The Daily Texan 2019-04-25 by The Daily Texan

serving the university of texas at austin community since

@thedailytexan |

thedailytexan . com

1900

THURSDAY, APRIL 25, 2019

volume

119,

issue

144

NEWS

OPINION

LIFE&ARTS

SPORTS

Students may be hurt financially by state proposal to increase sales tax. PA G E 2

SSD students deserve a physical space on campus to form community. PA G E 4

Office of Financial Aid talks little-known emergency resource for students. PA G E 8

Texas’ top prospects eager to hear name called with NFL Draft opening today. PA G E 6

WEST CAMPUS

Students displaced after delays

UNIVERSITY

Former UT tennis coach pleads gulity By Hayden Baggett @HaydenBaggett

chloe bertrand | the daily texan staff The construction crew for Avon @22nd staples in beams in between conversation. Avon advertises rates as low as $763 for 1x1 units for students who qualify for SMART Housing.

UT students displaced for months due to Avon @22nd construction delays.

zero) I was like, ‘I’m pretty sure they should be emailing us, telling us where we were living.’ We got nothing, and that’s when I got concerned.” Avon @22nd, which is managed by Central and Campus Properties, was scheduled to open last August. Jesse Mamuhewa, a realtor for Central and Campus Properties, said after the developer ran into construction problems in June and July, additional delays occurred in the following months. “Once you open up the can of worms, more delays happened,” Mamuhewa said. “It was just a snowball effect that lead to several months of the project being kicked down the road.” The complex is now expected to be completed August 2019. Austin Peak Development, the developer listed in the building’s construction permit, did not respond to a request for comment. Mamuhewa said the complex will have 19 units with 63 total bedrooms. According to the Avon @22nd lease, residents were given the option to back out of their lease within seven days of being notified the building would not be completed before their contract term. “It was up to them to sign

By Jackson Barton & Nicole Stuessy

@Jackson_Brton & @nicolestuessy

xpecting to live in a new apartment building, mathematics sophomore Nanor Asadourian and her roommate signed a lease with Avon @22nd last May for the 2018-2019 term. They never moved in. Asadourian said she wasn’t aware the building wouldn’t be complete until two weeks before her expected move in date of Aug. 21. “My favorite part was the countdown saying like ‘Avon Opening’ (on the website),” Asadourian said. “A week after (the countdown hit

somewhere else,” Mamuhewa said. “We were ready and willing to release them from the lease and (allow residents to) move somewhere else, or they could temporarily stay in one of our other properties.” Mamuhewa said the company offered leases before the building was completed, because waiting would mean missing the leasing season. “There’s nobody to sign leases for August because everyone’s secured housing months or a year in advance,” Mamuhewa said. Because she is an out-of-state student and did not have time to find another complex before classes started, Asadourian said she opted to live in temporary housing at the Merida, which was built in 1984. “We were under the impression that Merida was like a newer building and was going to be up to standard from what we’re paying for,” Asadourian said. “There were so many problems with it, and at first we stuck it out.” Asasdourian said problems included leaks in the ceiling and bed bugs along with other maintenance issues.

AVON

page

Former University of Texas men’s tennis coach Michael Center plead guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit mail fraud and honest services mail fraud Wednesday afternoon in federal court. The U.S. Department of Justice previously accused Center of accepting $100,000 from William “Rick” Singer as a bribe to facilitate a student’s admission into UT by falsely designating the student as a tennis recruit. UT fired Center from his coaching position March 13 after the DOJ filed the charges against him. Center became the third college coach to admit guilt in court for participating in a nationwide scheme to admit wealthy students into universities. Center is among 50 people facing charges of fraud and other forms of bribery in the scandal. The Associated Press reported Wednesday that United States Attorney Eric Rosen said Singer gave Center $40,000 in donations to UT Athletics and $60,000 directly in cash. The student withdrew from the tennis team shortly after he began classes, Rosen said. Center had reached a guilty plea deal with federal prosecutors early April, in which they agreed to recommend a shorter prison sentence for the coach in exchange for his cooperation in the investigation, The Daily Texan reported. The maximum sentence for conspiracy to commit mail fraud and honest services mail fraud is 20 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of $250,000, or twice the gain from the fraud. As part of the plea deal, the Texan reported the U.S.

CENTER CAMPUS

@Lmnhan24

The Texas Cowboys have received another extension to May 9 to make a decision to accept, appeal or request a formal hearing for their six-year suspension after a University investigation revealed the spirit organization had hazed members in the fall of 2018 and previous semesters, according to an open record request filed by The Daily Texan. During their investigation, the University found evidence of hazing during last year’s initiation retreat, such as physical brutality, animal cruelty, forced ingestion of unwanted substances and coerced consumption of alcohol, according to the report. The Cowboys originally were given a deadline of April 16 to make their sanction decision. However, they requested an extension and were then given until today. Instead of making a final decision, the Cowboys today requested an additional 30day extension, according to an

UNIVERSITY

Texas Cowboys receive additional extension By Lisa Nhan

page

email obtained by the Texan through an open records request. The email was signed by alumni association president Eddie Lopez and an unnamed Texas Cowboys student, due to federal privacy reasons. The email requested the extension to “work on a conference resolution in partnership with the University.” A conference resolution is where “the accused registered student or sponsored student organization … may respond to the charges,” according to the Section 6-503 of UT’s codes of conduct. “We want to do the hard work of reform,” the email said. “We want to work with (the) University to come up with a plan that will serve to educate and mobilize our student members … not only to combat hazing, but to lead the fight against it.” The email was sent to Dean of Students Soncia Reagins-Lilly and Vice President for Legal Affairs Jim Davis. Reagins-Lilly’s response, obtained through an open record requests by the Texan,

COWBOYS

page

Reports show UT students primarily come from wealthy families By Benita Lee @benitaslee

In recent years, reports show UT students have primarily come from wealthy families. According to the UT Report to the Governor, more than 50% of reported family incomes of UT students enrolled in 2018 were greater than the national median income of $61,372, cited by the U.S. Census Bureau. The New York Times reported in 2017 the median family income for a UT student was $123,900. Affluent families have more choices in the schools their children attend, influencing access to Advanced Placement classes and extracurricular activities, Plan II lecturer Jill Kolasinski said. Additionally, their children are more likely to take the SAT or ACT multiple times and have time to volunteer, said Kolasinski, who founded a charter school network called KIPP Austin Public Schools. “Even a seemingly income-neutral criterion like

class rank (which determines automatic admissions) is going to be impacted by things such as having access to enrichment activities, like tutoring, greater access to resources like computers and high-speed internet, test prep (and) travel,” said Richard Reddick, educational

leadership and policy associate professor. A holistic admissions process is used to determine the specific college auto-admit students are admitted to and whether non auto-admit students are admitted to UT. In addition to coursework and grades, this process considers

special circumstances such as socioeconomic status and adversity, said Kendall Slagle, communications coordinator for the Office of the Executive Vice President and Provost. UT receives more applications from students of family

