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FRIDAY, APRIL 12, 2019
volume
119,
issue
135
NEWS
OPINION
LIFE&ARTS
SPORTS
Two proposed bills in the Texas Legislature would eliminate redlight cameras. PA G E 2
Group projects need peer evaluations to hold students more accountable. PA G E 4
UT students seek creative employment to complement education. PA G E 5
Rain delay, outfield collisions help Ellis, Texas prepare for bout with Kansas State. PA G E 7
TEXAS LEGISLATURE
Public Health Committee hears medical marijuana bills
SENATE
UT Senate supports removing professor
By Chad Lyle @lylechad
The Texas House Public Health Committee convened Thursday to consider a slate of bills for expanded medical marijuana use. Testimony in support of the bills frequently became emotional. Of the 10 proposals scheduled to be heard by the committee, three bills received testimony before the hearing ended in recess. The first was House Bill 122 by state Rep. Gina Hinojosa, D-Austin. HB 122 would set up a legal defense for physicians who discuss marijuana with their patients as a treatment option and those who possess marijuana at the recommendation of their doctor. Testifying in favor of her bill, Hinojosa said its primary goal is not to legalize medical marijuana use. “This bill does not legalize marijuana,” Hinojosa said at the hearing. “But it would provide individuals with an opportunity to explain to a judge their situation and give the judge the ability to accept or reject their affirmative defense.” Following Hinojosa’s remarks, Piper Lindine, a witness from Sugar Land, Texas, spoke in favor of HB 122 on behalf of her son. “I’m here today because I have an 11-year-old son who began having seizures at age three-and-a-half,” Lindine said. “We have been medicating him with high-THC cannabis for five years now, and I desperately need this bill to pass because I’m at risk for losing my kids, for going to jail, and it’s just not right.” THC is the psychoactive component of marijuana, and
BILLS
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conor duffy | the daily texan staff The UT Senate of College Councils passed legislation on Thursday afternoon to remove classes from the fall 2019 course catalog from professors who have had allegations of sexual misconduct. Both English associate professor Coleman Hutchison and Sahotra Sarkar, an integrative biology and philosophy professor, are named in the legislation.
Senate resolution fast-tracks removal of English professor accused of sexual misconduct, biology professor who made sexual comments. By Hannah Ortega @hannahortega
embers of the Senate of College Councils fast-tracked and passed a resolution Thursday evening that supports removing English associate professor Coleman Hutchison from this fall’s course schedule. An investigation by UT’s Office for Inclusion and Equity concluded that Hutchison violated sexual misconduct policies and failed to disclose his relationship with a student. The Senate resolution also calls
for the removal of Sahotra Sarkar, an integrative biology and philosophy professor. Sarkar received a semester suspension in 2017 after making sexual comments to students, the Austin American-Statesman reported last year. Both Hutchison and Sarkar are currently slated to teach undergraduate courses this fall. “This legislation seeks, among many things, to address the lack of transparency the University has in regards to professors and faculty and teaching members who are found guilty of sexual misconduct violations or anything above that,” said Ian McEntee,
resolution co-author and Liberal Arts Council policy coordinator. Additionally, the resolution supports notifying students via email about professors who are found guilty of violating University policies concerning sexual misconduct, sexual harassment or sexual assault. The University of California-Berkeley, which has a similar policy, served as inspiration for this procedure, said McEntee, a humanities and sociology senior. McEntee and the other authors of the resolution want these professors to be named in a database.
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WEST CAMPUS
CAMPUS
Insomnia Cookies to open by summer
Senior gift aims to improve UT Libraries with Tomorrow Fund
By Elexa Sherry
By Raul Rodriguez
@elexasherry
@RaulRod800
Students in need of a late-night cookie fix can soon order from Insomnia Cookies, which will open in West Campus sometime in the next month. The store will be located in the building attached to The Castilian where a Subway used to be. Insomnia has more than 150 locations around the country. Hazi Ortiz, a call center supervisor at Insomnia, said the opening day won’t be announced until about a week prior. “We open about two stores every couple of months,” Ortiz said. “If we have a bunch of customers who are emailing in from Austin and are suggesting a store there, then that’s what we’re going to go ahead and do.”
conor duffy | the daily texan staff Insomnia Cookies’ first Austin store, located at the corner of 24th and San Antonio Streets, is scheduled to open next month.
