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Serving The University Of Texas At Austin Community Since 1900 @thedailytexan | thedailytexan.com
Wednesday, August 26, 2020
NEWS
OPINION
SPORTS
Volume 121, Issue 12 LIFE&ARTS
UT updated and expanded Title IX requirements in accordance with new federal regulations.
UT must provide details on how isolation housing for COVID-19-positive students will function this fall.
The NCAA will grant an extra year of eligibility to all fall athletes who play or opt out.
Clear masks remove some communication barriers for Deaf and hard of hearing people.
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UNIVERSITY
ut enforces covid-19 rules on-campus
rocky higine / the daily texan staff
On-campus violations may result in suspension, but UT will not punish students for off-campus behavior. By Andrew Zhang @andrewczhang
T will enforce COVID-19 health guidelines on campus this fall through an online reporting process that could result in punishment from the University. However, off-campus violations will not be enforced by University staff or the UT Police Department. The University will require masks in campus buildings, ban on- and off-campus parties and forbid action that
“threatens the health and safety” of others, according to the Protect Texas and Office of the Dean of Students websites. On-campus violations can be reported by community members to the Office of the Dean of Students. Reports can be anonymous, but will be dismissed if they are too vague or lack credibility, according to the Office of the Dean of Students website. Anonymous reporters will not be contacted to answer clarifying questions. Health guidelines will be enforced for faculty and staff by the Office of the Executive Vice President and Provost and University Human Resources, respectively, in accordance with
(Off-campus enforcement) is a little bit outside our role. We’re looking at confrontation issues, where someone is not willing to abide by the requirements.” SARA KENNEDY dean of students spokesperson
typical University procedures for discipline, according to the Protect Texas website. Sara Kennedy, director of strategic and executive communications for the Office of the Dean of Students, said University staff will give student violators a chance to correct their actions when a violation occurs on campus. For example, she said a student who does not wear a mask would be offered one by a staff member. “The issue is that someone is threatening the health and safety of the people who learn and work and live in our community,” Kennedy said. After a violation, Kennedy said a student will be referred to the
CAMPUS
VIOLATIONS
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COVID-19
Unlike other campuses, UT will not have COVID-19 case threshold to trigger shut down By Anna Canizales @annaleonorc
UT has not declared a set number of confirmed COVID-19 cases that would cause a campus shutdown, but it has declared student death as a potential shutdown trigger. University spokesperson J.B. Bird said UT could transition to fully online classes if the number of cases would create a public health threat to the UT community and overwhelm the University’s ability to test, trace and isolate. He said a committee has been set up to monitor UT’s case numbers and make changes as warranted. As of Aug. 24, UT has reported four student cases and 19 faculty and staff cases since July 29, and a total of 291 student cases and 188 staff and faculty cases since March. Some universities across the country, including Syracuse University and Liberty University, have declared a specific number of cases as their threshold for transitioning to online learning. A University of Georgia associate professor told the New York Times universities could reach their shutdown threshold days or weeks before those cases are reported because of the lag time between a person becoming infected and the time they
conduct reporting process and receive an email warning. If a student is reported for violating health guidelines again, they must attend a conduct hearing that will be scheduled within 24 hours, Kennedy said. Before the conduct meeting, Kennedy said the student will receive an “interim” punishment that would potentially restrict their access to campus. Kennedy said students may face suspension at the conduct meeting, but she did not provide further details about discipline for violating policies.
Students discuss reasoning to attend fall classes from home By Andrew Zhang @andrewczhang
steph sonik / the daily texan file develop symptoms and test positive. Susan Hochman, associate director of assessment, communication and data informatics for University Health Services, said the University’s capacity for rapid COVID-19 testing will help to stay on top of cases and avoid a testing lag.
“Our in-house testing strategy gives us an advantage here,” Hochman said. “Our contact tracing team can immediately act on a positive test result, allowing us to quickly interrupt further spread of the virus.” SHUT DOWN
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Derek Ji envisioned his senior year at UT as an idyllic “last hurrah” with his college friends — attending football games and absorbing the energy of being a Longhorn before starting a full-time job. Instead, he will spend the fall semester Zoom-ing into class from his childhood home in Plano, Texas. Almost half of UT students will take their classes fully online this fall, according to a University news release. Some students who, like Ji, decided to spend their fall semesters in their hometowns, say they made that choice because they were worried their peers would not follow COVID-19 health guidelines. “It’s a matter of priority,” said Ji, a management information systems senior. “It would be fun to go back (to Austin), but … I would probably be uncomfortable, even if I was having fun. There would always be that burden on my mind (of getting sick), and that stress isn’t worth it.” In the past week, the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and
the University of Notre Dame both switched to being fully online after outbreaks of COVID-19, according to The Daily Tar Heel and NBC News. Ji said the recent transition of UNC verified his decision to stay home. University spokesperson J.B. Bird said UT is emphasizing remote learning, which will help safeguard the community’s health. He said the fall plan was made to meet students’ needs, not financial concerns. “Our academic planners, who worked with students throughout the process, had the students front and center in their minds as they went through scenario planning to explore a variety of different options for the fall,” Bird said in an email. Bassoon performance junior Davey Hiester, who plans to stay home in Philadelphia this fall, said he takes the risk of contracting COVID-19 very seriously, as his lungs power his aspirations of playing the bassoon for a living. “When tens of thousands of 18 to 22 year olds who haven’t seen each other in half a year all come back together, can you realistically expect CLASSES
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E M I LY H E R N A N D E Z
News Editor | @THEDAILYTEXAN
WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 26, 2020
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PERMANENT STAFF Editor-in-Chief Emily Caldwell Managing Editor Megan Menchaca Assoc. Managing Editors Jason Lihuang, Trinady Joslin Director of Digital Strategy Michael Hernandez Director of Diversity & Inclusion Angelica Arinze Collaborations Director Neelam Bohra Internal Relations Directors Areeba Amer, Ariana Arredondo External Relations Director Austin Martinez Assoc. Editors Abby Dasgupta, Hannah Lopez, Julia Zaksek, Sanika Nayak Forum Editors Daisy Kielty, Maria Sailale Illustration Coordinator Abriella Corker News Editor Emily Hernandez Assoc. News Editors Neelam Bohra, Lauren Girgis News Desk Editors Areeba Amer, Hannah Williford, Lauren Grobe Beat Reporters Andrew Zhang, Anna Canizales, Amanda Figueroa-Nieves, Brooke Ontiveros, Samantha Greyson, Neha Madhira, Lauren Goodman Life&Arts Editor Ariana Arredondo Assoc. Life&Arts Editors Aisling Ayers, Grace Barnes Sr. Life&Arts Writers Jennifer Errico, Anissa Reyes Sports Editor Myah Taylor Assoc. Sports Editor Stephen Wagner Senior Sports Reporters Nathan Han, Carter Yates Newsletters Editor Maia Borchardt
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Students unable to afford rent in Travis County due to coronavirus could face eviction after Sept. 30 By Lauren Goodman @laurgoodman
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NEWS
Students in off-campus apartments struggling to pay rent may find themselves at risk for eviction as the Travis County order halting eviction proceedings expires Sept. 30. The Justices of the Peace in Travis County issued a moratorium in July on eviction proceedings and writs of possession until Sept. 30 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Austin Mayor Steve Adler also issued an order prohibiting the removal of tenants until Sept. 30, saying the removal of tenants would “destabilize the economy and will contribute to additional person-to-person contact.” Political communications sophomore Jose Puente tried to end his lease at his apartment after realizing his financial aid award would not cover his living expenses. Puente said because his mother is the sole provider for him and his two siblings, he struggles with rent. “I (was) just trying to bring (in) enough money to get myself here,” Puente said. “I sold some items that I had. My mom sold clothes that she had. We tried selling
anything that we could.” UT Legal Services for Students told Puente there was no way to terminate his lease agreement. Martin Serra, an attorney at Legal Services for Students, said lease disputes are determined on a caseby-case basis for each individual, and a tenant likely would have to pay their rent as promised in the contract. “There’s nothing in the Texas Property Code or other provisions of the law that would permit a tenant to terminate early just for being unable to afford (rent),” Serra said. While tenants have an obligation to pay rent, Serra said the extension gives tenants a temporary stay of eviction. Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton criticized local governments for deferring evictions in a written opinion letter Aug. 7. “The aspects of the orders ... attempt to rewrite broadly applicable state law governing eviction procedures and replace them with a patchwork of local orders that are inconsistent across the state,” Paxton said in the letter. According to the Eviction Lab at Princeton University,
Texas scored a zero out of five on the COVID-19 Housing Policy Scorecard, which compares states based on their responses to pandemic evictions and housing. Heather Way, a UT clinical law professor specializing in affordable housing, said Paxton’s opinion has no impact on city law since the Texas Supreme Court gave local Justice of the Peace courts discretion in resuming eviction proceedings. “Whether or not the city has authority (to delay evictions) or not, it doesn’t really matter,” Way said. “The (Justice of the Peace) courts clearly have that authority under state law.” Puente’s friends raised enough money for Puente’s rent for the first month through Twitter. Even though he got a job at the University Co-op, Puente said he still doesn’t know if he can afford next month’s rent when the order expires. “I plan on trying to work as much as possible to raise enough money to at least pay half of the rent and help my mom out,” Puente said. “If all else fails and I can’t pay for it, I plan on moving back home and … dealing with the process of being evicted.”
s r c c
fi g p o d a i S
a h p t e S f m f S
f p t C d
megan fletcher / the daily texan staff
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(512) 232-2207 news@thedailytexan.com The Texan strives to present all information fairly, accurately and completely. If we have made an error, let us know about it. E-mail managingeditor@thedailytexan.com.