W E A LT H Y

sue dinh

page

| the daily texan staff

CLAIRE ALLBRIGHT NEWS EDITOR @THEDAILYTEXAN

THURSDAY, APRIL 25, 2019

This issue of The Daily Texan is valued at $1.25

STATE

PERMANENT STAFF Editor-in-Chief Liza Anderson

Video Editors Sarah Tang, Peyton Young

Managing Editor Forrest Milburn

Assoc. Video Editors Faith Castle, Bonny Chu

Assoc. Managing Editors Catherine Marfin, Andrea D’Mello

Photo Editor Katie Bauer Assoc. Photo Editors Anthony Mireles, Carlos Garcia

Director of Digital Strategy Alexandria Dominguez

Senior Photographers Eddie Gaspar, Angela Wang. Joshua Guenther, Ryan Lam, Pedro Luna

Assoc. Editors Bella McWhorter, Emily Caldwell, Angelica Lopez Forum Editors Jennifer Liu

Life&Arts Editors Tiana Woodard, Jordyn Zitman

News Editor Claire Allbright

Sr. Life&Arts Writers John Melendez, Landry Allred, Trent Thompson

Assoc. News Editors Anna Lassmann, Sami Sparber News Desk Editors Gracie Awalt, Meghan Nguyen, Meara Isenberg, Hannah Daniel, Raga Justin

Sports Editor Ross Burkhart

Beat Reporters Chase Karacostas, Tien Nguyen, Chad Lyle, Katie Balevic, Hannah Ortega, Savana Dunning, Rahi Dakwala, Mason Carroll, Nicole Stuessy, Jackson Barton, Emily Hernandez

Senior Sports Reporters Robert Larkin, Donnavan Smoot, Cameron Parker

Assoc. Sports Editors Steve Helwick, Keshav Prathivadi

Comics Editors Channing Miller, Bixie Mathieu Assoc. Comics Editor Lauren Ibanez

Projects Editor Ellie Breed

Senior Comics Artists Alekka Hernandez, Andrew Choi

Projects Reporters Maria Mendez, London Gibson, Lisa Nhan, Morgan O’Hanlon, Kayla Meyertons

Social Media Editor Ryan Steppe Assoc. Social Media Editor Tirza Ortiz

Projects Designer Rena Li Copy Desk Chief Kirsten Handler

Engagement Editor Megan Menchaca

Associate Copy Desk Chiefs Jason Lihuang, Brittany Miller, Jimena Pinzon, Haylee Reed

Newsletters EditorPeter Northfelt Sr. Digital Staffers Iris Bilich, Alexis Green

Design Editor Mireya Rahman

Audio Editors JT Lindsey, Morgan Kuehler

Associate Design Editor Renee Koite

Audio Producers Sara Schleede, Eric Kiehnau

Senior Designers Christiana Peek, Kendall Jordan, Nila Selvaraj

Editorial Adviser Peter Chen

ISSUE STAFF Columnists David West Jr., Neha Dronamraju

Illustrators Cameron Deghani, Alexandra Vanderhider

Comic Artists Gianna Shahdad, Laura Gonima, Joe Wallace, Carissa Davis, Caroline Perkinson

L&A Reporters Kenzie Kowalski

Copy Editors Inissa Omandam, Megan Shankle, Adriana Van Tho

Photographers Blane Young, Mckensie Bentley, Samantha Dorisca, Chloe Bertrand, Macelyn Morris

News Reporters Benita Lee, Victoria May, Brenna Hinshaw

Designers Sue Dinh, Sierra Wiggers

Sports Reporters Abishek Mukund

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Liza Anderson (512) 232-2212 editor@dailytexanonline.com

MANAGING EDITOR Forrest Milburn (512) 232-2217 managingeditor@ dailytexanonline.com

NEWS OFFICE (512) 232-2207 news@dailytexanonline.com The Texan strives to present all information fairly, accurately and completely. If we have made an error, let us know about it. Call (512) 232-2217 or e-mail managingeditor@ dailytexanonline.com.

AUSTIN WEATHER TODAY Apr. 25

HI LO

TOMORROW Apr. 26

86º 61º

HI 82º LO 60º

idk

BUSINESS & ADVERTISING (512) 471-8590 advertise@texasstudentmedia.com Director Gerald Johnson Business/ Operations Manager Frank Serpas III, Brady Beal, Janie Castillo-Flores Advertising Manager Emily Cohen Production Michael Gammon Special Projects Stephen Salisbury Account Executives Tim Bauer, Diane Byram, Julianne Phillipp Design Tillie Policastro

Increase in sales tax unlikely to benefit students By Chase Karacostas @chasekaracostas

Students are unlikely to see any benefits and could even be hurt by the state’s proposal to counterbalance the property tax rate cap with an increase in the state sales tax, experts say. However, in its current form, the tax swap also faces a potentially steeper battle than other tax proposals. The proposal would raise the state’s base rate sales tax by 1% while capping the property tax rate increase for local jurisdictions at 2.5% per year, unless it gets voter approval for a higher increase. Because people under 35 have the lowest rate of homeownership of any age group, according to the Census Bureau, Martin Luby, assistant professor of public affairs, said students will probably not receive any perks from the property tax increase cap. In theory, Luby said, a cap on the property tax rate increases could trickle down and result in better rent prices. But in a place like Austin, where demand drives rent up much more than property taxes, the chances of lower or slower rent increases are slim, Luby said. “You would definitively see an increase in what you would have to pay on the sales tax,” Luby said. “Practically speaking, I would expect … to see an increased burden of taxes on students in the form of higher sales taxes and probably not a reduction of rents.” Student renters would likely pay hundreds of dollars more per year through the proposed 1% sales tax increase. “Not everyone owns property, and now they’re putting a tax on consumption to fix something else,”

avon

continues from page

“At first they said we’re only going to be there for like max a month,” Asadorian said. “So my roommate and I were still paying $850, the rent of a brand new building, for a very rundown, tiny building.” After construction delays continued, she and her roommate got out of their contract by subleasing their room at Merida. Marketing sophomore Rigas Koutsourakis said he was a freshman lacking experience with renting in West Campus when he saw an online ad for Avon in March last year. “We made a call to them and asked them … ‘Okay, it’s that easy?’” Koutsourakis said. “‘So next year we’ll be able to

w e a lt h y continues from page

THE DAILY TEXAN MAIL SUBSCRIPTION RATES One Semester (Fall/Spring) $60.00 Two Semesters (Fall & Spring) $120.00 Summer Session $40.00 One Year (Fall, Spring and Summer)

$150.00

To charge by VISA or MasterCard, call 471-5083. Send orders and address changes to Texas Student Media, P.O. Box D, Austin, TX 78713-8904.

