The Daily Texan 2020-02-14

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

Friday, February 14, 2020

Volume 120, Issue 100

NEWS

OPINION

SPORTS

LIFE&ARTS

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PAGE 4

PAGE 7

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Campus Events + Entertainment hosts eighth annual Valentine’s Day Crushgram event.

UT dining halls need to encourage interactions between students.

“To All The Boys” sequel departs from books while maintaining lighthearted romance.

With only seven games left, the Longhorns travel to Ames to start tournament push

CAMPUS

STUDENT GOVERNMENT

‘Green Couch’ raises $5k

UT Senate hosts Fenves; leaders discuss Girl Day bill

Students at the Butler School of Music launch “Green Couch” HornRaiser to replace 1980s-era furniture in Music Building and Recital Hall.

By Anna Canizales @annaleonorc

President Gregory Fenves spoke to students about sexual misconduct policy and affordability at the Senate of College Councils meeting Thursday. Senate members also discussed legislation codifying a partnership between Senate and Girl Day, an event where the University hosts girls in elementary and middle school to introduce them to careers in STEM. During the meeting, Fenves said starting fall 2020 the administration will implement the Texas Advance Commitment, assuring financial aid for students from families whose annual adjusted gross income is under $65,000. This financial aid will cover the entirety of those students’ tuition and applies to all undergraduate Texas residents, Fenves said.

“We want this to be a university where every single student, regardless of background … has all the opportunities to succeed,” Fenves said.

Fenves also discussed a sexual misconduct meeting Thursday morning with outside Title IX experts. He said in the meeting that the administration’s goals are to communicate expectations of conduct, inform students about support, train faculty and staff, and strengthen procedures when there is an allegation of sexual misconduct.

After a discussion with Fenves, assembly members discussed new legislation, including a bill to partner with Women in Engineering for Girl Day. Every piece of legislation brought forth to the assembly went through a

kayleigh allen

/ the daily texan staff

Students started the Green Couch Project to replace outdated 1980s furniture in the the Butler School of Music.

By Mikayla Mondragon @miki_mondragon

reen couches line the halls of the Butler School of Music’s recital hall. Alumni can remember the days they were brand new in the 1980s. Today, students say they are torn, deformed and roach-infested.

That is why students started the Green Couch Project, a $45,000

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fundraiser to replace these couches, the only lounge furniture on the first and second floors of the Music Building and Recital Hall.

“There was one time when I was doing my homework trying to finish an assignment, and I dropped my pencil,” grauduate music student Lauren Casey-Clyde said in a fundraiser video. “I pulled out the couches to find it and out walked two cockroaches.”

Mary Ellen Poole, director of the Butler School of Music, said the school has not received

funding for the couches because there are more urgent maintenance needs at the University. Members of the Butler School of Music Greek organizations, Sigma Alpha Iota, Mu Phi Epsilon and Phi Mu Alpha, created the HornRaiser to replace the couches. About $5,000 has been raised so far, according to the HornRaiser webpage.

Valerie Mercado, president of the UT chapter of Sigma Alpha Iota, said the $45,000 will G R E E N PAGE 2

UNIVERSITY

WEST CAMPUS

$1M donation starts secular studies COLA professorship

Wingstop to open new location on Guadalupe Street in summer 2020

By Cecilia Garzella @ceciliagarzella

The College of Liberal Arts received a $1 million endowment to establish a new professorship in secular studies from a retired psychology professor from the Illinois Institute of Technology and University of Arkansas.

The Brian F. Bolton Distinguished Professorship in Secular Studies will make UT the first public university to have an endowed professorship geared towards secular research, according to the Austin American-Statesman. David Ochsner, director of public affairs for COLA, said an existing senior faculty member will be selected to fill the position.

“This area of study will add to our already substantial course offerings in the study of belief systems,” Ochsner said in an email. “Departments of religion have, for many decades, included courses studying wide ranges of belief systems, including atheism and agnosticism.”

Brian Bolton, who is also a humanist minister said humanism is a “focus on life and the here and now,” according to the States-

man. Although Bolton has never taught at UT, he has lived in Texas for 18 years since retiring and decided he wanted to make an impact at UT. “One way or another, you have to do something as you come near the end of life,” Bolton said. “I’m 80 years old, so I’m not going to be around too much longer.”

In the United States, 26% of the adult population identifies as “atheist, agnostic or ‘nothing in particular,’” according to the Pew Research Center.

The percentage of religiously unaffiliated people is greater among young adults at 38%, according to the Public Religion Research Institute.

“It’s just the way ... younger people think about philosophical issues that has caused them to move in this direction,” Bolton said.

“It’s been a dramatic change in the last 20 years.”

Psychology freshman Marcus McDonel said the endowment is an important step for advancing research in a subject that has traditionally lacked scholarly attention.

“Secularism and the way it’s involved with schools and the state S E C U L A R PAGE 2

By Neha Madhira @nehamira14

Wingstop, a chicken wing restaurant chain, will open a new location on The Drag in summer 2020.

There are currently eight Wingstop locations in Austin, according to the Wingstop website. As of now, the closest Wingstop stores are at least three miles away and are not within walking distance for many students. The new restaurant will be located on the 23rd block of Guadalupe Street next to clothing boutique Miss Behavin.