AUSTIN WEATHER TODAY Aug. 26
HI 98º LO 76º
TOMORROW Aug. 27
maria perez / the daily texan staff
HI 98º LO 78º
mo0om, im scawed
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necessary precautions to be taken?” Hiester said in a Twitter message. “As much as I believe in my peers, my answer is no.” Celeste Valdez, a human development and family science sophomore, will attend this semester from home in south Texas. Valdez said “inconsistency from the administration” in handling the fall semester and the decision to continue with the football season has made it difficult for her to trust the University. “It was a hard decision, especially because I will still have
to (pay) rent for an apartment (in Austin) while I stay home,” Valdez said. “In the end, it’s the smartest and … safest decision for me.” From her bedroom in Dallas, Angelina Braese, an international relations and global studies freshman, said she would like to be on campus, but worries about losing money on housing. If she had gone to campus, she thought she’d be forced to return home soon after the fall semester began. “Everyone has their freshman fall, it’s their first time leaving the house … (having) independence for the first time in their life,” Braese said. “That was taken away from me.”
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Kennedy said the University will not be able to enforce punishments for students off campus, citing an inability to enforce punishments and verify the identity of violators. “As residents who live in the city of Austin … (off-campus enforcement) is a little bit outside our role,” Kennedy said. “We’re looking at confrontation issues, where someone is not willing to abide by the requirements for our interior spaces here on campus.” Off-campus students are subject to the city of Austin ordinance banning gatherings of more
than 10 people, Kennedy said. Violations can cost up to $1,000, according to the ordinance. UTPD will not enforce consequences for students who are gathering in large groups unsafely or not wearing masks, but will educate students on proper safety measures, UTPD spokesperson Noelle Newton said in an email. “If (a visitor) doesn’t comply (with rules), the university representative can ask the person to leave the premises,” Newton said. “If the subject does not comply with university rules and refuses to leave, it becomes a criminal trespass issue. UTPD will respond to acts of criminal trespass.”
copyright davey hiester, and reproduced with permission Bassoon performance junior Davey Hiester records himself playing the bassoon from his home in Philadelphia for a Zoom lesson with his professor.
A Student’s Right To Privacy A Student’s Right To Privacy information below is considered directory information. Under federal
The law, directory information can be made todirectory thedirectory public. You may Under restrictUnder access to this information by The information below isavailable considered information. federal law, directory The information below is considered information. federal law, directory visiting http://registrar.utexas.edu/restrictmyinfo. Please be aware thattoto ifthis you would like to information can available to to the the public. public.You You mayrestrict restrict access this information information can be be made made available may access information byby restrict information from appearing in the printed directory, must that makeifyour changes at this visiting http://registrar.utexas.edu/restrictmyinfo. Please beyou aware you would visiting https://registrar.utexas.edu/students/records/restrictmyinfo. Please be aware that iflike youto web page by the twelfth class dayinofthe theprinted fall semester. you must request thatyour ALLchanges your directory restrict information from appearing directory,If you make at this request that be ALLrestricted your directory information about be restricted NObeinformation about you will be given information NO information you will to anyone, your web page by the twelfth class day of the fall semester. If yougiven request that ALL including your directory to anyone, including youras family members, except as required by law.to Any restriction make family members, except required by law. Any you restriction make will remainincluding inyou effect until information be restricted NO information about will beyou given anyone, your will remain in until you revoke it.by law. Any restriction you make will remain in effect until you revoke it. effect family members, except as required you revoke it. • name • classification • weight and height if member of an athletic teamif member of local and permanent •• name major field(s) of study •• classification • weight and height addresses student parking athletic team permit • local and permanent expected dateofofstudy graduation • an •• major field(s) information • addresses phone number •• expected date of graduation degrees, awards, and honors • student parking permit • the most recent previous information e-mail number address •• phone received awards, (including selection • degrees, and honors educational institution attended most recent previous public user name (UT EID) received •• e-mail address criteria) (including selection • the • job title and dates of employeducational institution attended place of birth •• public user name (UT EID) • criteria) participation in officially ment when by the • job title and employed dates of employrecognized activities and dates of of birth attendance •• place • participation in officially University a positionbythat ment wheninemployed the sports recognized activities and enrollment status •• dates of attendance requires student status that University in a position sports • enrollment status requires student status DIRECTORY INFORMATION is is sent DIRECTORY INFORMATIONSHOULD SHOULDBE BEKEPT KEPTCURRENT. CURRENT.Official Officialcorrespondence correspondence sent to the postal or e-mail address last given totothe registrar; if the student hashas failed to correct this to the postal or e-mail address last given the registrar; if the student failed to correct DIRECTORY INFORMATION SHOULD BE KEPT CURRENT. Official correspondence is sent address, he orhe she not relieved of responsibility on the grounds that the correspondence this address, or will sheaddress willbe not be responsibility the grounds that the to correct to the postal or e-mail lastrelieved given toofthe registrar; ifon the student has failed wasaddress, not delivered. For about educational records official communications correspondence not For details about andon this he orwas shedetails willdelivered. not be relieved of responsibility the grounds that the with the University see General Information, 2020-2021 catalog. educational records official communications with the correspondence wasand not delivered. For details about University see General 2011–2012. with the educational records andInformation, official communications University see General Information, 2011–2012.
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 copy of RECYCLE your copyof of
shut down continues from page
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Bird said the majority of UT students are already taking most of their classes online. If campus was to transition to entirely remote learning, he said housing would continue to be offered with a focus on vulnerable populations, and the University would provide emergency housing if necessary, similar to what happened in the spring. “Faculty are entering the semester with continuity plans in the event their teaching is interrupted by illness,” Bird said. “Students unable to attend remote classes due to illness will be able to seek academic accommodations, as in previous semesters. Finance junior Blake Motl said keeping the community safe requires students and other community members to take on the responsibility of following health and safety guidelines. “My main concern is taking the right steps and
making sure it’s not a death or something tragic that ends up causing the University to close down,” Motl said. “We really have to almost act like we are carriers … because you really can’t know. We’re all young. We don’t always make the best decisions, but now more than ever it’s really important to think about others.” Bird said the University is working hard to avoid another death in the community and keep students, faculty and staff safe. He said it is important to recognize there will be anxiety surrounding the beginning of the semester because the situation is uncertain. “Any death in the UT community — of a student, which is a very low risk, staff member or faculty member — would be a widely mourned event that would lead to review of our safety procedures and protocols and consideration of changes to a higher level of campus closure,” Bird said. “No single factor would by itself trigger a change in levels.”
NEWS
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WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 26, 2020
CAMPUS
CITY
Faculty, students help community through funding, food delivery By Samantha Greyson @GreysonSamantha
Various University and student organizations are giving resources to UT students and community members during the coronavirus pandemic. Students can request financial aid from Student Emergency Services, while faculty can place orders with student-founded organization Good Apple for food deliveries. Social work students are also able to request food deliveries from the Steve Hicks School of Social Work through a pantry. The Student Emergency Fund, a collection of money set aside to help students in crisis, typically provides people with $300, and up to $500 for extreme circumstances, said Kelly Soucy, director of Student Emergency Services. The fund can be used to pay electrical or medical bills, among other things, for COVID-19 related concerns, Soucy said. Soucy said students can apply for the fund online if they have not previously received an award from the fund or any money from the CARES Act in March. For a student to receive long-term financial
support, Soucy said, they would be connected with Texas One Stop and the Financial Aid Office to better address their needs. “Our emergency fund is really a one time thing, addressing the immediate impact of an emergency, and then we support by getting them connected to long term financial resources,” Soucy said. The School of Social Work’s Food Pantry began making curbside food deliveries, such as canned goods and eggs, in March to social work students affected by COVID-19, said Cassie Bernhardt, director of development for the School of Social Work. “The need is growing,” Bernhardt said. “We are taking (food) to students who have lost their jobs, their parents have lost their jobs, grandparents have lost their jobs.” The pantry only serves social work students, who can request a delivery through emails from the school, Bernhardt said. Funding comes from the Steve Hicks advisory counsel, alumni and miscellaneous donors, Bernhardt said, but the legwork is all done by faculty and staff.
“It is a team thing where we all pitch in a little bit,” Bernhardt said. “Whether it’s a Sam’s Club run, or an H-E-B run, or an Amazon Fresh order, we’re piece-mealing it together. We have an alum who has a chicken farm, and they’ve donated fresh eggs.” Good Apple, another food delivery service, was founded last August by UT students to diminish food insecurity in Travis County, said Zack Timmons, co-founder and CEO of Good Apple. The service delivers a free box of food to a family in need with every paying customer, said Timmons, a fourth-year medical student. Good Apple has partnered with Dell Medical School for the Stay Home, Stay Healthy initiative, a program focused on delivering food to the elderly and high risk individuals. Good Apple also delivers groceries to UT faculty, said Michael Measom, Good Apple co-director of Impact. “When the pandemic started, there was a huge surge in food insecurity and there was a big need for food delivery,” said fourth-year medical student Measom. “UT has helped us organize … a lot of the philanthropy we have been able to obtain.”
rocky higine / the daily texan staff
Transportation providers adapt to COVID-19 protocols
jamie hwang / the daily texan staff A passenger boards the 20 CapMetro bus from the UT/West Mall bus stop Aug. 16. CapMetro buses will require masks for riders and keep running on UT’s campus at half the normal capacity. By Hannah Williford @HannahWillifor2
Public transportation around UT’s campus has been adapted to fit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines with sanitizing standards for scooters and bikes, and social distancing measures for Capital Metro buses. Scooters will be allowed on campus, but recommended safety precautions include wiping down scooters before use and washing hands before and after use, according to the Parking and Transportation Services website. Blanca Gamez, associate director of Parking and Transportation Services, said Austin BCycle, a bike rental company on campus, will be disinfecting bikes and frequently used stations to keep riders safe. In addition, CapMetro shuttles resumed modified schedules on campus last Friday, and Zipcars will be available on campus, Gamez said. “We communicate regularly with CapMetro, scooter (companies) and other service vendors,” Gamez said. “We will continue to work with them and University
partners to monitor the use of services on campus, evaluate any need for possible pauses, determine any needed updates in safety protocols and explore alternative options as necessary.” CapMetro buses will continue to run on UT’s campus this fall at 50% of their normal capacity to allow more space for patrons and will be cleaned three times per day, said Sharmila Mukherjee, CapMetro’s executive vice president of planning and development. Mukherjee said CapMetro will also be prepared to offer additional buses when buses in an area are reaching capacity. “We expect that, … with University students coming back to campus, there would be an impact (on bus capacity) so we are prepared to provide additional social distancing support,” Mukherjee said. CapMetro buses also require masks for all riders and will provide masks for those who don’t have them, Mukherjee said. Currently, bus routes around campus, including 1, 7, 10 and 20, are programmed for social distancing support, and University shuttles will run at increased frequencies starting in the afternoon until 8:00 p.m. to accommodate
for spaced out class schedules, Mukherjee said. However, buses 680, 681 and 682 are being suspended to allow for additional support on other routes, Mukherjee said. “At this point, we feel pretty comfortable with what we have planned,” Mukherjee said. “But (we are) remaining completely agile. We have redundancy programs, both in operational resources and in our cleaning, to make sure that we’d be able to accommodate any changes.” Gamez said the University is expecting students to follow safety protocols including sanitizing equipment, washing hands and wearing masks. Nutrition senior Casey Landefeld said while he used to take the bus to campus on rainy or cold days when he could not bike, this semester he will try to avoid it. “(The precautions) definitely make me feel better, but I think it’s more just being in a confined space with other people that you don’t know where they’ve been or if they are sick or not,” Landefeld said. “I think that’s what would keep holding me back from taking the bus.”
