The Daily Texan 2022-01-25 by The Daily Texan

HEERF fund distribution to continue

DT VOLUME 122, ISSUE 42 TUESDAY, JANUARY 25, 2022

In 2021, UT forgave $5 million of federal student debt and is expected to forgive close to $28 million this semester.

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PERMANENT STAFF Editor-in-Chief Sanika Nayak Managing Editor Phoebe Hayes Assoc. Managing Editors Nathan Han, Fiza Kuzhiyil Digital and Projects Director Addie Costello Director of Diversity & Inclusion Abhirupa Dasgupta Asst. Diversity & Inclusion Directors Rachael Hatchett, Megan Tran Assoc. Editors Faith DuFresne, Julia Zaksek, Mia Abbe, Sruti Ramachandran Forum Editor Safa Michigan Illustration Coordinator Abriella Corker News Editor Anna Canizales Assoc. News Editors Skye Seipp, Samantha Greyson News Desk Editors Sheryl Lawrence, Tori Duff, Kevin Vu Beat Reporters Mackenzie Sullivan, Leila Saidane, Hope Unger, Joelle DiPaolo, Katy Nelson, Hannah Ortega Life&Arts Editor Zoe Tzanis Assoc. Life&Arts Editors Sofia Treviño, Reya Mosby Sr. Life&Arts Film Columnist Noah Levine Sr. Life&Arts Reporters Angela Lim, Kaiya Little Sports Editor Hannah Williford Assoc. Sports Editor Matthew Boncosky Senior Sports Reporters Ethan Ferguson, Amsal Madhani, Jordan Mitchell Newsletters Editor Trinity Smith

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A look at key storylines as men’s basketball prepares to take on TCU.

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WORLD

Palestine Solidarity Committee protests Palestinian occupation at Texas capitol By Leila Saidane @leilasophiaaa

Assoc. Photo Editors Julius Shieh, Connor Downs

Comic Artists Maya Deutch, Jun Chen, Fabiana Olmo, Evan Montelongo

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The Daily Texan shares a soothing winter playlist for chilly winter days.

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ISSUE STAFF

UT should hold an annual financial literacy seminar for all students.

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Assoc. Newsletters Editor Jessica Garcia

TODAY Jan. 25

Opinion

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Nearly 50 UT students and community members gathered in front of the Texas capitol Sunday afternoon to protest the occupation of Palestine. The student organization Palestine Solidarity Committee held the protest at the intersection of W. 11 St. and Congress Ave., and attendees included former Palestinian residents. Protestors chanted in English and Arabic and held signs reading “Save Sheikh Jarrah” and “We Will Remain.” The PSC aims to spread awareness about the occupation of Palestine by Israeli forces and uplift the Palestinan narrative, a PSC organizer said. After two Palestinan families were evicted from their East Jerusalem neighborhood of Sheikh Jarrah by Israeli police last week, protests emerged around the world. “We’re seeing, again, forced displacement, just like what we saw last summer, just like what we’ve seen 10 years ago, what we’ve seen since 1948,” said a fifth year PSC organizer who wishes to remain anonymous. “One of the biggest things that we saw was the Salhiye family being destroyed and being forced to leave their own home. We’re just here to uplift their voices, and to make sure that people aren’t forgetting about Palestine.” The organizer said PSC held the protest at the capitol in an attempt to urge congresspeople to take a stance and reject the occupation “A lot of us are Palestinian,” the organizer said. “We also have

leila saidane

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Nearly 50 UT students and community members gathered in front of the state Capitol Sunday afternoon to protest the occupation of Palestine. The student organization Palestine Solidarity Committee held the protest to spread awareness about the occupation of Palestine by Isreali forces and uplift the Palestinan narrative.

