The Daily Texan 2021-07-06

DT VOLUME 121, ISSUE 5 TUESDAY, JULY 6, 2021

substance use impacts music industry Austin musicians discuss recovery.

jack myer

/ the daily texan staff

PERMANENT STAFF Editor-in-Chief Sanika Nayak Managing Editor Ariana Arredondo Director of Digital Strategy Katya Bandouil Director of Diversity & Inclusion Internal Relations Director Sruti Ramachandran

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Austin musicians discuss how they’ve dealt with substance use in the music industry.

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06

Pandemic helps bring couples closer together by uniting them against a common stressor.

10

Numerous Texas athletes have taken advantage of the new name, image and likeness law.

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University Health Services should make dental care more easily accessible for all students.

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DT

Contents:

RecSports begins to increase capacity, other campus services slower to reopen

By Sheryl‌‌ ‌‌Lawrence‌‌ @sheryl_adelle‌‌

While some restaurants and study spaces on campus kept their COVID-19 adjusted hours in place during the summer, RecSports is moving toward “near normal” operations sooner than other facilities.

RecSports is taking advantage of the low amount of summer traffic to move toward full capacity operations in all their facilities. While the weight room in Gregory Gym has required reservations, enforced social distancing and had less equipment available since August 2020, it will now be opening to 100% capacity.

Other facilities such as the swimming pool, rock climbing wall and exercises classes are not open to full capacity and still require reservations due to the need to retrain staff, according to Cecilia Lopez Cardenas, senior assistant director for communications at RecSports.

“The summer presented a unique opportunity to make this transition because of the reduced traffic that we’re seeing on campus,” Cardenas said. “Following the guidance that we received (from the University), the department felt it was suited to adjust, and we’re not all there quite yet.”

Cardenas said if someone enters the facilities and is later diagnosed with COVID-19, they will follow the University policy with contact tracing, which includes notifying people who may have been exposed using room analysis and room check-in information.

Student organizations will also be able to begin recruiting in person

hannah clark

/ the daily texan staff

Nutrition junior Sharon Chai exercises using an elliptical in the sparsely populated RecSports weight room on June 29 despite the gym moving toward full capacity operations.

this summer. Although organizations must continue tabling virtually, they have the option to table in person by reserving spaces on days where the designated areas are not reserved for freshman orientation, according to an email from HornsLink.

SURE Walk hours will also remain the same, Blanca Gamez, associate director of Parking and Transportation Services, said in an email. Other COVID-19 policies, such as wiping down carts and cars at the end of each shift and providing staff with gloves and sanitizer, will remain in place as well.

“We continue to take other pandemic health and safety precautions by providing SURE Walk staff with gloves and sanitizer,” Gamez said.

“Vehicles will continue to be wiped down at the start and end of each shift. All staff members will continue to use the Protect Texas app prior to reporting for duty.”

Travis Wilmann, communications officer for UT Libraries, said in an email that the Perry-Castañeda Library is expected to return to full service in the fall semester. Wilmann said other library locations may reopen as well, but staff is currently trying to decide which ones will reopen and to what extent.

UT Outpost and Student Emergency Services are operating under the same conditions as the spring semester, according to their websites. The Office of the Dean of Students did not respond to requests for more information.

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.

NEWS

HANNAH WILLIFORD

3

News Editor | @THEDAILYTEXAN TUESDAY, JULY 6, 2021

STATE

State of Texas allocates $94.6M to higher ed The money will be divided among schools in Texas for financial aid, My Texas Future program, etc.

By Kevin Vu @Kevin_Vu_

exas will send nearly $100 million in federal COVID-19 relief money to the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board, with nearly $30 million going to student financial aid. However, University officials do not expect to see a large number of funds directed to UT. “As we move forward from the pandemic, it is critical that we continue to support higher education to ensure more Texans are trained to face dynamic and unique challenges that will set them apart from others and make them more competitive in their field,” Gov. Greg Abbott said in a June 28 press release.

University spokesperson J.B. Bird said in an email that the University believes some funds will go to UT and other public universities, but it won’t be a large amount since Texas will divide the money across the state.