“We’re opening a lot of new restaurants all over the country, and Texas is one of our biggest growing markets,” said Anthony Perez, Wingstop’s new restaurant marketing manager. “I am a former Longhorn myself, so I am very excited for a Wingstop to be there.”

Perez said the restaurant serves over 11 different flavors of wings.

He said the restaurant will be very popular for college students.

“Mainly, we have classic wings and boneless wings,” Perez said.

“We also have chicken tenders. I just think (the store) will be a very warm welcome for students here.”

jamie hwang

/ the daily texan staff

Wingstop is currently preparing to open this summer. The restaurant will be located on the 23rd block of Guadalupe Street between Potbelly Sandwich Shop and clothing boutique Miss Behavin.

Neuroscience freshman Sarah Simmons said Wingstop may take business away from Pluckers, a chicken wing restaurant with a location in West Campus. “(Wingstop) will be closer to campus,” Simmons said. “I mean, it will be cool to have another wing place opening up.”

Simmons said she also thinks businesses tend to close down a lot on

The Drag.

“Maybe the Wingstop will stay open because it’s such a big, national company,” Simmons said.

The chain started in 1994, and there are now more than 1,250 locations around the United States, Mexico, Colombia, Panama, Singapore, Indonesia, Malaysia, the W I N G S T O P PAGE 2

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FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 2020

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UT-Tyler Medical School receives $80 million gift

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copyright the university of texas at tyler, and reproduced with permission

Kirk Calhoun, president of the UT Health Science Center at Tyler, seated center, signs the cerimonial letter for the $80 million dollar gift from the East Texas Medical Center Foundation.

By Laura Morales @lamor_1217

The University of Texas at Tyler received an $80 million gift from the East Texas Medical Center Foundation on Wednesday for its medical school, which the UT System announced last week they will be establishing as the first medical school in East Texas.

The East Texas Medical Center Foundation gift is the largest contribution ever made to establish a medical school in Texas.

Kirk Calhoun, president of the UT Health Science Center at Tyler, said this gift will help advance the mission of bringing quality health care to the region while incentivizing students to work there. Calhoun said there is a deficit of medical professionals in the region.

“We have some very poor health outcomes out in Northeast Texas,” Calhoun said. “Many

rural communities are experiencing hospital closures and shortages of positions. We want to create an environment in the school where our graduates will want to work in smaller communities like those surrounding Tyler.”

He said the fund will be used for operational costs while enrollment is growing, including faculty hiring and equipment.

The program will offer graduate degrees, undergraduate training and residency programs. Once the UT System Board of Regents approves the school at their meeting next week, UT-Tyler will go forward with planning.

Kevin Eltife, Board of Regents chairman, initially called for funding to the center after the announcement last week. As the former state senator of the region, he said in a press conference announcing the contribution that it will mostly benefit the underserved area of East Texas.

“Your gift means so much for UT and beyond,” Eltife said. “We

know it will expand opportunities for patients who need primary and specialty care, enhance the capacity of our local hospitals to treat and heal, and boost our economy and biomedical research capabilities, for starters.”

Elam Swann, chairman of the East Texas Medical Center Foundation board, said the center has been particularly concerned with the growing need for mental health care in the region. He said the center donated to the school because of the president’s commitment to addressing mental health care in the curriculum.

“We are facing huge growing mental health issues across our state and nation and East Texas in particular,” Swann said. “We have more people in need than doctors we have to help. We hope this new medical center will teach tomorrow’s doctors who will be trained to treat everyone, whether physical or mental, from right here in Tyler to our medically underserved rural areas.

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yinuo chen

/ the daily texan staff

President Gregory Fenves attends a Senate meeting Thursday to discuss Girl Day, sexual misconduct policies and financial aid.

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Q-and-A period, but were all put on hold or sent to committees for discussion.

Senate policy director Hussain Alkhafaji said Senate members have previously worked with Girl Day, and this bill would solidify that relationship, “(The partnership) will increase Senate’s community outreach, and it’s important that we continue to reach out to communities of potential students as well as the community in general,” said Isaac James, academic policy committee co-chair and co-author of the bill. “The statistics are so low for women in engineering and medical fields.

The male-dominated profession can be really toxic.”

James, plan II and government sophomore, said the partnership will increase Senate’s community outreach and strengthen the relationship between the student body and student leaders.

“This intervention intuitively is shown to help with exposing science, technology and math-related fields to minority women and low-income families,” said Alkhafaji, public health and journalism senior and co-author of the bill. “One of the issues (for girls in STEM) is the lack of role models. Because Senate is dedicated to addressing levels of education and equity, it just makes sense for one of the largest events that UT hosts to have Senate contributing to a good degree.”

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not cover the entire cost. Mercado said to replace all 90 couches, the total estimated cost is $145,000.

“The reason we’re only fundraising $45,000 is because we do have some money within the Butler School of Music budget to help us,” English senior Mercado said.

After raising the money, Mercado said that the students will talk to various deans of the University and ask them to match their funds, but nothing is guaranteed.

Poole said the school has submitted a request for funding from the provost’s office

and hopes that the students’ fundraising energy will be persuasive.

Psychology sophomore Nathaniel Reta said he and his fellow Longhorn Band trombone players lay around on the couches before football games. He said it upsets him that the couches are in the condition they are.

“It’s kind of unfair that everything is a bit of a mess,” Reta said.