The cookie company was founded in 2003 by Seth Berkowitz, who was a student at the University of Pennsylvania at the time. He came up with
the idea and started the business from his dorm room. Insomnia specializes in delivering cookies to people’s doorsteps and business centers. Ortiz said what makes
Insomnia unique is the franchise’s locations near big universities and late night hours. Insomnia is open until 3 a.m.
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Nearing the end of their time on the Forty Acres, the class of 2019 is giving back to campus with this year’s senior gift, the Library Tomorrow Fund. The senior gift tradition was restarted last year by the class of 2018 and encourages seniors to give back to UT and leave a lasting legacy. This year’s gift will benefit UT Libraries with funds for more collaborative spaces and increased digital capacity. Fundraising efforts for senior gifts are facilitated by both Student Government and the Student Foundation. Madeline Nassif, vice president of development for the Student Foundation, said she was excited to get the chance to work on this year’s gift. “We decided to raise money for UT Libraries because we polled seniors to see what resources they used most on campus, and the library was one of the most popular responses,” social work senior Nassif said in an email.
“We thought the UT Library’s Tomorrow Fund was a great way to connect students’ appreciation and passion for the library to the legacy this fund will create.” Last year’s senior gift aimed to financially assist interpersonal violence peer supporters and help provide meals for the student emergency food pantry. Leslie Solcher, business honors and management information systems senior, has been working with the senior gift committee to help the campaign go as planned. “Last year’s gifts were already being funded by other entities, and student contributions to senior class gift ‘18 added to those financing efforts,” Solcher said. “Our gifts support great causes that are financed by other sources as well so that we can maximize the impact of student contributions.” Student philanthropy coordinator Mona Rupani is directly overseeing this year’s senior gift campaign and has been working with the library system.
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CLAIRE ALLBRIGHT NEWS EDITOR @THEDAILYTEXAN
FRIDAY, APRIL 12, 2019
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TEXAS LEGISLATURE
Bills to remove red light cameras hit the brakes By Lauren Girgis @laurengirgis
Despite early momentum and bipartisan support, two bills to eliminate red light cameras have seen a slowdown this week after being left pending in committee. Companion bills House Bill 1631 by state Rep. Jonathan Stickland, R-Bedford, and Senate Bill 653 by state Sen. Bob Hall, R-Edgewood, both attempt to outlaw traffic cameras. Austin currently has 10 red light cameras, and drivers found running red lights on the cameras are sent a $75 fine. “It turns our system upside down because instead of the onus being on the government to prove you guilty, you have to prove your innocence,” Hall said. “Red light cameras take … a photograph of the license plate and then assume that the owner of the vehicle was the driver. The owner is forced to spend time and money to prove that they were not the person if that happens to be the case.” Bills were filed to remove the cameras in 2015
and 2017. Stickland’s bill gained much bipartisan support, with more than 100 House members signing on. However, Rep. Terry Canales, D-Edinburg, withdrew his support after the House Transportation Committee hearing. Canales’ office did not respond to a request for comment. Law enforcement officials and city officials testified against HB 1631 on March 26, including Austin Police Department Sgt. Michael Barger. “We’ve had an 11% increase in population in Austin since 2013,” Barger said. “You would assume that our percentage of crashes would jump in the same manner … but we’ve seen a 3% increase in crashes throughout the city and a 12% decrease in crashes at red light cameras. I think that speaks mountains for the program being effective.” Those opposing the bill also expressed concern about the loss of revenue from red light cameras. The Legislative Budget Board outlined that, if the bill passed with immediate effect, hospital trauma centers, which receive funding from
red light ticket revenue, would lose more than $28 million. “I don’t think the government should be in the business of funding private organizations (such as) trauma centers,” Hall said. “But there are other funds that could be made available for that amount of money if it was deemed absolutely necessary that we need to continue propping up a private organization.” Julia Montgomery, international relations and global studies and government freshman, received a red light camera fine in the mail in February at the intersection of I-35 and MLK Boulevard and paid the $75, but later regretted it once she heard about the legislation. “I ran a yellow light and it changed before I was able to get through,” Montgomery said. “I don’t think running a yellow light should be ticketed, but (the cameras) do keep people from driving recklessly.” Hall’s legislative director Kathi Seay said Thursday they believe the bill will be voted out of committee at a later date.
