VOLUME 119, ISSUE 150 | FRIDAY, MAY 3, 2019
S T U D E N T S W A I T ING OUT A TITLE IX INVESTIGATION FEEL STUCK IN PAINFUL PURGATORY
By London Gibson e v e n months after she said she was sexually assaulted, Sara Ross was just trying to forget. Forgetting became a lot harder when she found out the person she filed against was switching into one of her classes, and there was nothing she could do to stop it. Ross, a Plan II and social work sophomore, didn’t initially report her assault to UT’s Title IX Office, but when the Office was told about it and asked her to come in for an interview in October, she decided to move forward with an investigation, thinking it could give her protection from sharing a classroom with him. She was given a no-contact directive, which is standard for the investigation period of a Title IX case and means neither person is allowed to contact the other. Some time later, however, Ross realized this didn’t mean she had any protections in class. “What I didn’t realize and what I was not told is that no-contact directives don’t cover classes and discussion sections,” Ross said. “It was like, if you don’t want to be in classes with him, that’s on you to figure out. I was so just upset and devastated.” The interim period for a Title IX investigation is difficult for many students, who feel stuck in limbo while they wait for a
eddie gaspar | the daily texan staff Plan II sophomore Sara Ross’s Title IX case initially didn’t protect her from the person she filed it against from switching into one of her classes. The no-contact directive can be unsubstantial in smaller majors such as Plan II.
@LondonGibson
resolution. But investigations can sometimes last several months, turning this limbo period into a painful purgatory for students sharing spaces on campus with those they accuse of assault. Title IX Coordinator Krista Anderson said in some cases the Office can intervene when students have classes together, but moving them depends on a variety of factors, including whether or not there are alternative classes to move them into. “We take into account that when both parties are in the same class together, it can potentially cause additional stress, trauma and emotional strain,” Anderson said. “We will work with the academic college or program to help assess available academic options for the person making the request while also balancing fair and equitable alternatives for all of the involved parties.” The no-contact directive Ross thought would protect her from sharing a classroom with the person she filed against only applies to direct, intentional contact between the two people involved, Anderson said. “What a no-contact directive is not able to do is … expect people to not be in certain places,” Anderson said. “Technically, both parties could, especially if they have similar schedules and they have classes in similar areas around campus, they may see each other. And that is not a violation of the no-contact directive.” Ross ended up switching out of the class after the person she filed against was admitted. She said if her investigation doesn’t end
up in her favor, she might drop out of the Plan II program. At about 170 sophomores, the major is so small she worries she will just have the same problem in the future. Already running behind on her graduation plan because of stress after the initial incident last spring, Ross said she is concerned that if she has to keep switching out of classes it may take her even longer to graduate. “I just want something that says we can’t be in classes together,” Ross said. “That’s literally all I wanted when I decided to give his name and start the investigation process.” Checking over her shoulder Ayana D’Aguilar, a Plan II, Islamic studies and South Asian Languages & Culture senior, also had a class in the same building as the student she filed a report against. She said she spent every minute of her time checking over her shoulder. Just minutes after the emails notifying both parties of the Title IX investigation were sent out to both him and her, she ran into him. “I could see it on his face, he was furious,”
“I was so scared, I just flew into the nearest bathroom and had a panic attack ... I don’t even know how to explain just how difficult it was for me to physically enter that space.”
TITLE IX
page
— AYANA D’AGUILAR PLAN II SENIOR
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CAMPUS
By Alyssa Weinstein @WeinsteinAlyssa
Editor’s note: A non-student source in this story requested her name not be published out of fear of retaliation. The Daily Texan is using the pseudonym “Betsy” upon her request. The government should not be in control of citizens’ rights to carry a gun, said Dana Loesch, conservative commentator and NRA spokesperson, at an event on campus Thursday. In a speech hosted by UT’s Young Conservatives of Texas and Young America’s Foundation, Loesch spoke about Second Amendment rights and issues, gun violence and personal freedoms, and said the backlash against gun rights is driven by fear. “People are scared to be in
charge of their own affairs and they’re scared to be individuals,” Loesch said. YCT chairman Saurabh Sharma said it was important to have Loesch come to talk to students because of how prevalent the gun debate is on campus. “We see continuous efforts to attempt to repeal campus carry at UT and activism regarding this issue,” said Sharma, a biochemistry senior. “(YCT) thinks Loesch is very effective at talking about (gun) issues, making the case for the constitutional rights we all hold and expanding the case to the greatest stability we can.” In the two-hour discussion, Loesch said the “defenseless,” such as women and schoolchildren, should have their lives protected by firearms and should not be penalized for their misuse by others. She
said legislation that restrict people’s access to guns — like that proposed after recent school shootings, such as Parkland — unfairly limits people who need firearms to defend themselves. Additionally, Loesch shared personal stories from her childhood about gun use, including an incident where firearms were used to defend the women in her family against abusive men. The event drew a handful of protesters, including Betsy, a 1981 alumna of UT. Betsy, who is anti-campus carry and anti-open carry, was there to protest the NRA. “I believe the NRA has entirely too much power in American politics,” Betsy said. “They’re artificially affecting the gun laws and the safety of Americans by denying us the free right to be safe in schools and in public places.”
NRA
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angela wang | the daily texan staff Conservative activist Dana Loesch spoke in support of limited government and expanded interpretation of Second Amendment rights during an event at the Hogg Building on Thursday evening. The lecture is part of a series hosted by the Young Conservatives of Texas, with support from Young America’s Foundation.
