@THEDAILYTEXAN | THEDAILYTEXAN.COM THURSDAY, JANUARY 25, 2018 VOLUME 118, ISSUE 88 SERVING THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT AUSTIN COMMUNITY SINCE 1900 NEWS OPINION L IFE&ARTS Lecturer tries to make general education requirements interest- ing. PAGE 2 Thoughts on Austin infrastruc- ture and appropriation of funds. PAGE 4 Learn about a UT alumna’s delicious journey to food blog stardom. PAGE 8 SPORTS Texas’ gameplan for Thursday’s matchup with Baylor is simple — score a lot. PAGE 6 CMHC clarifies counseling limitations CAMPUS No hard limit on short- term counseling exists, but resources are limited. By Stephanie Adeline @stephadeline D espite misconceptions across campus, the Counseling and Men- tal Health Center has no concrete limit to the number of counseling sessions available to students. Marla Craig, associate director for clinical services at CMHC, said although there is no ixed num- ber, the CMHC only ofers short- term counseling for students, and the average student completes three sessions. When a student irst comes to the CMHC, a counselor conducts a brief assessment and suggests counseling options based on their If short-term counsel- needs. ing at CMHC is deemed best for the student, they are scheduled for four weekly appointments. At the end of the four weeks, the student is scheduled for two fol- low-up appointments, which serve as a re-evaluation of the student’s needs. These two phases make for a combined total of six sessions — but during the follow-up appoint- ments, the counselor and student may decide there is a need for more sessions. “We’ll always be looking at what the need is because not all students are going to it into the same re- source,” Craig said. “Some of them done are within three sessions, but we at least schedule the four so they have it. Others are going to need more than four, they’re going to need more than six.” After President Gregory Fenves announced last week that CMHC counseling sessions, which pre- viously cost students $10, would now be fully subsidized, many stu- dents expressed concerns about a session limit. Craig said the CMHC has made many changes to their clinical sys- tem in the past few years and does not recall having information on a CMHC page 2 CAMPUS UNIVERSITY New parking equipment poses challenges in Brazos Students relect on new LGBTQ studies minor, certiicate mel westfall| the daily texan staff By Allyson Waller @allyson_renee7 A new year is bringing new changes to University park- ing garages. This semester, UT Parking and Transporta- tion Services is installing new parking machines in campus garages. However, the change is causing some problems for frequent garage users by requiring them to obtain new credentials. “The change impacts every- one with access to (a) garage,” PTS director Bobby Stone said. “It will have a bigger im- pact on faculty and staf be- cause the credentials that they use to enter with will need to be changed.” The new machines introduce a bar code scanner as one of the methods of reading permits, making PTS’ operation more eicient. While rearview mirror permits will be compatible with the new machines, non-permit holders will have to obtain new passes that are compatible with the new equipment and other permit holders will no longer be able to use proximity cards to enter garages. PTS is mak- ing sure to send out emails to those impacted by the change, Stone said. While the upgrade is in- tended to be more eicient, students and faculty have en- countered problems with the new system. Emily Howell, health pro- motion and behavioral science senior, said she was stuck in the Brazos Garage for about an hour last week because of a sys- tem malfunction. “I had just gotten of work the same time that the UT bas- ketball game had gotten out, and I was trying to leave the garage, as were all of the people that were at the game,” Howell said. “It ended up (that) every single kiosk that was in the garage was jammed and so no one could leave.” Vicente Lozano, University Writing Center systems admin- istrator, also had trouble leav- ing the garage at the beginning of the month. Lozano said PTS should have had people physically there to help, and he would have pre- ferred there be more warning about the new changes. “There (was) next to no sig- nage about the change,” Loza- no said. “I think (emails) are one valid way for the word to BRAZOS page 2 By Brianna Stone @bristone19 After many years of planning, the LGBTQ Studies Program launched for the 2017–2018 academic year last fall, bring- ing a new track of coursework for students. “(The LGBTQ studies ofers a transcript-recognized minor and certiicate for undergradu- ates and a LGBTQ/Sexualities track for graduate students working on the graduate port- folio program in women’s and gender studies. idea for bringing LGBTQ studies to UT has) been there for as long as LGBTQ stud- ies scholars have been research- ing and teaching at UT, which would take us back to at least the 1980s and 1990s, when scholars such as Lisa Moore (in 1991) and me (in 1987) joined the faculty,” Program Director Ann Cvetkov- ich said in an emailed statement. “We’re already teaching many courses, and have been for quite some time, so this impact is on- going … The courses provide an opportunity for LGBTQ-identi- ied students to learn about their own history, culture and politics, and they also aford all students the opportunity to become more knowledgeable about issues of gender and sexuality that afect all of us.” LGBTQ studies is led by an advisory council made up of LGBTQ-ailiated faculty and staf from various departments. The program builds from the research LGBTQ/Sexualities founded cluster that was mallika gandhi | the daily texan staff in 2004. When asked about the possi- blity of a LGBTQ studies major, Cvetkovich said they are likely to continue partnering with the WGS major. “We are hoping to see WGS become a department in the coming years, which would in turn create more resourc- studies,” (LGBTQ) for es Cvetkovich said. Marketing sophomore Aley- iah Pena is currently working on the LGBTQ studies minor. She added the minor after taking Intro to LGBTQ Studies and thought it would be interesting to learn about the history. “Since I’m a marketing major, I have to know how many difer- ent people think, because you have to market toward them and really know your audience in or- der to do it right,” Pena said. “I feel like with this (LGBTQ stud- ies minor) I’m diversiiying my knowledge of diferent people and learning about where they come from and what they’ve been through.” As someone who identiies with the LGBTQ communi- ty, Pena said taking LGBTQ LGBTQ page 2 STUDENT GOVERNMENT SG surveys for interest in donating to senior class gift By Katie Balevic @thedailytexan Seniors received an email from Student Government yesterday with a survey gauging class inter- est in donating to a senior gift — something SG hopes will become a new Longhorn tradition. “Our senior class wants to pay it forward so that no student feels that they can’t be at UT,” said Cameron Maxwell, SG external i- nance director. “For students who are struggling to get by day to day, this project is for them.” The survey, which was emailed exclusively to seniors, listed a va- riety of options. Students could check all items that they would consider donating to, including a general scholarship fund for future students, donations to the CMHC and a Longhorn silhouette sculpture on campus. “This really has to be some- thing that students want to do and that students get behind,” inance senior Maxwell said. “I view it as a way that the senior class can come together and express some of that spirit that we have about UT and have that camaraderie with fellow classmates.” The objective of the gift is to GIFT page 2 channing miller | the daily texan staff 2 This issue of The Daily Texan is valued at $1.25 PERMANENT STAFF Assoc. Video Editor Audrey Black, Peyton Young Photo Editor Juan Figueroa Assoc. Photo Editor Brooke Crim, Carlos Garcia Senior Photographer Katie Bauer, Anthoney Mireles, Angel Ulloa, Angela Wang Life&Arts Editor Chris Duncan, Charles Liu Assoc. 