The 26th annual PRIDE cel- ebration this week concludes tomorrow with a festival and parade. Several LGBT organizations at UT are showing support for Austin PRIDE by hosting special events, collecting do- nations and participating in the parade. “Pride is about making re- lationships,” said Austin Den- nis, network chair of the Pride Alumni Network for Texas Exes. “Our network exists to keep LGBTQ alumni con- nected with the University and to connect current LGBT students in order to build relationships and advocate for issues.” Dennis said the Network will be tabling at the festival and will participate in the pa- rade this upcoming Saturday. “At the festival there will be tons of groups, organiza- tions and businesses promot- ing themselves and showing support for PRIDE, in ad- dition to vendors, rides and performers,” Dennis said. “It’s great to hangout and enjoy the community.” Dennis said that one way UT could work to be more inclusive is to include more gender options on University applications. “Make it more welcoming for people who don’t fall in the binaries, and let them apply as who they are,” Dennis said. On Tuesday, the Gender and Sexuality Center held an open house to inform stu- Driving while intoxicated in- cidents have steadily increased since the ride-hailing ser- vices Uber and Lyft left Austin in May. On May 9, just days after a ballot measure in support of the ride-hailing companies failed in Austin, Uber and Lyft stopped their services in the city. Passage of the law would have overturned previ- ous City Council resolutions imposing regulations such as city-run fingerprint back- ground checks. Ride-hailing companies Lyft and Uber arrived in Austin in 2014. From May 2013 to May 2014, the Austin Police Depart- ment reported an average of 525 DWIs each month. One year later, the average of DWIs in the city had gone down 5 percent, with 500 incidents per month. In the following year, from May 2015 to May 2016, Student Government, in collaboration with the University, plans to unveil the new Be Safe campaign in mid-October. The campaign will en- courage students, staff and faculty to be safer when traveling to, from and while on campus, said Cindy Posey, asso- ciate director for Com- munications for Univer- sity Operations and public information officer. Safety has become a primary concern for stu- dent representatives and campus officials since the murder of Haruka Weiser in April. “We started the Be Safe campaign about a year ago when we were hear- ing more and more sto- ries west of campus and on campus involving the criminally transient pop- ulation,” Posey said. “So we were trying to edu- cate the campus on what Queer People of Color & Allies hosted its annual BLOQ party Thursday night to welcome students to campus on the East Mall. The BLOQ party theme this year was “Just Keep Dancin’” to remember those affected by the June shoot- ing at the PULSE Night- club, which left 49 people dead and others injured in Orlando. It was also “Latin Night” at the Florida club the night of the shoot- ing, a theme which at- tracted mainly those of Hispanic background. “It really breaks my heart because not only was it queer people but also those of the Latino community,” said Alejan- drina Guzman, director of Latin Community Affairs for the UT Multicultural Engagement Center. QPOCA is a student or- ganization aiming to de- bunk stereotypes against students of color, queer stu- dents and their allies as well as support them, according to the center website. “We work to create a space of self-empower- ment for queer people of color and to increase the visibility of people of color,” said Javier Rivera, QPOCA director of op- erations. “That’s what we strive for, but our meet- ings and events are open to everybody.” QPOCA is one of six agencies within the en- gagement center and has held BLOQ parties for at least the past five years, Rivera said. “I think it’s really won- derful because it builds community,” said Jay Wilk, QPOCA member and Eng- lish senior. “It helps people connect to one another and know there’s support out there for them even in in- formal ways.” Students grabbed free pizza, T-shirts with the or- ganization’s logo to tie-dye and brochures about multi- ple social activism groups. About a hundred students gathered at the event, where groups like the Queer Stu- dents Alliance and Gamma Rho Lambda, an all-in- clusive sorority, informed passerbys about further in- volvement on campus. Neuroscience freshman Madison Scott said events like the BLOQ party help bring out people wanting to support such groups. “We need more events like this because it shows you don’t have to be queer to support queer people,” said Scott, who identifies as an ally. “It brings awareness that you can be an ally and still come and support.” Turnout was still good despite the move to East Mall due to construction, Rivers said. “Queer and trans people are targeted all over the country, and when you measure it out, most of the time it happens to people of color,” Rivera said. “It puts things into perspective and makes what [QPOCA] means on this campus.” 1Friday, August 26, 2016@thedailytexanfacebook.com/dailytexanServing the University of Texas at Austin community since 1900dailytexanonline.com bit.ly/dtvidSPORTS PAGE 8COMICS PAGE 11NEWS PAGE 3CAMPUSWEST CAMPUSUT community celebrates Austin PRIDEJunyuan Tan | Daily Texan StaffMr. and Miss Gay Texas drive down Congress Avenue during Pride Austin in August 2015. By Briana Stone@bristone19PRIDE page 2Rio Grande road work to continue into 2017 By Sarah Phillips@sarahphilips23Road construction in West Campus is a com- mon sight for students who traverse Rio Grande Street, a road lined with off-campus condos and Greek system houses. The construction, oc- curring between 24th and 29th streets, has been an ongoing project since February and is a part of an initiative to improve the functional- ity and aesthetic of the largely residential street. Austin voters ap- proved an allocation of $103.1 million supplied by bonds and notes in 2006 to improve Aus- tin streets. Rio Grande Street was one of the tar- geted roadways. Courtney Black, a public information specialist handling the Public Works project, said the construction will include new storm drains, a waterline, big- ger sidewalks and a two-way bicycle track, improvements similar to what has already been done on the rest of Rio Grande Street. “This is gonna help improve the infrastruc- ture, make the street look better and make it more bicycle and pedestrian-friendly,” Black said. The addition will also provide bike racks, benches, trees, trash bins and improved lighting, Black said. Judy Paulk, Alpha Ep- silon Phi house mother of 22 years, said hav- ing the construction in front of the sorority house she manages has been horrible. “The city has been as helpful as they could be, but the problem is I don’t know the purpose of it,” Paulk said. “The worst thing is they’re making it one lane, one-way and CAMPUSBLOQ party commemorates Pulse victimsBy Lisa Dreher@lisa_dreher97Emmanuel Briseño | Daily Texan StaffThis years annual BLOQ party attracted hundreds of students to West mall where they enjoyed free pizza, T-shirts and infor- mation about multiple student organizations aiming to support students of color, queer students and their allies. QPOCA hosts first BLOQ Party since Pulse shooting. PAGE 3Ride-hailing exit could be cause of increased DWIs. PAGE 3NEWSDon Zimmerman is unfit to serve on City Council. PAGE 4Donald Trump elevates the worst parts of the right. PAGE 4OPINIONVolleyball gears up for title rematch with Nebraska. PAGE 8Connaster tries to lead Longhorns to first win. PAGE 8SPORTSUT alumni to march in upcoming Pride parade. PAGE 12FLAGS organization gives LGBT sports opportunities. PAGE 12LIFE&ARTSTo learn more about ap- plying for The Daily Texan visit: dailytexanonline.comONLINEREASON TO PARTYPAGE 7WC page 3CITYDWIs rise following exit of Uber, LyftBy Catherine Marfin@catherinemarfinDWI page 2STUDENT GOVERNMENTSG to introduce new safety campaignSAFETY page 2Zoe Fu | Daily Texan StaffThe expansion of SURE Walk, a program run by Student Government, will be a priority in the new Be Safe campaign. The SURE Walk service now operates seven days a week. By Paul Cobler@paulcobler they could do, and then in April, when the homi- cide happened on campus it made it obviously much more urgent.” Posey said the campaign will feature three tips — Walk With Me, Be Aware and Call 911 — each being a different, smaller campaign within within Be Safe. Work- ing with the Weiser fam- ily, Student Government has spearheaded the Walk With Me portion of Be Safe. “[The Weiser family’s] belief is that the only way Haruka would still be with us today is if she had been walking with someone else, and I totally agree,” Stu- dent Government Presi- dent Kevin Helgren said. “The Walk With Me pro- gram is really to incentivize Longhorns to take care of each other.” Be Aware attempts to tell students and faculty to be more aware when walking, and Call 911’s purpose is to make sure students dial 911 any time something occurs that makes them feel unsafe, even if they aren’t in immediate danger Posey said. While working with the Be Safe campaign, the expan- sion of Students United for Rape Elimination, or SURE Walk, has also been a priori- ty in the new year for Student Government. SURE Walk, a program run by Student Government, offers to walk students to their destination around campus late at night, and began in the 1980s, re- starting in 2011. “We’ve partnered with Parking and Transportation Services, and by doing that we have enhanced the legitima- cy of the program,” Helgren said. “Volunteers now have T-shirts, they have flashlights and they have walkie-talkies. So now, whenever you re- quest a SURE Walk there is not an ounce of doubt in your