Serving The University Of Texas At Austin Community Since 1900 @thedailytexan | thedailytexan.com
Friday, February 21, 2020
Volume 120, Issue 105
NEWS
OPINION
SPORTS
LIFE&ARTS
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Texas THON held its semiannual Pancake Night to raise money for a children’s hospital.
Unforgiving attendance policies are classist and rascist, and they need to be rewritten.
Student business teaches affordable langauge lessons to others via Skype.
Herman’s new coordinates don’t make Texas a national contender.
STATE
Texas HBCUs underfunded A Center for Public Policy Priorities study found that in 2019, public historically Black colleges and universities in Texas received less funding per student than flagship universities. By Laura Morales @lamor_1217
istorically Black public colleges and universities are funded $2,500 less per student than the most prominent institutions in Texas, according to a Center for Public Policy Priorities study of the 2019 Texas Public Higher Education Almanac. In 2018, the average state revenue per student for two Texas flagship universities, Texas A&M University and UT-Austin, was $12,958, according to the report. The report said the average state revenue per student for the two publicly funded HBCUs, Texas Southern University and Prairie View A&M University, was $10,506. Ashley Williams, the public policy analyst at the center who authored the report, said when the state does not invest in education in HBCUs, the burden falls on students to make up the difference. She said although state investment is not the only factor that contributes to student debt, it does impact it. “When you are investing less in a group of students, how are they going to afford college?” Williams said. “They are going to borrow, and so they are going to have higher levels of debt. That limits their social mobility.” The report said the two historically Black universities invest more in students than the flagship universities
christiana peek
despite not having the same level of state funding. According to the study, Prairie View spent 21% and Texas Southern University spent 16% of its total funds on student services and scholarships. UT-Austin spent 8% and Texas A&M spent 12% of their total funds on student services and scholarships, according to the study. Laylan Copelin, communications vice chancellor for the Texas A&M University System, said the report’s comparison between the flagships and the smaller universities is not accurate because it does not include
other revenue. “Bottom line: The study paints an inaccurate, incomplete picture,” Copelin said. “Once you add Permanent University Fund proceeds, the A&M System spends more per student at Prairie View than at the flagship.” The average student debt at Prairie View A&M is $42,103 and at Texas Southern University is $42,699, as compared to $33,710 at Texas A&M and $38,344 at UT-Austin, according to the almanac. The Student Borrower Protection Center, a research nonprofit focusing on student debt, also
/ the daily texan staff
released a study two weeks ago that shows Hispanic and Black students are charged more for loans when they come from minority institutions because they often graduate with more debt. Moira Vahey, director of communication for the Student Borrower Protection Center, said this perpetuates racial inequality in class structure. “The use of education data in credit (loaning) decisions is particularly concerning given the pattern of dispaSTUDENT
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STATE
WEST CAMPUS
Student loan assistance program aims to recruit educated officers
Large fraternity parties in West Campus use security to keep peace By Brooke Ontiveros @brookexpanic
steph sonik
By Laura Morales @lamor_1217
UT Police Department officer Dustin Farahnak responds to 911 calls between attending Texas Law classes, interning with the Travis County District Attorney, studying for the bar exam in July and caring for his
9-month-old daughter. Farahnak is a veteran and received the Hazelwood exemption, which waives his law school tuition fees. Farahnak said he amassed a significant amount of debt from undergraduate school and paid it off in full, but he said a loan assistance program would have helped
significantly in managing his situation. A student loan assistance program, which will start accepting online applications in September, will provide peace officers hired after Sept. 1, 2019, with up to $20,000 in aid over five years. The program aims to recruit more educated
/ the daily texan staff
officers and encourage existing forces to pursue an education, state Rep. Lynn Stucky said. Senate Bill 16, passed in the 86th Texas Legislature session last year, mandates that the Texas Higher Education Coordinating create the program. Stucky sponP O L I C E PAGE 2
Large West Campus parties occasionally hire private security, such as UT alumni-run VSI Secure, to resolve safety concerns. “‘Mo Bamba’ came on, and this guy was on top of the basketball hoop dancing and accidentally brought the whole basketball hoop crashing down into the middle of the party,” VSI Secure COO Lucas Lostoski said. “Our guards had to run him down before he got out of the party.” This was the only arrest VSI Secure has ever made at a West Campus party they worked, Lostoski said. UT’s Interfraternity Council uses private security for events such as Roundup, an annual weekend of events in the spring, to ensure the safety of their members, executive vice president Mitchell Meyers said in an email. “During these events, we hire the security not just to man the entrance, but to also roam around the event to ensure everyone in attendance is safe and healthy,” Meyers said in an email. Since UT alumni run VSI Secure, it has knowledge of the West Campus party scene and is one of the resources fraternities go to for security needs, Lostoski said. They provide bartending and security guard
services and focus on de-escalating any potential problems that could occur at parties, he said. They charge $25 per guard per hour and $20 per bartender per hour, and parties typically only hire security if more than 200 people attend, Lostoski said. “Mainly, we make sure that nobody’s overdrinking and that there are no real threats,” Lostoski said. “Our guards would escort them out if that’s the case.” Lostoski said four to five partygoers are escorted out of each event they patrol, typically for overdrinking. Individuals have also been escorted out for property damage and jumping over the fence to drink for free, he said. “We see (people climbing over fences) at almost every party in West Campus because if people just hear a party in the middle of a campus, they’re a lot more likely to try to break in and party for free,” Lostoski said. VSI Secure monitors the amount of alcohol someone has consumed and prevents minors from drinking. One guard will float around the crowd to ensure only those with wristbands have drinks and those who have been cut off do not receive drinks from friends, Lostoski said. Those who cannot drink will have black X’s F R A T PAGE 2