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Entire contents copyright 2017 Texas Student Media. Peer support program welcomes grand opening UNIVERSITY THURSDAY, JANUARY 25, 2018 By Kateri David @milklight For survivors of trauma, espe- cially those in attendance at uni- versities with a number of stu- dent services like those ofered at UT, the variety of resources can often distract from the process of healing or achieving justice. Add to this the intimidation of con- iding in an administrator, and recovery can be stiled altogether. On Wednesday evening, stu- dents and faculty gathered in the Student Services Building to commemorate the grand opening of Interpersonal Vi- olence Peer Support, IVPS, a student-led program that ofers free conidential peer support for students impacted by sexual assault, harassment and other kinds of interpersonal violence. “I missed my irst counseling appointment here because I was too afraid to press the elevator button,” said Mia Goldstein, IVPS student coordinator and Plan II and radio-television-ilm junior. “Peer support exists to make this easier … It exists to re- duce the number of barriers that prevent students from getting the support they need.” The idea of a peer-based sup- port group was conceived one year ago when students banded together to petition for greater in- volvement in the support realm of interpersonal violence, where their eforts had previously been limited to prevention. The program is managed by Student Emergency Services in partnership with the Title IX A symposium was held for the grand opening of the Interpersonal Violence Peer Support group at the Student Services Building on Wednesday evening. lacy segars | the daily texan staff Oice and Voices Against Vi- olence at the Counseling and Mental Health Center. Kelly Soucy, director of Stu- dent Emergency Services, said each of the peer supporters received 40 hours of special- ized training and will lead one- sessions. on-one counseling Soucy said the program is highly personalized. “(Students can even) request to speak with counselors of the same grade or similar major,” Soucy said. Regina Mills, an English grad- uate student and peer support- er, said the student-led aspect of IVPS will provide otherwise unavailable options for students in need. “It’s very scary to go to these administrators and teachers who have to report particular things, but maybe you don’t want to lose control of your narrative,” Mills said. “This allows you to talk to somebody who’s in the same situation as you and who will be able to better recognize your experience.” Speaking to a crowd of the opening, attendees at Goldstein outlined her hopes for the program’s future. “I believe IVPS has the po- tential to completely change the way we support survivors at UT,” Goldstein said. “It is my hope that IVPS eventually becomes a natural part of the student lexi- con and anybody who has to deal with this issue will know where to go instantly.” RESEARCH Humanities grant supports Central Texas health research By Carlos Diaz @thedailytexan The National Endowment for the Humanities, NEH, will fund the early stages of an ambitious project document- ing the health struggles of Central Texans. UT’s Humanities Institute, which is dedicated to building community, will lead a team of faculty members on a mis- sion to record how people re- spond to issues in the health care system. The work, entitled “Communities of Care: Docu- menting Voices of Healing and Endurance,” will be a multime- dia project accessible online. The initiative will show how in- habitants cope with illness and also look at the region’s level of access to health care. “The mission of this project is to give voice to a wide vari- ety of people and a place to tell their story,” said institute di- rector Pauline Strong. Program coordinator Clare Callahan, one of the project’s leaders, commented on why Central Texas was chosen as the focus of the project. “We chose to focus on nar- ratives of human health in underserved Central Texas communities because, as re- lected in regional statistics, many of these communities lack access to adequate health care,” Callahan said. “With this project, we want to ad- vocate for more inclusive and comprehensive health care, identify existing barriers to cre- ating a more caring society and learn how vulnerable commu- The mission of this project is to give voice to a wide variety of people and a place to tell their story.” Pauline Strong, institute director nities are already advocating for themselves and rethinking health care.” Funding for projects such as Communities of Care was in doubt after President Don- ald Trump proposed cuts to humanities programs last year. However, NEH survived Trump’s proposal to eliminate the agency. The project is still in its ear- ly stages as planning is under way. The NEH grant will sup- port researchers throughout the groundwork phase. For the rest of 2018, the program members will interact with health organizations and de- cide on the research frame- works and methodology they will be using. Founded in 2001, the Hu- enables Institute manities communication between scholars, social organizations and citizens. The theme be- hind this initiative is “Health, Well-being and Healing.” The project will be an interdisci- plinary efort and will use var- ious mediums such as video and ilm to accomplish its goal. The institute also attempts to educate students on the re- lationship between medicine and the humanities. Directors of the institute teach courses on how to inluence health through humanistic arts. “This sharing of ideas ulti- mately breeds empathy and understanding, which is some- thing that I think we need more of in this world today,” said Alissa Williams, a Plan II and business sophomore and stu- dent associate at the institute. P A BRAZOS continues from page 1 get out, but many times those get iltered or people don’t read them.” Aware of recent problems, Stone said PTS will have peo- ple available to help at garag- es as they are converted. always “You’re disap- pointed when the equipment doesn’t operate the way you want,” Stone said. “It doesn’t happen often, but it does hap- pen, and when it does happen we try to get folks in place to assist with getting people out as quickly as possible.” Despite these initial set- backs, Stone said the new system’s main advantage is giving students and fac- ulty more ways to get into parking garages. “We can activate a Texas Toll Tag, and you can use that as your credential to enter the garage,” Stone said. “If you have a permit, there’s also a magnetic strip that’s on the permit that you can use to swipe in with. There’s a bar code on the permit that you can use on the bar code read- er, and you can create a QR code and save it to your phone and use (it) to enter.” As of now, the only park- ing garage with completely new machines is the Brazos Garage. This will require frequent users to obtain new credentials, according to PTS’ Garage Equipment Conversion webpage. All campus garages are