The Daily Texan 2019-05-02 by The Daily Texan

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THURSDAY, MAY 2, 2019

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119,

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NEWS

OPINION

LIFE&ARTS

SPORTS

Dell Med students give free whooping cough vaccines in underserved areas. PA G E 2

UT honors programs should accept letters of recommendation by TAs. PA G E 4

Austin woman brings authenticity to import sales with Gadabout Goods. PA G E 8

Tennis prodigy crosses the ocean in hopes of leading Longhorns to a title. PA G E 6

CAMPUS

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CAMPUS

Graduate students rally for better funding By Laura Doan @ledoan17

macelyn morris | the daily texan staff SafeHorns president Joell McNew speaks at a SafeHorns community outreach event at Qdoba on Wednesday afternoon. Report4Harrison encourages students to take an active role in ensuring their safety.

Event honors Harrison Brown SafeHorns hosts Report4Harrison event to remember May 1 tragedy and share safety tips. By Elexa Sherry @ElexaSherry

arrison Brown was fatally stabbed on campus on May 1, 2017. On Wednesday night, two years after his death, family and friends gathered at Report4Harrison — a SafeHorns open mic event in remembrance of Brown’s life. “It’s an event to gather,” SafeHorns president Joell McNew said. “In a way to celebrate his life, we thought it would be more of a celebration if we honored him with something he loved, which is music.” McNew said Brown sang and played guitar on his YouTube channel and in his Jester dorm room where other students enjoyed listening to him. McNew said he even auditioned for The Voice. Jeanne Hall, police officer for UT Police Department’s K-9 unit, attended to support students still dealing with grief. Hall said safety measures have increased since Brown’s death. “We’ve increased the number of patrol officers that we have (and) we’ve increased our bike unit as well so we have more officers on patrol throughout the day,” Hall said. Kacey Vandervort, a Student SafeHorns officer who attended the event, said the Report4Harrison initiative exists to remind students to always be vigilant. Student SafeHorns will work sideby-side with parents in the original SafeHorns

group if it receives approval to be an official campus organization. “Always report (suspicious activity) because there’s no harm in being cautious,” Vandervort said. Longhorn Emergency Medical Services had representatives at the event speak about Stop The Bleed training, which teaches bystanders basic bleeding control techniques. Stuart Bayliss survived the stabbing two years ago by instructing another student on how to stop his bleeding, which he was prepared for because of his involvement in the Naval Reserve Officers Training Corps. “Had Stuart not told his friend how to save him, (he) would’ve died,” McNew said. Bayliss said he would love to see UT require its faculty and staff to undergo Stop The Bleed training. ”If people are prepared, then you are more likely to save a person,” Bayliss said. Bayliss said he never knew Brown but wishes he did. “I still try to carry Harrison with me everyday so that he still lives on,” Bayliss said. Vandervort said it is important to keep Brown’s story alive. “Although I did not know him personally, (he’s) a Longhorn brother … (and) we’re all one giant family here,” Vandervort said. “I think it’s important to learn from our mistakes and to try and prevent these tragedies from ever happening again on our campus.”

Hundreds of students rallied in front of the UT Tower on Wednesday in support of better graduate student funding, chanting, “Overworked and underpaid. We demand a living wage!” The organizers of the rally — a graduate student group called Underpaid at UT — delivered a petition requesting members of the University Budget Council, chaired by President Gregory Fenves, to fully fund graduate student tuition by next fall and to produce a plan to pay graduate students a living wage. Zoya Brumberg, a member of Underpaid at UT and American studies graduate student, said she hopes the rally brings attention to pervasive financial struggles amongst UT graduate students. Brumberg said in an email that even with loans and a second job, she barely has enough savings to cover a medical emergency. “There was a lot of vigor and anger that felt truly palpable today,” Brumberg said. “I have a lot of hope for where this movement could go.” Underpaid at UT emerged from the Graduate Student Labor Committee, which was formed in 2018 to study graduate student labor conditions, Brumberg said. That committee found UT pays graduate students less than many peer institutions, and no UT college pays their average graduate student enough to meet the cost of living in Austin, which is an estimated $25,000 annually, committee chair Cassie Donnelly said. “Having those facts, analyzing them and putting something together was a huge game changer,” classics graduate student Donnelly said. “It made the University have to engage with us.” Although graduate programs are traditionally expected to cover graduate student tuition, UT currently leaves graduates on the hook

GRADUATE

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STUDENT LIFE

UT students work hard, network at Disney College Program By Hannah Ortega @_hannahortega_