ADVERTISING DEADLINES Monday ....................... Wednesday, 12 p.m. Tuesday ..........................Thursday, 12 p.m. Wednesday .......................... Friday, 12 p.m. Thursday .......................... Monday, 12 p.m. Friday ...............................Tuesday, 12 p.m. .......................... 11 a.m. (Last business day prior to publication.)

COPYRIGHT Copyright 2019 Texas Student Media. All articles, photographs and graphics, both in the print and online editions, are the property of Texas Student Media and may not be reproduced or republished in part or in whole without written permission.

The Daily Texan, a student newspaper at The University of Texas at Austin, is published by Texas Student Media, 2500 Whitis Ave., Austin, TX 78712. The Daily Texan is published daily, Monday through Friday, during the regular academic year and is published once weekly during the summer semester. The Daily Texan does not publish during academic breaks, most Federal Holidays and exam periods. News contributions will be accepted by telephone 2.120). Entire contents copyright 2019 Texas Student Media.

income brackets exceeding $80,000, which could partially explain the distribution of household incomes of UT students, Slagle said. “(Students admitted holistically) talk about the challenges they may have faced on their pathway to college,” Reddick said. “But even knowing how to talk about your experience without sounding like you’re apologizing for your circumstances is a skill, and many college counselors in underresourced (schools) don’t have the bandwidth to give all students the support … to shape their application.” Laura Nguyen, a management information systems sophomore, said until her senior year of high school, she didn’t know what colleges sought in applicants. “When I was starting out as a (high school) freshman, I had no idea what GPA was,” Nguyen said. “A lot of the kids in the top 10% (of the class) took SAT classes outside of school.

Sales Tax Proposal Proposes to swap the 2.5% yearly property tax cap for 1% sales tax increase

What does this mean?

$28

Currently, sales tax is $82.5 per $1000. With the proposal, it would be $92.5 per $1000 of spending.

The House

increase with new sales tax

The Senate

Students spend an average of $2800 on textbooks alone for all 4 years. This increase would have students paying $28 more over four years.

In order to pass A Constiutional Amendment requires 2/3 of each chamber plus statewide voter approval

100/150

For

21/31

Against

In contrast, normal bills require just a simple majority and no voter approval

emma overholt

said Federico Chávez-Torres government sophomore and UT chapter president of Young Americans for Liberty. “It seems that you’re just putting the same Band-Aid on a different hole in the same sinking boat.” The swap, filed as House Joint Resolution 3 by state Rep. Dan Huberty, R-Humble, would result in a $5 billion sales tax revenue increase for the biennial budget. The state’s base sales tax rate is currently set at 6.25%, and the increase to 7.25% would put the state on par with California, which has the nation’s highest rate. Local jurisdictions would also maintain their ability to raise it by another 2%, meaning the increase

move in your building?’ And they’re like ‘Yes.’” Koutsourakis said he was promised the temporary housing would include all of the amenities and furnishings of the Avon, but he never received their desks or TVs. He and his two roommates subleased their housing in early April after being notified of the latest construction delay. The Avon @22nd is now signing leases for the 20192020 term. Asadourian said when renting apartments in West Campus, students should look more carefully than she did. “We thought that we had looked around enough, when in reality we hadn’t,” Asadourian said. “Definitely look at the building prior to signing the lease — just make smart decisions.”

They were able to afford it. They also had parents who actually went to college, so they had somebody to guide them, or they had a network community that would help them with the process. I felt like I had to work twice as hard.” Even when students from low-income backgrounds are admitted to UT, they face other barriers to accepting their offers, such as the high cost of living in Austin, Reddick said. For those who overcome these barriers, however, institutions like UT can push students’ learning and extend their connections to later receive a job, start a business or pursue other post-college endeavors, Reddick said. “These effects are most powerful for students from underrepresented backgrounds,” Reddick said. “College is giving them access to these networks that they can’t get another way, like being from a wealthy neighborhood or having parents with extensive networks. Attending UT can be a ‘generation changer’ for a low-income student or a student of color.”

would put the sales tax rate at 9.25% in most cities. Luby also said the sales tax is widely understood to be a regressive tax, meaning it puts a greater burden on lower-income people than the wealthy. Because of this, raising it has brought a lot of criticism from Democrats who called it “dead wrong.” The sales tax increase/ property tax rate cap swap is currently planned to be a constitutional amendment, a feat possibly more challenging than passing a standard bill by simple majority. A constitutional amendment requires two-thirds support from both chambers, no governor’s signature and final

approval by voters in a statewide election. Additionally, Gov. Greg Abbott has said he would only support the legislation if other property tax reform bills were also passed. Joshua Blank, manager of polling and research at the Texas Politics Project, said using a constitutional amendment for the tax swap makes it both harder and easier to pass than a standard bill. Constitutional amendments have been used in the past to give cover to lawmakers because of the requirement of final approval from voters, Blank said, resulting in a higher proportion of them voting in favor, which makes the two-third

| the daily texan staff

majority threshold easier to reach. Blank said constitutional amendments are typically used for issues associated with major spending or taxing components that may attract controversy in the electorate. “They’re not themselves passing an increase to the sales tax — they are giving voters the opportunity to vote on an increase in the sales tax,” Blank said. “And while that might be a fine distinction, it’s one that legislators and the Legislature has used around issues of this sort.” After passing through the Capitol, this type of legislation would be up for voter approval in a Constitutional Election in November.

Student Manager Positions Open Texas Student Media

KVRX Radio • TSTV Television Cactus Yearbook • Texas Travesty The Daily Texan KVRX Radio and TSTV Television each have an opening for station manager. Cactus Yearbook and Texas Travesty each have an opening for editor-in-chief. The term of office for these positions is June 1, 2019 to May 31, 2020.

The Daily Texan has an opening for managing editor. The terms available for this position are June 1, 2019 to August 15, 2019 and August 16, 2019 to December 31, 2019.

