The Daily Texan 2021-09-10

DT Dismantling Global Hindutva Conference sparks debate

VOLUME 122, ISSUE 16 FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 10, 2021

Students and professors share their perspectives.

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UT student and faculty discuss Hindutva, a right-wing political ideology branching off Hinduism.

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Submitted op-eds discuss opposing views of the Dismantling Global Hindutva Conference.

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Contents:

UT System chancellor met with Biden Administration to discuss future of Cybersecurity

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By Sheryl‌ ‌Lawrence‌ @sheryl_adelle‌

The UT System chancellor met in late August with U.S. President Joe Biden to address the growing need to protect against increasingly malicious cyber-attacks and bring more women into the workforce since men comprise 80% of UT System degree programs.

Chancellor James B. Milliken said the Biden administration invited the UT System to the summit because the National Security Agency designated four UT System campuses as centers of academic excellence. The day-long summit included conversations on how to recruit a diverse group of UT System students for cybersecurity jobs to improve the technology throughout the cybersecurity sector and among natural gas pipelines.

A record-breaking number of cyberattacks occurred in 2020, according to Forbes. Recently, a cyberattack in May halted the transportation of 45% of the East Coast’s fuel supplies, according to The New York Times.

Milliken said there are roughly 50,000 cybersecurity job openings in Texas alone, and the career is growing in need and popularity. Between 2020 and 2030, the Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts a 33% increase in demand for information security analysts, and the demand for cybersecurity professionals is at an all-time high.

Milliken said he hopes to see more diversity in the field because less than 20% of students in the degree programs for cybersecurity at UT System institutions are women.

“We’re leaving too much talent out of the equation here by not having a sufficient number of, particularly women, who are involved in this field nationally,” Milliken said.

To continue to grow diversity in the field, IBM announced partnerships with more than 20 historically Black colleges and universities to establish cybersecurity leadership centers at the summit.

Companies and leaders at the Summit, such as Google, Microsoft and Girls Who Code, hope

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The UT System Chancellor met in late August with U.S. President Joe Biden to address the growing need to protect against increasingly malicious cyber attacks.

to partner with young people in the UT System and help them get jobs in areas where their credentials can be maximized.

“This is an area where you don’t necessarily need to have a degree or you don’t necessarily need to have a degree in this particular field,” Milliken said.

The UT System also hopes to grow its outreach to K-12 education programs because of their interest in the digital world.

“We have to do a better job of providing information in K-12, so that younger people understand the opportunities and degree programs where they may have a significant interest already because of their interest in gaming,” Milliken said.

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FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 10, 2021

RESEARCH

UT researchers discover method to convert untapped oil into clean hydrogen energy source

By Katy Nelson @KatyNel86

UT researchers discovered a way to convert untapped oil into clean hydrogen energy, which could change how cars are powered and lower pollution.

Researchers used a method of oil recovery, which utilizes oxygen to create a combustion reaction to produce the hydrogen and carbon dioxide while using filters to keep the carbon dioxide in the reservoir. The researchers believe hydrogen energy could replace gasoline as a cleaner and more effective energy source.

Hydrogen energy is considered a significantly cleaner resource than the petroleum that’s currently used for combustion engines.

Research associate Joshua Rhodes said that hydrogen burns similar to gasoline, but hydrogen creates water as a by-product instead of carbon dioxide with oil.

“Hydrogen is a secondary greenhouse gas,” Rhodes said. “It can have the effects of a greenhouse gas, but its impact is much lower than something like methane or (carbon dioxide).”

Research program director Ian Duncan said it could take a long time for hydrogen to replace petroleum products. And even if all cars are converted to hydrogen energy, it will be very expensive. The researchers have not been able to exactly determine the cost to create the hydrogen energy.

Duncan said electricity could also utilize the hydrogen energy reaction they created with oil by using electricity as the catalyst to transport hydrogen throughout pipelines around the state.

“When you move electricity on the transmission pipeline you lose 20-25% of electricity because it gets wasted due to heat

loss through the lines,” Duncan said. “So you’re losing it, whereas if you move the energy in the form of hydrogen, there’s very little loss at all.”

Additionally, more energy can be extracted using the hydrogen process. Duncan said more researchers can extract hydrogen energy from almost all the oil stored in fields, but traditional petroleum extraction can only retrieve half of the oil in fields.

