
cuses the past because obviously it doesn’t,” Rice said. “But the church has taken significant steps to prevent future cases of abuse ... I’m happy with the way the church has responded to this. I’m unhappy with the fact that we needed to.” Rice said in recent years, there has been a small drop-off in attendance to Sunday Masses and programs. Rice said that while the reveal of the assaults came as a shock to his generation, students attending the University Catholic Center have never known a church not dealing with this issue. Biology sophomore Anna Regresado grew up attending Catholic church and said the training sessions
are helping bring issues in the church to light. “I think it is … a way of them saying that we are talking about these issues, we’re acknowledging them and letting everybody know,” Regresado said. “I think collectively, a lot of people throughout the years have been at odds with the Catholic church.” Civil engineering junior Luke Harper s aid for him, the church has always been a place of community and a way to get to know people and God. “You don’t always know what’s in somebody’s heart,” Harper said. “I know there’s still good people out there in the church, and I just try and find those good people and associate myself with them.”
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SPENCER BUCKNER
Editor-In-Chief | @THEDAILYTEXAN
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 2020
OPINION COLUMN
COLUMN
Child obesity programs need to include body positivity By Abhirupa Dasgupta Associate Editor
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Chubby, big-boned, stocky. However you say it, I am, and always have been fat. For a while, that made me really sad. Nowadays, I’m mostly OK with it. But there was a short time in my life when I was blissfully unaware of that word and its negative connotations. Then third grade came along, and my pediatrician warned my parents that I was on the fast track toward obesity. Suddenly, my weight was the major talking point in every hospital visit, even if I came in sick with the flu. Everyone was counting my calories. And yet, no one ever thought to remind me that my self-worth didn’t have to hinge on my weight — so I let it. To a certain extent, I still do. That’s why it shook me to my core when I heard about Dell Medical School’s new health program targeting pre-adolescent girls that display “risk factors” for obesity. Dell’s community healthcare initiative, Factor Health, is carrying out this youth health program in partnership with the Austin chapter of the Boys & Girls Clubs of America. “The primary focus will be to reduce weight and reduce related health care issues,” said Mini Kahlon, Factor Health’s executive director. The program’s premise draws from research that quantifies the link between childhood obesity and the onset of chronic health issues such as diabetes, high blood pressure and asthma. The existing literature doesn’t differentiate between the sexes, but Kahlon said they wanted to focus on girls because there may be specific intervention practices that work better for girls than boys, and vice versa.
/ the daily texan staff
Improve road safety to prevent severe transportation accidents By Ishan Shah Columnist
A skull fracture and internal bleeding. Over $6,000 in medical bills. Two weeks taken away from his education. This was the price electrical and computer engineering freshman Michael Chen had to pay when his skateboard hit broken glass that littered 21st Street after a tailgate. Chen went into a seizure immediately after the crash, but luckily, bystanders called for help. He was taken to the emergency room and spent the next few weeks in the hospital recovering from a brain contusion, temporal bone fracture and subdural hematoma. He was supposed to be resting, but Chen could only think about how he was falling hopelessly behind in all his classes. “It took me over a month to get back into academics, and the health problems lasted until the end of the semester,” Chen said. “You never expect something like this to happen, but when it does, it can be really severe.” Chen’s accident is just one example of many. In January 2019, Tony Diaz, a Fox 7 Austin news station employee, was fatally struck by a bus on San Jacinto while riding his bike. Hundreds of students regularly use bikes, skateboards and scooters to get around campus. They shouldn’t have to worry about their lives whenever they get on their bikes. It is crucial that the University implement more robust safety procedures for student transportation. Change should start with the roads. Potholes have been an issue for years in Austin and can be
extremely dangerous for all commuters. Additionally, poor traffic management and even small amounts of litter can become disastrous for defenseless riders. UT must address all of these points in order to maintain a campus that completely serves the student body’s transportation needs. Avery McKitrick, an environmental science junior and director of the Campus Environmental Center, spoke about her biking experiences and dealing with issues like fiveway intersections, dangerous traffic and debris.