mind that that per- son is exactly who they say they are.” Previously, SURE Walk only operated Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights, but has now expanded to seven days a week in addition to opening a headquarters in Jester across from Jester Java. The program also received a $20,000 donation from former Student Govern- ment President Paul Be- gala shortly after Weiser’s murder. The donation was used to purchase one golf cart, and there are plans to buy a second using the money. Golf carts are not considered street-ready, which restricts SURE Walk from using them off campus. “My promise is that if we can find a way to circum- navigate the issue with golf carts not being street-ready, if and when we can figure out that issue, we will pur- chase golf carts and SURE Walk will be operating with golf carts before my time as student body president is over,” Helgren said. Bob Harkins, associate vice president for Cam- pus Safety and Security, said that the UTPD has also been working to make campus safer since the ho- micide by increasing light- ing on campus, expanding police patrols, clearing veg- etation and ensuring that UT buildings can only be accessed by students and faculty after hours. “As a freshman female I still don’t feel comfort- able walking by myself at night,” said Naseem Shafaei, a communication sciences and disorders freshman. “We still need more police patrolling around campus, but it makes me feel a little safer knowing they’re doing something about it.” Panels Confederate served War from University UT community. On marked “Black ing the Castile The later statement, was open public, director for the “The age,” destination cided statue this Center. the Wilson yet been UT Fenves Force sentation summer DWIs decreased an additional 12 percent, with an average 438 incidents per month. In the month after Uber and Lyft’s departure on May 9, APD reported 358 DWI inci- dents. The average number of DWI incidents per month has increased 4 percent in the sum- mer months following the bal- lot decision, with 438 incidents occurring in June and 476 inci- dents occurring in July. Advocates of these ride- hailing companies continually cited this “public service” when arguing in favor of Proposition 1 — arguing that ride-hailing companies, which many have called the “drunk taxicabs” of Austin, serve to decrease DWI rates in the city. “Everything here that is fun involves getting drunk in some way,” said Mason Tate, a 25-year-old student at Austin Community College who drove for Uber and Lyft in the months leading up to their departure. “Picking up people at night was like shooting fish in a barrel. It seemed like we were really help- ing a lot of people [get to and from clubs] safely.” Despite the absence of Uber and Lyft in Austin, other ride- hailing services are still avail- able in the city, including Ride Austin, Fare, Wingz, InstaRyde, Fasten, zTrip and Get Me, many of which are still in their startup phases. However, ridership of these services is still lacking in comparison to Uber and Lyft. Get Me, which agreed to comply with city regulations before the ballot vote, had 500 drivers in early spring but in- creased by nearly 4,500 drivers in the 48 hours following Uber and Lyft’s departure, KXAN reported. In comparison, Uber and Lyft each had about 10,000 drivers at the time of their de- parture, according to CNBC. APD, however, did not pro- vide any information as to whether the absence of Uber and Lyft was the cause of this increase in incidents. “Anytime we experience an increase in DWI, it is cause for concern,” APD said in a state- ment to KEYE TV when asked about an increase in DWI rates for this month. Former Uber and Lyft driv- ers, however, are convinced the absence of ride-hailing compa- nies is to blame for this spike in rates. “Legally, probably everyone that I picked up at night was not able to drive,” said 33-year- old Joshua Cheatham, who drove for both Uber and Lyft while he was a student at Austin Community College in 2015. “I rode them before I drove [for] them when I would go out and drink, and it really served the public interest. Jail and death were easily avoided … and the app was convenient and easy. It was a win-win for the city, the drivers and the riders.” With uncertainty still sur- rounding the future of these services in Austin, many stu- dents have expressed concern about drunk driving in their extended absence. “Most students are probably going to end up going out any- ways,” international relations freshman Shazur Jafferali said. “Uber and Lyft just gave people that sense of safety [despite] Austin’s crazy driving.” Name: 4821/Office of the Registrar; Width: 29p6; Depth: 4 in; Color: Black, 4821/Office of the Registrar; Ad Number: 4821Name: BOARD; Width: 9p2; Depth: 4 in; Color: Black, 2Friday, August 26th, 2016Board of Operating Trustees Meeting1 p.m. Jesse H. JonesCommunication CenterCMA 5.1362504A Whitis AvenueVisitors WelcomeTexas Student MediaBoard of OperatingTrustees Meeting2NEWSFriday, August 26, 2016 Permanent StaffEditor-in-Chief . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Alexander ChaseAssociate Editors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Benroy Chan, Mubarrat Choudhury, Michael Jensen, Emily VernonManaging Editor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Jackie WangAssociate Managing Editors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Megan Hix, Iliana StorchNews Editor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 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Elliott Morris, Janhavi Nemawarkar Copy Desk Chief . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Nicole FarrellAssociate Copy Desk Chiefs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Natalia Ruiz, Kasey Salisbury, Colin Traver, Michelle ZhangDesign Editor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Kelly SmithAssociate Design Editor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Elizabeth JonesSenior Designers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Sammy Jarrar, Megan McFarren, Lillian MichelPhoto Editor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 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Victoria SmithSenior Comics Artists . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Tiffany Hinojosa, Albert Lee, Audrey McNay, Jaqueline TovarSocial Media Editor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Andrea LiuTechnical Operations Manager. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Jun TanPodcast Director. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Lillian MichelEditorial Adviser. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 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FRAMES featured photo thedailytexanTask by Kelly Smith | Daily Texan StaffBy from page 1DWIcontinues from page 1Main Telephone(512) 471-4591Editor-in-ChiefAlexander Chase(512) 232-2212editor@dailytexanonline.comManaging EditorJacqueline Wang (512) 232-2217managingeditor@ dailytexanonline.comNews Office(512) 232-2207news@dailytexanonline.comSports Officesports@dailytexanonline.comLife & Arts Office(512) 232-2209lifeandarts@dailytexanon- line.comMultimedia Office(512) 471-818multimedia@ dailytexanonline.comRetail Advertising(512) 471-1865advertise@texasstudentme- dia.comClassified Advertising(512) 471-5244classifieds@ dailytexanonline.comCONTACT USVolume 117, Issue 12TOMORROW’S WEATHERHighLow92*Peter plays Sound of Silence...office cries* COPYRIGHTCopyright 2016 Texas Student Media. All articles, photographs and graphics, both in the print and online editions, are the property of Texas Student Media and may not be reproduced or republished in part or in whole without written permission. The Texan strives to present all information fairly, accurately and completely. If we have made an error, let us know about it. Call (512) 232-2217 or e-mail managingeditor@ dailytexanonline.com. 74 Panels honoring fallen Confederate soldiers who served during the Civil War have been removed from campus without the University notifying the UT community. On July 7, the panels were marked with the words “Black Lives Matter” follow- ing the shootings of Philando Castile and Alton Sterling. The panel was removed later in July without a public statement, but the removal was open and visible to the public, according to J.B. Bird, director of media outreach for the president’s office. “The inscription is in stor- age,” Bird said. “Its ultimate destination has not been de- cided yet. The Jefferson Davis statue will be put on exhibit this spring at the Briscoe Center. Display options for the Wilson statue have not yet been determined.” UT President Gregory Fenves established the Task Force on Historical Repre- sentation of Statuary last summer and asked it to “ex- amine the historical context and social, artistic, and po- litical intent of statuary” on campus after Student Gov- ernment passed a resolution to remove the statue of Jef- ferson Davis, the Confeder- ate president. The statue of former president Woodrow Wilson was also removed from the Main Mall to maintain symmetry. He consulted with the group again for guidance on the panels. “After more thought from the task force over the sum- mer and meeting with stu- dents and student groups over the fall semester, I de- cided it was best to remove the inscription,” Fenves said. The panel includes the name of George W. Little- field, a Confederate army of- ficer and former UT regent. Fenves originally consid- ered putting a plaque near the panels and other Con- federate statues on campus to provide historical context. Sergio Cavazos, govern- ment senior and presi- dent of the Senate of Col- lege Councils, wants to create a campus that is more inclusive for current and prospective Longhorns. “In terms of creating a campus that’s inclusive