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CAMPUS
NEWS
Texas THON holds semiannual Pancake Night
Senior Videographers Brendan Long, Jennifer Xia, Shelby Woods Photo Editor Amna Ijaz Assoc. Photo Editors Presley Glotfelty, Blaine Young Senior Photographers Jamie Hwang, Jacob Fraga, Eddie Gaspar, Joshua Guenther, Jack Myer Life&Arts Editor Trinady Joslin Assoc. Life&Arts Editors Brooke Sjoberg, Ariana Arredondo Sr. Life&Arts Writers Aisling Ayers, Noah Levine Sports Editor Marcus Krum Assoc. Sports Editor Donnavan Smoot, Alex Briseño Senior Sports Reporters Myah Taylor, Stephen Wagner, Wills Layton Comics Editors Alekka Hernandez, Barbra Daly Assoc. Comics Editor Steph Sonik Senior Comics Artists Rocky Higine, Dan Martinez, Destiny Alexander Social Media Editor Rebeccah Macias Assoc. Social Media Editor Michael Hernandez Senior Social Media Staffer Haley Riley, Katya Bandouil Events Director Sarah Kate Scribner Senior Events Planner Vanessa Ruiz Newsletters Editor Chase Karacostas Audio Editor Sara Schleede Audio Producers Divya Jagadeesh, Harper Carlton, Aurora Berry Editorial Adviser Peter Chen
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yining qian
/ the daily texan staff
Attendees grab their pancakes at Texas THON’s Pancake Night at the Delta Sigma Phi fraternity house on Thursday. The event organizers hope to raise money for Dell Children’s Medical Center of Central Texas by feeding hundreds.
Photographers Alice Liu, Yining Qian, Joel Pereira, Evan L’Roy
By Alexander Mansky @jacobmansky
Sports Reporters Robert Trevino
Hundreds of people ate pancakes for a cause at Texas THON’s semiannual Pancake Night, held from 7 p.m. Thursday to 3 a.m. Friday at the Delta Sigma Phi fraternity house. Texas THON is a nonprofit student organization that raises money for Dell Children’s Medical Center of Central Texas. Pancake Night has been a THON tradition for at least four years, said Alexxa Newman, the organization’s director of fundraising. Members of THON made pancakes starting at 6 p.m. with the intention of feeding 800 or more people at least three pancakes each. Newman said the event is important to her because it is one of the largest events THON hosts. Attendees paid $5 to enter the all-you-can-eat pancake
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buffet, with 100% of the proceeds going toward the THON donor drive. Last semester, Pancake Night raised about $4,000, Newman said. “Pancake Night is one of my favorite events of the year,” said Newman, an applied learning and development junior. “All internal THON team (members) come together to put it on. In the kitchen, everyone’s working together. It makes the hours go by really quickly. The goal of tonight is to have last year’s attendance or more.” This is the second Pancake Night of this academic year, and 800 people showed up at the last Pancake Night in November, Newman said. Texas THON organizes multiple events throughout the year, including a tailgate and a Valentine’s Day party. Newman said they spend the most time working toward a dance marathon, which will be held March 8. “Everything we do goes
directly to families in need, and Texas THON has been a great family for me,” Newman said. Texas THON member Kylan Perry said managing 800 people in one house can be difficult. “It gets really busy at around 9 o’clock, so we try to keep a flow of people going in and out,” said Perry, a communication sciences and disorders freshman. “I love the people, and I love the cause. (At) this event in particular, I just like that we can all come together and eat food that we all love and then support the kids that we love and need support.” Computer science sophomore Grant Skaggs said he attended the event because a friend invited him. “I mean, I would go just for the pancakes, to be honest, but the fact that there is charity is very nice,” Skaggs said.
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rate access to education in the U.S.,” Vahey said. “Widespread use of this data by lenders could reinforce systemic barriers to financial inclusion for Black and Latinx consumers.” Williams said there are many factors, including a complicated funding formula that allocates state funds
to the universities, that contribute to the disparity. Nevertheless, the historic and systemic inequalities cannot be ignored, she said. “Systematic, historical inequities certainly contribute to the trends that we see in disparate educational outcomes,” Williams said. “State investments in HBCU institutions matter, and they will have an impact on societal equity going forward.”
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sored the bill. Farahnak said receiving an education is essential for police officers to be able to relate to a person in crisis or a person experiencing homelessness. “Especially here at UTPD, we work in an environment surrounded by a lot of educated people (and) a lot of stress,” Farahnak said. “For us to do a good job, it really helps that we are incorporated into the community.” Stucky said police departments and associations he has spoken to told him they were short-staffed. “Over time, it was evident that it is harder to recruit people into police work,” Stucky said. “Houston is almost 1,000 officers short, Dallas is almost 800 short. When you start looking at the history, 52% of peace officers had a four-year degree (20 years ago). Today, only 34% of them have a four-year degree.” At a Feb. 11 hearing with the Texas House Higher Education Committee, Charles Contéro-Puls, the board’s
deputy assistant commissioner for student financial aid, presented a progress report of the program. He said the board launched the official webpage in January, and they will be promoting the program to law enforcement agencies and higher education institutions starting in April. Contéro-Puls said the bill allocates $4 million in general revenue for up to 1,000 individual awards in the first year, but that might not be enough. “We are not really sure what the demand for the program is going to be right now, but we know that over 12,000 new peace officer licenses are issued each year, so we are guessing that the demand might exceed the available funding,” Contéro-Puls said. Farahnak said this investment in educated police forces will help society overall, not just police officers. “Those things are so important in shaping the kinds of police departments we want versus the kind of police departments we see sometimes that have a lot of police officers that are not part of the community,” Farahhnak said.
zoe fu
/ the daily texan staff U
The UT Interfraternity Council hires private security to check IDs and keep order at its annual Roundup weekend.