Fred Farias, chair of the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board, said the money will go into five different areas. He said $28.5 million will go to supporting and providing financial aid for critical student populations. Public universities and community colleges will apply for grants through the board and will award funds once applications are reviewed, he said.

About $50 million will go into expanding the capacity for high-demand and high-value educational opportunities, such as short term credentials to meet workforce needs, including $5 million for work-based

learning and apprenticeships, he said.

“Expanding capacity for high-demand, high-value education is important that we want to definitely look at as a coordinating board, because the COVID-19 pandemic accelerated changes in Texas higher education and workforce needs,” Farias said.

Farias said $10 million will establish the My Texas Future program that will provide a college career advising portal for all future college students in Texas who are deciding where to go or what to study. He said the program will feature virtual and live advisers and tools for students and families to explore different career paths. $4 million will also go into a new program called GradTX, which aims to reengage more than 4 million adult Texans who have attended some college but did not receive a degree, Farias said.

“We want to support them in terms of completing credentials of value so that they can contribute to the state’s economy and its recovery,” Farias said.

Alumna Kiara Vaughters said she needed financial support during the pandemic to pay for her 2020 summer classes, which allowed her to graduate early.

“It helped me not have to worry about that burden about making sure I was able to get to school (and) it made sure I was able to pay for my classes,” Vaughters said.

Farias said the board will take care to meet students and institutions’ critical needs caused by the pandemic.

“We want our students to be competent and be able to do very well and increase our overall stature in higher education,” Farias said.

juleanna culilap

/ the daily texan staff

LEAVE NO TRACE:

DISPOSE OF WASTE PROPERLY

Visiting an outdoor space in Austin?

Trashcans aren’t always nearby.

Remember to bring bags and reusable containers so you can pack out all trash, pet waste, and leftover food. austintexas.gov/leavenotrace

S A N I K A N AYA K

4

Editor-In-Chief | @TEXANOPINION TUESDAY, JULY 6, 2021

OPINION

increase increase accessibility accessibility to to dental dental care care University Health Services, provide easier access to dental services for students.

By Safa Michigan Columnist

ental hygiene is an easily forgotten part of our overall health, especially for college students. I’ve heard many of my friends say they haven’t been to the dentist in a long time due to financial or time constraints, and I have run into problems firsthand trying to find a local dentist who accepts my out-of-state insurance.

According to a report from the American College Health Association, “The combination of busy college students, risk taking, and lack of campus dental health care services is a dangerous triad both for the present and also for the future.”

In order to ensure it is fully taking care of its students’ health, University Health Services should increase accessibility to dental care.

UHS does not currently have any on-campus dental services, meaning students need to look for dentists in the Austin

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.

abriella corker

community. This can be difficult or even impossible for out-of-state students with out-ofnetwork plans or for uninsured students.

The only access to a dental insurance plan that the University provides is through the purchase of one of Blue Cross Blue Shield of Texas’ AcademicBlue student health insurance plans, which generally cost over $3,000 annually.

The plan covers limited cleanings and periodic maintenance, abscess treatments, a couple of X-rays, one sealant per tooth for those 19 and under, medically necessary services, and some oral surgery, although general anesthesia is only covered if proven necessary. Notably, most of the issues that are not covered are those prevalent in college students. This, along with the barrier of having to first purchase a full general health insurance plan, renders this option relatively inaccessible.

Dr. Terrance Hines, executive director and chief medical officer for UHS, explained the

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resources the University provides to students seeking dental care.

“We have previously explored the feasibility of establishing dental care on campus and remain open to student feedback. However, at this time there are no plans to open a dental clinic,” Hines said in an email. “If the need for dental care is identified when a student calls our Nurse Advice Line, referral information to accessible services in the community is provided.”

Yet, when I called the line to inquire about referrals to local dentists, I was told to turn to Google. The very least UHS could do to increase accessibility to dental care is guide students through the process or provide a list of local clinics that accept major insurances, including AcademicBlue.

The establishment of a low-cost dental clinic on campus seems to be a clear pathway to equitable access to dental care, so it’s surprising the University has decided against it. If

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/ the daily texan staff

establishing a clinic isn’t feasible, UHS could also explore partnering with local clinics to provide subsidized care to students with or without insurance who cannot afford it.

