The Daily Texan 2020-09-15

DT

Volume 121, Issue 17 tuesday, september 15, 2020

the fan experience

rocky higine / the daily texan staff

page

05

News

A student was sent to a COVID-19 isolation facility despite not testing positive.

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sports

Texas football players largely opt of “The Eyes of Texas” after Saturday’s win.

page

As election season approaches, learn about how to vote and why it’s so important you do.

06

MAIN TELEPHONE

68-year-old Longhorn superfan continues his football attendance streak this season.

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04

opinion

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page

DT

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STATE

Polling locations recruit younger employees following COVID-19-related shortages

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Polling locations across the country have faced staffing shortages for the upcoming election as a result of COVID-19, prompting the recruitment of younger workers.

One group trying to reduce the shortage is the Poll Workers Project, a nonpartisan organization registering young people as poll workers, said John Goldstein, founder of the Poll Workers Project. The group is part of Power the Polls, one of the largest national recruitment initiatives searching for poll workers to staff in-person voting locations.

“Because the normal poll worker base is so much older, and because a lot of them are not going to volunteer, we have a shortage,” Goldstein said. “This shortage means fewer polling locations and longer lines, which leads to people having to wait for hours.”

In 2018, around six in 10 employees at polling locations were 61 or older, according to an article by the Pew Research Center. This year, health and safety concerns have caused a drop in enrollment from older individuals as roughly eight in 10 of COVID-related deaths have involved adults 65 years or older, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Students can sign up to work the polls at the Power the Polls website, which offers instructions and resources to sign up at locations across the country. Individuals who are registered to vote in Travis County can also sign up through the Austin County Clerk Elections Department.

Travis County requires all poll workers to be above the age of 16 or registered to vote in Travis County, according to the Travis County website. Poll workers can receive between $10 and $12 an hour, according to the website.

Emily Clark, a government and rhetoric and writing senior, worked as a poll attendant during the primary races

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“The process was super easy, all you had to do was fill out the application,” Clark said.

Clark said she was required to attend a three-hour training prior to working the polls. For the 2020 elections, poll workers must be available to work between 6 a.m. and 8 p.m, according to the Travis County Clerk website. Students may work at multiple polling locations around Travis County, including two on the UT campus.

“I’m working at the FAC, but there’s also a location at Gregory (Gym) for students to work on campus,” Clark said.

UT Student Government’s Hook the Vote is also working to provide resources

for students to work the polls while still keeping up with their classes.

“We are writing legislation in UT Student Government to support students becoming poll workers,” said Ainsley Dorsey, co-director of Hook the Vote.

“We are making connections with faculty to see if they could support students taking time off class to be poll workers.”

If people are not able to work the polls, Goldstein said the next best way to help is to spread the word about the lack of poll workers.

“The best thing people can do — besides being a poll worker, if they’re able and willing — is to tell their friends about it and reach out to organizations they’re involved in,” Goldstein said.

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NEWS

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 15, 2020

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TRIB FEST

Hartzell discusses plans for leading campus at Tribune Festival

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... than ANY U.S. law school. copyright neha madhira, and reproduced with permission UT Interim President Jay Hartzell discussed plans for the University during a live discussion for the 2020 Texas Tribune Festival Monday morning.

By Neha Madhira @nehamira14

Campus life this fall is a little surreal, and it feels like a poorly attended day in the summer, UT Interim President Jay Hartzell said.

Hartzell sat down to talk about his plans for handling the COVID-19 pandemic at the University, the continuation of football games, making campus more inclusive and online learning during his oneon-one live discussion for the 2020 Texas Tribune Festival Monday morning.

“In our summer semesters, we probably have about 20% of the typical (number of) students on campus versus the fall and the spring, and (the current number of students on campus) is even lighter than that,” Hartzell said. “We’re glad the students are back. It’s unlike anything I’ve seen in a regular semester.”

Hartzell said the University is mitigating the effects of COVID-19 among the UT community by contact tracing quickly and recommending all students voluntarily get asymptomatic testing.

“Another part is trying to encourage everybody, especially our students, to do what we all hope they will do in terms of behavior — wear a mask, social distance, don’t have big indoor parties with masks off,”

Hartzell said. “Most of their time is not (spent) on campus, so it’s trying to encourage good behavior (and) good choices for all of us, but especially our students, which is hard because of what 18- to 20-year-olds are thinking about when they think of traditional college.”