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| the daily texan staff
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“University of California at Berkeley has a policy (for) whenever … (there’s) sexual harassment,” McEntee said. “We’re looking to adopt it lower to sexual misconduct and above. They have a policy of issuing a statement to the full student body agreed upon by the person found guilty and the board of, ‘This is what happened, just so y’all are aware.’ We want that.” Senate president David Jenkins, who was not involved in writing the legislation, said he participated in Hutchison’s English program and said “no one in my program knew anything about this until we were told by outside sources.” “The University made very much a point to not inform us at all of what was going on with the professor, who was in a position of leadership not
just in a faculty position but in (an) administrative one over our program in the English department,” Jenkins said. Though the University found Hutchison guilty of sexual misconduct, resolution co-author Alcess Nonot said Hutchinson’s actions could qualify as sexual harassment. “In Dr. Hutchison’s case, he did have a consensual relationship with a student, and then that student left the University because she felt uncomfortable,” said Nonot, human development and family sciences and biology sophomore. “She basically published — I believe it was an op-ed or something — at the university that she’s at now outlining that he made her very uncomfortable and that was the reason why she left the University, so in that case that would be a violation of sexual harassment laws even though there was a previous consensual relationship.”
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every day. Ortiz said Insomnia takes students’ allergy needs into consideration when deciding what locations will have gluten-free and vegan options available. “If that becomes a need of the university, then (those are options) we will add to that particular store,” Ortiz said. Architecture freshman Damini Sayeed said she thinks Tiff’s Treats, another cookie store located near West Campus that delivers, will be faced with competition. “I think there’s definitely going to be competition between Insomnia and Tiff’s Treats because Insomnia seems like a much bigger company,” Sayeed said. Morgan Sheridan,
human development and family sciences freshman, said she used to frequently go to the Insomnia location in her hometown near the Northwestern University campus in Evanston, Illinois. She said she is counting down the days until Insomnia’s opening. Sheridan, who lives at The Callaway House, which is close to Insomnia, said the late hours and the location’s convenience makes it an appealing place for students to enjoy a late-night snack. “I had always expected to come to college and there to be an Insomnia Cookies here,” Sheridan said. “But now that Moojo’s closed, I’m really excited to have another place to get warm cookies.”
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FRIDAY, APRIL 12, 2019
CAMPUS
Texas Athletics promotes sustainability By Caroline Cummings @C_Cummings2022
eddie gaspar | the daily texan staff LaTonya Whittington, executive Director Cannabis Reform of Houston, testifies before Texas Public Health Committee members, Milda Mora (left), Rep. “Bobby“ Guerra, Rep. Bill Zedler, in favor of expanding medical marijuana use.
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THC levels are regulated in cannabis distributed for medical use. The next testimony the committee heard was on HB 1405 by state Rep. Shawn Thierry, D-Houston, which would place hospice patients under the protections of the Compassionate Use Act, a recently-passed law allowing patients with intractable epilepsy to be treated with low-THC cannabis oil. Intractable epilepsy is a condition where non-cannabis treatments have not fcontrolled a patient’s seizures. “What this bill does is, for those class of patients that have been deemed (hospice eligible), they would be eligible for the use of the cannabis in the exact same formula and dosage that is already legal in Texas,” Thierry said at the hearing. Thierry said allowing terminally ill patients to use medical cannabis is an expansion of the Compassionate Use Act’s original goal. “This, in my soul, is the true definition of compassionate use,” Thierry said.
The final bill heard before the committee’s recess was HB 3703 by state Rep. Stephanie Klick, R-Fort Worth. If passed, the bill would serve as an extension of the Compassionate Use Act, setting up a medical cannabis research program to be monitored by the Health and Human Services Commission. The bill would also expand current medical cannabis use to all epilepsy patients, not just those with intractable epilepsy. Julia Patterson, a witness with intractable epilepsy, testified in favor of HB 3703. She said using medical cannabis oil with high levels of CBD — the pain-relieving element of cannabis — allowed her to finally get her driver’s license after her condition previously prevented her from doing so. “Before CBD oil, I had 200 seizures per day,” Patterson said. “After CBD oil, I’m one year seizure-free, and I was able to, this December, get my driver’s license. This is unbelievable to me.” During Thursday’s testimony, no witnesses or lawmakers testified against any of the bills.
