The Daily Texan 2021-11-16 by The Daily Texan

DT VOLUME 122, ISSUE 35 TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 16, 2021

photo illustration by julius shieh / the daily texan staff photo by blaine young / the daily texan staff

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PERMANENT STAFF Editor-in-Chief Sanika Nayak Managing Editor Myah Taylor Assoc. Managing Editors Jennifer Errico, Hannah Lopez Director of Digital Strategy Katya Bandouil Director of Diversity & Inclusion Abhirupa Dasgupta Internal Relations Director Carolynn Solorio External Relations Director Rachael Hatchett Assoc. Opinion Editors Izzy Costello, Sruti Ramachandran, Megan Tran, Julia Zaksek Illustration Coordinators Abriella Corker, Audrey Williams

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Life&Arts Editor Fiza Kuzhiyil Assoc. Life&Arts Editor Morgan-Taylor Thomas Life&Arts Desk Editors Dina Barrish, Zoe Tzanis Sr. Life&Arts Reporters Sofia Treviño Senior Film Columnist Noah Levine Sports Editor Nathan Han Assoc. Sports Editor Matthew Boncosky Sports Desk Editor Taylor Hawthorne Senior Sports Writers Ross Fisher, Christina Huang, Hannah Williford Double Coverage Editor Kaitlyn Harmon

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“Sonic Movidas,” showcases local Latinx musicians’ stories about identity and music.

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UNIVERSITY

School of Nursing receives grant for supporting Native American youth By Itza Martinez @ItzaMartinez

Digital Designer Ciara Casarez

Assoc. Photo Editors Hannah Clark, Connor Downs

Beat Reporters Lauren Abel, Tori Duff, Marisa Huerta, Katy Nelson, Kaushiki Roy, Kevin Vu

The University should increase funding for UT Outpost to help combat food insecurity.

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UT releases potential safety solutions in West Campus following multiple high-profile incidents.

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The School of Nursing received a grant of up to $600,000 for their work supporting the mental well-being of Native American youth. The 2021 Hillman Innovations in Care Program: Racism and Health, created in 2014, is part of the Rita & Alex Hillman Foundation. It highlights innovative methods of care that target healthcare needs of historically marginalized communities including BIPOC individuals, LGBTQ+ individuals and those who are economically disadvantaged. The award specifically recognizes nursing professor John Lowe, who is one of fewer than 25 Native American PhD nurses in the United States, and how he addresses the historical trauma Native American youth face in their daily lives. “We were meant to be exterminated,” Lowe said. “That is embedded into our daily experience because we are still living out those events … they didn’t just evaporate or go away, the consequences of all of that is still there.” Cynthia Greywolf, an early career provost fellow in the School of Nursing, who is also Native American, said the intergenerational transmission of trauma affects today’s Native American population. “It’s not just word of mouth from family members about things that happened … those types of experiences actually caused changes in the genome,” Greywolf said. Greywolf said that Native American and Indigenous youth likely use more drugs and alcohol

Professor John Lowe, one of the fewer than 25 Native American PhD nurses in the United States, was recognized for his work in a grant to the The School of Nursing.

than other populations because of historic trauma. To address substance abuse within Native American populations, Lowe developed the Talking Circle intervention, which he has worked on for the past 20 years. Lowe said most programs delivered to Native American youth are negative when it comes to tackling substance abuse or other health issues, which is why he developed the talking circle approach. “(Our) process … it’s very different,” Lowe said. “We take a strengthsbased approach … about who we are, and we’re meant to be as Native American people.” Assistant nursing professor Melessa Kelley, who is also Native American, said this work is timely be-

cause the pandemic has exacerbated mental health issues among Americans. “It’s very important particularly for our Native youth,” Kelley said. “The pandemic has brought out a lot more than probably we have ever realized, particularly with mental health and suicide.” Additionally, Greywolf said the pandemic helped people realize the health disparities for communities of color. She said there needs to be more research done into why these disparities exist. “How much of that is because of those vulnerabilities that have been caused by epigenetic changes, for example, from past historic trauma experiences?” Greywolf said.