Application Deadline: Monday, April 29, 2019 at 12:00 p.m. Find additional details and the application forms for these positions on texasstudentmedia.com

THURSDAY, APRIL 25, 2019

CAMPUS

First-gen siblings support each other in college

Incoming student finds inspiration from sister’s successful UT journey. By Emily Hernandez @emilyhernandez

or first-generation college students Titus Rucker and Camille Proffer being accepted to UT helped them realize they could do more with their lives than they once thought, the siblings said. Rucker, who will attend UT in the fall as an urban studies freshman, said his older sister was not only able to help him understand the college application process, but also their parents. “When I was a kid, I was so stressed out about college, and I’d have these anxieties at night keep me up for so long. I’d talk to my parents, like, ‘What do I need to do?’” Rucker said. “(Our parents) definitely love us, and they want the best for us, but they’re just ignorant about it. Talking to my sister gave me the confidence (that) it’ll work out.” Proffer, who graduated with an English degree last spring and now works as a high school teacher, said she dropped out of high school as a sophomore, so she did not have the help of a guidance counselor or her parents when it came to college applications. “When I would ask (my

parents) for help with (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) information, they didn’t trust it,” Proffer said. “They didn’t understand why I would need their social security number or why they would have to give any of that information to the government. They basically thought that I was asking for the information so I could rob them and the government and everyone would find out (their information). They were very paranoid about the whole process.” Rucker said almost all of his tuition will be paid for through FAFSA. Proffer said she feels like her story as a first-generation college student is different because she attended UT despite her parents, instead of for them. “My parents were perfectly okay with me dropping out of high school as a sophomore,” Proffer said. “A lot of people have amazing stories where they go to college for their family and to give their family a better life because that’s what their parents wanted for them. But I think there are so many students that aren’t represented whose parents couldn’t care less if they went to college or if they worked a minimum wage job for the rest of their life.” Cassandre Alvarado, the co-chair of the First-Generation Commitment Working Group, a campus committee designed to support first-generation students, said the most important thing the group has found is there’s not just one first-generation student experience. “Each student comes to campus having a different experience as a first-gen

copyright camille titus, and reproduced with permission First-generation siblings Camille Proffer and her younger brother Titus Rucker pose for the camera at Proffer’s graduation ceremony last spring.

Longhorn and may have different needs and supports,” Alvarado said. “That’s why we’ve had sort of a campuswide goal of bringing together a lot of different opportunities for first-gen students to feel supported.” Rucker said attending college seemed impossible until he watched Proffer graduate UT last spring and start a

successful career. “Having my sister go to college … and watching her be successful … is definitely what helped the most,” Rucker said. “She was always giving me feedback saying, ‘You can do this. College is not this monster that you were raised to think it was. I was able to do it, and trust me, you’ll get through it too.’”

CAMPUS

samantha dorisca | the daily texan staff UT Students Nick Villareal, left, and Nick Salameh will be living on the streets of Austin for five days straight in order to raise money for the program Run Home for the ARCH.

| the daily texan file The Texas Cowboys have received another extension until May 9 to accept, appeal or request a formal hearing for their six-year suspension for hazing. angela wang

c o w b oy s continues from page

denied the Cowboys their 30day request and instead granted them 15 days. According to Reagins-Lilly’s email, the Cowboys will work with Davis until then to discuss their proposal, and Davis will be the one to “determine whether there is a basis to extend the deadline to May 23.” “I am willing to consider a conference resolution if it can move us toward disrupting the culture of hazing within the Texas

Cowboys and the University at large,” Reagins-Lilly said in her email. The Cowboys remain under their cease and desist instructions, Reagins-Lilly said in her email. The hazing investigation started last fall at the Cumberland family’s request after their son, Nicky, sustained fatal injuries in a car crash on the way back from last year’s annual Cowboy retreat. Cowboys who had attended the retreat told the Cumberlands that hazing had taken place before the group left. The Office of Student Conduct did not find evidence to

support that hazing in the form of sleep deprivation occurred, according to the report. Nicky’s father Shawn Cumberland wrote in an emailed statement that this additional said this additional extension is a disappointment. “This just goes to show how powerful and influential the Cowboys are,” the statement said. “They feel that they deserve an entitled position and are able to force their will upon the University.” The Texas Cowboys did not respond to comment.

center

continues from page

joshua guenther | the daily texan file Center plead guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit mail fraud and honest services mail fraud; becoming the third college coach to admit guilt in court for participation in a nationwide scheme to admit wealthy students into top tier universities.

Attorney recommended Center’s sentence include “incarceration at the low end” of the sentencing range, a financial penalty, a year of supervised release, a mandatory special assessment of $100 and forfeiture of $60,000 — the amount Center personally received from the fraud. U.S. District Judge Richard Stearns accepted the plea deal, and Center’s sentence hearing will take place Oct. 30.

Students to run, spend night on streets for homeless fundraiser By Brenna Hinshaw @brenna_hinshaw

UT students Nick Salameh and Nick Villareal will be running 15 miles per day for five days straight from May 27-31 to raise money for the Austin Resource Center for the Homeless. During this time, they will also be sleeping on the streets of downtown Austin to better understand homelessness. “The homeless population is one of the most forgotten communities that really go through extreme hardship,” neuroscience junior Villareal said. “(It’s) something that a lot of us don’t really understand, because many of us don’t become homeless in our lives.” The money raised from the program, Run Home for the ARCH, will be used to provide basic hygiene products to the homeless population. “We went (to the organization) and talked to the coordinators and realized that a lot of these people that were homeless actually have jobs,” finance junior Salameh said. “Now they’re just trying to save up money to get back on their feet. They don’t have a lot of money for … any kind of hygienic products.” Salameh and Villareal have contacted businesses and individuals for sponsorships, offering advertising

during the run and on social media in return. “What (the sponsorship) does is it shows this company’s commitment to Austin as a community,” Salameh said. “It also helps them out by getting advertisers … but also helps us out and homeless people by giving them that funding.” Forest Family Dentistry is one of Salameh’s sponsors. “Forest Family Dentistry believes in what (Salameh) is doing, and more importantly, who he is,” said Robin Bethell, a dentist at Forest Family Dentistry. “The personal sacrifice to raise awareness for homelessness in Austin is the brand of service and kindness that makes change in our wonderful city.” So far, Salameh and Villareal have raised $1,926 of their $2,500 goal, according to the program’s GoFundMe page. “We are going to fundraise until we run, and then we’re going to make this small documentary to kind of show awareness and get others inspired to do this,” Salameh said. Both Salameh and Villareal hope to continue the program again next year and recruit even more runners. “I think there’s a lot of meaning in helping the people who need it the most,” Villareal said. “They still need help. They’re still human beings.”