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Texas Athletics is recruiting students to volunteer at Texas Baseball and Softball Gameday Sustainability Events over the next three weeks. Director of sustainability Jim Walker said diverting waste from landfills demonstrates the University’s commitment to recycling and composting. “(Sporting events cause) huge spikes in waste material,” Walker said. “(The) landfill waste stream is the most expensive way we can manage waste, so as much as we can divert into recycling, compost — it saves the University money.” UT has a goal to become a Zero Waste Campus by 2020, which involves sending as little waste to the landfill as possible. Walker said Texas Athletics has helped UT get closer to reaching this goal. “Athletics gets a huge amount of credit because it really embraces zero waste as a department,” Walker said. “They work with their vendors, so whatever the vendor is going to sell you coming across the counter has
doris tang
already been thought about from a recycling and composting point of view.” Sustainability studies senior Paige Redsun serves as assistant sustainability coordinator for Texas Athletics and said past events have diverted over 520,180 pounds of trash from landfills. “Baseball and softball are big events that have the potential to bring a big crowd and generate a lot of trash,” Redsun said. “Events like this are crucial to hitting UT’s zero waste goal.” Geography junior Samid
Mirza is a Green Events project team leader at the Campus Environmental Center and said it’s important to spread the word about recycling and composting. “I believe that people just aren’t as aware of how easy and important recycling and composting is,” Mirza said. “Events like these can help bring more awareness about the importance of being sustainable and give the general public a better idea of just how easy it is to be in a zero-waste mindset. Walker said students can
| the daily texan staff
help the University be more sustainable by being mindful of how they dispose of waste. “Recycling, as with turning off the lights or saving water, depends on personal action,” Walker said. “So if you are attending a baseball or softball or football game, take a second and be sure that you are putting the waste material in the right container. That reduces contamination.” Students interested in volunteering at these events can find more information on the Texas Today: UT Events and Announcements Calendar.
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armin panjvani | the daily texan file The class of 2019 is giving back to the University with the Library Tomorrow Fund, which will provide libraries with collaborative spaces and increased digital capacity.
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“HornRaiser is the platform that we’re using to collect the money, and that site directly puts the money back into the library’s account,” Rupani said. “(The library) knows about the campaign. They’re fully informed … (and) they have been chatting with us and telling us that the money has been showing up.” The campaign wraps up in May after graduation, and any senior who donates $20.19 will also receive a commemorative class of 2019 pin. “Graduating students have a chance to leave a lasting impact on the University of Texas,” Nassif said. “This is an opportunity to say ‘thanks’ to the Forty acres.”
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LIZA ANDERSON EDITOR-IN-CHIEF @TEXANOPINION
FRIDAY, APRIL 12, 2019
COLUMN
COLUMN
Student orgs must be more open to new students By Neha Dronamraju Columnist
helen brown
| the daily texan staff
Peer evaluations for group projects hold students more accountable By Ashvin Govil Columnist
Group projects have a reputation in college for being tedious and stressful. Although learning to collaborate with other people is an essential skill, group projects in undergraduate classes often lack incentives for all students to contribute equally. Professors whose classes involve group work should utilize online feedback forms to enforce accountability and ensure students learn essential collaboration skills before they graduate. According to the authors of a study on group dynamics, employers value teamwork skills as the most important skill in potential recruits. Group work is also essential in academia, where important research can rarely be conducted by a single person. But group projects can frustrate students to the point of believing group work in general is unpleasant when, in reality, it can often be much more rewarding and productive in professional environments. Going into my internship last summer, I believed I was more productive working as an individual. However, due to the incentive-based structure inherent in professional environments, I found I never had any issues with people not collaborating or communicating effectively — problems I often encountered in college. By the end of
the summer, I realized I could actually be more productive when working in a team that works well than when working by myself. Most professors take a relatively hands-off approach to group projects. They allow students to form groups and then give the group a collective grade for the final result regardless of individual contributions.
Group projects can frustrate students to the point of believing group work in general is unpleasant ... in reality, it can often be much more rewarding.” This structure means some students become freeloaders, contributing negligible work but receiving the same grade as everyone else. Some professors have recognized the unfairness of this system and moved to add personal accountability so that individuals have to do work in order to receive full credit. Computer science professor Bruce Porter uses a website called
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.