Cheney Melton, a finance junior, said she feels that the establishment of an on-campus dental clinic would make acquiring dental care easier.

“Even though I have insurance, dentists are still expensive. I feel like a UT dental clinic would be more affordable, like they are with psychiatry and doctor’s appointments,” Melton said.

By providing cheaper treatments for other health issues, the University has already demonstrated that they can do the same for dental care. Ultimately, dental care is a critical aspect of healthcare and should be treated as such.

Safa Michigan is a Plan II and race, indigeneity and migration junior from Shreveport, Louisiana.

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

OPINION

5

TUESDAY, JULY 6, 2021

COLUMN

Professors, record lectures to ease transition to fall semester

By Michael Lazenby Columnist

Many students are ecstatic about going back to in-person classes this fall, seeing their friends, and getting back to their normal lives. However, we’re still emerging from a global health crisis, and some students are understandably nervous about returning to campus.

Now more than ever, the University must help ease student concerns and be more accommodating, especially to those who are coming to campus for the first time this fall.

Professors, ease the transition for all students and continue recording your lectures.

As proven this past year, the University is capable of offering students the option of taking classes remotely. Returning to a campus where the majority of classes are in-person this fall might be a way to restore normalcy, but the administration must also take into account other factors students feel are important in easing this transition, such as safety and mental health. If students want to limit their amount of contact with others but still learn, they deserve the ability to make that choice.

Claire Konerza, a geography and sustainability studies junior, explained why professors should record lectures.

“If you need it, you should have access to recorded lectures, but you shouldn’t feel pressured to spill out your life story to a professor,” Konerza said. “(Recorded lectures) should be available, as (students)need (them).”

Recording lectures helps to make them accessible to all students, but it is even more crucial that professors prioritize accessibility during this time of transition. If students can’t access and review class material outside of synchronous lectures, they may struggle academically and feel demoralized, which could lead to additional stress.

“I think everyone’s different, and everyone handles situations differently, and

mental health is really important,” Konerza said. “I think not recording (lectures) could definitely have an impact on mental health, which is already a huge problem for college students.”

Joshua Childs, assistant professor in the Department of Educational Leadership and Policy, said he hopes professors are sympathetic to and prioritize students’ mental health concerns.

“I hope we understand, especially for our most marginalized, minoritized and vulnerable students, what this year was like, you know. People had to go back home to take care of family members who lost jobs,” Childs said.

Beyond understanding, Childs explained his plans to better accommodate his students this fall.

“A lot of students move back home or move … away. Austin is an expensive city to live in, so if the majority of my students want to still meet online, I’m willing to do a hybrid option,” Childs said. “I want my students to engage in class, period. I want them learning, so if that means providing accommodations for them to be able to do that to their fullest ability, I want to do that for them.”

While it’s encouraging that Childs sympathizes with students, I hope other professors are as accommodating. Understanding professors can build stronger bonds with students, which could lead to students becoming more engaged with the material being taught.

Students have lives outside of the classroom. They have jobs, extracurriculars and family to attend to. While it may seem like we simply come to class, do homework and take tests, there’s a lot more that goes on in the life of a UT student.

Last year, students were mainly stuck in online classes, and it isn’t easy returning to a normal campus. With 2020’s mayhem and the transition to this year’s unknowns, UT needs to prioritize student accessibility and well-being this fall.

Lazenby is an economics junior from Chicago, Illinois.

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.

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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.

/ the daily texan staff

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

6

TUESDAY, JULY 6, 2021

STUDENT LIFE

Couples talk isolation: ‘It’s benefited our relationship’

By Kevin Vu @Kevin_Vu_

While UT students Siya and Simon, who have been a couple since 2019, dealt with COVID-19 over the last year, they found a few effective coping mechanisms: hiking adventures, long drives and — of course — each other.

Psychology senior Siya Asatkar said although she and her boyfriend started dating the summer before their sophomore year, she feels like they know each other better after living together during the pandemic.

“Outside of my family, he was the only person my age that I really talked to for a copyright siya asatkar, and reproduced with permission very long time,” Asatkar said. “It was isoUT students Siya Asatkar and Simon Birk have been together since the summer of 2019. lated, but we were kind of like a single unit through the whole thing.”