material stakes in what’s going on. It’s not something that is abstract, it’s something that is very real. Many of us have families over there and many of us are directly experiencing our cousins going to jail because they want to speak out against what’s going on.” The PSC plans to hold its annual Israeli Apartheid Week later this semester with cultural gatherings, guest speakers and movie screenings to bring attention to the conflict. Rafael Tantau, a Jewish-Tunisian member of the PSC, said it’s important for Jewish individuals to bring the issue into their communities, hold discussions and fight misinformation on the occupation. “Liberation, land rights and

freedom of movement and access are a must,” Tantau said. “The things that are happening in the name of Judaism are negated by saying, ‘You can’t talk about it because it’s anti-Semitic.’ That’s ridiculous. Having more Jewish people involved in fighting against apartheid regime is a must.” The PSC organizer urged other students and members of the UT community to expand their understanding about the situation that Palestinians are facing. “People try to not take a stance because it is a little too controversial,” the organizer said. “(It’s important) to really look into grassroots organizations like the PSC and the Palestinian Youth Movement and learn from them.”

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

ANNA CANIZALES

News Editor | @THEDAILYTEXAN TUESDAY, JANUARY 25, 2022

UNIVERSITY

UT forgave $5 million in student debt in 2021 The University will distribute around $28 million in emergency student aid this spring, a spokesperson said. By Tori Duff @torianneduff

he University forgave about $2.3 million in student debt in December 2021 through funding from the Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund. University administration expects an additional round of debt relief to be distributed sometime this semester, according to a University spokesperson. In total, the University has forgiven nearly $5 million in student loans since the American Rescue Plan passed in March 2021. The HEERF funding comes as part of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act, a $2.2 trillion stimulus package passed in March 2020 to reduce the effects of COVID-19 on Americans and the economy. The University had forgiven $2.6 million in student debt using federal funding in October in the second round of debt relief. The funding released mid-December marks the third installment of funds released from HEERF. University spokesperson Kathleen Harrison said the University will distribute approximately $28 million in emergency student aid in the spring. “The details for this next round are still being planned,” Harrison said. Over 5,000 students received HEERF funds in December, and the aver-

age amount discharged was $436, Harrison said. Biology junior Ryan Coffey said he received $10 in HEERF funds. “My experience had me left with mixed feelings,” Coffey said. “On one hand, I was ecstatic that I — someone who has never received financial aid — was given something to help with rising college costs in the age of COVID. Though, the feeling quickly turned bittersweet in that I received just $10.” Coffey said the $10 went toward a debt from the University Health Center. He said after researching, he realized he qualified for aid with this minor charge instead of tuition relief. Harrison said payments were made to relieve bills with past due balances including tuition, financial aid adjustments, housing, University services and institutional loans. However, federal, Perkins or private loans are not relieved by funds from HEERF, said Brian Dixon, former associate vice provost of student aid and affordability, and Diane Todd Sprague, executive director of the office of scholarships and financial aid, in an email. “The discharged debt is either for an outstanding student account balance at UT or an outstanding UT institutional loan on your student account, and includes any debt created in fall 2021,” Dixon and Sprague said in an email. Harrison said students had to be enrolled since March 13, 2020 to be eligible to have their debt discharged, and there are no other conditions attached to the debt relief. Students are prioritized to receive funds based on their level of need, and receive varying amounts, according to the website. President Joe Biden extended the pause on federal student loan repayments on Dec. 22, 2021. When the December HEERF grants were dispersed, repayments were set to resume in February. Now, repayments will resume at the beginning of May. Coffey said while he appreciates the federal grants, he hopes the University will

take further action to help relieve student debt during the pandemic. “I think the University has plenty of money to either distribute aid (and) capabilities to be able to lower tuition to offset financial harm to its students in the midst of an economic decline currently occurring,” Coffey said.