LIZA ANDERSON EDITOR-IN-CHIEF @TEXANOPINION

THURSDAY, APRIL 25, 2019

COLUMN

alexandra vanderhider

| the daily texan staff

Promote student barbers, unite black community on campus By David West Jr. Columnist

With UT-Austin’s marginalized black population on campus, it is challenging for students of color to come to the University and have any sense of where necessities such as barbershops are located. Once students find these barbershops, they must then foster a relationship with their barber over time. Finding reliable barbers is an inconvenient process that comes with a new environment. UT needs to assist students in this process by publicizing student barbers who cater to students of color on campus through collaborative efforts with black organizations on campus. By doing so, UT can help bring its black community closer together. I transferred to UT this past fall, and I still have trouble finding reliable barbershops in Austin. I am privileged, however, to have a car, which allows me to drive through Austin and experiment with different barbershops. However, this is not the case for all incoming students, and that lack of transportation can be detrimental when trying to find a new barber. “It takes a minute to find a barber in Austin … some people don’t have that kind of transportation,” said Eric Cain, a psychology sophomore and student barber. “If

you’re not mobile, you’re going to have problems.” Issues with transportation combined with being a member of such an underrepresented minority group can hinder black UT students who are in search of Austin barbers. “One of the many uncomfortable things of being in Austin when you’re black is that the barber situation is tough,” says Kassa Kassahun, a public health junior. “There’s not that many options for (black students) in Austin.” UT can help students of color find barbers by partnering with different African American student organizations — the Black Student Alliance or the African American Student Alliance — to promote student barbers on campus. The University can help develop and facilitate these collaborations through UT resources that support students, such as the Multicultural Engagement Center and the Division of Diversity and Community Engagement, the engagement center’s parent organization. Through these collaborations, student barbers could be brought in for workshops and networking opportunities to help promote their services on campus, eliminating the barrier of having to go off campus to seek barbershops. “Having black barbers on campus, you would have someone who understands what kind of haircut the person needs, and second, someone

(black students) can relate to,” Cain said. The Division of Diversity and Community Engagement facilitates collaborations like this one as they accept cosponsorship applications to make these partnerships a possibility. These collaborative efforts could also help unite UT’s black population. “The black community at UT is pretty distant,” Cain said. “You don’t see all the same people at the same events. You don’t see them come together.” UT facilitating workshops between black barbers and African student organizations on campus could essentially create an open hand for the community, Kassahun said. I agree, as barbershops are more than just places to get haircuts for people of color. They allow the black community to come together, speak freely and openly express themselves without constraints. “(Barbershops) are basically like safe spots for anybody and any type of personalities,” Cain said. If UT publicizes student barbers and helps initiate workshops for them to come in occasionally and cut hair for students of color, UT will help unify the black community on campus altogether. West Jr. is a journalism sophomore from New Orleans, Louisiana.

GALLERY

COLUMN

Students with disabilities deserve a physical space on campus should designate a space in the Student Services Building for this purpose. Emily Shryock, assistant director of Services for Students with Disabilities, explains the In order to fully foster community, a group purpose of SSD. needs to have a space to gather. “SSD is seen as a compliance office,” Shryock A recent paper published in the Journal of said. “We want to serve our students in the best Architectural and Planning Research explores way possible, so every initiative we start is bethe association between public spaces and a cause students requested it — we definitely sense of community. It claims “the translation see students requesting more opportunities to between public space and building a sense of connect with each other.” community is defined The best way to fulfill as ‘the sense of belongthat request, consideringness, fellowship,’ ing the value of physical ‘we-ness,’ identity, etc. gathering places, is to experienced in the conoffer a space where stuIf we want to support text of a (geographically dents can get together in based) collective.’” a casual setting and meet disability, normalize it The same princieach other. and create a strong comple applies to student A physical space would communities, especially munity for students with not be a great cost to underrepresented ones. the University, as rooms disabilities . . .” Services for Studon’t necessarily have to dents with Disabilities be redesignated. There is does not have such a already space in the Stuspace. SSD offers many services, including dent Services Building, which houses the SSD housing and placement accommodations office, and that designated space should be used and representations on various committo its full potential. tees in the University. They should expand Shryock said they’re in the process of explortheir services to include a physical space for ing new options to support disability as part of students who are registered with them. students’ identity and campus diversity. Harper Lay, an advertising freshman who is Diverse identities are best promoted by registered with SSD, believes she would benefit those who live with these identities. If we want from a physical space. to support disability, normalize it and create “I think a physical space would be beneficial a strong community for students with disin meeting new people who are also registered abilities, let’s take the first step by providing a with SSD,” Lay said. “I don’t know a ton of physical space that fosters discussions around people who are, and I would like to these topics. change that.” Dronamraju is a public health freshman In order to fully serve its students, SSD from Dallas.

By Neha Dronamraju Columnist

yulissa chavez

LEGALESE | Opinions expressed in The Daily Texan are those of the editor, the Editorial Board or the writer of the article. They are not necessarily those of the UT administration, the Board of Regents or the Texas Student Media Board of Operating Trustees.

| the daily texan staff

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.

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.

TIANA WOODARD & JORDYN ZITMAN LIFE&ARTS EDITORS @THEDAILYTEXAN

THURSDAY, APRIL 25, 2019

MUSIC

Live music falls short in accommodating for height By Landry Allred @l2ndry

When Samantha Diwa attended her first indie rock concert in Austin, she was excited until, standing at 5 feet, 2 inches tall, her head barely met the shoulders of the person in front of her. Living in the live music capital of the world might be convenient for some, but concerts fall short in accommodating for every height — especially those living the shorter side of life. Diwa, a radio-television-film sophomore, said that the first concert she attended felt the longest. “Since then, I realized (height) is a problem you’re always going to deal with,” Diwa said. Through this realization, others, such as public health sophomore Eisha Rao who stands at 4 feet, 11 inches tall, said she has found concert preparation is key. “You have to plan ahead to make sure you’re in a position where you can see what’s going on,” Rao said. Diwa said she often researches venues beforehand to find positions from which the stage is visible. Another tactic that requires preparation is to arrive at least an hour early, Diwa said. Deck also said it’s helpful Communication studies to either bring taller people sophomore Darbi Deck, who to find spots with a good stands at 5 feet, 3 inches tall, view or wear tall shoes. At said she attended a Twenty the most recent concert she attended, Deck said she One Pilots concert in high wore 4-inch heeled boots. school and waited in line for “For the first time, I could eight hours to stand at the actually see without having barricade. Not only did artoo much to worry about,” riving early help her see, but Deck said. she also made a new friend. Although some, like Rao, “We met this guy (who) find elbowing their way Texas Studentwas Media keep you 6 feet,will 5 inches,” Deck connected through the crowd a useful that myand with daily linkssaid. to “He therecognized news, sports culture tactic, she also said presister and the I were and tending her family member stories shaping UTshort community. offered to stand behind us so is in the front allows her to we’d be able to see.” move forward. Similarly,

GET SOCIAL WITH TSM

cameron dehghani

Diwa said it’s useful to buy alcohol and pretend to bring the drinks to friends up front. Aside from these strategies, Diwa also said standing in the back of a concert venue is just as enjoyable because it provides more breathing room and space to dance. “For EDM concerts, it’s okay to be in the back because the lights are a big part of it,” Diwa said. “If you’re in the front, you can’t even pay attention to the

lights because they’re all over the place.” Despite height struggles, Rao said people often show kindness to short people at concerts. Additionally, it provides a bonding experience between short people, Diwa said. “If you ever meet someone who’s short like you, you make eye contact and appreciate each other,” Diwa said. Regardless of the planning and strategies accompanying short stature, all three

| the daily texan staff

women said they continue to go to concerts because the experience outweighs the struggle. Diwa said accepting the circumstances and making the most of being short is key for truly appreciating the concert. “You can do all this preventative stuff, but at the end of the day, remember why you’re there,” Diwa said. “Remember you love whoever you’re going to see, and being within five hundred feet of them is pretty cool, too.”