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

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 16, 2021

SCIENCE

UT leads project focused on exploring the deep ocean

julieta cruz

By Joelle Dipaolo @JoelleDipaolo

An interdisciplinary team led by UT researchers launched a project in October focused on exploring the deep ocean. The team seeks to compile resoures and work with other teams to help combat climate change. The National Science Foundation approved a nearly $2 million grant for the project led by the Oden Institute for Computational Engineering and Sciences. With the grant, they will implement the Deep-Ocean Observing Strategy to help people understand what is going on in the deep ocean. Patrick Heimbach, project lead and geological scienes

/ the daily texan staff

professor, said because of logistic and technical difficulties associated with exploring the deep-sea, this project will be an opportunity to compile resources. “Understanding what’s going on in the deep ocean is a very difficult challenge,” Heimbach said. “We’re trying to leverage all the existing ocean observing networks to better work together to coordinate and lead to an improvement of deep ocean observing at the global scale.” The United Nations selected the project to be part of the UN Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development. Throughout the next decade, the team and other teams chosen to participate

will focus on several challenges posed by the UN, including how to utilize the ocean to combat climate change and protect ocean biodiversity. Alan Leonardi, a member of the advisory board for the institute, said the project’s focus is on the ocean as a system. “It produces half of the oxygen that we breathe; it produces enough protein to feed well over a billion people,” Leonardi said. “And let’s not forget that it’s the great carbon sequester … our lives and all of humanity are inextricably linked to the ocean.” The project has three main themes, including requirement setting, coordination and implementation of integrated observing and translating knowledge. Heimbach said requirement setting will determine what information is essential to further their understanding of the ocean and implementation will focus on expanding their current observation systems. Lisa Levin, one of the co-principal investigators for the project, leads the translating team and said her team’s job is to communicate why the deep sea is important to various stakeholders. “We’re still exploring how to make deep-sea science more inclusive and diverse and equitable and make it reach a broader audience,” Levin said. “It’s been up to us to make the decisions and figure out the best modes of communication.” Karen Stocks, lead of the data team and director of the geological center

at the Scripps Institute for Oceanography, said the data team works with all three teams to make sure that the data team’s work is integrated into the project. “I see our role as one of listening a lot and asking a lot of questions,” Stocks said. “We thought it was important that the data team not be off on the side with its own goals, but working within each of those theme groups and being really responsive.” Heimbach said he is excited to have researchers from different disciplines come together for this project. “I think there’s a lot of energy that you see with it … people are keen to do something, they want to be part of the solution,” Heimbach said. “I’m really looking forward to developing and tightening these networks, because whenever we talk to people, there are so many opportunities.”

B R O O K E PA R K

News Editor | @THEDAILYTEXAN

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 16, 2021

NEWS

CRIME

UTPD plans West Campus safety improvements Recent incidents have led to UTPD committing to further security and resources in West Campus. By Tori Duff @torianneduff

T administration and the University of Texas Police Department announced a plan on Nov. 4 to improve safety measures on and off campus following a week of multiple incidents, which caused uncertainty among students living in West Campus and surrounding areas. Students received notices of five separate incidents occurring around campus during the first week of November. UTPD notified students early on Nov. 1 about a shooting before midnight Oct. 31 at 21st and Pearl St. that left a non-UT affiliated man hospitalized, according to previous reporting by The Daily Texan. The same week, UTPD sent out notifications about a terroristic threat arrest, a student robbed at gunpoint, an unspecified incident and a false report of shots fired. President Jay Hartzell released a statement Nov. 1 saying that UTPD would increase patrols in West Campus and work with the Austin Police Department and the Texas Department of Public Safety to enhance safety in the area.