Mercado says that the green couches are an integral part of student life in Butler School of Music.

“Whether socializing with my friends or having a meeting ... we spend so much time on these green couches on the regular,” Mercado said. “Why do we have to be OK with the condition of these green couches?”

copyright brian bolton, and reproduced with permission

UT-Austin will be the first public university in the U.S. to have an endowed professorship that is specifically geared toward secular research with the help of the Brian Bolton.

secular

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is very interesting to me,” McDonel said. “There are a lot of religious studies classes you can take (at UT), but no (classes) that focus on (secularism).”

Bolton said the UT faculty member ultimately chosen for

wingstop

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UK and the United Arab Emirates, according to the Wingstop website.

“I feel like a lot of (businesses on The Drag) come and go,” business freshman Aishwarya Agnihotri said.

“It’s just kind of frustrating how they close down.”

Geography sophomore Noelia Lazo said she is unsure of businesses staying open on

the position will determine the course of the research that’s done, such as secular studies with a focus in psychology. “(I’ve spent) 40 years promoting free thought and the secular view of life,” Bolton said. “I promote the humanist philosophy, humanitarian values and scientific principles.”

The Drag as well.

“There are multiple big companies, such as Dunkin’ Donuts, shutting down,” Lazo said. “It’s just crazy that they can’t even afford to stay on (Guadalupe Street).”

Perez said Wingstop representatives will announce more details about the new location closer to summer 2020.

“We actually just launched delivery as well,” Perez said.

“That will make it even easier for students to try our wings.”

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NEWS

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FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 2020

UNIVERSITY

Center for Mexican American Studies marks 50 years

n

kirsten hahn

/ the daily texan staff

John Morán González, director of Mexican American studies, speaks about “CMAS at 50,” a new exhibit, in the Nettie Lee Benson Latin American Collection on Thursday.

By Amanda Figueroa-Nieves @amandafn02

The Nettie Lee Benson Latin American Collection displayed the origins of the UT Center for Mexican American Studies on Thursday at the exhibit “CMAS at 50: A Legacy of Scholarship, Teaching, and Service.”

Chicano studies professor Américo Paredes served as the first director of the center after its establishment in 1970. The University supporting CMAS shows

recognition for the Mexican American and Latino communities and their role in the United States, according to its website.

The exhibit features a live reading of documents narrating the center’s early years, including student demands such as a Daily Texan editorial from 1969 and Américo Paredes’ resignation from his position as director of the Center for Mexican American Studies, which was read by his son Vincente Paredes.

When professor John Morán González became the director of

the center in fall 2016, he discovered the unprocessed archive at the Benson Collection. He made it his goal to process the collection so it would be ready in time for the center’s 50th anniversary, which is in the 2020-21 academic year.

“I really wanted to make sure that on this major milestone in the institutional history, that the archive would be available, accessible and cataloged in the hopes that the students, scholars and the public would come and learn more about the history of the center,” González said.

González said students are vital in fostering the importance of Latino Studies at UT by majoring in Latino studies, going to their events and treating the department as a second home.

Carla Alvarez, Latino Studies Archivist at the Benson Collection, said student activism is important and students should visit the exhibit.

“It’s telling the history,” Alvarez said. “It wasn’t easy to get to this point. It wasn’t easy to establish the center. There was a lot of activism.”

Alvarez said her favorite item from the exhibit is a poster named “Pasó por Aquí” from the Américo Paredes Distinguished Lecture Series, which brings prominent speakers to UT to speak about topics on Mexican American studies.

Anthropology junior Gabriela García attended the event for her Mexican American studies class.

“Our classroom is working to interview important figures that contributed to the CMAS department,” García said. “It’s important as a Mexican American student to witness this historic moment.”

CAMPUS

CAMPUS

Students celebrate Valentine’s Day early with ‘Bailando’

E+E spreads Valentine’s Day love with 8th annual Crushgram event

By Cameron Castilaw @CastilawCe

johnathan sherchand

/ the daily texan staff

Diana and David dance to Latin music Thursday during Bailando, which was hosted by Campus Event + Entertainment Mexican American Culture.

By Will Brooks @will_brooks_3

Latin rhythms filled the William C. Powers, Jr. Student Activity Center Ballroom on Thursday evening as students danced at Bailando, an event hosted by the Mexican American Culture Committee.

Bailando, which translates to “dancing”, is one of the organization’s signature events, event organizer Nayeli Sanchez said.

The Mexican American Culture Committee is a committee within Campus Events + Entertainment. Despite the group’s association with Mexican Americans, committee member Suly Ramirez said the organization welcomes everybody.

“Mexican doesn’t really define who we are,” government sophomore Ramirez said. “We’re not just a Mexican community, we’re a Latinx community. We didn’t want to use Hispanic because that

excludes people.”

Music boomed over the loudspeaker as the DJ played different Latin music styles such as merengue and cumbia. The music from the ballroom could be heard throughout the building. Some students, such as undeclared freshman Mellina Zavala and her friend Ana Molina, an international relations and global studies freshman, were studying at the Student Activity Center when they heard the music playing from down the hallway. Zavala said she was reminded of home.

“I always go to dances back home,” Zavala said. “I need a break (from studying).”

Molina said she was surprised to hear the Latin music coming from down the hall.

