The Daily Texan 2020-10-13

DT Volume 121, Issue 25 tuesday, october 13, 2020

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Forced to spend time inside, students adapt to living with roommates rocky higine / the daily texan staff

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Students navigate roommate dynamics through communication and bonding.

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To foster solidarity, we hear from students struggling with mental illness.

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opinion

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EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

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Viral photograph of Sam Ehlinger during ‘The Eyes of Texas’ sparks outrage among fans.

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Contents:

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CAMPUS

Students discuss breakout room experiences, impact on learning

By Andrew Zhang

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Professors are using Zoom breakout rooms for online class activities and discussions, but students are divided on how productive the learning strategy is.

On Zoom, professors can create breakout rooms where students meet in small groups for class discussion and activities. Some students say breakout rooms have enhanced their learning experience, while others say they have had awkward and unproductive sessions, but they still feel they are a good option for online learning. “(Breakout rooms are) one of the best ways to personalize a bigger class and let the students share with one another when attending online classes,” communication studies professor Keri Stephens said in an email. “But it is not as easy as we thought it would be. It takes lots of planning to help the students be successful.”

In a video produced for the Faculty Innovation Center, Stephens said she recommends professors carefully plan logistics, such as time and structure, when they use breakout rooms. Stephens said she has students complete shared worksheets during breakout rooms, and she visits breakout rooms with her teaching assistants to hold groups accountable.

Advertising senior Cole Longanecker said he uses breakout rooms for discussions and activities in one class, but sometimes no one will say anything or turn their cameras on in the rooms.

“There’s that little bit of anxiety when the professor’s like ‘OK, now we’re going to go to breakout rooms,’” Longanecker said. “I’m like ‘Oh god, I hope I get somebody who wants to talk and actually wants to participate.’”

Longanecker said the awkwardness in breakout rooms has improved as the semester has progressed. As someone who prefers discussion-based classes, he said

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destiny alexander / the daily texan staff he would rather share ideas in the full class, but understands that might not be feasible for all courses.

Alcess Nonot, UT Senate of College Councils president, said during fall semester planning, the Senate submitted a list of recommendations to the Online Education Task Force faculty committee to make classes more engaging, which included breakout rooms.

“We recommended that professors acknowledge that Zoom classes are a new experience for students too and that … they break up class times (i.e instead of straight lecturing) by using breakout rooms, incorporating breaks, etc.,” Nonot said in an email.

Nonot, a human development and family science and biology senior, said breakout rooms are effective when

tasked with specific activities. She said professors should ask students how they feel about class delivery and adjust class from that feedback.

Arleana Mweyola, an international relations and global studies sophomore, said breakout rooms are less effective for larger classes because she doesn’t get to know anyone in the class.

However, Mweyola said she enjoys breakout rooms in her Arabic class, which has only 10 students, because she gets to know her classmates.

“We’ll speak in Arabic and try to explain to each other what our (reading passages) are talking about and it helps better our speaking skills,” Mweyola said. “They’re usually very chill because we all know each other.”

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NEWS

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TUESDAY, OCTOBER 13, 2020

STATE

What you need to know about Texas 2020 general election, early voting

By Neha Madhira @nehamira14

Early voting for the Nov. 3 general election begins Tuesday, which will include voting in the U.S. presidential election and the U.S. senate election.

Travis County residents can vote at polling sites on campus, located in the Flawn Academic Center and Gregory Gym until Oct. 30, the last day for early voting, or on election day, Nov. 3.

The polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Saturday and from noon to 6 p.m. on Sunday, according to the Travis County Clerk website. People planning to vote by mail must request a mail-in ballot by Oct. 23.

“Depending on where the student lives, there are 37 early voting locations throughout Travis County,” Travis County Clerk Dana DeBeauvoir said. “(Students) should go to VoteTravis.com and look up polling places, especially early voting, and go into those and look for a location convenient and close to them.”

DeBeauvoir said students can find approximate wait times for each polling site at VoteTravis.com to avoid long lines and choose the best location.

“Obviously, it’s the presidential election we have all heard so much

about,” DeBeauvoir said.

“We’ll have Texas Senate candidates on the ballot also.”