Hartzell said these efforts will build on an $8 million grant the University received in 2020 from the UT System Board of Regents. So far, the University has used the grant money to create a new UTPD district in West Campus, hire 11 additional officers and two sergeants, install more security cameras and open a new police office in the area, according to the statement. Don Verett, acting assistant vice president for campus security and acting chief of UTPD, sent out a campus-wide email Nov. 4 stating that UTPD would partner with University leadership to come up with long-term safety measures beyond increasing patrols. Following the increase in incidents, a minimum of three to four UTPD officers and a supervisor are patrolling West Campus at all times with their white alley lights on to better light the streets, Verett said in an email. Verett said the Department of Public Safety and APD also patrol the area and UTPD is paying its officers overtime to increase patrols. Verett said in an email that he believes an increase in the population density and high-rise buildings might be contributing to increased reports as there are more people around to witness or report suspected crime. “(Hartzell is) looking to the police department to provide those details,” Verett said in an interview with KXAN. “A lot of the things we’re doing are short-term fixes right now.” University spokesperson Eliska Padilla said University administration and UTPD are still in the process of creating a plan for long-term solutions, but the community will be notified of any developments promptly. Some students say they would like to see changes to the incident notification process. Pablo Pratt, an information security and privacy graduate student, said

jack myer

/ the daily texan file

APD and UTPD officers close the intersection of 22nd and Pearl streets after a shooting on the night of Oct. 31.

he dealt with a lot of misinformation on the night of the shooting. He said it would be helpful if UTPD developed a system to verify or deny information. “It’s scary how fast misinformation can spread and, obviously, these are students who are really concerned, (but) it’s hard to fact check everything in the moment,” Pratt said. Pratt said his sister was at the Perry-Castañeda Library when the Oct. 31 shooting occurred. He said he wanted to try to help her, but did not know the severity of the situation since people reported gunshots in multiple areas. “She’s in the PCL, and me driving down there is putting me at risk and also her at risk,” Pratt said. “With the mix of cops and shooters on the loose, (and) not knowing the proper information can turn really messy really fast … As much as I want to help, the best thing I can do is stay home

and send her information and check up on her constantly.” UTPD confirmed on Twitter the afternoon of Nov. 1 that some reported gunshots were fireworks. Noah Krivi, vice president of student organization Horns for Safety, a group that identifies and advocates for student safety concerns, said he thinks the incident notification system needs more clarification about the level of threat from a given incident. “As students, it’s important that we’re given information to make decisions on where we want to place ourselves,” Krivi said. “You can still get to class during a non-threatening event, or maybe you were in that area and you walk around it, versus if there was an active shooter, you would stay home.”

NEWS

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 16, 2021

EDUCATION

CONGRATULATIONS UT GRADUATES!

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GRADUATion photo FOR THE CACTUS YEARBOOK!

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Nursing school lacks resources to accept all qualified applicants By Koshik Mahapatra @ koshikmahapatra

Hospitals across the state are facing a nursing shortage due in part to education programs like UT’s School of Nursing lacking the space and availability to train potential nurses. In September, the Austin area had 1,468 unfilled jobs for registered nurses, while Texas had 21,505 nursing vacancies, according to the Texas Workforce Commission. Leigh Goldstein, a clinical nursing assistant professor, said while there is an abundance of nursing program applicants to meet the demand, Texas’ nursing programs and clinical spaces where students receive hands-on training are limited in how many applicants they can accept. Goldstein said another factor in the shortage is that nurses are offered more compensation by travel nursing agencies than at Texas hospitals. From 2011 to 2019, UT did not offer 568 of the 1,724 qualified applicants admission to the program, according to an annual University report of the state’s nursing programs obtained by The Daily Texan. In 2020, UT said the number one reason qualified applicants were rejected was because of the “lack of clinical space” to train nurses. “There’s a lot of competition for space within the clinical facilities, especially in the specialty areas like pediatrics and maternity,” Goldstein said. “The new graduate nurses often take priority in the hospitals over students coming in to learn.”