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FRIDAY, MAY 3, 2019
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Austin Police Department’s thousands of backlogged rape kits have been tested, but still need to be reviewed and entered into the Combined DNA Index Systems, the FBI’s national DNA database. While the Austin-area DNA lab is indexing DNA kits from the backlog, APD needs other labs to index the new cases that arrive each month. Austin City Council approved four items last week to aid the Capital Area DNA Lab with preventing a future backlog of DNA kits and processing incoming cases. According to APD, out of the original 2017 backlog of 3,294 untested rape kits, some of which date back to the 1990s, there are still 1,300 that need to be indexed into the database. All 3,294 have been tested for DNA and APD has started to reach out to victims. Troy Gay, APD chief of staff, said the
department is working on a notification plan to contact survivors when their kit is processed. He said the department will reach out as soon as they receive lab results regardless of if the case will be reopened or not. If the kit has a database hit, survivors will have the option of learning if the DNA in the kit is from a nonconsensual partner. “Because some of these cases are years old when we’ll be reaching out, we’ll be asking the survivors from our counselors if they do want to have that information and are prepared,” Gay said. “We have already received some feedback from our survivors that they may not want to know.” The APD cold cases unit has been reviewing hundreds of lab reports to check for cases that could be reopened. The unit has had two hits in the database meaning DNA in kits could be tied to someone in the database. When the unit reached out to the victims about the hits, one was deceased and the other could not be reached. Because of the age
of some of the rape kits, the crime could have occurred two decades ago. Neither of the cases have been referred to prosecution so far. Cap Lab, APD’s former DNA lab now managed by the Department of Public Safety, is staffed by four DNA analysts. The four analysts are tasked with reviewing and determining the eligibility of 1,300 cases for the database. The lab can work through 30 cases per month, according to APD. The lab is also working on training four more analysts by July 2020. “We’ve been working very hard the past six months or so putting together the parts and pieces to truly expedite the CODIS review and upload of those sexual assault cases that have been processed and reported,” Cap Lab director Dana Kadavy said. At the City Council meeting last Thursday, Kadavy said the database review process of the backlogged cases needed to be quicker and APD is working on a plan to outsource the process.
“We’ve identified the very limited, niche providers of these services throughout the nation, and we’re working with the Department of the Justice, who’s going to fund this effort,” Kadavy said. “We’re going to be able to truly impact how quickly we can do that part of the process.” Kadavy said the full plan was not ready for last week’s meeting and to expect an agenda item in the next couple of weeks. According to APD, the lab’s capacity will increase to an estimated 45 cases per month by the end of the year and 75 by next July because of the extra staffing. Because Cap Lab will be focused on processing the 1,300 rape cases from the original backlog, City Council approved two interlocal agreements with the University of North Texas Health and Science Center and the Houston Forensic Science Center to review and index new DNA cases. The two labs will not be working on cases from the current backlog.
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TODAY May 3
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The Texas Senate approved a series of rules for electric scooter use on Wednesday, sending the regulations — laid out in Senate Bill 549 — to the Texas House of Representatives for consideration. Authored by state Sen. Royce West, D-Dallas, the bill would impose restrictions on using the increasingly popular method of transportation. Proposed requirements include an age limit — riders must be at east 16 years old — and a ban on sidewalk use. While arguing for the bill on the Senate floor, West said safety concerns were the primary motivation for SB 549. “We’re beginning to see more and more accidents that are occurring on electrical scooters,” West said. “We’re beginning to see also a change in how we use pedestrian right-of-ways in terms of sidewalks, etc. … the state needs to make sure we have some basic guidelines for those.” Debate centered in large part on the sidewalk ban. An amendment offered by West in order to gain the support of colleagues such as state Sen.
Bryan Hughes, R-Mineola, would have removed the sidewalk ban but allowed individual cities to decide whether or not to allow sidewalk use. “I think, as we’ve discussed, there are some situations where it would be safer to be on the sidewalk than it would to be in traffic,” Hughes said. “With the amendment you are offering, we would be letting cities look at their cities and look at the traffic and decide if there are certain areas where sidewalks should be off limits.” State Sen. Joan Huffman, R-Houston, disagreed with adding the amendment and said she supported the statewide sidewalk ban. “I personally — here in Austin — have almost been hit three times by scooters,” Huffman said. “I appreciate personal liberties, and I appreciate Senator Hughes’ desire to ride wherever he wants to ride, however … what about my safety when I’m walking on a sidewalk?” State Sen. José Menéndez, D-San Antonio, also expressed a desire to keep electric scooters off of sidewalks because of their effect on the disabled population. “We’ve had many complaints from constituents
about scooters on sidewalks,” Menéndez said. “One of the big complaints is that where these scooters are left blocks people in wheelchairs from being able to travel.” Menéndez also said the tendency for scooters to pile up further affects the disabled. “My concerns are where the scooters are left, and
then what we’re seeing more and more often is where people will knock them down,” Menéndez said. “Not only are they obstructing in their normal state when they get parked, but then they get knocked into piles and it’s that much more of a danger.” Ultimately, West pulled the amendment, leaving the state-wide ban of sidewalk
get factual, truthful answers,” D’Aguilar said. “You have to be so familiar with the system before you go into it.” When the Office steps in In some cases, the Title IX Office will intervene in the middle of an investigation. Alumna Catherine Smith said the actions taken by the Title IX Office during the interim period of her investigation helped her the most. Before she graduated with degrees in history and UTeach liberal arts last year, Smith filed a complaint with the Title IX office against a former boyfriend. As the investigation was going on, the ex-boyfriend regularly showed up to her dormitory, her then-boyfriend’s house and contacted her friends. After she made her case to the Title IX Office, the director at the time banned him from entering the specific area of Kinsolving Residence Hall that she lived in while the investigation was underway. “Those interim steps were honestly the most helpful
thing,” Smith said. “And those just came about because I was loud. I felt like they all believed me and did their best to try and do what they could to make me feel safe. Of course, it’s not enough. I still saw him constantly.” In the end, Smith’s ex-boyfriend was given disciplinary probation. Smith said she thinks she was able to get so much help from the Title IX Office during her investigation because she chose to be very proactive in her case. “I chose to be very involved, because I was angry,” Smith said. “But for a lot of people that sort of raw feeling right after an abusive situation, some people just don’t have the emotional wherewithal during that process … it’s very traumatizing.” Reaching for recovery Anderson said the Title IX Office always offers students additional resources, such as Student Emergency Services, during their investigations. But some students, like Ross
and D’Aguilar, find more support in the community of survivors on campus. “It’s unfortunate how common my story is at UT,” Ross said. “It’s been a rough ride but I’ve also found a really strong community of survivors here and that’s what’s really carried me through.” After going in for regular interviews for months, Ross told the Office she no longer wanted to be questioned because it was hard for her to regularly relive such a traumatic experience. Ross was not given a timeline for her investigation, but was told it could last into this fall. Still considering leaving her major, and with months ahead if the case lasts as long as the Office said it might, she says the worst part isn’t the waiting — it’s the not knowing. “I don’t know what’s going to happen if it’s going to turn out in his favor or my favor, I don’t know what’s going to happen after that,” Ross said. “And that scares the s--- out
anthony mireles | the daily texan file UT students avoid tripping over an e-scooter parked in the middle of Speedway on Sept. 5, 2018. Senate Bill 549 passed the Senate on Wednesday. The bill details statewide regulations for companies that operate a fleet of e-scooters around Texas cities.