“I guess you don’t really get to hear it often on campus,” Molina said. “There’s a lot of English speakers and English music, so getting to hear this reminds me of home.”

While some students sat

and chatted with one another, others took the opportunity to dance.

“Our people love to dance,” Ramirez said. “We love to talk to each other, we’re all happy in the same environment.”

However, Sanchez, an advertising and government junior, said people who couldn’t dance had nothing to fear.

“It’s more of a free-spirited event,” Sanchez said. “You can dance however you want.

Nobody is going to judge you.

You’re learning.”

Other students used a photo booth, ate snacks and took the opportunity to make Valentine cards.

Jazmin Rivera, a health and society sophomore, said the event’s proximity to Valentine’s Day made it a popular event for students.

“I think that more people will enjoy the fact that they can go out and have fun not just in a romantic relationship but in a platonic relationship,” Rivera said.

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Campus Events + Entertainment is spreading the love this Valentine’s Day through their annual Crushgrams event, where students can send bottles of Crush to their special someone or friends.

During the event, students can send up to 10 bottles of Crush soda with a personalized note for free.

Submissions for Crushgrams opened Jan. 21 and closed Feb. 8 to allow time for E+E members to print out and organize the submitted notes in addition to ordering all of the sodas.

This year, 2,254 Crushgrams were ordered and are available for pickup from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the E+E office on the fourth floor of the Texas Union on Valentine’s Day. An email notified students if they received a Crushgram, along with instructions for pickup. “(Crushgrams are) something special that you can just anonymously send to other people,” E+E president Mario Aparicio said. “It’s a way to embrace your affec-

tion or friendship towards someone else for free and in a nice way, especially on Valentine’s Day.” Sports management senior Aparicio said Crushgrams started eight years ago, when the Union build-

(Crushgrams are) something special that you can just anonymously send to other people. It’s a way to embrace your affection or friendship towards someone else for free and in a nice way, especially on Valentine’s Day.” MARIO APARICIO e+e president

ing reopened after a period of renovations. The University noticed students were spending less time in the reopened building after finding other places to gather, Aparicio said. In an attempt to

get more students to visit the Union, the Crushgram event was created and became a UT Valentine’s Day tradition.

“I always do stuff for my friends,” biology freshman Allyssa Stancil said. “Last year I got them Valentines and I gave them handwritten notes and candy. I’m really poor this year, so when I found out you could send out (Crushgrams) for free, I was like, ‘Yeah, I’ll just do that instead.’”

Funding for this event and others hosted by E+E comes from a percentage of every student’s tuition.

“We (spend) a percentage of our tuition fees on everyone, and making meaningful events for others is what we aim for,” Aparicio said. “I want people to take advantage of it because it’s coming out of their pockets.”

Zayda Lopez, E+E vice president of publicity, said planning begins in November when E+E has to order all the bottles.

“I hope people feel ... excited because we do this event for students,” said Lopez, a management information systems senior. “We hope this brightens up (a) student’s Valentine’s Day.”

kara hawley

/ the daily texan staff

Computer science senior Michelle Van strings up paper heart garlands Thursday night.

She, along with other E+E members, made decorations for the Crushgrams booth for Valentine’s Day.

4

SPENCER BUCKNER

Editor-In-Chief | @THEDAILYTEXAN

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 2020

COLUMN

OPINION COLUMN

abriella corker

/ the daily texan staff

UT needs to provide more support to UT Outpost

By Hannah Rossi Columnist

sally garcia

/ the daily texan staff

UT needs to encourage student interactions in dining halls

By Natalie Taylor Columnist

You look up from your plate and scan the room. Sitting across from you, someone else is doing the exact same thing, and you make eye contact for just a second. This unbearably awkward second seems to last forever. They immediately divert their attention to their phone, their music — anything that takes them away from this uncomfortable situation. You do the same.

Every single day, we are forced to decide between building walls between us and the rest of the world and coming out of our shells to make an effort to connect with those around us, the latter being considerably more difficult. When we feel insecure, our phones give us something to fall back on. But why should we need this at mealtimes, which are opportunities to bond with others, share experiences and create a sense of community?

“I pull out my phone because it gets kind of uncomfortable to just be sitting there and not be doing anything, and you just end up looking around a lot,” costume design freshman Ivey Shoemaker said.

The dining halls mostly serve freshman, who are especially looking to make friends in a new environment. Dining director Rene Rodriguez said students aren’t used to sitting at a table and eating anymore,

so starting conversations is harder because students now communicate entirely through their phones.

Today, in the age of modern technology, we often simply don’t know how to have meaningful interactions, but this doesn’t mean we don’t want to.

“Honestly, if someone just came up to me and started talking to me, I would take it as such a compliment,” Shoemaker said. “I think that would be such a great thing.”

Today, in the age of modern technology, we often simply don’t know how to have meaningful interactions.”

The truth is that genuine connections with others give us the sense of belonging that we all crave. We just don’t know where to begin. UT tries its best to make the 50,000plus student body feel more connected. However, the dining halls, which are where friendship-seeking freshman spend much of their time, are severely lacking in this type of

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.

facilitated interaction.

To encourage students to speak to one another, dining halls should provide conversation starters on each table. This would better allow students to interact better without feeling pressured to come up with something to say.