expected to be converted except the East Campus Garage and the Health Center Garage. CMHC continues from page 1 hard six-session limit posted on their website. With 12 percent of the 50,000 students on campus using CMHC services, Craig said the resources still do not exist for unlimited counseling. While she said smaller schools may have the resources for unlimited sessions, CMHC’s policy is not necessarily unusual. “This is a national struggle,” Craig said. “We are not alone.” Dauphine Sizer, a rhetoric and writing senior, said she went to one counseling ap- pointment at the CMHC in 2015 but eventually went to an outside therapist instead. “In an intake session, you can only get so far … and it was very introductory, and I didn’t feel like one session helped me a whole lot,” Sizer said. “But when I (thought they had) a six-session limit, I was like, ‘Well, I don’t want to do the six sessions with this one coun- selor and then have to go to somebody else.’” Craig said she understands going to an outside therapist may give students concerns regarding inances, transpor- tation and the intimidating process of setting up an ap- themselves. The pointment case management program at CMHC helps students get con- nected with outside clinicians. Hannah Rens, aerospace engineering sophomore, said she went to four counseling appointments at the CMHC and found the sessions helpful, but also said the CMHC should make information more transparent and accessible for students. “It can be confusing to nav- igate, especially because it’s a stressful, tough time hav- ing mismatched information thrown at you,” Rens said. “The website is not clear and is confusing … A lot of peo- ple don’t know what it looks like when they show up for counseling for the irst time.” students suggests call or visit the CMHC if they have questions about CMHC services. Craig copyright brad wolfe, and reproduced with permission Class gift director Brad Wolff helped create the survey that will determine what the senior class is willing to donate toward. GIFT continues from page 1 unite the senior class, said Brad Wolf, class gift director. “Our real goal is to have par- ticipation. With the senior class’ support, we can really go a long way in improving accessibility and programs for future Longhorns.” The requested donation amount is $20.18 to com- memorate the class of 2018, according to the survey. Based on the survey’s results, the list will be narrowed down to three items that seniors can choose to donate to, Wolf said. “On the survey, the real pur- pose is to democratize this class gift,” Wolf said. “We wanted to give seniors the opportuni- ty to choose what type of class gift they want … so with strong participation, we can really get a feel of what the senior class is passionate about.” The tradition of having a yearly class gift will continue through SG with the requested donation amount increasing by one cent each year to re- lect graduation year of each class, SG vice president Micky Wolf said. “I having think that that legacy of giving and stu- dents shaping our own campus is so vital to what this Univer- sity is about and really its the mindset that we’re going after with revamping a senior class gift,” said Wolf, a Plan II and business honors senior. Every donation will be matched by the oice of Univer- sity President Gregory Fenves up to $50,000, according to the emailed survey. Wolf said he hopes this will increase seniors’ willingness to donate. “There have been mixed re- views on some of the past cam- paigns that have been done, but I think the student-run nature of the campaign and the fact that every dollar that someone donates will be matched by the president will really make a diference,” Wolf said. Seniors who donate the full $20.18 will receive a token of appreciation in return, such as a class pin or tassel to wear at graduation, Wolf said. “For seniors, I’m really look- ing at this as a way to come together and leave a legacy at the University and make a dif- ference for students,” Wolf said. The survey is projected to close within the next two weeks. LGBTQ continues from page 1 studies courses has brought her closer to the community because she is more informed about sexuality. Pena is not alone. Unde- clared freshman Bobby Scher- er is working on the LGBTQ studies certiicate. “I was looking for another class to ill out my schedule, and I found Intro to LGBTQ Studies and thought it would be inter- esting to take,” Scherer said. “I was asked if I wanted to do the certiicate too and I thought it would be a cool thing to be part of.” Scherer said he hopes to soon declare majors in gov- ernment and sociology and believes learning about the LGBTQ community will help him better understand people and work with them. “I am gay, but knowing more about the history will help me to better help other people and to be a better person in general,” Scherer said. The program will be celebrat- ing its launch this Thursday and Friday by hosting the “Queer Camaraderie” symposium. THURSDAY, JANUARY 25, 2018 3 CAMPUS ening Goldstein outlined her hopes for the program’s future. “I believe IVPS has the po- tential to completely change the way we support survivors at UT,” Goldstein said. “It is my hope that IVPS eventually becomes a natural part of the student lexi- con and anybody who has to deal with this issue will know where to go instantly.” Senior lecturer Megan Seaholm teaches a U.S. History class that most students do not want to take but need to. In her 20s, Seaholm was “politico hippie” living in Austin, before deciding to pursue her doctorate in history. carlos garcia | the daily texan staff Lecturer strives to spark student interest in history After 27 years, lecturer remains dedicated to engaging her students. By Mason Carroll @masonccarroll O n the irst day of class, senior lectur- er Megan Seaholm always asks her students how many of them are taking the class because they want to be there, and out of the 300 students in her lecture this semester, only four raised their hands. She told the class that was a new record. After 27 years of teaching history classes at UT, Seaholm has taught tens of thousands of students. She said she knows students don’t want to be in her class, which is a core requirement for most students, but she does her best to make it interesting through narrative storytelling. “It doesn’t work with every- body,” Seaholm said. “There are a lot of people that hate the class, you know. I don’t win everyone over.” Seaholm said she is always making changes to the lectures to keep things interesting because she has been in the classroom for so long. “I think that’s good for me because if I keep it fresh, hope- fully it reduces the chance of me or the lecture sounding boring,” Seaholm said. Alicia Willoughby, inter- national relations and global studies freshman, said she likes the way Seaholm lectures, and she respects her for doing what she does. “It’s deinitely not easy to come up and do something every single day that no one really wants to be there for or enjoy, but the way she does it with such a passion is so incredible,” Willoughby said. Theodore Banks, history graduate student, is serving as a teaching assistant for the irst time with Seaholm, but said he likes the way she presents history as a narrative. “Dr. Seaholm is very easy to work for, and I like to hear the students responding to her lec- tures (and) laughing at the funny parts,” Banks said. “Even though she is soft-spoken in her delivery, it seems like her students are very engaged.” Seaholm has taught thousands of students, and she doesn’t