ALEXANDRA VANDERHIDER

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S A N I K A N AYA K

Editor-In-Chief | @TEXANOPINION TUESDAY, JANUARY 25, 2022

OPINION

COLUMN

Help students prepare for their financial lives after college UT should hold an annual financial literacy seminar. By Michael Lazenby Columnist

tudents worry about their financial well-being. Whether they’re a finance or philosophy major, all students should feel fiscally confident upon graduation. While the University helps students become familiar with many topics, an emphasis on financial literacy is neglected. The University must help prepare all students to navigate their current and future financial circumstances by hosting a week long, annual financial literacy seminar. The proposed seminar would feature certified financial planners and UT alumni. Speakers would cover topics ranging from basic budgeting and saving strategies to tax planning and setting up a retirement account. Radio-television-film freshman Navarra Chakeres explained the value she sees in UT hosting an annual financial literacy seminar.

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.

“That (annual) seminar structure would be great because it leaves room for discussion, which I think is the most important thing,” Chakeres said. “For people with no experience (with budgeting or financial planning), being able to not just have a lecture, but … a dialogue would be really fantastic.” While Texas Financial Wellness — the recently established financial wellness department — holds hour-long workshops throughout the semester, many students are unable to fit these sporadically scheduled seminars into their calendars. In addition to the ones that already exist, UT should create a formally advertised, annual weeklong seminar that covers a range of topics. This structure would allow students to plan ahead and set time aside to attend the seminar, which could increase student attendance and engagement. While Texas Financial Wellness hosts seminars held by financial experts, students aren’t able to gain the perspective of former students. Chakeres discussed the importance of having alumni speak at these events. “I would absolutely be interested in attending that. If it was people who were formerly in my major, that would be fantastic,” Chakeres said. “They have more knowledge about (my field) specifically …and I think that would be good for everyone across the school, not just (economics) or business majors.” While current seminars are open to all students, many might feel out of place or even

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embarrassed to seek financial help. A large-scale seminar might make students feel more comfortable to attend and pursue advice from those who were once in their shoes. Traci Armes, deputy director at the Office of Scholarships and Financial Aid, expressed interest in hosting an annual seminar for students. “We have tossed that idea around and we just launched in October, so we’re slowly rolling things out and building the program,” Armes said. “That is something that we’ve discussed about having not just at the University of Texas, but also at a national level, getting involved with

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different organizations that have financial wellness seminars.” While it is a relatively new program, Texas Financial Wellness must be as accessible as possible for students. The topic of financial literacy is far too important to keep out of student reach. “(Creating an annual seminar is) extremely feasible,” Armes said. “We have the space on campus, we have not just a faculty and staff that are interested in financial wellness, but we’ve seen a great interest among the students as we’re slowly rolling this program out.” It would be understandable if the department was hesitant about the implementation of an

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annual seminar in addition to their current mini-seminars, but this isn’t the case. Students are graduating this semester. At the rate that the department is moving, these students likely won’t be able to attend an annual event before stepping into the next chapter of their lives. While offering hour-long seminars covering specific topics can benefit students, many might not be able to attend. An annual and accessible seminar covering an array of relevant financial topics would help students become more confident in their financial futures beyond graduation. Lazenby is an economics junior from Chicago, Illinois.

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

LIFE&ARTS

ZOE TZANIS

Life&Arts Editor | @TEXANARTS TUESDAY, JANUARY 25, 2022

MUSIC

A winter playlist to keep you warm Listen to these songs on a cold day for that warm, fuzzy feeling.

By Angela Lim @angelaiim

ut on your comfiest sweater, grab a cup of hot chocolate and take a moment to unwind. The months are growing colder and Austin prepares for freezing temperatures, so The Daily Texan has compiled a playlist to accompany students on winter days spent both indoors and outdoors. “Like the Movies” by Laufey

Laufey’s jazzy, cinematic songs encapsulate slow winter mornings. Her voice embraces listeners’ souls as they make a cup of coffee, curl up in a blanket and hopelessly daydream about a perfect love.

and brass, the emotional chorus pleads for solace amidst chaos.

atmosphere remains and peaceful.