Due to the shortages, the Texas Board of Nursing has allowed programs to substitute up to 50% of traditional clinical hours with simulated labs. However, Alyson Wong, a nursing senior and president of the UT Nursing Students’ Association, said simulated clinical experiences can not fully replace in-person training. “We did have one week where we did an online clinical, and that definitely did not give the same experience and clinical work,” Wong said. UT also cited a lack of faculty positions as another reason applicants could not be accepted. From 2011 to 2020, the number of full-time and part-time faculty employed by the School of Nursing decreased from 60 to 44, according to the report. Goldstein said many potential professors choose higher-paying jobs in the private sector. “There’s a lot of competition (with) the private sector versus the academic setting —there’s just no way the academic setting can compete,” Goldstein said. Goldstein said the state will have to increase funding opportunities to UT’s nursing program to convince more nurses to become educators. “We have a faculty nurse loan program ... that does support a nurse through their graduate program, in return for an agreement (to) teach after they’re finished,” Goldstein said. “There are also some other funding opportunities, but not as many as we would need.”

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Editor-In-Chief | @TEXANOPINION TUESDAY , NOVEMBER 16, 2021

COLUMN

OPINION

Give UT Outpost more funding UT Outpost should receive more funding from the university to better support students facing food insecurity. By Tanya Raghu columnist

ccording to a 2020 survey, 42 percent of UT students experience food insecurity — a startling statistic that makes the UT Outpost a critical resource for vulnerable populations on-campus. The UT Outpost is housed within Student Emergency Services and provides students free access to professional clothes and essential food pantry items. This helps combat food insecurity and hunger issues on campus as well as addresses barriers to professional job-seeking opportunities. The UT Outpost should receive additional monetary support from the University to assist in its mission of supporting our campus’ most vulnerable populations. While it’s often taken lightly that college students will pounce on any opportunity for free food, there is a dark side to this common joke. For many, food insecurity is a harsh

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.

reality that can lead to poor grades, take a toll on physical and mental health and threaten to widen the educational gap. In addition, COVID-19 has exacerbated college hunger disparities, with pandemic-related shutdowns causing the rate of food insecurity to nearly double in some states. As college graduates go on to attain higher salaries than nongraduates, it is essential that students — especially those from underrepresented communities — are provided additional support to attain their academic goals. Oliva Costa, a Middle Eastern studies senior, has faced instances of food insecurity during her time at UT and was not aware of the resources that the UT Outpost offers until recently. “I wish I knew about it because then I would have used it,” Costa said. “I’ve eaten yogurt for four days because I couldn’t afford to get groceries.” If students are not even able to nourish their bodies and minds with food, it is unreasonable to expect them to be able to engage with and participate in their college courses. Food that is healthy and nutritious is critical during the developmental years of college, and UT Outpost can help provide this. Students already face steep costs in paying for books, housing and tuition. Food is an essential need where the University should step in to ensure the health and wellbeing of its community. Valeria Martin is the Student Emergency Services Coordinator for UT Outpost. She oversees its day-today operations and works with student volunteers and interns.

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“We do rely on a lot of donations, so … we are able to be sustainable because of that,” Martin said. The University allocates a certain amount of funding for the Outpost; however, the initiative is overwhelmingly sustained by food and clothing donations. This needs to change. UT needs to ensure its students have consistent access to food. “My biggest thing is being able to give information to folks about this resource and really ensuring that folks know it’s open to all students; there’s no criteria to be met or shown to be able to access the Outpost,” Martin said. By increasing funding to the UT Outpost, its services could be expanded while increasing awareness

about the program so that students like Costa don’t fall through the cracks. These services could include providing guidance in filling out paperwork for government assistance programs such as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, which provides benefits to supplement grocery purchases. The University has an important role and responsibility in combating the issue of food insecurity in our community, and that involves raising awareness of UT Outpost’s current resources as well as allocating funds to bolster the program’s services. Raghu is a Plan II, Middle Eastern studies and Arabic senior from Coppell, Texas.