take for granted the fact that many re- member her. “I hope, most of all, I’ve important it’s communicated to pay attention to what’s hap- pened and what’s happening,” Seaholm said. “I hope it’s a good inluence.” Seaholm said she is very thankful for the time she has spent at UT. “Getting to talk with people about something that I think is important is a great privilege,” Seaholm said. “I feel incredibly fortunate that the University of Texas has employed me this long because I can’t think of anything I’d rather do.” CAMPUS Panelists shed light on plight of Austin nonproit organizations By Megan Menchaca @meganmenchaca13 Current and former non- proit executives debated the economic and structural chal- lenges facing nonproit orga- nizations in Austin during a panel hosted on Wednesday by UT’s human dimensions of organizations program. Moderated by Art Markman, founding director of the human dimensions program, the panel- ists said they all struggled with funding their institutions and managing their employees. The nonproit radio station KUT has faced signiicant eco- nomic challenges because of little turnover between employees and a lack of mobility within his asso- ciation, said Stewart Vanderwilt, director and general manager. “The cost of living is growing faster than the wages are grow- ing, so we have to work really hard to raise up the loor for our people while also inding ways for them to advance,” Vanderwilt said. “But the only way that peo- ple can really advance through a nonproit is if someone else re- tires or leaves.” Regina Rogof, CEO of the People’s Community Clinic health facility, said the high de- mand for medical workers cre- ates a lack of job security within her nonproit. “Many of our workers are making $15 an hour, driving over an hour to come to work and can’t aford to live in Aus- tin,” Rogof said. “So if they ind a job close to home, they’re not so loyal that they’ll stay with us, because there’s a huge demand for our workforce. We have to try really hard to make them want to stay.” Fusebox managing director Brad Carlin said his nonproit has faced many diiculties ob- taining donations because the fo- cus of his organization, arts and culture, is often seen as a luxury in society. “We are not seen in the same strata as other nonproits, so we are especially susceptible to swings in the economy,” Carlin said. “One of our biggest chal- lenges is just reminding folks how important arts and culture are to the community.” Katrina St. John, human di- mensions of organizations soph- omore, said she attended the panel because of the signiicant efect nonproits have had on her APPLY to work at THEDAILYTEXAN.COM/PARTICIPATE From left to right, Brad Carlin, Lisa Cox and Regina Rogoff answer questions about their nonproits from the audience on Wednesday afternoon at the Glickman Conference Center. grifin smith | the daily texan staff low-income community. “I feel like understanding the importance of what a non- proit can do is not appreciated because they’re not really consid- ered important in America,” St. John said. “And I wasn’t really surprised by the issues that the panelists brought up at all, be- cause they were just the types of issues that you would expect with being in a nonproit.” 4 THURSDAY, JANUARY 25, 2018 LAURA HALLAS EDITOR-IN-CHIEF @TEXANOPINION UT’s auto-graduation system should not be feared COLUMN By Spencer Buckner columnist When The Daily Texan talked to Dr. Cassan- dre Alvarado and Quynhanh Tran about the University’s new auto-graduation process two months ago, the result was an article that ulti- mately scared scores of uninformed Longhorns, including myself. Accusations of the University stealthily graduating students against their will and taking away their hard-earned internships and inancial aid abounded. I talked again to Alvarado, director of Stu- dent Success and Graduation Initiatives, and Tran, Plan II, government and economics junior, about auto-graduation earlier this week. What was originally intended to be an article further exposing the injustices of the program quickly shifted into one defending a misunderstood program. So what exactly is auto-graduation, and why was it introduced in the irst place? Alvarado, one of the program’s architects, explained that each year before auto-graduation was instated, 2 percent of UT graduates left the University without ever actually getting their degree — walking at graduation, but simply forgetting to ill out simple paperwork that conferred upon them their degree. The result? Alvarado notes that Student Success Initiatives found that “there are students wandering around who think they graduated” from UT yet never had their degree conferred, students the University is now trying to reach to oicially graduate. When put in context, the need for an au- to-graduation program makes perfect sense. By eliminating the crucial paperwork and instead automatically enrolling students for gradua- tion, the University ensures that Longhorns actually graduate when they think they do. So what is the issue? Tran argued that poor communication from SSI staf has caused Longhorns to become con- fused and ultimately worried about how au- to-graduation could afect their inancial aid, internships and class schedules. It’s not hard to see why this happened. Upon the rollout of auto-graduation, the SSI opted to not advertise the new auto-graduation process, seeing it as a simple ix to a relatively small-scale problem. Alvarado admitted, however, that “some of the anxiety around communication has been from students who are uncertain what the policy is intended to do and are worried that the procedure will keep them from doing what they want to do.” This resulting anx- iety against what in reality is a benign and well-intentioned program proves that the SSI’s strategy was a miscalculation. “We shouldn’t have to be cleaning up this mess,” Tran said, referencing the legislation she is currently working on with the Liberal Arts Council to increase communication with current Longhorns about auto-graduation. And why should they have to? It is, after all, the Uni- versity’s problem that the program’s unveiling went awry. Luckily, the University is already one step ahead of them. Listening to Longhorns’ anxiety, Alvarado and the SSI have been working to increase communication about the program. “We’ve done an education tour with the various col- leges and schools, with the associate and as- sistant deans, and with academic advisors to help explain (auto-graduation),” Alvarado ex- plained. And if auto-graduation does threaten a student’s financial aid or internship? Alvara- do notes that every student notified about au- to-graduation is also given a link to appeal so that they can be removed from the process. In fact, students who are concerned about how auto-graduation could affect them are encour- aged to appeal to ensure that they won’t be harmed by the process. victoria smith | the daily texan staff The auto-graduation initiative at UT may not have had the smoothest unveiling, or the best PR. Taking a step back, however, and not- ing the changes currently being made, it’s clear the University isn’t trying to punish anyone by ensuring they get the degree they earned. So before communication about the program is fixed, educate yourself about auto-graduation. Like me, you’ll find you have less to fear than you originally thought. Buckner is a Plan II and government freshman from Austin. COLUMN The city of Austin must repave sidewalks of West Campus By William Kosinski @willkosinski guest columnist The sidewalks in West Campus are in dire