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E M I LY C A L D W E L L
Editor-In-Chief | @THEDAILYTEXAN
WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 26, 2020
COLUMN
Clarify details on isolation housing
OPINION COLUMN
abriella corker
/ the daily texan staff
UT’s COVID-19 educational module falls flat By Abhirupa Dasgupta Associate Editor
ely german
By Julia Zaksek Associate Editor
As the fall semester nears and students begin moving into their dorms or off-campus apartments, we’re all waiting. Waiting to see if COVID-19 cases will spike. If UT will move all classes and campus operations back online. If students will get sick. If students will die. The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill made headlines last week when COVID-19 cases surged in residence halls within the first week of in-person classes, and the university was forced to switch back to remote learning. Over a hundred students tested positive for the virus, even with lowered capacity in on-campus residence halls and less than 30% of classes held in person. UNC-Chapel Hill has just under 20,000 undergraduate students. UT has just over 40,000. Earlier in the summer, the administration announced they would provide housing for students who test positive for COVID-19 but aren’t able to isolate or quarantine at their residence. With no vaccine and limited treatment options, limiting exposure is the best way to stop the spread. However, information about isolation housing is limited. In order to avoid a massive spike in infections, UT must provide comprehensive information about how isolation housing will function this semester. “Given that we just saw UNC close and the rate we’ve been seeing COVID-19 increase in Austin, we’re probably going to see a spike in cases
/ the daily texan staff
within the first week or two,” biology junior Ellie Nichols said. Currently, on the health and wellness page of UT’s Protect Texas COVID-19 response website, there is a small paragraph about quarantining and isolation. According to the site, students who test positive or are exposed to someone who tests positive are “expected to self-isolate or quarantine.”
The University has not instructed students on how to secure a hotel room if they need a place to safely isolate.” The site also states that any student who “can’t self-isolate or quarantine safely in their residence” will be able to “coordinate with the university to access isolation spaces through Austin Public Health at the Crowne Plaza Austin.” “University Housing and Dining professionals will work with students to choose the best option for them,” said Aaron Voyles, director of residence hall operations for UHD. “The University is partnering with some Austin community (organizations) that have community isolation facilities. Those facilities have food, housing and high speed internet.” However, the University has not instructed students on how to secure a
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.
hotel room if they need a place to safely isolate. Similarly, there is no information about how they will get there, how they will receive medical care or how long they can expect to stay. “I feel like they could be more transparent about everything,” said Michelle Facio, journalism and radio-television-film junior. Voyles said students with questions about self-isolation can find information from several sources. “The best resource for any student is going to be University Health Services,” Voyles said. “If students on campus have questions about COVID-19 or exposure, they can contact (UHD) professional staff, they can call the front desk, they can call their RA, and we can get them connected to the resources they need.” There is no centralized source of information, though, and students who live off campus may not be able to directly contact people affiliated with housing and dining. “The thing with UT is that they’ve said there’s going to be this quarantine area, but we’ve seen no (public) movement to make that happen, no announcements, plans or any kind of evidence that they’re actually trying to create a place for students who are sick,” Nichols said. Moving sick students away from people they could potentially infect is key to preventing an outbreak that could debilitate a large portion of the Austin community. If UT does have plans for isolation housing, they must make that information readily available to students. Zaksek is a Plan II and women’s and gender studies junior from Allen, Texas.
GALLERY
charlie hyman
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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.
On Aug. 20, Interim President Jay Hartzell announced that all students, faculty and staff returning to campus in the fall would be required to complete an online training program entitled “Staying Healthy in a Changing Environment.” This program will address the campus response to COVID-19 and describe how to stay physically and mentally healthy during the fall semester. I commend the University for taking the initiative to educate students about COVID-19. However, I’m concerned this module neglects on-campus residents’ specific concerns and, more importantly, fails to provide timely information, as it was only released yesterday. Susan Hochman, associate director of assessment, communication and data informatics for University Health Services and the Counseling and Mental Health Center, explained that the program was organized by the Compliance and Education Taskforce, campuswide taskforce that included administrators from Human Resources, UHS/CMHC, Longhorn Wellness Center, Office of the Vice President for Student Affairs, and more. The general course was created for all universities by Everfi, the digital curriculum creator that is also responsible for the AlcoholEDU and Sexual Assault Prevention courses that all incoming students have to complete. “(The modules) met the needs of what we would put in if we were to create something on our own, and the fact that it allows us to customize and put in our own resources, information and policies was really important to us,” Hochman said. “So there was really no need to create something from scratch.” However, these modules do not cover specific UT residence hall policies or concerns. “The module is meant for all students, regardless of their living situations,” Hochman said. Not all living situations are equal, though, and the students living in high-volume housing on campus are particularly vulnerable to the spread of COVID-19. Five of the 10 clusters of confirmed cases at UNC-Chapel Hill and five of the six clusters at East Carolina University were in on-campus residence halls. The close quarters, shared bathrooms and overall cramped space make social distancing very difficult and socializing extremely tempting, especially for young students who have been deprived of social contact and are anxious to make new friends.
Not all living situations are equal, though, and the students living in high-volume housing on campus are particularly vulnerable to the spread of COVID-19.”
“(It has been) very strange, especially as an incoming freshman, because I already have no idea how it’s supposed to go, and now there’s even more uncertainty,” said Marlee Randel, Plan II and philosophy freshman. Randel received emails over the summer from University Housing and Dining, detailing some of the changes to dorm policy in light of COVID-19, and her orientation advisers explained how dorm life would look different in the fall. However, Randel still doesn’t feel quite at ease. “I’m definitely still a little bit nervous because I feel like I have a lot of questions,” Randel said. “I’m hoping that on my actual move-in day, I’ll be able to get those sorted.” That’s the thing, though. Randel shouldn’t have to wait until she’s moved into her dorm to figure out just how much or how little the University is doing to keep her safe from COVID-19. She definitely shouldn’t have to rely on a module that doesn’t take her specific and vulnerable situation into account for the information she needs to protect herself — especially when said module, which is supposed to be mandatory for all students, wasn’t released until the day before classes start. In times of uncertainty, overcommunication and consistency are key. It is extremely disappointing that a task force composed of University officials from so many departments was unwilling to create a resource that would address the specific questions and concerns of students in unique, vulnerable on-campus housing situations. It is an absolutely egregious oversight that the one generic module meant to hold all students on campus accountable for their safety information was not published until the week classes start. Classes begin today. The majority of students who will be living on campus have already moved in. We are all here. Where is the University? Dasgupta is a neuroscience and biochemistry junior from Frisco, Texas. RECYCLE | Please recycle this copy of The Daily Texan. Place the paper in one of the recycling bins on campus or back in the burnt-orange newsstand where you found it. EDITORIAL TWITTER | Follow The Daily Texan Editorial Board on Twitter (@TexanOpinion) and receive updates on our latest editorials and columns.
NEWS
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WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 26, 2020
UNIVERSITY
UT changes Title IX policies, implements law firm recommendations
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By Lauren Grobe @grobe_lauren
UT has changed its Title IX policies to comply with new federal regulations while still following law firm Husch
/ the daily texan file
Blackwell’s recommendations. The U.S. Department of Education’s new Title IX regulations went into effect Aug. 14, and all public universities must create new policies to be in compliance. Some policy changes include universities no longer being required to
investigate off-campus incidents and adding live hearings for every investigation. Title IX coordinator Adriana Alicea-Rodriguez said the University will continue to investigate off-campus incidents. When handling cases, the University will also use the “preponderance of evidence” standard, which requires less proof, over the optional “clear and convincing” standard from the new regulations, which requires a higher burden of proof, Alicea-Rodriguez said. Kaya Epstein, Student Government interpersonal violence prevention policy director, said the higher standard of evidence and changed definition of sexual harassment make it harder for survivors’ cases to succeed. “Creating a new definition of sexual harassment was a very intentional attempt to undermine survivors and avoid accountability,”
molecular biology sophomore Epstein said. Some students have criticized the new federal regulations for supporting universities and respondents over survivors of sexual assault, such as the addition of live hearings and cross-examination to the investigation process. The University has previously only held live hearings in appeals. Universities must conduct a live hearing between the complainant and respondent, overseen by a neutral hearing officer. Both parties are represented by an adviser, who can cross-examine the other party and any witnesses involved. There are few limitations surrounding the adviser position, so it is possible for a friend or family member to be a complainant’s adviser. Some students are concerned this could lead to survivors being cross-examined by their abuser’s family and
friends. Alicea-Rodriguez said the University’s new policy has taken steps to avoid this. “(The live hearing) is not an open process where you can just ask about anything,” Alicea-Rodriguez said. “We have to stay, I like to say, ‘within the four corners.’ What is the reason why we’re having this hearing, and what is the alleged conduct that has been discussed?” The University is also following recommendations from Husch Blackwell after the firm reviewed UT’s Title IX policies. Husch Blackwell’s recommendations included releasing names of and terminating sexual misconduct policy violators and implementing restorative justice practices. In accordance with the recommendations, Title IX matters have been centralized into one office from the previous three. Alicea-Rodriguez said the new office has developed three grievance tracks to
address Title IX complaints. Alicea-Rodriguez said Track A will address all complaints that match the new federal regulations’ requirements, and Track B will address complaints that do not match those requirements, such as being off campus. Alicea-Rodriguez said the punishments are the same for both tracks. Track C will address all other types of conduct, such as sex discrimination and inappropriate or unprofessional conduct. Alicea-Rodriguez said the new Title IX office wanted to include both the Husch Blackwell recommendations and the federal regulations. “When we developed this policy, we actually made sure that both were hand in hand,” Alicea-Rodriguez said. “You have to see the federal regulations as the floor and the Husch Blackwell recommendations as our ceiling, where we strive to improve.”