It is crucial that the University implement more robust safety procedures for student transportation.”
“I’ve almost been hit several times walking and on my bike” McKitrick said. “By my apartment, the roads are just not good ... it looks like there was an earthquake.” McKitrick also spoke about student-run projects like tailgate recycling, now managed by Texas Athletics Sustainability, which strives to create zero waste football games. “We also do a lot of collaboration with the Campus Bike Alliance,” McKitrick said. “We always support
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.
the work they do because one, it’s safer to have better infrastructure, and two, it’s just more sustainable.” Student organizations shouldn’t be the only ones shouldering the responsibility of making our streets safe. UT has made strides, such as adding bike lanes last year, but Chen’s accident proves that there is still progress to be made. I urge the University to repair the numerous potholes that plague the roads of campus immediately. Better traffic management during rush hours would also benefit drivers and riders alike. Crossing guards stationed across campus during periods of heavy congestion could be the difference between life and death in some scenarios. Beyond this, better utilization of the student body for litter management on roads frequented by bikers could be effective. Similar to the CEC’s Green Greeks Project Team, this could make use of capable students to tackle an otherwise unsolved problem. While some of the burden lies on students to protect themselves with appropriate safety gear, it’s the University’s job to maintain a safe campus. UT could do so by enforcing helmet wear through crossing guards or hand out free helmets throughout the year. Far too many accidents have occurred for riders to still feel safe in their everyday commute. I hope the University makes the necessary changes for students to be able to hop on their bikes without having to worry if that’s the last time they’ll ever ride. Shah is an electrical and computer engineering freshman from Plano.
I worry that this program will seriously damage these girls’ self-confidence as they grow up, especially since it will not address ... body positivity.”
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.
The program will recruit interested participants through after-school programs put on by the Austin Boys & Girls Club, and will focus on teaching children healthy eating and physical exercise tips. I don’t have a problem with any of this. In fact, I commend Dell Medical for taking steps to establish healthy childhood habits, preventing the need for more serious medical intervention and offsetting future health care costs. However, I worry that this program will seriously damage these girls’ self-confidence as they grow up, especially since it will not address topics like self-image and body positivity. Childhood obesity expert Deanna Hoelscher explained why Factor Health likely won’t cover these topics. “Generally, when you work on obesity prevention programs, you don’t want to talk about body size,” Hoelscher said. Even if Factor Health won’t specifically discuss body size with participants, they will be recruited for the program based on their current weight and the weight gain trajectories they seem to be on. Since this is a highly individualized intervention approach, there is a very real possibility that a participant is the only one in her friend group to be recruited. These kids are smart enough to figure out that they were chosen because they look different from their friends. And since fatphobia is coded into almost every aspect of mainstream media, I’m scared that this program will only accelerate the participants’ realization that their bodies and they themselves are not to be considered beautiful. That’s a really heavy burden to put on a child’s shoulders. I know — I’ve had to bear it. Kahlon noted that Factor Health is committed to addressing these sorts of concerns as they continue to plan the details of the initiative, and I really hope they do. In addition to cultivating healthy eating and exercise habits, they have the platform to teach kids about healthy self-image at a time when they are most prone to developing body image disorders that may affect them for the rest of their lives. Since Factor Health’s main goal is to decrease the healthcare costs related to obesity, they should also consider the hefty costs that eating disorders can bring. I know obesity causes many health problems. I know it lowers your life expectancy and your quality of life. Deteriorating mental health has the same side effects. I am so sick and tired of people telling little kids that being fat is the worst thing you can do to yourself, because it’s not. Dasgupta is a neuroscience and biochemistry sophomore from Frisco.