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marked on their hands, he said. “If (the guards) see somebody with X’s that got a drink from a friend, they will take it out of their hand and make sure that they’re not drinking,” Lostoski said.
Anaise Rivera, a communications and leadership junior, said she attended Roundup last year and thought it was safer with security present. “A lot of minors try to get drinks, but (security) checks your ID,” Rivera said. “Without security, there could be a lot of alcohol poisoning for those who drink too much.”
Security also helps with the end of parties when people linger, Lostoski said. “Getting people out is one of our hardest things at the end of every good party,” Lostoski said. “That can be an issue if you don’t have somebody ... with authority exiting people out during the party.”
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NEWS
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FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 2020
CAMPUS
UHD hosts Mediterranean Dinner for healthy eating
alice liu
/ the daily texan staff
Nutrition senior Srini Shah introduces olive oil varieties to UT students at Kinsolving Dining Hall on Thursday night as part of University Housing and Dining’s Mediterranean Dinner. UHD holds pop-up stands such as these to promote student knowledge of healthy nutrition. By Amanda Figueroa-Nieves @amandafn02
In an effort to promote hearthealthy eating habits, University Housing and Dining hosted a Mediterranean Dinner event at Jester Second Floor Dining and Kinsolving Dining on Thursday evening. University Housing and Dining aims to host an educational dinner at least once a semester. UHD registered dietitian Lindsay Wilson said the idea for Mediterranean Dinner originally came from wanting to host an event related to Heart Month, which takes place in February. Wilson said the basis of the heart-
healthy options includes plant-based food such as fruits, vegetables and legumes. “The Mediterranean diet has consistently been ranked as one of the best diets to follow and actually does follow the guidelines by the American Heart Association for a heart-healthy dietary eating pattern,” Wilson said. A group of student employees educated diners about different olive oils and cooking oils. Students played a Mediterranean food trivia game in which they won prizes by spinning a wheel if they answered questions correctly. Place mats on the dining hall tables showcased details about the Mediterranean diet, a map of the Mediterranean stood at the entrance of the buffet, and signs above the
serving lines featured fun facts about the food being served. Students can find heart-healthy foods at the daily salad bars and the vegetarian or vegan stations at Kinsolving and J2, though most stations will include a plant-based option, Wilson said. However, the Mediterranean foods are not available regularly. Wilson recommended students use the digital icon labeling system next to each food option that details nutritional information and allergens and prioritize fruits over sweets for dessert. “I really like how they included vegetarian options today because normally it’s pretty hard to get vegetarian options at Kinsolving,” said Tejas Mehta, a computer science
and business freshman. “Today, they have an especially good variety, and I appreciate that they were trying to be inclusive.” Wilson said her favorite part of the meal was the Moroccan chickpea tagine, a slowly cooked stew. “We purchased some beautiful tagine pots to feature at that station,” Wilson said. Wilson said she was also very excited about the gelato featured at the dinner because it was different than normal desserts UHD serves. “The paella was pretty good, and also they had gelato ice cream,” business freshman Jennifer Cho said. “I’m a very big dessert person, so having it instead of the ice cream machine was nice.”
CAMPUS
BASEBALL
UT alumna turns Google Maps into art at campus exhibition
Longhorns look to continue five-game winning streak against Broncos By Nathan Han @NathanHan13
joel pereira
/ the daily texan staff
UT Law student Laura observes an art exhibit at the Courtyard Gallery on Thursday. Artist Anika Steppe hosted an art exhibit titled “Views From,” which captures a unique perspective from a photographer’s point of view. By Felix Kalvesmaki @felixkalvesmaki
The UT Department of Art and Art History hosted the opening reception Thursday evening for artist and photographer Anika Steppe’s “View from,” which featured photos of a Google Maps photographer who could be seen taking photos on Google Street View. The installation opened at the AT&T Executive Education and Conference Center on campus. It shows Steppe’s Polaroids and her work with viewfinders, which are small lenses on cameras used to preview photos. UT alumna Steppe said she began tracking the Google Maps photographer because she was trying to find the conference center through Google Street View to see the space since she did not live in Austin at the time. She became fascinated by the photographer and checked on her through Google Maps every few months leading up to the showcase. “I was asked to do this show a while back, and I’ve done a lot
of shows that have been in this space in the past,” Steppe said. “It’s such a unique space. It’s essentially a hallway in a hotel. How can I embrace it rather than work against it or try to ignore it?” The exhibition takes place in a single hallway and will
It’s such a unique space. It’s essentially a hallway in a hotel. How can I embrace it rather than work against it or try to ignore it?” ANIKA STEPPE
artist and photographer
remain open to the public until April 18. Steppe said the exhibition’s location in a hallway was important, and the space itself impacted the work she created for it. “Thinking about what’s around you (and) what you’re
viewing in front of you (is) definitely about perception,” Steppe said. “I want people to have a fun time in the space. I want them to enjoy and have this playful look at a place that’s usually just meant to walk through.” Shanie Tomassini, sculpture lab manager and the maker of the rods that Steppe’s viewfinders sit on, said Steppe’s use of the hallway and Google Maps was creative. “The photos are quite interesting,” Tomassini said. “I feel like she’s very playful, and using the exhibition room as a medium, Anika is deconstructing this space and our ideas of what image representation is.” Sarah Canright, an associate professor of practice in studio art, painting and drawing, advised Steppe during her time on the Forty Acres. Canright said she had only praise for Steppe’s project and artistic abilities. “She’s spectacular,” Canright said. “It’s a continuation and a refinement of what she was doing when she graduated. The show is very much an expression of her voice.”