{

Housing available Our apartments at Signature 1909 feature chic modern furniture*, quartz countertops, stainless steel appliances, plank vinyl flooring, in-unit laundry, premium views and so much more. Select the perfect place to call home from our wide range of floor plans. Our one, two, three, four and even five bedroom apartments are available in various layouts, each with their own characteristics and modern charm. Impressed? We don’t blame you - but there’s still so much more to the Signature lifestyle. Explore some more, then give us a call at 512-234-4888 or swing by our leasing office today. We’ll be waiting for you.

Housing available At Dobie Twenty21, we offer many areas where you can socialize with your friends. Our rooftop park features basketball, lounge areas, and an outdoor theater. Cool off at our skyline pool with stunning views of the city. Hang out in our rec room with foosball, pool table, gaming stations, and vintage arcade games. Get some homework done in one of our 11 artistically designed study rooms. We also offer a tech center with brand new computers and free printing. The fitness center includes state-of-the-art fitness cardio and weight equipment. Enjoy delicious and well-balanced meals with your unlimited meal plan at the Dobie Café. We make life easier with fully furnished apartments. Contact our office and schedule your private tour today!

Housing available High Rise Student Luxury only steps to campus! Tour today to see why space matters in our spacious floorplans. Great amenities, caring staff and much more! Call 21 Rio at (512)391-1991 to schedule a visit.

Housing available Available Immediately - Duplex Northwest Hills Tasteful 4 BR duplex in Northwest Hills. Secluded backyard and deck overlooking woods and wet weather creek. Bonus 4th bedroom can be an office or study. Refrigerator, washer & dryer included! Short distance to Starbucks, HEB, pharmacy, post office, schools. Pets will be considered on a case by case basis. 1.5 car garage. Anderson HS, Murchison MS, Doss Elem. $2050/monthw/ security deposit of one month’s rent. Available immediately. michael17rose@gmail.com / 203-641-1503

WHO ARE YOU?

KNOW YOURSELF AND LIVE A HAPPIER LIFE.

$20

Reduce • Reuse • Recycle ADVERTISING TERMS There are no refunds or credits. In the event of errors made in advertisement, notice must be given by 10 am the fi rst day of publication, as the publishers are responsible for only ONE incorrect insertion. In consideration of The Daily Texan’s acceptance of advertising copy for publication, the agency and the advertiser will indemnify and save harmless, Texas Student Media and its offi cers, employees and agents against all loss, liability, damage and expense of whatsoever nature arising out of the copying, print-ing or publishing of its advertisement including without limitation reasonable attorney’s fees resulting from claims of suits for libel, violation of right of privacy, plagiarism and copyright and trademark infringement. All ad copy must be approved by the newspaper which reserves the right to request changes, reject or properly classify an ad. The advertiser, and not the newspaper, is responsible for the truthful content of the ad. Advertising is also subject to credit approval.

DAILYTEXANONLINE.COM Facebook at dailytexan Twitter @thedailytexan WATCHTSTV.COM Facebook at texasstudenttelevision Twitter @texasstudenttv

ROSS BURKHART SPORTS EDITOR @TEXANSPORTS

THURSDAY, APRIL 25, 2019

FOOTBALL

Draft day nears for top prospects

Omenihu, Humphrey hope to hear their names called early. By Keshav Prathivadi @kpthefirst

or defensive end Charles Omenihu, the journey to this week started over a

year ago. Coming off a productive junior season in which he played all 13 games and recorded 28 total tackles, the NFL seemed like the next logical step for Omenihu. However, there was only one thing that factored into his decision to stay for his senior season. “If you’re not for sure a first round pick, come back,” Omenihu said at Texas’ Pro Day. “Best decision of my life, obviously, and it helped me tremendously.” After tallying a career-high 45 tackles and doubling his 2017 sack total last season, it’s safe to say that decision paid off. A Senior Bowl appearance, meetings with all 32 NFL teams and a strong Pro Day have Omenihu projected to be as high as a second-round pick at the NFL Draft this week in Nashville. Omenihu also made official visits to four NFL team facilities, showcasing his length — a seven-foot wingspan — and his ability to create separation. But regardless of what he can show, it’s up to NFL teams to decide the position he plays on the field. “Not a lot of people have my length,” Omenihu said. “If you can’t touch me, you can’t block me. I have no ceiling on what I can play.” Not everyone seems to agree with Omenihu’s advice, though. That’s the case for wide receiver Lil’Jordan Humphrey, who opted to forgo his senior season at Texas.

anthony mireles | the daily texan file Defensive end Charles Omenihu swats a ball down during Texas’ 37-14 win over USC on Sept. 15. Omenihu recorded a career-high 45 tackles during his senior season at Texas. Omenihu was invited to the NFL Combine in February and is expected to be an early round draft pick.

Humphrey, who’s coming off a 1,176-yard, nine-touchdown junior season, had several questions to answer regarding his speed and position. And after a disappointing showing at the NFL Combine, it was clear he had to advertise himself to teams in a different manner. “I just felt like it was my time,” Humphrey said. “They’ve (NFL teams) been the ones telling me ‘Don’t worry about speed … football is football.’” Humphrey also had to make the

tough choice to sit out of receiver drills at Texas’ Pro Day, as he chose to let his game film do the talking rather than an in-person showing that had higher potential of hurting his draft stock. Even top prospects like Oklahoma quarterback Kyler Murray made a decision similar to Humphrey’s, forcing teams to take a chance on them at the minimum. It’s decisions like these that make this time of year even more unpredictable for both NFL teams and prospects.

“I’m open to anything, but I want to play receiver,” Humphrey said. “You never see me get caught, so that’s all I have to say.” But regardless of those decisions, not many players from Texas are afforded the spotlight Murray, Humphrey and Omenihu have. For linebacker Gary Johnson, these past couple of months were more about proving he belongs at the next level rather than polishing skills as a surefire draft pick. Johnson, who’s projected at best as a late-round pick, understands that.