In addition to the presidential race, the ballot will include voting for the U.S. Senate race between Democrat Mary “MJ” Hegar and Republican incumbent Sen. John Cornyn, and local races such as city council seats and district attorney.

“At the very last part of the ballot, voters will see a list of the names and offices that candidates are running for who are not opposed, so their names will still appear

on the ballot,” DeBeauvoir said. “Contested (names) are first so that voters can mark those and move through the ballot quickly.”

DeBeauvoir said the best advice she has for voters is to avoid misinformation.

“There’s a lot of misinformation and plain, old ugliness going on in social media,” DeBeauvoir said. “I think voters would better serve their own interest if they just stopped listening to all of those crazy theories out there, just turn it off, and do the one thing that a voter can do: Go vote.”

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4

Editor-In-Chief E M I LY C A L D W E L L TUESDAY, OCTOBER 13, 2020

FORUM

FORUM

It’s ok to not be ok In these Tiny Texan Stories, we hear from students struggling with their mental health.

By Daisy Kielty & Maria Sailale Forum Editors

Trigger warning: mental illness, panic attacks, depression.

You probably know someone with a mental illness.

They won’t have a cast like they would for a broken arm, a runny nose or heavy cough. Maybe they’ll sleep more than usual, or not sleep at all. Maybe they’ll eat more than usual, or not eat at all. Maybe they’ll act like nothing is wrong.

Mental health is a crucial issue that is not talked about nearly enough. In the

United States, one in five adults experience mental illness, and only 43% of adults with mental illness receive treatment.

As a society, we struggle to accept mental illness. We blame the person instead of the biological and environmental factors involved. We treat those struggling as outcasts instead of lending them our support.

This must change.

By fighting in the open and being vulnerable, we will let others know they’re not alone. That it’s OK to get help. That it’s OK not to

be OK. In this week’s forum, we hear stories from students struggling with mental illness.

UT’s Counseling and Mental Health Center offers a variety of resources, includings individual counseling and group workshops, to help those struggling with their mental health.

As always, if you have any thoughts on this topic or any other, please feel free to reach out to us at thedailytexanforum@gmail.com or submit your own story through this form: http://bit.ly/tinytexanstories.

carlyssa phoon / the daily texan staff

FORUM

FORUM

The things I can’t forget

By Anonymous

Trigger warning: mental illness, panic attacks, depression.

I have a habit of remembering more than I’d like to. I remember my first panic attack in first grade. I remember the months of depression sophomore year of high school. I remember my friends sitting me down to tell me I needed to get help. I remember

going on a walk with my mum, building up all my courage to say, “I think I need to see a therapist.” I remember my first time sitting on that couch, playing with PlayDoh, trying to rationalize the thoughts going through my head.

I remember when I realized that mental illness does not disappear with a 45 minute therapy session every week or with a little anti-anxiety pill

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.

taken every night.

I remember having a panic attack on a first date, having to explain everything when I thought I could hide it. But I also remember not wanting to hide it anymore. There are things I’d rather forget, but all of those therapy sessions, all of those talks with friends, all of those moments I kept moving forward instead of sitting down — I don’t ever want to forget.

‘If you don’t take care of yourself, who’s gonna take care of you?’

By Portia Yuen Contributor

Trigger warning: mental illness.

In a society that values efficiency and accomplishments, how often are we able to pause and ask ourselves, “How are we actually doing?” This pandemic makes things a lot harder because we are forced to accept reality as is and to adjust to this new normal. A lot of people’s mental health has taken a toll, mine included.

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.

As someone that struggles with preexisting mental health conditions, things just got even more challenging following the onset of the pandemic.

The routines that I had in Austin were gone, having to move back home (readjusting the boundaries and freedom that I was used to having), leaving my friends, transitioning to online classes and much more.

These changes were terrifying. With the pandemic, seeing friends is a lot harder and everyone

has a different comfort level, so it takes a lot more adjusting. The first step of getting help is to acknowledge what you’re experiencing. It was challenging having to consciously think about how I feel in therapy, but it has given me a safe space to process emotions. I learned how to accept things and situations as is instead of pushing them away. It was really hard for the first couple of months, but with the help of therapy I was

RECYCLE | Once you’ve enjoyed this copy of The Daily Texan, it is yours to keep or recycle.