Hartzell said the decision-making and trade-offs that went into holding football games were discussed with medical professionals beforehand, but the University has not set hard limits for determining when holding football games becomes too dangerous.

“The student-athletes wanted to play if they could play safely, so a lot of conversations were around (if) we feel comfortable with the risk our athletes are subjected to,” Hartzell said. “We are now testing all of our athletes three times a week, including the test right before the game day. If enough athletes test positive, then we can’t have a game.”

Hartzell said he met with five or six Greek life leaders to discuss COVID-19 guidelines because the University does not have much control over houses off campus.

“A lot of this has been trying to be cooperative and communicative with them,” Hartzell said. “These governance leaders were a little stressed that they were enforcing rules among their own fraternities and sororities. I felt for them

because they are trying to do the right thing. One of the sorority leaders even said it’s hard because the typical penalty that they would impose on each other is no events, but they can’t have events anyway.”

Hartzell said because most students live off campus, University disciplinary action for violating COVID-19 rules may discourage students from getting tested.

“We only have about 3,700 students on campus,” Hartzell said. “When we think about trade-offs, we would prefer to focus on health, and we don’t want to discourage testing if testing gets people in trouble. There’s no stigma if you test positive.”

In regards to recent national protests against police brutality sparked by the death of George Floyd, a Black man killed by Minneapolis police, Hartzell said he wants all students, staff and faculty to feel welcome on campus.

“When a student is admitted to the University, we want them to know that they belong here, they should feel comfortable,” Hartzell said. “The summer was challenging and it brought some things back up that I think are worth being brought up. I think we have a chance to make substantive progress, not only for our Black students and staff, but for all of our community.”

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Editor-In-Chief E M I LY C A L D W E L L TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 15, 2020

FORUM

Let’s talk about voting

What to know as election season approaches.

By Daisy Kielty & Maria Sailale Forum Editors

his week, we want to talk about all things voting.

W i t h arguably the most important election in our lifetimes quickly approaching, the act of voting has become a controversial topic.

Recognized as one of the hardest states to vote in, it’s no leap to say casting your ballot in Texas can be difficult.

But focusing on the negatives will not help us.

In this forum, we encourage everyone to vote and emphasize how a threat to free and fair voting is a threat to our democracy.

Although people may tell you it’s too hard to vote, we hope you trust us in showing that it’s easier than you think.

In this forum, associate government professor Bethany Albertson, along with Jack Maedgen, a government and history sophomore, and Emily O’Toole, a human dimensions of organizations and government senior, discuss all you need to know

about how to vote in the upcoming election.

Charlie Bonner, Communications director of MOVE Texas, talks about the current battle against voter disenfranchisement. This piece will be published online only.

Ric Galvan, history and Latino studies junior and campus organizer for Texas Rising Central Texas, explains the challenges of voting in Texas. This piece will be published online only.

As always, if you have any thoughts on this topic or any other, please feel free to reach out to us at thedailytexanforum@gmail.com.

audrey williams / the daily texan staff

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.

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FORUM

FORUM

As you prepare to vote this November, here’s what you need to know

By Bethany Albertson, Jack Maedgen & Emily O’Toole

Voting is an essential part of the democratic process, so it is alarming that voter turnout in Texas is among the worst in the nation. This year, the challenge of voting in Texas is compounded by COVID-19.

A little planning can help you exercise your right to vote.

Make sure your registration is current.

If you still need to register, we are one of the only 10 states that does not have online registration. Go to texas.turbovote.org to print or have the form mailed.

Do this now, because Texas has the earliest possible registration deadline of Oct. 5.

Registered voters, make sure your registration is current. Many students don’t realize that states maintain voter lists by removing invalid or inactive registrations. Brian Kemp, former Georgia Secretary of State and current governor, was widely criticized for canceling over 1.4 million inactive voter registrations. Here in Texas, former Secretary of State David Whitley attempted to purge over 90,000 voters from the rolls in 2019, but was stopped by a

federal court. We can debate whether these efforts were partisan or not, but voters can protect themselves against being wrongfully purged by checking their registration.