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LIFE&ARTS

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 16, 2021

FOOD

5 Austin plant-based places to eat at for $10 or less By Jade Emerson @jade__emerson

Austin is a hub for vegan eats. Yet these spots often come with a hefty price tag. The Daily Texan compiled a list of six local vegan eateries friendly to the planet and a college student’s budget — with food at or under $10. Sassy’s Vegetarian Soul Food 1106 E. 11th St.

Don’t be fooled by the name, Sassy’s takes the title as the best place for vegan comfort meals. Hit up this food truck for a menu of favorites including its Pokechop Sandwich ($10.00), Cajun Mac and Cheese ($10.00) and Chicon N Waffles ($10.00). Or, try Sassy’s Dipped Chicon Basket ($5) which can come with hot lemon pepper, Asian orange or Caribbean jerk seasoning. Bouldin Creek Cafe 1900 S. First St.

What’s better than plant-based breakfast? Plantbased breakfast served all day. In addition to a full menu of entrees, Bouldin Creek Cafe boasts an extensive breakfast menu with vegan alternatives for each item. Notable favorites include the Breakfast Scramwich ($8.75), Golden Oats ($7.50) and Zucchini and Cheese Migas ($9.75). Or, consider pairing a breakfast taco ($2.75-$4.00) with the Vegan Blueberry Cornbread ($4) for a scrumptious brunch or late-night bite.

Vegan Nom 2324 E. Cesar Chavez St.

Arlo’s 2908 Fruth St. at Spider House

With 100% plant-based tacos ranging from $3$6, Vegan Nom attracts lovers of Tex-Mex and budget-friendly vegan bites. Vegan Nom’s menu features everything from Korean BBQ inspired tacos to sweet potato hash brown breakfast tacos and grilled avocado tacos with caramelized onions.

With food made fresh on site, Arlo’s brings veggie burgers to the next level with flavors that taste like a dream. Their plant-based burgers, including a Bac’n Cheezeburger, BBQ Burger and Chipotle Chick’n, will run you $9. For an additional $2, elevate an Arlo’s burger with Mac n Cheeze, Bac’n, chili or even a gluten free bun.

Bodhi Viet Vegan 2301 W. Parmer Ln.

Bodhi Viet Vegan provides meat-free and meat-alternative Vietnamese food at an affordable price thanks to its all-volunteer staff. Using fresh, homegrown ingredients, Bodhi Viet Vegan crafts each meal from scratch with all profits going to its temple. Try a vermicelli plate, stir-fry, noodle soup or rice plate, which will all run you $7. For an extra $3.50, top it off with purple taro tea, iced green milk tea boba or Vietnamese coffee.

Counter Culture 2337 E. Cesar Chavez St.

In addition to offering an all-vegan menu, Counter Culture works to provide local and organic options. For a light option, try the 3-salad sampler plate ($9.50), or check out its Tempeh Reuben Sandwich ($9.50), Maple BBQ Seitan Sandwich ($9.50) or BBQ Jackfruit Quesadilla ($9.50) for satisfaction with every bite.

barbra daly

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FIZA KUZHIYIL

Life&Arts Editor | @TEXANARTS TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 16, 2021

MUSIC

LIFE&ARTS

“Being Hispanic makes me feel proud.” Carrie Rodriguez works with Latino Studies to host short film project exploring Latinx identities through music. By Kaiya Little @kaiyalittle

aughter drifted through the air, reaching Carrie Rodriguez’s ears as she watched her son run in the yard. Neighbors’ voices called “Gritos!” in joy as the strains of mariachi music sounded out over her fence. As she watched the artists play in her backyard through the lens of a rolling camera, tears filled Rodriguez’s eyes. In honor of UT Latino Studies’ 50th anniversary, Austin singer-songwriter Carrie Rodriguez premiered her project, “Sonic Movidas,” at the Emma S. Barrientos Mexican-American Cultural Center on Nov. 6. In the project, composed of four short films, she sat down with various Latinx Austin-based artists in her backyard for a combination

of interviews and recorded music. The premiere featured the artists performing live with the short films, but they uploaded the films on YouTube for anyone to enjoy. “These four videos show that being Latinx can look different, and what people call Latin music can sound so different,” Rodriguez said. “We’re not a monolithic culture, and we all have our own stories to tell.” Early in her career, Rodriguez said she recalls crying when she heard her great aunt Eva Garza’s vinyls for the first time.