Marci Gleason, associate professor of human development and family sciences, said the pandemic could have a positive effect The below is considered directory information.

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Any restriction you make will remain in effect until you revoke it. web page by the twelfth class day of the fall semester. If you request that ALL your directory relationships are less satinformation be restricted NO information about you will be given to anyone, including your isfying when only one partby law. Any restriction you •make willparking remainpermit in effect until •family Namemembers, except as required • Classification Student ner is experiencing stress, revoke it.

•you Local and permanent • Major field(s) of study information Gleason said. addresses • Expected date of graduation • Most recent previous educaname number This phenomenon, called • classification heightattended if member of •• Phone • Degrees, awards, and honors • weight tional and institution athletic team local address and permanent a stress spillover, can affect •• Email received (including selection •anJob title and dates of employ• major field(s) of study addresses • Public user name (UT EID) criteria) date of graduation • student ment when employed parking permitby the the success of a relation• expected •• Place birth • Participation in officially university in a position that information phoneofnumber ship. Since the pandemic • degrees, awards, and honors •• Dates attendance recognized activities and sports• the requires studentprevious status most recent e-mailofaddress is a stressor everyone feels, received (including selection • Enrollment status • Weight and height if member of educational institution attended • public user name (UT EID) criteria) it makes it easier for one to an athletic team • job title and dates of employ• place of birth blame issues on COVID-19 • participation in officially ment when employed by the recognized activities and rather than lashing out • dates of attendance DIRECTORY INFORMATION SHOULD BE KEPT CURRENT. OfficialUniversity correspondence is sent in a position that sports at their partner.

• the enrollment to postal orstatus email address last given to the registrar. If the student requires has failedstudent to correct this status Gleason said exeraddress, they will not be relieved of responsibility on the grounds that the correspondence was not delivered. For details about educational andCURRENT. official communications with the university cise, meditation and getDIRECTORY INFORMATION SHOULD records BE KEPT Official correspondence is sent see General Information, 2020-2021 catalog. ting good sleep are just to the postal or e-mail address last given to the registrar; if the student has failed to correct this address, he or she will not be relieved of responsibility on the grounds that the some ways of handling correspondence was not delivered. For details about stress. When it comes to educational records and official communications with the University see General Information, 2011–2012.

A Student’s Right To Privacy

relationships, Gleason said it’s best for couples to understand where each partner is coming from and try to forgive.

Computational biology senior Simon Birk said the stress caused by medical school applications and the Medical College Admissions Test occasionally spilled over into his relationship with his girlfriend. But living together during the pandemic allowed them to learn together and grow.

“There’s a lot of pressure on you to get everything done, get your clinical hours, get your volunteer hours, do well on your MCAT, and that can definitely weigh on me when there’s nothing else to think about and no real avenue to express myself,” Birk said.

Birk said he and Asatkar had to be cautious during the pandemic because his mother’s immune system is very vulnerable. So, he and Asatkar isolated themselves to help protect his mother’s health.

The couple lived together in a West Campus apartment in seclusion during the summer of 2020, Asatkar said. Birk and Asatkar both said there were a few occasions where they got on each other’s nerves, but the disagreements were more of a learning experience. In some ways, it made them take the relationship more seriously.

“We were forced to adapt. We were forced to really learn how to communicate with each other, which is still a work in progress,” Asatkar said. “I think the loneliness of the pandemic, at least for me, made making the relationship work a lot more important.”

Asatkar said she believes without the pandemic their relationship wouldn’t have grown.

“I learned a lot about myself. I learned a lot about him because I don’t know what a person is like until you have to deal with a difficult situation,” Asatkar said. “I’ve really come to admire the type of person that he is, and it’s benefited our relationship.”

NEWS

LIFE&ARTS

JENNIFER ERRICO

7

Life&Arts Editor | @TEXANARTS TUESDAY, JULY 6, 2021

FEATURE

Substance use impacts Austin musicians Musicians focus on addiction recovery as the Austin music scene becomes more active as COVID-19 restrictions lift.