“This Could by AURORA

“For Once I Can Say” by Sophia James

Dream”

This soothing b-side from AURORA’s 2022 album The Gods We Can Touch brings light to those who feel lost, reminding them that it’s ok to drift away for a while. Feeling the seasonal blues? Take a deep breath and escape into this melody. “Management” by Clairo

Clairo blends moving piano sections with self-reflective lyrics to express a journey of finding independence through song. While the tempo shifts, instruments coming and going throughout, the song’s

warm

“For Once I Can Say” carries the bliss of meeting someone who brings vibrant color to one’s life. With jazz influences perfect for a winter stroll, the artist’s soulful voice sings, “I’m mending my heart and I’m wishing on stars in the sky up above.” “Tapestry” by Bruno Major

Major’s entire discography screams winter. “Tapestry” talks about beauty in its various forms, from seeing the “snow cap of a mountain top” to reading “a book by candlelight.” The artist invites listeners to

appreciate every moment, no matter how grand or mundane. “Smoke Signals” Phoebe Bridgers

The lead track of Bridges’ debut album Stranger in the Alps tells stories that evoke nostalgia despite their lack of context. With a cold bass, its last lyrics draw the line: “You are anonymous, I am a concrete wall.” Listen to “Smoke Signals” on gloomy days. “Like Real by Hozier

Ambient, wistful and marked by nonchalant melody, “Mystery” contemplates one’s irrational feelings. After a distorted, slow-dancing interlude, the track ends with the sound of chilly winds and unanswered questions.

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Swift has a song for every moment. Once the drums of “Forever Winter’’ come in, the singer-songwriter transports her listeners to colder weather. Embellished with festive bells

Do”

“Mystery” by Matt Maltese

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The lively piano in “Living Room Floor” sounds like sunny snow days, resonating powerfully until the very end. Lead vocalist Sammy Rae conveys a story of humble beginnings and carving one’s space in the world, singing, “I am in my own place / I am my own house.” Winter”

People

From the artist’s self-titled

“Living Room Floor” by Sammy Rae & The Friends

“Forever Taylor Swift

2014 album, “Like Real People Do” takes inspiration from the idea of falling in love with someone buried in the earth. The acoustic guitar and backing vocals create undertones both haunting and mellow for the dreary weather.

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LIFE&ARTS

TELEVISION

Rory Ross talks acting in ‘The Book of Boba Fett,’ role in upcoming ‘Obi-Wan Kenobi’ copyright lucasfilm, and reproduced with permission

Boba Fett (Temuera Morrison) sits with a Tusken Raider in official concept art by artist Christian Alzmann.

By Noah Levine @ZProductionz

“The Book of Boba Fett,” the latest Disney+ series entry, seeks to expand the iconic world of “Star Wars,” seeing the return of infamous bounty hunter Boba Fett (Temuera Morrison). Following his rise to power after his supposed demise in “Star Wars: Episode VI - Return of the Jedi,” Fett encounters several denizens of the “Star Wars” universe, including the Tusken Raiders. Rory Ross, an up-and-coming actor and die-hard fan of the franchise, got his chance to enter his favorite universe when cast as a Raider for the show’s first episodes. The Texan spoke with Ross about his journey into a galaxy far, far away. The Daily Texan: Being a huge fan of the series, how did you pull off joining the world of “Star Wars?”

Rory Ross: It was a bit of luck, a bit of manifestation. When I was 6 years old, I went through a really traumatic event where I had a rare fungus which was causing my scalp to quite literally fall off. I was in the hospital, and my mom brought “Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope.” That was the first I’d ever seen

of “Star Wars,” (and my) first immersion with that amazing storyline. (Luke’s) journey, how he went from zero to hero, it was like Hercules in a sense. He still made mistakes along the way, but it was showing me a source of inspiration and hope that I really needed at that time. When I left the hospital, I said, “I don’t know what I’m doing with my life, but whatever it is, I want to bring hope and inspiration to people just like Luke did for me.” DT: How much of your scene work on the show was shot on location vs. using green screen technology?

RR: (My scenes) didn’t use (green screen technology). The sand is real, (and) the sand gets everywhere. Going on set, there is one sun, the one we’re used to, but when you’re immersed in everything, it puts you inside that world. When you look up, it looks like you see the twin suns (of Tatooine). It was something so cool, having my “Star Wars” story and how much it means to me, it made me pretty emotional that first day, like, “I’m here. This is crazy.” DT: What is the set atmosphere like for such a highly anticipated production?