You can check your registration at https://teamrv-mvp.sos.texas.gov/ MVP/mvp.do. Your friends and family with older registrations could use a reminder to check as well.

Make a plan to vote.

Do you know when and where you’ll vote? Texas has closed more polling places than any other state in the South. In total, 750 locations have shut down since 2012. Fewer polling options and locations lead to longer lines and fewer voters. Furthermore, Texas politicians have refused to expand access to mail-in voting despite its proven effectiveness at increasing voter turnout. We are one of only six states that does not allow people to vote by mail due to COVID-19 concerns.

For many of us, the best option is to vote early. Early voting starts Tuesday, Oct. 13, and ends Friday, Oct. 30, though dates and hours vary by location. Go to votetexas.gov to check for information about your polling location and hours.

Early voting can mean shorter lines and a safer

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environment. If you’re voting on Election Day (Nov. 3), get there early or plan to stay late. If you’re in line when the polls close, stay there. Election workers have to give a ballot to everyone in line.

More tips:

• Bring identification.

Driver’s licenses are most common. See https://lwvaustin.org/ texas-voter-id-rules/ for other options.

• Phones aren’t allowed in the voting booth, so print your notes out.

• Don’t wear political shirts.

• If your name isn’t on the list of registered voters, request a provisional ballot.

Finally, when you make your plan to vote, take a moment to reflect on your reasons. Some of us vote to honor those who fought for our rights, some vote to support policies they are passionate about. If you have a voting plan and a clear sense of why you’re voting, you are ready to take part in the 2020 elections.

Bethany Albertson is an associate professor in the Department of Government, and her research assistants are government and history junior Jack Maedgen and human dimensions of organizations senior Emily O’Toole.

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

NEWS

5

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 15, 2020

COVID-19

UT-Austin student spends two nights in city of Austin isolation facility despite negative coronavirus results

By Anna Canizales @annaleonorc

When Kate Parks started coughing, she wasn’t sure if she had COVID-19 or another illness related to her history of respiratory issues. She scheduled

her telehealth appointment for symptomatic testing through University Health Services Sept. 1.

Despite receiving a negative result Sept. 2, Parks, a radio-television-film and Chinese senior, would spend two nights in a city of Austin

isolation facility after multiple miscommunications with the University.

At first, she said her UHS doctor told her to self-isolate while waiting for test results because of her symptoms. The only COVID-19 symptom Parks

copyright kate parks, and reproduced with permission

Kate Parks, a radio-television-film and Chinese senior, was moved from her room in Kinsolving Residence Hall and stayed in the city of Austin’s isolation facility while waiting for her results from her symptomatic testing through University Health Services. Susan Hochman, UHS associate director of assessment, said students who have symptoms and are waiting for COVID-19 test results should self-isolate and not stay in a residence hall.

said she had was coughing.

“It was sudden moments of ‘I have to do this now, I have to have all of these phone calls,’ and then just waiting,” Parks said. “It was those waiting moments that are usually the most nerve-racking because I essentially don’t know what’s going to happen next.”

Parks said UHS told her she would be moved from her room in Kinsolving Residence Hall, where she uses a communal bathroom, to a separate room with a private bathroom so she could self-isolate.

However, she said Student Emergency Services gave her different instructions to quarantine, leading her to wait longer while the two services communicated.

When Parks got the next call Sept. 1, she said SES told her she would be moved to a city of Austin isolation facility because of her symptoms, despite not having her test results back.

Isolation facilities provide free lodging and services for those who cannot safely self-isolate, according to the city’s website.

Students who show symptoms and are awaiting COVID-19 test results are told to self-isolate, and will no longer stay in a residence hall, said Susan Hochman, UHS associate director of assessment.

SES director Kelly Soucy said SES team members stay in contact with students in isolation facilities to make sure they have all necessary resources for their academics, transportation and mental health.

“Every student situation is different, and so we will also follow up with them toward the time that the city of Austin believes that

they’ve met the isolation requirements for COVID-19,” Soucy said.

Parks said in the isolation facility, someone would knock on her door at 8 a.m., 12 p.m. and 5 p.m. to let her know her meals were delivered.