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SPORTS
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THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 2020
T H R O U G H T H E LENS
Featuring the best from the photo department.
jack myer
| daily texan staff
Rachel Hoepfl and Jim Maxwell juggle on Speedway in front of Gregory Gym on Wednesday. The two were promoting the Texas Juggling Society and inviting others to participate.
basketball continues from page
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Knight (1981-1986), Clarissa Davis (1985-1989), Ariel Atkins (2014-2018), Beverly Williams (1984-1988) and coach Rodney Page (1973-1976). Page, the programs’ inaugural and first Black coach, led the Longhorns to a 38-17 record during his first two seasons on the Forty Acres. Also in attendance, Page joined Swindell on the court as the crowd cheered them on.
In contrast to the high-energy halftime performance from UT’s allBlack Unity Step Team, Texas was sluggish out of the locker room, only knocking down six of 21 shot attempts. The fourth quarter wasn’t much better, as they went 1-for-13 from the 3-point line. “It was just one of those nights shots weren’t falling, shot selection wasn’t the best,” Collier said. “There (in Ames), we played great. We played great at Iowa State, so it’s just one of those games.” Texas dropped its fourth conference
and home game of the season and has now fallen to 15–8 with seven games left on the schedule. The Longhorns honored its Black athletes with zeal, but Wednesday’s 18-point home loss was nothing to celebrate. “We’ve been able to keep our spirits in games,” Texas head coach Karen Aston said. “I don’t really have an explanation for our attitudes and our body language. I don’t really have any excuses for this performance at all. There are no excuses for it.”
softball
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performance in Puerto Vallarta is vital in determining how they will be able to handle inevitable adversity. Texas is scheduled to play eight of the current Top 25 teams this season. This weekend will provide the Longhorns with a good challenge that can battle test them before they are forced to run the gauntlet. “If we can be aggressive on balls in the strike zone, that’s what the key is,” Texas head coach Mike White said. “We have to score more runs.”
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The tournament in Puerto Vallarta will also be critical to giving young players much-needed experience. Texas has plenty of proven players, including Elish, junior second baseman Janae Jefferson and junior catcher Mary Iakopo. As Texas tries to vault themselves among the traditional national powers, they will look for several unproven players to grow into vital roles. Several underclassmen gained their first experience on the field last weekend due to the lopsided nature of the games, but the trip to Mexico will give Texas the opportunity to thrust these young
players into more consequential game situations. One of the young prospects that the team hopes to rely on during conference play is pitcher Courtney Day. The freshman out of Pearland, Texas, pitched five scoreless innings across three games last weekend while picking up seven hits in 11 at-bats. “Courtney works really hard in practice,” Elish said after the Texas Classic. “I was so happy to see what she did.” Texas kicks off the Puerto Vallarta College Challenge with a game against California Baptist at 3 p.m Thursday.
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MARCUS KRUM
Sports Editor | @TEXANSPORTS
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 2020
WOMEN’S BASKETBALL
Poor shooting dooms Longhorns
jack myer
/ the daily texan staff
Sophomore center Charli Collier goes up for a shot during the Longhorns’ 69-51 loss to Iowa State at the Frank Erwin Center on Wednesday night. Collier put on a double-double performance with a team-high 17 points and 11 rebounds.
Longhorns shoot 26.9% as Iowa State Cyclones secure largest win over Texas in 20 years. By Robert Trevino @robtrev22
exas has been able to overcome slow starts throughout the season, but Wednesday night’s scoring drought against Iowa State lasted far too long for the Longhorns to prevent the 69-51 loss to Iowa State.