RR: The paparazzi are frequently all over the

place, so we have security cloaks to try to keep things hidden. If you are going to (the food station on set) or something, you make sure that you are in (plain) clothes in case someone happens to see you. It’s so cool, everyone on set has something to do with “Star Wars,” whether as a kid or as an adult. DT: What can you say about your role in the upcoming “Obi-Wan Kenobi” Disney+ series?

RR: I can say that I’m a stormtrooper. Other than that, I don’t want to say too much because there’s not much out. We’re waiting for the trailer just like everybody else. It’s so cool as a fan to get excited about this connective tissue that’s happening between the prequels and what we see in “New Hope.”

DT: What are your overall aspirations as an actor?

RR: It would be (being a Jedi on “Star Wars”). It would be a full circle. Anything I’ve done, it’s sort of why I want to be an actor. I want to bring hope and inspiration to people like Luke did for me. If you have your “why,” you understand why you’re doing it, it gives you the endurance that you need to continue on no matter what that is.

LIFE&ARTS

TUESDAY, JANUARY 25, 2022

MUSIC

Students reflect on appeal, sentimentality of collecting physical music By Kaiya Little @kaiyalittle

Drawn out by a record player’s needle, the final notes of a song meet the open air, lingering just slightly past its end. Tilting her head toward the noise, Jessica Dunlap said she always listens for that distinct sound she loves — something a little like the last embers of a dying fire. When she listens to her favorite album, the Rolling Stones’ Let It Bleed, on vinyl, Dunlap said she sees fleeting images pass through her mind, slideshows of nameless faces frozen in time with the music. By the album’s end, Dunlap said she always settles on a single mental picture: a couple mid-proposal. “The albums I listened to belonged to somebody else and were a part of their lives, their childhood, growing up, falling in love,” the music studies freshman said. “(And) maybe that’s a romantic idea, but I really like that.” Physical media sales, including CDs, cassettes and vinyls, skyrocketed in 2021 following big releases from artists like Taylor Swift, Adele and BTS, indicating that like Dunlap, many have grown to prefer physical mediums to digital streaming.

While CD sales increased for the first time since 2004, Dunlap’s personal favorite, vinyl, made an even greater comeback with purchases reaching a peak not seen since the 1990s. “There’s something really intimate about hearing it exactly the way the artist intended,” Dunlap said. “I love streaming services, but they’re not as personal as vinyls.” While at her local record store back home in Dallas, Dunlap said she always makes a point of picking up one random vinyl. The tangible discovery creates a connection that goes beyond simply surfing a music app’s latest release radar. “I try to buy only used records. That’s partly an environmental thing, partly a broke college kid thing,” Dunlap said. “There’s this little crackle sound with used records which means they’ve been very well loved. I find that cool because there’s a history to the vinyl.” For many, CDs offer a different appeal — exclusive artist content. After buying his first K-pop album in 2020, public health freshman Aman Noorrani said he began collecting the physical copies for the fun of unboxing them. “It feels like a Christmas present,” Noorani said, “K-pop albums (have) a

photo card or two and random stuff that you can have. It (has) more quantity. It feels more satisfying to have than a little plastic case or CD (alone).” Noorani displays his shelf of albums proudly in his dorm. For him, the album’s aesthetics paired with the treasured items inside surpass the streaming experience. “I could be on my phone or watching TV,” Noorani said. “I look over and just seeing (the album collection), I’m like, ‘Yeah, this makes

me happy.’” After seeing the revival of vinyl on the internet, journalism freshman Ava Motes said she and her younger brother couldn’t wait to buy a record player. After collecting hand-me-down albums from older family members, they created a bond despite their varied music tastes. “There’s more of an exchange enabled by physical copies of music as opposed to just downloading something on Spotify,” Motes said. “We could physically put it on and experience

it together.” While she can’t carry her record player everywhere, Motes said putting on a record, instead of pressing play on Spotify, enhances the activity of listening. It becomes sentimental. “It’s like when you put on your favorite song for someone but on another level,” Motes said. “I think any way that you share music is going to be personal and a good way to connect with people, but there’s just something that makes (records) a little more special.”