TEAMMATES to allow students in group projects to anonymously evaluate the work their teammates contributed. The peer evaluations can lower a student’s grade if he or she receives poor feedback. Before using the system, he would often have to deal with students coming into his office hours complaining about group members who did no work. However, under the new system that punishes freeloading, he has seen far fewer complaints. “I can’t think of a single case of a team coming in to talk about that problem since I started using the system,” Porter said. Porter teaches a class that consists almost entirely of group projects. Computer science junior Akshay Gupta is taking the class and has noticed his groups in the class work together smoothly due to the online feedback system incentivizing collaboration. “The evaluation system definitely acted as a motivator when it came to making sure I was active as a team member and contributed enough to the project,” Gupta said. “It led to us being able to meet regularly and actually be productive since everyone was held accountable.” Students can build the necessary skills to succeed in the workforce and academia if professors ensure a collaborative group project environment by using a system such as TEAMMATES. Govil is a computer science and government senior from Austin.
GALLERY
yulissa chavez
| the daily texan staff
SUBMIT A FIRING LINE | Email your Firing Lines to editor@dailytexanonline.com. Letters must be more than 100 and fewer than 300 words. The Texan reserves the right to edit all submissions for brevity, clarity and liability.
Narrow acceptance rates don’t end at the college admissions process. They follow you. I came to UT with so much enthusiasm. Before I stepped on campus, I detailed two four-year plans — one for academic purposes and another for all the organizations I planned to join. I had a solid idea of how to apply and what I would do once accepted. A couple months later, I found myself reconsidering all of that after receiving seven rejections. Was my planning excessive? Sure. Was I dramatic in thinking my life trajectory changed because of those rejections? Absolutely. But I still find myself pining for some of those missed opportunities. UT organizations often implicitly mandate that you already be accomplished to join, which defeats the purpose of exploring new things in college. If new opportunities are not accessible to freshmen or students without experience, they can’t be encouraged to broaden their horizons. Student organizations should offer a platform for new students to familiarize themselves with the required skills to be accepted to and succeed in the organization. Lisa Valdez, senior administrative program coordinator of the FIG program, acknowledged the importance of exploring different fields as a young adult. “In FIGs, we encourage mentors to talk students through the benefits of joining different organizations and how to find them,” Valdez said. “We have a lot of students who come from smaller communities, and we want them to be able to branch out and explore different opportunities.” Branching out becomes difficult for new students because of the exclusivity and rigorous application processes of many organizations on campus. Plan II freshman Safa Michigan said her experience applying to student organizations started when she attended Camp Texas this past summer. There, she said she learned about different UT clubs she could join. “I applied to so many organizations ranging from spirit groups to a literary magazine, and I got rejected from all of them,” Michigan said. “I got all of those rejections within a week of each other, and I felt really disheartened. I would value more transparency from organizations because I think they‘re looking for different things and require different skills.”
UT organizations often implicitly mandate that you already be accomplished to join, which defeats the purpose of exploring new things in college.” Students would benefit from organizations providing opportunities for new students. Specifically, organizations should help incoming students develop relevant skills before applying — similar to an audition period, but with more guidance. Organizations could offer specific workshops during the recruitment process. They could also build a new student level into their programs where prospective members spend a semester becoming familiar with the organization, thus bringing in interested freshmen who may not have advanced experience. Sarah Boatwright, a Plan II and sustainability studies junior, served as the student government director of communications in the 2018-19 school year. She writes the application for the communications positions in student government. “While previous experience adds value to an application, we think enthusiasm and a willingness to learn is just as valuable,” Boatwright said. “But I think the sentiment about new students not having opportunities is valid. Some organizations do present their applications in that manner.” A big part of the college experience is learning new things and cultivating new skills and interests. Student organizations are marketed as the ideal way to do that, but they are not always accessible to new students. Student organizations cannot accept everyone who applies, but applicants should have an opportunity to succeed in the application process. Organizations should offer new student workshops or create a new student sector in order to provide all applicants an equal chance of participating. Dronamraju is a public health freshman from Dallas.
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.