WEST CAMPUS
West Campus restaurants adapt hours, close due to COVID-19 By Neha Madhira @nehamira14
Restaurants on The Drag and in West Campus have closed or changed their hours in the past months to accomodate for COVID-19 and the lack of customers. Many businesses also implemented new guidelines to allow for alternatives to eating out, including more delivery options, curbside pickup, marked spaces for lines and social distancing between tables. Some locations on The Drag and in West Campus, including Einstein Bros. Bagels, Dunkin’ Donuts, Taco Bell and Caffé Medici, have temporarily closed. “Given the current situation with the pandemic, we made the difficult choice to close the store,” according to a flyer inside Mango 8, a tea house on W. 24th Street, which closed Aug. 21. “We hope to see your
familiar faces and let us say thank you for your patronage.” West Campus restaurants serving takeout and dine-in while also requiring masks inside include Chipotle, Pizza Press, Smoothie King, Qdoba and Pluckers Wing Bar. Restaurants only allowing takeout and requiring masks include Coco’s Cafe, Tapioca House, Bao’d Up, Halal Bros, Kung Fu Tea, Wingstop and Roppolo’s Pizzeria. Chelsea Grieco is a communications and public relations representative for CAVA, a Mediterranean restaurant on Guadalupe Street. She said the chain updated its digital order and off-premise pickup procedure to allow customers more takeout options since the restaurant closed its dining area. “From the introduction of a cleaning concierge role ... to team member health checks and hazard pay, we are committed to the safety of our guests and team members,” Grieco said. “Hand sanitizer dispensers have been added at the primary entrance and exit of ev-
ery restaurant, we have signage up to communicate the breadth of our safety measures ... and clear partitions are located at checkout for an additive safety barrier between our team members and our guests.” Look Noodle, a Japanese ramen restaurant on Guadalupe Street, updated its dine-in and take-out experience, cut their hours and placed tables 6 feet apart. “Inside, we have signs to allow for social distancing, so there are more spaces between tables and customers,” Look Noodle server Karina Soto said. “Before, we were partially self-serve, but now we bring everything to customers to prevent cross-contamination.” Psychology junior Kasey Escamilla said her restaurant experience changed significantly since COVID-19 cases surged in Austin. “I don’t feel comfortable going into restaurants at all,” Escamilla said. “I started to only buy food from places that only offer curbside pickup.”
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6 SPORTS
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WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 26, 2020
NEWS
NATION
COVID-19, shortened deadline causes challenges for Census By Lauren Goodman @laurgoodman
Ezequiel Lozano, a chemistry and public health sophomore, said he has been the only person canvassing neighborhoods in his hometown of Coolidge, Texas to ask people to take the 2020 census questionnaire. “I found excitement in the way I can contribute in shaping the future of not only myself but my family, colleagues, friends and every citizen within the United States,” Lozano said. The U.S. Census Bureau will end field data collection and self-response options for the 2020 census count on Sept. 30. The deadline was originally extended to Oct. 31 in response to the pandemic. According to the Bureau’s press release, this change was made so states’ population counts would be submitted on time to the president by Dec. 31. Jeremi Suri, a history and public policy professor, said the shortened deadline will make the census less accurate because census takers have less
time to collect important information. “If residents of the U.S. are not counted for whatever reason, that means that they will be underrepresented in Congress and in their state legislature … They will not get the federal aid for their schools and their communities,” Suri said. “There’s a long history of undercounting groups as a way of disenfranchising and discriminating against people.” As per census rules, students living on campus in college dormitories are counted as a part of the Census Bureau’s Group Quarter Operation, which also is used to count those in nursing homes, group homes and prisons. Students living off campus should count their residence on census forms as “where they live and sleep most of the time.” Students should be counted at school even if they are living elsewhere due to the pandemic, according to the census rules. Students can still complete the census form online at my2020census.gov. On July 21, President Donald Trump
issued a memo stating undocumented residents should not be counted in the 2020 census. According to the Bureau’s website, the census counts the total resident population, including citizens and non-citizens. Information gathered “cannot be used against respondents by any government agency or court” under Title 13 of the U.S. Code. Lozano said towns with a large Hispanic and undocumented population will likely be undercounted because of the memo. “They believe that this decision has a stigma where, ‘If I give out my information, then possibly this is going to be shared with the immigration customs,’” Lozano said. “(Some people) refused to even give me their information, although it was going to be confidential.” Julia Zorzanello Byron, a leader of the Austin LGBTQI+ Census Committee, said the COVID-19 pandemic and new deadline have been a “cosmic misfortune” for marginalized groups because it may undermine
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their representation. “The fact that (the census) will have that impact and undermine those
/ the daily texan staff
communities for 10 years — a whole decade — is unforgivable, really,” Byron said.
STUDENT LIFE
Students replicate UT campus with Minecraft server By Samantha Greyson @GreysonSamantha
Chemistry senior Josh Fowler built a virtual replica of the UT campus in Minecraft to stay connected to other students during quarantine, attracting the attention of over 200 Reddit users in August. Fowler said he led a team of gamers to build the virtual campus in March and shared his creation on the UT subreddit with the caption, “Missing campus? Come help build it!” The initial build took two weeks, but students have continued to add to the server over time. Fowler said the server started as a pastime to combat lockdown boredom and transformed into a detailed and expansive replication of UT that connected students. Now, the virtual campus sprawls from Gregory Gym, across multiple academic buildings and the Six Pack to the UT Tower. The server, which can be found on Youtube, also includes the Texas State Capitol. Fowler said it features small details that make campus special, and students have
said they were impressed with the server’s details, including organizations tabling on Speedway. “One thing we tried to add was lots of details and even some Easter eggs, like an albino squirrel, an area to remember past Bevos and a working police button,” Fowler said. Fowler and his team of 4 to 5 students used Google Earth satellite imagery to ensure their map of campus was accurate. Other students have replicated the campus in Minecraft using Google Earth, according to previous reporting by The Daily Texan. English sophomore Molly Awalt said she has used Minecraft as a way to connect with her friends and entertain herself throughout quarantine. Awalt said her favorite part of the UT server was recognizing specific buildings from her time on campus. ”The creativity the game allows is a wonderful outlet in these times,” Awalt said. “Being able to interact in a virtual world that resembles UT-Austin’s campus can encourage togetherness while many of us are apart.” Evelyn Cai, a business
copyright josh fowler, and reproduced with permission
This virtual campus in Minecraft was built by chemistry senior Josh Fowler to connect with other students during quarantine. honors and finance sophomore, said student bonding through organizations will be harder this semester because in-person meetings will be limited. As of Aug. 23, student organization guidelines regarding safety protocols and in-person meetings are currently
being finalized and will be released as classes begin, according to the Protect Texas Together website. “It’s definitely great to have all my friends in one city again,” Cai said. “But we all have to understand that we have to be careful about where we go and who we expose
ourselves to. There is an undercurrent of caution that didn’t exist previously.” Students can build more on the server or “walk” down Speedway while sitting at home, Fowler said. He aimed for the server to connect students and replicate the normal
campus experience, he said. “I thought a server might be a fun way to bring people together,” Fowler said. “The server will allow students — both on campus and those that weren’t able to return — to feel a sense of togetherness and community Zoom meetings can’t provide.”
e ”
NEWS
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WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 26, 2020
RESEARCH
Beanbag rounds cause serious harm, Dell Med researchers find By Neha Madhira @nehamira14
“Less lethal” beanbag rounds Austin Police Department used during protests against police brutality in May and June can cause serious injuries, according to a report Dell Medical School researchers published in a letter to the editor of The New England Journal of Medicine. A beanbag round is a small fabric sack filled with lead balls fired from a shotgun, according to reporting on “less lethal” weapons by USA Today. “(The injuries) go anywhere from bruises to lacerations, to having fractures to bones, to having beanbags actually puncture tissue, to broken faces, to depressed skull fractures,” said Dr. Kristofor Olson, a lead researcher for the study. “It seemed like a more penetrating wound than what I thought was a beanbag.” Olson, a Dell Medical School surgical resident, said when people hear “beanbag,” it sounds like something that may bounce off a person and leave a bruise. “That raised our eyebrows a little bit into saying, ‘How widespread are these being used, and what do people know about this?’” Olson said. “We started seeing skull fractures and brain bleeding. It really made us wonder how much is actually out
there documented on these things.” Olson said the researchers do not know the total number of rounds fired at protesters, so they cannot provide an overall injury rate or a total number of protesters injured. Nineteen patients were treated at Dell Seton Medical Center, the nearest Level I trauma center, which is capable of caring for every aspect of injury, according to the American Trauma Society. Eight were admitted to the center, three of which were placed in the Intensive Care Unit, and seven underwent operative intervention for their injuries, according to the study. Olson said he believes these injury patterns are important to note and describe, but policymakers will ultimately decide how to handle this information. “When we take a step back and look at all of these injuries that came in over a short period of time, and how damaging or disfiguring or debilitating that they were for these 19 people, I think that was significantly more severe than anybody anticipated,” Olson said. APD declined multiple requests for an interview and referred all questions to a specially called Austin City Council meeting that APD Police Chief Brian Manley attended in June. At the council meeting, Manley announced APD would stop using
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beanbag rounds in crowd situations, but officers will still be able to use them as a “less lethal” option in situations with less people and a greater distance. The beanbag rounds are also being used nationwide, according to the study. “We saw some horrific outcomes,”
Manley said at the June meeting. “It is absolutely heartbreaking to see the level of injury that occurred. ... I have changed policy already, and that tool is not allowed to be fired into crowds again.” Dr. Jayson Aydelotte, an associate professor of surgery and
/ the daily texan staff
perioperative care, was one of 12 researchers for the study. He said he did not expect beanbag rounds to inflict so much harm. “We’re both definitely surprised, and not just us,” Aydelotte said. “Everybody else that was involved in the care of these patients was.”