over- all, it’s something that need- ed to be done,” Cavazos said. “Obviously we acknowledge historical events, but also we realize that some events car- ry a significance that’s more of a negative for campus.” Fenves says he has no plans at this time to remove the statues of Robert E. Lee, Albert Sidney Johnston or John H. Reagan, who also have Confederate ties. Jonathan Davis, president of the UT Black Gradu- ate Student Association, considers the removal of the transcription a step in the right direction to rectify the blemishes of history in the United States. “In order for the Univer- sity of Texas to live up to its mission statement, it must make tangible and noticeable strides towards becoming inclusive and welcoming to all students,” Davis said over Facebook. “These subtle re- minders of the Confederacy immortalizes and even glori- fies men that died to preserve a nation that enslaved Black men, women and children, from whose descendants walk this very campus.” Name: GROUPON; Width: 29p6; Depth: 10 in; Color: Process color, GROUPON; Ad Number: - W&N 3NEWSFriday, August 26, 20163CAMPUSTask force removes Confederate panels from campusInfographic Texan StaffBy Van Nguyen@nguyen__vanCollege readiness increases among Central Texas graduatesnow traffic is backed up from 29th to MLK.” Paulk says she believes the traffic will stay backed up since it will be one-way. To further exacerbate the problem, the Alpha Epsi- lon Phi chapter is also do- ing repairs and adding on to their building, which means the members cannot park near the house. But after all of that, Paulk says the worst part was hav- ing to tear down the trees. “The city could make bet- ter decisions, but they don’t,” Paulk said. “None of it would have bothered me if they hadn’t torn down the trees.” Mattie Deal, business freshman and recent Alpha Chi Omega bid, said the construction made rush week and navigating the sorority houses a challenge. “The construction has definitely made navigating the street more difficult; we had to take different paths to get to the sorority houses most times,” Deal said. Deal said she also sees how the new sidewalks and lighting will make the street better for the residents. “We have some meet- ings that go on as it starts getting dark, and I think that the improvements will definitely help to make the girls feel more safe walking around campus whether it’s at night or during the day,” Deal said. The construction project which began in February is slated to finish during the summer of 2017. Black said the rain in the last few weeks has slowed down the project some, but it’s dif- ficult to estimate what effect it had on the construction. The street is flagged with detour signs which tell traffic and pedestri- ans to cross to the other side of the street to avoid the construction area. Paulk said even though the street is sometimes worked on seven days a week, she has not had resi- dents complain about noise or disturbances. WCcontinues from page 1dents of upcoming events and introduce them to other student groups. “Austin Pride has been a refuge for members of the LG- BTQ community, with its fes- tive joy and resilient march,” said Liz Elsen, interim director of the Gender and Sexuality Center. “It is an outlet to ex- press who they are and a safe place to celebrate who they love. LGBTQ existence in and of itself is an inherent form of resilience, and Austin Pride ensures that its existence be more than acknowledged — that it be celebrated and felt.” Elsen said attendees of the festival and parade can expect to be showered in glitter, com- munal support and love. UT’s Queer People of Color and Allies hosted its annual welcome event, the BLOQ Party on Thursday, with free T-shirts, music and food. “Austin pride is a celebra- tion of our communities and thus, different organiza- tions take part in the festival and parade,” said Javier Ri- vera, director of operations for Queer People of Color and Allies. “QPOCA contributes to the self-empowerment and visibility of people of color and queer people and their communities at UT,” Rivera said. “UT has a lot of work to do to become more inclusive of all its students. A big way UT can work to be more in- clusive is for its resources it provides is to be more com- petent in the areas involving gender identity and sexuality.” The PRIDE Festival will be held from 11 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. Saturday, with an entry fee of $17 for adults and $10 for children. The parade be- gins at 8 p.m., which can be watched at no cost. On Aug. 31, Texas Queer Student Alliance will host their first event of the semes- ter, Splash Party, at the Greg- ory pool. They will distribute free pizza, T-shirts and Tiff’s Treats as they welcome stu- dents to the organization. PRIDEcontinues from page 1By Samika Parab@samiiikaZoe FuDaily Texan StaffA Confeder- ate inscription near Littlefield Fountain was removed from campus without the UT communi- ty being notified. The panels hon- ored Confederate soldiers who served in the Civil War. RESEARCHEmmanuel BriseñoDaily Texan StaffTwo construction workers work near the Rancho Rio Eatery on the corner of 25th and Rio Grande steets. The construction has been a problem for students trying to walk through West Campus. College readiness among Central Texas graduates has generally increased from 2006 to 2014, according to a E3 Alliance study. E3 Alliance, a data-driven collaboration which pro- motes educational progress, reports only 62 percent of Central Texas high school graduates were college ready in 2014. “I performed consistently well in my math and English classes in high school, and that makes me feel more confident in college,” math freshman Adviti Sarang said. “While subjects like architecture throw me off, my math class in college is a source of instant recogni- tion and more preparation.” Engineering freshman Neha Shah said she felt overprepared for some classes but underprepared for others. “I went to a high school where science and math was emphasized before all other subjects,” Shah said. “Because I excelled in math during high school, I don’t feel overwhelmed in my higher-level engineering math class. But in my Eng- lish class, I definitely feel in- ferior to my peers. There’s an exam in my literature class soon, and I wish I’d been more exposed to a stronger English curriculum.” According to Melissa Curtis, associate vice presi- dent for Enrollment Man- agement at Austin Commu- nity College, ACC has early college high schools in at least six schools districts as well as several career acad- emies which aim to prepare students for college from an early age. Data from the UT-Austin Education Research Center shows that 73 percent of students who missed more than 10 days of high school did not graduate on time. “We definitely want stu- dents to identify career pathways as early on as they can,” Lara Gueguen, college readiness coordinator Aus- tin ISD, told KXAN. “All the research out there shows that students who do so are more likely to graduate from high school and also enroll in any institution of post secondary education be it for a certification program or for a bachelors degree.” Math and English not only boosts skills taught in a classroom setting but also skills needed for pro- fessional development and public speaking. Math freshman Sheetal Hari said her high school preparations have helped her transition to college. “I feel confident giving oral presentations in class because of English, and even emailing professors is easy,” Hari said. Because I excelled in math during high school, I don’t feel overwhelmed in my higher level engineering math class.” —Neha Shah, Engineering freshman Don Zimmerman, the ardent conserva- tive who represents northwest Austin in City Council, did more than his usual dose of ruffling feathers and upsetting people at a recent hearing for the proposed city budget. Zimmerman has a record of mak- ing off-color and shocking statements, but his insulting comments last Thursday — to a group of children, no less — reveals that he is an unfit representative for a city as di- verse and supposedly tolerant as Austin. During the budget meeting, a group comprised mostly of Hispanic students and their parents asked council members for in- creased funding for after school programs in public schools. In response, Zimmer- man pontificated on the virtue of being a “productive” member of society. “I’d ask for everyone here, including the children, when you grow up, I want to ask you to pledge to finish school,” Zimmerman said. “Learn a trade, a skilled trade, get a col- lege education, start a business, do something useful and produce something in your society so you don’t have to live off others.” Zimmerman had the gall to denigrate students who were, in fact, already doing something useful for their society by at- tending a city council meeting and advo- cating for an issue they cared about. And beyond that, his remarks unduly placed the racial stereotypes of minorities living off of government assistance on these students. Although Zimmerman claims he has made similar statements to students in the past, the specific appeal to not “live off others” was unique to this particular group. His comments came off as especially tone-deaf in Austin, a city that suffers from some of the worst neighborhood income segregation in the country. The areas with higher concentrations of poverty receive less funding for schools, which in turn re- sults in lower levels of educational attain- ment and perpetuates the cycle of poverty. Gregorio Casar, who represents many of the students and parents who were at the meet- ing, additionally pointed out that Zimmer- man’s comments had the effect of belittling residents who must depend on assistance from the government. “[He] implied that those that rely on, & ask