“When you produce an oilfield about half of the oil is left behind,” Duncan said. “You can’t ever get it out of the ground, but you could convert it into hydrogen and you’d have a source of hydrogen that didn’t depend on either natural gas or electricity prices, it would have a stable operating expense.”

The researchers are trying to collaborate with energy companies such as Shell and Chevron to get more funding to advance the project, Duncan said.

“It’s not going to be easy,” Duncan said. “But if we can make it happen then there would be a huge amount of energy in the United States that would suddenly become available in a very clean form.”

The Department of Energy recognized the team at a workshop in July. Mark Shuster, deputy director of research at the bureau of economic geology, said the team is hoping the department’s interest could lead to funding opportunities at UT. Rhodes said the change from petroleum to hydrogen could be difficult, but the environment would be a lot cleaner.

“We will see an immediate increase in the local air quality,” Rhodes said. “A lot of haziness or smog (is) induced by the exhaust and they come out of vehicles so if all that were taken away, then the air would be a lot cleaner.”

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UT researchers discovered a way to convert untapped oil into clean hydrogen energy, which could replace gasoline as a cleaner and more effective energy source.

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Hindutva is not Hinduism

By Sharmila Rudrappa Contributor

Editor’s note: This column was submitted to the Texan by a member of the UT community.

Along with colleagues from 53 U.S. universities, as the director of the South Asia Institute I decided to co-sponsor the conference titled “Dismantling Global Hindutva: Multidisciplinary Perspectives.” The organizers and co-sponsors around the country have faced unprecedented opposition to this conference, which is an examination of the politicization of Hinduism. The conference has been wrongly cast as a criticism of Hinduism, and an attack on Hindus. Some of the backlash has been in bad faith, with violent, hate-filled emails and tweets directed at the conference speakers. But in addition, there have been heartfelt questions from individuals who have expressed consternation that their religion and their communities are being misrepresented. They have reached out to start a conversation.

I am saddened that the misrepresentation of the South Asia Institute’s support for an academic conference has caused pain in some people. Our position is exactly the opposite of how some critics have cast the conference: We are, in fact, deeply committed to the understanding of Hinduism as an organic and irreducible part of South Asia. I want to reiterate that Hindutva cannot be conflated with Hinduism. Instead, it is a political

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.

ideology that asserts that only Hinin October 2020, and denied bail redus can be full citizens in India. M.S. peatedly even though he was very ill.

Golwalkar, a founding figure in the He tested positive for COVID-19 and Hindutva movement used to argue passed away July 5, 2021. that only for Hindus did the nation, This is not the India I grew up in. motherland and sacred land coincide, And I am a Hindu. My religious tradiand therefore Muslims did not belong tion does not turn a blind eye to represin India, and Buddhists and Sikhs sion, rape and death. I am a Lingayat, a were only lapsed Hindus. member of a community of Hindus in Like many fundamentalist ideolSouth India that was founded by 12th ogies, under the banner of Hindutva century philosophers Basava and Akka ideology there has been a horrific rise Mahadevi (a powerful spiritual woman in hate crimes, leader, I might lynching, rapes add) who rejected and killings of caste distinctions.

Muslims, Sikhs, My Lingayat comChristians and munity is joyously We are, in fact, dissident Hinsyncretic: We celdus in India. The ebrated Ganesh deeply committed most heartbreakChaturthi as well to the understanding ing case for me, as Christmas, and as someone who joined our Musof Hinduism as grew up in Banlim neighbors an organic and galore, is that of when they broke irreducible part Gauri Lankesh, the fast at the end journalist and of Ramadan. I am of South Asia. critic of the right, grateful for what who was shot to my religion has death outside her given me through Bangalore home its teachings on Sept. 5, 2017. self-reflection, Since then, the suppression has gotten generosity to others and respect for all worse. Dozens of human rights advoforms of life. cates have been imprisoned without My ethos of justice, inculcated due process under repressive anti-terthrough my religion, carries into my rorism laws. An example is that of profession and belief in academStan Swamy, a Jesuit priest who was ic freedom that is a central tenet to a tribal rights activist. At 84 years old knowledge production. Academic he was the oldest person in India to be freedom protects the right of univeraccused of terrorism. He was arrested sity professors to engage in unbiased,

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evidence-based intellectual pursuits.