We’re not a monolithic culture, and we all have our own stories to tell.” CARRIE RODRIGUEZ

austin singer-songwriter

The crooning records planted the seed in Rodriguez’s head to start singing in Spanish, a language she only learned in her late teens from her ex-husband, whose Spanish dialect came from Spain. “I’d always been afraid to (sing in Spanish). … My Spanish sounds more like I’m from Spain, which I was ashamed of … (because) my family is

In honor of UT Latino Studies’ 50th anniversary, Austin singer-songwriter Carrie Rodriguez premiered her project, “Sonic Movidas,” where she sat down with various Latinx Austin artists in her backyard for a combination of interviews and recorded music.

Mexican-American. … Over the years, though, I have just really embraced who I am,” Rodriguez said. Watching the crowd at Sonic Movidas sing along to the music, neuroscience sophomore Elizabeth Esparza said the energy washed over her, bringing back memories of her childhood. Growing up, she said she focused too much on American culture and missed out on Mexican traditions. Now, she’s grateful for the opportunity to interact with Hispanic music through Sonic Movidas. “For a lot of years, I focused (on) English, English, English,

so getting in touch with my roots and music (from) my culture has been important,” Esparza said. Reflecting on her Hispanic identity, biology freshman Jackeline Rosas said as a kid, she often fantasized about changing parts of herself. Through the message of Sonic Movida’s music, she said she realized self-identity remains important — even when it’s confusing. “I don’t even know who I am (as a person), … but I know being Hispanic (makes) me feel proud,” Rosas said. “I come from Mexican parents who have been through a lot, and they came to this country to get them-

selves, and me and my sister, a better life. It took me a while to realize that.” Throughout the night, each act showcased a unique sound. Rosas said she felt amazed, as she didn’t expect so much variation from the typical Cumbia or Salsa. Surrounded by familiar sounds, candle lights from ofrendas and authentic food, Rosas said she felt at home at Sonic Movidas. “It was very familiar,” Rosas said. “Seeing (everything) was very surprising, but it touched my heart … It was definitely something different that I never really experienced (before).”

LIFE&ARTS

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 16, 2021

HOROSCOPE

Take a look at your mid-November horoscope By Michelle Facio @michelleefacio

As the semester draws to a close and stress increases for students everywhere, The Daily Texan provided some guidance for what to expect this month. It’s written in the stars. Aries

How’s that job or internship search going, Aries? Aries experienced a lot of self doubt lately, but ample opportunity awaits in November. Apply to that job, internship or fellowship. Who knows, maybe it’ll work out. Taurus

Sinking into that comfort zone feels really easy, doesn’t it, Taurus? This month, try something new, however small. With so much new music coming out lately, update that walking-to-class playlist. Get some pep in that step.

Gemini

The struggle is real. Student tasks feel particularly difficult this season. During November, plan a weekend without any plans. The dinner reservation can wait. Everyone needs a little time to breathe. Cancer

Be honest — how long have you been doom scrolling on Twitter today, Cancer? Don’t be shy, pull up the screen time. It’s time for a social media break. Go on a walk and enjoy the plants and the weather. Keep that head up and smile. Leo

The lion represents Leos. Like lions, Leos serve as great leaders and excellent communicators. November allows Leos the time to focus on encouraging others to reciprocate their communication. Virgo

Oh, Virgos. The girl bosses of the zodiac. They’ve really been working hard and will definitely reap the rewards. Achieve

self-care during the latter part of the semester and don’t give up.

Capricorn

Libra season just ended, and they went wild. They really know how to put on some birthday parties. Now, it’s time to slow life down and enjoy the smaller moments. Libras, call Mom this week. Take a bath. Light a candle.