Please do not leave your copy behind or return it to its rack.

able to reestablish my routines, state my needs and learn different coping strategies on managing my symptoms.

As full-time college students, it’s hard to carve out time for ourselves, but think about it this way: If you don’t take care of yourself, who’s gonna take care of you?

Things are way more challenging now — have more compassion and patience toward yourself.

One step at a time, one day at a time.

EDITORIAL TWITTER | Follow The Daily Texan Editorial Board on Twitter (@TexanOpinion) and receive updates on our latest editorials and columns.

NEWS

5

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 13, 2020

RESEARCH

UT joins National Science Foundation diversity program

By Santino Camacho @santinolcamacho

The National Science Foundation selected UT last week to join the Alliances for Graduate Education and the Professoriate project, which aims to increase historically marginalized communities in STEM faculty.

The project expands upon the California Alliance’s Research Exchange Program, and it provides networking, career and research opportunities to underrepresented doctoral and postdoctoral STEM students nationally.

For the next three-anda-half years, UT will collaborate with eight other research institutions — including Harvard University, Stanford University and UC-Berkeley — to implement programs for its members.

“There is a decentralized model for how the nine institutions will each have their own part to take charge of,” said Marvin Hackert, associate dean of graduate studies. “For instance, the University of Texas is going to be taking the lead on teaching inclusive practices for hiring and hiring practices … so we’re going to be packaging that and promoting that at workshops and sharing that with other institutions.”

Tia Madkins, curriculum and instruction assistant professor, said students from underrepresented communities face an uphill climb in STEM fields.

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“There is a macro-level issue at hand … where students of color are denied access to rigorous and culturally relevant K-12 STEM instruction, which contributes to systemic recruitment and retention issues in the STEM fields and academia,” Madkins said.

The project seeks to improve the pathway by offering cross-institutional mentorship, research exchange and new tools for diversity, equity and inclusion.

“We know (underrepresented STEM students) have always wanted more access to teachers and mentors from their own backgrounds,” said Tatiane Russo-Tait, a Ph.D. candidate studying diversity, equity and inclusion in STEM education.

“Student associations across the country, in STEM fields specifically, all sent letters out to their

/ the daily texan file

departments asking for more representation.”

Russo-Tait said the benefits of increasing faculty diversity include increased likelihood of student retention, greater understanding in sharing experiences and more comfort when asking for support.

“It signals to students they belong in the field,” Russo-Tait said. “That right now is not necessarily experienced by all students equally.”

Hackert said more information will be released in the coming months for doctoral and postdoctoral STEM students.

“There would be professional development opportunities, research exchange opportunities, all to help (underrepresented) students transition from student to graduate student to (postdoctoral) student to junior faculty, and be successful in that process,” Hackert said.

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TUESDAY, OCTOBER 13, 2020

NEWS

STATE

Senate higher ed committee talks nontraditional college student opportunities copyright anna canizales, and reproduced with permission

Commissioner of Higher Education Harrison Keller discussed education for nontraditional students during a Texas Senate Committee on Higher Education meeting Monday.

By Anna Canizales @annaleonorc

Reworking programs to assist nontraditional students is an urgent issue in Texas, with millions of Texans out of work, Commissioner of Higher Education said during a committee meeting Monday.

The Texas State Committee on Higher Education heard about a dozen invited testimonies on initiatives to increase and improve higher education completion for nontraditional students.

The committee defines nontraditional students as including first-time adult learners, re-enrolling students, first-generation students, working adults and at-risk students.

Harrison Keller, who oversees the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board, said the unemployment rate for workers without post-secondary credentials is more than twice the

unemployment rate of workers with bachelor’s degrees.

“As we look beyond our immediate response towards recovery, it can’t be overemphasized that in today’s Texas economy, jobs follow skills,” Keller said. “Nearly all the net new jobs created in the United States and about 85% of the new jobs that were created in Texas in the wake of the Great Recession required at least some education beyond high school.”

Keller said adult learners are one of the most important populations the state needs to serve right now.