On Tuesday against UTSA, redshirt sophomore pitcher Cole Quintanilla quickly found himself in trouble in the top of the first. After allowing the first three batters to reach base, he was faced with a bases-loaded situation with no outs. But the right-hander didn’t panic, allowing only one run and striking out two. It was the perfect high-leverage situation to describe how, so far through their 5–0 start, Texas’ ability to pitch under pressure has been one of its biggest strengths. “Honestly, a year ago, (Quintanilla) wouldn’t have gotten out of the first,” head coach David Pierce said. “It wasn’t the prettiest start, but he only minimized the damage to one run in that first inning.” The Longhorns hope to continue their strong pitching performance in the first home weekend series of the season against Boise State. Junior ace pitcher Bryce Elder will take the ball on the mound Friday at 7 p.m. on UFCU Disch-Falk Field. Pierce credited much of Texas’ early success to the maturity of several sophomore pitchers, including Quintan-
illa as well as Ty Madden and Kolby Kubichek. “I would have to say our pitching staff has been outstanding,” Pierce said. “You’re starting to see some of those kids that were freshmen last year who thought they were big guys and big arms. Well, they’re learning how to pitch right now … So, these kids are growing up and learning to trust in their pitches.” The improvement has led to a team ERA of 1.80 through five games, an opposing batting average of .218 and 48 strikeouts with just two home runs through 45 innings. Opposing hitters haven’t hit for power against the Longhorns, with only nine extra-base hits, and they’ve struck out at an above-average rate. All of these are positive signs that this isn’t a result of a small sample size. It all comes back to trusting their pitches in high-leverage situations. Before the season started, Texas pitching coach Sean Allen emphasized mentality as the key for team improvement. “It’s just that confidence,” redshirt senior catcher DJ Petrinsky said. “These guys just go out there and throw strikes and challenge hitters with their stuff. That’s what we need. They’re just going to come in and dare someone to hit the ball.”
jack myer
Nowhere is that confidence more apparent than in freshman pitcher Andre Duplantier II, who worked his way out of a second bases-loaded jam Wednesday and has drawn effusive praise from not only his catcher Petrinsky but also Pierce. “More than anything, (Andre) believes in himself,” Pierce said. “He’s going to throw his pitches in there, and even if you’re successful, he’s going to do it again. And I think that’s something that young players have a hard time doing because they have a tendency to look at the hitter instead of just trusting themselves.” Following Elder’s outing Friday, the Longhorns will start Madden on Saturday for the 2 p.m. game and sophomore Coy Cobb on Sunday with an early 12:30 p.m. start time. However, the Boise State team may prove to be a challenge, as there is very little known about them. The Broncos haven’t fielded a baseball team since 1980, and Friday’s game will be their first in 40 years. But the Longhorns are hoping that this pitching staff can continue their hot streak and the team can emerge from the weekend unscathed before the first big test of the season against LSU on Feb. 28.
/ the daily texan file
Sophomore pitcher Cole Quintanilla prepares to pitch against Lamar on Wednesday. Quintanilla is one part of the Longhorns’ pitching rotation.
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SPENCER BUCKNER
Editor-In-Chief | @TEXANOPINION
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 2020
COLUMN
OPINION
hilda rodriguez
/ the daily texan staff
Unforgiving attendance policies are classist, racist By André Williams Columnist
According to the official UT website regarding attendance policies, “regular attendance at all class meetings is expected. Instructors are responsible for implementing an attendance policy and must notify students of any special attendance requirements.” Just as the website suggests, UT attendance policy is largely determined at the discretion of individual professors and colleges. However, without a regulatory body, students are left with varying attendance expectations. Some drive students to make detrimental health choices and are based on classist notions that all students have similar access to resources. To solve this, the University needs to establish a uniform attendance policy. For example, the foreign language departments at UT are infamous for their strict policies regarding attendance. Last spring, I attended my Spanish classes with a fever of 104 degrees Fahrenheit for three days before going to the doctor. Just like many other students, I delayed going to the doctor because I was more worried about the repercussions of missing school than my own health. Once I was finally able to go to the doctor, I was diagnosed with the flu. Even though I was potentially contagious, I still had to attend class. I sank down in my seat in the back corner of my Spanish class with a mask over my face. Despite being feverish and suffering from chills, body aches, fatigue and loss of appetite, I attended class. Although a doctor’s note allows students to possibly make up missed work
— depending on the professor and assignment — doctor’s visits still count toward overall absences. Students who go over the allotted three-class absences receive a deduction of two points from their overall class grade per additional missed class at the end of the semester. Athletic training junior Alex McCord said she has also gone to class while sick because of strict attendance policies.