Such freedoms seek to promote scholarly debates in our search for knowledge. The University of Texas at Austin is world renowned precisely because it has facilitated critical research and learning among its faculty, students and staff.

As a federally funded National Resource Center, the South Asia Institute’s mandate is to provide resources for our communities on the cultures, histories and religions of South Asia, including teaching languages such as Sanskrit, Urdu, Hindi, Kannada and Malayalam. We provide teaching resources for K-12 teachers, and we facilitate curriculum development on South Asia related matters with Texas-based minority serving institutions and community colleges. It is in this regard that the South Asia Institute supported the conference, “Dismantling Global Hindutva: Multidisciplinary Perspectives.”

As a practicing Hindu myself, I would not support anything that is xenophobic. My support for this conference is in the interest of debate on sensitive topics that must be discussed publicly. Bullying us into silence is not a democratic way to move forward. But I do want to engage with those individuals who are upset that the South Asia Institute would support such a conference. My hope is that I have started a conversation on this front.

Rudrappa is a sociology professor and the director of the South Asia Institute.

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UT must stand against antiHindu sentiments

By Siddarth Kaki, Lalith Gannavaram, Shivani Revuru, Srikari Punyamurtula & Lasya Indrakanti Contributors

Editor’s note: This column was submitted to the Texan by a member of the UT community.

We are Hindu students at the University of Texas at Austin, and we are greatly concerned about the upcoming “Dismantling Global Hindutva: Multidisciplinary Perspectives” conference, planned to be hosted Sept. 10-12, 2021.

UT-Austin is listed as a co-sponsor for this conference.

The conference states its purpose is to combat “Hindutva,” which they define as a specific political ideology in India. The conference states the distinction between “Hindutva,” a political ideology in India, and Hinduism, a religion. Respectful debate and discussion are fully in line with Hindu values, and are essential to a democracy, whether in the US, India or elsewhere. However, this conference neither provides a platform for debate, which logically requires at least two sides rather than just one viewpoint, nor presents material respectfully. In fact, many presenters have a history of publicly stating disparaging, disrespectful and openly hostile comments about Hinduism, not “Hindutva.” Furthermore, the conference publicizes the Hindutva Harassment Field Manual, which clearly states

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that “Hinduphobia” rests on the tem.” This statement, which ties horfalse notion that Hindus have faced rible inequities to a religion that besystematic oppression throughout lieves in the Oneness of all existence history and in present times.” This and the notion of vasudhaiva kuṭumstatement is concerning, dangerous bakam (“the world is one family”), is and false. Such a stance gaslights disturbing and false. This is not to Hindus around the world and denies say the inequities in India (and elsethe very real hardships our ancestors where) do not exist. Violence and disfaced and persevered through. What crimination on the basis of gender, about the Hindus massacred during caste, socio-economic backgrounds, the 1971 Bengali Hindu genocide? Or etc. unfortunately do exist in all parts the Kashmir Hindu ethnic cleansing? of the world, and need to be eradicatHistory presed. The first step ents innumerto eradication, able examples however, is idenof systematic tifying the true oppression of origin of the ineqHindus, and it uities, which in the Denying oppression is still a probcase of India is due is a disrespectful, lem today in to socio-economdiscriminatory and n u m e r o u s ic systems and countries such emergent cultural disdainful viewpoint as Bangladesh factors, exacerbatto propagate and Pakistan. ed by centuries of against any In fact, Hindcolonial rule. Slanuphobia is indering a religion religious community. creasingly prevand a people’s alent in the US way of life will as well. Denying not mitigate the oppression is a inequities. In fact, disrespectful, doing so succumbs discriminatory and disdainful viewto the disdainful colonial gaze on point to propagate against any reliHinduism. Practicing and respecting gious community — especially when Hinduism does not cause discriminathat community is a micro-minority tion and violence; rather, individuals in most of the world. who use their “faith” to mask their The conference states that “Hinprejudices does. Discrimination on duism has rightly been critiqued for any basis is against Hindu values. the deep inequities in Indian society, The Hindu community forms a most importantly for the caste syssizable and important portion of

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the UT-Austin family, spanning many academic disciplines and classifications.