for, public programs are nonproductive citizens,” Casar wrote on Twitter. This isn’t the first time Zimmerman has put his foot in his mouth and found himself at odds with the people of Austin; he has es- chewed political correctness in favor of politi- cal ugliness in the past, like when he compared the 2015 Supreme Court ruling to legalize same-sex marriage to legalizing pedophilia. Although Zimmerman politically repre- sents an important constituency with his strong focus on excess taxation from the gov- ernment, this goes beyond politics. He has displayed behavior that doesn’t belong in any representative of Austin, and his thoughtless remarks to children only highlighted that he is unsuitable for the job. Nemawarkar is a Plan II sophomore from Austin. You’ve said goodbye to your parents, your grandparents and your aunts and uncles; you’ve held your childhood pet tight, and you’ve reassured your high school friends that you’ll keep in touch. Now, it’s time to start college. Cue a slew of emotions. Some of you may fall into one of a few dif- ferent categories – you’re anxious, excited, confused or overwhelmed. The vast majority of you, however, fall into all of the aforemen- tioned categories simultaneously, which you probably didn’t think was possible until to- day. But alas, it is possible. It’s also going to be okay — I promise. It’s been a few years since I stepped foot on campus as a freshman, but I remember the experience like it was yesterday. I also remember the seemingly infinite number of questions I was asking myself. Four years later, I still don’t have all the answers — but I have a few opinions, and I’d like to share them with you. Five things to do at The University of Texas: FAIL. This isn’t an easy pill to swallow — but it’s an important one. Perhaps you’re coming from a high school that didn’t challenge you. Maybe you’re ridiculously smart and soared seamlessly through AP, IB and dual-credit classes. At any rate, col- lege is different. No matter who you are, you’re going to fail — sometimes socially, sometimes academically and sometimes socially and academically. And that’s okay. We learn so much more from our failures than we do from our successes. So fail — and then pick yourself up and try again, but harder. EMBRACE. You should embrace every- thing — the information that your profes- sors share with you in class, the people with whom you eat lunch and the experiences you have throughout the city of Austin. Beyond all of that, though, I want you to embrace diversity. We’re all coming from different backgrounds and different walks of life — and that’s beautiful. I’m a white, cisgender, gay male, and I learn more from women, from people of color and from people who subscribe to different religions than I do from people who look and act just like me. Our differences make us beautiful; our differences enhance the quality of our education. So lift our differences — yours and others’ — up. INVEST. Let’s say you ace your first col- lege exam. Let’s also say that ten years after you graduate, someone asks you about your first college exam. What are you going to re- member more — the grade you earned, or the people who helped you get there? Hint: It’s not the grade. I’m surrounded by people who push me to be the very best version of myself each and every day. Invest in the peo- ple around you, and let them invest in you. People matter. EXPLORE. Do you know exactly what you want to do with the rest of your life? Great — keep pursuing that dream. Are you scared of what the future may or may not hold? Do you have no idea what you want to do after college? Also great – keep exploring your options. I started my fresh- man year under the impression that going to medical school was the only option for me. Four years later, I’m graduating with degrees in neuroscience and psychology and going into higher education. Change is neither comfortable nor convenient — so be uncomfortable and be inconvenienced. RECOGNIZE. You are now a part of something so much bigger than yourself. You have joined a group of leaders, think- ers and innovators who have changed the world, who are changing the world and who will continue to change the world. But they need your help. Changing the world is the most recognizable part of the Long- horn legacy — a legacy that you are now a part of. Recognize our legacy and help us further it. You are about to embark on the most so- cially and academically enriching chapter of your life, and it’s your responsibility to make the most of it. Welcome to the 40 Acres! Helgren is a neuroscience and psychology senior. He is also the Student Government president. 4 OPINIONLEGALESE | Opinions expressed in The Daily Texan are those of the editor, the Editorial Board or the writer of the article. They are not necessarily those of the UT administration, the Board of Regents or the Texas Student Media Board of Operating Trustees. SUBMIT A FIRING LINE | Email your Firing Lines to editor@dailytexanonline.com. Letters must be more than 100 and fewer than 300 words. The Texan reserves the right to edit all submissions for brevity, clarity and liability. RECYCLE | Please recycle this copy of The Daily Texan. Place the paper in one of the recycling bins on campus or back in the burnt-orange newsstand where you found it. EDITORIAL TWITTER | Follow The Daily Texan Editorial Board on Twitter (@TexanEditorial) and receive updates on our latest editorials and columns. 4ALEXANDER CHASE, EDITOR-IN-CHIEF | @TexanEditorialFriday, August 26, 2016COLUMNNew Trump GOP abandons principle for hateBy Janhavi NemawarkarDaily Texan Senior Columnist @janhavin97COLUMNBy Noah M. HorwitzDaily Texan Senior Columnist @NmHorwitzDon Zimmerman proves himself unfit to serveThe pathogen has taken over the host. The transformation is complete. The Republi- can Party, founded by abolitionists and lead to greatness by Lincoln, Grant, Roosevelt, Eisenhower and Reagan, is now dead. Long live the Alt-Right Party, the Trump Party! Donald Trump, the Republican nominee for president, is in an unenviable position as this election enters its homestretch. He is losing badly and appears now to be eschewing what- ever modicum of common sense had remained in his campaign. Paul Manafort, the campaign chairman who — despite his murky connec- tions with a pro-Putin autocrat — was, at heart, an establishment, moderating figure, resigned. Manafort’s replacement is Stephen Bannon, who – until his selection – was the chairman of Breitbart News, a once mainstream conser- vative political website that has been beset by the racism, misogyny and anti-Semitism re- plete within the alt-right. The sad journey of Breitbart, in many ways, mirrors that of the Republican Party. Andrew Breitbart’s eponymous website largely mir- rored his own idiosyncrasies: evocative, eccen- tric and – above all else – purely conservative. It existed on the fringes of the mainstream, and I surely remember many times in which I ve- hemently disagreed with its editorial line, but it was in the mainstream nonetheless. Not anymore. And nor is the GOP. This year, Trump has transformed the Re- publican Party from a proud home for con- servatives to an unrecognizable hodgepodge of populism, nationalism and garden-variety white supremacism. Breitbart, more than any other news source, was on the vanguard of that transformation. From an early time in the campaign, it obsequiously defended the Re- publican’s unholy standard-bearer, turning on one of their own reporters in the process after she was manhandled by Corey Lewandowski, Trump’s first thug of a campaign manager. Breitbart went from advocating for a very standard, albeit extreme, line of conservatism to advocating for whatever Trump wants. It has become a propaganda mouthpiece for a raving, bloviating wannabe tyrant, not entirely dissimilar to Der Stürmer or Pravda. In the process, it has run out some of its most promi- nent intellectual voices, like Ben Shapiro, and replaced them with avowed white suprema- cists and anti-Semites, like Milo Yiannopoulos. Trump’s embrace of Bannon in this trying time is the surest sign yet that this is the fu- ture of the GOP. Win or lose for Trump — and thankfully the latter looks significantly more like- ly at this moment — the new GOP, the Breitbart GOP, will not be one predicated on free markets, few regulations and a strong national defense. It will be one built on bigotry pretending to be “economic anxiety.” It will be one where domestic and foreign policy will be subject to the whims and caprices of a strong man, and the only constants are racism, misogyny and anti-Semitism. Andrew Breitbart, himself a Jew, would have likely been disgusted to see his cre- ation turn so ugly just four years after his death. That last point will likely be abundantly clear about thirty minutes after this column is published, when I receive the first of many instances of “reader love” calling me a kike. Horwitz is a first year law student from Houston. Joshua Guerra | Daily Texan StaffA supporter is an American flag shirt waves a sign at Donald Trump’s campaign rally in Austin on Aug. 23, 2016. Trump’s campaign focused heavily on nationalist attitudes and policy ideas. FORUMSG President urges freshmen to set their sights highBy Kevin HelgrenStudent Government President @k_helgsChange is neither comfortable nor convenient — so be uncomfortable and be inconvenienced. Fanny Trang | Daily Texan file photoDistrict 6 Council Member Don Zimmerman is pictured in 2012. Zimmerman has drawn fire for his comments to a group of students attending a budget meeting last Thursday, Zimmerman had the gall to deni- grate students who were, in fact, already doing something useful for their society by attending a city council meeting and advocating for an issue they cared about. Breitbart went from advocating for a very standard, albeit