I delayed going to the doctor because I was more worried about the repercussions of missing school than my own health.” “I’ve literally gone to class sick before,” McCord said. “People feel like they have to go to class, so even when they’re sick, they still go.” Forcing students to choose between getting well and attending class because of unforgiving attendance policies shows a blatant disregard for the well-being of students, both sick and otherwise. The logic behind having attendance policies that force students to attend class even while ill is irrational; students who attend classes while sick facilitate the spread of sickness, which can lead to
outbreaks in the student body. But who is really affected when sickness begins to spread? While some people have health insurance and can afford to visit the doctor every time they are sick, what about the people without that same access to medical help? What about those who have insurance but cannot afford their copay? Expecting that students bring in a doctor’s note every time they are sick, even if just for one day, highlights the cultural chasm between — and the privilege of — the people who propose these guidelines and those who must follow them. The reality is that many students are not able to afford visiting a doctor every time they are sick. They must act as their own doctors and nurses in the hope of getting better. If they are not doing better in a few days, then — and only then — do they go to the doctor. Classism and racism work as instruments of one another. The classist assumptions made by certain policies, such as the attendance policy in question, reiterate problems of inclusivity on campus and work to reinforce hierarchical systems. These policies, though meant to increase student success, have the opposite effect on those who need the most help. It could be a mistake. Or, these rules could be a reflection of their writers. The exclusion could be because these rules were not written with certain groups of students in mind. It is time to rewrite attendance policies on campus. We must have attendance policies that support and uplift all students within the University. Williams is an international business junior from Fort Worth.
GALLERY
COLUMN
Take a detox from your phone By Ishan Shah Columnist
yulissa chavez
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 daily texan staff
You pick your phone up for the fifth time in 20 minutes. You instinctively check Instagram, Twitter and Snapchat even though you know you haven’t gotten any new notifications. You set the phone back down and try to get through the same textbook page that’s been open for the last hour. While the digital age has undeniably brought us benefits, it has also made us more dependent on technology and the online world. In particular, phones have become embedded in our everyday lives because of their accessibility and necessity in modern society. Geography junior Asya Mazmanyan discussed how her phone interferes with her productivity. “One of my greatest dissatisfactions comes from my bad habit of procrastinating by browsing social media,” Mazmanyan said. “If the time spent being on my phone was spent studying … I’d feel more productive and potentially get more work done.” Far too often, students become trapped in their online lives. Let’s be honest — it’s really easy to mindlessly scroll through TikTok and spiral into a YouTube binge all day. Part of the reason why is the instant gratification and entertainment associated with these forms of social media. However, it’s important to recognize that social media is nothing more than a short-term high. We rely on it to distract ourselves from our responsibilities, our work and our stress. Is the temporary dopamine spike really worth it? The research says no. Studies by San Diego State University and Kent State University show that higher social media and cell phone usage correlate
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with mental health issues, anxiety and lower satisfaction with life. Through my first semester of college, I struggled with finding a balance between my work and my social life. Having my phone on me at all times wasn’t helping my case. Watching my friends live their best lives on this highlight reel we call social media made me feel lonely and discontent with my own experiences. Yesenia Roman, senior academic adviser in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, said most people only post what makes them look best on social media. “They post when they get engaged, promoted, buy property, etc.,” Roman said. “Not everyone will want to post about their failures.” Constantly comparing our day-to-day realities to what we see online is not only unnecessary, it’s also unhealthy — especially when people don’t always post accurate versions of their lives. It doesn’t have to be this way. I realize it’s preposterous to ask college students to stop using their phones altogether due to how necessary they are as a means of communication. Instead, I encourage you to take short breaks from your devices in order to help clear your mind and boost your focus. I’m not saying it’s easy, but recognizing the issue is an important first step to making a change. “I definitely believe that using (phones) should be in moderation, but I also get why it’s difficult to let go,” said Niruti Dhoble, electrical and computer engineering sophomore. So the next time you’re sitting in your room idly scrolling through your Instagram feed, consider disconnecting. Take a walk, read a book or find a hobby. Don’t waste your prime years behind a screen. Shah is an electrical and computer engineering freshman from Plano, Texas.
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LIFE&ARTS
5
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 2020
FOOD
9 National Margarita Day spots Save money at these Austin establishments, which are holding specials for the boozey holiday Saturday. By Faley Goyette @Faley_Goyette
hether you like your margarita frozen or on the rocks, rimmed with sugar over salt or with two limes instead of one, celebrate with your favorite concoction this National Margarita Day. On Saturday, Feb. 22, some restaurants will offer specials in honor of the cocktail. The Daily Texan compiled a list of places with discounted margaritas so you can make the most of the lime juice, triple sec and tequila. Cyclone Anaya’s Tex-Mex Cantina
Located in Domain Northside, this restaurant is known for their jumbo house margaritas. Enjoy 21 ounces of this cocktail for $6 all-day Saturday. Baby Acapulco Baby A’s
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A discount on the famous Purple Rita? The day has come. This drink and all other margaritas will be $1 off all day. The north location on Stonelake Boulevard will have music by Mariachi Capitál. If you’re interested in restaurant hopping, the Barton Springs location is within walking distance to Chuy’s. Chuy’s
Get a taste of the freshly squeezed lime juice and homemade sugar water at one of six locations in the Austin area. Add an extra pour of tequila or orange liqueur to your margarita for $1. And to take home a commemorative cup, order a Grande house or frozen margarita for an extra $2. Be sure to post a picture of your celebration on Instagram with #ChuysRitaDay to be entered for a chance to win a free dinner for two. The Original Pinballz Arcade
Pair pinball machines and margaritas from 7-9 p.m. This 8940 Research Blvd. location will offer free margaritas while supplies last. Chili’s Grill & Bar
This is a classic option. The location closest to campus is at 45th Street and Lamar Boulevard. For $5, you can get a Pres-
rocky higine
idente margarita or their margarita of the month. This purchase will also include a take-home cup. Taquero Mucho
If you’re looking for an Instagram-worthy location for your National Margarita Day post, this is the place to be. This recently opened Mexican restaurant on 508
West Ave. is decked out in pink, with a signature pink margarita to match. They’re offering it for $5 all-day Saturday with music by Manolo Black beginning at 5 p.m. Doc’s Backyard Grill
Enjoy a mariachi band and a $4 Herradura tequila margarita in South Austin at 5207 Brodie Lane. Expect
giveaways and mango chamoy margaritas. Güero’s Taco Bar
Get some fresh air with your margarita at Güero’s Oak Garden on South Congress Avenue. With live outdoor music, Tequila 512 will be serving special margaritas from 2:306 p.m. Stick around afterward for a raffle. Ticket proceeds will
/ the daily texan staff benefit “Change 1 Mind Change 1 Life,” a program aiding youth in the foster care system. Chispas
Don’t forget to eat throughout your festivities! Grab some fajitas for half the price on West Fourth Street, then wash down your meal with a $5 frozen margarita or paloma.
