facebook.com/dailytexan Session 5 — July 6-8, 2011 @thedailytexan >> Breaking news, blogs and more: dailytexanonline.com BEST PRICE GUARANTEE* FOR UT STORES AUSTIN TXbooks FREE UT SHIRT Scan the QR code with your smart phone to learn The Students’ Bookstore WITH $150 more about our store! 2116 Guadalupe St. PURCHASE! 512-499-1559 www.austintxbooks.com Locally owned since 2005 * Guarantee against local stores only. Page 9 Find out just what you need to do to obtain (and pay for!) student tickets to this Longhorn football season. Page 12 Planning on bringing your bike this fall? Read about bicycles on campus, cycling initiatives and how to keep your bike from getting impounded. Page 14 It won’t necessarily help you get to class on your first day, but check out the map to start familiarizing yourself with campus. Page 16 Designers in the College of Natural Sciences’ textiles and apparel program create winning looks for the division’s annual senior fashion show. About this edition The Orientation Edition is an advertising supplement of The Daily Texan. It is intended to be a dual introduction to The Daily Texan, UT’s student newspaper, and the University itself. This edition is produced by Texas Student Media’s special editions office. Texas Student Media is a department in UT’s Division of Student Affairs. In addition to The Daily Texan and its special editions, it houses these student-produced media entities: Texas Student Television, KVRX 91.7 FM, Texas Travesty and the Cactus Yearbook. For more information on Texas Student Media, visit utexas. edu/tsm/. On the Web Stay informed this summer with daily updates. dailytexanonline.com welcome to the University of Texas at Austin Ashley Shew talks to Longhorns get involved sociology senior Emily McDuff at the Volunteer Fair this spring. Ryan Edwards Daily Texan Staff Lawrence Peart | Daily Texan Staff Above, Students celebrate the Hindu festival Holi on campus by covering each other in colored powder. Left, Former quidditch club member Cate Boyle scores on teammate Jacob Adlis during a spring 2010 scrimmage. The club finished second in its first-ever regional championship Shannon Kintner | Daily Texan file photo in April 2010. COLUMN A freshman’s guide to UT By Jonathan Rienstra you do right now — it means you on which all others is founded upon: Daily Texan Guest Columnist lived. With that in mind, I’ve com-Spend as little time in your dorm Originally published Aug. 27, 2010 piled a few ideas that are meant to room as possible. UT is a huge cam-maximize your time here and ensure pus, and the only way to avoid being a wholesome experience. a number is to go out and explore. Dear freshman, First off, did you get a sweet new Meet new people, join a club or hang I hope this column finds you in TV to hook up to your Xbox 360? out at Gregory Gym. It doesn’t really good health since over the course Have you set up a Skype account so matter if you actually do anything in of this next year, you will never feel you can talk to all your friends from the club or at the gym, just go. Dorm as good as you do now. That’s okay, high school? Has Starcraft II taken rooms suck, and if you are really that though; in fact, it is actually a good up the last two weeks of your life? concerned with the sweet set-up in thing. The goal of freshman year is to Great, now turn it off — all of it. This feel significantly worse in May than is the most important rule, the one GUIDE continues on PAGE 2 2 ORIENTATION EDITION July 6-8, 2011 THE DAILY TEXAN GUIDE Orientation Editions 2011 You’re in college after all, where continues from PAGE 1 education is as much about what your room, you would be better off saving your tuition money, living takes place outside the classroom CONTACT US at home and going to community as it does inside one. Main Telephone: college. “ Secondly, and this is also in the (512) 471-4591 spectrum of meeting new people, do not get a girlfriend or boyfriend Editor: two weeks into the first semester. It is Viviana Aldous “ tempting, I know. You’re away from (512) 232-2212 mom and dad now and the allure of editor@dailytexanonline.com getting a significant other and play­ing grown up is strong, but do not Managing Editor: do it. For starters, you are living free Veronica Rosalez now — embrace it. The first semes­ (512) 232-2217 ter is all about exploration and meet­ managingeditor@ ing new people, two things that hap­pen less frequently when you’re planning movie night with your dailytexanonline.com boyfriend. The odds are that you will have rushed into that relationship News O. ce: (512) 232-2207 to begin with and it probably won’t news@dailytexanonline.com last the semester, let alone the year. When that’s over, you’ll be single and Retail Advertising: ready to mingle, only nobody will (512) 471-1865 know you because all you’ve done joanw@mail.utexas.edu for the last three months is hang out with your now-ex. Classi. ed Advertising: Have fun with being independent (512) 471-5244 for the first time in your life by not settling down too quickly. Find a guy or gal you like? Sweet, good for you, but don’t rush it. See how things go and, if in January things are still classi. eds@dailytexanonline.com The Texan strives to present all information fairly, accurately and completely. If working out, then think about the we have made an error, let us know next step. Or not. You’re in college about it. Call (512) 232-2217 or e-mail after all, where education is as much managingeditor@dailytexanonline.com. UT BRIEFLY COPYRIGHT UT Athletics reveals name, logo Copyright 2011 Texas Student for new ‘Longhorn Network’ Media. All articles, photographs and graphics, both in the print and ESPN Senior Vice President Burke Magnus and UT athletics directors DeLoss Dodds and Chris online editions, are the property of Texas Student Media and may not be Plonsky announced the name and reproduced or republished in part or logo for the 24-hour television in whole without written permission. This newspaper was printed with pride by The Daily Texan and The Daily Texan Texas Student Media. Permanent Staff Editor ............................................................................ 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The Daily Texan is published daily except Saturday, Sunday, federal holidays and exam periods, plus the last Saturday in July. Periodical Postage Paid at Austin, TX 78710. News contributions will be accepted by telephone (471-4591), or at the editorial office (Texas Student Media Building 2.122). For local and national display advertising, call 471-1865. For classified display and national classified display advertising, call 471-1865. For classified word advertising, call 471-5244. Entire contents copyright 2011 Texas Student Media. The Daily Texan Mail Subscription Rates One Semester (Fall or Spring) $60.00 Two Semesters (Fall and Spring) 120.00 Summer Session 40.00 One Year (Fall, Spring and Summer) 150.00 To charge by VISA or MasterCard, call 471-5083. Send orders and address changes to Texas Student Media', P.O. Box D, Austin, TX 78713-8904, or to TSM Building C3.200, or call 471-5083. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to The Daily Texan, P.O. Box D, Austin, TX 78713. 