“Maybe if there are questions right there, students won’t feel as intimidated to speak to one another,” said Rodriguez, who plans to gather a committee of students to implement this change in the coming year. “We can make a panel on one side of the table tents that has interesting questions to ask the person next to you.”

At first, this type of facilitation may seem ingenuine, but the goal is to encourage students to come out of their shells by making conversations as inviting as possible. Later, it can evolve into something more personal. Just like student organizations start out with a clear structure to encourage students to get to know each other, dining halls could do the same.

Before long, students will engage in genuine conversations.

We use our phones so much because everyone does, we close ourselves off from the rest of the world because everyone does, and we let our fear get the better of us because everyone does. If everyone started talking to those around them in the dining hall, we would too. We just need a little encouragement.

Taylor is a Spanish freshman from Seattle.

Given the prevalance of food insecurity on this campus, UT should provide more formal support to the UT Outpost...”

GALLERY

gianna shahdad

/ 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.

I think we can all agree that college is far more stressful than what all those shiny brochures advertised. It is a time of intense academic, social and professional pressure. For many students, this pressure is compounded by added stressors that make it even more challenging to live up to our academic potential.

Out of the around 40,000 undergraduate students who call the University of Texas home, an estimated 1 in 4 struggle with food insecurity.

For this reason, Student Emergency Services worked in conjunction with student leaders to launch the UT Outpost in 2018. Today, it operates as an on-campus food bank with the feel of a commercial grocery store, offering both nonperishable and perishable foods as well as access to a “Career Closet” containing professional dress items.

“The reality is that the UT Outpost is a resource for success,” Outpost coordinator Will Ross said. “That’s what we’re trying to get students to understand.”

Since its conception, UT Outpost has adjusted its operation to cater to the needs of students on campus, implementing fresh produce programs this year in partnership with UT Farm Stand and UT Microfarm. It’s also expanded into doing pop-ups on campus in order to, as Ross described it, “meet students where they’re at.”

Led by a five-person student leadership board, the UT Outpost is completely donation-based, relying on community members to remain stocked with food and clothing items. Still, resources are not unlimited. A student can visit once a month and receive up to 20 pounds of shelf-stable goods and as much fresh produce as they want. This year, it has began offering twice-a-month visitations over long summer breaks, a time when Ross says that the Outpost can sustain a “come twice a month model.”

However, this is just one of a few community-led programs attempting to aid the 10,000 food insecure students on our campus, all while relying entirely on donations. According to Ross, with an awareness of the Outpost’s existence growing, “we are seeing semester by semester that usage is trending upwards.”

Since more students are utilizing a much-needed resource, donations to the UT Outpost will have to increase to meet demand, which begs the question, what is the University doing?

The answer: not as much as it should.

While it does maintain The Student Emergency Fund, those funds are not used to assist students facing long term food insecurity.

The UT Outpost only exists in the first place because students called on the University to implement the program. Furthermore, the Outpost only stays operating to the capacity it does because of continued support from the UT community.

Given the prevalence of food insecurity on this campus, UT should provide more formal support to the UT Outpost, as well as other on-campus food pantries. A resource as important as this one shouldn’t be reliant entirely on donations; additional subsidy from the University could aid in its expansion as students become more aware of its existence, and perhaps even allow for more than single-month visitations. With the University’s endowment totaling $31 billion, I’m sure it is in a more than comfortable enough position to do so.

If you can, please support the efforts of campus resources such as the UT Outpost either by donating to or volunteering with them, and make use of their services if needed. They are truly here to support every student on this campus, and there’s nothing wrong with getting help when it’s needed. This asset was created by students for students, so don’t be afraid to use it.

Rossi is a government sophomore from San Antonio.

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LIFE&ARTS

5

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 2020

FILM REVIEW | ‘TO ALL THE BOYS: P.S. I STILL LOVE YOU’

‘To All the Boys’ sequel is cheesy, yet charming

Laura Jean Covey and Peter Kavinsky share cute moments in “To All the Boys: P.S. I Still Love You.”

By Ariana Arredondo @arixgraciela

A middle school crush, an old letter and readily available stationary leave Laura Jean Covey unprepared for this Valentine’s Day. “To All The Boys: P.S. I Still Love You” is the sequel to “To All The Boys I’ve Loved Before,” which debuted on Netflix in 2018. The movies are based on the book series of the same name

by Jenny Han. In this lovable sequel, Laura Jean Covey (Lana Condor) and Peter Kavinsky (Noah Centineo) are back with more cheesy dialogue and heartwarming moments. Just as LJ and Peter are learning how to be a real couple, John Ambrose McClaren (Jordan Fisher) sends LJ a response to the love letter he received at the end of the first movie. Confused as to how to respond to John Ambrose’s flirtatious attitude, LJ is caught in a love triangle prompting the audience to answer one question: Are you team Peter or team John?

Similar to the first movie, the sequel features a cheesy plot with appropriately cheesy dialogue. LJ and Peter Kavinsky regularly exchange quotable conversations alongside their pic-

ture-perfect dates. The cute moments between the couple leave the audience gushing and falling in love right along with them. The movie only crosses the line from cute to cringe when LJ’s internal dialogue, shown through semifrequent voiceovers, begins to sound like a 13 year old reading their overdramatic diary.

