The Daily Texan 2021-03-09

DT VOLUME 121, ISSUE 52 TUESDAY, MARCH 9, 2021

Mask mandate to be lifted How Texans will be affected by Gov. Greg Abbott’s executive order lifting the mask mandate. cynthia treviño

/ the daily texan staff

PERMANENT STAFF Editor-in-Chief Emily Caldwell Managing Editor Trinady Joslin Assoc. Managing Editors Emily Hernandez, Ariana Arredondo Director of Digital Strategy Hal Riley Director of Diversity & Inclusion Areeba Amer Internal Relations Director Sanika Nayak External Relations Director Abhirupa Dasgupta Assoc. Opinion Editors Isabelle Costello, Hannah Lopez, Julia Zaksek

Assoc. Copy Desk Chiefs Irissa Omandam, Megan Shankle, Chloe Roman Design Editor Christina Peebles Assoc. Design Editor Megan Fletcher Senior Designers Eunice Bao, Juleanna Culilap Video Editor Brendan Long

Sr. Videographers Hannah Ortega, Matthew Posey Photo Editor Jack Myer Assoc. Photo Editors Kirsten Hahn, Jamie Hwang Senior Photographer Connor Downs

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Beat Reporters Skye Seipp, Samantha Greyson, Tori Duff, Kevin Vu, Sheryl Lawrence, Lauren Abel, Lauren Goodman, Laurie Grobe

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AUSTIN WEATHER TODAY March 8

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UT students pick up nostalgic habits during unprecedented events.

Sports

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Life&Arts

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07

The future of Title IX under U.S. President Joe Biden explained, as well as a look at the past policies.

10

Kaitlyn Papp and former teammates reflect on the U.S. Open and her Texas career.

TOMORROW March 9

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EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

Emily Caldwell (512) 232-2212 editor@dailytexanonline.com

MANAGING EDITOR

Trinady Joslin (512) 232-2217 managingeditor@thedailytexan.com (512) 232-2207 news@thedailytexan.com

COVID-19

Some students confused by vaccine eligibility under Phase 1B

By Anastasia Goodwin @thedailytexan

Different interpretations of Phase 1B qualifying conditions by COVID-19 vaccine providers have left some students with non-prioritized conditions confused about their eligibility to receive a dose.

UT Health Austin’s vaccination program survey asks respondents if they have any non-1B conditions, including asthma, hypertension or high blood pressure, or Type 1 diabetes mellitus. While these conditions do not qualify for the 1B category based on Texas Department of State Health Services guidelines, Amy Young, chief clinical officer for UT Health Austin, said UT Health Austin recently expanded vaccine distribution to include people who fall into the second category.

Young said UT Health Austin is sending scheduling emails to students, staff and faculty who checked “yes” for having non-1B conditions. Young said eligible individuals should have received emails to self-schedule a vaccine appointment. UT Health Austin sent eligible individuals the link for the second time Friday since many emails may have been sent to people’s spam or junk folders. “(Texas Phase 1B recommendations) give clinicians some ability to apply clinical judgment about whether health conditions that aren’t explicitly named on their list should apply,” Elizabeth Matsui, a professor of population health

and pediatrics at Dell Medical School, said.

Computer science senior Benjamin Carter said he found out he qualified for the vaccine due to asthma during a recent phone call with his dad. He said he felt “stupid and irresponsible” for not checking sooner, and he has not been able to find an appointment yet.

“I could have been early on the list,” Carter said. “But now, there’s just so many people in line.”

Austin Public Health includes individuals 16 and over with asthma in the 1B group.

Matsui said that though the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention classifies moderate to severe asthma as potentially being a risk factor, current research

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04

Editor-in-chief candidate Sanika Nayak shares her platform and vision for the Texan.

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Opinion

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Contents:

rocky higine

finds there is not good evidence that it poses higher risk. She said it is important for students to follow their asthma management plans as daily medication may reduce the severity of COVID-19 if they do become infected.

Sociology junior Ariana Alvarez, who has asthma, received her first dose through the University last week. Alvarez said she only knew to fill out the survey because her friends told her she was eligible.