“They give you a (thermometer), and they call you every morning and evening to record your temperature,” Parks said. “You can do your classes in there, if you’re not constantly wondering if you’re still going to be there in an hour.”

Parks stayed in the isolation facility for the first night while she was awaiting test results. She said she tried to contact SES when she received a negative result the next day, but she did not hear from her team member until the evening. The SES member told her she would stay there

another night, and they would discuss her leaving the facility in the morning, Parks said.

“I’m still worried about going back to campus because … my next concern is not getting COVID-19 because I am sick,” Parks said. “I don’t have enough information. No one knows exactly what to do with me.”

University spokesperson J.B. Bird said the University wants to speed up testing processes as much as possible to avoid miscommunication with students.

Now, Parks said she is back home in Dallas and taking online classes from there.

“I don’t blame the individuals and the people who worked with me on this,” Parks said. “I feel like the whole time there was no plan, and that they were figuring (it) out as they go.”

6

Projects Editor S A M I S P A R B E R TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 15, 2020

‘I’m just glad we’re playing football’

PROJECTS

FEATURE

jack myer / the daily texan staff Scott Wilson stands in front of his burnt orange 1975 Cadillac Deville outside of his North Austin home Sept. 13. Wilson hasn’t missed a Texas football game in 43 years, and his house is filled with a half century of Longhorn memorabilia.

Longhorn superfan continues his 43-year attendance streak at UT-El Paso game during the coronavirus pandemic.

By Nicole Stuessy @nicolestuessy

cott Wilson hasn’t missed a Texas football game in 43 years.

In his first semester at UT, he was at the 1969 Texas vs. Arkansas game — known to fans as “the game of the century.” In 2006, he flew out to California with a friend and saw

Vince Young bring Texas its fourth national championship.

For 526 consecutive home and away games, the 68-year-old Austin native has been in the stands, cheering on his favorite team.

“I don’t know that there’s been another fan for UT that’s done that,” Wilson said. “There’s none that I know of.”

Despite warnings from Austin Public Health officials, over 15,000 fans gathered at Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium Saturday for the

season opener against UT-El Paso.

Wilson wore a burnt orange mask.

Texas Athletics initially planned to operate the stadium at 50% capacity, but Athletics Director Chris Del Conte lowered it to a 25% limit, according to an email sent to season ticket holders Aug. 16. At either limit, Wilson said claiming his season tickets was never a question.

“I’m glad we’re trying to play (football) in the fall,” Wilson said. “It was a relief and it was a good game to watch.”

Earlier this month, Texas Athletics announced tailgates would not be permitted at football games, a usual hallmark of Wilson’s game day routine.

Any other season, Wilson would start tailgating early in the morning.

Throughout the day, people would stop by his spot in a parking garage at the corner of East 17th Street and Trinity Street, bring food and sit around in lawn chairs.

“It’s not extravagant, like some people are,” Wilson said.

Wilson still drove up to the stadium early Saturday morning in his ‘75 orange and white Cadillac DeVille with horns on the hood, just to let everyone know he was there.

Social distancing signage, hand sanitizer stations and no halftime show marked a few changes to Wilson’s game day experience. He likes the Longhorn Band — he was a member himself from ‘69 to ‘72 — but can get past their absence and other alterations if there’s still a game.

“If that’s what we’ve got to do,

7

jack myer / the daily texan staff The walls of Scott Wilson’s home are covered with Texas Longhorns memorabilia. Wilson has not missed a UT football game in 43 years, and he continued his streak by attending the Longhorns’ Sept. 12 win over UTEP.

we’ve got to do it,” Wilson said. “I’m just glad we’re playing football.”

He misses the people, though. Out of his tailgating group, Wilson was the only one to get tickets this season. His spare tickets go to his sister, brother-in-law and a different friend depending on the game.

Since the late ‘90s, Wilson has had the same seats along the southwest goal line: section 2, row 39. Over the years, they have befriended other fans in section 2.

“There’s a man in front of us that we’ve watched his little girl grow up, and then another lady in front of us (that) we’ve watched her grandchildren grow up,” his sister Nancy Wilson said. “We see them through the season, and then we don’t see them until next year.”