Capricorns can expect a lot of growth mentally and physically. November marks a real transitional era for them. Capricorns might try something out of the ordinary, like getting a new haircut or treating themselves to that one Ben and Jerry’s ice cream tub they never buy. Make bold decisions.

Scorpio

Aquarius

Sagittarius

Pisces

Libra

It’s Scorpio season. It’s been a real no bones day … week … semester … for Scorpios everywhere. But things will change! Celebrate Scorpio birth month the only way imaginable: throwing an awesome party. Be the reason everyone hangs out. Who embodies determination better than a Sagittarius? They’ve faced a lot of new challenges lately and overcame them with grace and power. Time to pay it forward, Sagittarius — reach out to a friend this month. They’ll appreciate your advice.

November feels like the Thursday of the months. It’s almost over! Take this month to mentally prepare for the holidays. Maybe even start listening to some Christmas music. Nobody will judge; in fact, Mariah Carey will give her thanks. The fish-like zodiac, Pisces, always defy boundaries and work hard to stay afloat. This November, Pisces should relax, reflect on their accomplishments and eliminate any toxicity.

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N AT H A N H A N

Sports Editor | @TEXANSPORTS TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 16, 2021

FOOTBALL

SPORTS

Who’s in, and who’s out? Locker room issues come to the forefront amid Texas football’s five-game losing streak. By Nathan Han @NathanHan13

eondre Coburn hasn’t had this bad of a losing streak since middle school. The senior defensive tackle said his worst season of football ever was when his seventh grade team went 0-7. “They still kept (the middle school coach),” Coburn said. “I was mad.” After last Saturday’s 57-56 overtime loss to Kansas, the Texas coaching staff faced similar frustration from fans. New head coach Steve Sarkisian inherited a 7-3 roster that lost its three combined games by 17 points. So, when a program like Texas loses to a program like Kansas as part of a five-game losing streak in his first year, there are bound to be questions about the coaching staff. Chief among them: Have players tuned the new head coach out already? “I don’t know,” Sarkisian said. “You’d have to ask them that question. I feel good about our messaging. I think we got great leaders on the team. But you’d have to ask them that question.” When players, including leaders like Coburn and redshirt junior quarterback Casey Thompson, were asked in the Monday media availability, they all backed up their head coach.

But Thompson and standout freshman wide receiver Xavier Worthy were also clear: Some players have not fully bought in. “Like Coach Sark said, we’re going to find out who’s really down to earth about this stuff,” Worthy said. “We’re going to find out this weekend.” “Obviously I think that we need to have everyone bought in,” Thompson said. “That has not been the case.” Two remarkably candid answers from the two offensive leaders after the loss to Kansas, which saw a third, sophomore running back Bijan Robinson, suffer a season-ending elbow injury. But signs of locker room tension, if not a divide, have been festered for the past two weeks. The biggest flashing neon sign of them all? The now infamous leak of defensive line coach Bo Davis chewing out players on a team bus after the Week 9 loss to Iowa State. As Thompson and other defensive players pointed out, the problem with the video wasn’t Davis’ tone or language. It was the fact that the video leaked in the first place. “(The person who leaked the video) wasn’t purposely doing it,” Thompson said. “I actually think that he was already recording a video on social media on his phone and just happened to catch that. Somebody shared it at the end of the day, and that’s how it got out.” Thompson called the mistake an “unfortunate situation.” The quarterback also indicated he knew who the person was, although he didn’t share who publicly. “Eventually, I think that whether it’s public or not, people will find

blaine young

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Casey Thompson releases the ball before taking a hit from a Kansas’s defensive lineman on Nov. 13. The quaterback said everybody on the team was not bought in.