From atop the Swiss Family Treehouse in Magic Kingdom, marketing junior Samantha Kagel watched the Happily Ever After fireworks show with tears in her eyes and friends by her side. It was her last shift in the Disney College Program, and she would soon have to leave what she called the “Disney bubble.” “I kind of think of it like ‘The Bachelor,’ like how everything is so magical and amazing … for nine months, and then you have to go back to real life, and it’s really hard,” Kagel said. Students like Kagel, both at UT and other colleges, often take a semester or longer off from school to participate in the Disney College Program. The program is held at both Walt Disney World and Disneyland and allows students to work in the parks and resorts as paid cast members. Kagel, who spent the fall 2017 and spring 2018 semesters at Disney World, worked several Magic Kingdom attractions and helped control parades. While Kagel said UT doesn’t award course credit for the program, high school Advanced Placement

credit allowed her and radio-television-film junior Alison Richman to take time off without falling too behind in their studies. Kagel wasn’t completely out of the classroom during the Disney College Program, however. Kagel took seminars provided by Disney, which she said can be great places for networking. Kagel’s boyfriend, geophysics junior Jayce Testut, got a Disney Professional Internship by networking at the lecture series, where various Disney professionals speak to students in the college program. “I just met someone, talked to her for five minutes, and she said, ‘Oh, I’m going to connect you with someone that I know,’” said Testut, who worked as a custodian mostly on Main Street, U.S.A. in Magic Kingdom. “People are so eager to help you because that’s how everyone got their start there.” For his summer 2018 internship following his spring 2018 program, Testut worked with Walt Disney Imagineering, who design and build Disney attractions. He helped create rocks for Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge, the Star Wars-themed land coming to Hollywood Studios this year. While Kagel, Testut and Richman said they greatly enjoyed the Disney College Program and made friends

they still keep in contact with, they said their jobs were intense and not as easy as some may think. “The job is not easy,” Kagel said. “People are mean, and it’s hot, and you’re on your feet for 12, 15 hour days.” Despite the exhausting work, Kagel said the program was “the best year of (her) life.” Richman said participants in the program receive perks such as ride tours and free access to the parks. “I got to go tour Haunted Mansion,” said Richman, who worked as an Animal Kingdom custodian in spring 2018. “You get to see everything backstage, and then they walk you through the ride with all the lights on, and it’s like (the) world building … is crazy.” Testut, who got into the program on his second try, advised applying students to not feel discouraged if they are rejected. “They have so many applicants, that it’s just … nothing personal,” Testut said. “One of my best friends that I made there is one of the most perfect ‘Disney people’ in the world, and she didn’t get in until her fourth time applying. It’s really a little bit of luck as well as knowing how to sell yourself.”

alekka hernandez

| the daily texan staff

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THURSDAY, MAY 2, 2019

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CAMPUS

Construction projects to continue over summer By Nicole Stuessy @nicolestuessy

As the spring semester comes to an end, UT Facilities Services workers are preparing for their busiest time of the year with multiple construction projects underway around campus. Construction on the South End Zone of Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium began this week, and Capital Planning and Construction will also continue renovations on Welch Hall over the summer, said Jim Shackelford, director of Capital Planning and Construction. “You probably won’t see a lot of change to the exterior (of Welch) during the course of the summer because all the work right now is inside the building,” Shackelford said. “That project will be complete in January of next year.” Shackelford said the new Energy Engineering Building, located where Woolrich Labs previously stood, will also see progress over the summer. “If you have walked by that site recently, you’ve seen a building that’s being demolished,” Shackelford said. “So we will complete the demolition during the summer and begin construction of the new building during the summer.” Jill Stewart, associate director of Project Management and Construction Services, said the new Admissions Welcome Center located on the first floor of the Perry-Castañeda Library and the Texas One Stop for Enrollment Services Center in the Main Building are scheduled to be completed over the summer. “We’ve punched a hole in the side of PCL that’s facing toward the lawn on the south side, and that’s where

nikita sveshnikov | the daily texan staff Students walk past bricks near construction on Speedway on Wednesday afternoon. UT Facilities Services workers prepare for the busiest construction season of the year.

the new entrance for the welcome center will be,” Stewart said. “We’ve already started some preliminary work on the one-stop center in the Main Building which is going to be a combination of registrar, admissions and financial aid services.” Finance junior Zak Kuzbari said he is glad these two student-focused projects will be available in the fall. “I remember going to the old admissions center when I went on tour my junior year (of high school) and it was so random, and I’ve never even been to that building now

that I’m at UT,” Kuzbari said. “The new center is a great idea.” Because there aren’t many students on campus over the summer, this is when Construction Services will also renovate classrooms. The schedule for academic building renovations is determined by the Provost’s office, Stewart said. “We have some academic spaces that we’re renovating in the College of Fine Arts, and we are changing out the main mechanical units for the Bates Recital Hall and updating the Payne Theatre in the Winship Building,” Stewart said. “Last

summer we did some classroom renovations in Burdine Hall, and this year we have a phase two of that.” Construction Services is also working on a number of other projects for Texas Athletics, including a player-development addition at UFCU Disch-Falk Field and an outdoor pool at the Lee and Joe Jamail Texas Swimming Center. “It’s a very busy but pretty typical summer for us,” Stewart said. “Kind of a nice variety of projects, and sort of hitting all corners of campus.”

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Dell Med students immunize underserved areas By Tien Nguyen @tienjpg

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Dell Medical School students are administering free whooping cough vaccines in medically underserved Austin areas with a grant from the Texas Medical Association’s “Be Wise — Immunize” program. “The goal is to try to improve vaccination rates in Texas through educating physicians and the public about the latest vaccination practices and changes, as well as helping places like Dell Medical School give vaccinations in their local community,” said Texas Medical Association outreach coordinator Tammy Wishard, who manages the “Be Wise — Immunize” program. The initiative began when Katie Jenson, a firstyear student at Dell Medical School, saw Austin Public Health’s 2017 Austin Critical Health Indicators report. The report showed a disproportionately high number of cases of pertussis, or whooping cough, in the Rundberg area. “It was the neighborhood that had the highest cases of pertussis in all of Travis county,” Jenson said. “This was surprising to me, and it looked like it was an

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access issue.” Jenson said there could be many barriers to getting whooping cough vaccines in this particular area of Austin, including costs.