CAMPUS
Lab instructors modify courses with safety precautions By Amanda Figueroa-Nieves @amandafn02
While some lab instructors around campus have chosen to keep their courses in person, many have transitioned to hybrid and web-based courses to better abide by COVID-19 safety precautions. Of 1007 lab classes, 430 will be taught online, 447 in a hybrid format and 130 in person, UT communications manager Kathleen Harrison said. For in-person lab classes, Harrison said students will be required to wear masks and wipe down their stations upon arrival. Staff will clean lab classrooms daily, and each lab will follow a checklist that will continuously be updated based on guidance from the University Environmental Health and Safety department, she said. Harrison said the maximum occupancy for lab spaces is lower than regular classrooms, and students will maintain at least 6 feet of distance between each other at all times, except for very limited instances when lab procedures require multiple participants to accomplish a technique. Paola Sotelo, chemistry assistant professor of instruction, will lead a hybrid class where half of her students meet in person and the other half run an online lab assignment, switching places with each other every week. Sotelo said students worked in groups of two in previous semesters. Now, she said students will work individually at stations and will only talk when necessary. During online lab assignments, Sotelo said she hopes Zoom activities will lead to students forming
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relationships and friendships like they would in an in-person lab before the pandemic. “We wanted to move that communication, that relationship that
is created between labmates and instead of doing it in the lab, doing it in the Zoom meetings through different activities,” Sotelo said. Soo-Hyun Yang, research
/ the daily texan staff
educator in the Freshman Research Initiative, said her research program will operate online only in the fall. In her program, Biobricks, students join in the
spring of freshman year and may choose to continue in the following fall for an upper division lab credit. Yang, an associate professor of practice, said it is unfortunate her students will not get to repeat lab techniques they learned in the spring semester. Yang said the lower occupancy in the lab would not allow students to spend the amount of hours it would typically take for them to complete their experimental goals. “If it weren’t for COVID, we would be in lab and working on the research projects that we are collaborating on with other professors, as the students would be able to actually use the protocols that I ... have designed already,” Yang said. “But this time, what I transitioned (to) is to actually have the students learn how to design experiments.” Andrew Loveridge, physics assistant professor of instruction, will teach a fully web-based lab course. He said it will focus on simulations, in which students virtually complete all the steps to a lab, and at-home experiments using smartphones as measuring devices. Loveridge said students’ smartphones have built-in physical measuring devices, such as light and motion sensors. Loveridge said he made the choice to keep his lab fully online with his faculty department, but he still struggles with communicating and teaching online. “Everything just takes longer,” Loveridge said. “I don’t sense that students can’t get their questions answered or that I can’t convey my meaning over the internet, but it feels like it just takes longer and it’s less efficient. It’s like you’re teaching in molasses.”
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8
WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 26, 2020
NEWS
ADMISSIONS
Graduate programs adjust GRE requirements By Brooke Ontiveros @brookexpanic
Some university graduate programs will waive standardized testing requirements for admissions starting next summer in response to difficulties accessing tests due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Thirty out of more than 100 graduate programs at UT have waived the Graduate Records Examination, or GRE, which tests analytical writing, quantitative reasoning and verbal reasoning, said Nicolas Hundley, director of communications for the UT Graduate School. Some graduate programs are pushing to remove the GRE requirement permanently, astronomy associate professor Mike Boylan-Kolchin said. The astronomy department at UT is one of the programs that waived the GRE requirement for this year.
“Performance in the GRE isn’t necessarily reflective of the underlying knowledge that we’re hoping to test,” Boylan-Kolchin said. “At best, there is a weak correlation between GRE scores and success in grad school, and in a lot of cases there is no correlation.” Even prior to the pandemic, the GRE was a barrier between low-income students and graduate school, said Nohely Guzman, Latin American studies graduate student. The test costs $205 to take, and students can take it up to five times within a 365-day period, according to the GRE website. “I remember reading a blog that said, ‘Don’t worry, no one does well the first time they take the test,’ and I can’t take this test several times because it’s so expensive,” Guzman said. Guzman, an international student, said the
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test also assumes students understand America’s cultural norms. She said when she was studying for the test, one question
asked about nickels and dimes, which she didn’t understand because she grew up in Bolivia. “It’s not only putting
/ the daily texan staff
the underprivileged portion of the population under more stress and more pressure but also it’s already segregating
them,” Guzman said. “It’s depriving them from the opportunity because it’s so discouraging if you get a low score, especially when (you’re from) the same communities that have been segregated and marginalized, historically speaking.” The computer science department also waived the requirement for all of 2021 and spring 2022. Don Fussell, computer science department chair and professor, said the test’s cost could put a significant strain on students. “Can you imagine spending $1,000 to take (the GRE) multiple times over again when you really don’t have $1,000?” Fussell said. “It is well-understood that it has biases, and I think it is well-understood that academia in general has probably been overly reliant on it.” Whether or not the GRE provides any useful metric for determining
admissions is still debated, Fussell said. The computer science department is still discussing whether they will petition to waive the GRE in the future. The School of Journalism in the Moody College of Communication is one of the schools that has not waived the GRE requirement. Journalism graduate student Christopher Assaf said the GRE does not do a great job of showing a person’s academic scholarship, and it could be intimidating to students applying to graduate school. “I’ve been in hurricanes, I’ve been in protests, I’ve done many intimidating things, but this stupid little test I was really nervous about,” Assaf said. “So I can see how it can intimidate people, particularly those that are not very good at taking tests, and that could definitely keep people from applying to graduate school.”
CAMPUS
CMHC to continue all services online, increase access for students By Amanda Figueroa-Nieves
@amandafn02
The Counseling and Mental Health Center will continue to offer students the entirety of its services via telehealth this fall. Ginny Maril, associate director for clinical services at CMHC, said individual counseling, group counseling, crisis services, psychiatry and all other mental health services will be offered remotely. In-person interactions will only occur briefly and when absolutely necessary, such as coordinating a hospitalization on site, Maril said. “We want to make sure that we’re providing excellent care,” Maril said. “That’s really our number
one priority.” Maril said students will still be able to have a sameday appointment when they experience a situation that warrants seeing a counselor immediately, but these services will also be online. Maril said there will be more support groups available compared to the summer groups, since the CMHC typically offers between 40 to 50 groups during long semesters. Topics will be based on student needs. “Our students are really important to us, and we know their well-being is being challenged in a lot of different ways this semester, so we want to make sure we are, number one, being responsive to student needs,” Maril said. Maril said the process of
making an appointment has largely remained the same. Students can call the main CMHC phone number to complete their triage, which is a 10- to 15-minute initial assessment. If calling is not an option, students can walk into the center and sit in a sanitized, private confidential space to complete their triage or have a telehealth appointment, according to the CMHC website. CMHC psychologist Joey Hannah helped coordinate the center’s transition to telehealth services. He said the center had already begun a pilot telehealth service before the pandemic started, which helped ease the transition. “Making that shift was very sudden and abrupt and difficult, but in some ways
we were kind of prepared,” Hannah said. “That’s always an adjustment, but in a lot of ways I’m really proud of our staff for how quickly we were moving.” Hannah said a clear advantage of telehealth counseling is increased accessibility, allowing the center to serve more people in the community. He said it takes more work to connect with patients over the phone or video, but it is doable and has been satisfying for many patients. “People can now access counseling services that maybe they couldn’t before,” Hannah said. “Whether it’s that they didn’t have a schedule that matched up well or have the ability to physically come to CMHC, it’s really opened the door for
a lot of people that weren’t able to work with one of our counselors before.” Kat Spickermann, an international relations and global studies sophomore, said she enjoyed her telehealth counseling sessions as she developed a good relationship with her therapist. “I would be comfortable with telehealth becoming more permanent,” Spickermann said. “It’s a useful tool and is able to reach more people. However, I don’t think that it’s entirely a perfect replacement for meeting in person. There’s always technology problems, and I feel the relationship with your therapist is slightly altered … you miss body language cues.”
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M YA H TAY L O R
Sports Editor | @TEXANSPORTS
WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 26, 2020
FOOTBALL
No season means no closure Not playing football this fall could impact student-athletes’ mental health, psychologists say.