As Texas moves forward with fall football, the Big Ten and Pac-12 conferences both delayed their football seasons to the spring. Had the Big 12 followed suit, Wilson would have had to choose between attending football or baseball games — where his attendance streak sits at 1,246.

Baseball is his favorite sport.

He knows the players, parents, coaches and umpires, season after season. His seat at UFCU Disch–Falk Field is marked with a plaque with his name on

it to commemorate reaching 1,000 straight games in 2016.

At away games, he’s sometimes the only fan to greet the team getting off the bus.

“Baseball is kind of a more intimate thing,” Wilson said.

Wilson’s UT loyalty goes beyond football and baseball.

He attends it all: swim meets, tennis matches and golf tournaments. Before Friday’s soccer game, he hadn’t been to a sporting event since the last baseball game on March 11.

Nancy said the break from sports was difficult for him.

“So much of his life was attending sports and visiting with all the people in each sport that he knows,” she said.

During the break from his normal schedule of over 200 UT sporting events each year, Wilson kept busy organizing his floor-to-ceiling gallery of sports memorabilia in his North Austin home. His collection ranges from a foul poll from the old baseball stadium to a plaque signed with a personal note from baseball legend Roger Clemens.

“A lot of people will say it’s a little museum, and I worked on the museum some,” Wilson said.

He still kept in touch with the baseball team. Nancy said he received calls from old and current players seeing

how he is doing throughout the pandemic.

“The University and the baseball team, that is his family,” she said. “Those phone calls reiterate that it’s not just an acquaintance, but really a friend who’s checking on him.”

Austin native Gerald Adair said he met Wilson at a UT baseball game in 1982 and has been friends with him since.

The duo has traveled to numerous away games and to Omaha for the College World Series over the years.

Adair once had a 52-year streak attending home football games, but he stayed home on Saturday. At 79 years old, he did not want to risk his health going to a large gathering.

Instead, he sat in his EZ recliner and tuned in to Longhorn Network from his living room.

“I’ve spent a lot of time going to football games,” Adair said.

“That hurt me a little bit, but I wanted to just be safe.”

Depending on how the first few games go, Adair said he would consider asking Wilson for his extra ticket.

The fate of the season remains up in the air, but as long as there are games in person, Wilson said he will be there.

“I’m not going to give up a 43-year-streak of football,” Wilson said.

jack myer / the daily texan staff Scott Wilson’s 1931 Chevrolet sits under an awning on the driveway of his North Austin home on Sept. 13.

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Sports Editor M Y A H T A Y L O R TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 15, 2020

SPORTS

FOOTBALL

Texas players opt out of ‘The Eyes of Texas’ as fans sing on Following months of discussion about the alma mater, the football community remains divided.

By Myah Taylor @t_myah

enditions of “The Eyes of Texas” after Longhorn sporting events may never again be like the spectacles of old — especially not now, when fans, students and athletes seem irreversibly divided on the song’s history and meaning.

Texas football players sported social justice messages on their uniforms during the Longhorns’ home opener Saturday, with “Unity” on the back of their helmets and black “WeAreOne” patches on their jerseys. But the postgame scene of fans singing “The Eyes of Texas” as most players ran to the locker room wasn’t a unified picture.

“I won’t sing the song at all, if I’m just being blunt,” junior safety Caden Sterns said in a Zoom teleconference Sept. 8.

Sterns shares the sentiments of several other players and student-athletes at UT who called for the University to remove “The Eyes of Texas” as the school song because of its minstrelsy origins on June 12, among other action items that would advance diversity and inclusion on campus for Black students.

The University responded July 13 when it announced

that it would acknowledge the origins of “The Eyes of Texas,” but keep it as the school song. However, UT renamed Robert Lee Moore Hall as the Physics, Math and Astronomy Building, and will erect a statue of Julius Whittier, UT’s first Black football letterman, at Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium, among other actions.

“I think they handled it very well, (but it) could’ve been better,” Sterns said last week about the University’s changes. “But it’s always a great first step in how we handle it. As a team, we came together, for one, which is huge.”

Texas played on the newly named Campbell-Williams Field Saturday, which honors Black Heisman Trophy winners Earl Campbell and Ricky Williams. The name change came at the request of the family of Joe Jamail, whom the field formerly honored.