“This is a really expensive vaccine and just from talking to people in the area, people were saying that if they went to another pharmacy in town, it would

| the daily texan staff

cost $70,” Jenson said. After receiving a grant from Texas Medical Association, Jenson, her teammates, the UT School of Pharmacy and others held a

vaccination training class to train 16 medical students in vaccine administration. Adult patients are receiving vaccinations at the Gus Garcia Recreation Center on Saturdays through May 4. Jenson said children in Rundberg can get the vaccine for free from the Vaccines for Children program. Jenson said Dell Med students are using the cocooning strategy — administering the vaccine to adults, who may carry the disease but not show symptoms, to decrease transmission to children and infants who are primarily affected by pertussis. So far, 11 vaccines have been administered. Jenson and her team are not certain as to why the Rundberg area has such a high number of whooping cough cases compared to other places in Travis Country. “Katie is one of those people who sees something she doesn’t like and tries to figure out ways to fix it,” said Thomas Varkey, first-year Dell Medical student and one of Jenson’s teammates. Jenson said she and her team are in the process of developing and getting approval for a research study to answer some of these questions.

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to pay, on average, over $1,000 in tuition per semester, said Donnelly. Some UT colleges and departments try to fill the gap with money originally intended for research or faculty development, but many graduate students still pay out of pocket. The committee started an online petition three weeks ago asking the University to cover graduate student tuition, which already has 3,300 signatures and is still circulating. At least 17% of graduate students and at least 15% of UT faculty have signed the petition, Donnelly said. English associate professor Elizabeth Hedrick signed the petition and asked her undergraduate classes to follow suit. “If we want our graduate school programs to be internationally competitive, then we have to put our money where our mouth is,” Hedrick said.

eddie gaspar | the daily texan staff Holding the sign, Erika Slaymaker, left, Riad Azar and Kelly Houck lead the march for higher wages for graduate workers on Wednesday.

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THURSDAY, MAY 2, 2019

CAMPUS

Security cameras monitor campus UTPD uses footage from cameras to assist with active investigations. By Mason Carroll @MasonCCarroll

tudents walking around campus may notice the occasional camera outside of a building or even between tree branches and fear that Big Brother is watching them, but campus officials said the cameras are there to protect students. A closed-circuit television security system is used by Campus Safety and the UT Police Deaprtment to bolster safety on the Forty Acres. Jimmy Johnson, assistant vice president for campus safety, said there are thousands of cameras located around campus, but he cannot share exact numbers or locations for security reasons. Johnson said his department mostly uses the video to monitor events such as football games and commencement. “Surveillance isn’t something that’s in the vocabulary of the University,” Johnson said. “I would say … while there is camera coverage, no one is sitting there watching you 24/7.” UTPD assistant chief Don Verett said the department not only uses the system for event awareness but also as an tool during criminal investigations. Videos are kept for 30 days after they are recorded. “They are viewed on an

rachel olvera | the daily texan staff Students pass an installed security camera in one of the trees in front of the Tower on the South Mall. The security cameras around campus are meant to monitor major events, such as commencement, and also aid during criminal investigations.

as-needed basis,” Verett said. “They are not monitored on a continuous basis by UTPD. They provide real time situational awareness during critical events and invaluable forensic evidence during criminal investigations.” Recently, UTPD has used the cameras to try to identify the man who punched another man after the UT vs. University of Southern California football game in the fall and to find a good Samaritan who offered assistance during a fatal bus crash involving a cyclist and a Capital Metro bus in January. Johnson said the cameras

have also been used in the past in homicide investigations on campus. The footage from the College of Liberal Arts building served as key evidence that helped identify Haruka Weiser’s killer in 2016. “One of the things that we tried to do is enhance our security posture,” Johnson said. “(Following) the two homicides on campus, we looked at how we can add robust, forensic evidence collection abilities.” Economics sophomore Milia Daher said one of the first things her parents did when she came to UT was buy her

pepper spray because of the recent student deaths. Daher said knowing there are cameras around campus makes her feel a little safer. “I just have to be aware of everything at all times,” Daher said. “I’m totally for cameras, especially given the circumstances UT has had in the past few years regarding student safety. I don’t see a problem with them.” The number of security cameras has increased exponentially in some areas, such as in the stadium, where the number of cameras has increased from four to about 100.

However, there are still some spots on campus where it is nearly impossible to place cameras because of infrastructure and expense. Johnson said they are always looking to innovate, and that the safety of students is one of his top priorities. “There’s not a night I go to bed, and I don’t think about (our) 51,383 students,” Johnson said. “To be able to sleep at night, I know that we have a robust system, safety protocols and tools in place that will enable us to provide a safe environment here on campus.”