By Morgan-Taylor Thomas @mtthomas_

CW: This article contains themes of addiction, substance use and recovery and mentions of suicide, overdose and mental illness. pinning tracks and entertaining the misfits of San Marcos, Phil Owen fell in love with music the first time he DJed at Wild Bills, a punk-rocknew-wave staple. The gig, meant to pay for college, quickly became his livelihood.

“I would DJ all around the state at different nightclubs,” Owen said. “I ultimately was asked by the singer of the band Ministry to start my own band, … (so) I started up a band of friends … and here we are 32 years later.”

Creating the punk rock band known today as Skatenigs, Owen’s journey of headbanging hits and electric guitars also involved substance use. What started with marijuana and alcohol in middle school turned into 35 years of polysubstance use.

“The excuses I created for myself with not being able to work or trying to sustain my drug habit is like a dog chasing his tail,” Owen said. “Chaos had become comfortable and it was what my normal was.”

Like Owen, musicians across Austin have fallen victim to addiction.

In an industry with higher depression

jack myer

/ the daily texan staff

For musicians like Phil Owen and Casey Seymour, substance use can often become part of their nontraditional livelihood. In an industry with higher depression and anxiety rates than the general population, some music professionals seek escape and relief in substance use.

and anxiety rates than the general popIn 2020, SIMS provided 10,855 counulation, music professionals find escape seling sessions, 996 psychiatry visits and and relief in substance use, especially 832 substance use disorder treatment when alcohol and drugs become comdays. However, the pandemic caused modities, according to fundraising to dry up, Patsy Dolan Boureslimiting the number of sa, SIMS Foundation musicians who could reexecutive director. ceive help.

“When you’re just Bouressa said the I felt like I was just starting your career number of people rehitting a point where quiring SIMS support and you go into a venue to put on your show, a declined during the (I was) … selflot of times you’re getpandemic because indestructive. It just ting paid in beer. That’s dividuals were staybroke me.” it. There’s no money,” ing home.

HowevBouressa said. er, as Austin’s music CASEY SEYMOUR The SIMS Foundascene slowly increases drummer tion focuses on mental its activity, she said health and substance more and more people use aid for musicians, music industry are actively seeking help. professionals and their dependent family Croy and the Boys drummer Casey members. After beloved Austin musician Seymour said a surplus of addictive Sims Ellison died by suicide in 1995, the substances plague party environments nonprofit was formed in his honor. in the music scene. Even though he

doesn’t think alcohol should be eliminated from music, he said the two worlds often overlap. “(Musicians) are almost working for the liquor companies,” Seymour said.

“If we make more money for the liquor companies in the bar, then we get more money. It’s almost like we’re contracted dealers for them.”

After the suicide of his friend Greg Enlow, an Austin musician, in March 2019, Seymour said he began drinking more heavily to cope with his depression.

Eventually, he needed alcohol just to control his breathing.

“It’s weird (because) suicide can almost be contagious,” Seymour said.

“I felt like I was just hitting a point where (I was) … self-destructive. It just broke me.”

The pandemic allowed Seymour to focus on his sobriety and mental health.

“Being able to take care of my mental health with talk therapy has enabled me in the pandemic to be in a place to have a conversation with another musician explaining that there is hope and that we will get through this,” Seymour said.

Now a member of the SIMS Foundation advisory board, Seymour uses his experiences as both a client and musician to start conversations and help break down mental illness stigmas within the industry.

Meanwhile, Owen has spent the last four and half years as a recovery coach at Communities for Recovery, exemplifying inspiration and selflessness. The nonprofit organization concentrates on long-term recovery support for people with substance use and co-occurring mental health issues.

“My son Cash died of a fentanyl overdose at 25,” Owen said. “(He) was sober before he died … and I just felt that there was a message there, … to work with people that were struggling with opioids.”

June 2021 marked Owen’s sixth year of sobriety.

8

TUESDAY, JULY 06, 2021

LIFE&ARTS

CITY

Hippie Hollow Park: Texas’ only nude beach promotes body positivity, acceptance

By Michelle Facio @michelleefacio

After Robert Gonzales went through a divorce in 2013, his anxiety took a heavy toll on his personal life. He was afraid to go anywhere by himself. His therapist challenged him to step out of his comfort zone, so he decided to go as far out as possible.