use in place. In addition to the sidewalk ban and age requirement, SB 549 would also prohibit multiple people from using the same scooter and scooters on roads with a speed limit above 35 miles per hour. If passed in the House and signed by Gov. Greg Abbott, the new scooter regulations will go into effect on Sept. 1.
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D’Aguilar said. “And I was so scared, I just flew into the nearest bathroom and had a panic attack. I don’t even know how to explain just how difficult it was for me to physically enter that space.” D’Aguilar reported to the Title IX office last summer, and her investigation concluded in March. She is still waiting for a report, which can then be appealed by either party before the sanctions are finalized. However, D’Aguilar is graduating this May before the process will likely be finished. She said she and a group of students were going to file another complaint about a different experience but decided not to go through with it because they didn’t have faith the system would work for them in time. “The interim period for a lot of us is chasing them down trying to get updates, trying to
It’s unfortunate how common my story is at UT. It’s been a rough ride but I’ve also found a really strong community of survivors here and that’s what’s really carried me through.” SARA ROSS
PLAN II AND SOCIAL WORK SOPHOMORE
of me, because I can’t prepare myself for what it’s going to be like to be at UT.” Editor’s note: Catherine Smith is a pseudonym used to protect the privacy of individuals involved in the investigation.
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LIZA ANDERSON EDITOR-IN-CHIEF @TEXANOPINION
FRIDAY, MAY 3, 2019
COLUMN
ely german
| the daily texan staff
Students need to acknowledge social anxiety as a disorder By Kateri David Columnist
I dread walking to class, but it’s not the mild foot pain waiting for me at the end of each trek that makes me anxious — it’s the people. While I’m aware no one is actively seeking to ruin my day, every glance in my direction feels intentional, as if I were being observed under a microscope. It’s an uncanny feeling. Each time I approach someone my heart rate spikes, and I begin to worry about my appearance, or whether everyone walking past secretly resents me. And this is only the start of my day. By the end, I’m exhausted. For students with social anxiety disorder like myself, attending a university with a massive student body poses a unique set of obstacles. Each day we’re forced to bury our discomfort in order to function — yet our symptoms are consistently glossed over in discussions of stress culture. In UT’s community, for instance, the most repeated cures for social anxiety are delivered through peppy slogans, such as “get out there and face your fears!” If we want to help our peers cope with social anxiety disorder, however, we need to acknowledge social anxiety as a complex mental illness — a disorder distinct from nerves or generalized anxiety
disorder. In doing so, we can validate students’ symptoms and provide assurance they may need in seeking professional treatment. In conversation, we tend to swap the words stress and anxiety interchangeably, but the two are distinct. Stress is a temporary state, while anxiety disorders are pathological and long-term. Although social anxiety falls under the umbrella of anxiety disorders — which, according to the National Institute on Mental Health, are characterized by an ever-present fear — it is also separate from generalized anxiety disorder. “One of the core diagnostic criteria of social anxiety disorder is fear of negative evaluation, fear of being judged by other people,” said Michael Mullarkey, a researcher in UT’s Laboratory for the Study of Anxiety Disorders. Given this distinction, conflating stress or anxiety with social anxiety flattens each into a singular experience, ignoring the disorders’ respective symptoms. With social anxiety, intense fear occurs in relation to a social setting or interaction: It has a source. But, similar to the confusion between generalized anxiety and stress, social anxiety cannot be mistaken for the occasional nerves one feels when meeting new people or going to a new place. This experience is largely manageable, whereas social anxiety is persistent and cannot be cured through repeated interactions.