Young said students who filled out the UT survey and indicated they have one of the minor conditions should have received an email to schedule their appointment. If they have not, they should contact vaccine-clinicsupport@austin. utexas.edu for assistance.

/ the daily texan staff

The Texan strives to present all information fairly, accurately and completely. If we have made an error, let us know about it. E-mail managingeditor@thedailytexan.com.

BUSINESS & ADVERTISING (512) 471-8590 advertise@texasstudentmedia.com Director Gerald Johnson Business/ Operations Manager Frank Serpas III Advertising Manager Emily Cohen Assistant Advertising Manager Grant Daniels Account Executives Diane Byram, Pam Garner, Julianne Phillipp Design Tillie Policastro

E M I LY C A L D W E L L

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Editor-in-Chief | @TEXANOPINION TUESDAY, MARCH 9, 2021

GUEST COLUMN

OPINION

Creating a platform for activism Editor-in-Chief candidate Sanika Nayak wants to create a space for advocacy at The Daily Texan.

Editor’s note: Sanika Nayak is currently running unopposed to become the next Editor-in-Chief of The Daily Texan. For this column, she was asked to present her platform and vision for the Texan.

By Sanika Nayak

Editor-in-Chief candidate

y vision for the Texan is to create a space that highlights collective action and organizer voices. For this column, I spoke to a few student advocates and asked them to respond to the following question: What is the work you are doing, and how can the Texan best help further your movement?

You can read their responses below.

“Following the protests and subsequent commitments made to changing policies surrounding sexual misconduct, … there’s been a persistent need for students to hold UT accountable. There’s a tendency for UT to make promises and then try to fulfill GALLERY

charlie hyman

them with the absolute bare minimum. As a student and as an organizer, I’ve seen The Daily Texan accept that bare minimum. …

If a student newspaper is going to exist, it has to serve the student body, amplify our movement and radically challenge the oppressive status quo.”

-Cellular and molecular biology junior Kaya Epstein; Interpersonal Violence Prevention Coalition “Currently, we are working with UT Administration to see the fulfillment of our Black Community Demands and make sure that UT is a place that is not only welcoming, but a safe place for Black students to grow and flourish. The Texan can support us by utilizing their platform to uplift Black students and other BIPOC authentic perspectives, experiences and stories.”

-Communication and leadership and government senior Brianna McBride (via direct message); Black President’s Leadership Council “(We) are trying to bring transparent and accessible information directly to students about complex campus issues. … The Texan has a platform to promote other organizations and highlight the work students are doing, but beyond that, the power and influence (the Texan) has on campus … could really benefit the work we’re doing by giving us access to resources.”

-Government and sociology junior Meera Sam; Uthink “We have a petition currently out … of our demands. (The Texan) can help by sharing our social media and Linktree and by getting our name out there. Instead of the typical, “Here’s an organization,” have students who have a story to tell relating to finances share it in the opinion section, and then point to our organization.”

-International relations and global studies and sociology freshman Jackie Cheng; Students for Financial Relief “We want to listen to the voices of people of color and amplify what they have to say. There’s a difference between

hearing and listening. Admin hear it, but are they listening and engaging in the conversation? The Daily Texan is so widely known — it’s already an established platform. The publication is known for amplifying voices and getting stories out there, and that’s exactly what I would love for it to do.”

-Government and Plan II senior Connor O’Neill; Rewrite Not Reclaim “I’m involved in survivor advocacy, … helping them navigate the immediate aftermath of assault and also the legal side of things that come later. The biggest thing the Texan could do is … (to) allow survivors to have the autonomy of using their own words to describe what happened to them and how they’re feeling. … (That) makes a lot of difference on this campus. Also, amplifying a more diverse array of survivor voices. … Not all survivors are (cis white women).”

-Government fourth year Sara Jane Ross; Interpersonal Violence

Prevention Coalition “College students really do care, … it’s just really hard to figure out how to make impact.

The work that we want to do for students and beyond is provide accessible ways to make impact. It needs institutional partnership for this to really take off and get access to people who want to do good. If the Texan can reach people, … then you have a shot at creating a community of change.”