“We played a really good first couple minutes of the game, and then … they went on a run and we couldn’t answer it,” senior guard Sug Sutton said. “I don’t know. It was a poor performance all around, so there’s not a lot of things to say about what happened tonight.” Texas and Iowa State came into the Frank Erwin Center at No. 3 and No. 4 in the Big 12 standings, respectively. After Texas took down the Cyclones in Ames, Iowa, last month, the Longhorns were looking at the perfect opportunity to secure a season sweep that could have big implications when the Big 12 Tournament arrives. But the Cyclones’ season scoring leader sophomore guard Ashley Joens came straight out of the gate on fire, with seven points in the first five minutes of
the game. The Longhorns didn’t help matters by shooting 8-for32 from the field in the first half. “Just a really, really disappointing performance,” Texas head coach Karen Aston said. “The big struggle tonight was that we couldn’t control anything on the defensive end, which typically we are able to sustain … even when things are not going great on the offensive end. … Our offense struggled tonight.” The home crowd had some life going into the half, thanks to a buzzer-beating 3-pointer by sophomore center Charli Collier that gave the Longhorns a manageable 30-21 deficit. But that life quickly faded as Texas opened the second half 0-for-10 from the field. “It was just one of those nights. Shots weren’t falling,” Collier said. “Shot selection (wasn’t) the best. … I mean, (in Ames) we
played great … so it was just one of those games.” Poor shooting performance kept the Longhorns from over-
If I had an answer, I would’ve fixed it. If I had an excuse, I would give you one. But there’s not one.” KAREN ASTON head coach
coming a slow first quarter with an otherwise strong performance. Against Texas Tech, Aston’s team overcame a three-point deficit at the end of the first quarter to win by 15. Although the Cyclones sit four spots above the Lady
WOMEN’S BASKETBALL
Raiders, Texas still had the potential to rally. But at the postgame press conference, Aston had no answers for why the Longhorns came up short. “I didn’t think that they looked at halftime like a team that was determined,” Aston said. “I mean, if I had an answer, I would’ve fixed it. If I had an excuse, I would give you one. But there’s not one.” With the loss, Texas now moves to 15–8 on the year. With three games over the next 10 days, the Longhorns have no time to dwell on Wednesday’s disappointing defeat. “You don’t have a lot of time to feel sorry for yourself at all,” Aston said. “We have one day to get ready for Kansas on their home court, and then we have one day before we have to turn around and play West Virginia. … We don’t have time for that.”
SOFTBALL
Longhorns celebrate Black History Month in loss
Texas looks to take sixgame win streak to Mexico By Carter Yates @thedailytexan
Fresh off a dominant six-game win streak start to the season in the Texas Classic, the No. 6 Texas Longhorns resume play with a tournament this weekend. But instead of playing in front of a few hundred fans at Red and Charline McCombs Field, the Longhorns are heading down south. Texas is traveling to Mexico for a unique opportunity to compete in the Puerto Vallarta College Challenge for the second time, the first time being in the 2018 season. Unlike the 2018 jack myer
team, this season’s version of the Longhorns are off one of the best starts in program history. Describing the Texas Classic performance as “dominant” would be an understatement. In merely four days’ time, the Longhorns won a record six straight games decided by the run rule, outscoring their opponents 78-8 over the course of the weekend. Texas was led by senior pitcher Miranda Elish, who batted for a whopping .818 average and posted a 1.40 ERA en route to being named the Big 12 Player of the Week. “We put … 10-plus runs up every single game,”
Elish said after the tournament. “That’s a testament to the work we have put in this offseason.” Despite confidence running high after a scorching stretch, this weekend will be a truer indication of how dominant Texas can be. Aside from the challenge of playing five games in three days, the Longhorns have to face off against Utah (5–0), No. 12 Tennessee (3–1) and the Mexican Olympic Team. The Texas Classic generated well-deserved buzz regarding the Longhorns’ seemingly infinite potential, but the team’s S O F T B A L L PAGE 5
/ the daily texan staff
Senior guard Sug Sutton runs onto the court wearing Texas’ Black History Month warmup shirts with “History Makers” across the chest before the game on Wednesday. By Myah Taylor @t_myah