“When I went (to Hippie Hollow) for the first time, I kind of cheated because I was the first one at the park,” Gonzales said. “I said, ‘I’m gonna go in, I’m going to do it, then I’m leaving.’ If I can do that, I can do anything.”

Located on the shore of Lake Travis, Hippie Hollow is the only clothing-optional public park in Texas. It is restricted to people who are 18 years of age or older and does not permit lewd behavior. It has been operated by Travis County Parks since 1985.

Gonzales said he planned to dip in the water alone, but then other people started showing up. Instead of leaving, he decided to stay and meet some of the people that approached him in the water.

He said he was proud of himself that day for conquering his fear of uncomfortable social interaction.

“If (I’m) just walking down the street somewhere down-

town, I feel like people are staring at me,” Gonzales said. “(At Hippie Hollow), it doesn’t seem like that’s going on because everyone’s just down to their basics; they’re just relaxed.”

Katie Phoenix, regular Hippie Hollow visitor, said going to the park has significantly influenced her body confidence.

“I’ve always been very self-conscious about the amount of stretch marks I have because I’ve had two C-sections,” Phoenix said.

“Even if I lose a lot of weight, I would still have that overhang, so it’s always been an issue for me.”

Phoenix described visiting Hippie Hollow as an awakening experience. She said the lack of judgment from others allowed her to feel more comfortable in her own skin.

“No one in any way — not energy, not vibe, not verbally — body shames you there,” Phoenix said. “It’s complete and total body positivity, and it’s a huge experience and a massive mental change in the way you look at yourself. It makes you see yourself in a better light.”

UT alumna Angela Chastain started visiting Hippie Hollow two months ago but has enjoyed skinny-dipping recreationally for many years. She said there’re a lot of reasons

cate lowry

why UT students may not be as inclined to go to Hippie Hollow as other Austinites.

“We’ve got some really high achievers at UT and a lot of the time they are scared that their future employer might not approve if they have a photo tagged with Hippie Hollow as the location,” Chastain said. “I understand not wanting attorneys or bankers or CEOs or vice presidents

to find out about your weekend activities.”

She also said students may fear sexual harassment from others at the park. Hippie Hollow enforces their rules against sexual acts at the park and gives parkgoers a phone number to report any inappropriate behavior.

Harry Schroeder, who has visited the park since the late ’70s, said the original

/ the daily texan staff

Hippie Hollow hippies would sit around an area called Radio Rock. He said people would go to Hippie Hollow in different groups with radios and play their music, which led to the nickname.

“It’s like freedom,” Schroeder said. “I ride motorcycles and that is a freeing experience. Being nude outside with people, or even by yourself, is, to me, even more freeing.”

SPORTS

C A R T E R YAT E S

9

Sports Editor | @TEXANSPORTS TUESDAY, JULY 6, 2021

BASKETBALL

Chris Beard energizes Texas Newly hired Longhorn coach attacks the transfer portal and builds a new program culture.

By Ross Fisher @RossFisher23

he Texas men’s basketball program appeared to be heading toward a total rebuild one week after being crowned Big 12 Tournament champions.

A heartbreaking upset loss in the opening round of the 2021 NCAA Tournament to No. 14-seed Abilene Christian combined with the impending departure of numerous key players put a murky outlook on the Longhorns’ potential heading into next season. But while the program’s momentum stalled after the sixth year of the Shaka Smart era, new head coach Chris Beard has injected energy into the team with fiery press conferences and an aggressive approach in the transfer portal.

The overarching characteristics of Beard’s approach to

coaching are instilling toughness, relishing pressure situations and embracing adversity, all of which were on display when he took Texas Tech to the 2019 NCAA Tournament championship game as a third-year coach.

The Longhorns have lacked a mentally tough approach in recent years, resulting in the lack of postseason success.

To change that, Beard defined exactly what he wants his team to be: strong in the face of adversity, hard working and confident but also humble.

“We’re disciplined. We believe in toughness, physically and mental(ly),” Beard said during his introductory press conference April 2. “We have a confidence about us where we respect everyone and we don’t have entitlement, but we fear no one either. No one is better than us.

We are the University of Texas.”