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Housing available At Dobie Twenty21, we offer many areas where you can socialize with your friends. Our rooftop park features basketball, lounge areas, and an outdoor theater. Cool off at our skyline pool with stunning views of the city. Hang out in our rec room with foosball, pool table, gaming stations, and vintage arcade games. Get some homework done in one of our 11 artistically designed study rooms. We also offer a tech center with brand new computers and free printing. The fitness center includes state-of-the-art fitness cardio and weight equipment. Enjoy delicious and well-balanced meals with your unlimited meal plan at the Dobie Café. We make life easier with fully furnished apartments. Contact our office and schedule your private tour today!
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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
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 2020
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The New York Times Syndication Sales Corporation 620 Eighth Avenue, New York, N.Y. 10018 For Information Call: 1-800-972-3550 For Release Friday, February 21, 2020
Crossword ACROSS
21 Creator and star of “The Misadventures of Awkward Black Girl” 23 Image in the 7 ___ rock (music poster for genre) “E.T. the ExtraTerrestrial” 11 Rebuke to an oversharer 24 Young 14 Almost any major 25 Princess of Greek myth who had a character in brief love affair “Sands of Iwo with Theseus Jima” 28 Sites for 15 Enterprise 30-Across crewman named 29 Hold after an Asian sea 30 Watering sites 33 Bud’s place 16 Ethnic group accounting for 34 Springfield about 18% barkeep of the world’s 35 Best Buy buy population 40 Come before 17 Actress who 44 David Lynchian, directed 2019’s say “Booksmart” 45 Trips in the dark 19 Option for a 911 46 German marks dispatcher 48 “Not in a million 20 Classic novel years” narrated by the 49 Accumulation second Mrs. de Winter 50 Carryall 1 Online pop culture/media hub, with “the”
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54 Poet’s adverb 55 Genre that includes techno and house music 57 Made a fast stop? 58 ___ The Magazine (highestcirculating magazine in the U.S.) 59 Like narwhals and walruses 60 What precedes the season? 61 ___ Minor 62 Does a helmsman’s job DOWN 1 Frequent topic for Pablo Neruda 2 Area between mountains 3 Bonus hand in a classic card game 4 Taco Bell slogan 5 Computing industry standard 6 Guiding lights 7 Abbr. on a car tire 8 Bench pronouncements 9 Seasoned sailor 10 Participant in hangman or charades 11 Head of the only government in U.K. history to be found in contempt of Parliament 12 “Aujourd’hui, ___ est morte” (opening line of Camus’s “L’Étranger”)
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Online subscriptions: Today’s puzzle and more than 7,000 past puzzles, nytimes.com/crosswords ($39.95 a year). Read about and comment on each puzzle: nytimes.com/wordplay.
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Longhorns make sure to eat something if they decide to drink. @UTBruceTheBat 2019 UT Austin National Social Norms Center Survey
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MARCUS KRUM
Sports Editor | @TEXANSPORTS
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 2020
FOOTBALL
Sideline Games to check out this week.
New coaches, same team
WOMEN’S BBALL sat, feb 22
vs BASEBALL Fri, feb 21
vs MVP of the Week Will Baker
After scoring just 16 points all season, Baker erupted for 20 points on 4-of-6 from beyond the arc to lead Texas men’s basketball to a 70-56 win over TCU. joshua guenther
/ the daily texan file
Head coach Tom Herman has won a bowl game in all three of his seasons at UT. A brand new coaching staff along with a top-10 recruiting class may not be enough to get the team over the hump next season.