CAMPUS

Mental health documentary screening raises awareness By Brenna Hinshaw

CO NGRATU LATI ON S TO THE WINNE R S OF THE 2019 GEORGE H. M I TCHELL AWARDS FOR UND ERGRA DUATE EXCELLEN T

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Plan II students presented a screening of “Angst,” a documentary that aims to raise awareness of anxiety, in Mary E. Gearing Hall on Wednesday. “Anxiety is definitely a difficult thing to talk about,” Plan II freshman Grace Jumonville said. “I think (“Angst”) explains anxiety in a really compelling way that everyone can understand.” “Angst” highlights the issues faced by people with anxiety. The documentary features interviews with people with anxiety disorders, including Olympic gold medalist Michael Phelps, and mental health experts. The film also discusses the science behind anxiety disorders. “One of the things that … strikes me about (the documentary) is how relatable and real it is to people who copyright taylor cofer, and reproduced with permission have anxiety,” professional counselor Marcy Melvin Panelists discuss mental health as a part of a screening of the documentary “Angst.” “Angst” is a documentary highlighting the said at the event. struggles faced by people with anxiety. The screening was held as part of a project for the Pathways Civic EngageAccording to Okay to vulnerable … that really ment course taught by Say, three in four Texhelps us to form connecprofessor Lee Walker. Five ans know someone who tions with other people,” students in the course — has experienced a mental Melvin said. “If we are Jumonville, biochemistry health issue. brave enough to share our sophomore Kyle Spier, civil “Mental health is a broad story, we find out that it engineering freshman Sarissue,” Jumonville said. “I helps other people.” ah Forthuber, neuroscience think showing this film is Carothers, president of freshman Nicki Benamu so important.” UT’s chapter of the Naand Plan II freshman Olivia A paneled discussion tional Alliance on MenReasoner — partnered with followed the documental Illness, talked about Okay to Say for the event. tary’s screening and inthe resources on campus Okay to Say is an organizacluded Melvin, Plan II for those struggling with and psychology senior tion launched by Meadows Anna Lee Carothers, and mental health issues. Mental Health Policy In“The Counseling and Kristal DeSantis, presistitute to increase awareMental Health Center really dent-elect of the Austin ness of mental illness, is a fantastic resource … As Association for Marriage according to their website. for (the National Alliance and Family Therapy. The “Okay to Say’s message on Mental Illness), we have panelists discussed the imis very simple: It’s okay to support groups,” Carothers portance of talking about talk about mental health,” said. “You are definitely mental illness. said Shelby Abeyta, camable to find resources here “Once we are open, paign director for Okay once we are honest and on campus.” to Say.

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| the daily texan staff

UT honors programs should accept letters of recommendation by TAs By Neha Dronamraju Columnist

Recommendation letters can make or break an application. A strong recommendation highlights your curiosity, dedication, enthusiasm and open-mindedness — all things a transcript doesn’t reflect. As long as a recommendation letter serves its purpose, its author should have no bearing on the outcome. The content of the letter, not the contributor, reveals whether a student is a good fit for an opportunity. Honors communities in particular rely on the content of recommendation letters. According to Madison Searle, Director for the College of Natural Sciences Honors Center, most students who apply to honors programs are either freshman or first-semester sophomores. The longer a student waits to get in, the harder it is to complete an honors degree. This is why some honors programs, such as the three under CNS, don’t accept applications after a student has completed their third semester at UT. Because younger students have less access to professors, all honors programs at UT should accept recommendation letters from teaching assistants and use them to judge an applicant’s candidacy. Currently, CNS honors programs do account for who’s recommending a student — not just the content of the recommendation. “The gold standard for us as far as letters of recommendation go is that they are from someone with a terminal degree — a PhD in either science or math,” Searle said. “We’re looking for students who take initiative to form a relationship with professors, showing their engagement in

math or science for a program that’s predicated on just that.” While a recommendation from a faculty member carries weight, honors programs should not mandate them. It is unrealistic to expect underclassmen applicants to form strong bonds with professors as they are new to the University and often take classes with hundreds of people.

It is unrealistic to expect underclassmen applicants to form strong bonds with professors as they are new to the University and often take classes with hundreds of people.” Chemistry freshman Ronak Desai shared his experience transferring into the Health Science Scholars program. “I had to ask in the middle of my first semester here to give my professor enough time,” Desai said. “He was very understanding, but I almost feel like he got the impression that I was just talking to him for the recommendation and not because I was genuinely interested in his class.” Desai mentioned that while he was lucky to have taken a professor whose interests aligned with his, the professor didn’t know him well enough to speak to all the qualities that would make him a good fit for the honors program.

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.

TAs, however, are much more accessible to students. In many cases, a TA can write a better recommendation letter than a professor simply because they have spent more time with students. According to Searle, a faculty member’s recommendation is required, but a student can supplement their application with a TA’s recommendation. “I have looked at applications before where the TA wrote a much stronger letter than the faculty member because he knew the student much better or maybe had more time,” Searle said. There are honors programs, such as the Moody College Honors Program, that don’t require a letter of recommendation at all. Dave Junker, director of the Moody College Honors Program, believes a recommendation requirement would not cater to all applicants equally. “Most students apply after only one full semester. It’s unlikely they can build a relationship with a professor that would give them a valid perspective on the student,” Junker said. “That process might be more relevant if students were applying as second semester sophomores.” Junker also mentioned a faculty recommendation letter requirement might penalize students who don’t have the confidence to approach professors during their first year of college. Recommendation letters reveal an applicant’s strengths. But any instructor who knows the applicant well can speak to those traits. To give dedicated students a fair and fighting chance to join an honors community, honors programs should offer the option to only submit TA recommendations. Dronamraju is a public health freshman from Dallas.