-BHP, Plan II and MIS junior Sanika Bhave; Texas Storm 2021 Aid Coalition The Texan doesn’t create change by itself, but it has a role to play in the process. To me, that role means working in contingency with student activists on the movements they work so hard on. I plan to use our platform to amplify their voices as best we can, and to move toward necessary change on campus.

Nayak is a speech, language and hearing sciences junior from Austin, Texas.

julia mchugh

/ the daily texan staff

Editor-in-Chief candidate Sanika Nayak is running unopposed to become The Daily Texan’s next Editor-in-Chief.

/ 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.

SUBMIT A FIRING LINE | Email your Firing Lines to editor@dailytexanonline.com. Letters must be more than 100 and fewer than 300 words. The Texan reserves the right to edit all submissions for brevity, clarity and liability.

RECYCLE | Please recycle this copy of The Daily Texan. Place the paper in one of the recycling bins on campus or back in the burnt-orange newsstand where you found it.

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

NEWS

LAUREN GIRGIS

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News Editor | @THEDAILYTEXAN

TUESDAY, MARCH 9, 2021

STATE

Gov. Abbott lifts mask mandate

Gov. Greg Abbott’s executive order will lift the statewide mask mandate beginning Wednesday.

By Tori Duff @torianneduff

usinesses and public places must independently decide to set mask mandates and capacity limits after Gov. Greg Abbott’s executive order lifting the statewide mask mandate takes effect Wednesday.

Abbott’s order advises individuals to follow Texas Department of State Health Services recommendations, which advises people to wear a mask whenever it is not possible to maintain a six-foot distance from others and discourages gatherings over 10 people. However, there can be no penalty by law for those who do not wear masks in public places. The DSHS has not updated its advice page since the executive order.

“Individuals are strongly encouraged to wear face coverings over the nose and mouth … but no person may be required by any jurisdiction to wear or to mandate the wearing of a face covering,” according to the executive order.

The executive order said county judges in areas where COVID-19 hospitalizations make up over 15% of their total hospital capacity for seven days can place capacity restrictions on businesses up to 50%. Judges cannot

jamie hwang

/ the daily texan file

Biology freshman Bella Aragaw, left, and public health freshman Kate Conklin walk on Dean Keeton Street on Aug. 27, 2020. As Gov. Greg Abbott announced changes to the mask and capacity restrictions, businesses are setting the mask mandates independently starting Wednesday.

enforce mask mandates by law.

Austin is currently at a stage four risk level set by Austin Public Health, meaning all businesses are recommended to operate at 25% to 50% capacity.

On Wednesday, this capacity cannot be legally enforced under the executive order. Businesses, including restaurants and bars, can make personal decisions to require masks, according to the executive order.

Bryce Riggle, an arts and entertainment technologies freshman, said he is concerned about dining locations being fully open since people are not always

wearing masks.

“Any space where you have to take your mask off for some period of time is problematic,” Riggle said.

Mechanical engineering junior Michael Esposito said he believes it makes sense to keep the mask mandate in place if businesses are to successfully reopen.

“I wouldn’t be opposed to reopening businesses assuming that we had the blessing of epidemiologists to say we can do it without exploding new COVID-19 cases,” Esposito said.

Public schools are encouraged to follow the guidance of the

Texas Education Agency, according to the executive order. Private institutions are recommended to establish similar practices but cannot be required to follow guidelines.

Cities cannot impose limits on public or private universities, religious services or child care facilities, regardless of hospitalization levels in their area, according to the executive order.

Nursing homes and assisted living facilities are advised to follow the guidance of the Texas Health and Human Services Commission. Facilities should minimize the movement of staff

between buildings, according to the executive order.

County and municipal jails must follow the Texas Commission on Jail Standards for visitations and operations in facilities, according to the executive order.

In a news conference last Wednesday, Austin Mayor Steve Adler said that individuals should support businesses being vigilant about COVID-19 safety.

“I think we should be honoring and patronizing and holding up those businesses that are going the extra mile to keep their customers and their employees safe,” Adler said.

NEWS

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TUESDAY, MARCH 9, 2021

NATION

Biden administration makes changes to DeVos’ Title IX policy

By Laurie Grobe @grobelauren

TW: Discussions of sexual assault, sexual violence President Joe Biden announced Monday he is planning to reverse former Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos’ changes to Title IX, the federal regulation that prohibits sex discrimination.