extreme, line of conservatism to advocating for whatever Trump wants. UT researcher Brian Kor- gel plans to build something that’s only been seen in sci- ence fiction — technology that will allow the user to feel what others feel. Korgel, a UT chemical engineer, recently received funding from the National Academies of Sciences, Engi- neering and Medicine to de- velop something he calls an empathy mirror. “The concept of the em- pathy mirror is to use state- of-the-art technology and create an electronic in- terface where people can experience how it would feel to be another person,” Korgel said. Last year, Korgel worked with a team of engineers and scientists from Drexel, Stanford and McGill, as well as a company called Vapor Communications, to develop this idea dur- ing meetings held by the National Academy Keck Futures Initiative. During these meetings, Korgel and his team dis- cussed the ideas that technol- ogy is driving people apart and that polarizing beliefs limit human interaction. Ko- rgel said the group concluded people need to empathize more and understand one another better. “Especially in the elec- tion cycle, when you look at Twitter and Facebook and see people saying things like ‘Trump is the devil’ and ‘Hill- ary should go to jail,’ there is no conversation going on between the two groups of people.” Korgel said. “This is referred to as the echo cham- ber, where you are just sort of hearing your voice over and over again and not actually discussing things.” As a solution to this prob- lem, the team decided to de- sign an art exhibition-style device that people could interact with to improve their empathy. “The idea is that you are looking at a mirror, but the mirror is really a screen or TV that just looks like a mirror,” Korgel said. “You’d basically be looking at your image, a reflection of you, and that reflection will say things back to you that you don’t believe. It could be po- litical things, it could be al- most anything. The idea is that if you see yourself saying things that you really don’t agree with, but are potentially debatable, you might react to them.” The team received $100,000 in April and will use this funding to develop a pro- totype of the empathy mirror over the next two years. Korgel said the team has also considered using physi- cal stimuli to activate some- one’s senses. The team plans on combining existing tech- nologies, such as different types of sensors that moni- tor heart rate and breathing, as well as a program that can recreate someone’s voice, and putting them together in a unique way. Jeff Blum, a team member and electrical engineering postdoctoral student from McGill, said using these physical stimuli can lead to a better understanding of someone’s reactions. “We believe that a multi- modal experience will have more impact than just, for example, a purely video- based exhibit,” Blum said. “Emotions involve the entire body, so we believe that the empathy mirror should in- volve multiple senses as well.” Zora Arnold, a recent ra- dio-television-film graduate who has experience in virtual reality, said that while she might be uneasy about the empathy mirror, she would be willing to try it. “I think it could change my mind about things,” Arnold said. “I think these technolo- gies have great potential to affect people in an emotional way and we are just getting started with it.” The team is also focused on making the project a collabo- ration between art and sci- ence, especially in designing the interface of the empathy mirror. Korgel has previously worked with artists and hopes to develop a space on campus where scientists and engi- neers can collaborate with different creators. “Artists are makers and are very creative people and a lot of times actually have to invent a machine to do their art,” Korgel said. “They are re- ally well equipped to be part of the research process, but scientists and engineers gen- erally don’t understand that because they don’t always un- derstand what artists do.” The team anticipates many challenges, including gather- ing funding for building the device, working with team members and creating a de- vice that can reach the maxi- mum amount of people. “[The biggest challenge] will be building a system that can work reliably in a pub- lic space and reach a large number of people, yet still integrate haptic (touch), ol- factory (smell) and visual components to create an ex- perience that people reflect on beyond the time spent in the exhibit itself,” Blum said. Korgel said the empathy mirror will be open for any- one to use and experience but hopes it can have more specif- ic uses, such as helping chil- dren with autism learn more about human emotion. After the prototype is complete, the team will set up a non- profit and try to raise close to $1 million to actually build the device. “With so many of us exist- ing in islands of like-minded people, considering other perspectives can be chal- lenging, but I’d argue that doing so is crucial to build- ing a more resilient society,” Blum said. Bad news for students who suffer through bor- ing classes: New research has confirmed that stu- dents who are interested in course material are better able to engage in class. The study, which was led by UT College of Education professor Erika Patall, con- firms that interested stu- dents tend to work harder, pay more attention, and think more about strategies to remember the material. Although it may seem obvious that student inter- est leads to greater engage- ment, Patall said this study was unlike most research on student motivation be- cause the researchers asked students to report levels of interest and engagement daily instead of once or twice over the course of an entire class. “This particular re- search was unique in that it allowed us to determine how students’ experiences function on a daily basis,” Patall said. The study found that as the class progressed, stu- dents were less engaged and interested in learning the material and more con- cerned with studying for a good grade. The research team sur- veyed 218 high school stu- dents in a variety of science courses. They found that on days when students re- ported they were interested in the class, they also re- ported that they were bet- ter engaged. Using learning strategies and being more involved in classes posi- tively influences academic achievement, according a study by the University of Oklahoma. “If you talk to teachers, they will tell you that one of the things they struggle with most is student mo- tivation,” Patall said. “I could not agree with them more that it is a critical component when it comes to learning.” The study also found that interest was more ben- eficial for certain groups, especially black and His- panic students, who are underrepresented in sci- ence, according to Patall. “One possibility is that it might be especially impor- tant for black and Hispanic students who are more like- ly to perceive inequalities in the benefits of engag- ing in school,” Patall said. “That is, black and His- panic students may think school has fewer long-term economic and social ben- efits like good-paying jobs for individuals in their group. In that context, interest becomes all the more important.” The study also found that engagement is not the same across genders. Male science students reported that their teachers seemed to support their interest, causing them to be more engaged, while this was not reported by female stu- dents. Patall said this find- ing suggests that one rea- son female students tend to be less engaged in STEM classes is that they don’t think their teachers are encouraging what interest they have in a class. College of Education professor Jill Marshall, who studies gender issues in science education, said she isn’t surprised that teacher attention to student in- terest could affect female students differently. “I think, for a variety of reasons, that women are sometimes more sensi- tive to other people’s opin- ions and their perception of other people’s opinion about them,” Marshall said. In order to encourage engagement, Patall said, teachers can make activi- ties and concepts relevant to students’ existing in- terests and create oppor- tunities for students to ask questions and make choices in class. “We are also now just starting to investigate practices like teachers’ or- ganization and structure in the classroom that support students’ feelings of com- petence and motivation,” Patall said. “We believe that understanding those practices also will help us to develop the most effec- tive motivation interven- tions that allow students to succeed.” Psychology freshman Phuong-Ha Mai said she also thinks that interest in a class can improve engage- ment and grades. “If you’re not interested, I feel like you wouldn’t be able to grasp what that pro- fessor is trying to teach you as well as a student who was truly interested in that subject,” Mai said. “They’d be more willing to absorb the information.” Patall said she thinks the results of this study could be applied to other school subjects. She said her research team decided to focus on science because of the growing need to en- courage students to pursue STEM careers. “There is a particular need in our country to en- courage students to con- tinue in STEM domains due to growing number of occupations that require that kind of expertise,” Pa- tall said. “Understanding the dynamics of student interest and engagement in science and the ways that it can be supported is particularly critical in the context of what’s going on in the world today.” NEWS 5EVA FREDERICK, SCIENCE&TECHNOLOGY EDITOR 5Friday, August 26, 2016PSYCHOLOGYInterested students engage better in classesBy Julianne Hodges@JayHodges2018ENGINEERINGResearchers plan perspective-altering ‘mirror’By Zia Lyle@ZiaLyleIllustration by Jacky Tovar | Daily