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yulissa chavez

| the daily texan staff

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Professors should allow absences for students’ career advancement By Isabella Waltz Columnist

Each semester of college has presented its own unique set of challenges, but the spring semester of my senior year has shown me a new level of chaos. Along with the expected headaches over assignments and exams, I took on hours of extra work each week to write a thesis. My classes became more centered around long-term projects, causing me to rarely have a weekend off. On top of all this, I’ve had to find time to make post-graduation career plans. For me, this usually requires working well into the night to pull a cover letter together while fighting to keep my eyes open. In a competitive job market, feeling rushed isn’t ideal. With graduation looming ahead, spending so much time sitting in a classroom when I still haven’t landed a job seems futile. Professors could alleviate this by excusing certain absences related to career advancement, such as working on applications and going to interviews. While professors may worry about students falling behind after missing a class, they should consider the context regarding absences. Which is more harmful to the student’s life trajectory: missing one class in a course that may or may not be relevant to their field or missing an opportunity to land a job after graduation? In order to prevent abuse of this policy, professors could require tangible proof students missed class to work on an application or attend an interview. In both scenarios, students typically have an email confirming their application was sent in or scheduling details with an interviewer. I knew I would have to devote some time to job hunting this semester, but I was not prepared for how long it actually takes. A career adviser recommends pursuing 30–40 jobs at once, which requires a great deal of time and attention. Without missing classes, students have to sacrifice the little free time they have to rest in the evenings and on weekends. “(This) year, I applied to 93 jobs and had to attend 28 interviews,” said Tori Gahagan, a Plan II and mechanical engineering senior. “Most of the interviews are hours long … many are on location at company offices, which requires that I miss entire days of school.” By failing to create attendance policies that excuse these absences, professors force students to choose between their careers and their academic goals. “My engineering dynamics class had mandatory discussion sessions every Friday, during which we would have quizzes,” Gahagan said. “I was (interviewing) for consulting companies at the time, most of whom only schedule interviews on Fridays. The professor would not allow me to make up the quizzes or absences.” If more professors allowed students to miss a few classes without penalty to advance their careers, the entire University would benefit. UT looks better when a high percentage of recent graduates land jobs right away or go straight to graduate school. Colleges feature reports on their websites each year to present this information to current and prospective students. In giving students sufficient time to devote to career development, professors would help increase students’ chances of getting hired in well-paying jobs as close to graduation as possible. While professors have a right to design attendance policies they feel work best for their courses, they should consider treating absences having to do with career advancement as justified. This way, students would be able to put ample effort into job hunting without sacrificing academic progress. Waltz is a radio-television-film senior from Dripping Springs.

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THURSDAY, MAY 2, 2019

RESEARCH

UT researcher’s fossil study sheds light on Texas’ past By Rahi Dakwala @Rdakwala

A UT researcher has discovered animals, including elephants, camels and rhinos, once roamed through Texas about 12 million years ago. Steven May, a researcher at the Jackson School of Geoscience, identified the animals in a fossil collection from Beeville, Texas. May said identifying the animals helps us understand Texas’s past environment and how it has changed over time. The fossils represented a fauna, or a group of animals that lived at a specific time, May said. The majority of them were collected between 1939 and 1941 and are now housed in the Vertebrate Paleontology Center at the Pickle Research Campus, May said. Animals were identified from the fossil collections by looking at the teeth of the specimens and comparing the specimen to findings from other research publications, said Deborah Wagner, the paleontology laboratory manager. “Teeth are useful to find because they will remain in good condition, and they are very distinct between animals,” Wagner said.

Animals were also identified by comparing fossil fragments in the collection to other specimens in the Vertebrate Paleontology Laboratory, said Matthew Brown, a director of museum operations at the Vertebrate Paleontology Laboratory. “For example, if we had an unidentified fragment of a jaw, we could compare it to a more complete jaw specimen that has already been labeled,” Brown said. “You can then see which animal the fragment fits with.” From these techniques, May was able to identify 50 different animals, making up a diverse fauna, he said. “Species included elephant-like animals, camel and antelope-type animals, horses and a rhino,” May said. “I also identified an alligator from that time, which is very similar to alligators of today.” Carnivores were rare in the group, and this is a characteristic of fauna today as well, May said. “I was interested in looking at the collection to learn about which animals lived in Texas 11 to 12 million years ago,” May said. “From there, you can reconstruct a picture of what the environment looked like at that time.” The animal identifications can give

eddie gaspar | the daily texan staff Allan Posnick, a volunteer at the Vertebrate Paleontology Laboratory on the Pickle Research Center, cleans and prepares the rib of a mammoth found in downtown Austin for jacketing.

many evolutionary insights about Texas, May said. “We get a picture that these animals lived in a grassland, woodland, savanna type environment with many rivers in it,” May said.

“If you compare that environment to fauna and environments of different ages, such as today’s age, you can learn how wildlife and the environment of Texas has changed over time.”