“We have more than 3.6 million Texans filed for unemployment since March, and many of the jobs that people lost may not return or aren’t returning quickly, so our state needs to move quickly to help Texans rescale and upskill,” Keller said. “More than a third of the Texans we surveyed who have some college, no credentials, said they’ve

either lost or left their jobs due to the COVID-19 pandemic.”

Peter Beard, senior vice president for Regional Workforce Development at the Greater Houston Partnership, said the Texas economy is undergoing a fundamental shift to an innovation-based economy, which is accelerating due to the pandemic.

“Just as the talent supply chain serves employers, it serves adult learners,” Beard said during his testimony.

“We need to design it by understanding their needs. Some of these important supports include wraparound social services to address child care, transportation, food insecurity and other finance challenges that may arise.”

Beth Brunk-Chavez, dean of UT-El Paso’s extended university, said the Finish@UT program allows for distributed teaching and learning across multiple UT institutions and can provide opportunities for adult learners to

obtain a bachelor’s degree.

“When full-time employment, family commitments or geographical location presents barriers, programs such as Finish@UT provides access to an excellent education without requiring learners to put their lives on hold,” BrunkChavez said during her testimony.

Finish@UT is a program that allows students who have started but not completed their UT degree to obtain their diploma fully online, according to the UT System website. The program launched December 2011.

Brunk-Chavez said Finish@UT aims to increase outreach and awareness across Texas, especially after the pandemic has taken an economic toll on the state.

“Now, more than ever, those of us in higher education have an obligation to expand access to innovative programs that prepare adult learners for a postCOVID economy,” Brunk-Chavez said.

LIFE&ARTS

7

Life&Arts Editor A R I A N A A R R E D O N D O TUESDAY, OCTOBER 13, 2020

STUDENT LIFE

Living with roommates during the pandemic With limited options for socializing, some students spend more time with their roommates.

We’ve been kind of forced to spend time with each other, but that’s been a wonderful thing.”

ALEX ALLEN

By Lauren Castro

communication and leadership junior

@laurrncastro

n a cozy, blue North Campus house, you can find Heather Worth and her five roommates baking, having mock 6th Street nights and supporting each other through online classes.

The girls first met through the Kappa Delta sorority, but they have grown stronger as a group through the pandemic and its challenges.

“When you’re living with people and you can’t get out of the house, there’s definitely tension in the sense (that) you want to get out, but I think we’re really good about noticing that and being there for each other when we need to” said Worth, a finance and Spanish junior.

In response to COVID-19 restrictions, the options for socializing are limited and some students are spending more time than ever inside with their roommates. Through house rules,

copyright heather worth, and reproduced with permission

Finance and Spanish junior Heather Worth and her roommates laugh in front of their blue North Campus house. The six of them have been supporting each other through online classes during the pandemic.

constant communication and respecting boundaries, students like Worth have been able to successfully create a healthy roommate dynamic.

“In general, I feel like I’m (making) more fun memories with them because I’m with them 24/7,” Worth said. “You don’t really have to go grab a coffee to hangout. You just come downstairs and sit on the couch, and you can have this fun conversation.”

Alex Allen, a communication and leadership junior, lives with two girls she met through Moody’s Communication Council. She said they hold weekly game nights

and foster a pitbull terrier mix named Granger.

“We’ve become like a little girl gang or something,” Allen said. “I have never really had that sort of friend atmosphere before, so it’s been really cool.”

Now that the majority of their time is spent inside the house, Allen said she and her roommates have regular conversations about caring for their dog, house chores and COVID-19 precautions.

“We’re pretty much some of the only people that we hang out with, (and) we have our little bubble,” Allen said. “So we’ve been kind of forced to spend time with each other, but that’s been a

wonderful thing. We can sort of socialize and still have that part of our lives, even though everything’s online.”

Despite living in close quarters, the distance between physics senior Gina Chen and her roommate has only increased. The pair met during freshman orientation and have lived together for the entirety of college, but they have grown apart as friends over time.

“We just have different expectations on how much we should communicate about where we’re going,” Chen said. “I feel like I spend a lot of energy thinking about how to resolve conflicts that I could be spending on other

things, especially since I’m applying to grad school right now.”