sylvia asuncion-crabb / the daily texan staff

HANNAH WILLIFORD

Sports Editor | @TEXANSPORTS TUESDAY, JANUARY 25, 2022

MEN’S BASKETBALL

SPORTS

Previewing the Texas vs. TCU matchup with TCU360’s Colin Post The Horned Frogs are coming off a blowout upset of ranked Iowa State last weekend. leila saidane

/ the daily texan file

Junior forward Tre Mitchell passes to senior guard Courtney Ramey in a game against Oklahoma State on January 22, 2022.

By Christina Huang @stina_huang

he Daily Texan spoke with TCU360 sports editor Colin Post to preview the Jan. 25 matchup between TCU and Texas men’s basketball in Fort Worth.

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The Daily Texan: Could you give a rundown of TCU’s season so far? It’s also worth noting that TCU has eight transfers while Texas has seven. Colin Post: Coming into the season, (TCU) had two guys who played serious minutes returning in Mike Miles and Francisco Farabello. Farabello had missed most of last season with an injury, so it was really Miles (who) was coming back as a real rotation guy. TCU’s non-conference (schedule) was really weak, but it felt like TCU was able to get a lot of chemistry going. TCU’s defense has really stepped up, and that was something that I think allowed them to hang with Baylor for a half. (Miles) is definitely the best player on the squad, but

TCU has become a lot more well-rounded since that Baylor loss. We’ve seen guys like Texas Tech transfer Micah Peavy, Memphis transfer Damion Baugh, Texas A&M transfer Emanuel Miller and even Eddie Lampkin Jr., who was a bench guy, really step (up) and have big moments down the stretch. (These players have) allowed TCU to have that 3-2 record in Big 12 play in two really close games and blow out a ranked Iowa State team last weekend. DT: Back to Tuesday’s game. Are there any specific Texas players that you will be watching for that might pose a threat to TCU? CP: I think that the best player at Texas is Marcus Carr, (but) I don’t think he’s found his rhythm yet. Because of Baugh and Peavy, I don’t think (TCU) will have a problem containing Carr. I think what will be interesting ... is the weak big man play. Tre Mitchell and Christian Bishop are really talented guys. We saw Bishop average double-digits at Creighton, but he’s been hot and cold in Big 12 play. I’ll be really interested in seeing if these two guys can get going because TCU’s bigs are

pretty good, (specifically) Xavier Cork, Lampkin Jr., as well as Souleymane Doumbia. But they’re really young and immature when it comes to their ability to guard in the post. Texas does have the advantage there, but it will be up to which Tre Mitchell and which Christian Bishop we get. I think that will be the X-factor for Texas. DT: KenPom’s College Basketball Ratings give Texas a 52% chance to win over TCU while ESPN gives Texas a 56% chance of winning. This could be a tight game, so what are your predictions? CP: When talking about defense, these two teams are really close. So I don’t think either team will top 60 points. I think it’ll be pretty low-scoring. I think that with home-court advantage (for TCU) and the lack of offensive identity that Texas has, (the Longhorns won’t) be able to get as many buckets as they’ll need. TCU is really starting to find that offensive identity as a team without having shot the ball well once this season. So, I’m going to go with TCU winning this one. But I think it should be close, something like TCU 57, Texas 50.

SPORTS

TUESDAY, JANUARY 25, 2022

MEN’S BASKETBALL

Key to victory lies with Texas’ defense

leila saidane

/ the daily texan file

Texas men’s basketball players Christian Bishop, Tre Mitchell and Courtney Ramey play defense against Oklahoma State on January 22, 2022.