Williams said in a Zoom teleconference Sept. 9 that it’s important to not erase the history of “The Eyes of Texas,” and that it would be impactful to change its meaning.

To Campbell, the song has a positive connotation.

“What happens at this University changes the world, and I’m part of that because I’m at this University,” Campbell said. “And I’m proud of that song. I think there’s a lot of things that could be done

copyright texas athletics, and reproduced with permission The Texas football team all sported black “WeAreOne” patches on the upper right chest of their jerseys during Saturday’s season opener against UTEP. The black patch was complemented by the message of “Unity” displayed on the back of their helmets.

other than (changing) that song in my opinion. I just believe that ‘The Eyes of Texas’ stands for something.”

For a large population of Texas fans, the alma mater is sacred. Numerous fans took to Twitter to express their satisfaction that those at the game continued to sing it.

The polarization caused by the song and athlete protests is something Williams said his coaches tried to avoid when he played at Texas

from 1995-1998.

“Whenever players even whispered about social issues, we tended to be shamed by coaches as being a distraction,” Williams said. “I’m proud of (Texas head coach Tom Herman) for really listening and supporting his players and not shaming them for having a voice.”

Times have changed, and today’s Texas players are speaking out. The Longhorns’ activism efforts might

upset fans, but senior defensive back Chris Brown said he and his teammates are prepared for whatever reactions come their way.

“At the end of the day, we know that we’ve got one another and that we don’t need everybody,” Brown said. “We just need the right people. We feel like we’ve got the right people, and we’re a focused group, we’re a focused bunch.

We know what we can do among ourselves.”

SPORTS

9

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 15, 2020

FOOTBALL

Texas tailgaters party on but struggled with low attendance in football season-opening weekend

copyright horn-ball texas tailgaters, and reproduced with permission The Horn-Ball Texas Tailgaters pose for a photo at a game prior to the pandemic. At this year’s season opener Sept. 12, the group struggled to field participants for their paid tailgate despite altering their game day plans to accommodate with social distancing guidelines.

By Stephen Wagner @stephenwag22

Texas Athletics may have banned football tailgates due to COVID-19 concerns, but Longhorn fans who still want to tailgate are finding ways to partake in game day fun.

On Saturday, Horn-Ball Texas Tailgaters partied on, making it the only tailgate in the campus area on game day after Texas Athletics announced Sept. 2 that tailgating on campus would not be permitted at any home game this fall.

The paid tailgate took place after Horn-Ball owner Ryan Lepper drafted a proposal to the state of Texas to host a special event in a lot on the corner of 18th and Trinity Streets on game day. In the proposal, Lepper ensured the tailgate would have a reduced crowd capacity, as well as enforce

mandatory face coverings and a minimum of 6 feet between tents.

“If there’s a football game, we’re going to have a tailgate,” Lepper said. “Where there’s a will, there’s a way.”

In years past, Horn-Ball earned a reputation for being one of the largest tailgates in the country. Before the coronavirus pandemic, upwards of 750 fans would attend tailgates before home games, Lepper and his staff said, adding that as many as 2,500 fans attended the tailgate for Texas’ home game against LSU in 2019.

This year, things look significantly different for the tailgaters. The six 600-square-foot canopies filled with ice luges and open bars have been replaced with 10-by-10 foot tents stocked with hand sanitizer and no more than 10 people in each.

This past weekend, things didn’t go as planned in the tailgate’s first event of the year for Texas’ home-opener against UT-El Paso.

If there’s a football game, we’re going to have a tailgate. Where there’s a will, there’s a way.”

RYAN LEPPER

owner of horn-ball Although the tailgate’s capacity was 100 people, less than 10 were in attendance within two hours to kickoff.

Lepper said he hoped to see at least one party occupying each tent that close to kickoff and that Horn-Ball lost money by hosting the

tailgate Saturday.

“The season openers are pretty big crowd pleasers, but I think there’s a lot of caution going on right now,” Lepper said. “For a typical game, we’ll sell 300 to 400 tickets pre-game, (but) it just wasn’t like that, because it can’t be like that right now.”

Chris McClelan, 26, was one of the handful of people to attend the tailgate.