As a Texas alumnus, Beard feels compelled to restore the winning history and tradition of the program. To do so, Beard said he wants to welcome back

josh guenther

/ the daily texan file

Chris Beard has injected a newfound energy into the Texas basketball program with fiery press conferences and an aggressive approach in the transfer portal.

former coaches, players and staff to practices and games in order to foster a community between the old guard and the current team.

“We’re going to get everyone under the same umbrella,” Beard said. “The power of the program is undeniable when we do that.”

Beard has already added former Texas assistant coaches Chris Ogden and Rodney Terry to his new coaching staff. Both Ogden and Terry were assistants under former Texas head coach Rick Barnes, who was at the helm for Texas basketball’s most successful era that featured a Final Four run in 2003 and 16 NCAA Tournament appearances.

For Rodney Terry, who left

his post as head coach at UTEP, coming back to Texas was all about the opportunity to work with Beard.

“The one thing that really attracted me to come back was having the opportunity to come back and work for Chris Beard,” Terry said during a May 5 press conference. “He’s the kind of guy who’s going to come back here and win a National Championship.”

Hearkening back to the winning tradition instilled by coaches like Barnes and drawing inspiration from other successful Texas head coaches like Eddie Reese, a 15-time National Champion Men’s Swimming and Diving head coach, Beard embraces the weight and expectations

placed upon him to live up to the Texas standard.

“I understand the standards of the University of Texas. I understand where our men’s basketball program is going to be, and needs to be and deserves to be,” Beard said. “Those expectations and standards don’t scare me. Don’t get it twisted — it’s the reason that I am here today, is the expectation and the standards of where this program needs to be.”

In summer workouts, Beard and his new unit have been seen sporting T-shirts that read “culture” on them. Perhaps the shirts are a sign of what Beard hopes is a new era for Texas men’s basketball.

“To me, life’s about opportunities,” Beard said. “I intend to make the most of this one.”

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TUESDAY, JULY 6, 2021

SPORTS

FEATURE

copyright courtesy of ncaa, and reproduced with permission

Texas senior linebacker DeMarvion Overshown moves in for a tackle during a game against Oklahoma on Oct. 12, 2019. Overshown is one of multiple UT athletes who have announced sponsorships and apparel deals after the implementation of a new name, image and likeness law.

UT athletes take advantage of name, image and likeness law

By Matthew Boncosky @mboncosky

The business of college sports entered uncharted territory, bursting with new opportunities and uncertainty, when the clock struck midnight on Thursday, July 1.

With the passage of Senate Bill 1385, Texas student athletes can now receive compensation outside of school-granted scholarships without losing their eligibility. The name, image and likeness law does away with the strict NCAA rules that prevented college athletes from profiting off of endorsements and sponsorships.

“I think we’re heading into a period of semi-chaos as things sort of shake out,” said John Murphy, professor emeritus in the Stan Richards School of Advertising and Public Relations. “You

could build a case that college athletes have been sort of like indentured servants in terms of not having the ability to capitalize on something that has economic value, so this is a breath of fresh air.”

Within hours, student athletes across the country jumped at the new opportunities afforded to them, announcing partnerships and brand deals with companies they previously weren’t allowed to work with.

Texas senior linebacker DeMarvion Overshown and senior defensive back Josh Thompson signed apparel deals Thursday with Last Stand Hats, an Austin-based clothing brand. Several other Longhorn football players announced partnerships with Yoke Gaming, a service that allows fans to play video games with athletes.

For athletes to make the most

of their newfound economic freedom, Murphy said standing out among a sea of personalized logos and clothing lines will be key.

“What sort of products and services can an 18 to 21-year-old athlete endorse that makes sense?”

Murphy said. “In terms of thinking about advertising and marketing, to have the most powerful connection, there needs to be a logical relationship between the endorser and what that person is endorsing.”

At a school like Texas with a large brand located in a major city, NIL benefits will extend far beyond just the most popular players on the football team. Lauren Burke, a junior softball utility player who has nearly 400,000 followers on TikTok, signed Friday with Barstool Sports, an internet and sports blog.

Based on their Instagram

posts, neither Burke nor Barstool founder Dave Portnoy know exactly what it will mean to be an official Barstool athlete yet, a sign of how rapidly the scene is changing at the moment.