This conference, rather than celebrating the diversity that exists in the world and at UT, instead creates an unwelcome environment for Hindus by gaslighting the students through the denial of the oppression Hindus have been facing. The University endorses “responsibility” as one of its core values, and defines it as a “catalyst for positive change for Texas and beyond.”

Endorsing slander of the religion, values and culture of any portion of UT’s own student body is a gross transgression of the University’s self-professed values. We call for the University to stand by its core tenets, and display its commitment to the protection of diversity for all students, staff and faculty — past, present and future.

Kaki is an Aerospace Engineering Ph.D. student from Austin, TX. Gannavaram is an Aerospace Engineering and Sanskrit senior from Austin, TX. Revuru is a Computer Science and Mathematics senior from Irving, TX. Punyamurtula is an Environmental Science senior from Austin, TX. Indrakanti is Sanskrit freshman from Austin, TX.

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NEWS

Dismantling Global Hindutva Conference sparks debate Some students concerned about anti-Hindu nationalism conference turning into anti-Hinduism rhetoric.

Content warning: This article contains discussions of racism and death.

By Kaushiki Roy @kaushikiroy3

alicia paz

/ the daily texan staff

T’s South Asia Institute is sponsoring a national conference aimed at “dismantling” a right-wing political ideology that stems from a radicalized branch of Hinduism and is gaining political power in India. Some UT students are concerned the conference may promote anti-Hindu rhetoric, since some speakers have disrespected religious Hindu symbols and scriptures in the past.

Over 40 universities are sponsoring the Dismantling Global Hindutva conference, which will take place virtually Sept. 10-12. The conference will host several speakers to discuss Hindutva, a pro-Hindu political ideology that would establish Hinduism as the sole and supreme religion in India and push out minority faiths such as Islam.

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FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 10, 2021

Hinduism vs. Hindutva Snehal Shingavi, Asian American studies and English professor, said some conference controversy comes from confusion about the difference between Hinduism and Hindutva.

About 80% of people in India practice Hinduism, one of the world’s oldest religions which emphasizes truth and a harmonious way of life. Hindutva is a political ideology used to place Hinduism above other religions and create a religiously homogeneous society.

Many people oppose the conference because they believe it will promote anti-Hindu views by inaccurately conflating Hindutva and Hinduism.

“The Dismantling Global Hindutva conference is trying to highlight the dangers of this political formation which many have associated with the closest thing we have in the world today to mid-20th-century ideas of fascism,” Shingavi said. “Many of the leaders of Hindutva organizations in

the earlier part of the 20th centuries actually drew inspiration from Hitler and Mussolini.”

Currently, Hindutva has gained traction through India’s leading rightwing political party that is trying to push out other religions from India and establish it as a solely Hindu country. India’s prime minister has passed multiple bills such as the Citizenship Amendment Act in 2019, forcing non-Hindu undocumented

residents to leave India.

Shingavi said it is important for South Asian Americans to understand what is going on in India with Hindutva.

“Organizing South Asians in the United States in arming them with some activist knowledge, some history, some political ideas and some tactics to be able to challenge and resist (Hindutva) is important,” Shingavi said.

Chinmaya Mission chapter, a relipast. Meena Kandasamy, a speaker gious Hindu organization that proat the conference, wrote a poem in motes the study of Hindu scriptures, 2012, sexualizing deities in the Rasaid the political opinions showcased mayana a scripture explaining the in the conference are important, but importance of familial relationships he feels the Hindu religion and its and social responsibility. scripture should In the story, stay out of the when the prince event altogether. goes to live in the “The issue, howforest to fulfill a ever, is that it very promise to his faThe method of dismuch seems like ther, his wife gets the conference is a cussion needs to be kidnapped, which smokescreen. They leads the prince to mediated and needs fight a war to free say it’s against Hindutva, but almost to be a debate rather her. Kandasamy’s every single panelpoem overly sexuthan a verdict.” ist they listed the alized the scripture names there and all by claiming the wife LALITH GANNAVARAM member of ut’s chinmaya the materials that had sexual feelings mission chapter they’ve sent out, toward her kidhave very specificalnapper, Hindu on ly anti-Hindu biasCampus said. es,” said Kaki, an aerospace engineer“Some of the speakers on the line ing graduate student. take some very revered texts and stoKaki said panelists disrespected ries from Hinduism and portray it Hindu texts and scriptures in the in a disturbing fashion,” Kaki said.