The Texas women’s basketball team may have fallen to Iowa State 69-51 Wednesday night, but that didn’t stop those in the Frank Erwin Center from celebrating the legacies of UT’s Black athletes. To commemorate Black History Month, the Longhorns ran on to the court before the game clad in black t-shirts reading “History Makers” across the front. On the back of the tee was the last name of Texas’ first African American women’s basketball player,
Retha Swindell. “(Swindell) spoke to us before the game and gave us some pointers after shoot around,” sophomore center Charli Collier said. “It was nice talking to her and getting some words of wisdom.” Swindell sported the burnt orange and white from 1975-1979 and became the program’s first All-American. This Longhorn history maker, inducted into the UT Athletics Hall of Fame in 2001, is Texas’ all-time leader in rebounds with 1,759. Before a rendition of both the “Black National Anthem” and “The
National Anthem,” performed by an all-Black choir, senior point guard Sug Sutton was gifted with a basketball to honor her 1,000 point achievement. “It felt amazing to be honored tonight with my teammates and coaches,” Sutton said. “I worked really hard to get to this position, so I’m really honored and really grateful for it.” In addition to Swindell, who received a standing ovation once she took the court, the team honored five other Texas women’s basketball black history makers during halftime: Annette Smith BASKETBALL
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ryan lam
/ the daily texan file
Senior pitcher Miranda Elish delivers a pitch during the Longhorns’ 7-1 win over Texas A&M Corpus Christi at Red McCombs Field on March 13, 2019.
COMICS
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A L E K K A H E R N A N D E Z & B A R B R A D A LY
Comics Editors| @THEDAILYTEXAN
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 2020
The New York Times Syndication Sales Corporation 620 Eighth Avenue, New York, N.Y. 10018 For Information Call: 1-800-972-3550 For Release Thursday, February 13, 2020
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T R I N A DY J O S L I N
Life&Arts Editor | @TRINADY05
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 2020
Q&A
LIFE&ARTS
‘Fantasy Island’ team talks horror Student reporters chat with actress Lucy Hale and director Jeff Wadlow about horror, acting and directing. By Noah Levine @ZProductionz
orror production company Blumhouse’s “Fantasy Island” is a twisted reimagining of the classic show of the same name. The Daily Texan, along with several other student-run publications, participated in a conference call with director Jeff Wadlow (“Blumhouse’s Truth or Dare,” “Kick-Ass 2”) and actress Lucy Hale (“Blumhouse’s Truth or Dare,” “Pretty Little Liars”). Daily Texan: What draws both of you to the horror genre?
The
Lucy Hale: I’ve always loved watching (horror). My character has a great line in the movie that says, “That’s why we ride roller coasters and watch horror movies, because we like to feel something.” And I think that when watching (horror), you’re so present. I love not knowing what’s going to come next. I’m definitely a thrill-seeker, so I love watching them. (When it comes to) making them, you know, I’m just grateful for any job.
I’m very interested in the dialogue between the film and the Jeff
Wadlow:
copyright blumhouse, and reproduced with permission
Melanie (Lucy Hale) is attacked by a frightening assailant in Blumhouse’s “Fantasy Island.” The Daily Texan spoke to Hale and director Jeff Wadlow. movie to create that audience and how we’re choosing to sequence images, intensity, but it’s still about that dialogue with how to create an experience for the audience, how we are the audience. creating tension and releasing it. And I love not knowing what’s I love doing that with acgoing to come next. I’m tion movies, definitely a thrill-seeker.” but I also love doing it LUCY HALE with thrillers and horror actress movies. It’s a difference of scale, and you have LH: What he said! to get much more focused and smaller with a thriller or a horror The Tufts Daily: Are you
still finding yourself pulling things from Aria (“Pretty Little Liars”) as a character, especially in horror films? LH: If they brought that show back, it should be made into a horror film. There were so many suspense and thriller elements in that show that definitely prepared me for “Truth or Dare” and “Fantasy Island.” But the characters are all so different, and I never try to play the same thing twice. I definitely think that being chased after someone for eight seasons on a show, being stalked, I definitely have my horror face down.