By Nick Pannes @nickpannes

In half a season, Chris Beard Texas squad is already one of the best defensive teams in the country. The head coach has made defense the linchpin of his program, leaving his team’s chances of victory — or defeat — in its hands. So far, 60 points has been the threshold of victory for the Texas defense, or at least a pretty good barometer. When the Longhorns hold an opponent under 60 points, Texas is a perfect 14-0. When they give up 60 points or more, they’re a winless 0-5. A 60-point limit would be incredibly restrictive for most teams; only 16 teams in the country have defenses that average under 60 points allowed. But the Longhorns are allowing just 54.9 points per game, which leads the country. This is true for one-time matchups as well as the two-week rematches seen in conference play with Kansas State and Oklahoma State.

After handily beating Kansas State on the road in early January, Texas lost to the Wildcats at home in a 66-65 upset last Tuesday. Texas lost 64-56 when the Longhorns traveled to Stillwater, Oklahoma to face Oklahoma State on Jan. 8, yet they beat the Cowboys at the Frank Erwin Center Saturday 56-51. The difference? Basketball programs, teams, their individual games and the processes tying that progression together are much more complex than a 60-point rule. But the indication that Texas needs a strong defensive showing to win at all has, so far, seemingly been confirmed. Part of the reason Texas needs a strong defense to win games is its conference. The Big 12 houses many of the best teams in the country, including reigning national champion No. 4 Baylor, No. 5 Kansas, No. 13 Texas Tech and No. 23 Iowa State. In the Big 12, the majority of teams have either an elite offense or defense. Iowa State is 16th in the country in scoring defense and Texas Tech is 11th.

Kansas averages 80.8 points per game. Baylor has the 15th best scoring defense and averages 78.9 points per game. “Iowa State may have the best defense in the league in some ways. Kansas always has one of the top defenses, period. It’s hard to score 70 against a (Kansas head coach) Bill Self team,” Beard said on Jan. 17. “Defense is our identity, our mentality, as it is with every other program in this league.” Texas’ recruiting spree also, ironically, shifted more responsibility onto the defense. While Beard attracted a wealth of offensive and defensive talent, players had to give up ball-dominant playstyles in favor of a more team-based philosophy. Senior guard Marcus Carr averaged 19.4 points and 4.9 assists per game last season at Minnesota compared to 11 points and 3.4 assists this season. He’s still a leader on the Longhorns, but he has to share the ball more with a brand new team. Oklahoma State head coach Mike Boynton Jr. acknowledged some of the

difficulties the Longhorns and other teams faced from the 2021 NCAA transfer portal rule-change that made rapidly-assembled teams a quick reality this season. “People on the outside have no idea how hard it is to get all of it put together,” Boynton said after the game Saturday. “Everybody’s got to sacrifice a little bit and it’s part of the process and they’re figuring it out.” The final reason that Texas relies heavily on its defense is that uncharacteristic offensive issues, like high turnovers, have plagued the Longhorns in recent conference games. Beard said his team will have to push through difficult nights in order to play well in the Big 12. “We’ve worked hard on it. I think tonight again we (learned) some great lessons,” Beard said after the game Saturday. “As the season continues you have different situations you have to get through if you want to win six games in three weekends. So tonight to win the game, somehow with another high turnover game, I think it’s a positive.”

TUESDAY, JANUARY 25, 2022

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EDUCATION

UT forms learning community to help teachers understand, implement curriculum By Joelle DiPaolo @JoelleDipaolo

The UT College of Education plans to improve K-12 teachers’ curriculum literacy through a new learning community involving partnerships between the University and local schools, according to a December news release. The college received a one-year learning grant to form the Texas Education Curriculum Literacy Learning Community, along with an Advisory Committee and Research Advisory, said Debra Cantu, associate professor of practice in the department of educational leadership and policy. Curriculum is the learning content, including lessons and assessments, that teachers teach their students.