Chen said she considered moving back home for the semester because of the tension between the pair, but she decided to stay in Austin because she doesn’t have a workspace at home. While she said she doesn’t regret this decision, she has had to look for ways to cope.

“Anytime we have a disagreement, it’s a lot harder to de-stress about it,” Chen said. “I try to go on picnics with one of my friends at the park that I live close to.”

As students navigate the dynamics of living with roommates during the pandemic, Worth said it’s important to be communicative and flexible.

“Everyone’s aware that there needs (to be) a certain amount of grace given (to each other), so we’re just trying to find that,” Worth said. “We have this really cool ability to take burdens off (each other’s) shoulders, keep it fun and make life happy.”

8

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 13, 2020

LIFE&ARTS

STUDENT LIFE

UT comedy orgs deliver laughs despite pandemic woes

By Thomas Casler @thethomascasler

melanie westfall

/ the daily texan file

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Some say laughter is the best medicine, but delivering comic relief has proven to be difficult during a pandemic for student-led comedy organizations.

With the help of Zoom, Gigglepants Improv has continued to put on live shows and make students laugh.

While the improv comedy club performers are used to thinking on their feet, the transition from stage to screen has given new meaning to the term improvisation.

“We lose the physicality in improv a little bit when (we’re) stuck in a screen,” said Madison Cooper, social media manager of Gigglepants Improv.

Normally, an improv show is where a group of performers make up a comedic scene on the spot, usually with suggestions from the audience. Studio art junior Cooper said there are some problems delivering improv in a virtual format.

“What if my WiFi cuts out?” Cooper said. “We’ve had some technological problems, like, ‘Oh we can’t hear you,’ and (we try) to incorporate that into something that’s funny and comedic.”

Without feedback from a live audience, students who are new to improv can feel uncomfortable performing over a screen. Juan Leyva, the vice captain at Gigglepants Improv, said this is why Gigglepants decided not to host auditions this semester.

“We didn’t want to overwhelm people,” theatre studies senior Leyva said. “They’re on Zoom. There’s no direct feedback of laughter that they can gauge if they’re doing well or not.”

Longhorn Latenight, a live comedy sketch show on Texas Student Television, would usually consist of

multiple pre-rehearsed comedy scenes performed live in front of a studio audience, but the pandemic has forced the showrunners to reevaluate how to put on their show safely.

“Over the summer, the team and I were like, ‘We very much have to do things very differently,’ because you took out the live part of (Longhorn Latenight),” said Joey Karlik, executive producer of talent at Longhorn Latenight.

The University has implemented new regulations detailing how the TSTV studio can be used, including appointment only and limits on studio capacity. Without a live audience, Longhorn Latenight has decided to pre-record their sketches and create a unique way to generate audience engagement.

“We do YouTube premiere,” radio-television-film junior Karlik said.

“That way we can upload (the show) a day or two in advance, get a little bit of hype going, and then everyone can watch it at the same time when it premieres.”

Leyva said the new experience has sharpened organization members’ comedy skills.

“Because with Zoom, where if two people talk at the same time, you’re just gonna hear a bunch of jumbled mess,” Leyva said. “It’s really forced us to say a line and really listen to another. It’s really taught us to set up a joke to guarantee the success of our partner in a scene.”

Cooper said attending an improv comedy show offers students an outlet to relieve stress.

“You can just sit and watch people be funny for you and give yourself time to debrief,” Cooper said. “Just being entertained and giving yourself a break from school work and all the stressful things (in your life).”

stories videos photo galleries thedailytexan.com

NEWS

9

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 13, 2020

CAMPUS

Virtual learning programs offer opportunity to display pronouns, foster inclusive environment

By Katya Bandouil @kat372

Virtual learning programs allow students to display their pronouns during classes and extracurricular activities, which some students hope becomes a wide-spread practice.

Elyzia Mustafa, a psychology and international relations and global studies junior, said their professors do not require pronouns to be visible during virtual meetings, so most students do not list their pronouns.

“It’s kind of off-putting when only a few people have their pronouns in their Zoom name, because then I feel isolated as someone who uses she/they pronouns,” Mustafa said.

Mustafa said the ability to list pronouns online makes them feel more secure in a virtual classroom setting.