Last summer, the Department of Education released extensive changes to Title IX under the direction of Betsy DeVos. These changes included narrowing the definition of sexual assault, removing off-campus incidents from universities’ purviews and requiring a higher standard of evidence to prove assault occurred.

The UT System updated the definition of sexual harassment to severe and pervasive conduct that interferes with a student’s education to be in line with the new regulations, and revised the definition of “Other Inappropriate Sexual Conduct” to include behavior that falls outside the new definition.

On Monday, Biden signed two executive orders creating the White House Gender Policy Council and directing the Department of Education, now led by Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona, to review sexual violence policies, particularly DeVos’ Title IX regulations.

The Past: Title IX under DeVos

DeVos’ changes were criticized by advocate groups as cruel to survivors and not holding universities accountable for sexual discrimination and violence that occurs in their communities.

Kaya Epstein, student government interpersonal violence prevention policy co-director, said DeVos’ changes did massive harm to survivors.

“What DeVos did to the Title IX rules is so vile,” Epstein said.

Norma V. Cantú, UT law professor and member of the Biden-Harris Transition’s “Agency Review Team,” said the increased attention to Title IX is informing people on the law and how they can seek recourse.

“I always look for a silver lining whenever something looks cloudy, and this looks cloudy,” Cantú said. “There is some confusion because (the rules have) changed with every administration and President Biden has said it will change again.”

The Future: Title IX under Biden

Last October, Stef Feldman, a policy director for Biden’s campaign, said in a webinar that Biden would return to Obama-era education policies.

Under the Obama administration, sexual violence was clarified to be sex discrimination and therefore prohibited under Title IX through a document titled “Dear Colleague” in 2011.

Krista Anderson, UT System

rocky higine

Title IX coordinator, said the 2011 Dear Colleague letter is policy guidance, not a change in the law itself.

Epstein said the letter is the baseline for survivor protections.

There is some confusion because (the rules have) changed with every administration and President Biden has said it will change again.”

NORMA V. CANTÚ ut law professor

“They fall short of where we should be in terms of prioritizing survivors and prioritizing cultural change,”

Epstein said. “But it would still expand Title IX beyond Betsy DeVos’ rule of terror.”

Under DeVos, the 2011 Dear Colleague letter was rescinded as guidance and the Department of Education pointed to documents from 2001 for guidance on policy, Anderson said.

“They were basically saying, ‘Everything from the Obama administration, don’t look at that,’” Anderson said. “This was all in 2017. … I feel like it’s burned in my memory.”

Over 100 members of Congress signed a letter Tuesday asking Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona to repeal DeVos’ Title IX rules. In January, Biden signed an executive order against discrimination based on gender and sexual orientation.

Epstein said there needs to be immediate and specific action on Title IX.

/ the daily texan staff

“The fact that he signed this executive order on day one makes me think that he might be gearing up to bring not just Title IX, but issues of gender and sexuality to the front of his policy plan,” Epstein said.

One of Biden’s executive orders signed Monday directs the Department of Education to review DeVos’ Title IX regulations. According to the order, the Secretary of Education may rescind policies that do not prevent sex discrimination on college campuses.

Anderson said if the Biden administration pursues changing DeVos’ Title IX policies, it would take years to reverse them and establish new policies.

“Just as the previous administration has done, where they first issued a notice of proposed rulemaking in May 2018 and they weren’t able to finalize it until May of 2020,” Anderson said.

A I S L I N G AY E R S

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Life&Arts Editor | @TEXANARTS TUESDAY, MARCH 9, 2021

CAMPUS

LIFE&ARTS

Resources for female students For Women’s History Month, the Texan has compilled seven on-campus resources.

By Hanaa Irfan @hanaabun

destiny alexander

/ the daily texan staff

rom former First Ladies of the United States to billion-dollar jewelry company owners, the women of UT have long served as empowering role models for current students to look up to. UT has since expanded its resources to promote the excellence, health and well-being of the over 20,000 female students who now attend the University.

March is Women’s History Month, and The Daily Texan has curated a list of resources for female students to support their health and success.