“There’s really no other point (in) saying something in a derogatory fashion, other than if you have a bias against them.”

Lalith Gannavaram, also a member of UT’s Chinmaya Mission chapter, said he feels the way the conference is advertising itself evokes confusion and controversy. “(Dismantling Global Hindutva) suggests ... it’s not just a political ideology that’s being propagated in India but a common thread (in) Indians across the globe,” said Gannavaram, an aerospace engineering and Sanskrit senior.

Gannavaram said he urges everyone to take an educated viewpoint without any preconceived biases toward or against the conference.

“I am strongly on one side, but that doesn’t mean that the conference should not happen,” Gannavaram said. “It means that the method of discussion needs to be mediated and needs to be a debate rather than a verdict.”

Student Concerns Hindu on Campus, an Indian diaspora student activist organization, released a video clip on Twitter on Aug. 19 expressing its concerns about the respective speakers in the conference.

In the video, Hindu on Campus included tweets from speakers who exhibited anti-Hindu views in the past.

The organization referenced the conference’s speaker Kavita Krishnan, who tweeted in 2015 about two brothers who murdered their sister for trying to elope with her cousin because Hindu values prompted them to.

Krishnan said the brothers committed murder because the Hindu festival Raksha Bandhan, which celebrates brotherly protection, gave them the right to control their sister’s actions. Hindu on Campus clarified in the video that the members of the isolated incident did not practice Hinduism, and Krishnan used the example to incorrectly portray violent acts motivated by the religion.

Siddarth Kaki, a member of UT’s

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Life&Arts Editor | @TEXANARTS FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 10, 2021

LIFE&ARTS

BOOK

A tale of embracing life

Matt Haig’s “The Midnight Library” offers comfort, creates safe space for conversations.

By Sofia Treviño @Sofiacis_7

n honor of National Suicide Prevention Week, from Sept. 6-12, The Daily Texan reviewed “The Midnight Library,” a tale of embracing life, by English author Matt Haig. Haig, who has struggled with depression, anxiety and suicidal thoughts himself, aims to inspire his readers and create a safe space through his work.

Through the 2020 novel, Haig delivers a powerful message on mental health struggles from a lighthearted and fictional lens. Following 35-year-old Nora Seed through a magical in-between state after a suicide attempt, Haig delves into the existential question of the meaning of life.

Drowning in regrets, just fired and mourning the loss of her beloved cat, Nora finds herself in the

Midnight Library, a library existing between life and death. Guided by her elementary school librarian, Mrs. Elm, Nora transports into different books, each showing a different version of her life, where, dependent on a choice she did or did not make, experiences a completely different reality.

As Nora traverses through these alternate lives, where her occupation ranges from glaciologist to rock star to a mother, she learns though her other potential lives may appear promising, each comes with imperfections.

One version finds Nora as an Olympic swimmer, a route made possible if she had not quit the sport at a young age. Waking up in a fancy hotel room as a two-time Olympian with a perfect athlete’s build, Nora begins to wish to stay in this version of herself.

However, by the end of the day, Nora learns in this version of her life, she struggled with self-harm and the loss of her mother.

Each time Nora chooses to pull out of a storyline, Mrs. Elm shows her the library’s largest book — the Book of Regrets. After Nora sees the shortcomings of each life, regrets slowly vanish from its pages.

Realizing that each version comes with new flaws, Nora begins to find hope in her original life again.

Mrs. Elm often pushes Nora in the positive direction with words like, “You don’t have to understand life. You just have to live it.”

With Haig’s beautiful writing and heavy use of metaphors, such as comparing life to a chess game and people to cities, Nora’s journey reads like a warm hug that invites introspection.

Despite the enjoyable writing, the pacing as Nora explores each alternate version of herself feels tedious at times and the message of the story gets lost behind an abundance of inspirational quotes.