By Myah Taylor @t_myah
ollege athletes have a difficult dilemma on their hands. If they play sports this fall, they’ll be at risk of heart conditions and lung issues — maybe even death. On the flip side, if athletes don’t participate, their mental health and emotional well-being could spiral, psychologists say. “While having coronavirus is worse, (not playing sports) is a real psychological loss that’s happening to these students’ lives at critical stages of their development,” educational psychology professor Aaron Rochlen said. Athletes understand the impact not playing could have. Texas senior quarterback Sam Ehlinger has advocated for his presumed final college football season, saying last week that he feels players are safer on campus under the University’s COVID-19 protocols than they would be at home. With threats of myocarditis and other health issues looming over the upcoming season, medical experts are debating whether Ehlinger and others’ claims are accurate, and psychologists are considering the effects a lost season could have on college athletes. The loss could be significant, Rochlen said, as time away from sports could stunt an athletes’ personal growth and lead them astray. “You do find athletes and college students in general starting to pull themselves into other, sometimes troublesome behaviors,” Rochlen said. “It can be drugs and alcohol or can be social isolation or can be not hanging out with positive influences and teammates, so that can come with a whole host of mental health challenges.” Rochlen said sports provides athletes with a structured
joshua guenther
/ the daily texan file
While Division I conferences are canceling their seasons to protect player health, psychologists question if conference decisions will impact players’ mental health. Above, then-freshman linebacker Byron Vaughns consoles then-sophomore linebacker Joseph Ossai following a loss to Oklahoma in 2019.
and supportive environment, something Carlton Dixon, a former Texas basketball player, said he benefited from during his time at UT from 1994-1998. “We really didn’t lack for anything,” Dixon said. “The study environments were set up to where we could go somewhere, access computers, internet. The resources were there, and if there weren’t resources there, they would go find them for us.” Rochlen said athletes impacted by the pandemic could experience an identity crisis that typically occurs in individuals after they leave their sport. “If it’s hard for those athletes that are transitioning out of their senior year, it’s even harder for this situation
because nobody saw this coming,” Rochlen said. “When the sport is taken away suddenly in a very dramatic way with these added health risks, that student-athlete identity and how they see themselves is quickly fractured.” Because UT’s sports teams are still set to compete this fall, senior defensive lineman Ta’Quon Graham said last week that he hasn’t thought about how he would cope if the football season is canceled. Instead, he’s focused on leaving the Longhorns with a bang. “As a 2017 class, we came in here and we helped establish the culture throughout all these years with these different classes rolling in, and I feel like
something we look forward to accomplishing is finally making that extra step and putting Texas back on top,” Graham said.
When the sport is taken away suddenly in a very dramatic way with these added health risks, that student-athlete identity and how they see themselves is quickly fractured.” AARON ROCHLEN
educational psychology professor
“We’re not done yet until we play our final season.” Ehlinger shares Graham’s sentiments on leaving a legacy at Texas, which he said was his main goal entering college. But this year, college athletes aren’t guaranteed this closure, which could be detrimental. “In football, when the coach brings all the families out to the field and gives them flowers, that’s not just a nice photo opportunity,” Rochlen said. “That brings psychological closure to a student-athlete’s career. Now those student-athletes are being slapped in the face with a lack of opportunity to close out their careers and say goodbye to an important part of their lives.”
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WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 26, 2020
SPORTS
joshua guenther
/ the daily texan file
FALL SPORTS
NCAA moves fall sports championships to spring semester, except football By Brittany Archer @brittanyarcher_
Much like NCAA spring sports last semester, fall sports will not crown champions this year. With the exception of FBS football, fall sports championships will be moved to the spring, pending compliance with college, state and national guidelines, the NCAA announced Friday. “We cannot now, at this point, have fall NCAA championships because there’s not enough schools participating,” NCAA President Mark Emmert said in an Aug. 13 announcement, adding that the organization has no control over postseason FBS football. “The board of governors also said, ‘Look, if you don’t have half of the schools playing a sport, you can’t have a legitimate championship.’” The decision impacts Texas’ men’s and women’s
cross country, soccer and volleyball programs. All four of the programs reached the postseason in 2019. While several other conferences announced their plans to forgo the fall sports season entirely, the Big 12 announced in early August that fall sports would go on as planned with only one nonconference game. Big 12 Commissioner Bob Bowlsby outlined the changes to the upcoming season in an Aug. 12 statement. “We believe all of this combines to create an ideal learning and training situation during this time of COVID-19,” Bowlsby said in the statement. “Ultimately, our student-athletes have indicated their desire to compete in the sports they love this season, and it is up to all of us to deliver a safe, medically sound and structured academic and athletic environment for accomplishing that outcome.” With the Big 12 intending to
continue its fall sports seasons, Texas Athletics Director Chris Del Conte told fans that both volleyball and soccer were continuing their training camps and would work with the Big 12 regarding the upcoming season in his weekly Forty Acres Insider newsletter on Aug. 18. “I’ve said it many times, sports in our country have helped us through some of our most challenging times, and it’s something we need as much as ever right now,” Del Conte said in the newsletter. “We’re doing everything in our power to provide that opportunity for our student-athletes, staff and fans in the safest possible manner.” In the announcement, Emmert outlined the decision to grant an additional year of eligibility for fall athletes, who will not go against the scholarship limits for the 2021-22 athletic season. Emmert also discussed the challenges with hosting fall, winter and spring championships in the
On Aug. 21, NCAA President Mark Emmert said there could not be a legitimate championship for any sport other than FBS football. Above, Texas volleyball head coach Jerritt Elliott addresses the team during a timeout in 2019.
same time frame, but believes the NCAA has the resources and infrastructure to accommodate them all. Plans will focus on smaller brackets, predetermined
sites and bubble options. “If we think about what’s going on this fall, rather than thinking about it as a canceled or a lost fall, let’s instead think of it as a
pivot toward winter and spring,” Emmert said. “Let’s use the fall to focus on the physical and mental health, the academic success of our student-athletes.”
FALL SPORTS
FOOTBALL
NCAA extends eligibility for fall sport student-athletes by 1 year
UT students share opinions on stadium attendance plans By Carter Yates @Carter_Yates16
elias huerta
/ the daily texan file
Fall sport athletes will be given an additional year of eligibility, like many spring sport athletes received this past semester. Above, UT hurdles at the annual Texas Relays. By Nathan Han @NathanHan13
All fall sport athletes will receive an additional year of eligibility regardless of whether they play this school year or decline to participate due to health concerns, the NCAA Division I Board of Directors voted Friday. The ruling will affect Texas’ football, volleyball and soccer teams, including senior quarterback Sam Ehlinger, who could now choose to come back for a fifth year. “My personal opinion is I do think that eligibility should be frozen regardless,” Ehlinger said in a media availability Aug. 18. “I think that it’s unfortunate that everybody has had to go through this. … The college experience is such a shortterm thing in people’s lives, and I think that everybody should be able to get the most of it.” The NCAA board also approved a number of other protections for Division I student-athletes, including prohibiting schools from
requiring athletes to sign a waiver before playing and requiring schools to continue to honor scholarships for any student-athlete who opts out of participating due to health-related concerns. On Saturday, head football coach Tom Herman echoed Ehlinger’s statement after the decision, saying the NCAA made the right call. “With so much uncertainty going on with different conferences choosing not to play, I think the NCAA got it right, and it’s the fair and right thing to do,” Herman said in a media availability. Herman said a handful of players had expressed concern about injury risk while practicing, but having that extra year of eligibility has given his players confidence knowing they won’t waste a year if there isn’t a season or if it is cut short. “From what I have seen and what we’ve told them as a staff, the fear of injury if there’s not a season is very diminished from where it was two weeks ago,” Herman said. “They’re going to have that year regardless, so it’s given these guys confidence for sure.”
The decision will have a ripple effect on rosters for years to come, and the NCAA decided that seniors will not count toward spots on that sport’s roster or its scholarship limits. The Texas football team has 12 seniors on its roster, all currently on scholarship. The volleyball team currently only has one senior, and the soccer team currently has five seniors. While the NCAA’s decision to protect the roster spots and scholarships of fall sport seniors for an additional year may provide some answers to questions regarding player management, Herman is still uncertain how it will affect future recruiting classes. What roster and scholarship management will look like beyond the 2021 NCAA fall season is still unknown. After eligibility was extended this past spring, the NCAA allowed the same eligibility, roster and scholarship extensions for spring sports next season. Some baseball coaches expressed concerns that college baseball will never be the same — football may face the same issues.
It was strange for students to have an extended spring break and then finish the semester online. It will be just as strange to see a sparsely populated student section at Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium this fall. Texas Athletics Director Chris Del Conte announced Aug. 16 that sporting venues will operate at 25% capacity, and the University will be enforcing rules allowing students to sit in groups of no more than 10 people. The attendance plans for football games and other fall sports have sparked debate within the student body on whether allowing in-person gatherings is the correct move. Harrison Berrier, electrical and computer engineering senior, said he thinks the guidelines set by the University have little chance of success. “I see the plan as pretty unrealistic,” Berrier said. “The school has been implementing more and more rules, and it feels like they are slowly backsliding.” Allowing in-person attendance is forcing students to weigh the risks, journalism sophomore Kennedy Grigsby said. “I don’t plan on going to games because 25,000 people is still a lot,” Grigsby said. “I am not exactly sure how they are going to enforce social distancing and people keeping masks on. I don’t know how it is going to work
to keep the students as safe as possible.” In a time when students are being asked to practice social distancing, the University’s decision to allow people to attend football games this fall has led to confusion. “I am getting some emails from the University saying this is an unprecedented time,” Grigsby said. “Then, I will get another email encouraging me to buy The Big Ticket. I have never been in a position where I am in charge of 50,000 people and their safety, but I have received some mixed messages overall.” However, radio-television-film senior Elizabeth Garabedian said she’s happy the University is making an attempt to hold football games with in-person fans this fall. “This is my last semester at UT,” Garabedian said. “I could have graduated last spring, but I wanted a last football season. I normally go to games with the same two to three people. If those friends were to go again and I trusted that they hadn’t been going to parties, I would go.” The repercussions of the University’s decision will remain unknown until games are underway, but Berrier said student safety should be the highest priority. “I would love to go to football games, don’t get me wrong, but I think what is more important here is making sure the student body comes out safe,” Berrier said. “The way I look at it is, we can come out on the other side of the virus with a year that was pretty weird, or we can push on for the sake of normalcy and come out with a memorial of all the students lost to the pandemic.”
jenna von hofe
/ the daily texan file
Texas Athletics Director Chris Del Conte announced Aug. 16 that Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium will operate at 25% capacity this fall. Texas’ student section will operate with social distancing measures, including regulating group sizes to no more than 10 people.