“A lot of people didn’t know who I was,” Johnson said. “Once I got to the Combine, I opened a few people’s eyes that I’m as good as anyone else out there.” Everyone gets to draft week on different paths, but it’s all powered by the dream of making an NFL roster. And that dream doesn’t have to end if Johnson’s — or any player’s — name goes uncalled this weekend. “It’s a bigger stage,” Johnson said. “Every kid’s dream is of one day to get here and be in my shoes right now … it’s awesome.”

FOOTBALL

Draft uncertainty looms over Longhorns as Draft opens By Ross Burkhart @ross_burkhart

w tch us at YOUTUBE.COM/THEDAILYTEXAN

Texas Student Media is seeking students for its Board of Operating Trustees

Hordes of NFL scouts flocked to Longhorn standouts Charles Omenihu and Lil’Jordan Humphrey during Texas’ Pro Day four weeks ago. But in the background, many participants used the opportunity to get any scout’s attention at all. Five Longhorns were invited to the NFL Scouting Combine, leaving others questioning why their names were left off the list. As a result, the Pro Day was perhaps the only opportunity for many players to showcase themselves outside of game film. Among those is Anthony Wheeler, a linebacker who played at Texas the last four years. Despite having a solid body of work and appearing in 50 career games, Wheeler now finds himself on the bubble of being picked in this week’s NFL Draft. “If I get drafted, great. If I don’t, I’m just gonna keep working,” Wheeler said at Texas’ Pro Day.

Wheeler, like many Texas players, has acknowledged he could be facing an unconventional path to the next level if seven rounds come and go without hearing his name called. “I’ve been talking to Poona (Ford) a lot,” Wheeler said. “Poona tells me, ‘Even if you don’t get drafted, just go out there and do your best.’” Ford’s rookie season in the NFL serves a shining example to the success many players find at the next level without being drafted. As a defensive tackle who prospered at Texas last season but missed out on the Combine, Ford made the Seattle Seahawks’ 53-man roster and quickly worked his way into the team’s rotation as the year progressed. Wheeler isn’t the only player working toward an opportunity which may or may not come though. Tre Watson, another player experiencing the uncertainties of the Draft process, split most of the carries as running back last season with Keaontay Ingram. After missing out on an invite to Indianapolis for the

Combine, Watson relished the chance to work out for scouts. “It definitely fuels me,” Watson said. “How many backs went? 27 backs. I want them all. That’s how I’m coming, that’s how I think. Number one, whoever y’all got on y’all’s draft board, put me on that team. Let me compete.” Meanwhile, wide receiver Jerrod Heard — the textbook definition of a college football journeyman — pictured his Pro Day going differently when he enrolled at Texas to be the team’s next star quarterback. Since then, Heard has successfully made the shift to wideout, but his NFL future still faces questions similar to many of his Longhorn teammates. Heard said most of the feedback he has received from NFL teams is that he could fill a role as a utility player by finding time on kickoffs, punt returns or anything else he’s asked to do. But wherever it may be, Heard is ready to embrace the role in order to achieve a lifelong dream. The NFL Draft begins today.

Positions are available for students in the Moody College of Communication, as well as for other majors. The terms of office begin June 1, 2019. Board members will be appointed at the TSM Board meeting on Friday, May 3, 2019 at 1 PM.

Application deadline is Monday, April 29 at 12 PM. Visit texasstudentmedia.com to download an application with position requirements.

juan figueroa | the daily texan file Linebacker Anthony Wheeler makes a tackle during Texas’ 37-14 home win against USC on Sept. 15. Wheeler played his enitre collegiate career at Texas. He is not expected to be drafted.

THURSDAY, APRIL 25, 2019

The New York Times Syndication Sales Corporation 620 Eighth Avenue, New York, N.Y. 10018 For Information Call: 1-800-972-3550 For Release Thursday, April 25, 2019

Crossword ACROSS 1 Happening after doors open on Black Friday 8 Draw 15 Colorful circles 16 Ronan of “Lady Bird” 17 1982 movie starring Julie Andrews 19 Elicited with difficulty 20 Some mortgage adjustments, in brief 23 Run, old-style 24 Skeletons in the closet, so to speak

SUDOKUFORYOU 2

8 1 4 8 5 4 3 7 2 6 4 3 5 1 7 8 8 1 1 8 3 5 6 8 4 5 1 8 3 6 4 7

28 To be, overseas 29 Tighten (up)

Today’s solution will appear here next issue

1 9 7 3 2 4 6 5 8

4 6 3 5 9 8 1 2 7

2 8 5 1 7 6 3 9 4

6 5 1 7 4 9 2 8 3

7 2 9 8 6 3 4 1 5

8 3 4 2 5 1 7 6 9

9 4 2 6 3 5 8 7 1

3 7 8 9 1 2 5 4 6

5 1 6 4 8 7 9 3 2

31 Money holder 32 Swimmer Ian who won three gold medals in the 2000 Olympics

34 Japanese floor mat 36 Helpful people to know 37 Warning sign 41 Triple ___ 42 Collegiate basketball competition, for short 43 Like Natalie Portman, by birth 44 It ended during the Napoleonic Wars: Abbr. 45 Kind of switch 47 Label owned by Sony Music 48 Good earth 50 Formerly 51 Its second ed. contains about 59 million words 52 Miss the mark 53 1% alternative 55 Like many radios 57 A long way off 60 Common sign-off 61 Source of the word “kiwi”

ANSWER TO PREVIOUS PUZZLE T R I B E

R A C E R

F P O A R C U M

I V A N A

R U M R A I D I S D R I S A N

P E N T T O K V E A N R Y B K E R E A P B

C L O T D O N H S L E E I B C I T C H N A A C E M H O T P A K A O A A S Y O U D V D P E A R E A T E G R E Y

H O P A C E N X E T I N E C T T H A I N N S

A S I F I C J A A R W E S P L L G I B E T S T W A S

V A A R N K N A P D E E A R D A N N O

T Y K E S

62 River draining 11 countries 63 8:00-9:00 p.m. in prime time, e.g. 64 Deduce 65 Down in the dumps 66 Go down, in a way 67 Like many A.T.M.s 68 Primetime ___ DOWN 1 Western Conference player, informally 2 Shapiro of public radio 3 World AIDS Day mo. 4 More eccentric 5 Soothing succulents 6 1986 #1 Starship hit with the lyric “I’ll never find another girl like you” 7 Third-person pronoun 8 Parenthesized comments 9 Food truck offering, maybe 10 Figure, as a sum 11 It may be read to the rowdy 12 Sheet music abbr. 13 Hit CBS series with three spinoffs 14 Spill the ___ (dish out gossip) 18 Line on a leaf 20 Holder of many cones