Regardless, exposure therapy seems like an obvious solution to many students. “While I would never push someone with anxiety to do anything, I do think that stepping out of their comfort zone could help,” physics freshman Steven Padua said. The prevalence of this belief likely stems from the popularity of exposure therapy, a treatment in which patients interact with their fears in a structured setting. In some cases, these sessions are proven to be highly effective. “Just get out there” quips, on the other hand, can have the opposite effect. As a result, students with social anxiety may feel pressure to pursue this form of self-treatment. “I used to stigmatize myself whenever I didn’t feel better after going outside or doing other common measures to alleviate my anxiety,” said Anna Lee Carothers, Plan II senior and UT’s National Alliance On Mental Illness president. “I was convinced that if I took medication it was indicative of failure.” According to the Anxiety and Depression Association of America, anxiety disorders are highly treatable — but only 36.9% of those afflicted seek help. We can reverse this trend on a small scale at UT by recognizing social anxiety disorders on our campus. It may not seem like a lot, but doing so will allow those with social anxiety to seek the treatment they deserve. David is an advertising sophomore from Allen.
COLUMN
UT needs to finally eliminate tuition for graduate students By Abby Springs Columnist
“I have given up on UT.” “I have lost my mental health trying to keep up with a ‘normal layperson’s life’ and a ‘successful student’s life.’” “Your system is broken. I can’t have an unemotional conversation about this, nor can I begin to describe how (messed) up some departments are.” “There were times when I rationed my food because I couldn’t afford food, rent and other school necessities.” “Please, please, please, PLEASE fix this.” Last year, the Graduate Student Labor Conditions Committee organized a survey to examine the financial climate of graduate students at UT. These were some of their responses. UT’s graduate students are struggling. Hundreds of students in the survey expressed financial hardship — living paycheck to paycheck, skipping meals and making countless sacrifices just to survive. On International Workers’ Day, UT graduate students gathered to protest unacceptably low wages and high fees for graduate workers. Chanting and waving signs, the large crowd delivered a petition signed by over 3,000 students, faculty and staff members. The petition calls for immediate changes to graduate student payments and benefits, specifically regarding the Tuition Reduction Benefit. UT needs to adjust the Tuition Reduction Benefit to cover the full cost of tuition for Ph.D. students. Instituted in 1997, the Tuition Reduction Benefit covers a portion of graduate student tuition. The benefit is $3,784 for a 9 credit hour semester, while the average cost of graduate tuition is $4,855, resulting in a $1,071 bill per semester for every student. The benefit has not increased since 2011. “Over the past couple of years, tuition has
increased, and the tuition reduction benefit has not increased to match that,” said Kelly Houck, a graduate student in the Department of Middle Eastern Studies. “Ph.D. students end up paying a portion of their tuition, which shouldn’t happen at a major, elite institution. It’s embarrassing that that’s happening at UT.”
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.
These students are the lifeblood of the University — they serve as teaching assistants and assistant instructors, educate and tutor undergraduates and provide acclaimed research as graduate research assistants. They deserve better. Harvard, Duke, Brown and UCLA are among
ericka suarez
| 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.
the top universities that cover full tuition for Ph.D. student workers. UT does not. Not only does UT’s lack of funding harm graduate students, but it harms the University as well. One-third of students admitted to graduate school turn down UT for financial reasons, which affects UT’s ability to attract talent to its graduate programs and threatens UT’s status as a top university. “I think a lot of people choose not to go back to school and pursue what they really want to do because (they’re) having to put (their) financial life on pause,” said Kristie Denlinger, a graduate student in the Department of Linguistics. “For my field, it takes half a decade to get the degree you want to get.” UT has been asked to raise the Tuition Reduction Benefit before — in December, the Graduate Student Labor Conditions Committee met with key members of University administration. The committee presented the results of its graduate student survey and requested the benefit be matched to increases in tuition. In response, the University established a Graduate Education Task Force to address graduate labor concerns. The task force will provide recommendations by the end of next fall. In a statement, Mark Smith, dean of the Graduate School, emphasized the vitality of graduate students and the work the task force is doing. However, the University doesn’t need to wait for this recommendation. The petition calls on the University Budget Council, led by President Gregory Fenves, to increase the Tuition Reduction Benefit. The longer UT waits, the longer graduate students will struggle to survive. The University has billions of dollars. To put the burden of tuition on its struggling graduate student population is disrespectful to the students and the accolades they bring to the University. UT needs to raise the Tuition Reduction Benefit to improve the working conditions of graduate student workers — for their sake and UT’s. Springs is a government freshman from Dallas.
RECYCLE | Please recycle this copy of The Daily Texan. Place the paper in one of the recycling bins on campus or back in the burnt-orange newsstand where you found it. EDITORIAL TWITTER | Follow The Daily Texan Editorial Board on Twitter (@TexanOpinion) and receive updates on our latest editorials and columns.
4
LIZA ANDERSON EDITOR-IN-CHIEF @TEXANOPINION
FRIDAY, MAY 3, 2019
COLUMN
ely german
| the daily texan staff
Students need to acknowledge social anxiety as a disorder By Kateri David Columnist
I dread walking to class, but it’s not the mild foot pain waiting for me at the end of each trek that makes me anxious — it’s the people. While I’m aware no one is actively seeking to ruin my day, every glance in my direction feels intentional, as if I were being observed under a microscope. It’s an uncanny feeling. Each time I approach someone my heart rate spikes, and I begin to worry about my appearance, or whether everyone walking past secretly resents me. And this is only the start of my day. By the end, I’m exhausted. For students with social anxiety disorder like myself, attending a university with a massive student body poses a unique set of obstacles. Each day we’re forced to bury our discomfort in order to function — yet our symptoms are consistently glossed over in discussions of stress culture. In UT’s community, for instance, the most repeated cures for social anxiety are delivered through peppy slogans, such as “get out there and face your fears!” If we want to help our peers cope with social anxiety disorder, however, we need to acknowledge social anxiety as a complex mental illness — a disorder distinct from nerves or generalized anxiety
disorder. In doing so, we can validate students’ symptoms and provide assurance they may need in seeking professional treatment. In conversation, we tend to swap the words stress and anxiety interchangeably, but the two are distinct. Stress is a temporary state, while anxiety disorders are pathological and long-term. Although social anxiety falls under the umbrella of anxiety disorders — which, according to the National Institute on Mental Health, are characterized by an ever-present fear — it is also separate from generalized anxiety disorder. “One of the core diagnostic criteria of social anxiety disorder is fear of negative evaluation, fear of being judged by other people,” said Michael Mullarkey, a researcher in UT’s Laboratory for the Study of Anxiety Disorders. Given this distinction, conflating stress or anxiety with social anxiety flattens each into a singular experience, ignoring the disorders’ respective symptoms. With social anxiety, intense fear occurs in relation to a social setting or interaction: It has a source. But, similar to the confusion between generalized anxiety and stress, social anxiety cannot be mistaken for the occasional nerves one feels when meeting new people or going to a new place. This experience is largely manageable, whereas social anxiety is persistent and cannot be cured through repeated interactions.