con- dition. Walking through West Campus this past fall, I was appalled to ind that some sidewalks are not handicapped-accessible at all. Sections are cracked to a severe degree, and many do not have curb cuts that connect to streets. In 1990, the Americans with Disabilities Act helped establish requirements for sidewalks that those in West Campus do not meet. This is important, as mobilization is a civil rights issue for disabled students at the University of Texas at Austin. The lack of adequate infra- structure is inhibiting their ability to go about their daily lives, so the sidewalks must be re- paved as soon as possible. The West Campus neighborhood should be one of the irst to be fully compliant with ADA stan- dards in Austin. It is important for the surround- ings of a world-class university and a dense urban population center to have handicapped-accessible streets and sidewalks to ensure safety and ease of mobility for disabled students. The city of Austin created the Sidewalk Master Plan to create new sidewalks and prioritize repair of existing ones. Some “high” and “very high” pri- ority sidewalks exist in West Campus, and most others are around Central Austin. Although the majority are outside of West Campus, this neigh- borhood should be serviced irst with the city’s limited funding because of its density and loca- tion near campus and downtown Austin. Justin Norvell, an engineer in Austin’s Public Works Department, explains that the plan has a 10- year schedule with $15 million needed each year. “Currently, approximately $1 million operational funding is dedicated to sidewalk rehabilitation,” Norvell said. “In addition, we estimate approximate- ly $4 million provided by other sources annually … leaving approximately $10 million unfunded.” The shortfall is too great to accept, as it opens the door for West Campus to continue to be ne- glected over the next 10 years. Because the plan is operating with such a small budget, the city tries to use low-cost methods — such as concrete lifting — to get sidewalks to ADA functionality require- ments. According to Norvell, the severity of the cracks and the lack of existing curb cuts in West Campus do not allow the city to use these low-cost methods. The combination of the budget shortfall and an inability to use low-cost methods efective- ly leave the sidewalks of West Campus at a lower priority than other projects, further neglecting the needs of disabled individuals at UT. Of course, there are multiple factors that deter- mine the order of projects that could understand- ably make West Campus a lower priority. These include project coordination opportunities such as a single project working on sidewalks, street lights and vegetation, opportunities for redevelopment such that developers may address or reconstruct a sidewalk to meet ADA standards and requests from people with disabilities. Some projects, on Rio Grande Street or 27th Street for example, are excellent examples of how new development can help expedite the process of repairing sidewalks. But the West Campus infrastructure should not improve only at the private developer’s pace. The prioritization methodology also takes into account the proximity to schools, major employ- ers and transit stops, in addition to population density and business of the streets. West Campus fulills those requirements and should therefore remain a top priority for the city. Austin needs to raise the $10 million that it currently lacks every year in order to address West Campus in a more timely manner. This is a diicult ix, but there are viable options. Since the city wants to be environmentally and pedes- trian-friendly through deterring the use of cars, a portion of this funding should come from a city- wide fuel tax. The remaining need should come from a sidewalk bond speciic to West Campus similar to ones previously passed. Lastly, the Cen- tral Austin Combined Neighborhood Plan should not give developers the ability to opt in to side- walk guidelines in exchange for larger buildings and denser development — the guidelines must be followed regardless of size. Part of what makes Austin so great is its world- class university. Part of the University’s clout comes from its ability to serve disabled individu- als in order to create a more diverse learning com- munity. So in order for Austin to hold its stand- ing in Texas — and the nation — as a progressive powerhouse, it must help UT support its disabled student body by making the West Campus neigh- borhood entirely accessible. Kosinski is a journalism freshman from San Rafael, California. COLUMN COLUMN Removing tolls from 130 will lessen traic coming from I-35 Public services prevent crime more effectively than policing By Alex Rigney guest columnist Interstate 35 may be the worst thing about Austin. It’s a frustrating mess of a road that serves as one of a few routes that cross the riv- er. No one who takes I-35 ever looks forward to their trip, and from the upper-lower deck split to the huge bend just past Riverside, traf- fic is almost always terrible. There is, however, a relatively cheap, sim- ple and fast way for the state to reduce the traffic on I-35: Texas Department of Trans- portation should remove all tolls from State Highway 130 to make it the alternative route to I-35 it was meant to be. There are a few projects that seek to alter I-35 in some way, such as by adding toll lanes or sinking the highway through downtown. These projects would be very costly and would cause years of headaches for Austinites before there would be any sort of payoff, if at all. Although SH 130 was designed to divert through traffic around Austin, many drivers still take I-35 instead of SH 130 because of the tolls, even if they don’t plan to stop in Austin. This system was originally conceived as a way to route big rigs coming up from Mexico away from I-35 after the passage of NAFTA. But with a little imagination, it could be used by cars that want to circumvent Austin. The original study estimated 119,173 ve- hicles would take SH 130 daily by 2015. A study by Texas A&M Transportation Insti- tute found only 40,000 vehicles a day were taking SH 130. The company originally con- tracted to build the highway has been floun- dering due to this reality. After one year, the company downgraded the debt of the SH 130 Concession Company to junk status because usage was so much lower than what was pre- dicted. After four years, the company had to file for bankruptcy. SH 130 was opened in 2012. In its current form, SH 130 runs from San Antonio along Interstate 10 to Seguin, where it breaks away to the north, passing east of Austin until it terminates into I-35 in Georgetown. The main problem with the route is that it goes so far out of the way that it’s often barely faster than driving through Austin. Why would anyone, big rig or car, pay a toll to get to the same place in the same amount of time? The Texas A&M Transportation Institute study found that 14 percent of vehicles that trav- el along I-35 through Austin do so without stop- ping. Of those, only 1 percent are big rigs. To mitigate I-35 traic problems, we should focus on the cars that are using I-35 as a pass-through route. Getting that many cars of I-35 would have a substantial impact on the quality of life of those who must take the worst road in Austin. State Rep. Paul Workman, R-Austin, in- troduced a bill in 2013 to remove all tolls from SH 130 and redesignate it as an inter- state. The bill failed to become law, but that doesn’t mean another couldn’t pass in the fu- ture. There are very few opportunities to