“It feels nice to have that kind of visibility and that security of knowing that if someone is looking at my screen or that needs to talk to me, they will see my pronouns,” Mustafa said.

Beth Bukoski, educational leadership and policy associate professor of practice, said she includes a section in her syllabus and a slide in her introductory presentation where she addresses using pronouns. Bukoski said she lists her pronouns in her display name on Zoom, but she allows her students to choose whether or not they want to display their pronouns.

“The important thing is to open up space where people feel like they can enter that space as they want to enter it,”

nat hadaway

Bukoski said.

Isaac Mackzum, a member of The Guides of Texas, said most guides have included their pronouns during virtual campus tours, which helps foster an inclusive environment for prospective students.

“Our boss told us that she received a comment from a visiting student that seeing all the guides’ pronouns made them more comfortable and excited about

The important thing is to open up space where people feel like they can enter that space as they want to enter it.”

BETH BUKOSKI associate professor of practice

coming to UT,” said Mackzum, a marketing and Spanish senior.

Mustafa said professors can help students feel included by encouraging people to display their pronouns.

“I don’t think it would hurt for professors to maybe remind students at the beginning of class every once in a while to make sure their pronouns are visible,” Mustafa said. “This way everyone is referred to correctly, and

/ the daily texan staff

transgender and nonbinary students aren’t singled out as not being cisgender.”

Mackzum said he hopes more students will start listing their pronouns during classes because it helps normalize the practice.

“If we can do something as simple as taking five seconds to add our pronouns, and that action makes someone else feel seen, validated, safe or more comfortable, why wouldn’t we?” Mackzum said.

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TUESDAY, OCTOBER 13, 2020

SPORTS

FOOTBALL COLUMN

Lack of player participation in ‘The Eyes of Texas’ sparks outrage among fans

By Myah Taylor @t_myah

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Moments after Texas lost to Oklahoma at the Cotton Bowl Saturday, Sam Ehlinger stood on the field with his horns up during “The Eyes of Texas.”

Members of the Longhorn coaching staff and a few other players joined the senior quarterback on the turf as UT’s alma mater played, but the image of No. 11 looking toward the clusters of burnt orange in the bleachers after the game has resonated most with fans.

“The Eyes of Texas” is a UT tradition Ehlinger has enjoyed since he was a young boy growing up in Austin. Both of his parents went to the University, and he grew up rooting for the Longhorns, always dreaming he would become one himself someday.

A crushing defeat to a bitter rival would not stop Ehlinger from participating on Saturday. Nothing would deter the quarterback from honoring the University he loves — not his own disappointment or the insults Sooners fans hurled his way.

“I’m truly humbled and blessed to be in this position,” Ehlinger said.

“I wouldn’t trade it for the world.”

The masses of UT fans who saw the photo of the moment circulate on the internet over the weekend deemed Ehlinger a hero — a true Longhorn who bled burnt orange no matter the circumstance.

His teammates, on the other hand, were ungrateful and entitled, numerous fans said. They had abandoned Ehlinger during a time meant to unite the team and its fans and given up on the program.

This is one interpretation

eddie gaspar

/ the daily texan file

The Texas football team gathers to sing ‘The Eyes of Texas” after a 38–45 loss to LSU Sept. 7, 2019. After the Red River Showdown Saturday, only a few players stayed on the field for the song, most notably senior quarterback Sam Ehlinger.

of the photo, but maybe there’s more to it.

Ehlinger’s teammates venerate him. Joshua Moore, redshirt sophomore wide receiver, previously said his quarterback is like a brother to him. Jordan Whittington, redshirt freshman wide receiver, said after the game that Ehlinger gives him faith. Texas head coach Tom Herman said Monday that unity on the team is strong.

So maybe the players didn’t bolt for the locker room because they don’t appreciate their fans, their quarterback or the Longhorn on their helmet. Maybe it’s “The Eyes of Texas,” the school song dozens of student-athletes have been trying to remove since June, that they don’t like.

“The Eyes of Texas” is beloved by thousands of Texas fans, but it has a complicated history that dates back to the late 1860s when Robert E. Lee coined the phrase “the eyes of the South are upon you.” William Prather, a future UT president and regent, altered the phrase to include “Texas,” and the inspiration for the song was born.