By Stephen Wagner @stephenwag22
How it started -> how it ended. Texas basketball has seen better days. @thedailytexan @texansports
Despite the addition of seven coaches, the Longhorns are still missing pieces to contend. By Stephen Wagner @stephenwag22
n paper, Texas is having a great offseason. A 38-10 beatdown of then-No. 11 Utah without a permanent defensive coordinator proved Texas’ potential, particularly when its players are put in positions to succeed and its coaches fully understand the strengths and weak-
nesses of their team. Add on top of that another top-10 recruiting class for Texas head coach Tom Herman and two renowned coordinators in offensive coordinator Mike Yurcich and defensive coordinator Chris Ash, and Texas appears to be on the right track to coming “back.” Tap the brakes, Longhorn fans. Texas isn’t ready to be a national contender again — yet. Now in his third year with the Longhorns, Herman has a well-established system. Players have developed a rapport with the coach once considered to be the next Urban Meyer. But Herman’s first three seasons haven’t exactly been Meyer-esque. Sure, Texas has improved overall from the once-bleak Charlie Strong era and Herman hasn’t missed a bowl yet, but only the 2018 Sugar Bowl season has met the standards of the Longhorn faithful. Herman’s short tenure has been clouded with lingering ques-
tions of “Is Texas back yet? and “When will it be back?” The answer? We don’t know. After last year’s 8–5 disappointment, Herman cleaned house. Seven new coaches were hired, spotlighted by the hiring of Yurcich and Ash, both of whom spent time at Ohio State. Both are remarkably well-received in the coaching community, even with Ash’s disastrous fouryear stint as Rutgers’ head coach where he won eight total games. But they don’t immediately make Texas a national contender. Make no mistake, Herman has shined under the spotlight. His coaching performances against Oklahoma, Georgia and LSU prove what Texas can be at its best. Gut-wrenching losses against Maryland, Iowa State and TCU and numerous close calls prove what Texas is when the Longhorns assume they have the better team. The solution? Herman
should remove himself from game-planning and play-calling and take over the CEO role he’s clearly longed for. Herman said during the coordinator search that he intended to hire a play-caller so he could resume the standard coaching responsibility of an on-field CEO. Yurcich brings in a fresh and simplified offensive philosophy. He says play-calling at Texas is a responsibility he’s ready to step into. “In my job, that’s a heck of a responsibility, but it’s something that gets me off,” Yurcich said. Yurcich said they’re in the process of adding, tweaking and deleting plays leading up to spring ball. “When you hire a new coordinator, they don’t just come in and dump a binder down on the desk and say, ‘This is my offense,’” Herman said. “There needs to be common beliefs.” Defensively, Ash is pretty reserved about giving away his “schematic secrets,”
though it is clear that Texas will switch to a four-man front in an attempt to strengthen its pass rush. “It begins with getting pressure on the quarterback,” Ash said. “We want to be able to build a playoff-caliber defensive line.” Ash walks into a comfortable situation at Texas — the defense is only losing three starters from last year’s unit — and has mentored NFL defensive ends J.J. Watt and Joey Bosa during his stints at Wisconsin and Ohio State. The defense should be better. The offense should be more consistent. But since Herman has yet to display that he can build a consistent contender for even a Big 12 Championship, expectations should be tempered. No matter how strong the offseason, the recruiting class, the coaching hires, Herman still has everything to prove once Saturdays in Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium roll around.
SOFTBALL
Texas softball looks to continue perfect start to season By Seth Forman @_SethAForman
Winning the first 11 games of the season is a difficult task for any team. Staying undefeated is even harder. That is the challenge the Texas softball team faces this weekend. Sitting at 11–0, the No. 4 Longhorns will have to power through five more games in three days to remain undefeated as they begin the Texas Invitational on Friday. Texas has been hit with adversity early this season, including Wednesday night’s game against North Texas. The Longhorns escaped with a 3-2 win after nine innings. After freshman pitcher Courtney Day allowed two runs in her first inning pitched, she was taken out in the third inning. Pitchers senior Miranda Elish and sophomore Shealyn O’Leary kept the Mean Green off the board for the next seven innings. After being shut down for much of the contest by North Texas junior pitcher Hope Trautwein, the Longhorns pulled off a late rally to take home the ninth-inning win. “It was like facing a postseason pitcher,” Texas head coach Mike White said of Trautwein. “That kid is really good. She can spin it up there, has good velocity, good command. Difficult
to hit.” Texas has allowed an average of 1.18 runs per game thanks to the stellar pitching rotation of Day, Elish, O’Leary and junior Ariana Adams, but high-quality pitching isn’t always enough to win. It was a similar story when Texas required a stunning seventh inning comeback to come out victorious over Utah in the Puerto Vallarta College Challenge last weekend. Excellent pitching and fielding held the Utes to a mere two runs, but Texas struggled until the final inning to get the runs they needed. After averaging over 11 runs per game in their first seven games, the Longhorns were held scoreless until the seventh inning. The question for this weekend is who will produce for the Longhorns. Texas softball has gotten production from the top down. Stars such as senior catcher Mary Iakopo and Elish, who have a combined 29 RBIs, have shown that they can make plays at the plate. But the roster is filled with talent who can perform on any given night. “Just keep it simple,” senior outfielder Shannon Rhodes said. “No one person try to be the hero. Just pass the bat and try to get on base because if you hit a base hit, you move the person over and the next person will take care of getting
watch us at
ryan lam
/ the daily texan file
Then-junior outfielder Shannon Rhodes makes contact with a pitch against Texas A&M-Corpus Christi last season. Rhodes is a leader on this year’s undefeated team and has helped lead the team on offense. her in.” This weekend, Texas will face Lipscomb and North Dakota State in a Friday double-header. The Longhorns have already escaped three double-headers
unscathed this season, proving they can handle the quantity of games. On Saturday, Texas will take on Lipscomb in a rematch and a 9–1 Duke team in back-to-back
games. Texas will need plenty of hits from the whole team to remain undefeated through the weekend’s tournament. “I thought we did well coming straight back right away,
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but we had an opportunity to get some more runs, and that’s what we talked about,” White said after the win over UNT. “The concern is to really get some more runs.”