Gender and Sexuality Center

If you are looking for an inclusive and supportive community of women, UT’s Gender and Sexuality Center offers many events for targeted communities, such as Finding Our Voice: Women of Color Discussion Group.

If you’re looking for something a bit more casual the Center also hosts Feminist Friday, an informal weekly meeting to discuss intersectional feminism topics with guest speakers,

student-led discussions, art-making and more. Feminist Friday meets every Friday from 2-3 p.m. over Zoom.

University Health Services Women’s Health Clinic

Located on the third floor of the Student Services Building, UT’s Women’s Health Clinic offers routine annual wellness exams, contraception advice, STI testing and treatment, care for menstrual concerns, and much more.

The clinic is staffed with certified nurse practitioners and registered nurses who treat all students who identify as women.

You can make an appointment online or by calling 512-475-8242.

Fearless Leadership Institute

The Fearless Leadership Institute is designed to advance the personal development of African American women and Latinas.

They offer an annual leadership retreat, mentorship program and one-on-one advising to promote academic excellence and professional development.

To get involved, hop on one of the Institute’s Weekly Interest Groups, hosted every Monday from 5-6 p.m. over Zoom.

Tune into their podcast, “The FLI Girls.”

Initiative aims to pass legislation to provide free menstrual products around campus, and their Domestic Dating Violence Campaign provides resources to those who have experienced dating violence.

Lactation/Quiet Rooms

Available for use by students, faculty and staff who are nursing mothers, Lactation/Quiet Rooms are available throughout campus. The rooms promote a balance between school and family life for nursing mothers who may need to breastfeed or rest.

Lactation/Quiet Rooms are located in the William C. Powers, Jr. Student Activity Center; the Physics, Math, & Astronomy Building; the Perry-Castañeda Library; McCombs School of Business and other buildings.

Title IX Office

Title IX protects students, faculty, staff and more from sex discrimination, sexual assault, interpersonal violence, stalking or discrimination at UT. The office’s website includes a link to report incidents and puts students in contact with resources and professionals to speak to.

The Title IX Office at UT also provides leadership training pertaining to policies, process and prevention.

Womxn’s Resource Agency

The Womxn’s Resource Agency, run by Student Government, promotes inclusivity, intersectionality and feminism by connecting women to campus resources such as on-campus reflection spaces and Family Life Services.

Their Menstrual Products

Counseling and Mental Health Center

The CMHC offers a variety of virtual support groups, such as Queer and Questioning Women’s Support Group and Black Girl Magic: Black Women and Non-Binary Students Coping Creatively.

LIFE&ARTS

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TUESDAY, MARCH 9, 2021

STUDENT LIFE

UT students reconnect with childhood hobbies amid winter storm, COVID-19 pandemic

By Dina Barrish @BarrishDina

At 1:00 a.m. on Tuesday, Feb. 16, Ashley Tonn jumped out of her childhood bed and fumbled for the lightswitch, only to remember she still had no power. In complete darkness, she dug through her closet to retrieve an old hobby: yarn and a crochet hook. “(I was) like, ‘Wow,’” nursing freshman Tonn said. “Holding this stuff in my hand … reminds (me) of (my) roots. I was on a mission to do crochet.”

Just as Tonn reconnected with crocheting, many UT students felt nostalgic for childhood activities while living through historic events such as the COVID-19 pandemic and the recent Winter Storm Uri.

“Being an adult, you’re so focused on working and doing certain tasks each day that you forget to stop and take time for yourself,” Tonn said. “Redoing these activities made me realize how much I enjoyed them, even though just thinking about them, I may not have realized that.”

Mihir Gupta, a biology and Plan II freshman, said he started rewatching “Johnny Test” on Netflix because the show felt familiar. He also rediscovered Super Mario Bros., a video game he hadn’t played since age 10. He and his sister played for 48 hours straight during the winter storm.

“It’s almost escapist,” Gupta said. “It’s really engrossing. … I don’t have to worry about anything. Instead of like, you know, continuing to be that high-strung, super functioning person, you can just take a step back for a bit.”

Tonn said reconnecting with crocheting helped her manage her stress.

Since picking up her needle and yarn during the freeze, she said she has found herself wanting to crochet every night before bed.