SSPORTS
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WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 26, 2020
SPIRIT
FOOTBALL
Texas football tailgaters adjust to fall game day restrictions
Longhorns look forward to 2020 college football season
By Stephen Wagner @stephenwag22
Tailgating before Texas football games is about more than football for Todd and Andrea Summy. Over the last 14 years, tailgating has been a medium for making new friends, fostering relationships and developing a closeknit community of 75-100 people on game days. But after a summer of contemplation, the Summys decided last week that they would not tailgate or attend UT football games this fall, citing the unpredictability of the 2020 ”college football season. o “We decided that it’s very luncertain what is going to fhappen (this football season),” Todd said. “(UT) hasn’t done a very good job of passing confidence onto us that we are going to have a season no matter what. There’s nothing worse than putting a tailgate together and finding out there’s just no tailgate.” With the details on fan attendance at UT football games rapidly changing, so is the probability of having traditional tailgates in the fall. On July 31,
Texas Athletics announced a list of changes to the football game day experience, including exclusively mobile ticketing and mandatory masks for fans. Additionally, Texas Athletics announced tailgating restrictions, which will require groups to be 25 or fewer people and at least 40 feet from other tailgates.
There’s nothing worse than putting a tailgate together and finding out there’s just no tailgate.” TODD SUMMY
texas tailgater
Ryan Lepper, owner of HornBall Texas Tailgaters, one of the largest tailgates in the country, is determined to press on. Horn-Ball, which typically hosts between 500-1,000 people on game day, plans to tailgate in a series of individual tents, all socially distanced and containing no more than 10 members from the same household, pending
approval from the state. Lepper said it would take a massive spike in positive COVID-19 cases to cancel the tailgate. “If the University is going to have a game, we’re going to tailgate,” Lepper said. Lepper believes it will be possible to maintain a sense of community among tailgaters even with tents socially distanced. “You’re still going to be in an environment where other people are going to be tailgating, they’re just going to be away from you,” Lepper said. “We will still have a DJ blasting out music for everybody here. There will still be a party atmosphere, it will just be done in a way that people are separated.” Although the Summys plan on finding a tailgating alternative, whether it’s meeting at someone’s house or going to a state park, Andrea said it will be difficult to maintain the level of camaraderie that has developed over the years. “With the tailgate and the type of friendship I have (with other tailgaters), I would not be able to continue (the sense of community),” Andrea said. “We just had that camaraderie, that link of friendship.”
jamie hwang
/ the daily texan file
Some Texas football tailgaters say they won’t tailgate in 2020 due to uncertainty about the fall season, while others are determined to press on regardless. Above, Smokey’s Midway before the Longhorns’ game against LSU on Sept. 7, 2019.
gabriel lopez
/ the daily texan file
Texas football head coach Tom Herman and players are excited about this year’s highly anticipated freshman class, which includes five-star recruit Bijan Robinson and four-star recruit Alfred Collins. Above, quarterback Sam Ehlinger drops back to pass against San Jose State on Sept. 9, 2017. By Stephen Wagner & Myah Taylor @stephenwag22 @t_myah
Football is going to look a little different this year for the Texas Longhorns. Forget the fact that the team will be playing in the middle of a global pandemic with limited fans in the stands or that the season may be abruptly canceled halfway through. Having six new coaches, including two new coordinators, is a challenge in and of itself, particularly when the team did not have the opportunity to install its new offensive and defensive schemes in the spring. Even so, the Texas locker room is excited about the upcoming season. Senior defensive end Ta’Quon Graham said he still has much to look forward to. “I’m very excited for this upcoming season,” Graham said. “But what I’m mainly focused on is getting the defense down and as well getting comfortable and building our team back together because we were separated for so long.” Several months and a new defensive coordinator later, Chris Ash, Graham and the Texas defense are adding a new scheme to their playbook, featuring four down linemen and a plethora of stunts to pressure opposing quarterbacks. “Playing in this new scheme is something that we all really were excited for,” Graham said. “I’m just excited for my teammates as well as myself. We get to play on more edges, and we get to play more freely.” Head coach Tom Herman is excited to develop the 20 true freshmen from Texas’ latest recruiting class, including four-star defensive linemen Alfred Collins and Vernon Broughton, who have both received praise from teammates
and coaches. “Those are big, big strong humans,” Herman said in an Aug. 7 press conference. “They don’t know whether the ball is pumped or stuffed right now, and that’s OK. But they’re going to figure it out, and it’s going to be fun to watch.” On the offensive side of the ball, freshman running back Bijan Robinson has senior quarterback Sam Ehlinger excited about having another option in an already loaded backfield. “Bijan is obviously an incredible talent, (a) freak athlete,” Ehlinger said in an Aug. 18 press conference. “He gets the ball, and sometimes, I just want to watch him run. It’s just really, really fun to watch.” Texas will welcome back redshirt sophomore receiver Joshua Moore and redshirt freshman receiver Jordan Whittington, who converted from running back last season. Moore missed the 2019 season after being charged with unlawful possession of a loaded gun last August, while Whittington only appeared in one game before missing the remainder of the season with a hernia injury. If the season goes the way Herman thinks it could with players missing time due to injuries or exposure to the coronavirus, young recruits will be put on the spot to “figure it out” fast. Herman said his staff determined that 80%-90% of the scholarship roster can expect to see the field in this year’s 10-game season, meaning young players will need to make progress quickly. Herman can’t yet put a percentage on his confidence level that they will play a full 10game season and learned just two weeks ago that the first game of the season will be Sept. 12 against UT-El Paso. But one thing is certain — the Longhorns are ready to play.
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ARIANA ARREDONDO
Life&Arts Editor | @TEXANARTS
WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 26, 2020
FEATURE
LIFE&ARTS
‘Are you thinking about accessibility in the first place?’ destiny alexander
Face coverings pose communication barriers for Deaf and hard of hearing students and professors. By Aisling Ayers @aisling_ayers
n a typical morning, Dr. Christopher Moreland, associate professor of internal medicine, is greeted in the hallways of Dell Medical School. Now, with the widespread use of face masks, he suspects he’s missed several greetings.
Deaf and hard of hearing professors and students have been forced to adapt to the Texas face mask mandate. Moreland said opaque masks present a new communication barrier for the Deaf and hard of hearing community to navigate. Facial features, mouth movements and hand signs are all essential to communicating in American Sign Language. With the use of masks, Moreland said some Deaf people are doing extra cognitive work to make up for the loss of visual cues. “Given how prevalent hearing loss is, … the visual access to a person’s face whether or not they’re signing or they’re using spoken English is absolutely imperative,” Moreland said. Because masks are essential for slowing the spread of COVID-19, face masks with clear plastic panels could be an effective solution, Moreland said. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention also rec-
ommends clear face masks as a viable accommodation. Growing up Deaf in a hearing family, graduate student Claire Ryan said in an email that she often uses lipreading. “Lipreading is a valuable tool for many Deaf people,” Ryan said. “But it requires a lot of guesswork and contextual clues to piece together what the person is saying.” Some ASL signs have multiple meanings that can be difficult to decipher without certain facial expressions, ASL senior lecturer Franky Ramont said. Ramont said she can usually understand ASL from those wearing masks because it’s her first language. However, this isn’t the case for most of her students. “It’s their second language and I want to (teach) it well,” Ramont said. “(With masks it) is impossible to really have the language come across clearly and facial features are so vital.” On top of COVID-19 concerns,
Ramont said the inability for students to see her facial expressions led her to teach entirely online this fall. Kathleen Harrison, communications manager for the Office of the Executive Vice President and Provost, said in an email that UT will order clear face masks for those who request them through the accommodation process. Moreland said clear face masks are especially effective when worn by hearing people. “Let’s go back to when we start making decisions about how and where we interact with each other,” said Stephanie Cawthorn, director of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing Institute in the Meadows Center for Preventing Educational Risk. “Are you thinking about accessibility in the first place and not just after the fact? I think that’s a lesson we’re all learning.” Cawthorn said it’s best to ask a Deaf or hard of hearing person
/ the daily texan staff
how they prefer to engage in conversation, especially regarding mask accommodations. When others recognize Ryan is Deaf, she said they often pull their masks down to speak with her, which puts her health at risk. “I now explicitly ask people to please not pull down their mask, and to either type on their phone or write via pen and paper to communicate with me,” Ryan said in an email. Moreland said he worries opaque face masks increase communication barriers and feelings of isolation for the Deaf population, but the broad use of clear face masks could eliminate those barriers. “I think we should be using clear masks as often as possible,” Moreland said. “The more of a person’s face you can see, the more reassuring it is, the less anxiety provoking it is. It’s the concept of universal design.”
LIFE&ARTS
13
WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 26, 2020
FEATURE
‘Boys State’ documentary highlights UT student’s success By Grace Barnes @gracebarnes210
Boys State, a summer program held annually across the country for high school juniors, aims to teach its participants about the American political and electoral process. Dozens of former participants have gone on to be powerful elected officials, including former president Bill Clinton. During the week-long program, students develop competing political party platforms and run for various offices, with Boys State Governor being the highest position. In a sea of conservatives, Garza decided to run for that office. “Me being a short, stumpy Mexican kid, both in the racial and the political minority, I was like, ‘This is going to be rough,’ but I was determined nonetheless,” government sophomore Garza said. Garza is one of the protagonists of the documentary ‘Boys State,’ which was released Aug. 14. Because Texas Boys State is hosted annually at UT, the Forty
Acres became the backdrop of the film. The film’s co-directors Jesse Moss and Amanda McBaine said they first became interested in Texas Boys State after a 2017 Washington Post article revealed that year’s participants had voted to secede from the Union. “(After) the election results of 2016, there were all kinds of questions for us about the health of our democracy, and was this secessionist vote as funny as (Boys State thought) it was?” McBaine said. In the film, Garza seems an unlikely candidate for governor as he timidly approached the podium to give his first speech in the primary election for governor, but then he spoke. In light of the previous year’s surprise secessionist vote, Garza decided to raise the issue up front. He said he knew that as a more progressive candidate, he had to pick a topic that would unify different ideologies. “I didn’t know how it would play out, I even (said) it in the speech, ‘What I say next, I could get booed by you guys,’” Garza said. “I didn’t know what (was)
copyright apple, and reproduced with permission
Steven Garza is one of the four subjects of the documentary film, ‘Boys State.’ Garza ran for governor at the Texas Boys State program in 2018.
gonna happen, but I knew that I at least wanted to take a stand against it, and after that, secession was no longer talked about.”