7/6-7/8/2011 Monday .............Wednesday, 12 p.m.Thursday.................Monday, 12 p.m. Texan Ad Tuesday.................Thursday, 12 p.m.Friday......................Tuesday, 12 p.m. Classified Word Ads 11 a.m. Deadlines Wednesday................Friday, 12 p.m. (Last Business Day Prior to Publication) Are you still looking for the perfect place? Look no further! We have the location, affordability, and a friendly staff with the best maintenance service in the campus area! For an apartment, townhouse or condominium Choose from one of in the campus area call our 8 locations! West Campus 512-472-3816 • Camino Real • Salado Walk to • Seton Square Campus! • University Quarters Or visit at • Vanderbilt Condos • Nueces Oaks Townhomes 605 West 28th North Campus & www.marquisliving.com • Castle Arms • 31st Street Condos Where Students & Service are our priority. — Jonathan Rienstra, journalism junior about what takes place outside the classroom as it does inside one. Which brings me to my next rule: For the love of God, do not spend all your time in the library. I get it, grades are important. That goes without saying. That starts with go­ing to class and then studying. But if you spend all your time studying, you’re missing the point of college. It is about the education of a per­son and that includes all the stuff that comes with being independent for the first time. If grades are all you’re concerned about, stay home and take online courses. You are in Austin, the greatest city in Ameri­ca. Embrace it. Go out and explore. Hit up Sixth Street. Go walk around Mount Bonnell. Make friends with somebody who has a boat and go out on Lake Austin. Just don’t be­come a drone, wasting the best four years of your prime in the PCL. My friend has this saying he picked up from teammates at Notre Dame: Whenever someone is drag­ging or being a real party pooper, network at the Longhorns’ annu­al spring football game during the weekend. The aptly named Longhorn Net­work will be dedicated to cover­ing all Texas athletics events, along with a variety of other content, in­cluding original series and studio shows, historical programming and academic and cultural happenings. he will hit them in the arm and ask, “Are you f*@^ing sleeping?!” It usu­ally works to wake up anyone who was f*@^ing sleeping, and that’s a good thing. Do not f*@^ing sleep, ever. There is plenty of time to sleep when you’re old, but now is not that time. You are young — your im­mune system is strong — so stay up until the sun rises because there will soon be a day, four years from now, when you will be waking up before the sun rises and going to work. So don’t sleep, not now, when you have so much to learn and so many new people to meet. Oh, but naps are OK. In fact, take frequent catnaps because they’re the only thing that will keep you alive. I hope these words find you in good health and may your health deteriorate during the next nine months. Because if you are as healthy in May as you are now, you’ve wasted a year of your youth and that would be a shame. Rienstra is a journalism junior. The network’s logo incorporates the traditional Longhorn silhou­ ette on a backdrop of orange and black. “We plan on bringing great Longhorn content to fans right from the launch, which will drive demand for LHN from view­ ers, advertisers and affiliates,” said Dave Brown, vice president of pro- Erika Rich |Daily Texan Staff Student Government Liberal Arts representative John Lawler stands with a poster to help newcomers navigate their way around campus during the first week of class last fall semester. gramming for ESPN, including the mation on how to get the network Longhorn Network. in time for its August 2011 launch. The website LonghornNetwork. “We are the first individual com is the broadband companion school network and we are look- to the television network and will ing forward to developing a chan­ broadcast live games not offered nel that the University of Texas on TV due to scheduling conflicts. and Longhorns everywhere can be GetLonghornNetwork.com de-proud of,” Brown said. buted, along with the logo, to serve — Joe Layton as a place where fans can get infor-Originally published April 5 TM BW70 . . . . . . . . July 6-8, 2011 orientationedition 3 GOOD KARMA CONDO Texas loses ranking as No. 1 party school By William James Daily Texan Staff Originally published April 15 UT has a “work hard, party hard” ethos, butthe University no longer holds the Playboy Mag­azine No. 1 party school title. Playboy’s editors, who consid­ered feedback from readers, stu­dents, alumni and campus rep­resentatives, ranked UT fifth. Theyalsolookedatfactorssuch asmale-femaleratiosoncampus, academics, proximity to recre­ationalhotspotsandathleticre­cords,accordingtoastatement from the magazine. Meagan Heeren, a senior en­gineering major and Alpha Del­ta Pi sorority member, said she thinks UT’s rank dropped mainly because of UT’s rough footballseasonthis pastfall. Heeren said her sorority main­tained frequent social events thisyear,andshewenttomore parties this year than she did before. “We party hard, but I guess we didn’t party hard enough thisyearforPlayboy,”Heeren said. April Tieu, a student as­sociate in Student Activities andLeadershipDevelopment, said she did not see a signifi­cantdropinactivitiesorso­cial events registered on cam­pus, and she blamed the lower ranking on difficult economic times. “It’s possible we are not rankedfirstanymorebecause of the heavy workload students RECYCLE . yourcopyof The Daily Texan receive at UT or because of finan­cial problems our economy is fac­ing,” Tieu said. Absolute Texxas’s vice presi­dent, Amanda Jarman, also said thatthesocialorganizationheld thesameeventsitdidlastyear, and she is not sure what made UT’s ranking drop. Playboy’s2011toppartyschool went to the University of Colo­rado at Boulder. Editors noted the school is the “home to reefer madness,” housing more than 50 medical marijuana dispensaries. EveryApril,morethanhalfof CU’s 24,000 undergraduates par­ticipateinthe“4/20smoke-out on school grounds,” according to the magazine. Boulder is also a top beer drinking school, pos­sessing four breweries within its city limits. Second place went to Pennsyl­vaniaStateUniversity,followed by Arizona State University and University of Western Ontario, thefirstCanadianuniversityto make Playboy’s list. The rankings will be published inPlayboy’sMayedition,which will also include “the best (and worst) of everything on campus thisspring”withcategoriessuch as“BestNakedParties”— Yale University — “Coolest Course” — University of California, Berke­ley’s“TheSociologyofSeinfeld” —and“HottestSorority”—San Diego State’s Alpha Phi. Allen Otto |daily texan Staff UT has lost its place as Playboy’s No. 1 party school to the University of Colorado at Boulder and now ranks 5th. The decision is based off factors such as male-female ratio and proximity to recreational hot spots. Charming & well located 1/1 condo very close to campus. Light & bright unit w/ fireplace, re­cent carpet & paint, and washer/ dryer. Covered & gated parking, high ceilings, and more make it fresh and attractive. The cur­rent & the former owner were law students -both ended up w/ jobs in NYC. Good Karma here! $162,500 mls# 7208732, 3001 Cedar St. #216 Call Lazan Par­gaman, Broker: 512.750.5599 “The hottest new LIVE ONIT. LIVE INIT. place for students to live in Austin… now leasing from $385!” 200registrants will be entered into a drawing for AFREE iPAD! Go to ZoneAtEastEnd.com, EdgeAtEastEnd.com or scan the code on this ad to register. Call us today at 866.656.6998 to ask us aboutourcommunity’s coolammenities! VISIT US AT OUR LEASINGCENTER . . You can download the scanner app at mobiletag.com Welcome Back to School! Pillow Top Queen Set Twin Mattresses As Low As $49 Full or Queen Mattresses As Low As $169 SAVE 57% OFF COMPARE AT PRICE OF $700 STUDENT DISCOUNT LOUNGER $99 WITH STUDENT ID $100 SAVEE ON PURCHASES OF $499 AND ABOVE Limit one coupon per customer.Not Valid on Tempur-Pedic or on previous purchases. Must present coupon at time of purchase.Cannot be used in combination with anyother coupon/offer.Some products are at the manufacturer’s minimum price and further reductions cannot be taken. Expires 9/15/11. OTTOMAN $149 SOFA/FUTON $249 UT CAMPUS PRODUCTS IN STOCK 2120 Guadalupe Street FOR PICK UP (South ofthe co-op, between 21st & 22nd street) OR DELIVERY 1-866-HORNS-14 (46767) CAPITAL PLAZA ANDERSON LANE ANDERSON WEST GATEWAY SUPERCENTER 5403 N. IH-35 2900W. Anderson Ln. 3200W. Anderson Ln. 9333 Research Blvd. (Next to Super Target) 512-420-9303 (behind Starbucks) 512-419-1768 (across Anderson Ln. by Suzi’s China Grill) 512-459-5599 (next to Dave &Buster’s) 512-231-0888 STORE HOURS/. 