re- duce the number of vehicles on a highway by this much without building something new. The state should take a serious look at the value SH 130 provides and the value it could provide without tolls. Rigney is a Government senior from Austin. By Elizabeth Braaten senior columnist Do you know how your tax dollars are being spent? Each year, the city of Austin acquires its General Fund money from revenue sources such as property tax, sales tax, development and utili- ty transfers. The city then uses this money, which amounted to about $1 billion for the 2017–2018 iscal year, to provide its residents with community services. Of that amount, a stunning 66.7 percent — or $684.5 million — was allocated to public safety, which includes services such as EMS, the ire depart- ment and the police force. Of the public safety funds, Austin Police Depart- ment uses up the majority, with its generous budget sitting at about $403 million. However, only 24.2 percent, or $248.8 million, was set aside for com- munity services, which include community necessi- ties such as public libraries, public health programs, parks and recreation and neighborhood housing and community development. APD’s annual bud- get alone is nearly twice the amount of the meager one set aside for programs that both serve the public and have been shown to signiicantly mitigate crime. This is clearly an ineicient use of valuable commu- nity resources. As Austin taxpayers, it is our social re- sponsibility to push for policies that are both accessi- ble and eicient at improving this city for everyone. It should be stated that the police force is, and always will be, a necessary component of crime re- duction. However, it should not be the main focus, as it is neither more cost-efective or eicient than policing at mitigating local crime. Recent studies show that expanding substance abuse treatment centers into unserved counties has the potential to vastly reduce the amount of individuals participat- ing in illegal activity by providing proper treatment, as well as reducing the amount of violent crime that often spills over from the drug trade. Allocat- ing money for more treatment centers would be a crucial step toward community improvement, as three out of every ive state prisoners struggle with substance abuse, and two-thirds of inmates released from prison are rearrested within three years. Clearly the police aren’t equipped to handle this pressing issue, and we need to look into pro- grams that will. In the long term, these programs would save both lives and money. Substance abuse treatment centers are not the only way to reduce crime without police involve- ment, however. In the United States, the peak hours for youth to commit, or be victims of, crimes are from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m., after school is out and most parents are not home. Real life examples demonstrate that after school programs are an eicient antidote to this. For example, implementation of after school programs in various public housing developments in New York City resulted in the decline of drug ac- tivity by 22 percent, youth arrests by 13 percent and vandalism by 12.5 percent. By doing likewise in the city of Austin, we would see signiicant decreases in crime rates while simultaneously strengthening communal ties. I would never deny the positive aspects of good policing. But there are ways proven more efective to mitigate crime in cities while also using tax money for resources that directly beneit citizens. If this mis- use of precious funding is something that bothers you — and it should be — speak up. Let your voices be heard. And let your money work towards some- thing that actually works. Braaten is a international relations and global studies junior from Conroe. LEGALESE | Opinions expressed in The Daily Texan are those of the editor, the Editorial Board or the writer of the article. They are not necessarily those of the UT administration, the Board of Regents or the Texas Student Media Board of Operating Trustees. 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 (@TexanOpinion) and receive updates on our latest editorials and columns. THURSDAY, JANUARY 25, 2018 5 Jalen Green ready to make plays for Texas FOOTBALL The Houston native is one of six top-25 defensive backs in Texas’ 2018 class. By Donnavan Smoot @Dsmmot3d I t was late September, the high school foot- ball season had just started and the Tex- as Longhorns were on a bye week. Houston ISD’s Delmar Stadium was packed for a game between Katy Tomp- kins and Houston Heights. In a deep, rattling sound ac- companied the visual of a helicopter landing. background, the Texas head coach Tom Herman recruiting and coordinator Jason Wash- ington stepped out of the chopper and walked into the stadium, where they prepared to watch one of recruits their and one of the best high school defensive backs in the nation — Jalen Green, a 6-foot cornerback for Houston Heights. top 2018 “You can put me any- where and I’ll make plays,” Green said. The No. 5 cornerback in the nation per 247 Sports and a U.S. Army Bowl All-American, Green is part of the new wave of elite defensive backs headed to Texas. Green, who was named first-team all-defense at Nike’s The Opening camp last summer, has a potent athleti- combination cism and football IQ. It’s a combination that has led him to be a highly coveted defensive back. of “On defense, he shuts down one whole side of the field,” said Stephen Dix- on Sr., Houston Heights’ head coach. “You can let him lock down one island and roll your defense to the other side.” To add to his defen- sive prowess, Green had 13 touchdowns on offense DAILYTEXANONLINE.COM Facebook at dailytexan Twitter @thedailytexan CACTUSYEARBOOK.COM Reduce • Reuse • Recycle copyright arthur pallares, and reproduced with permission Texas signee Jalen Green turns up the ield. Green inished his senior season at Houston Heights with 13 touchdowns as a quarterback, running back and wide receiver. running this past season as a quar- terback, back and wide receiver, de- spite the fact his season was cut short because of a shoulder injury. Green’s unselfishness makes players gravitate to- ward him. His teammates believe he has an abili- ty to raise the level of the team because of how hard he practices. “Not only is he versatile and great at what he does, he also makes opportu- nities for others on the field,” said Curtis Melrose, one of Green’s Houston Heights teammates. Green’s unselfishness can be seen off the field, too. Dixon said that Green often deflects media at- tention away from himself and onto his teammates and has even told some college coaches to rescind his offer and give it to a teammate instead. “He is a better young man than he is a football player,” Dixon said. Green with the Longhorns in De- cember during the early signing period. signed It’s no secret that Texas has an elite recruiting class for 2018, which is current- ly ranked third national- ly. It features six of 247 Sports’ top 25 defensive backs in the nation, includ- ing Green, B.J. Foster, An- thony Cook, Caden Sterns, DeMarvion Overshown and D’Shawn Jamison. Green was well aware of that depth of defensive back talent when he signed with Texas. “We all wanted to make a superstar team,” Green said of the star-studded class. “We just want to make a name for ourselves.” But with a superstar team comes superstar expecta- tions. The expectations for Green and this class are through the roof. They have the weight of being Her- man’s first full class, and the new defensive backs must fill the voids left in the secondary by NFL pros- pects DeShon Elliott and Holton Hill. Despite these challenges ahead, Green said he feels no pressure. He knows ex- actly what he’ll do when he steps on the 40 Acres. “I’m going to make plays for the University of Tex- as when it really counts,” Green said. WATCHTSTV.COM Facebook at texasstudenttelevision Twitter @texasstudenttv MEDICAL copyright justin wells of inside texas, and reproduced with permission Green makes his oficial visit to Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium. Green, the No. 5 cornerback in the nation per 247 Sports, signed with Texas in December during the early signing period. ADVERTISING TERMS There are no refunds or credits. In the event of errors made in advertisement, notice must be given by 10 am the i rst day of publication, as the publish- ers are responsible for only ONE incorrect insertion. 