CURIOUS CAMPUS

How can non-Fine Arts majors participate in the arts?

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non-Fine Arts majors to participate in the arts at UT?” we looked into it as part of Curious Campus, our series where we answer reader-submitted questions every week. For a lot of people, college is a At a university as large and expantime for exploration — whether it be Texas Student will student keep you connected sive as UT, it can be hard to find an throughMedia academics, organizaoutlet for artistic hobbies, especialHow- culture with dailytions linksortoother theextracurriculars. news, sports and ever, not every student is having a stories shaping the UT community. ly for non-Fine Arts majors. Vanessa Sun, a Plan II and business freshman, “Pitch Perfect” college experience. said the arts have been a part of her So when one of our readers asked life since she was little, even though us, “What are some opportunities for

By Megan Shen @megannshen

she is not a fine arts major. “I knew I wanted to do a cappella when I entered college, and how I found that out is I went to a lot of the club fairs on campus when school started,” Sun said. “I saw a couple of a cappella groups tabling, so I got their information … and ended up joining One Note Stand.” Tim Rogers, student engagement director at Texas Performing Arts, said that Hook ‘em Arts, the registered student organization connected to Texas Performing Arts, is a good place to start for those who may not know exactly what type of arts they want to participate in. “The group is open to anyone of all majors — people who just essentially like the performing arts and want to be around other people that do too,” Rogers said. Hook ‘em Arts raises awareness for arts-related events on campus, but Rogers said it also helps students find out about other opportunities at UT and connect to the broader fine arts community. “Typically a third to a half of the people are in one of the arts majors,

but everyone else is not,” Koyers said It’s a good way for people who were involved in theater, band or choir, or whatever in high school, but then now are majoring in business or education or engineering to stay connected with that.” Travis Willmann, UT Libraries communications officer, said the Foundry, a makerspace in the Fine Arts Library, provides various media tools and machines such as sewing machines, 3D printers and a recording studio for students to use for their creative projects. “There are Canvas courses that are provided by the managers at the Foundry to provide certification training for each of the tools and equipment,” Willmann said. “We have both professional techs and student techs on site to also assist students who are new to some of these tools as well.” Whatever avenue students use to explore their interests, Sun said she thinks the arts are an important part of her college experience. “It’s just a great way to meet new people while doing the things that I love,” Sun said.

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THURSDAY, MAY 2, 2019

WOMEN’S TENNIS

joshua guenther | the daily texan file Petra Granic hits the ball with a forehand swing during Texas’ win over Illinois on March 19. Granic has an overall record of 15–1 this season and is currently on a nine-game winning streak.

Tennis star battles homesickness Croatian champion prepares for Texas’ NCAA Championship run. By Clark Dalton @clarkdalton1t

t’s a common idea that the path of a prodigy is an easy one. But behind the scenes, it’s a completely different story, requiring a huge level of commitment. Petra Granic knows this too well after embarking on a journey that has required her to sacrifice the comfort of her

homeland in order to reach the forefront of women’s tennis. The junior grew up in Split, Croatia, as the daughter of a former tennis coach and the youngest of four sisters. In this environment, Granic discovered her passion for tennis and found her competitive drive. “I started playing tennis when I was 5 or 6,” Granic said. “I started to play with my dad in a big parking lot and I really liked it, so I started to practice. My dad is very competitive, so I definitely got that from him. I loved the feeling of winning a match and trying to be the best.” By the age of 10, it was apparent Granic’s inner fire unveiled major talent. That year, Granic won her first national championship. Four more would follow before she turned 15. Granic also joined the Croatian national team

and was added to the Top-20 European ranking of girls 14 and under. “When I got involved with the national team, it became much more serious” Granic said. “You’re playing for your country, especially in Croatia, where there are so many talented players even though it’s a very small country. Tennis is a very popular sport. This was when people started noticing my name.” Granic also started to attract attention overseas, catching the eye of Texas head coach Howard Joffe. “When I first saw Petra, I noted that she played with impeccable timing and precision,” Joffe said. “It was apparent that she would be the top player at many schools.” Joffe described the recruiting process as a smooth one since Texas had previously fielded two other athletes from

her hometown, Neda Koprcina and Petra Dizdar. The connection to home proved to be the deciding factor for Granic after her fellow Croatians praised the prestige of the program. Yet, Granic would face some of her greatest challenges when she set foot on the Forty Acres. “The schooling system is much different from back home,” Granic said. “Even though I spoke English fairly well, having to read, study and say ‘Good morning’ in English felt very different to me.” Along with adjusting to the new culture, Granic had to battle homesickness. “When you come here, everything that comes with being a student athlete is tough,” Granic said. “Life gets hard when you’re so far away from home. When the tough times came, it was a hard realization I didn’t have my friends, my

mom, my dad or my siblings by my side.” Nonetheless, Granic didn’t wilt under her circumstances, using it as an opportunity to forge independence. “Not having these people there to hug me helped me grow so much,” Granic said. “It helped me realize who I am, which grows strength and toughness, so it was a struggle, but it was a good struggle.” Her sharp mental toughness proved to be pivotal as Granic blossomed into one of the best players in the Big 12 this season. As the Longhorns move toward the first round of the NCAA Tournament this weekend, she has posted a 15–1 record, 13 of which have been in straight sets. “I love that sense of calm when I get into the zone,” Granic said. “I feel like I’m in my own world on the court.”