3!4!-35.0- 0-AUS LOW PRICEGUARANTEE IF YOU FIND THE SAME OR COMPPARABP LE SLEEP SET FOR LESS THANOUR DISPLAYEDOR ADVERTISED PRICE,SIMPLY BRILLNGIN THE ADVERTISEMENT AND WE WILL BEAATA THE PRICEBY 10% OR IT’S FREE;EVENFOR UP TO100 DAYS AFTER YOUR PURCHASE. NOT VVVALID ON LIMITED TIME AND DOOR BUSTER PROMOTIONS. COMPPARP E AATPA RICING ISDETERMINED BASED ONPRICE OF COMPPARABP LE MERCHANDISE OFSIMILAR QUALITY AND CIRCUMSTTTANCES. ASA COMPAPP NY,Y WE STTTAND BEHIND OURCOMPPARP E AT PAA RICES, BASED ON OUR MARKET EXPERIENCE AND KNOWLEDGE. THESE PRICES REFLECT NAATA IONALLYLL COMPETITIVE MSRP, LIST PRICESAND DONOT REFLECT INTERIM MARK-DOWNS, WHICHMAY HAAVEA BEEN TATTKEN.WE INVITE YOU TO ASKABOUT ANY INDIVIDUALPRICES. PRODUCT ANDSELECTIONMAY VVVARYFROM STORETO STORE. MAATTA RESSFIRM, INC. STRIVESFOR ACCURACY IN OUR ADVERTISING, BUTERRORSINPRICINGAND/OR PHOTOGRAPHY MAY OCCUR.MAATTA RESSFIRM RESERVES THE RIGHTTO CORRECT ANY SUCH ERRORS. PHOTOGRAPHY ISFOR ILLUSTRATAAION PURPOSES ONLLYL AND MAY NOT REFLECT ACTUAL PRODUCT.SOME PRODUCTS ARE AVVAIV LABLE IN SELECT STORESONLYLL. STYYORE HOURS MAY VVVARYBY LOCATAAION. SOME PRODUCTS ARE AAT TA HE MANUFACTURER’S MINIMUMSELLING PRICE AND FURTHER REDUCTIONS CANNOT BE TATT KEN. OFFERS VVVALID 7/1/11-9/15/11 OR WHILE SUPPLIESLAST.SEE STORE FOR COMPLETE DETTAIT LS. COME INsOver 700 Stores CHATsmattress.rm.comCALLC s800.MAT.FIRM CLICKsmattress.rm.com C C University gaining widespread social media presence By Allie Kolechta Daily Texan Staff Originally published Jan. 21 Although only about 6,000 peo­ple follow UT on Twitter, a website recently ranked UT one of the top­10 most influential college Twitter accounts in the U.S. along with uni­versities like Stanford, Syracuse and Harvard. Klout.com rated UT 10th out of the top 10 most influential univer­sity Twitter feeds earlier this week. The website rates the influence of Twitter feeds on a scale of one to 100 based on 35 factors including num­ber of tweets, retweets and how often tweets are used in Twitter conver­ sations. UT’s Twitter account opened about two and a half years ago, and website administrators have posted about 600 tweets to date, said Nyleva Corley, manager of web and new media in the Office of Public Affairs. “We were interested in tak­ing advantage of what was a new channel at the time to reach out to students,” she said. “We thought they would gravitate to a social media platform like Twitter, and we were interested in experiment­ing with it.” The account currently has 6,627 followers, and that number is steadi­ly growing, Corley said. The account posts at least one and no more than seven tweets a day. “It really captures the pulse of what’s happening on campus,” she said. The Stanford Twitter page, which topped the Klout.com list, has more than 23,000 followers. Major news days on campus are the busiest days for UT’s Twitter feed, said Samantha Stiles, public affairs specialist and a primary author on UT’s account. On Jan. 19, the Twit­ter account was bustling with activity because UT announced a $300-mil­lion contract with ESPN to create a Longhorn TV network, Stiles said. Twitter administrators posted three tweets with details about the new net­work between noon and 1:30 p.m. “We’re able to align tradition­al outlets with social media outlets,” she said. “The Twitter account is a great outlet for patting ourselves on the back.” The Twitter account is not linked to UT’s Facebook account, but the two work together to keep UT stu­dents informed through their so­cial media outlets, she said. Tweets are released at intervals throughout the day to inform followers without spamming them, she said. “A lot of our tweets are from pro­spective students that are excited about coming to UT,” she said. “I like to tweet a message back to them and say ‘Congrats, welcome to the Long­horn family.’ A pretty popular hash tag is ‘hook’em.’” The Student Government Twit­ter account and the UT account are not officially affiliated, but the SG ac­count makes an effort to channel the UT account through its Twitter, said SG administrative director Nathan Bunch. UT’s account and student accounts can become primary sources of in­formation in times of crisis, like the Sept. 28 incident when Colton Tooley shot off several rounds with his AK­47 in the Perry-Castaneda Library be­fore taking his own life. Campus and student Twitter accounts helped stu­dents inform each other of the situ­ation’s status and where to take shel­ter, said Bunch, who runs SG’s Twitter account. “We’re a generation that is often criticized for our use of social media, but that’s what helped us keep each other safe,” he said. “We’re not used to getting information in tradition­al ways, and social media is a method that the University can take advantage of to get information out there faster.” Students volunteer to clean up Waller Creek By Lauren Giudice Daily Texan Staff Originally published Nov. 8, 2010 More than 100 students gave up sleeping in late on Saturday morn­ing to pull aluminum cans, plastic bags and discarded clothes out of Waller Creek. The Environmental Health and Safety Office and the Texas Nat­ural Science Center came togeth­er for the biannual Waller Creek Cleanup. Waller Creek runs from North Austin, through the city and cam­pus, into Lady Bird Lake down­town. Trash from the streets wash­es down storm drains and into the creek. Carin Peterson, the event’s co­ordinator and training and out­reach coordinator for the Envi­ronmental Health and Safety Of­fice, said the 115 volunteers was an average turnout for the popu­lar event. “Littering is a big problem in Waller Creek,” Peterson said. “What happens is, it’s not just campus litter that ends up in the creek. Because the creek flows down to Town Lake, we get a lot of trash from beyond campus that comes down.” The groups of volunteers fo­cused on the portion of the creek that starts at Dean Keeton Street and flows down to MLK Boulevard. “Littering is a huge problem on campus and our department is [a steward] of the creek and it’s im­portant to keep the creek clean,” Peterson said. “The creek is a place where students, faculty and staff can enjoy themselves and re­lax. Because it’s part of the larger water system in Austin, we want to help keep it clean.” Psychology senior Jose Porras has attended the event twice. “I feel that in my encounters with volunteer activities around the campus, this has been one of the most rewarding and one of the ones where I feel I make the most direct impact on my cam­pus,” Porras said. He said UT students are not aware about what type of impact littering can have on the environ­ment. “I feel that you can never have enough awareness or help around the campus — especially one of this size and one with so many students,” Porras said. According to wallercreek.org, animals like the Great Blue Heron and the Roseate Skimmer dragon­fly rely on the creek to survive. “I care about how UT looks and the environment,” said accounting senior Sara Shih, who attended Saturday’s event. “You always see trash in Waller Creek. It could be so beautiful if we took care of it.” ©2011 The Container Store® Inc. All rights reserved. 