Texan StaffIllustration by Geo Casillas | Daily Texan Staff 8 SPTS8EZRA SIEGEL, SPORTS EDITOR | @texansportsFriday, August 26, 2016Connatser, Longhorns look for first winCara Connatser al- ways knew she wanted to be the Longhorns’ starting goalkeeper. But up until a week ago, the senior from Frisco had never played a single minute throughout her Texas career. That all changed last Friday night when Tex- as opened its season at home versus Seattle with Connatser guarding the net. “I’ve bled orange since I was born, so this has been a dream of mine since I can remember,” Connat- ser said. “To have the first start, that was everything to me.” Connatser spent the first three years of her ca- reer on the 40 Acres back- ing up former standout Abby Smith, who ranks first in program history in shutouts (30) and fourth in saves (300). The two goalkeepers go as far back as their high school days when both played for the same club team. Connatser credits Smith as a mentor both on and off the pitch. “Nobody knows Abby Smith in the goalkeeping position on the playing field better than Cara Con- natser,” head coach Angela Kelly said. “There’s a wealth of knowledge that she’s ad- opted from Smith, from a training aspect as well as from a competitive and tactical aspect.” By the time Connatser committed to Texas, Smith had already firmly cement- ed herself as the Long- horns’ starting goalkeep- er. Connatser says Kelly even warned her that she might not play until her senior year. But the blunt realization did not phase her for a sec- ond. She compares her sit- uation to the movie “Rudy” — the main character of the football film had to wait for his final game to see the field. “I was like, well, then you have the best ‘Rudy’ you’ve ever seen in your entire life because I’m going to keep working day in and day out to make this team better,” Connatser said. “This is my dream. This team has been my dream.” There’s still no guarantee as to who Texas will turn to as its long-term solution in front of the net, especially this early in the season. The Longhorns feature three other goalkeepers on the roster, including senior Paige Brown, junior Taylor Braun and freshman Nicole Curry. Brown transferred from Louisville and Braun transferred from Kentucky. “At this point, it is prac- tice-to-practice and game- to-game until we have someone that just is a con- sistent, outright winner of the position,” Kelly said. Whether it’s Connatser who gets another start or an audition for a different goal- keeper, the Longhorns will be at home with matchups against College of Charles- ton and Detroit this week- end. Texas lost its season opener last Friday to Seattle, 1-0, despite having seven more shots. “We just need to finish,” senior midfielder Julia Dyche said. “We created a lot of op- portunities, and so we just know that we need to get on the board. We can’t let teams hang around. We have to put teams away as soon as possible.” Texas faces Charleston on Friday at 7:30 p.m. and De- troit on Sunday at 2 p.m. By Trenton Daeschner@TrentDaeschnerSOCCERSIDELINECourtesy of Cara Connaster Senior goalie Cara Connatser kicks a ball out of the penalty box during the Longhorns contest against Seattle on Aug. 19. She hopes to secure her starting role as Texas takes on Charleston and Detroit. VOLLEYBALLTexas gears up for season opener, title game rematchNo. 2 Texas will face a familiar foe in its sea- son-opening weekend at the VERT Challenge in Eugene, Oregon. After playing Oregon on Friday, the team will take on No. 1 Nebraska on Saturday. The Huskers stifled the Long- horns in the National Cham- pionship last December, 3-0. “My hat goes off to Ne- braska,” head coach Jerritt Elliott said after the match on Dec. 19, 2015 “They never cracked... They were relentless in the pressure of siding out and we weren’t able to get any runs going.” The VERT Challenge not only showcases the na- tion’s top-2 teams, but will give Texas’ six fresh- men their first taste of high-level competition. “[The tournament] helps us gain some experience, es- pecially for our freshmen, to see what it’s actually like to gain a little bit of what to ex- pect moving forward in the season,” senior setter Chloe Collins said after the VERT Challenge on Sept. 5, 2015. Texas defeated Ne- braska but fell to Florida in the 2015 VERT Chal- lenge in Austin. The team looks to sweep the event and pick up a signature win this weekend. Despite adding six fresh- men, the Longhorns will count on their upperclass- man against Oregon and Ne- braska. Senior setter Chloe Collins, senior outside hitter Paulina Prieto Cerame and junior outside hitter Ebony Nwanebu all were selected to the Preseason All-Big 12 team. Nwanebu rejoins the team after missing all but one game with a back in- jury in 2015. She had a career night in the VERT Challenge against Nebraska last September, record- ing a team-high 22 kills, a career-high 17 digs, and four blocks in the team’s 3-2 victory. Elliott is keeping high expectations for the 2016 season. But he said the team is still a work in progress heading into the season opener. “It’s so early and it’s so hard to get to all the differ- ent skill sets that we need, so this is kind of a truck in motion,” Elliott said. “We’ve got some time to get it going, but we’ll get some things off of this film and keep moving forward.” Texas looks to retain its place as one of the power- houses in volleyball, reach- ing four straight Finals Fours and securing the Big 12 title in eight of the last nine seasons. But Nebraska will test the team early af- ter finishing 2015 with 16 consecutive wins. Without much time for tune-up, Elliott hopes the younger Longhorn team come together and find championship chemistry to start the year. “It’s going to be upper- classmen putting their arms around the freshmen because they’re going to be playing some and get- ting them in the speed of the game fast enough,” Elliott said. SWIMMING & DIVINGBy Steve Helwick@naqwerty3Longhorns hope to repeat conference, national titlesTexas has built up a large resume in swimming and div- ing over the past few years. The Longhorn men enter the 2016—17 sea- son with two consecutive national titles, while the women will try for their fourth straight confer- ence championship. With several key swimmers returning, the men hope to sus- tain their streak and give head coach Ed- die Reese his 13th national title. The team boasts four swimmers who earned gold at the Olympics in Rio de Janeiro this sum- mer in seniors Jack Con- ger and Clark Smith, junior Joseph School- ing and sophomore Townley Haas. Reese has developed a reputation for yielding exceptional competitors and racking up titles. But he still gives all the credit to his athletes. “Everybody thinks that I’m a good coach, or that I’ve got some kind of magic wand,” Reese said after the NCAA Cham- pionships on March 26. “The only magic is in the swimmers.” The team also retains key seniors Will Licon and Mark Anderson. Li- con was a force at the 2016 NCAA national championships, win- ning individual titles in the 200-meter breast- stroke and 200-meter individual medley. An- derson was named Big 12 Diver of the Year in 2015 after winning the 3-meter and platform diving events at the Big 12 championship. Upon winning their second consecutive title, Licon and his teammates were already gearing up for the next season. “I’m ready to get back to work,” Licon said af- ter the meet. “We re- ally don’t have much time left.” The women look to continue their domi- nance in the Big 12 behind a mix of youth and expe- rience. The team added two top-seven recruits in Claire Adams and Lau- ren Case, according to Collegeswimming.com. And like the men, the women have a strong cast of competitors re- turning from last year’s team. Madisyn Cox, Jor- dan Surhoff and Tasija Karosas highlight the ex- perienced group. The trio has combined wins with two All-American and 11 Honorable Men- tion All-American hon- ors over their three years in Austin. Texas also brings back sophomore distance freestyler Joanna Evans, who will look to build on her appearances in the 400-meter and 200-me- ter freestyle events in Rio. Both the men and the women will open their seasons in October. MLBRED SOX RAYS TODAY IN HISTORY1972The 20th Olympics commence in Munich, Germany. The United States took home 94 total medals, with 33 gold, 31 silver and 30 bronze. The Soviet Union finished first in the medal count, collecting 50 golds and 99 total medals. “ Folks quick to say I changed but really I just became a man. ” Quandre Diggs@qdiggs6TOP TWEETJoshua Guerra | Daily Texan file photoSenior setter Chloe Collins sets the ball for her teammates against UTSA on Sept. 11, 2015. Head coach Jerritt Elliot will rely on Collins’ leadership this season. TIGERS TWINS RANGERS INDIANS ORIOLES NATIONALS By Shane Lewis@TheDailyTexanWomen’s Golf 2016 ScheduleMinnesota Invite: Sept. 12-13Lady Paladin: Sept.23-25Jim West Invitation- al: Oct. 9-10Betsy Rawls Invita- tional: Oct. 17-18Las Vegas Colle- giate Showdown: Oct. 23-25UCF Challenge: Feb. 5-7Allstate Sugar Bowl Intercollegiate: Feb. 19-21Anuenue Spring Break Classic: Mar. 14-15Clemson Invitation- al: Mar. 31-Apr. 2Lady Buckeye: Apr. 15-16Big 12 Champion- ship: Apr. 21-23NCAA Regionals: May 8-10NCAA Champion- ship: May 19-24Everybody thinks that I’m a good coach, or that I’ve got some kind of magic wand. The only magic is in the swimmers.” —Eddie Reese, Head coach The Shaka Smart era at Texas technically started in 2015. But it wasn’t truly his program yet. In his first year at the helm, Smart had to work with previously recruited players while figuring out the ins and outs of coaching on the 40 Acres. Now, going into his sec- ond season, Smart has skilled returners, an im- pressive recruiting class of his own and more influence over the team’s schedule. With his