The two UT students who wrote “The Eyes of

Texas,” Lewis Johnson and John Sinclair, set it to the tune of “I’ve Been Working on the Railroad” and debuted the song at an annual campus minstrel show where they likely donned blackface, according to Edmund T. Gordon, a professor of African and African Diaspora Studies.

The University has looked to reclaim the song while acknowledging its origins, but it’s a painful history that players like junior safety Caden Sterns can’t ignore.

“Knowing that that your school used to host those shows is beyond me,” Sterns said in a video posted on the “Rewrite Not Reclaim” Twitter account Sept. 18.

Back in July, Sterns said he understands why fans and players might still sing the song. It means something positive to them, just like it does to Ehlinger.

Yet, this same grace isn’t extended to those who feel hurt by the song and choose not to sing it. Ehlinger still participates in the tradition, but he also said he stands with his teammates.

Meanwhile, the Texas fan base remains at an impasse.

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TUESDAY, OCTOBER 13, 2020

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Sports Editor M Y A H T A Y L O R TUESDAY, OCTOBER 13, 2020

SPORTS

FOOTBALL

Herman insists on unity as Texas regroups during bye week

Following twostraight losses, head coach Tom Herman said he hasn’t lost the locker room.

By Myah Taylor @t_myah

fter a crushing loss to Oklahoma Saturday, the Texas football team is now 2–2. The fanbase is growing impatient, and the program seems to be going nowhere fast in Tom Herman’s fourth season as head coach. But before he delved into the team’s on-field issues Monday, he addressed “The Eyes of Texas” controversy.

“There are very strong emotions on both sides,” Herman said in a Monday teleconference. “We have discussed this and will continue to. I’ve encouraged our staff and team to join me in participating after games if they are comfortable doing that. I do believe it’s important that we acknowledge and thank our fans after a hard-fought game.”

The Longhorn fans Herman wants to honor have expressed their distaste for Texas’ play on the field. Herman said Monday that the players and coaching staff

are working hard to meet their expectations.

“We are working night and day, around the clock, to give them the team that everyone wants to see out there,” Herman said.

This week, however, the team is going to take some time to rest during the bye.

Junior safety Caden Sterns is nursing a toe injury, and sophomore wide receiver Jake Smith reaggravated his hamstring before Saturday’s game. Senior safety Chris Brown is in a sling with a shoulder sprain, and sophomore running back Roschon Johnson is also having shoulder trouble.

As injuries and losses pile up, it could be easy for the Longhorns to give up on their season, but Herman said the team is committed to winning. If they weren’t, the players wouldn’t have played Oklahoma so hard during the game that went into four overtimes, Herman said.

“A team that is divided, a team that’s fractured, a team that has lost faith and hope — they don’t play like that,” Herman said.

“Teams that play that hard with that much belief are teams that are together.”

He said he hasn’t lost this team, despite

what those on the outside may think and the continued polarization over “The Eyes of Texas” between players and fans.

The season is not lost either, Herman said, echoing his sentiment last week after the loss to TCU. Texas also lost two games in a row in 2018, when the Longhorns played for a Big 12

Championship and defeated then-No. 5 Georgia in the Sugar Bowl.

“They’ve played a lot of football, and they understand that there’s a lot of football left to be played, and they’re excited to get back out there and go to work and go 1–0 next week against Baylor,” Herman said.

Effort may not be the

issue, as a lack of discipline has plagued the Longhorns in recent weeks. Penalties hurt Texas for the second week in a row, subtracting from progress the Longhorns made on the field.

“I think they’re all different,” Herman said. “Some come from overexuberance and trying to do too much.

Some come from a lack of

attention to detail.”

The Longhorns must work out their issues if they want to win football games. Herman said he acknowledges this and so do the players.

“Our guys are hungry and ready to get back out there on the practice field,” Herman said. “There is so much of this season left to play.”

copyright texas athletics, and reproduced with permission

Tom Herman speaks to the media Sept. 16, 2019, just two days after Texas beat Rice 48–13 for their second win of the season. Despite fan patience wearing thin after a 2–2 start to the season in 2020, Herman said that the team is still unified and expecting to compete for a Big 12 title.