MEN’S TENNIS

Texas chases championship amid controversial season By Robert Trevino @robtrev22

Tuesday evening as the sun was setting over Austin, Texas, the men’s tennis team was busy posing for team photos, with the Tower dressed in burnt orange as a backdrop. Junior Yuya Ito, who earned All-Big 12 honors for the third straight year earlier in the day, struggled to keep the bulky, glass Big 12 Championship trophy up as the photo shoot dragged on. It was a familiar scene, as the men also took home the Big 12 Championship in 2018. But a lot has changed since then, with the firing of longtime head coach Michael Center after he was charged in the nationwide college admissions scandal for accepting $100,000 to get a student into the university under false pretenses. You would’ve never sensed that in front of the Tower, as the entirety of the team’s focus was on Texas’ upcoming chase for a first-ever NCAA Championship.

“A lot of things have happened off the court, but I really think the way we responded showed how tough a team we are,” said Christian Sigsgaard, a junior Big 12 Co-Player of the Year who earned All-Big 12 team honors in singles and in doubles with partner Harrison Scott. “We came out after all this happened (and were) ranked No. 1 in the country. That’s definitely something to take away from it, that we have to stay together all the time.” The chase for a championship begins this Friday at home, as the No. 2-overall seed Longhorns earned home court advantage against Tennessee Tech. “The biggest key is that we approach each match we play — especially this first one — the same way we have every match,” interim head coach Bruce Berque said. “That is always one of the hallmarks of a championship caliber team …” In his fifth year with the program, Berque was mostly quick to shower praise on the team.

“The thing that makes (the team) special is the maturity that (the team has), we have a senior-laden team,” Berque said. “Those guys have really matured throughout the year, my job has been made pretty easy by them … (The shift to interim coach) was pretty seamless, to be honest, and it has been made seamless because of the leadership the players have shown.” One of those seniors mentioned was Scott, who downplayed perhaps the only concern for Texas (23–3) going into Regionals: the loss in the Big 12 Championship title match to Baylor. “(Losing in the Big 12 Championship match) was definitely tough, you never want to lose to Baylor,” Scott said. “We had a great season, so we didn’t want to dwell on that for too long … by the next day, we were back at practice.” Meanwhile, Ito has never looked better, leading the team in singles wins with 22, and feeling better about his game than in previous years. “I’ve been working on being more aggressive,” Ito said. “Last year, I was

ryan lam | the daily texan file Christian Sigsgaard returns a ball during Texas’ match against Baylor on March 31. Sigsgaard won his match in straight sets, 6-3;6-4.

really tentative sometimes and I couldn’t really play my game. I’ve been working on trying to play my game for the whole match and the whole season and I think it’s been working pretty well.” Weather could play a

factor this weekend if rain arrives, potentially moving the matches indoors, where the Longhorns haven’t played much this year. But in a year of immense success among plenty of outside distraction, weather doesn’t even come

close to phasing this team, especially Sigsgaard. “I think this team is good either outdoors or indoors,” Sigsgaard said. “If it’s windy we’ll be ready for that, I think we’ll be ready for anything.”

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THURSDAY, MAY 2, 2019

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Crossword ACROSS

SUDOKUFORYOU 3 2

9 5 8 8 2 9 4 1 2 8 1 6 3 8 9 7 8 2 4 1 2 3 5 9 2 6 4

Today’s solution will appear here next issue

8 5 3 1 9 2 4 7 6

6 1 2 7 8 4 3 5 9

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27 28 30 32 34

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Tome

Like Guinness

44 45

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Editorial override

Down Under predator

Unsavory sort

Court org. — or a former court org.

56 58 60

D.C. summer setting Palindromic girl’s name Often Bonny miss Barely manage, with “out” It’s generally not played so much Notable Give a raw deal Have a bug Nashville landmark, familiarly Goon Goose egg Issa of “Insecure” Boston Garden legend Bobby See 51-Down They can carry a tune Crime film genre

ANSWER TO PREVIOUS PUZZLE C L O M A U D I R A I N U N I Z I P I T

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Noah Webster’s alma mater Star ___ Request needed to understand four clues in this puzzle Pass One of Thanos’s foes in the Avengers movies Vet school subj. It may have a big mouth ___ souci (carefree) Popular bait for catching striped bass

Edited by Will Shortz 1

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PUZZLE BY DAMON GULCZYNSKI

19 25 29 31 33 35 38

39 40

“Got it” Banned pollutants Frost relative Childish retort Nos. at the beach Watergate-___ ___ and Carla (1960s R&B duo) Tina Fey’s role on “30 Rock” “The Book of ___” (2010 film)