LIFE&ARTS
8
T R I N A DY J O S L I N
Life&Arts Editor | @TRINADY05
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 2020
FEATURE
Startup teaches languages online
UT student-run company offers affordable lessons in languages such as English, Spanish and ASL. By Anissa Reyes @anissaareyes
ecause of his love for traveling and teaching, Blake Maynard started reaching out to his Instagram followers to offer English language lessons via Skype calls. After looking into an entrepreneurship minor at UT, where the application asked about a startup, he decided to turn those Skype calls into a business, which he now calls Backpack Languages. “That was basically the seed that started the whole idea, and from there it grew very quickly,” linguistics sophomore Maynard said. Backpack Languages offers language lessons from English, Czech, Spanish, Portuguese and American Sign Language through Skype and in-person lessons for $15 per individual session. More recently, they began to offer lessons through donation-based group workshops in the local Austin area. Students can pay what they want for the lesson they are offering. “The goal is (accessibility),” Maynard said. “Not necessarily free, but accessible because you also don’t want to diminish the value or the levels of the teachers.” The teachers who work
barbara daly
with the service are either from UT or colleges in places such as Arizona and Russia. Maynard said he met the non-UT teachers who work with the program through his travels and mutual friends. Jacob Cheek, communication sciences and disorders and neuroscience senior has taught American Sign Language for almost four years and said his purpose goes beyond a Skype call. “I’m deaf myself, so I experience it firsthand and I
know what it’s like to have a communication barrier,” Cheek said. “Because of my experience, I don’t want other people to feel the same, so I want to help people connect with others who share similar experiences as I do.” Cheek said teaching his first American Sign Language workshop was nerve-wracking because he was afraid that his communication barrier might be an obstacle for students. He realized he had to be confident in his teaching style.
“I became more confident, aware and understanding from their perspective,” Cheek said. “It takes a while and it’s a slow step, so I have to be aware that they are not as fast of a learner as I am because I already know the language.” Advertising sophomore Yunji Choi has lived in America for two years, and her first language is Korean. She is a transfer student at UT, which she said is more rigorous than previous colleges she has attended in America. “(At first) it was so hard,”
Choi said. “The lecture quality was much higher and it was hard to understand what they were saying, and the classes were bigger.” Choi said she has been doing lessons with Backpack Languages in order to improve her English and learn more terminology related to her major. “It’s always cool to learn other languages,” Choi said. “Learning another language doesn’t mean you’re only learning the language, you learn culture. You can be friends with more diverse
/ the daily texan staff
people from all around the world.” Backpack Languages is planning on hosting more in-person and donation-based workshops in the Austin area for anyone wanting to learn a new language, Maynard said. “I want the workshops to become something very UT, very Austin, and have quite a few people coming to them,” Maynard said. “It’s a place to meet people and connect in a way and a tongue that’s different than your own.”
FILM REVIEW | ‘THE LODGE’
Congratulations, UT Graduates
COME TAKE YOUR FREE
Strong cast in ‘The Lodge’ doesn’t save mediocre script
GRADUATION PICTURE FOR THE CACTUS YEARBOOK!
copyright hammer film productions, and reproduced with permission
Riley Keough, Jaeden Martell and Lia McHugh star in new horror film “The Lodge.” By Avery Wohleb @averywohleb
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.
In another typical horror movie involving a desolate cabin, “The Lodge” does little to break out of the stereotypical trope. Directed by Veronika Franz and Severin Fiala (“Goodnight Mommy”), “The Lodge” tells the story of a young brother and sister, Aidan and Mia, whose lives are suddenly disrupted when their mother commits suicide. Now living with their father, Richard, and his new fiancée, Grace, the siblings are forced into a family vacation at a winter lodge. However, when Richard suddenly has to leave for work, Grace and the kids find themselves stranded in a series of snowstorms and trapped within a terrifying chain of events. The movie immediately sets up its disturbing nature through bizarre framing. Several scenes in the first act are in a constant state of being zoomed in, which is much more distracting than it is unsettling. Many shots of characters are from an overhead perspective, and the effect makes the movie seem more amateur than unique. The stylistic decisions
become more natural within the progressing story, but they certainly feel out of place in earlier scenes. While an intense soundtrack successfully causes unease, the movie’s ability to scare viewers is diluted with questionable production decisions. There are several scenes where props such as a roasted turkey dinner look so incredibly fake they draw viewers out of the scene. Small inconsistencies are partially compensated by the beautiful snowy terrain where the movie takes place, but at times even this seems fake, such as when a random abandoned home appears in the middle of a blizzard with little context or relevance to the story. In an attempt to tackle several different directions, the movie creates too much confusion for it to be thoroughly enjoyable. Alhough it succeeds at the occasional jump scare, the true horror aspect of the film is lost within its unfocused writing and disorganized narrative where the “frightening” aspects don’t add much to the plot. Omitting smaller, random details such as the recurring image of a dollhouse would have made the overall picture much stronger. And if viewers
are looking for a plot twist, they will certainly get one, but the outcome feels cheap and disappointing. Partially saving the unfocused writing is the magnificent cast. Riley Keough is entirely captivating with her vulnerable and unnerving portrayal of Grace. Successfully conveying a magnitude of emotions expressed on her face, Keough’s performance makes up for the lack of dialogue otherwise. Jaeden Martell (“It”) flourishes with the opportunity to prove once again that he was made for horror movies. Showcasing his maturing talent, Martell’s portrayal of Aidan is hard to figure out for most of the film, making every scene he is in feel slightly unsettling in an appropriate way for the character. Overall, “The Lodge” is more pretentious than it is enjoyable. Trying to tackle too many things at once, the outcome is ultimately messy and the potential for it to be a great horror film is lost.
“The Lodge” GENRE
Thriller R
R AT I N G SCORE