In Texas, school districts can adopt a curriculum set forth by the Texas Education Agency but are not required to, according to Allison Skerrett, a language and literacy professor. The learning community features three partnerships between school districts and teacher education programs, including UT’s College of Education, Skerrett said. Cantu said the objective of the community is to help teachers differentiate between high and low-quality instructional materials. High-quality instructional materials can include student activity sheets, which Cantu said were deemed engaging through workshops simulating a classroom. “It’s so important that teachers have strong knowledge and skills in identifying

high-quality instructional material,” Skerrett said. “We know that teachers want to feel like they’re making the right decisions, that they’re asking the right questions, so that ultimately what they select and bring into their classroom will do the good work that they hope it will do.” Skerrett said while teachers are already capable of distinguishing high-quality instructional materials, knowing more about curriculum literacy can empower teachers to make informed decisions about the information they provide their students. Each partnership will identify a unique problem of practice, test how they can improve these problems and provide recommendations for education

preparation programs, Cantu said. Round Rock ISD, partnered with UT, wants to focus on professional development for new teachers, Skerrett said. “Round Rock has developed its own curriculum, and so they believe that that is a high-quality curriculum. But they recognize that they haven’t done much around helping new teachers make sense of the curriculum,” Skerrett said. “They are going to test out what it would look like to have a conversation with their teachers around this idea of curriculum literacy in relation to the curriculum that they have.” The committee hopes to not only improve teacher’s understanding of their curriculum but to help them

determine what learning material aligns with Texas Education Agency standards, Skerett said. “It is important to generate broad questions, broad strategies and approaches that can be taken up in any district or school, regardless of what the actual nuts and bolts of their curriculum looks like,” Skerett said. Elementary education senior Morgan Turley said that as a teacher, analyzing and using the given curriculum is a necessary skill. “Curriculum is meant to be a guide, and I think that it’s the teacher’s job to take the curriculum and say, ok, this is what my students are supposed to learn from this,” Turley said. “But these are my students, and I know them better than this.”

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TUESDAY, JANUARY 25, 2022

ENVIRONMENT

Researchers use artificial intelligence to predict coastal flooding APPLICATIONS AVAILABLE FOR

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A UT researcher, in collaboration with other schools and the Department of Energy, is using artificial intelligence to develop better strategies for flood prediction and preparedness. As part of the collaboration, University researcher Clint Dawson utilizes artificial intelligence and modeling to analyze weather data. Dawson said AI and machine learning technology could help predict future storms and flooding as a result of rising sea levels and irregular weather patterns. Their research, which began in September, is set to finish Aug. 2024. “We’re trying to produce a computational tool,” Dawson, an aerospace engineering and engineering mechanics department chair said. “So that stakeholders and emergency management agencies can use (it) to study things like flood mitigation, flood risk, impacts of future climate (and) the impact of sea-level rise.” The researchers enter weather data into a computer algorithm to simulate future forecasts. Researcher Joannes Westerink said their work is crucial because the mathematical formulas that have been used to predict weather events in the past lack computer technology. “The equations that represent (the) physical system of the ocean

/ the daily texan staff

tides that were used for storm surge and a lot of hydrology were developed 245 years ago,” said Westerink, a computational sciences and engineering professor at the University of Notre Dame. The technology allows researchers to simulate future weather events, which the mathematical formulas are incapable of on their own. The researchers use data from the DOE’s Energy Exascale Earth System Model on coastal areas to run AI simulations and develop improved flood mitigation and prediction. Westerink said the model helps to understand how a changing climate can impact coastlines and flooding risks. The group’s collaboration is funded by the Department of Energy’s Office of Advanced Scientific Computing Research and will receive a total of $5 million over three years. Dawson said their innovative flooding mitigation methods are already underway in areas of Texas, such as a potential levee system in the Houston Ship Channel. “We want to improve our capabilities to predict flooding events caused by a storm surge,” said Hartmut Kaiser, a senior scientist at the center of computation and technology at Louisiana State University. “The storm surge impacts mostly the immediate coastal region but rainfall impacts much larger regions far inside the land, and we hope to be able to better predict these flooding impacts.”

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