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TIANA WOODARD & JORDYN ZITMAN LIFE&ARTS EDITORS @THEDAILYTEXAN
FRIDAY, APRIL 12, 2019
H E A LT H
Walking for leisure helps physical, mental health By Landry Allred @l2ndry
There’s a science to walking for leisure. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, adults who walk for transportation, fun or exercise increased 6% in five years from 2005 to 2010. UT students participated in this increase and, aside from the satisfaction they earn from walking, they also experience physical and mental health benefits. Blake Rosen, supply chain management sophomore, started walking for leisure when she got a Fitbit last year. She said what started as a way to exercise soon became a hobby. “I found that (walking) was actually really relaxing,” Rosen said. “It’s a good way to get exercise without feeling like you’re exercising.” Rosen usually leaves an hour early before class, leisurely walking 2 miles every day Monday through Friday. She said it’s a means for reflecting, which is better to do during daytime. “I have insomnia and would never fall asleep,” Rosen said. “Being able to think during the day is good because at night, I just pass out.” Harold Kohl, a kinesiology and health education research professor, said general physical activity reduces risk of anxiety and depression,
improves blood pressure, weight and blood glucose control. However, Kohl said walking specifically offers unique opportunities. “Walking is the most accessible and relatively easy,” Kohl said. “(Unlike) gym memberships, you don’t need special equipment.” John Bartholomew, kinesiology and health education department chair, said walking has more purpose than just being a means of transportation. “You redefine that purpose (by) enjoying the environment you’re in,” Bartholomew said. “Even if it takes a bit longer, that’s part of the idea of having more time to reduce the pressure to get from point A to B.” Rosen said she enjoys walking without a destination in mind because she doesn’t feel the pressure accompanying a destination. “When you’re forced to do something, you never actually want to do it,” Rosen said. “It’s always less enjoyable.” However, Bartholomew said it’s unnecessary to distinguish between walking with or without a destination because what really matters is how one uses their time walking. “Even (without a destination), you have a purpose to walk because you want to enjoy nature,” Bartholomew said. “It’s just not an immediate purpose, and it’s usually one that’s not time-limited.” Nonetheless, Bartholomew
cameron dehghani
said positive moods after walking result from associating positive experiences with exercise. Thus, people can walk and still feel inadequate about their performance, which reduces mood. He said this may be where leisure walking helps. “Taking your time and noticing nature as you’re walking is more likely to make
that an enjoyable activity,” Bartholomew said. Rosen said she didn’t have a bad college transition because she took walks, reflecting on her appreciation for UT. “The first time I walked past the stadium, I was like, ‘Wow, I go to school here,’” Rosen said. “It’s hard to be depressed when you’re walking. It’s beautiful out, and you’re around new people and
| the daily texan staff
getting exercise.” Bartholomew said people can improve their walking experience by varying their route to explore new areas. “Students and faculty tend to walk along the same path each day,” Bartholomew said. “We get to a point (where) we take things for granted and pass over beauty that exists because we see it every day.”
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UT students feel pressure to overachieve By Kamari Esquerra @_kamari_
Bernardo Chuecos didn’t realize the high stakes of attending one of the top universities in the country until he experienced constant pressure to achieve at the level expected by UT. He isn’t the only student to feel this way. Many students at UT take on multiple responsibilities in addition to their academics to set themselves apart from other multifaceted students. From excelling in academics to joining multiple organizations, internships and jobs, the pressure to do more can be overwhelming for students. Chuecos, a computer science junior, said in a tweet in March 2019 that UT students are overachievers and tend to take on numerous responsibilities at one time. “UT students really are extra … like I never hear my friends from other schools stress over internships, research experience and (organizations) the way we do like maybe we are doing a little too much,” Chuecos said in the tweet. “Putting all of Texas’ overachievers within these Forty Acres was a mistake.” Government junior Tanner Scheef said she believes the tweet was a very accurate statement. “I don’t think I’ve met anyone at UT who isn’t involved in an org or a spirit group or doing research or an internship,” Scheef said. “I have so many friends at other schools who are just doing school.” At UT, Scheef said, there is pressure to be involved in more due to the campus’ competitive atmosphere. “(In high school it was), ‘What am I going to put on my résume to get into UT?,’” Scheef said. “Now, it’s, ‘What am I going to put on my resume to get a job?’” The pressure to excel for many students comes from indirect factors, such as peers and future career opportunities. “Part of it comes from our generation because we have a more competitive job market, and we have to do more than just graduate in order to get normal opportunities,” Chuecos said. “Now you have to graduate with
channing miller
| the daily texan staff
job experience.” Like many other students, computer science junior Marquis Ware is balancing academics and extracurricular activities while interning at Microsoft to gain professional experience. “I definitely feel (pressure to be an overachiever),” Ware said. “Especially being black, you represent something that’s bigger than yourself.” Scheef said the influence to consistently maintain a full schedule
can be overwhelming and affects her mental health. “My depression got really, really bad because I felt so much pressure to be a certain way, to be in so many groups and make certain grades,” Scheef said. Ware said due to stress, he had to seek help from the UT Counseling and Mental Health Center and focus on developing healthier habits to deal with his stress. “One or two days during the week, I have ‘me time’ (where I do) something that I completely love,” Ware said. Ware said the important thing about being an overachiever is to not compare oneself to others. “Your life is your race. You have to run your own race, stay in your own lane,” Ware said. “Success is different to everyone.” While the pressure to overachieve can be draining to UT students, Ware believes it puts them in a position to exceed expectations. “I’ve seen a trend with a lot of people (at UT) doing successful things,” Ware said. “We’re always struggling, we’re always stressed out, but pressure makes diamonds.”