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Reduce • Reuse • Recycle digest.texasstudentmedia.com 6 THURSDAY, JANUARY 25, 2018 TRENTON DAESCHNER SPORTS EDITOR @TEXANSPORTS WOMEN’S BASKETBALL Atkins, Longhorns ready to battle with the Bears After shooting 4-of-17 against Baylor last year, At- kins looks to bounce back. By Justin Martinez @jthesportsdude A riel Atkins couldn’t get a shot to go down. An invisible lid seemed to be on the rim for the then-junior guard as the No. 6 Long- horns hosted No. 4 Baylor on Feb. 20, 2017. Three-point shots rimmed out, mid-range jumpers refused to fall and open looks were a rarity. Atkins shot 4-of-17 from the ield as Texas fell to the Bears, 70-67. A 5-for-5 showing at the free throw line salvaged her night, bringing her point total to 14. Even then, the Duncanville, Texas, native knew her team had just let a statement win slip away. “I don’t take satisfaction in losing,” Atkins said after the game. “Our team is better. I think the most important thing for me right now is to think about how much we’ve matured as a team, and that’s probably my focal point right now.” Atkins has epitomized that growth in her senior year, emerging as the leader of the sixth-ranked Long- horns while averaging 14 points and 5.6 rebounds. Now the senior has another shot at the No. 4 Bears as Texas heads to Waco on Thursday in a battle of two Big 12 powerhouses. For Atkins, the upcoming rematch is the only thing on her mind. “I won’t remember that (previous performance), honestly,” Atkins said. “I’ll just go in with that mindset and stick to the game plan the coaches gave us.” That game plan is simple — score a lot. The Longhorns will need a strong showing out of Atkins as they take on a Baylor team that averages the sec- ond most points per game — 88.7 — in the country. The key will be whether Atkins can ind her range from behind the arc, where she’s drilled a team-high 24 threes this season at an impressive rate of 41.4 percent. It’s a feat few have managed to pull of against Bay- lor this season, though, as the Bears boast the nation’s lowest opponent ield goal percentage at 30.2 percent. “We have to score the ball,” Texas head coach Karen Aston said. “We have to design some plays to score just to stay in close range to them. Hopefully if we can keep it close we might have a chance to win.” The game is a showcase of the Big 12’s inest. Baylor (17–1, 7–0 Big 12) sits atop the standings as the last un- defeated team in Big 12 conference play. The Longhorns (15–3, 6–1 Big 12) are just one game behind, mean- ing a win on Thursday would force a tie for irst place. “The Big 12 championship basical- ly goes through (Baylor),” Aston said. “We need to make up some ground if we can, so it’s a big game.” this season, but Texas is used to ad- versity. After playing the Bears, the Longhorns will have faced two top- ive teams in the past 10 days. The irst was a 75-71 loss to No. 1 UConn on Jan. 15 in Austin. Thursday night’s game will push the Longhorns to their limit, but At- kins is up for the challenge. “(Baylor) is an exciting team to play,” Atkins said. “It’s always good to play against really good competi- tion. It’s a test of toughness.” Senior guard Ariel Atkins makes a move over McNeese State senior guard Dede Sheppard. Atkins is averaging 15 points heading into Thursday’s game against Baylor. The Bears are undefeated at home angel ulloa | the daily texan ile LONGHORNS IN THE NBA APPLY to work at SEASON AVERAGES Points per game Rebounds per game Field goal percentage KEVIN DURANT LAMARCUS ALDRIDGE TRISTAN THOMPSON 25.9 6.9 51 22.5 8.7 49 5.3 5.7 59.1 THEDAILYTEXAN.COM/PARTICIPATE Former Longhorns selected for NBA All-Star Game fered a 116-108 loss to the Houston Rockets on Satur- day, Durant still scored 26 points, grabbed seven re- bounds and dished out ive assists. This is in line with Durant’s averages for the season. The surprising part of Durant’s game this season has been his ability to pro- tect the paint. With no true center for Golden State to contest shots at the basket, Durant has taken it upon himself to be the Warriors’ rim protector. He’s currently ranked second in the league in blocks per game, averag- ing 2.1 — a career high. Durant is also shooting bet- ter from three in the month of January. His percentage is up from 35.7 percent in De- cember to a staggering 47.8 percent this month. A big part of this uptick is the re- turn of point guard Stephen Curry, who was sidelined for a few games with injuries. The two have not seen con- sistent time together on the court since early December. Watch for the Warriors to put together a run against many sub-par teams leading up to All-Star weekend. LaMarcus Aldridge Aldridge poured in 30 points and snatched eight rebounds to lead the Spurs to a 114-102 victory over the slumping Cavaliers on Tuesday night. This is more of the same for Aldridge, who is averaging 22.5 points and 8.7 rebounds for the season. The Spurs have revamped their ofense this year to feature Aldridge as their centerpiece, a com- promise to Aldridge’s trade request over the summer. Aldridge has returned to the form of his Portland Trail- blazer days during Leonard’s absence. The Spurs have a soft schedule until the All- Star break, so they should be able to grab the third seed in the West. Tristan Thompson Dating back to their loss to Golden State on Christmas Day, the Cavaliers have lost nine of their last 12 games. They’ve sufered losses to the lowly Sacramento Kings and Utah Jazz. Cleveland also has a 34-point loss to the Toron- to Raptors, a 28-point loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves and a 24-point loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder. The Cavaliers are looking to trade some of their play- ers, and Thompson is one of them. Thompson is aver- aging career-lows in min- utes, points and rebounds per game. He scored eight points and grabbed just one rebound in a loss to the Spurs on Tuesday night. Thompson could be wearing a diferent jersey soon. By Abhishek Mukund @abhishek_mukund Forwards Kevin Durant and LaMarcus Aldridge are the two former Longhorns attending the NBA All-Star game in Los Angeles on Feb. 18. Durant was named a starter as he continues to put up MVP numbers this season for the Golden State Warriors — the team with the best re- cord in the league. Aldridge, meanwhile, has helped the San Antonio Spurs stay aloat as they await the return of forward Kawhi Leonard. Aldridge has led the Spurs to fourth-best record in the Western Conference. Durant, Aldridge and cen- ter Tristan Thompson of the Cleveland Cavaliers are three Longhorns in the NBA to keep an eye on as the season progresses. the Kevin Durant Although the Warriors suf- THURSDAY, JANUARY 25, 2018 7 Today’s solution will appear here next issue 8 2 9 4 2 4 7 9 6 4 3 7 2 8 9 9 8 2 6 3 4 7 8 2 1 6 4 2 1 3 9 8 1 SUDOKUFORYOU 3 6 9 1 2 5 7 4 8 5 4 8 7 9 6 1 2 3 7 1 2 8 4 3 5 6 9 9 8 6 2 5 1 4 3 7 1 3 4 6 7 9 8 5 2 2 7 5 4 3 8 9 1 6 6 2 7 9 1 4 3 8 5 8 5 1 3 6 7 2 9 4 4 9 3 5 8 2 6 7 1 8 THURSDAY, JANUARY 25, 2018 CHARLES LIU & CHRIS DUNCAN LIFE&ARTS EDITORS @THEDAILYTEXAN BOOKS ALUMNI Seven noteworthy books that solidify 2018 as ‘literary year of the woman’ By Collyn Burke @_collyn_ While the year has only just begun, it already seems it’ll be a great one for books, espe- cially those written by female authors and those that focus on female narratives. 