Regardless, exposure therapy seems like an obvious solution to many students. “While I would never push someone with anxiety to do anything, I do think that stepping out of their comfort zone could help,” physics freshman Steven Padua said. The prevalence of this belief likely stems from the popularity of exposure therapy, a treatment in which patients interact with their fears in a structured setting. In some cases, these sessions are proven to be highly effective. “Just get out there” quips, on the other hand, can have the opposite effect. As a result, students with social anxiety may feel pressure to pursue this form of self-treatment. “I used to stigmatize myself whenever I didn’t feel better after going outside or doing other common measures to alleviate my anxiety,” said Anna Lee Carothers, Plan II senior and UT’s National Alliance On Mental Illness president. “I was convinced that if I took medication it was indicative of failure.” According to the Anxiety and Depression Association of America, anxiety disorders are highly treatable — but only 36.9% of those afflicted seek help. We can reverse this trend on a small scale at UT by recognizing social anxiety disorders on our campus. It may not seem like a lot, but doing so will allow those with social anxiety to seek the treatment they deserve. David is an advertising sophomore from Allen.
COLUMN
UT needs to finally eliminate tuition for graduate students By Abby Springs Columnist
“I have given up on UT.” “I have lost my mental health trying to keep up with a ‘normal layperson’s life’ and a ‘successful student’s life.’” “Your system is broken. I can’t have an unemotional conversation about this, nor can I begin to describe how (messed) up some departments are.” “There were times when I rationed my food because I couldn’t afford food, rent and other school necessities.” “Please, please, please, PLEASE fix this.” Last year, the Graduate Student Labor Conditions Committee organized a survey to examine the financial climate of graduate students at UT. These were some of their responses. UT’s graduate students are struggling. Hundreds of students in the survey expressed financial hardship — living paycheck to paycheck, skipping meals and making countless sacrifices just to survive. On International Workers’ Day, UT graduate students gathered to protest unacceptably low wages and high fees for graduate workers. Chanting and waving signs, the large crowd delivered a petition signed by over 3,000 students, faculty and staff members. The petition calls for immediate changes to graduate student payments and benefits, specifically regarding the Tuition Reduction Benefit. UT needs to adjust the Tuition Reduction Benefit to cover the full cost of tuition for Ph.D. students. Instituted in 1997, the Tuition Reduction Benefit covers a portion of graduate student tuition. The benefit is $3,784 for a 9 credit hour semester, while the average cost of graduate tuition is $4,855, resulting in a $1,071 bill per semester for every student. The benefit has not increased since 2011. “Over the past couple of years, tuition has
increased, and the tuition reduction benefit has not increased to match that,” said Kelly Houck, a graduate student in the Department of Middle Eastern Studies. “Ph.D. students end up paying a portion of their tuition, which shouldn’t happen at a major, elite institution. It’s embarrassing that that’s happening at UT.”
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.
These students are the lifeblood of the University — they serve as teaching assistants and assistant instructors, educate and tutor undergraduates and provide acclaimed research as graduate research assistants. They deserve better. Harvard, Duke, Brown and UCLA are among
ericka suarez
| 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.
the top universities that cover full tuition for Ph.D. student workers. UT does not. Not only does UT’s lack of funding harm graduate students, but it harms the University as well. One-third of students admitted to graduate school turn down UT for financial reasons, which affects UT’s ability to attract talent to its graduate programs and threatens UT’s status as a top university. “I think a lot of people choose not to go back to school and pursue what they really want to do because (they’re) having to put (their) financial life on pause,” said Kristie Denlinger, a graduate student in the Department of Linguistics. “For my field, it takes half a decade to get the degree you want to get.” UT has been asked to raise the Tuition Reduction Benefit before — in December, the Graduate Student Labor Conditions Committee met with key members of University administration. The committee presented the results of its graduate student survey and requested the benefit be matched to increases in tuition. In response, the University established a Graduate Education Task Force to address graduate labor concerns. The task force will provide recommendations by the end of next fall. In a statement, Mark Smith, dean of the Graduate School, emphasized the vitality of graduate students and the work the task force is doing. However, the University doesn’t need to wait for this recommendation. The petition calls on the University Budget Council, led by President Gregory Fenves, to increase the Tuition Reduction Benefit. The longer UT waits, the longer graduate students will struggle to survive. The University has billions of dollars. To put the burden of tuition on its struggling graduate student population is disrespectful to the students and the accolades they bring to the University. UT needs to raise the Tuition Reduction Benefit to improve the working conditions of graduate student workers — for their sake and UT’s. Springs is a government freshman from Dallas.