Cadged

Wonder Woman, for one

Big news regarding extraterrestrials

Says “56-Across!,” for example

Card count

Kind of shirt

Cocoon dwellers

Barbecue griller’s purchase

Moderate’s opposite

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

TIANA WOODARD & JORDYN ZITMAN LIFE&ARTS EDITORS @THEDAILYTEXAN

THURSDAY, MAY 2, 2019

CITY

Boutique on wheels promises authenticity East Austin’s Gadabout Goods truck sells imported goods from Asia, Africa. By Trinady Joslin @trinady05

wned by Bibi Kemper, the Gadabout Goods truck houses a small imports shop that sells goods from India, Southeast Asia and North Africa. Each piece is handpicked by Kemper, who, despite having settled down and opening up shop in 2017, said she is still a gadabout at heart. “Gadabout is an old English word,” Kemper said. “It means ‘one who travels for pleasure.’” Kemper moved around the United States as a child. After moving to India in 2001, she discovered her love for traveling. From India, she explored Europe and Asia until finally moving back to the U.S., where she said she found herself in a toxic work environment. “I was bottoming out,” Kemper said. “I needed to do something that inspired me. I kept thinking about imports because I’ve always wanted to do that, but I didn’t know how.” On her way to work one day, Kemper passed a man selling flowers in a Volkswagen bus. Although she passed him many times before, this time inspiration struck, she said. “I thought ‘Oh my god, this is how I could do it. I could

samantha dorisca | the daily texan staff Bibi Kemper is seen at her shop truck called Gadabout on E 11th Street. Kemper finds goods for her shop truck from locations across the globe in which she has developed personal connections with the merchants.

take out loans and get credit cards, and I could get the money to sell imports from a truck,’” Kemper said. With a new mindset, Kemper moved to Austin and found a website for a truck shop in Colorado. Falling in love with the truck’s aesthetic, Kemper revisited the website later to find the truck for sale. “I thought ‘This is an omen. I must follow it because it’s now or never,’” Kemper said. “So, I bought the truck.” Kemper said the truck aligns with her business’ nomadic nature. Keeping in the gadabout

spirit, Kemper said her shop fills a unique niche in Austin by selling products not typically seen in the city. “She has lots of different things (Austin) doesn’t have,” Jerome Faulkner, truck owner of J. Leonardi’s Barbeque, neighbor to Gababout Goods , said. “She’s a genuine person, and she’s got a good heart.” One of her top priorities, Kemper said, is only buying from places she’s been and people she’s met. “I’ve met people who sell lovely things from places they’ve never been to, and I feel like that’s inauthentic,”

Kemper said. As Kemper learns each artist’s story and the history behind the pieces, she writes the information down on handmade cards to include with each customer’s purchase. “I try to pass on a personal connection and take some anonymity out of shopping to make it a more unique and thoughtful experience for people,” Kemper said. After buying one of Kemper’s favorite rings, customer and tourist Yvonne Tyree said she loves the shop’s concept and Kemper’s knowledge of the products.

“Her connection definitely affected what I bought because when you hear the history, then you understand what you’re wearing,” Tyree said. After searching markets for the aesthetic she wants and ensuring the pieces are of good quality, Kemper said she actively searches out women to support across the world from her little blue truck. “The goal is that I can continue to support artists and bring new pieces in but also, have things people really love,” Kemper said.

CAMPUS

Students struggle to resell textbooks

dan martinez

By Maegan Kirby @mkirby_11

With few places buyingback expensive textbooks at a fair price, going to freshman orientation in a trench coat and asking kids if they want to buy textbooks might seem like a better option. Textbooks are an expected cost for college students every semester, but the expensive prices for books that end up hardly being used can be frustrating for students. Many students expect to get money back by selling their textbooks but often struggle to make up for the original expenses. Cheryl Phifer, University Co-op CEO and president, said the store wants to support students as much as possible, but textbook buyback prices are variable depending on demand. “If we don’t know that faculty are going to use the book, we will still buy the book back from you,” Phifer said. “But it’s going to be at a lower price, because we’re going to turn around and sell that to a wholesaler, who’s then going to be

selling to every other college in America.” Biomedical engineering sophomore Aubrey Davenport said things such as system errors at bookstores can result in unnecessary costs at the student’s expense. “I had one book that I rented from the Co-op and the return sticker was wrong, so when I went back to return it the computer said it was overdue,” Davenport said. “I had to purchase the book then and ended up selling it back for a lot less than what I paid.” Davenport said she has tried different websites and bookstores when selling textbooks, but it ends up as a matter of choosing between better buyback prices or less time commitment. “I’ve used the Co-op and the UT Facebook page to sell my textbooks before,” Davenport said. “The Co-op was easier, but I probably got less money back. On the other hand, the Facebook page requires going in person to sell the book.” Julia VanDuren, a communication and leadership freshman, said she struggles to find people willing to buy

| the daily texan staff

textbooks for small classes. “I’ve been in niche classes like European folktales, so I feel like there really isn’t a point in selling certain textbooks because nobody will buy them,” VanDuren said. VanDuren said changing materials on class syllabi are another factor that makes it difficult to find a demand for used textbooks. “Teachers always want you to have the updated version even though there is not a big difference between versions,” VanDuren said. “It makes your old textbooks worth next to nothing.” Although bookstores like the Co-op are easily accessible and a fast way to get cash back for textbooks, VanDuren said higher buyback prices are more important for students who can’t spare expenses for textbooks. “I know UT Buy/Sell/ Trade/Free and group messages can get me better prices than bookstores like the University Co-op, but they take more work on my part,” VanDuren said. “But the bottom line is students can’t afford to buy all these textbooks and not sell them.”