10-13267 5/11 First-year students, transfers may get more time to Q-drop By Ahsika Sanders ed from the policy as a second-se- Daily Texan Staff mester transfer student. She said Originally published April 6 she realized too late that she need­ ed to drop one of her courses or she First-year students may gain would fail it. peace of mind with the option to “At this point, I couldn’t handle the drop a course after the last class day course load anymore, but by the time if the administration accepts a Sen-I realized that, there was little I could ate of College Councils resolution. do to not fail the class. It was the Fri- The University Academic Policies day after the Q-drop date,” she said. and Procedures’ current policy only Fluker said she checked with her allows a student to drop courses af-advisers and met with her profes­ter the mid-semester mark for non-sor multiple times to see if there was academic circumstances, such as se-any way she could have dropped the vere illness or mental stress follow-class to “salvage” her grade point av­ing a family member’s death. erage, but there were no options. The new resolution will permit “If I could have dropped it last first-year students, minute, I defi­including transfer nitely would have students, to drop benefited because a course up until it would have the final exam. eased the blow It could potentially to my GPA and Senate of Col­lege Coun-stress levels,” she mean that a student cils president-said. elect Carisa Ni-“could drop a course The College of etsche said Facul-Natural Sciences, after a class has ty Council is cur-the School of Ar­rently discuss-already ended ... chitecture and the ing the resolution School of Nurs­ —Carisa Nietsche, Senate of College and will have to ing are currently Councils president-elect approve it before the only schools it is implemented. with the one-time Longhorns spring into service By Molly Moore their progress at UT,” Lopez said. most of the donations to the fund, dents at UT, we obviously can’t Daily Texan Staff “Sometimes, without these funds, but anyone can contribute by go-help everyone,” Lopez said. “So for Originally published April 14 the students would have to leave ing to the Dean of Students web-students that may be OK financial­ “ the University, delaying their ed-site. All of the money raised goes ly, we encourage them to give back exemption policy“It could po­ tentially mean Students dug in their pockets to ucation a semester or a year. We toward students who apply for fi-to their friend who needs a lit-in place, and each help support the Student Emer-help them make it to their gradua-nancial help. tle help or their classmate who isthat a student has their own im­ gency Fund at the first-ever Spring tion on time.” “There’s such a direct, imme-homeless and living on the street. plementation guidelines. could drop a course after a class into Giving campaign. The Student Emergency Fund, diate benefit with the Emergency Even if someone doesn’t think thathas already ended, as long as they The one-time exemption pol­ haven’t completed the coursework,” icy could be especially beneficial Nietsche said. for first-or second-year students She said although the adminis-in a five-year program such as the tration has already begun discuss-one at the School of Architecture, ing the resolution, implementation said Jeanne Crawford, assistant Students Hooked on Texas, a which started 10 years ago, is Fund, as every dollar raised goes giving a dollar will help, that dollar group devoted to community ser-available to any UT student fac-to help someone experiencing a becomes two. And you never know vice and fundraising for UT, spon-ing a “temporary financial hard-personal crisis,” said Julie Lucas, who or how you are helping.” sored the full-day event on Greg-ship resulting from an emergen-the assistant director of Students Students interested in applying ory Plaza on Wednesday to raise cy situation,” according to the Hooked on Texas. for a grant from the Emergency money for the Student Emergency Dean of Students website, which is For this year’s Spring into Giv-Fund can find the application onwill depend on how they prioritize dean for the school’s undergraduate Fund. The cause brought togeth-also where students apply for aid. ing campaign, a group of five the Office of the Dean of Studentsit. The policy may go into effect as programs. er student volunteers from sever-On average, amounts given range alumni have pledged to match website. The application must besoon as the fall semester, she said. “There are those times when al University colleges and philan-from $25-$150 and have previous-student donations dollar-for-dol-accompanied by sufficient docu­ something is going on in the stu- The policy prohibits students thropic societies. ly helped students pay for hard-lar by each donating up to $5,000, mentation of financial hardship.from using the exemption after they dent’s life, and they might not be have completed all of the coursework aware of drop policies or they forget because it is not meant for students them, so we always allow them that whose final exams will determine one exemption during their time at whether they will fail the class, said UT,” Crawford said. “I would say resolution co-author Ashley Adamo. for those students, it certainly helps Radio-television-film junior Rhea when it comes down to dropping or Fluker said she could have benefit-receiving an ‘F.’” The fund helps students stay on ships, including medical tests and Lucas said. They will renew this “In times of crisis, it’s already so track academically in times of cri-treatments and plane tickets to at-pledge annually for the next four stressful, and to know that there is sis, said Christa Lopez, the coordi-tend an immediate family mem-years. Lucas said they won’t know some backup from the Universi­ nator of Student Emergency Ser-ber’s funeral. the total amount raised this year ty takes some of that pressure off,” vices in the Office of the Dean of Party on the Plaza, the Hearts until Friday. said applied learning and develop- Students, which sponsors the fund. of Texas, Texas Parents, in addi-“[With $3,000-$4,000 current-ment freshman Sumayya Pirbhai, “We help students sustain tion to yesterday’s event, provide ly in the fund] and the 50,000 stu-who volunteered at the event. RECYCLE! BD_UTexas_Ad_060311.indd 1 6/3/11 2:12 PM COLUMN At UT, there’s an organization to fit any student’s interest By Destinee Hodge Longhorn Life Staff Originally published March 25 in Longhorn Life, an advertising special edition of The Daily Texan Our University sits on more than 400 acres of land and is home to more than 50,000 stu­dents who make up nearly 1,500 active student organizations on campus. Quite understandably, it is very easy to get lost in the crowd. I came to UT in 2008 as a transfer student from the British Virgin Islands, and I must ad­mit that I was incredibly over­whelmed by the vastness of the campus and the number of peo­ple I had to dodge as I navigated my way around. I needed to find a way to connect and somehow feel like part of a community. Af­ter three years of making posters, going to meetings and planning events, I’ve been involved in 12 organizations, all of which have enhanced my overall experience here. Getting involved on campus is vital to getting to know this Uni­versity, meeting people and feel­ing connected. When you attend a college this large, there is real­ly nothing better than finding a group of people with whom you share common interests. An add­ed benefit is that it looks great on your resume to have commit­ted to an organization for signif­icant periods during your college career. If you are new to the on-cam­pus involvement scene, I sug­gest two things to consider when deciding what organizations to join. First, think about what you like to do and then see if there’s a group that shares your interest. And at UT, chances are you will find one. For example, if you like community service, you can join the Longhorn Unit of Volunteer­ing, or if you love animals, you can join Students Against Cruel­ty to Animals. You are