RECYCLE | Please recycle this copy of The Daily Texan. Place the paper in one of the recycling bins on campus or back in the burnt-orange newsstand where you found it. EDITORIAL TWITTER | Follow The Daily Texan Editorial Board on Twitter (@TexanOpinion) and receive updates on our latest editorials and columns.
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FRIDAY, MAY 3, 2019
BASEBALL
Texas looks to right ship with new changes
virginia eddie | the daily texan file Shortstop Mason Hibbeler sprints toward first base in Texas’ 2-3 loss to West Virginia at UFCU Disch-Falk Field on April 26. Hibbeler was recently put into the leadoff hitting position by head coach David Pierce, and has gone 6-for-14 with four runs scored since.
is to clean up errors at the plate, on the mound and in the field. “We have to play three phases,” head coach DaThere are two weeks left vid Pierce said after the in the regular season for 10-2 win over West VirginTexas. That means there ia. “That’s the only way we are just two more opportuare going to be successful. nities for the Longhorns to We’re not overly talented. improve their spot in the We have some talent, but Big 12 standings, which has probably the biggest thing rapidly sunk since the last feeds off of our pitching, week of March. and if we attack the strike This weekend’s series zone, we get back to havbetween the Longhorns ing opportunities to win and the Kansas Jayhawks every game.” will provide a great indiTexas currently sits with cation of which team has a a 6–11 record against Big better chance of securing 12 foes so far this season, the final spot in the Big 12 Texas Student keep which hasyou it inconnected the eighth Tournament at theMedia end of will and final spot in theculture Big 12 the season. with daily links to the news, sports and For Texas, theshaping only way the postseason tournament. In stories UT community. to make sure the team is the last place position is playing its best baseball Kansas, which is 5–10 in Big
By CJ Vogel @CJVogelDT
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We have to play three phases. That’s the only way we are going to be successful. We’re not overly talented. We have some talent, but probably the biggest thing feeds off of our pitching.” DAVID PIERCE HEAD COACH
12 play this season. With the Big 12 Tournament only taking the top eight teams in the standings, this weekend’s series is quite significant in determining the team that will be making the trip to Oklahoma City. Texas has struggled tremendously over the last month. However, Pierce has made changes to the lineup recently to combat the difficulties. Most notably, Pierce inserting shortstop Masen Hibbeler into the leadoff spot. “It’s working right now and I do like it,” said Pierce when asked if Hibbeler will remain in the leadoff spot. “As long as we are getting on base up there and being productive — we’re trying to
get Duke (Ellis) right, right now, so we’re sliding him in the bottom and letting him work through that.” Moving Hibbeler to the top of the lineup has been successful as of late, with Texas scoring 20 runs over the last three games, all of which have consisted of Hibbeler in the leadoff spot. The senior shortstop has gone 6-for-14 at the plate in those three games, including a walk and four runs scored. The Longhorns will need the same type of production from Hibbeler this weekend against Kansas or else the nightmarish turn this season has taken could be topped off with missing the Big 12 Tournament entirely.
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Muslim lifters to compete in a full body suit and hijab. Despite the change in the rulebook, Najem had to negotiate with officials to be able to wear a full-length unitard underneath her team singlet at nationals. Although she often has to have her clothing preapproved and “double- or triple-checked” at competitions, Najem said she understands the strict rules and that people within the sport have been extremely accepting of her. “I haven’t gone through any discrimination,” Najem said. “In fact, I honestly feel like powerlifting is the only place where I’m not discriminated.” Being part of a supportive community has been emotional for Najem, and it shows when she competes. “I just remember on the stage, she started crying,” Pyon said. “And I was like, ‘I know why.’ She was proud of herself. She had a big sense of accomplishment.” Crying is a normal reaction for her on competition day. “I can’t control it,” Najem said. Najem’s family had a chance to see her lift when she traveled to Dallas for a competition in January. “I swear the whole time she had a smile on her face,” Najem’s younger sister, Banin, said. “Every time she lifted and saw her score, that smile got so much bigger. And that’s what made us really happy.” The presence of her family meant everything to Najem. “My dad never leaves work, but he left work and he came to my competition,” Najem said. “That was the best day of my life. He was so excited.” Since then, Najem said she hears her dad’s voice every time she lifts. She has always relied on support from her family. Without it, she said she wouldn’t have tried out for the club in the first place. “When I joined powerlifting, I felt like new things were coming,” Najem said. “Everything felt different. I felt like if I could make it to the powerlifting team, I can make it anywhere else.”