career gained traction after she was assigned to take photos as a member of Longhorn Pre-Pharmacy Association, she said. “I try to keep my prices reasonable just because I know that my target audience often doesn’t have the disposable income to be able to pay for things like pictures,” Tang said. Although it can yield financial benefits and offer flexible schedules that may appeal to students, Tang said freelancing provides a creative opportunity her STEM major doesn’t offer. “As a biology major, I feel like I don’t really have a lot of creative
outlets in school,” Tang said. “Freelancing is something that I do to not only to make money, but also as a way for me to exercise my creative freedom with photography.” For college students who are interested in freelancing but fearful of competition from more qualified professionals, Webber’s advice is to not undersell your skill. “Just because you might not have experience doesn’t necessarily mean that someone that does is better than you,” Webber said. “If you’re good, be realistic about your abilities and don’t apologize for being a student.”
Your life is your race. You have to stay in your own race, stay in your own lane. Success is different to everyone. ” MARQUIS WARE
COMPUTER SCIENCE JUNIOR
$20
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“It is important on the homework end to know where work is selling, who’s paying for it and what kind of work is being attracted,” Webber said. “You need to ask yourself, ‘Am I doing work that people are going to want to pay for, or am I doing work that people would like to see for free?’” Like Bayoumi, biology senior Casey Tang said she needed time to hone her craft before she felt comfortable charging clients. Her photography
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FRIDAY, APRIL 12, 2019
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ROSS BURKHART SPORTS EDITOR @TEXANSPORTS
FRIDAY, APRIL 12, 2019
BASEBALL
Rain, collisions bring Texas together
pedro luna | the daily texan file Center fielder Duke Ellis swings at a pitch in Texas’ 3-1 win over Rice, in which he contributed a triple and two runs scored, at UFCU Disch-Falk Field on April 10. Through 35 games this season, Ellis has a .267 batting average along with 10 runs batted in and a home run.
By Daniela Perez @danielap3rez
While rain showers confined Texas to the visitors locker room on Sunday in Waco, center fielder Duke Ellis described a vibrant scene where players took part in games together. “(We played) a little hacky sack, a little two ball,” Ellis said. “Some of the guys had a little blown-up baseball and it wouldn’t fly very far, but we hit it with our hands. We had a little game going, guys laughing. We connected as a team.” Ellis recalled the rain delay as disappointing, but said it allowed the team to
bond and reset for this weekend’s series against Kansas State. “The rain sucks, but … during the rain delay, I think we became closer as a team,” Ellis said. “We had a great time even though the weather wasn’t too prime, but I think it prepared us for this upcoming weekend.” Saturday’s game against Baylor was a tough one for Ellis. Known for his athleticism in the outfield, Ellis had two collisions — one with Baylor’s wall while chasing a fly ball and another with left fielder Eric Kennedy. “Sunday afterwards, I woke up hurting, took some ibuprofen, got ready for the game, felt great, and after sitting down for like three and a half hours, it tightened back up and I was hurting again,” Ellis said. “But, I’m sure if the
MEN’S BASKETBALL
Jaxson Hayes hires agent, officially declares for NBA Draft
katie bauer | the daily texan file Forward Jaxson Hayes finishes a dunk in Texas’ 86-69 win over Iowa State at the Frank Erwin Center on March 2. Hayes averaged 10 points, five rebounds and 2.2 blocks per game.