Edited by Will Shortz 1

No. 0321 9

18 19

28 32

34 39

31 35

41 44

50 53

51 55

52 56

PUZZLE BY CHRISTOPHER ADAMS

21 Like some cuisines 22 2008 movie starring Michael Sheen and Frank Langella 25 Movie with graphic violence … or what 17-Across, 22-Down or 39-Down each is? 26 Some board game equipment 27 Jazzes (up)

29 Souvenir shop purchases 30 List shortcut 33 Information on a ticket 35 Light on one’s feet 38 “ER” role for Paul McCrane 39 1997 movie starring John Travolta and Nicolas Cage 40 Like many pipes nowadays 46 Knock down

49 Like butterscotch 53 Annual Austin festival, for short 54 ___ nut 55 Dictator deposed in 1979 56 Swampland, e.g. 58 Many a university donor, informally 59 “Ratatouille” rat

Online subscriptions: Today’s puzzle and more than 7,000 past puzzles, nytimes.com/crosswords ($39.95 a year). Read about and comment on each puzzle: nytimes.com/wordplay.

TIANA WOODARD & JORDYN ZITMAN LIFE&ARTS EDITORS @THEDAILYTEXAN

THURSDAY, APRIL 25, 2019

UNIVERSITY

Emergency loan saves students Students can apply for, receive $500 cash loan no matter circumstance. By Trinady Joslin @trinady05

hen her source of income suddenly vanished her junior year, alumna Raegan Holland, who graduated in 2017, feared she would soon lose her apartment. After talking with a friend, Holland discovered the emergency loan that would be her saving grace. The $500 emergency cash loan is one Holland used twice during her college career in order to cover costs for a month without taking out other high interest loans outside of UT. “Without the emergency loan, I would not have the credit score I have now, and it would have been really hard and stressful for me,” Holland said. Business alumnus Hodges Mitchell II, who graduated in 2001 and is UT’s director of accounting said the loan has a 4% annual percentage interest rate. The $500, along with the $1.70 worth of interest, must be repaid after 30 days. Mitchell said he used the loan several times while at UT, and the loan’s availability is incredibly important for students. “Students get aid and grants from different places on campus, but sometimes they need access to money for personal

andrew choi | the daily texan staff In a no-questions-asked application process, students can apply for and receive a $500 emergency loan regardless of financial status.

things,” Mitchell said. “There is nothing worse than being a college student, look in your pockets and you don’t have anything.” While worrying about classes, Holland said unexpected emergencies can often throw students

into a state of panic, but the loan allows them some time to figure things out while prioritizing their education. Trina Manor, associate director for Office of Financial Aid, said the loan is provided by University funding and is

outside of loans provided by financial aid. “The interest rate for the subsidized loans for undergraduate students is 5.05% and the unsubsidized loans are 6.6%,” Manor said. Unlike FAFSA, Holland said

the loan doesn’t require proof of parental income in order to be granted. Additional positives include the speedy approval process and the ability to reapply for the loan after repaying it. “There’s no questions asked,” Holland said. “You go and apply for it, and within a couple of days, maybe even the next day, the money is in your account.” Despite the loan’s long history, Holland, who found out about the loan through a friend, said the difficult part is finding the information. “I remember going through my UT portal and clicking on every single link I could and going back in circles,” Holland said. By removing the barrier to entry through making the loan more public, Holland said more students could utilize the loan. “If you don’t need it, you don’t have a reason to look for it,” Holland said. “It’s not hard to find if you know what to search for, but it’s hard to find if you’re desperately grasping for something, which most of us are more in a situation like that.” Mitchell said the loan is advertised on the financial aid and student accounts receivable websites. Despite this, Holland said financial knowledge, especially for students newly away from home, can be scarce and asking questions can be intimidating. “A lot of us tend to not question the way that the financial aid universe works and say ‘OK, this is what I get,’” Holland said. “People don’t ask about what else is out there, but I don’t think we should necessarily have to ask.”

STUDENT LIFE

Students help pets find furr-ever homes By Kenzie Kowalski @kenz_dra_scott

Time is a valuable commodity in college, but some UT students are giving back to the community by spending their free time fostering animals. To alleviate overflow and sickness strain on shelters, some UT students double as volunteer fosters, caring for pets until adoption. In collaboration with no-kill animal shelter Austin Pets Alive!, students fit fostering pets into their hectic college schedules. Austin Pets Alive! had 2,199 animals in their care by the end of 2018, according to their website. One of these was a pitbull mix named Alicia, who Brianna Hungate, applied learning and development junior, began fostering in September 2018. Alicia came to Hungate very sick, but Hungate said she was able to nurse the dog back to health before her adoption in November 2018. “She had parvo, which is a disease that most shelters kill for, but (Austin Pets Alive!) is awesome, and (they) provided meds and support, and they were always there when I needed them,” Hungate said. “Just having a warm place, food and love made all the difference, plus the medicine of course.” Although her foster experience had ups and downs, Hungate said she leaned on friends and Austin Pets Alive! for support. She recommends fostering to other students as well. “Have your friends, people that you can lean on and that can help you out with it sometimes when it gets tough,” Hungate said. Despite the time and special care Alicia needed, Hungate said that she would do it again. “It’s about sacrifices sometimes, but the end result was so amazing and having that

copyright brianna hungate, and reproduced with permission Education junior Brianna Hungate opened her home to Alicia the foster dog in September 2018.

responsibility and coming back every day to see the happy face and wagging tail, it made such a difference in my overall mental health,” Hungate said. “It was such a big responsibility (to) take on, but it was worth it.” Architectural engineering sophomore Colleen Jones has been fostering a cat named Merrill since September 2018. Jones said the “chunky, little 8-year-old cat” was put into foster care because she wasn’t thriving in the shelter environment. “(Merrill) was 13 pounds when I got her,” Jones said. “I picked her up and basically they were like, ‘Hey, thanks for fostering her, please put her on a diet.’” While also balancing schoolwork, Jones has helped Merrill get on a regular diet, lose weight and become healthier. Jones said taking care of Merrill has made her more responsible. “She’s helped me become

more consistent, a little more responsible and (she reminds me to) take care of myself,” Jones said. “I think ahead a little more about what I’m doing.” Katera Berent, communications and events manager for Austin Pets Alive!, said UT students make up a large percentage of their fosters. “(The students are) just so dedicated to (fostering), and it’s really amazing,” Berent said. “I feel like our students come out in droves to foster for us, and it’s just so appreciated.” Without the help of UT students, Berent said the shelter would not be able to save as many lives as it does. “Our foster program is essential to our lifesaving operations here at Austin Pets Alive!,” Berent said. “We have a lot of animals that we (take in) that we would not be able to take into our care if it weren’t for foster homes.”