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FRIDAY, MAY 3, 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 Friday, May 3, 2019
Edited by Will Shortz
Crossword ACROSS
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Longhorns Stay in Control
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6 out of 10 Longhorns consume four or fewer drinks if they choose to drink. @UTBruceTheBat 2018 UT-Austin National Social Norms Center Survey
CLASS 7
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TIANA WOODARD & JORDYN ZITMAN LIFE&ARTS EDITORS @THEDAILYTEXAN
FRIDAY, MAY 3, 2019
FESTIVAL
7 JMBLYA performers you can’t miss Festival will feature hiphop, rap artists on two stages. By Thomas Galindo @bubbagalindo
ip-hop’s most relevant and popular artists will be split between the Wolf and the Shrimp stages this Saturday at JMBLYA. With 15 artists slated to perform from 1 p.m. to 10:15 p.m., hip-hop lovers might have a tough time deciding who
to see and which stage to spend their time at. Here are the seven of the top performers who will be there, along with their stage and set time. Wolf Stage DaBaby 2:30 p.m.–3:00 p.m. Charlotte-raised DaBaby blew up with his debut album Baby on Baby which was released March 1. The album features Offset and Rich the Kid, and its hits such as “Suge,” along with “Gorilla Glue” off his Back On My Baby Jesus Sh!t mixtape should be able to get the crowd excited in anticipation for the larger acts. Sheck Wes 6:00 p.m.–6:30 p.m. Travis Scott’s protégé, who created the 2018 smash-hit “Mo Bamba,” brings an eerie, but off-the-rails vibe to the mic. He was an opener for Scott on his Astroworld — Wish You Were Here Tour, and performances of his hit “Mo Bamba,” along with “Live Sheck Wes” and “Chippi Chippi” off his 2018 Mudboy album are sure to start intense moshes. Lil Nas X
8:10 p.m.–8:20 p.m. On March 22, JMBLYA announced the addition of DaBaby, JPEGMAFIA and Lil Nas X to the lineup. With a 10-minute set, Lil Nas X will probably only play his iconic country/ rap smash hit “Old Town Road,” and possibly the Billy Ray Cyrus remix, which is sure to make every fan in attendance lose their mind. Travis Scott 9:15 p.m.–10:15 p.m. The 2018 ACL Sunday headliner is back again with the continuation of his post-Astroworld shows. Prepare to mosha lot, and be lured into a psychedelic-rap roller coaster of adrenaline. His ACL show in October 2018 included literal fireworks and everyone in the crowd knew the lyrics to every song. Shrimp Stage Gunna 3:05 p.m.–3:35 p.m. The elegant Atlanta rapper will not be as energetic a performance as many of the other artists. But Gunna’s groovy and melodic flow will have attendees bobbing their heads to his
hits such as “Drip Too Hard” and “Sold Out Dates.” JPEGMAFIA 4:15 p.m.–4:45 p.m. JPEGMAFIA, or as he likes to call himself, Peggy, does not fit the traditional rap mold that JMBLYA usually presents. But he still delivers passionate, heavily produced, techno bangers that will both confuse and excite the crowd. His talent will shine through mostly on tracks like “Baby I’m Bleeding” and “Thug Tears” off his 2018 album Veteran. Lil Wayne 8:20 p.m.–9:05 p.m. Lil Wayne is back in Austin after his Weekend Two performance at ACL in October 2018. His set included many of the catchy pop-rap tunes students remember falling in love with over the course of his career. Expect to hear many of his radio hits such as “Love Me” and “Go DJ,” along with songs from his 2018 album Tha Carter V. Tickets are still on sale on the JMBLYA website, and general admission and VIP are both offered.
brooke crim | the daily texan file Travis Scott, Lil Wayne and rap’s hottest newcomers headline this year’s JMBLYA Festival.
MUSIC
FILM
Live Review: Earl Sweatshirt delivers unbroken series of bars
UT faculty, students discuss how music in movies affects perception
By Nikhil Agrawal
By Landry Allred
With the mellow, alternative hip-hop sounds of Earl Sweatshirt’s studio records, most concertgoers expect to be part of a contemplative, head-bobbing live show. However, on Wednesday, May 1 at Emo’s, Earl performed to a high-energy crowd while on a nationwide tour following the release of his 2018 album Some Rap Songs. The openers of the “Fire it Up!” tour set a laid-back performing tone for the night. Rapper MIKE, who influenced the new musical direction of Earl’s latest album, came out with an honest admittance of fatigue and lack of sleep. Despite this, his energy levels dialed up to powerfully sit on each syllable accompanying the throbbing beats of songs like “Grabba.” Following MIKE, Dallas R&B singer Liv.E put together a lovely alliance of groovy melodies, stimulating visuals and a glowing personality capped with a Texas-sized cowboy hat. Unfortunately, during these acts, there were problems with the sound system ranging from audio feedback issues to the accompaniment overpowering the singer’s vocals. The crowd was laid back through the performances of these two openers, demonstrating approval by means of quiet nodding and the occasional shoutout, cheering loudly only when the performer prompted them to. However, when Earl quietly drifted onto the stage with his opening track “Molasses,” all notions of personal space went
People watch films such as “Guardians of the Galaxy” or “Baby Driver,” but few understand how the music impacted their perception of the film. Though music may often go unnoticed while watching a film, it still impacts how the viewer perceives the work as a whole. James Buhler, a professor in music theory who wrote multiple books on sound design in movies, said films as a medium fail to give insight into the characters’ internal lives, so viewers must rely on observing the characters’ expressions or context. “Those are kind of nebulous clues,” Buhler said. “So one thing music can do for a film is mark certain elements for our attention.” Buhler gave the example of music conforming to a character’s face brightening, which gives the audience an indicator of emotional significance. “You don’t presume the characters are hearing the music,” Buhler said. “But we presume that music sounds like the feeling the character’s having.” Musical composition junior Austin Ali said he recognized this effect while composing for his most recent film “Dear Leo.” Throughout the film, Ali said he composed the music to fit the entire theme. Since “Dear Leo” is a coming-of-age story, Ali said he wrote the music with a slower tempo at the beginning and later quickened the tempo to leave the viewer with an uplifting spirit. “The idea is to start somewhere and end somewhere else but still be the same person,”
@agrawan26
@l2ndry
eddie gaspar | the daily texan staff Earl Sweatshirt demonstrated his all-star cadence to an electrically passionate audience.