certainly more likely to stick with a group that you actually want to be in. As a point of reference, one of the first groups I joined at UT was the Caribbean Students As­sociation. They could obvious­ly provide me with the sense of community that I really needed. Second, I suggest branching out to an organization that you may not have considered join­ing. It is really easy to spend your four (or more) years at UT stay­ing in your comfort zone. How­ever, it would completely de­feat the purpose of college if you never try anything new. Maybe go to the Malaysian Student As­sociation and learn something about that culture, or check out some moves at Texas Taekwon­do. You’d be surprised what you can learn to love. If you are still unsure about which organization or group to join, I would also suggest attend­ing the University-wide Forty Acres Fest event for which I am this year’s co-chair. This year’s Forty Acres Fest is next week and is one of the larg­est student-run events on cam­pus. While the event ends with a huge concert featuring Big Boi, one of the main highlights will be the more than 200 student organizations on site to show­case what they’re all about. The event also features a ton of free entertainment. I would stop by the Main Mall on April 2 to see which group is waiting to wel­come you. For more information about which student group is best for you, visit the Office of the Dean of Students while you’re on campus, at the Student Services Building room 4.104, or online, at deanofstudents.utexas.edu/sald/studentorgs/index.php. Campus renovations, such as the one Flawn center continues 4th floor upgrades at the Flawn Academic Center, By Ahsika Sanders ager for the UT System. He said UT campus. the stadium are all individually have restricted Daily Texan Staff there were some fire and safety Rawski said much of the reno-funded. walkways students Originally published Dec. 1, 2010 improvements that they needed vated space will be used to house “Every project has a funding frequently use. to make to bring the building up several new vice presidents’ profile, and there can be many Construction has left campus to code. offices. different sources of funding that walkways and entire floors of the “The fire sprinklers, for in-Patricia Clubb, vice president go into one project and each of Flawn Academic Center blocked stance, really dramatically im-for University Operations, said them is built,” Clubb said. off since summer 2009, and offi-prove the building for the occu-factors such as school needs, fac-The $22 million total cost for cials say the disruptions will not pants,” he said. “That was one ulty recruitment and student the FAC renovations came from end until next July. of the drivers of the project and population are all taken into ac-three different sources, said Dan- A construction crew is in the the other was to renovate those count to determine the timing of iel Tovar, project manager for the process of upgrading fire alarm floors to make them more effi-construction. FAC construction site. He said and communication systems, as cient for use.” “Big capital projects take years $20 million of the project’s fund-well as renovating the third and According to the University’s to materialize,” she said. “Every-ing came from interest on local fourth floors to make room for construction advisory website, thing gets factored in so there’s funds and money distributed to new office space. the project was initially slotted no one thing that will put one the University but not designat- Between 25 and 40 construc-for completion in winter 2011. project in front of another one.” ed for educational use. tion workers are on site five days The FAC is one of sever-Clubb said small projects all The third floor of the FAC re-a week and at night to minimize al buildings undergoing con-over campus, such as the Tower, cently reopened to the public, but noise and disruptions, said Bob struction as part of an overall the communication, liberal arts construction continues with ren- Jeff Heimsath Rawski, regional program man-plan to update and improve the and Hackerman buildings and ovation on the fourth floor. daily texan Staff Let us help you find ways to lighten your financial load When it comes to managing your college finances, Wells Fargo has all kinds of tools to help you make smart decisions. Whether you’re planning for books and tuition or budgeting for a semester’s worth of pizza, learning how to manage your money and use it wisely is simple. And it starts with College Combo.® Check it out online at wellsfargo.com/backstage Call or stop by today • Guad & W. 21st • 512-344-8700 Managing college expensesdoesn’t have to be difficult Information contained in this document is subject to change. Expiration date 6/30/10. © 2010 Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. All rights reserved. Member FDIC. (128888_16284) The first step in getting access to those all-important UT games is to pur­chase a Longhorn All-Sports Package when you first register for classes. If you do not purchase it then, you may buy one at the stadium’s box office. This sports package costs $80 for the school year and will get you into all games as long as there is still space available (with the exception of football and basketball). Football A student-reserved-seat season ticket costs $60 in addition to the price of the LASP. There are only a limited number of season tickets available to students. Student-reserved-seat season tickets are located in the east side lower deck, east side upper deck and north end zone of the stadium. Ticket orders are filled according to the priority system. One guest season ticket may be purchased at full price adjacent to the student season ticket. Tickets may be purchased at TexasBoxOffice.com. Students with an LASP who do not have tickets can get into home games via the football ticket draw. The draw is a per-game distribution of tickets at the Athletics Ticket Office for football games. As long as seats are available, each LASP holder may draw a ticket upon presentation of a valid LASP ID. No guest tickets will be available for purchase unless tick­ets remain after the designated draw period. Oklahoma and Away Games: Only those students who purchase both the LASP and the student season ticket are eligible to receive tickets for the OU game and other high demand away games, initally. LASP stu­dent season ticket holders have the first opportunity to purchase Tex-as-OU tickets at full price through the student season ticket order pro­cess. For other high demand away games LASP holders who do not pur­chase the student season ticket will only be eligible to purchase tickets to these games if tickets remain after student season ticket holder requests are processed. Basketball Students may purchase an O-Zone pass for basketball games that gives them guaranteed seats. This can be purchased on top of an LASP. Students with an LASP can get into the games for free as long as there are spots avail­able. Some big games may have a draw ahead of time. Baseball • Softball • Volleyball • Soccer • Tennis As long as seats are available, these sports are free for students who have an LASP and who present a valid UT ID upon admittance. Cross Country • Golf • Rowing • Swimming & Diving • Track & Field Regular season events are free and open to the public. Looking for more? Visit the Student Orange Bloods’ fan site for additional information about tickets, promotions and scheduling at texassports.com/sports/sobs/tex-sobs-body.html. Students get back on saddle with Texas’ equestrian club By Alexandra Carreno Daily Texan Staff Originally published May 6 For neurobiology junior Ethan Galis, the prospect of giving up his passion for riding horses upon attending college was dif­ficult to imagine. Instead, Galis