Aside from their cute dates and adorable moments, LJ and Peter are refreshingly imperfect. LJ is a bubbly, clumsy and awkward high school girl the audience roots for and can easily relate to. Peter is an understanding, goofy guy that makes mistakes but shows willingness to quickly correct them. Their flaws and insecurities make the two characters relatable and realistic.

Besides Peter and LJ, other side characters provide comic relief and entertaining, albeit somewhat surface-level, subplots. LJ’s younger sister, Kitty (Anna Cathcart), chuckles at her own jokes, wiggles her eyebrows and always looks like she’s up to no good, lending perfectly to the “annoying little sister” trope.

John Ambrose elicits sympathy and internal conflict not only in LJ but in the audience as well. Despite his likability, he is underutilized throughout the movie as it fails to

copyright netflix, and reproduced with permission

provide the audience with reasons to root for him outside of cute, surface-level interactions. Stormy, a woman living in the retirement home where John Ambrose and LJ are both volunteering at, appears so sparsely throughout the movie that audiences may not even remember her name. In the books, she’s a badass, over-the-top woman with slightly provocative stories to tell and a bossy, yet caring attitude.

While portrayed well, ultimately all three characters could use a little more screen time.

The camerawork and angles add comedic elements to the movie with strategically placed transitions, most of which work in the movie’s favor. The entire movie appears to have a blue-toned filter over it. While the look is different from most films, it works here and results in visually pleasing, Instagrammable scenes.

All in all, the cringe factor and unresolved subplots are overshadowed by the movie’s relatable moments and cheesy, yet heartwarming dialogue. “To All The Boys: P.S I Still Love You” will leave audiences swooning over both Peter and John Ambrose, laughing alongside Kitty and internally overthinking with LJ.

RECYCLE your copy of RECYCLE your copy of RECYCLE your copy of RECYCLE your copy of RECYCLE your copy RECYCLE your copy of RECYCLE your copy of RECYCLE your copyof of

“To All the Boys: P.S. I Still Love You” GENRE

Romance PG-13

R AT I N G

SCORE

Aside from their cute dates and adorable moments, LJ and Peter are refreshingly imperfect.”

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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

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 2020

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Today’s solution will appear here next issue

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60 Side-to-side motion

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95% of Longhorns approve of getting help for a friend who’s had too much to drink. @UTBruceTheBat 2019 UT Austin National Social Norms Center Survey

7

MARCUS KRUM

Sports Editor | @TEXANSPORTS

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 2020

MEN’S BASKETBALL

joshua guenther

/ the daily texan file

Sophomore guard Courtney Ramey lays up a shot at the basket against the No. 1 Baylor Bears on Feb. 10. Ramey has been a key contributor for the Longhorns this season, and will need to continue his production for the team to succeed.

Longhorns travel to Iowa State

After losing three games in a row, Texas is running out of time to prove itself as tournamentworthy.

By Wills Layton @willsdebeast

even games.

That’s the number of games the Texas men’s basketball team has left to prove itself as a tournament team. There are still several opportunities remaining, with games against No. 14 West Virginia at home and a trip to Lubbock to play No. 24

Texas Tech.

The Longhorns will likely need to win both of those games to put themselves into a position to hear their name called on Selection Sunday.

Despite a recent string of injuries, the team has the talent to make it happen.

“Absolutely I think we have what it takes, but there’s a difference between knowing what to do and going and doing it,” Texas head coach Shaka Smart said. “But we don’t have a choice.”

Before those two key matchups, Texas travels to Ames, Iowa, looking to finally beat a middle-of-thepack Big 12 team. The Cyclones gave the Longhorns a difficult test in Austin in a game Feb. 1 that went down to the wire.

A loss to Iowa State on Saturday would be devastating to a team that is in the middle of a three-game losing skid. While every team the Long-

horns lost to is currently ranked in the Top 25 nationally, missing out on

You can’t win two in a row without winning one in a row.”

SHAKA SMART head coach

a résumé-building win deeply hurt the team’s tournament chances. After losing to No. 1 Baylor on Monday, the

focus has to shift to the future.

“Now we’re just focused on Saturday trying to get a win at Iowa State,” junior guard Matt Coleman said. “We still got eight or seven games left on our schedule, (then) you’ve got the tournament. There’s still light at the end of the tunnel, and we just have to grab hold of it.”

Coleman is not alone in maintaining that attitude. The players still have faith that an NCAA Tournament appearance is within reach. They just have to take advantage of the games still on the schedule.

“It’s a long season, and we have a lot of games left,” sophomore guard Courtney Ramey said. “The most important thing for us is going to Iowa State and getting a win on Saturday.”

Luckily for the Longhorns, the Cyclones will be without their

WOMEN’S BASKETBALL

BASEBALL

Texas looks for redemption in Lawrence against Kansas

Baseball’s success begins and ends with Bryce Elder

By Nathan Han @NathanHan13

jack myer

/ the daily texan file

Sophomore center Charli Collier battles against two Iowa State defenders during the Feb. 12 contest. Collier is one of the top performers for the Longhorns this season.

By Myah Taylor @t_myah

Individual game results — win or lose — aren’t something to dwell on for too long. Texas head coach Karen Aston said complacency can be the downfall of a competitive team.

“Forget it,” Aston said after defeating Texas Tech in Austin on Jan. 15. “You can’t let one loss turn into two back to back, and you can’t let a win cause you to relax and let your guard down. … If we don’t get in that mix of teams that are really starving, then we’re going to find ourselves on the outside looking in.”