fingerprints finally all over the program, Texas is finally Smart’s team. “In a lot of ways, we are starting over,” Smart said on June 22. “It takes some time to get the program to the point where you go from one year to the next and everyone really un- derstands and there’s a smooth transition.” The transition this offsea- son posed some problems with so much roster turn- over. The team lost seven members from the 2015–16 roster — including three players 6-foot-9 or taller — leaving the Longhorns in need of front-court players and dynamic scorers who can shoulder the team’s offensive load. Sophomore guards Eric Davis Jr. and Kerwin Roach showed that potential in their first season at Texas. They had ups and downs like most freshmen, but their confidence and aggres- sive style of play fits Smart’s “havoc” system — a strat- egy based on full-court de- fensive pressure — and the teams he coached to deep tournament runs at VCU. Several members of the Longhorns’ recruiting class also fit that mold and will vie for starting positions. Fresh- men centers Jarrett Allen and James Banks will help make up for the loss of grad- uated centers Prince Ibeh and Cam Ridley. And fresh- man guard Andrew Jones should immediately be- come one of Texas’ primary ball handlers. But Smart is still counting on his veterans to step up and lead the younger play- ers. He’s particularly push- ing Davis, Roach and soph- omore forward Tevin Mack to set the tone and become players Texas can depend on every time the team takes the floor. “We, as a young program, are going to have to get bet- ter quickly and grow fast,” Smart said. “With those sophomores, we’re trying to accelerate that because they’re going to have to play like juniors and seniors.” Smart and assistant coach Mike Morrell care- fully crafted the 2016 non- conference schedule to help the young Longhorn team grow. The team opened its sea- son in China in 2015, but Texas won’t be going on any trips to play overseas this fall. The schedule also doesn’t feature any non- conference marquee match- ups this season, but still gives the team chances to build experience before Big 12 play. “We were trying to find as competitive games as we could, but games that our team could build from and learn from,” Smart said. “You try to factor in what type of experience the guys need to get us ready to be successful in Big 12 play and put us in the best position we can be in the NCAA tournament.” Athletic director Mike Perrin is already showing appreciation for Smart’s impact on the program. The department signed Smart to a one-year contract extension Thursday. Now, loaded with a full recruiting class and a transformed culture, Smart is ready to carry out his vi- sion in 2016. CLASS/SPTS/L&A 9TIFF’S TREATS NEEDS DRIVERS! Tiff’s Treats Cookie Delivery is looking for happy, hard-working people who are quick ontheir feet, passionate and LOVEcustomer service to deliver treats toour customers! 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Call Mark or Elizabeth. 512-478-6419MENTOR & COACH TO 12 YEAR OLD GIRL-Pick up student from O’Henry Junior High (3:30/45pm) a min. of 3 days a week -Plan & arrange healthy/ fun activities that may include: cooking, art, acting, singing, yoga, writing classes, basketball, swimming, hiking & gym (some already arranged) -Inspire & encourage good habits & strong characterLooking for: A female UT/Grad Student- down to earth, outgoing & energetic with well-rounded experiences that demonstrate self-motivation, curiosity & disciplinePosition & most travel will be in central Austin- $15 an hour with gas & expense reimbursementResumes sent to: Jenna@safeconversations.orgTUTOR 12 YR GIRL AT O’HENRY JR HIGH-UT or Grad student-2 hours, 2 to 3 days or early evenings a week-$15 an hour-Central Austin Must have: -excellent track record & experience-skilled in middle school math and science-demonstrated interest or experience in education/teaching Resumes send to Jenna@safeconversations.orgSPORTSFriday, August 26, 20169MENS BASKETBALLSmart looks to take ownership in second seasonFridays at 5 p.m. Listen to The Daily Texan newscastGabriel Lopez Daily Texan StaffHead coach Sha- ka Smart signed a one-year con- tract extension through 2023 on Thursday. He be- gins his second season at Texas after reeling in the nation’s No. 5 recruiting class, according to 247Sports. By Claire CruzDaily Texan Columnist @claireecruz5 Usually, the back-and-forth “Texas! Fight!” chant can be heard echoing the stadium during a football game. But this weekend, it will ring across Congress Avenue. The Texas Exes Pride Alumni Network will join the Gender and Sexuality Center, Pride and Equity Faculty Staff Association, Texas Queer Stu- dents Alliance and members of the Dell Medical School on Saturday to march in the 26th annual Pride Parade, conclud- ing Pride week in Austin. The procession begins at the Capi- tol at 8 p.m. To wrap up a week of LGBT celebrations, over 120 groups will march through the Warehouse District on Fourth Street to Republic Square Park. “We are lucky in Austin that people are welcoming and supportive of all types of people, but it is still impor- tant to celebrate our differ- ences,” said Austin Dennis, chair of Texas Exes Pride Alumni Network. In years past, Dennis said wide-eyed freshmen marched alongside 50-year- old alumni. He said everyone marching, despite their age or background, is connected through UT. UT alumnus Nolan Hicks didn’t march in last year’s parade, but hopes to become more involved in the gay community, namely by marching in this year’s procession. “The parade is our way to remind people that we’re an integral part of the community and we contribute in so many ways to what makes Austin special,” Hicks said. “Pride is our way to get out there and put it in everyone’s face and to remind folks that we’re here and we’re queer and we’re not going anywhere.” Past chair John Cano marched in last year’s parade, and said he participated to help spread visibility for the Pride Alumni Network. Since the organization is relatively new, founded in 2010, some UT graduates are still unaware the group exists. And the word is spreading. Last year, about 25 people participated in the parade, whereas this year, nearly 100 people signed up. “People get really excited to see us [and] people love the University of Texas,” Cano said. “Leading the chants and having everyone holler back at us — it’s a really good energy that comes out of all of that.” The Pride Alumni Network organizes social events in and around Austin, such as Laven- der graduation, an additional ceremony for LGBT students and their families, or speed dating and happy hour events in cities such as Houston and Dallas. Ultimately, Dennis said the network exists to re- mind students that being a Longhorn doesn’t end after graduation. “There is an entire network at the Texas Exes dedicated to keeping [former LGBT students] connected to the University,” Dennis said. Looking ahead, the Pride Alumni Network hopes to become more politically ac- tive and advocate for LGBT issues such as transgender bathrooms. They are also in the process of funding a scholarship that they will eventually award to several LGBT students each year. They also hope to ex- pand their presence at this year’s parade. “People can come out who aren’t members of the LGBT community and that builds support and community and those are the types of things that continue us on the track that we are on as far as equal rights and recognition,” Dennis said. Although UT is well- known for dominating col- lege sports, it offers little representation of gay and non-cisgendered athletes. For LGBT students yearning to find a place and let loose, a new organization is a wel- coming compromise between the two worlds. The Federation of Lesbian, Ally and Gay Sports is a UT sports organization estab- lished to provide a safe space for LGBT students and to build a sense of community with allies. For many students like FLAGS social chair Sa- mantha Freis, the organization is a homey middle ground between the sports world and LGBT community. “I wasn’t out during high school or my freshman year of college,” psychology senior Freis said. “It was definitely an adjustment, but my family has been really accepting, sup- portive and loving. I did have some friends that stopped as- sociating with me after I came out. FLAGS was great for me because I went from knowing very few other queer people and feeling isolated to having a lot of queer friends that under- stood what I had gone through and could relate.” Before coming to UT, Mor- gan Ehmling, a Plan II hon- ors and biology junior, was a varsity athlete throughout high school and wanted to join a sports organization while getting involved in the LGBT community. Ehmling happened upon FLAGS at an orientation meeting at the Gender and Sexuality Center, began attending regular games and is now vice president of the organization. “We’re creating a place for the queer community and the sports community to overlap, and [we’re] fostering the propa- gation of inclusive behaviors in spaces that have historically been dominated by straight, cis-gendered communities,” Ehmling said. FLAGS doesn’t limit itself to one sport but rather lets members choose what they’d like to play each week. They hold events for popular games such as soccer and basketball every semester but also host monthly socials for outdoor recreational activities such as hiking and kayaking. Regard- less of the sport, the goal is to make LGBT students and allies feel at home. “At one of the first soccer meetings I went to, I remember running around and then stop- ping to watch everyone play, and I couldn’t help but think, ‘Wow. This group of people is so weird but in the most amaz- ing way,’” Ehmling said. Although FLAGS is a sports organization, Ehmling said its emphasis is on making con- nections and not on winning. For FLAGS president Gabby Dominguez, the organization sets itself apart from other LGBT organizations by being a place where people can come as they are. “I think sports provide a way to be silly and let loose a little bit,” said Dominguez, communication sciences and disorders senior. “We also don’t specify a certain level of knowledge of the sport, [so] anyone of any skill level can show up and just hang out with us. It’s just a way for people to get active and have some fun and not worry about being judged.” For many members of FLAGS, coming to UT marked a major transition in their lives that let helped them feel more comfortable with their identi- ties. FLAGS hopes to make a safe space that will function as a kind of second family for students. “Our organization is cre- ated from individuals that come from all across campus, all across Texas and all across the world,” Ehmling said. “We have come together out of dif- ference, a beautiful difference, and share our love as students, athletes and friends.” 