It’s all in the eyes. JW: One thing (Hale) understand(s) is the dance between the actor and the camera. Some actors will do incredible work, but they’re not presenting it in the way where the lens can find it. A lot of (the performance) gets lost. All that matters is what the camera perceives. DU Clarion: As a director, what do you look for in a role? JW: I look for actors who
bring themselves to the role. I always say I cast the actor not the character, so that in
the script is sort of a sketch of a person, and I’m looking for a real person who’s going to bring something interesting that I could never have imagined. I will start rewriting for them and thinking of new ways to express the character on screen through wardrobe, through dialogue and through blocking. And a lot of that comes from the actor. What I love about Lucy is that she gets that. She becomes her own department head. I think that’s really important that an actor takes ownership of the role.
STUDENT LIFE
Congratulations, UT Graduates
COME TAKE YOUR FREE
GRADUATION PICTURE FOR THE CACTUS YEARBOOK!
5 last-minute Valentine’s Day date ideas around campus By Ariana Arredondo @arixgraciela
With due dates coming up left and right, planning the perfect Valentine’s Day date may have slipped your mind. But don’t fret, The Daily Texan has compiled a list of last-minute destinations on campus for you to explore with your valentine. Campus Picnic
The Turtle Pond near the biology labs and greenhouse is usually something students pass on their way to class. But this Valentine’s Day, a quick stop on The Drag for a to-go lunch and a small blanket are all the materials you need to have the perfect turtle-watching picnic. Another on-campus picnic destination is South Mall. That George Washington statue may not be the most romantic of views, but laying on the grass during sunset or sunrise is sure to make your date swoon. The Blanton Museum of Art
Whether you’re an art buff or you’ve never willingly been to a museum, you should add the Blanton Museum of
Art to your Valentine’s Day itinerary. An exhibition currently up is “The Artist at Work,” which showcases how artists have portrayed themselves and their identities through their work. Before leaving museum grounds, you should also stop by Ellsworth Kelly’s “Austin,” an architectural art piece with multicolored stained glass windows that makes for a great Instagram opportunity. The Color Inside
“The Color Inside” is a Skyspace by James Turrell on the third floor of the William C. Powers, Jr. Student Activity Center. The space has a skylight at the top which, along with light strips on the walls and the sun’s placement, creates a multicolored experience. The sun’s position in the sky makes the best times to visit the Skyspace sunset and sunrise. Spots to see the light sequence during that time are usually full, but if you get there early, you might just be lucky enough to snag a standby spot. Regardless, “The Color Inside” is a can’t miss destination that will leave you mesmerized. Head up there after a romantically lit fast-food lunch at the fireplace lounge in the WCP to
complete the date. Board Games
If you’re in a competitive mood, the WCP also has board games in stock and available for check out. Go over to the hospitality desk and choose from Scrabble, dominoes, Risk, Monopoly and chess. After picking your favorite game, find a spot to play, make jokes and have fun.
Bowling in the Texas Union Underground
Bowling is a classic date option for couples and friends alike. There is a bowling alley located on campus in the Union Underground, the bottom level of the Texas Union. If you ever wanted to have a date straight out of a movie scene, now is the time. Head over to the Union and try your hardest to beat your valentine in a friendly game of bowling. The alley has regular bowling for $2 per game and glow bowl featuring music, lasers and black lights for $3. If bowling isn’t your thing or if you’re just plain bad at it, the Union Underground also offers pool tables for $5 an hour and air hockey for $8 an hour.
Thursday, February 20 2–6 p.m. Friday, February 21 10 a.m.–3 p.m. Saturday, February 22 11 a.m.–4 p.m. HSM Building Lobby 2500 Whitis Open to all fall 2019, spring and summer 2020 graduates, including graduate-level degrees. No appointment necessary. Business Casual attire recommended. Receive a $10 discount off of the Cactus Yearbook with your picture. bixie mathieu
/ the daily texan staff