By Robert Larkin @ r_larkintexas
For the third consecutive season, Texas head coach Shaka Smart will send a big man to the NBA Draft who is projected to be a lottery pick. Forward Jaxson Hayes declared his intention to enter the draft and hire an agent Thursday morning, officially marking the end of his Longhorn career after one season. “I’m so appreciative of coach Shaka Smart for pushing me every day to improve and mature both on the basketball court and as a person,” Hayes said in a statement. “With that being said, I have always dreamed about playing in the NBA. Now that I have the chance to realize that dream, I would like to pursue that opportunity.” Hayes’ announcement comes after a stellar freshman season that saw him earn Big 12 Freshman of the Year honors and a spot on the All-Big 12 Second Team. He averaged 10 points and five rebounds per game and also added 2.2 blocks per game as well, which ranks third in the Big 12. The Loveland, Ohio,
native’s rise during his freshman season surprised many outside the Texas program. Coming out of high school, many college evaluators viewed Hayes as a long-term
I have always dreamed of playing in the NBA. Now that I have the chance to realize that dream, I would like to pursue that opportunity.”
J A X S O N H AY E S FORWARD
project because of his limited high-level basketball experience. In fact, Hayes didn’t start a high school wbasketball game until his senior season. But in his lone season in
Austin, Hayes displayed the same talent and athleticism that catapulted him into an intriguing four-star prospect by the end of his high school career. His length and leaping ability provided a backbone for the Texas defense all season, and Hayes made strides in his offensive game, particularly in the pick-androll. He finished the season with a 72.8 field goal percentage — the highest mark for a Texas player in a single season. “I’m really proud of Jaxson for the tremendous attitude he’s demonstrated all year and the unprecedented growth that he’s made,” Smart said. “He’ll always be a part of our Longhorn Basketball family, and we look forward to supporting him in the next steps of his journey.” Hayes will now focus on preparing for workouts and recovering from a knee injury that sidelined him during the Longhorns’ NIT Championship run. And plenty of scouts will be lined up to evaluate him in the pre-draft process. ESPN rates Hayes as the ninth-best prospect in this year’s NBA Draft.
game came back around, I would’ve been good to go.” Ellis, a junior from the small town of Nacogdoches, Texas, has played a vital role for the Longhorns during the 2019 season. He leads the team with 31 runs, tying Kennedy for the most runs on the team. Against Rice on Tuesday, Ellis put the Longhorns in scoring position with a leadoff triple in the bottom of the first. With the wind breeze around 5 mph that night, Ellis said he initially believed it might’ve been a home run. “I mean, with the wind blowing like it is today, I thought I got all of it,” Ellis said. “I hit it and I didn’t think it was going out. But then I saw it keep carrying and I thought it was going to peak over, but it was
one of those things. I’ll take a triple.” Fellow outfielder Austin Todd followed suit with a single up the middle and allowed Ellis to put the score at 1-0. With a 3-1 win over Rice behind them, the Longhorns will face Kansas State on Friday to continue for conference play. With a new slate of games ahead, Ellis said this weekend is a chance for the Longhorns to showcase their quality hitters. “Like I’ve said from the beginning, I feel like we’re going to be a very disciplined team hitting-wise,” Ellis said. “And you know the extra-base hits will come and go, and I feel like they’re coming on at a perfect time. It can’t get more perfect.”
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FRIDAY, APRIL 12, 2019
STUDENT LIFE
Students join freelance workforce Freelancing allows UT students to apply skills, be their own bosses. By Romi Geller @macaromes
hat started as a promotional video for Student Government candidates blossomed into a freelance career for computer science sophomore Nabil Bayoumi. Students seeking an opportunity to apply their creative skill set while earning extra bucks can pick up
freelancing. Freelancing, or working independently rather than for a company, allows students to gain experience, and creates a platform to sell their skill set to clients. According to a 2018 survey conducted by Upwork, a global freelancing platform, individuals aged 18 to 34 make up 42% of the freelance workforce in the United States. Following the success of his SG campaign video, Bayoumi said clients began approaching him with opportunities. It was time for him to think more seriously about freelancing as a job. “I started looking at other freelancers, and then I checked out their work and their prices,” Bayoumi said. “I ultimately came up with prices of my own, but I based the price relative to what I’ve seen.”
Though Bayoumi now charges clients for his photography, he said he was hesitant to do so at first. “I charged a lot less than I currently do because I wanted to build up a portfolio and then establish a base price,” Bayoumi said. “Charging people was definitely hard for me to do at first because it goes back to, ‘How do you justify how much your art is worth?’” Eric Webber, advertising and public relations lecturer, works as a freelance photographer and has been featured in publications such as National Geographic and The Daily Mail. Similar to academics, Webber said the first step in being successful as a freelancer during college is doing your homework.
FREELANCE
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