10 COUPS/L&A10Friday, August 26, 2016LIFE&ARTSALUMNITexas Exes network joins 26th Pride ParadeBy Katie Walsh & Elizabeth Hlavinka@thedailytexanJunyuan Tan | Daily Texan file photoPeople celebrate at the Pride Festival in Austin on August 31, 2015. The Texas Exes Pride Alumni Network will join in this year’s parade Saturday. Junyuan TanDaily Texanfile photoMen dance at the Pride Festival in Austin on August 31, 2015. This year’s celebra- tion will conclude with Austin’s 26th annual Pride Parade, be- ginning Saturday at 8 p.m. SPORTSBy Mae Hamilton@thedailytexanLGBT club promotes unity through sportsEmmanuel Briseño | Daily Texan StaffMorgan Ehmling, Plan II and biology junior, gives information about the Federation of Lesbian, Ally and Gay Sports to UT students at Thursday’s BLOQ party. a song,” Faraizi said. “I really liked helping them tell their stories, because I lived on an Air Force base, everyone was a military brat and everyone had a different background.” When the group came to UT for college, their work eventually came to a standstill, but Faraizi took the chance to display his talent to a large audience. Upon entering the annual Gone to Texas video com- petition, Faraizi didn’t expect much to come out of it. But Faraizi made the list of finalists, and to his surprise, won the contest all with no prior experi- ence in video produc- tion. With school taking over much of his time, however, Faraizi’s chanc- es to produce became a limited commodity, al- though his dedication never waivered. In his last semester at UT, Faraizi began writ- ing songs again, cultivat- ing his music tastes to work toward a full proj- ect which will be released soon. His newest music video, released today, epitomizes his approach to music, focusing on simplicity as a powerful tool for an effective song. For his upcoming de- but album, Faraizi pulls from a variety of facets of his life, including his dis- tant relationship with his mother and his struggles moving around as a kid. “That’s what I put in my music, these situations that make me who I am today,” Faraizi said. “Music is my therapy. I’m not partial to one part of the process — I’m an artist. I won’t say I’m a rapper, there’s a lot of meaning be- hind that. I’m discovering my way around singing as well, I just want to be able to tell stories through any medium of art.” RAPcontinues from page 12 RECYCLE .AFTER READING YOUR COPY COMICS 11COMICSFriday, August 26, 201611Today’s solution will appear here next issue SUDOKUFORYOU 9 6 8 3 1 6 5 8 2 7 9 4 6 33 4 7 58 3 2 8 1 6 3 2 5 7 4 6 8 7 9 3 5 9 3 2 1 8 6 7 41 4 7 3 5 6 2 8 96 8 2 7 9 4 3 1 57 5 8 1 6 9 4 3 29 2 1 4 8 3 5 6 73 6 4 5 2 7 1 9 84 1 9 6 7 2 8 5 32 7 5 8 3 1 9 4 68 3 6 9 4 5 7 2 1 community and things track equal recognition,” Shanzyan Faraizi spent his childhood recording his *NSYNC performanc- es with his dad’s video camera. Two decades later, he’s ramping up for the release of his debut rap album. “My family and I went not knowing what to ex- pect,” Faraizi said. “We were watching the show, and when he came up, he and his friend did a rap song. I was so surprised — I had no idea my brother could do that. I thought only certain people could rap.” Faraizi, who both pro- duces and raps his own music, started creating tracks in middle school under heavy influence from his brother. After attending his brother’s hip-hop performance at the Mr. Plano East com- petition in fourth grade, Faraizi realized music wasn’t just something he loved — it was something he wanted to dedicate his life to. “All of my music taste came from my brother ini- tially, and in the late ’90s, R&B was huge. He rapped for the same reason I did initially — we weren’t good singers,” Faraizi said. After “stalking” his brother to learn more about rap music and ex- posing himself to the likes of Kanye West and Tim- baland, Faraizi eventually picked up his brother’s computer and opened FL Studio. By the time he hit high school, he had turned into a full-fledged produc- er but had no one to rap over his beats. That’s when he recruited his friends to create a rap group called Crtfd, the first initial of each group member rear- ranged to resemble “Cer- tified.” With the group, he quickly discovered his own love for rapping. “I was the producer of the group, but every now and then I would jump on Benita Ozoude met the ex- ecutive director of the Capital City Black Film Festival in a Cajun soul food restaurant this summer while shoot- ing a film. A few months later, Ozoude would be able to cross “film festival” off her goal list. Ozoude, a radio-television- film and journalism senior, will debut her documen- tary, “The Queen of Rose- wood,” on Saturday, Aug. 27, at the Capital City Black Film Festival at the Austin Convention Center. Ozoude entered the Uni- versity as a pharmacy ma- jor, but after two years in the College of Natural Sci- ences, she decided to pursue filmmaking instead. “I want to create things,” Ozoude said. “I want to make videos to bring awareness to certain situations peo- ple don’t know but need to know about.” Ozoude was denied the first time she applied to the RTF program but transferred into the College of Com- munication as a journalism major, hoping the process would be easier from within. She applied a second time to the RTF program and was accepted. This is where Ozoude found her real passion, at the intersection of filmmaking and reporting. “I don’t like to create my own stories,” Ozoude said. “But I like to look for sto- ries and translate that in a visual form.” The documentary brings the viewer into the life of Miss Lola, a Christian res- taurant owner who feeds the homeless every Sunday, see- ing her service as a calling from God. The story spoke to Ozoude. “She’s a strong, strong Christian, which I love be- cause she was unapologetic for it,” Ozoude said. “I didn’t edit anything out — if she’s talk- ing about God she’s talking about God. And people really liked it.” Ozoude’s visual storytelling didn’t go unnoticed by jour- nalism lecturer Robert Gar- cia-Buckalew, who taught her portfolio class. He was immediately impressed at the level of craftsman- ship Ozoude had behind a camera. “Her camera work was ex- cellent,” Garcia-Buckalew said. “She has a very unique style that is more spontaneous. Her handheld work is extremely vivid and captures a kind of rhythm and pacing that al- lows the viewer to experience the moment.” Garcia-Buckalew said Ozoude excelled in capturing a difficult story. “I liked the fact that although it was a challenging story to cover she really placed herself in the middle of the story as an observer to capture a really terrific video,” he said. After viewing the film, one student thanked Ozoude for not avoiding the religious aspect. “A student grabbed my hand and said, ‘Oh my gosh, I’m so thankful that you didn’t try and hide God,’” Ozoude said. “In journalism these days, people are afraid to talk about religion, espe- cially at UT. They try and push out God, and I can’t do that.” Ozoude said Garcia-Buck- alew’s class and the film fes- tival have helped her realize her potential. “I think I have more con- fidence in myself, and [I think] ‘Hey, I am talented and I can do this.’” Ozoude said. “I should submit to more film festivals.” When asked about her suc- cess, Ozoude remains humble. “It gives me hope, just to be so successful,” Ozoude said. “I accredit that to God, be- cause there are some people that have been in journalism since their freshman year, and they haven’t done the things I’ve done. I’m always praying, that’s what keeps me hopeful.” Name: 4813/Oat Willies; Width: 29p6; Depth: 10 in; Color: Black, 4813/Oat Willies; Ad Number: 481312 L&AELIZABETH HLAVINKA, LIFE&ARTS EDITOR | @thedailytexan12Friday. August 26, 2016FILMStudent to debut movie at black film festivalBy Lisette Oler@LisetteOlerCourtesty of Aaron ScottRadio-television-film and journalism senior Benita Ozoude is participating in this weekend’s Capital City Black Film Festival. Her film “The Queen of Rosewood” MUSICAlumnus prepares to release first full-length rap albumBy Chris Duncan@chr_duncJunyuan photoPeople Courtesy of Nidi NizamFor his upcoming debut album, Shanzyan Faraizi pulls from a variety of facets of his life, including his distant relationship with his mother and his struggles moving around as a kid. semester at writ- cultivat- tastes to proj- released music today, approach on powerful song. de- pulls facets of dis- with his struggles kid. in my that today,” is my to one I’m an rapper, meaning be- discovering my well, I to tell medium RAP page 10I’m an artist. I won’t say I’m a rapper, there’s a lot of mean- ing behind that. I’m discovering my way around singing as well, I just want to be able to tell stories through any medium of art. —Shanzyan Faraizi