Even though he’d never attended a Horn-Ball tailgate before, he was surprised at the attendance and expected a much larger crowd.

“It’s way smaller than I was used to seeing before (the pandemic),” McClelan said. “It’s kind of sad.

I understand the pandemic and everything is a problem, but it really feels lackluster. When I first came here, I thought there’d be a lot of people, but (there isn’t) really.”

Lepper said he isn’t hitting the panic button yet.

He and his staff are confident business will pick up as football season goes on, but the biggest challenge the tailgate will face will come if Texas cancels its season — something entirely out of their control.

Gina Egan, a Horn-Ball bartender, is excited Texas is playing its season but only gives the school a 75% chance to play all 10 scheduled games. Still, she remains optimistic that the Longhorns will play their full schedule and that Horn-Ball can pull off a season-long tailgate.

“Besides it being the Longhorns, it’s just Texas football in general that we’ll do everything possible to make sure it actually happens,” Egan said. “I am a little nervous,

but I think with the right precautions, we’re going to

be okay as long as everybody acts responsibly.”

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Life&Arts Editor A R I A N A A R R E D O N D O TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 15, 2020

LIFE&ARTS

FEATURE

COVID-19 interrupts community center construction in India After months of delays, a new team of students will take over project operations this fall.

By Jennifer Errico @errico_jenny

olin Phillips and Elise Higgins spent e i g h t m o n t h s planning and fundraising for the construction of a multipurpose community center in Siripudi, India. But after the pandemic hit, their project never left paper.

“It’s not what I expected,” civil engineering senior Higgins said. “Usually you complete the project designs, start construction in April and travel to the country to see its progress during the summer. I really wanted to interact with the community and see them enjoy the community center.”

Higgins and civil engineering senior Phillips were part of Projects with Underserved Communities, a year-long program where engineering and social work majors apply course content

to serve communities in one of 10 developing countries.

Last year, four projects for Mexico, Costa Rica, Thailand and India were developed by four different teams. Each project was delayed in March because of COVID-19 and will be completed by a new team of students this year.

“It’s a year-long course, and since I completed it, I can’t take it again,” Phillips said. “The new team will expand with new ideas on our project, and will be working closely with (the old team) to help execute it.”

Higgins said the community center is the first permanent structure in the village and will be used for educational, medical and safety purposes.

“It floods a lot during monsoon season, so this gives the community a place to stay safe,” Higgins said.

“Schooling for young boys (has) started in the community … and we hope with the new center everyone in the village will have access to education.”

Phillips said his team worked with the nonprofit organization Church Auxiliary for Social Action to help decide what project to do and how to implement it. “(CASA) is our contact on the ground,” Phillips said.

“Our main focus is to develop something to solve a community’s problem, so it’s really important to have strong, steady com-

copyright colin phillips, and reproduced with permission

Students raise funds for a multipurpose community center in Siripudi, India that will aid 59 families.

munication throughout the entire process.”

Higgins said last year her team raised over $20,000 through Hornraiser by tabling on Speedway. She said fundraising during COVID-19 will be challenging, though, because they can only use Hornraiser.

“We want to raise as much money as possible because with more money (the new team) can change the scope of the project by adding

things, like a sanitation center,” Higgins said.

Civil engineering senior Rachel Sutherland is one of the seven new members on the team. Sutherland said it’s been difficult to pick up an unfinished project rather than creating a new one.

“It’s hard to figure out exactly where we are in the process and … what needs to be done,” Sutherland said. “The schedule is just different because a lot of the things we

would be working for have already been worked on.”

The village is in Andhra Pradesh, one of six states where more than 67% of India’s reported COVID-19 cases are located. Phillips said this has left the team unsure of how to move forward with the construction process.

Despite these challenges, Phillips and Higgins said they are optimistic about the future of the project because of the extra time afforded

to them.

The team said the program gives students the opportunity to approach engineering from a humanitarian perspective.

“There’s sort of a disconnect,” Phillips said. “When we think of social good, we don’t usually think about engineering. But engineering has the tools and the capacity to have such an impact on communities. It has a human side.”

COMICS

Comics Editor

B A R B R A D A LY

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 15, 2020

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M O R E I N F O : T E XA S S P O RTS . C O M / G O M O B I L E