The Longhorns, fresh off of an ugly Wednesday night home loss to Iowa State, will try to carry that hunger into their contest against the Kansas Jayhawks on Saturday.

Before the two teams last met Jan. 22 in Austin, Aston praised the Jayhawks for the athleticism and energy they bring to games.

“They’re very competitive, very quick,” Aston said prior to the first matchup of the season. “They put a lot of pressure on you defensively

to stay in front of them.”

Aston’s game plan worked with the players, who executed when they needed to.

Despite a late rally, Kansas fell to Texas 85-77 at the Frank Erwin Center. That win allowed the Longhorns to enjoy the 1,100th win all-time for the women’s basketball program.

The biggest difference in that game was how well Texas started the second half.

Kansas head coach Brandon Schneider said Texas’ performance out of the locker room was the key to the Longhorns’ victory and his own team’s fall.

“The biggest difference in terms of runs was their start to the third quarter,” Schneider said after the loss to Texas. “We had possession to start the third quarter and had a wide open three and turned it down. They turned it into a transition layup, and they had one of their spurts which they’re very capable of.”

But the past — good, bad and ugly — holds no weight in Saturday’s matchup or any of Texas’ upcoming conference games. And after a poor performance in their most recent

best player when the teams take the court at Hilton Coliseum.

Sophomore point guard Tyrese Haliburton, a likely lottery pick in this year’s NBA draft, broke his wrist in a game against Kansas State.

Despite the Cyclones’ most talented player missing time, the Longhorns still need to focus on improving their own game. The inconsistency that has prevented the team from upsetting any of the last three opponents has to be rectified to some degree. That starts with a solid performance at Iowa State.

“We’re trying to focus on being the best we can be tomorrow and the next game because, the reality is, it puts you in a better position if you win the next game,” Smart said. “You can’t win two in a row without winning one in a row.”

game, the Longhorns should happy with that fact.

The Longhorns had one of their worst shooting performances of the season Wednesday night against the Cyclones, putting up only 51 points — and shooting from under 30% from the 3-point line.

“It was just one of those nights shots weren’t falling,” sophomore center Charli Collier said after the loss to Iowa State. “Shot selection wasn’t the best. There (in Ames), we played great. We played great at Iowa State, so it’s just one of those games.”

The Longhorns don’t have time to dwell on their previous poor performances.

With a potentially tough road matchup in Lawrence, Kansas, quickly approaching, the team has to move on and prepare for what comes next.

“You don’t have a lot of time to feel sorry for yourself,” Aston said Wednesday night. “We have one day to get ready for Kansas on their home court, and we have one day (after that) before we have to turn around and play West Virginia, so there’s not a lot of time to feel sorry for yourself or have a pity party.”

Through both an up-anddown 2019 season and a fall filled with moving parts at both coaching and player positions, one thing has remained constant for the Texas baseball team: pitcher Bryce Elder.

The junior will open the season on the mound for the Longhorns when they travel to Rice on Friday to kick off their 2020 campaign. This comes as no surprise as he started the season opener last year after moving into the starting rotation following a freshman year in the bullpen.

“We signed the kid in late June after his senior year in high school baseball,” pitching coach Sean Allen said.

“He comes in here and was solid as a freshman mostly as a bullpen piece. Then, all of a sudden, he just works himself into the Friday night starter role last year and will fill that role again this year. But (his improvement) is because of his mentality.”

For a remodeled team that has many unanswered questions, including an infield

completely revamped with two freshmen up the middle, Elder is a strength the team can count on.

After throwing 83 innings last season with a 2.93 ERA, Elder earned All-Big 12 second team starting pitcher honors. He was also named unanimously to the 2020 Preseason All-Big 12 team.

Elder has proven that he should be the team’s opening day starter and ace.

This weekend against Rice, the right-hander will have a chance to show he’s taken yet another step. Elder has added to his repertoire enough to handle even the best Rice players, including Owls star and preseason All-American junior shortstop Trei Cruz.

“I’m not going to go away from who I am as a sinker-slider guy because it’s been good so far,” Elder said.

“But I’ll throw the changeup a lot more this year, and I’ll throw the curveball a lot more this year. Having a true four pitches and not just three and a half is really going to help.”

The rest of the Texas baseball roster will look new compared to last season, particularly in the updated infield. Junior Zach Zubia

will start at first base. Junior Murphy Stehly will start at third base, joined by freshmen Trey Faltine and Brenden Dixon at shortstop and second base.

“I can’t think of the last time the University of Texas had two starters in the middle of the field that are both freshmen,” head coach David Pierce said. “I don’t think we put a limit to leadership on age.”

Against Owls starter junior pitcher Alex DeLeon, the Texas batters will have the opportunity to show they can produce for a lineup that desperately needs a boost after finishing last in the Big 12 in batting average, OPS and home runs last season.

While the 2019 season ended with disappointment after being the only team in the Big 12 to miss the conference tournament, Texas has to move forward into the new season.

“Nobody’s brought it up,” Pierce said of last season.

“We flipped the page. …

2019, we’re past that.”

For 2020 to go in a different direction, the Longhorns will need Elder to once again be the lights-out pitcher that he was last year.

eddie gaspar

/ the daily texan file

Junior pitcher Bryce Elder throws a pitch against a West Virginia batter in April 2019. Elder looks to continue his strong performance after finishing last season as the team’s best pitcher.