Still, even through the predictable and cheesy moments, “The Midnight Library” serves as a comforting reminder of living in the present moment and finding the joy in each day.

copyright viking books, and reproduced with permission

THE MIDNIGHT LIBRARY GENRE Fantasy SCORE

LIFE&ARTS

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 10, 2021

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MUSIC

The Sound of UT: Ceci Garza talks mariachi

By Morgan-Taylor Thomas @mtthomas_

From a young age, Ceci Garza listened to the festive sounds of mariachi. In high school, her mariachi playing father inspired her to test the waters, leading her to fall in love with the art. Now a government junior, Garza not only plays the violin but also sings in both the University’s mariachi group, Mariachi Paredes de la Universidad de Texas, as well as Mariachi Cielo Azul, a band made up of UT students and alumni.

The Daily Texan spoke with Garza about mariachi’s cultural connection, traditional wear and her post UT mariachi goals.

The Daily Texan: Why do you feel so connect-

ed to mariachi?

Ceci Garza: I love performing. I love having a

solo song, wearing the suit — I feel amazing in it. Even before mariachi, I loved being in the spotlight, performing in front of people and hearing them afterwards with their praises.

Getting recognized for all the hard work that we had done really motivates me to continue.

Mariachi is so entertaining, and I would have never had this if I was in an orchestra.

DT: What do you wear during performances?

CG: The traditional mariachi suit is three pieces. They’re very heavy (and) very hot, but they’re beautiful. They have a lot of embroidery and gold brooches all along the sides. Some of our suits are suede and some of them are a lighter

material. Girls can wear an off the shoulder Mexican top or a dress shirt with a lot of embroidery on it, but usually we wear the actual mariachi suit most of the time. We also wear huge earrings and bows — the whole shebang.

DT: How does mariachi impact Hispanic and Latinx culture?

CG: It’s had a tremendous impact in Texas, growing every year and giving hundreds of students the motivation to be in something and have an interest. I think that’s really important, especially for kids getting into the arts and being passionate about where they come from.

DT: What’s the difference between playing vi-

olin mariachi style versus classically?

CG: Since we’re performing as a group, we have to memorize everything. We’re standing up the whole time, not just sitting down and playing the music. It’s a lot more energetic and very tiring as well.

DT: What goals do you have for your mariachi career?

CG: Every little girl’s dream is to become a star, right? Obviously, it’s not my main realistic goal, but (making it big is) something I think about a lot. I make pretty good money every weekend doing it, and it’s my main source of income right now. I want to continue post-college because it’s a great job to have (that’s) not a nine to five, and hopefully, play on bigger stages for people I admire. … It’s easy because I’ve done it my whole life.

copyright ceci garza, and reproduced with permission

Ceci Garza is a member of the University’s mariachi group, Mariachi Paredes de la Universidad de Texas seen above. Mariachi has always been an important part of Garza’s life from a young age and she continues to pursue this passion.

N AT H A N H A N

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Sports Editor | @TEXANSPORTS FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 10, 2021

BASKETBALL

SPORTS

Timmy Allen’s Road to Texas Head coach Chris Beard introduced transfer Timmy Allen to fans and media on Wednesday.

By Christina Huang @stina_huang

big task on head coach Chris Beard’s todo list is get the Texas fanbase familiar with the new players who will suit up in the burnt orange this season.

Wednesday’s media availability for Texas men’s basketball was driven by Beard’s desire to foster that fan-athlete relationship to increase attendance and therefore wins during the season.

Next to Beard sat senior forward Timmy Allen, a transfer from Utah. Beard said he and Allen share the same vision about winning, something that attracted him most to the 6-foot-6-inch front man.

“He’s overcome a lot of adversity to be here at this level today,” Beard said. “I’m excited for you guys to spend a few minutes with him now and develop a relationship with him over time.”

The Arizona product spent the first three years of his collegiate career at Utah. Allen

copyright ncaa, and reproduced with permission

chose Utah over offers from Beard’s former school Texas Tech, UCLA and Iowa State, among others, but decided to enter the transfer portal after Utah head coach Larry Krystkowiak was fired in March.

Allen received first team Pac-12 honors during his final season with Utah and averaged 17.2 points per game.

“He’s a humble guy, but he’s one of the best players in college basketball,” Beard said.

“He can do a lot of different things (and) he can impact the game in a lot of different ways.

He’s everything our program is about and will be about.

He’s got a toughness to him and an unselfishness to him.”