found a way to fill that void: the University of Texas polo club. “I was really missing that horseback riding aspect in my life,” said Galis, who is also the club’s vice president. “Starting to play polo opened so many op­portunities. I wouldn’t be here today without polo.” The state of Texas has always being born with a mallet in their had a love affair with American hand. They get into the competi­sports. Baseball, basketball and tion and just kill.” football stars are born and bred Similar to golf, players are re-every day in the Lone Star State. quired to have a handicap indi- A game of prestige, Europe-cating their value to the team. ans and Latin Americans usual-A two-goal handicap or high­ly make up the competitive polo er usually indicates professional circuit. But UT polo team mem-status; a 10 handicap is perfect. bers are out to prove otherwise. Founded in 1997, what makes “It’s hard to start playing and the UT polo club unique is that not get addicted to the sport,” many of its members have never Galis said. “After picking up that picked up a mallet before enter-mallet for the first time and hit-ing college. Daunting as it may ting it, the rush I felt ... It was seem, Galis assured that alter-awesome.” nating between keeping balance The sport of kings, polo is a and swinging a mallet is an ex-worldwide phenomenon, com-perience everyone is bound to monly associated with exclusivi-get over. ty, extravagance and privilege. “I’d say 95 percent of the game The sport is played outdoors is balance on a horse,” he said. “If college experience,” Tennant under the radar in the United the squad’s biggest match of the ly upscale, like most polo match-with teams made up of four you can ride a horse, in majori-said. “These people are like fam-States, getting the club’s name season, the polo club is hosting es,” Tennant said. “But contrary to players. Home to the biggest ty, you can play polo. The smarts ily, and the horses are like our known across a campus of thou-its spring benefit Saturday to in-thought, it’s also laid-back and fun.” field in organized sports, a polo will eventually come.” children.” sands of people has been tough. clude two matches, the tradition-The combination of competi­field is 300 yards long and 160 For American polo play-The team features female and “It’s just hard because it’s so al divot stomp during halftime tion and social gatherings leaves yards wide. Matches usually last ers, the collegiate level tends to male junior varsity and varsity small to get the exposure out and a floppy hat contest. Galis and Tennant encourag­around two and a half hours, di-serve as the stepping stone be-squads that compete against oth-there,” Tennant said. “We wel-In conjunction with the Ken-ing anyone to get involved. Ga­vided into six periods known as tween amateur and professional er clubs and collegiate teams. Tex-come anyone, horse experience tucky Derby, Tennant hopes it lis, who hasn’t ruled out a profes­chukkers. play. For junior polo club social as Tech’s team won regionals this or not.” will draw anyone who has even a sional career after college, lives “The game is extremely popu-chair Morgan Tennant, the team spring, while Texas A&M’s squad Polo is played year-round with remote interest in equestrianism and plays by this short phrase: lar on the East Coast,” Galis said. means everything. won the national title last year. the most competitive season or the game of polo. “A polo handicap is your ticket “A lot of those kids are kind of “It’s been a huge part of my But because the sport is so coming in spring. In what will be “The match is going to be real-around the world.” The Daily Texan will hire in all departments this fall. come sign up in the basement of HSM. Questions? E-mail us at managingeditor@dailytexanonline.com HAVE A GREAT ORIENTATION! Annual fair showcases initiatives for greener campus STORIES VIDEOS PHOTO GALLERIES & MORE @dailytexanonline.com By Jake Hong Daily Texan Staff Originally published March 4 Students and staff showed off their green expertise at the second annual Sustainability Fair on Thursday. About 12 organizations, includ­ing the Department of Housing and Food Service, showcased different programs to demonstrate how UT is moving forward with environmental initiatives. DHFS presented its commitment to environmentally friendly cleaning, which includes the use of Green Seal certification cleaning chemicals and microfiber mops and rags, which are more absorbent. The greener cleaning practices have reduced water use by 80 percent and required less frequent mop and rag replacement, said DHFS environ­mental specialist Meagan Jones said. DHFS also presented its new sus­tainable food program, which has provided organic food for the Kin-solving Dining Center on Saturday nights since June 2010. The depart­ment also maintains three organ­ic food plots at the UT Communi­ty Garden, and representatives said they hope to begin an organic food plot at Jester Center. “We’re just excited about getting the program started,” said Scott Mey­er, DHFS associate director. “Part of our mission is to educate the stu­dents about the project, and that’s what we’re excited about.” While DHFS described its contri­bution to student living, the Office of Environmental Health and Safe­ty presented its plan to promote re­sponsible laboratory maintenance. They are promoting safer chem­ical disposal through a program called Green Laboratory Practices, said Carin Peterson, office training and outreach coordinator. The pro­gram is trying to get 30 campus labs involved by May 6, she said. “We’re trying to reduce our haz­ardous chemical waste stream,” Pe­terson said. “The labs involved are helping us out. It is our main initia­tive at the moment.” Students groups, such as the En­gineers for a Sustainable World, put their own spin on sustainability at the fair. The organization showcased its recycling initiatives and a pro­gram that would allow the University to reuse rainwater, such as watering the UT Community Garden. While UT already has a recycling program, the campus is not recycling enough glass, said Daniel Huang, a chemical engineering freshman who represents the group in the Student Engineering Council. “You see paper, you see plastic, you see compost, but you don’t see glass,” Huang said. Electrical engineering sophomore Richard Edwards, the council’s vice president of membership, said sus­tainability is an important facet of all academic disciplines. “Sustainability is not just an engi­neering thing but a universal thing,” Edwards said. “Sustainability would be encompassed in all majors be­cause it applies to everybody.” Pick up The Daily Texan’s Welcome Back edition on stands when you return to campus, [Fall classes begin Wednesday, Aug. 24.] 