8

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

Life&Arts Editor | @TRINADY05

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 2020

LIFE&ARTS

FILM

Movies for a lonely Valentine’s If you’re single on Valentine’s Day, try spending it with these unique films.

By Grace Barnes @gebarnes210

t’s that time of year again for heartshaped boxes, bouquets of roses and chocolate-covered strawberries. It’s the day when some lucky couples go out for romantic candlelit dinner dates or exchange cute gifts and enjoy each other’s company.

But for those of us who have remained single, Valentine’s Day can be lonely — even gross — seeing all those happy couples together while you sit at home with your pet and some takeout.

Not to worry, The Daily Texan is here to remind you that being single is OK. Whether you’re waiting on love, getting over a breakup or need justification that not being in a relationship is totally fine, the Texan has got you covered. Here are our top five movies to watch if you’re single this Valentine’s Day. “Legally Blonde” If you’re trying to get over a breakup this Val-

copyright Blumhouse production, and reproduced With permission

Jordan Peele s 2017 thriller Get Out offers a unique Valentine s Day experience. entine’s Day, what better way to spend your night than watching this female-empowering classic? We can’t guarantee you’ll get into Harvard Law School, but we promise you are a strong, independent person, and someday the right person will walk into your life and love you for exactly who you are. Available for rent or purchase on Amazon Prime.

“When Harry Met Sally” Another romantic com-

edy staple, “When Harry Met Sally,” is a great reminder that sometimes love takes a while to develop. It might start out as a friendship and stay that way for a really long time before you both discover your true feelings for each other.

And then they’ll show up at your New Year’s Eve party and tell you how much they love you and all your flaws. Adorable.

Available for purchase on Amazon Prime.

“Clueless” Get to know yourself a little bit more this Valentine’s Day instead of worrying about everyone else. Love might come from the person you least expect, so toss aside all expectations and just be yourself! Besides, there’s always time for young Paul Rudd and Cher Horowitz’s amazing wardrobe. Available for rent or purchase on Amazon Prime.

“The Notebook”

This one is for all the saps out there: We see you, we hear you.

If you’re single but you still believe in love, treat yourself this Valentine’s Day to this classic romantic tearjerker. Dream about your Noah all you want — your grow-old together love story could be just around the corner. Available on Netflix and rent or purchase on Amazon Prime.

“Get Out” Last but not least, we

wanted to give Jordan Peele’s 2017 thriller a place on this list because it is perhaps the most compelling film in justifying our singleness.

“Get Out” reminds us that when it’s time to meet the parents, it’s important to remember that your partner and their family could be running a body-stealing operation in their basement so being single is great. Available for rent or purchase on Amazon Prime.

Q&A

Congratulations, UT Graduates

Artist highlights human connection

COME TAKE YOUR FREE

GRADUATION PICTURE FOR THE CACTUS YEARBOOK!

copyright Beili liu studio, and reproduced With permission

Art professor Beili Liu s exhibition in the Crow Museum of Asian Art, Each and Every.

By Avery Wohleb @averywohleab

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.

Art professor Beili Liu recently had two of her recent projects, “Lure” and “Each and Every,” installed in the Crow Museum of Asian Art in Dallas.

Liu’s installations focus on the idea of human connection and are part of an exhibition series highlighting Texas-based contemporary Asian women artists.

The Daily Texan spoke with Liu about her recent installations and her goals as a professor.

Daily Texan: How long did it take you to create these installations?

Beili Liu: The production of two projects was six months for ”Lure” series, and a year for ”Each and Every.”

DT: What would you say are the biggest messages you wanted to convey with ”Each and Every?”

BL: We heard the news, read articles of the unfathomable situation of children being separated from their family at our southern border. We were saddened and shocked to see the

images of migrant children in cages at detention centers. But the news cycle moves on with relentless speed. We forget — consciously or subconsciously — and the numbers become numbing, abstract concepts.

According to Slate, in 2019, 69,550 migrant children were detained. I am the mother of a child. I know as a mother, that each child’s life holds so much care, love and promise. ”Each and Every” as a title intends to bring our attention to that individual child, that very real, specific life and the magnitude of his or her world shattered with utter confusion and pain. ”Each and Every” also directs our awareness to us as individuals, as witnesses to the situation. In the end, it will always be up to each and every one of us as to how we resolve and as to how we move on. It is my hope that, in addition to turning our gaze back onto the migrant children crisis and encouraging much needed conversation and awareness of the public, that the project will also serve as a space for empathy and a platform

for understanding.

DT: Did you always want to become a professor?

BL: Honestly, no. I came to the U.S. as a young international student. Teaching seemed to be a very daunting career choice. I am grateful that over the years I have had many amazing mentors who supported my development as a teacher. I serve my students as a teacher, a mentor, as well as a role model. As a practicing artist, I found myself sharing projects, processes and experience in the art world with my students often. Being active with my own creativity feeds energy into my connection with students. This active interaction unveils the intimidating mystery of real-world art practice, engages students and encourages them to discover their own creative expression in artmaking. I believe successful teaching can positively influence a student’s future creative career and life experience. To help my students to develop into independent, aware, culturally sensitive and creative individuals is my ultimate mission as an educator.