Aside from praising Allen for his skills as a basketball player, Beard also highlighted Allen’s personal struggles that helped him become the elite player he is today. Allen’s mother, Elise, passed away during his junior year of high school after a battle with cancer.

“My recruitment was really good for a while (in) my junior year, and then my mom passed

and I took a couple months off,” Allen said. “I just slipped a little bit in my game.”

Although Allen’s mother did not get the chance to see her son play college basketball, he carries her memory with him through everything he does.

“She has everything to do with why I’m here and what I’m doing and how I do it,” Allen said. “She’s the heart of my heart. I am her. She lives through me. So that’s kind of what I’m trying to bleed into this program.”

Allen has responded well to

the culture of hard work Beard has worked to instil in his first year at Texas. Allen said he wanted to be surrounded by the best players in the country, and that Texas gives him the best opportunity to challenge himself.

“That’s something new for me here. … I want that tough practice every day,” Allen said.

“I want to be coached hard every day and I want to be surrounded by great people and players every day. So being here is just the best fit for me.”

SPORTS

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FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 10, 2021

FOOTBALL

Texas, Arkansas quick to set up new rivalry

By Matthew Boncosky @mboncosky

The Texas Longhorns and Arkansas Razorbacks are set to renew a centuries old Southwest Conference rivalry on Saturday when No. 15 Texas travels to Fayetteville to face off on the gridiron.

Texas and Arkansas were founding members of the now-defunct Southwest Conference in 1914, but the two first met in 1894 ending in a 54-0 Texas blowout, fueling the first bits of hatred that would follow in the proceeding games. Since then, the series has seen many iconic moments including the 1969 “Game of the Century”, a showdown between No. 1 Texas and No. 2 Arkansas that ended in a Texas comeback victory and the school’s second football national championship.

“Going to Arkansas, it’s a pretty cool game,” Texas head coach Steve Sarkisian said Monday. “To think this will be the 79th time these two schools have met, it’s pretty special for that opportunity obviously (for) old Southwest Conference foes to meet.”

When Arkansas left the Southwest Conference after the 1991 season, regular meetings between the two rival schools ended. Saturday will be just the sixth game in the last 30 years between Arkansas and Texas.

For current students on the Arkansas campus, the Razorbacks’ main rivals are Southeastern Conference foes LSU and Missouri. Many younger fans don’t understand the utter disdain that elder generations have for Texas, but they want to, especially with Texas joining the SEC soon. “(LSU and Missouri) are fine and good, but they don’t feel like real rivalries,” said Mason Choate, sports editor at The Arkansas Traveler. “Even for the students on campus, you can just feel the hate a little bit more than you feel for LSU or Missouri, and I think that just comes from the history that comes with the rivalry. Even though we haven’t been a part of it really, it’s still that big of a deal here in Fayetteville.”

Early signs indicate emotions will run hot this weekend with Saturday being the

amy zhang

/ the daily texan file

Tyronne Swoopes at the Texas Bowl in 2014, the last time UT played against Arkansas. With a history lasting over 100 years, the Arkansas-Texas rivalry used to be one of the best in college football.

first sellout at Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium since 2017. Fans have spent the week chirping at each other on Twitter with local barbecue joints exchanging jabs as well.

The hostile crowd will present a big test to the Longhorns, who haven’t experienced a true road environment since 2019. Linebacker DeMarvion Overshown said nonverbal communication and making sure all levels of the defense are on the same page will be key in handling the atmosphere.

“I’m fired up about it,” Overshown said.

“I know they’re going to be loud. It’s gonna get dirty, it’s gonna get physical, but the fact that I get to play in one of the biggest rivalries ever, I’m excited for it and I’m blessed.”

The Arkansas-Texas rivalry used to be one of the best in college football, especially from the Razorbacks’ perspective.

“Texas week” was the only week of the regular season that got its own name among the Arkansas faithful during the rivalry’s heyday in the 1960s.

While all the pageantry and lore has been largely lost in the last 30 years, sto-

ries about the rivalry have been passed down from parents and grandparents onto the current generation of fans and athletes. Running back Bijan Robinson grew up in Arizona, but even he’s heard some of them.

“I heard we are much hated out there in Arkansas, but you know what, it’s all good,” Robinson said. “That’s what rivalries are for, and that’s what makes it even more fun to go play against a team like that.”

12

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