At a time of political polarization, McBaine said the film allowed them to explore current political questions through a dif-
ferent lens — a simulated one, with 17-year-olds. “(The politics are) still fraught, and you see all kinds of stuff
that’s problematic and frightening,” McBaine said. “But there’s also … a reminder of what there is to be hopeful for, and I think that’s probably what I was really looking for.” Moss said that he hopes to see the leadership he saw at Boys State again in the future. “I think there’s a recognition amongst young people that they have the voice, the strength and the experience to lead political movements,” Moss said. Garza said he thinks the Boys State program and its goals of instilling bipartisan principles in the youth is something that is desperately needed. He said even though he was in the minority, he was still able to have an impact. “For people like me and (international relations sophomore René Otero) who are again, in the racial, political minority, can we capture hearts and can we run campaigns to win people over?” Garza said. “A lot of people try to write the other team off. ‘You can’t reach out and get the other side and get them to vote for you, that’s not possible.’ I was able to do it.”
FILM
Procrastination 101: 6 upcoming shows, movies to binge By Grace Barnes @gracebarnes210
As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to strain the entertainment industry, viewers have been unable to watch films originally set to release this year. Christopher Nolan’s sci-fi thriller “TENET” saw its theatrical release date delayed three times before opening in Europe instead. For those looking for something new to watch from their couch, The Daily Texan compiled a list of six films and series premiering on streaming services this fall. ‘I’m Thinking Things’
of
Ending
Director Charlie Kaufman’s latest film is an adaptation of author Iain Reid’s debut novel, a fictional horror story that follows a young man (Jesse Plemmons) who takes his girlfriend (Jessie
Buckley) to meet his parents (Toni Colette and David Thewlis) on their secluded farm. Having written “The Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind,” Kaufman is no stranger to exploring love and regret. “I’m Thinking of Ending Things,” premiering Sept. 4 on Netflix, will explore similar themes, but in a more frightening way. ‘Away’
Hilary Swank is at the helm of “Away,” a new sci-fi series that follows an American astronaut who must leave her family behind to embark on a three-year mission and command an international space crew. The story looks to be an emotional one, as each crew member must deal with their respective personal struggles from millions of miles away. In any case, the 10-episode series will provide a much needed escape from reality, and is set to premiere Sept. 4 on Netflix.
‘The Devil All the Time’
Based on the book by Donald Ray Pollock, this psychological thriller follows a twisted preacher (Robert Pattison), a devious sheriff (Sebastian Stan) and a serial-killer couple (Jason Clarke and Riley Keough) as their lives intertwine with young Arvin Russell (Tom Holland). Russell, the orphaned son of a Vietnam War veteran and cancer-stricken mother, must protect himself and his family from the sinister forces that threaten them. “The Devil All the Time” will be released Sept. 16 on Netflix. ‘Ratched’
Ken Keesey’s terrifying, infamous Nurse Mildred Ratched from the 1962 novel “One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest” is back with a new series starring Sarah Paulson as the asylum nurse. The suspense thriller series will B I N G E PAGE 15
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Tom Holland stars in psychological thriller ‘The Devil All the Time.’ The film, based on the book by Donald Ray Pollock, will be released on Netflix Sept. 16.
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COMICS
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B A R B R A D A LY
WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 26, 2020
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LIFE&ARTS
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WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 26, 2020
FOOD
Austin, UT organizations work to combat food insecurity By Anissa Reyes @anissaareyes
From New York City to Austin, fridges adorned with custom paintings and the words ‘Free Food,’ have been popping up on streets and in neighborhoods. The Free Fridges Project was created in February by the New York City activist group, ‘In Our Hearts.’ The project places community fridges in various areas which are then stocked with food by locals for locals, who are free to take what they need. Kyandra Noble, UT alumna and founder of the ATX Free Fridge Project, said she reached out to ‘In Our Hearts’ through social media, eager to learn how nshe could start a local branch in Austin. Noble said Austin’s fridges, located at Nixta Taqueria with another opening soon at the Unit C art gallery, are especially helpful for those facing food and financial insecurity during COVID-19. “Being a part of it is great,”
Noble said. “I also lost my job because of COVID-19, so I could be in a position where I need the fridge as well. I want it to be open to anyone and for no one to feel judged.” A study by Feeding America showed Texas as one of the top 10 states to face food insecurity in the United States due to COVID-19. Food insecurity rates in the state were at 15% in 2018 and are expected to increase to 20.2% by the end of 2020. UT Outpost and UT Microfarm are also working to combat food insecurity in Austin. For students facing food insecurity, UT Outpost is a food pantry where students taking at least one UT credit course can access free food when needed. Prior to COVID-19, they coordinated pop-up shops, but they have since converted to an online delivery system on their website. “Food insecurity doesn’t care if there’s a pandemic going on,” UT Outpost coordinator William Ross said. “So (it’s) how do we meet our students’ (needs) and
cynthia trevino
give them support during these incredibly trying times.” Ross said they coordinated
with UT Housing and Dining for food, RecSports for transportation vehicles in the Austin area
/ the daily texan staff
and monetary donations from outsiders in order to continue providing resources to students.
“This pandemic is another example of our community coming together, whether it’s Texas as a whole or microcommunities,” Ross said. “It’s impressive and awe-inspiring, and I’m thankful to be part of the experience.” UT Microfarm grows produce that is donated to organizations like UT Outpost. In April, the group donated produce to the Central Texas Food Bank, and they currently are posting resources for students on their Instagram. Dessie Tien, neuroscience and plan II junior, said she volunteered with UT Microfarm her freshman year and helped donate produce to UT Outpost. “It’s fulfilling because we know who’s getting the produce, and it’s going directly to our community,” Tien said. “It could be going to people that we have classes with, and it’s a really neat thought to know that you can grow plants and nourishment for your fellow students.”
STUDENT LIFE
Students defer fall semester after majority of courses move online By Anissa Reyes @anissaareyes
After completing the spring semester and a summer internship online, Sonya Pfitzenmaier said she was tired of staring at screens. On June 1, UT announced that less than 4% of courses would convert to an online only format. “UT said most of the classes are going to be in person, so I kind of believed that,” chemical engineering junior Pfitzenmaier said. “But then I checked MyUT, and all my classes were online.” When it was announced there would be online, hybrid and in-person classes on June 29, Pfitzenmaier decided to take the fall semester off, or defer. As of August 11, UT’s fall reopening plan includes 60.7%
online, 23.6% hybrid and 15.7% in-person classes. Pfitzenmaier isn’t alone in her decision, but in an email, Kathleen Harrison, communications manager for the Office of the Executive Vice President and Provost, said UT will not know how many students deferred for the semester until Sept. 11, the twelfth day of class. “Generally, current deferments appear small and consistent with past years,” Harrison said in an email. Ali Shirazi, government and rhetoric and writing junior, is also deferring this semester because of COVID-19 related class changes. “My education (isn’t) going to be worth it if I’m taking online courses, and also, I anticipate the pandemic to get even worse in the fall,” Shirazi said. After realizing four out of five
of his fall classes had shifted to online instruction only, Shirazi said he talked with his parents, who said he could defer the semester under the condition that he get a job. This fall, Shirazi will be working in Austin as a Voter Expansion Coordinator with the Texas Democratic Party. He said his only regret is that he will be graduating later than expected. “It isn’t ideal but it’s a sacrifice that I’m willing to (make) and I think it’s best (for) my future,” Shirazi said. “I want to get the most out of college, because ultimately (it’s) an investment and I don’t want to just walk through and get it done with.” Pfitzenmaier said she is ahead enough in her degree plan and can still graduate on time even with deferring the fall semester. Now, she will be doing volunteer conservation work at national
parks in Utah with the AmeriCorps program. She said she sometimes wonders if she made the right decision. “It’s weird to not go to school for a semester,” Pfitzenmaier said. “I wish it could go back to a normal semester, but since that’s not really an option, this is the next best option.”
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follow Nurse Ratched as she seeks employment at a psychiatric hospital where disconcerting experiments on the human mind have begun. ‘Ratched’ will premiere Sept. 18 on Netflix. ‘The Glorias’
Centered around the life of American journalist, feminist and
She said she is excited to start her volunteer work but is sad she won’t get to see her friends in Austin for a few months. “There were a few days when everyone was moving in and I was like, ‘Aw, I wish that were me,’ but luckily when I’m doing this job out in national parks there’s no WiFi, so I won’t really be seeing what I’m missing out on,”
Pfitzenmaier said. Shirazi said students who are unsure if they want to defer the semester should follow their intuition. “It’s rough for everyone and the entire world is kind of on pause, even though we’re trying to progress,” Shirazi said. “But do what’s best for you, even if it is inconvenient.”
activist Gloria Steinem, this biopic will span decades of Steinem’s life. Alicia Vikander will play Steinem as a journalist in the 1960s, and Julianne Moore will portray her as a leader of the 1970s women’s liberation movement. The film is based on Steinem’s autobiography “My Life on the Road,” and also stars Bette Midler and Janelle Monáe. It will be released Sept. 30 on Amazon Prime Video.
anti-Vietnam War protesters named the Chicago Seven were charged with conspiracy after crossing state lines with the goal of inciting riots at the 1968 Democratic National Convention. What followed was a scandalous trial that captivated the nation. Writer-director Aaron Sorkin’s film will bring the story to life with a star-studded cast, including Sacha Baron Cohen, Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Michael Keaton. The film will be released Oct. 16 on Netflix.
‘The Trial of the Chicago 7’
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