12 ORIENTATIONEDITION July 6-8, 2011 Safety forums, UT event raise awareness for Bike Month By William James Many of the panelists, includ-said once the city gets the bike-Daily Texan Staff ing EileenSchaubert, aMellow sharing system, UT might also Originally published May 4 Johnny’s community outreach consider suchasystem.French coordinator, said UT should of-said students should write a pro-Austin drivers could see some fer cycling education during posal to the UT Green Fund relief from usually hectic traffic freshman orientation to famil-committee to start a bike-sharing throughout May as citizens par-iarize students with accessible program. The Green Fund allots ticipate in National Bike Month. routes and following the road moneyto members of the Uni- To kick off the month, UT rules on campus. versity for environmental and Parking and Transportations “TheUT administration does sustainability projects. Services is hosting Bike to UT not take cycling seriously enough Daytoday,wherebreakfastwill because it is not fixed in the BIKESON be available at five guard kiosks campus’s infrastructure,” Schau­to encourage participants. bertsaid. CAMPUS To ensure a smooth month, Tom Wald, executive director the Center for Sustainable De-of the League of Bicycling Vot-Bringingyourbicyclewithyouthis velopment held a forum about ers, said the University needs to fall? There are a few things you bicyclingoncampusTuesdayaf-focus more attention on bicy-shouldknowabouthavingyour ternoon,wheresixpanelistsdis-clists to ensure their safety by in-bike on campus: cussed how education, safety and creasing cycling education. • Registering it:UT’sParkingand infrastructureimprovementscan “Bicyclingisnotconsidereda TransportationServicesdepartment make bicycling on campus a bet-veryaccepted,corepartofhow terexperienceforeveryone. the administration considers stu-nowrequiresthateveryonewith An audience of 30 spoke about dents getting to school,” Wald bikes on campus register them. So, problemsbicycleridersfacewhen said. “Between students and the put that on your to-do list. ridingoncampus.AlanBush,a University, millions of dollars • The Orange Bike Project:A prod- graduate student in community could be saved if people rode uctoftheCampusEnvironmental and regional planning, said three their bikes instead of driving.” Center, the program has access to separate groups have to work to-Someuniversitiesaroundthe usedbikes,toolsandalsoprovides gether to make UT’s transporta-country, including the Univer­ aspacetoworkonbikes.Students tion systems run smoothly: bicy-sity of California, Irvine, start- can even “check out”bicycles for the clists, pedestrians and automo-ed using bike-sharing systems, semester. bile drivers. a program similarto car2go, to “A solution can be found [to decrease automobile transpor­ • The Kickstand:Located on Speed- ease transit problems],” he said. tation City Council member wayPlaza,thisistheUniversity’s “Ifwecreateastudytofindout Chris Riley said the city is like- new bike hub, your one-stop shop how much of the problem deals ly to get a bike-sharing system for helmets, locks and other bicy­ with lack of drivers’ education within the next couple of years, cle gear. Shannon Kintner |Daily Texan Staff or a poor infrastructure, then we whichwouldtakemorecarsoff can focus on those issues and see the streets. For more information about biking to, A cyclist zooms past a stop sign while riding his bike through campus. The University held a forum Tuesday if new laws should be made for Desiree French, a panelist and from and on campus, visit utexas.edu/ afternoon to discuss how to make the campus a safer place for cyclists, including ideas for bike-sharing and bikers.” OrangeBikeProjectcoordinator, parking/transportation/biking/. outreach programs. University begins partnership with law school in Mexico City By Shamoyita DasGupta Daily Texan Staff Originally published March 9 UT law students can earn a dual law degree from the UT School of Law and from the Instituto Tecnológico Autóno­mo de México in Mexico City through a new program currently accepting ap­plications. Law school Dean Lawrence Sager and Jorge Cerdio, dean of the Department of Law at the Institute, spent several years developing the program, which aims to increase the number of lawyers who are able to practice in both countries. “In a globalized world, there are more and more legal transactions and interactions,” said UT Law Professor Ar­iel Dulitzky. “Establishing these types of programs is an idea to prepare first-rate lawyers, both in Mexican law and U.S. law.” The deans also decided to create the program as a waytostrengthentiesbe­tween Texas and Mexico. “We don’t only share the border, but we share a common heritage, histo­ry, traditions,” Dulitzky said. “There are a lot of economic interactions between Texas and Mexico, and many Texan law firms have partners or offices in Mexico, so it was very easy for us to make that connection.” Theprogramwillallowparticipating students to earn their Juris Doctor de­gree from UT and the Mexican equiva­lent, a Licenciatura en Derecho, from the Institute. Once students receive both de­grees, they will be eligible to sit for the bar exam in the U.S. and apply for a li­cense to practice law in Mexico. It is the first program that links a top-tier U.S. law school to one in a Latin American country. “I really think it’s a terrific opportuni­ty for students in the program, as well as for citizens in the country, because we’ll be able to achieve greater levels of collab­oration,” said Assistant Law School Dean KirstonFortune. Students can apply for the program now, and each school will begin offering coursework for students from the other in fall 2012. Students who begin at UT must complete two years at UT and four semestersattheInstitute,whilestudents who begin at the Institute must complete four years at the Institute and two years atUT. Second-year law student Aparna Tal­luri said although she will not apply to the program, it is a great opportunity for students to learn more about other cul­tures and thereby further improve their knowledge of the law. “Because business is crossing national borders, our legal system has to, as well,” shesaid“Ifyou’redealingwithpolicies abroad, you need to be well aware of their policies and law[s] in order to be the best lawyer you can be for your client.” 5 1. Convenient hours 2. 8 wide-ranging facilities 3. State-of-the-art equipment 4. Student-friendly programs 5. Incredible services FITNESS STARTS HERE THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT AUSTIN//RECREATIONAL SPORTS Meet Austin, your new city By Donovan Sanders Daily Texan Staff Originally published April 15 Austin is growing more diverse, and more students are migrating to the University area, said a city demographer. Ryan Robinson, a city demog­rapher, analyzed the 2010 census figures and presented his findings to a group of about 60 people on campus Thursday. Austin’s total population is now more than 790,000, according to the census. Austin is the 14th­largest city in the country, one spot up from where it ranked in 2000. International immigration played a major part in the city’s population boom. The city’s white population is aging and re­maining stagnant, while the His­panic population is surging. Fif­ty-seven percent of the city’s pop­ulation is now Hispanic, and one in two children born in Austin is Hispanic. “Even when jobs were falling, international immigration contin­ued to grow,” Robinson said. “Job creation, quality of life relative to competing cities and an extreme sense of [home] are some other things that might have sparked a population growth.” Robinson said he also found an increase in people living around the University because students moved from the East Riverside area to the West Campus area. “If UT wasn’t doing as well as it was today, the population in West Campus wouldn’t be as prominent as it is today,” Robinson said. The black population in the main parts of the city went down. Robinson said he noticed an in­crease in the black population in Austin suburbs, which may sug­gest that an increased number of black residents are moving from the city to surrounding areas. The census also showed how different racial groups inhabit­ed different parts of Austin and which parts were the wealthiest. Slowly, East Austin is losing its previously black majority, while West Austin remains predomi­nantly white, and North Austin is seeing a more concentrated group of Hispanics. “I find this information very enlightening with regard to how the city is becoming more divid­ed and look forward to seeing how the city will respond to the results,” said Drew Blair, a retired economics professor from St. Ed­wards University. New Student Activity Center opens doors By Ahsika Sanders Daily Texan Staff Originally published Jan. 18 The product of years of planning will debut today with the opening of the Student Activity Center. The $68 million building fea­tures a black box theater, auditori­um, study lounges, meeting rooms, dance halls and new food options, including a Taco Cabana and Zen. Former Student Government Vice President Marcus Cisneros, who was in office in 2006-07 when students passed a referendum to add the $65-per-semester tuition increase that will pay for the center, said it was important that the cen­ter reflect what students wanted. “We asked ‘What do you want, what do you like, and what do you need?’ And we tried to put that to­gether to make the best building possible,” said Cisneros, who was on the planning committee. The students involved in the planning process worked with the Campus Environmental Cen­ter and the Students with Dis­abilities Agency to make sure the building was both environmental­ly sound and easily accessible to all students. “We worked with students with disabilities to make sure that every space was accessible by wheelchair and accommodating to students with different needs,” Cisneros said. “We also wanted our building to have elements of sustainability and efficient energy usage.” The center is held to high envi­ronmental standards with flower gardens and the cisterns to collect water and reduce the building’s wasted resources. The University is seeking a silver LEED certifica­tion for the building, which would indicate high levels of efficiency and sustainability, said UT sustain­ability director Jim Walker. Cisneros said perhaps the most important element of the center was making it activity-driven with expanded facilities. “Students who didn’t have a space to conduct certain dance practices, for example, now have a space to do that,” he said. SAC director Crystal King said she hopes students embrace the center as a special place and make it their own. Student Government President Scott Parks said the center’s many new features and convenient loca­tion will soon make it a new high traffic area. SG offices are moving from the Student Services Building to the SAC this month. “I think that the Student Activi­ty Center will be a really nice com­pliment to the Union that we al­ready have,” he said. “It will be a more vibrant, flexible space for all different kinds of student groups to meet and hang out.” In addition to SG, the center is now home to the Office of the Dean of Students, the Multicultural Information Center and the Gen­der and Sexuality Center, among other organizations’ offices. UT President William Powers Jr. and other Longhorns cut the ribbon outside the Student Activity Center for its grand opening in February. Jono Foley daily texan Staff STORIES VIDEOS PHOTO GALLERIES & MORE @dailytexanonline.com RECYCLE! Amenities, perks and services rolled into your student fees Gregory Gym and the recreational sports center offered free classes Wednesday to celebrate National Recreational Sports & Fitness Day. Sarah Jordan, who oversees group ex­ercise programs at Gregory Gym, said the day’s events were part of Love Your Body Week. “RecSports partners with UT Health Ser­vices this week to promote positive body image and fun fitness,” Jordan said. In addition to free TeXercise and cycling classes all day long, there were 15-minute class demonstrations ranging from Zumba dance to fencing. The gym also offered free rock climb­ing, which staff members said had a great turnout. Corporate communications senior Alex Rios came to the rock wall as part of the national fitness day. “I’ve never climbed before, and I saw a sign that said there was free climbing from 2 to 5 p.m. for national fitness day so I want­ed to check it out, try it,” he said. — Erika Rich Originally published Feb. 24 Andrew Torrey | Daily Texan Staff Top, A UT community member reads in the pool at the Aquatic Complex at Gregory Gym, which is free to use with a UT ID. Above, A curator explains a new exhibit, “Line,” this spring at the Blanton Museum of Art. The Blanton is one of four on-campus museums free to students, faculty and staff. Left, The Forty Acres UT shuttle buses take riders around the perimeter of campus for free with an ID. ID holders can also ride city buses for free. 16 ORIENTATION EDITION July 6-8, 2011 Cremede la Couture By William James & Julie Rene Tran Daily Texan Staff |Originally published April 22 I n an industry where designs are pre­dominately geared towards women, two senior designers broke the mold with outstanding menswear collections at the 2011 textiles and apparel senior fashion show, “Innovation,” on Thursday night at the Frank Erwin Center. Despite having no for­mal training in menswear from College of Natural Sciences, designers Colton Gerard and Christopher Pham swept the awards with their well-made and sophisticatedly styled collections. A packed Erwin Center watched and ap­plauded as 23 textiles and apparel senior fashion designers debuted more than 100 looks. Following the runway show, super­lative awards were distributed to deserving students by panelists which included fash­ion designers, writers, boutique owners and experts alike. The Best Collection award went to Gerard. The collection, titled “Heritage,” was well re­ceived by the audience, especially by Stephen MacMillian Moser, fashion icon and Austin Chronicle columnist, who gave Gerard a standing ovation. His looks featured rugged, detailed jackets which incorporated many natural elements including rabbit fur, dis­tressed leather and toggles made from deer antlers. Honorable mention for Best Collec­tion was awarded to Pham. Though his all-American adaptation of aristocratic blue bloods was not as original, Pham’s sophis­tication and taste shone through the gar­ments. The pieces also resonate with the personality of Ralph Lauren, for whom Pham interned last summer, Among other sponsors, the Universi­ty Co-op sponsored the event and is sell­ing three designers’ garments in their store. Pham, Elise Romero and Megan Mehl won the Most Marketable and Creative award, and their dresses will be sold in the Co-op starting today. Awards were also present­ed to Sophia Al-Banna, Angela Saenz, Kal­gari Ferris and Heidi Mashaka for being the most creative. Other standouts of the evening included an impeccably constructed line of mono­chromatic silks and androgynous lines from Jessica Bird and three adaptations of deli­cate white pieces by Al-Banna. By far one of the best garments that Allen Otto |Daily Texan Staff A model posed in one of designer Colton Gerard’s contemporary adaptations of military uniforms. Gerard’s collection, “Heritage,” won Best Collection at this year’s textiles and apparel fashion show. walked the runway was Bird’s leather creme struction of fitted and flowy, the movement extended to the floor. jacket, which surpasses the workmanship of in Al-Banna’s pieces had pizazz. Bird’s col-One of the panelists and owner of Black-a fashion student. Her line looked and felt lection won Most Marketable, and Al-Ban-mail Boutique, Gail Chovan, said that she expensive; it was as if her garments were na took Honorable Mention for Best Brid-was impressed with how far the show had pulled off Bergdorf Goodman. The delicate al Wear. come since she originally started judging it piping down the shoulders and arms con-Each designer also showcased formal and 10 years ago. trasted against the masculinity of the jacket’s bridal attire, and Bird was awarded Best “It is great to see guys that are design-structure, proving Bird’s wide range in aes-Evening Gown for her modern champagne-ing for guys that use fashion-forward think­thetic and construction. While Bird lured colored silk gown which featured golden ing and have strong technical skills,” Cho­the crowd in with her dynamic mixed con-piping that wrapped around the hips and van said.