One of the few certainties is how large of a role social media will play in the new NIL era, with more popular athletes likely to garner lots of attention from companies that no longer have to become official school sponsors to reach Texas fans.

Despite NIL’s benefits, murky water lies ahead in regards to how the new policies will be monitored. Questions will certainly arise about how large of a role cash benefits will play in the recruitment of high school athletes. Already, the various Texas athletics social media accounts have been advertising to recruits on how they could

benefit from the Texas brand and popularity if they come to Austin.

“If you go to the University of Texas versus other schools in the state that are not as widely known, don’t have as big of an alumni base and so on, you’re not going to be able to benefit from (NIL) as much as a student here,” Murphy said.

“That strikes me as being a little unfair.”

Regardless, NIL is the new reality for college sports. Student athletes must now make important decisions on how to brand themselves and who to align with for their economic interests.

“Proceed with caution,” Murphy said. “Realize that who you align yourself with is going to affect your ability to monetize (yourself) in the future.”

COMICS

DESTINY ALEXANDER

Comics Editor | @TEXANCOMICS TUESDAY, JULY 6, 2021

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12

TUESDAY, JULY 06, 2021

LIFE&ARTS

STUDENT LIFE

UT sister duo use startup to encourage sustainable shopping

By Emma Williams @emmmawillliams

Helena Sampayo decided to pass the time one quarantine day by sewing two of her dad’s old button-down shirts together. She shoved the shirt in her closet, forgetting all about it, until her younger sister, Gisele, wore it outside.

After recieving an abundance of compliments, Gisele called Helena.

“Helena,” said international business junior Gisele, “You’re going to think I’m crazy, but I want to start a business. I want to sell these shirts.”

The Sampayo sisters released their first line on Instagram in October 2020 and sold out of shirts in less than 10 minutes. Immediately, they recognized the potential of the product of Helena’s boredom and decided to pursue Split Shirt as a legitimate business.

“It didn’t start off as my passion, but it has truly become my passion,” said UT alumna Helena.

Helena said though Split Shirts are made from thrifted, donated or pre-loved button-downs, they didn’t plan to focus on sustainability until they began researching their production and shipping methods.

Gisele and Helena said they were shocked by how

much fast fashion ends up in landfills, affecting our entire ecosystem. The sisters said sustainability quickly became a priority and passion. Helena even wrote her senior thesis on sustainable apparel and included Split Shirt in a research study certified by the Institutional Review Board.

In her research, Helena said she realized many consumers want to buy sustainable clothing, but high prices, inavailability and inconvenience often sends them back to their previous fast-fashion choices. The Sampayo sisters aimed to thwart this behavior and give consumers a product that is authentic, trendy and accessible.

“Our selling point and the reason that consumers value our clothing is that every single item is unique,” Helena said.

Mara Ramos, Split Shirt customer and UT alumna, praises the individuality of Split Shirts.

“I think it’s definitely shown that sustainable fashion does not equal boring clothing,” Ramos said. “I view it now as a way of making use of what’s available and creating something new, chic and unique to the person.”

The Sampayo sisters decided to use Split Shirt as a

platform to show their customers how amazing upcycled clothing can be and encourage their customers to blend it into their closets. “(Split Shirt) is a stepping stone,” Helena said. “You can integrate your Zara jeans with a Split Shirt, and hey, maybe tomorrow you’ll shop at the thrift store instead.”

Gisele said they also made it a company goal to educate their customers on sustainability. Madeline Brentlinger, a Split Shirt customer and UT alumna, said reading statistics on the Split Shirt Instagram shocked her.

“The average person throws away 70 pounds of clothing every year,” Brentlinger said.

“That blew my mind.”

What was once a quarantine project is now a passion for both sisters. Helena said they want to continue Split Shirt for as long as they can and intend to grow their role as sustainability educators by hiring a sustainability consultant to decrease their environmental footprint.

“We want to be able to teach our customers, hey, it’s not that hard to shop secondhand,” Helena said. “We want to serve as a stepping stone for our consumers to start shopping secondhand.” copyright ana leal, and reproduced with permission

Sisters, Gisele (left) and Helena (right) Sampayo started their own sustainable clothing brand to encourage second hand shopping.