out the window as the feverish audience packed in tight to get closer to the artist. There was an unexpectedly fun dynamic created by the juxtaposition of the audience’s rabid motion and Earl’s lumbering energy. The track “Off Top” prompted an industrious mosh pit in front of the stage, one that expanded and contracted for the remainder of the show. Earl seemed to go into another mental space when performing, often facing the side stage area for entire stanzas. The only thing needed to get through to the fans was the music, the only thing they seemed to care about. The pace of the production and the background visuals created a trance-like aura, matched by Earl’s slow and deliberate movement. He hunched forward and clutched the microphone to deliver a potent and calculated flow of lyrics. Earl composed a setlist that spanned his entire discography, dipping into old favorites like “Huey” and “20 Wave Caps,” as well as material from his latest album. Supporters
knew every word, screaming in unison as if to prove to Earl their unshakable passion for his music. Fans even rapped along to unreleased songs like “No Funny Sh*t,” presumably because they scoured SoundCloud and YouTube for leaked material. The introspection into his mental state prevalent throughout Earl’s career created a fan base present at Emo’s that could relate deeply to his message. Earl discussed his familial relationships on his latest album following the death of his father in early 2018. He explored themes of monotony, loneliness and depression on his earlier records. Instrumental “Riot!” played as Earl signed off the stage, thanking everybody in the building from the sound engineers to the fans walking out with visible wonderment still strapped to their faces. Earl Sweatshirt & Friends brought a union of the expected and unexpected, manufacturing a live experience just as captivating as Earl’s studio albums.
lauren ibanez
Ali said. As a composer, Ali said he tries to give music notes meaning by pairing it with the story portrayed on the screen. “Your goal as a composer is to put the notes at the same time as the story is changing and try to fake your listener into feeling those emotions as the music is going,” Ali said. In one scene where the main character has a panic attack and is sobbing, Ali said he put all of the orchestra’s power into this moment of emotional intensity. “Using the full force of the orchestra at an important moment of the film made it one of my personal moments,” Ali said. “There’s this way that music can grab you and force you to deal with an emotion.” Radio-television-film junior William Clark said while watching the movie “Taxi Driver,” he noticed how great the soundtrack was.
| the daily texan staff
“(‘Taxi Driver’) was super good besides the soundtrack,” Clark said. “(But) the soundtrack really glued it together for me.” Also serving as the music supervisor for “Dear Leo,” Clark said in films, sound is often more important than the image, as the image accounts for half of the experience. “Even with just the image, the feeling you get comes majority from the sound,” Clark said. “You can have the same image with different music played over, and it’ll give you different feelings depending on what the music is.” Overall, Buhler said music has a powerful effect on people because it not only gives us information into characters to help establish empathy but can also be used or manipulation. “It can give us a better sense of a world that is much clearer than our own world is,” Buhler said. “So our own world kind of suffers by comparison in that respect.”
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ROSS BURKHART SPORTS EDITOR @TEXANSPORTS
FRIDAY, MAY 3, 2019
POWERLIFTING
‘I just wanted to be a part of something’ Nine years after moving to America, Marwa Najem found her home in the gym. By Claire Bills @clairezbills
hen Marwa Najem tried out for Longhorn Powerlifting the fall of her junior year, she tore her hamstring muscle but didn’t stop lifting until the tryouts were over. “I remember crying through the pain,” health and society senior Najem said. “I was like, ‘I don’t give a d---. I’m going to make it onto this team.’” After going directly to CVS and buying two bags of ice, Najem sat in a numbingly cold bath and cried over the phone to her mom. The next day, she got an email confirming her spot on the team. “That was worth the muscle tear,” Najem said. Originally from Iraq, Najem had never been on a team before she joined UT’s powerlifting club. “I just wanted to be a part of something,” Najem said. “And I think powerlifting was that something.” When she was 8, Najem and her family evacuated their home in Iraq when it was bombed. “I remember waking up to a bunch of smoke, and that’s the last thing I remember about my country,” Najem said. “I never really had a childhood. For me, it was like, ‘We’re going to move to your uncle’s house for a few days because there’s a group of terrorists that are going to come by.’” The family spent a few years in Syria before moving to Dallas, Texas, where Najem entered the eighth grade. As an overweight middle schooler stuck between two cultures, Najem said she felt “stripped of everything” she had. Some days, she considered
elias huerta | the daily texan staff Powerlifter Marwa Najem prepares to lift weights during a training session in Darrel K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium on April 26. In a span of nearly two years, Najem has gone from deadlifting just the 45-pound bar to qualifying for last year’s USAPL Collegiate Nationals and lifting over 300-pounds this spring.
removing her hijab just to fit in, but never did. Najem’s transition to American schooling was difficult, too. As a junior in high school who was just beginning to speak English, Najem never thought she would graduate, let alone go to college, she said. Whenever she felt down, she turned to her mom, who assured her she would be a doctor one day. Najem began working out
in high school as a way to lose weight. At first, she was too shy to go to a commercial gym. “My parents bought me big speakers, and I would just sit in the garage and belly dance for hours,” Najem said. Eventually, she asked her parents for a membership at a women’s-only gym and began lifting. While working at her desk job in the financial aid office at UT, Najem wondered if the
University had a lifting team. “I didn’t know it existed,” Najem said. “I’ve never known about sports. I didn’t know there were sports clubs.” After finding the Longhorn Powerlifting page online and googling the definition of “try out,” she decided she wanted to join the team. Longhorn Powerlifting, founded in 1983, currently has about 70 members. The student-led club holds practices
at a facility inside the football stadium several times a week to prepare its athletes for collegiate-level competitions. Najem’s coach, Michael Young Pyon, said when she joined the team, she was hesitant. “At first, she used to have a lot of questions about what we would do,” Pyon said. “She was a little discouraged. She was like, ‘Man, I’m so weak.’” But her confidence grew
quickly, Pyon said. By April, she was on her way to collegiate nationals. That competition was a turning point for Najem. She worked her way up to deadlifting 275 pounds, “a huge number,” Pyon said. Seven months earlier, she was deadlifting just the bar. In 2017, the year Najem began lifting, USA Powerlifting added a rule allowing
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