“I find it relaxing,” Tonn said. “It helps me go to sleep faster instead of trying to do schoolwork and then trying to go to bed and (still be) stressed out.”

For undeclared freshman Jenny Hagedorn, making duct tape crafts brought her back to the 5th grade. With wikiHow and a roll of Dory-print duct tape, she retaught herself how to make wallets and instrument cases.

“It really just brings us back to a simpler time, a time where we don’t have midterms or pandemics or not as many winter storms,” Hagedorn said. “I wasn’t think-

barbra daly/ the daily texan staff

ing about anything else while I was doing (the crafts).”

Hagedorn said she considers her duct tape crafts an innocent and enjoyable activity, but Gupta said he was embarrassed about playing Super Mario Bros. and binging “Johnny Test.”

“It’s childish,” Gupta said. “I’m at college. I should be doing grown-up stuff. But do I really fit in as a kid? No. As an adult?

Also no.”

As spring break approaches along with the promise of more free time, Tonn said she encourages her fellow students to embrace nostalgia and pick back up their favorite childhood hobbies.

“If there’s one thing in your childhood that you loved doing, give it a shot,” Tonn said. “I’ll probably dig through my closet again.”

C A R T E R YAT E S

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Sports Editor | @TEXANSPORTS TUESDAY, MARCH 9, 2021

GOLF

SPORTS

Papp reflects on U.S. Women’s Open, Texas career

By Brittany Archer @brittanyarcher_

When senior Kaitlyn Papp first picked up a pair of clubs as a six-yearold, she used the sport to spend time with her family.

“My family and I were living in Japan at the time because my dad was in the Navy,” Papp said. “He would bring me out occasionally just to have someone tag along with him.”

After turning 10, Papp developed a passion for golf and started to enter tournaments in the American Junior Golf Association. Along the way, she would meet future Texas golf teammates Emilee Hoffman and Maddie Luitwieler.

“We got to know each other pretty well in junior golf,” Hoffman said. “But I would say we became really close when (Papp) got (into) Texas, and she, you know, became — and still is — one of my really close friends.”

Luitwieler and Papp formed a special bond during the two years they spent together on the Texas women’s golf team. Their close relationship allowed them to learn from and lean on each other as practice partners.

“We (would) just pop ideas off of each other, and (I’d) say, ‘How do I fit this better with more spin?’ and she would be like, ‘Oh, this is what I do,’ and then she would ask me putting questions, and I would tell her what I do,” Luitwieler said.

“It was kind of just us going back and forth, but it was nice to have someone out there just to keep you motivated.”

After being named twice to the All-Big 12 Conference team, Papp’s hard work came to fruition

jack myer

/ the daily texan staff

Senior golfer Kaitlyn Papp drives the ball down the fairway at the Betsy Rawls Invitational on Oct. 11, 2020. Papp is playing her final season at The University of Texas before transitioning into her pro career.

when her No. 19 spot in the World Amateur Golf Rankings automatically qualified her for the 2020 U.S. Women’s Open in Houston.

“It was definitely a goal of mine to prequalify in 2019, because in 2018 I got a second alternate,” Papp said. “Then when I got in the field this year from the amateur rankings, I was definitely really excited for the opportunity.”

Ultimately Papp tied for ninth place, which earned her low-amateur honors. Her top-ten finish in Houston

granted her an automatic invitation to the 2021 U.S. Open field.

While Papp is well known for her excellent play on the course, her former teammates are quick to note that her leadership and charm are what really set her apart from others.

“She just had a really strong work ethic. And it’s contagious,” Hoffman said. “She motivates all of us to push ourselves and work hard and be the best we can, but not in a forced way.

I would say it’s really natural. …

She has that personality, she leads by example.”

As her career at Texas comes to a close, Papp is looking forward to accomplishing her ultimate goal: becoming a professional golfer. Luitwieler has no doubts that Papp will have a successful professional career.

“Kaitlyn is just very determined and that has been her dream since she was very young,” Luitwieler said. “I think Texas has allowed her to grow into where she needs to be to be a professional golfer.”

COMICS

B A R B D A LY & R O C K Y H I G I N E

Comics Editors | @TEXANCOMICS TUESDAY, MARCH 09, 2021

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