out once Coach Sark decides to handle that the way he wants to,” Thompson said. No matter what ends up happening with the video, Sarkisian’s sway with the locker room, along with the influence of assistant coaches like defensive coordinator Pete Kwiatkowski, will be under the radar until Texas can stop losing. Both Sarkisian and Thompson described the locker room as split into three groups: group one, all in, totally committed; group two, still trying to figure it out; and group three. “And we’ve got a few guys in group three, who frankly, that really don’t know,” Sarkisian said. “My job is to continually try to bring those guys up one level. Thompson quantified the third group of players, “guys who don’t care, guys who don’t want to be in the program,” as 10% of the team. He also said it was fairly typical of

any football team to have 10% in that third group. As the losses pile up up and the hot seat gets as hot as it can get for a first-year head coach with a sixyear coaching contract, questions will continue about that last 10%, and whether Sarkisian and his fellow coaches can bring them up for the Longhorns to win. Thompson said his worst football season was his freshman year of high school, when he started at quarterback for the varsity squad but went 4-6, ironically, Taxas’ current record. And while these last two games won’t change if history books call this season a failure, the matchups against West Virginia and Kansas State will determine one thing: who’s in, and who’s out. “We’re at a point right now where we have to figure out what we got,” Thompson said.

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TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 16, 2021

FEATURE

Texas chain crew: a sideline tradition By Hannah Williford @ howdy_itshannah

The Texas chain crew was running late Saturday. Their carpool to Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium was forced to turn around after realizing one person grabbed the wrong field pass. Upon arrival, another discovered he forgot his pass all together. But the afternoon’s misfortunes had not wiped the smiles off of their faces: It was a gameday, and they were back for the first time since mid-October. By 4:30 p.m., the nine-person team sat on benches in their locker room. They exchanged stories from the night before and munched on carrot sticks and ranch provided by the school. Each member of the chain crew is also a high school football referee, some of them for 30 years, others 25. Jason Pugh is the newest to the group by far, in his third year. “It’s a privilege,” Pugh said. “Being around them and being able to watch higher level college games … I cherish that.” Once they arrive, they chide Craig Eichelberger, a member of the crew, for a spot of ranch on his chin and the room erupts in laughter. None of them take criticism too hard; it’s essential for a job filled with heckling from coaches and fans. Eichelberger has been part of the chain crew, which marks the down and distance on each play, for Texas football for the past 11 seasons. When he’s not on the field, he’s working as a Lyft driver or on his lawn care business. He’s never missed a game, even at the expense of his niece’s wedding. “It means that much to me,” Eichelberger said. “During football season, if UT is in town, there’s nothing else I would rather be doing.” The rest of the crew makes sacrifices each weekend too, especially with family time. Some of the crew members leave their checks from the game in the mailbox for their wives to find in a gesture of appeasement. “The house gets the money in my case,” crew member John Villarreal said. “For a while there, (my wife) used to call herself a single mom during football season.”

jack myer

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The Texas chain crew spends the game focused as Kansas pulls off an overtime upset against the Longhorns, keeping track of down and distance.

As Texas’ kickoff against Kansas draws closer, the crew passes around names in a hat for which jobs they will do on the field. Villarreal laughs and swears that he’s been assigned to the same role he has somehow picked all season, carrying the chains. “One year I drew five games in a row as the alternate,” Villarreal said. “This year it’s been chains. I’ve drawn first, I’ve drawn middle, this time I picked last and it’s the same thing.” The crew spends the game focused, as Kansas pulls off an overtime upset. While they enjoy the best seats in the house, they are also hard at work, keeping track of the downs, penalties and yard markers. Eichelberger remembers one coach who joked that he should be a fullback after barreling down the sideline to get set for the next play. “It’s the one thing in life I take seriously,” Eichelberger said. “I know the chains are pretty simple, but then again, that’s the best part. We’re not a big part of the game, but we are part of the game.” After the game, and despite the loss, the crew celebrates with their own late tailgate in the parking garage, complete with complimentary beer. “It’s not just the game,” Eichelberger said. “It’s the comradery with the fellas.”

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Comics Editors | @TEXANCOMICS TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 16, 2021

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