2018, it seems, will be the literary year of the woman. “The Immortalists” by Chloe Benjamin — Jan. 9 Benjamin’s “The Immortal- ists” asks the question, “What would you do with your life if you knew exactly when it would end?” Following the four Gold children, Benjamin depicts the complications and struggles of their lives after a traveling wise woman reveals to them the day they’d die. Ex- ploring the line between life and death, Benjamin paints a beautiful picture of what it means to live. New York while trying to keep true to her quirky and positive self and the world she’s left behind. Expect “Still Me” to follow in the bubbly, romantic and occasionally heartbreak- ing footsteps of its predeces- sors, making for a delightfully easy read. “The Merry Spinster: Tales of Everyday Horror” by Mallory Ortberg — March 13 Ortberg, the woman behind the popular blog “The Toast” and The Slate’s advice pod- cast “Dear Prudence”, has put her never-failing wit to “The Merry Spinster,” a collection of stories based on classic fairy tales, but with dark and humorous twist, imagining the velveteen rabbit as an anyhting-but-innocent vam- pire. Born out of “The Toast’s” most popular segments, “Chil- dren’s Stories Made Horriic,” Ortberg’s latest work is sure to delight longtime fans and newbies alike. “Red Clocks” by Leni Zumas — Jan. 16 “Red Clocks” has found its way onto the top of almost every 2018 anticipated books list, and for good rea- son. Zumas’ dystopian novel imagines a world where abortion and in- vitro fertilization is ille- gal, and every embryo has the right to life, lib- erty and property. The novel follows four very diferent women as they struggle to navigate this new world and the problems it leads them to face, from needing an abortion to trying to get pregnant. “Still Me” by Jojo Moyes — Jan. 30 “Still Me,” the third installment in the wildly popular “Me Before You” series, follows Louisa Clark and her journey to “The Female Persuasion” by Meg Wolitzer — April 3 “The Female Persuasion” follows Greer Kadetsky, a col- lege freshman enamored by her boyfriend, Cory. But after Greer meets Faith Frank, a famed women’s rights activ- ist, she embarks on a jour- ney of self-discovery. “The Female Persuasion” tracks a coming-of-age story that many young women will be able to relate to. Wolitzer’s novel is set to be an import- ant book in a year where we continue to discuss the tri- als and triumphs of being a woman. “Circe” by Madeline Miller — April 10 “Circe,” the follow-up to Miller’s sensational myth- ological retelling “Song of Achilles,” tackles one of Greek mythology’s most in- famous villains. Miller’s re- telling gives life and a back- story to its titular character, Circe, by painting her the classical not as vengeful seductress, but as a strong and in- dependent woman try- ing to ind her place in the world. “And Now We Have Everything: On Moth- erhood Before I Was Ready” by Meaghan O’Connell — April 10 “And Now We Have Everything” is an ex- ploration in mother- hood and unplanned pregnancy through O’Connell’s own expe- riences after unexpect- edly getting pregnant in her 20s. After fail- ing to ind a book that helped prepare her for life as a young moth- er, she decided to write her own and depict im- pending parenthood in a completely open and honest way. copyright jane ko, and reproduced with permission Jane Ko of A Taste of Koko started her blog in 2010 while studying nutrition at UT. Her blog is now one of Austin’s top food blogs, with 100,000 monthly views. Alumna fashions food blog into career Blogger Jane Ko has become a considerable inluencer in Austin food culture. By Danielle Ortiz @danielleaortiz W hen Jane Ko announced she was going to host her irst food crawl at 2013’s South by Southwest, she didn’t expect 10,000 people to sign up. “Many were telling me I was going to ruin my brand by doing something that wasn’t done before,” Ko said. “But I just said, ‘Thank you,’ and went ahead.” This wasn’t the irst time Ko took a risk wandering into new territory. Before grad- uating from UT with a degree in nutrition in 2012, she started one of Austin’s top food blogs, A Taste of Koko. Today, Ko has nearly 45,000 followers on Instagram and more than 100,000 monthly blog visits. Additionally, she’s an oicial restaurant expert for Visit Austin, Texas. Ko is part of a powerful group of blog- gers who use their followings to partner with brands on ad campaigns and turn their work into full-time jobs. Ko said, within the industry, bloggers can make from $300 to $3,000 per post. Along with the writing and posting that come with running a blog, Ko attends food tastings at Austin’s up-and-coming restaurants and travels to cities across the world. While Ko said that these perks are a privilege, she added that her job can also be stressful and tiring. Between phone calls with diferent brands, discussions with agencies, collaborations, restaurant tastings and events, her days are packed. The rest of the day goes to writing blog posts, editing photos and responding to more emails. Ko said that she usually doesn’t go to bed until 3 a.m. But it didn’t start of this way. In 2010, while Ko was studying at UT, she started A Taste of Koko as a food diary. At the time, the world of food blogging was fairly new. “I realized that I didn’t want to be- come a dietitian,” Ko said. “So while I was reading some national blogs, I was in- spired by these women that created these websites for themselves.” When she irst started blogging, Ko knew almost nothing about photog- raphy or designing a website, so she taught herself. On top of the struggles that come with juggling school work and running a blog, Ko said that many people didn’t take her seriously when she started out. “My friends would ridicule the food diary because they didn’t understand,” Ko said. “Even some local media out- lets thought I didn’t know what I was doing because I wasn’t a professional food critic.” Despite running a recognized Aus- tin food blog, Ko remains humble about her success. For her, real success came when she relied on her followers to make welcome kits for those afected by Hurricane Harvey. “I originally planned to make a couple of kits but then reached out to my read- ers and partners throughout Austin,” Ko said. “And then the donations started pouring in.” Over 500 kits later, Ko exceeded her original expectations. It’s something she has ingrained into her memory. Ko also gives back to UT students. Sar- ah Teng, a business and management in- formation systems sophomore, is one of Ko’s interns. Teng said working with Ko inspired her to start a blog in the future. “This (experience) can be helpful for knowing how and what to do to make (my blog) successful,” Teng said. For those who may be interested in starting their own blog, Ko advised tak- ing advantage of the various resources available on the internet and learning. “Pick a topic that you’re passionate about,” Ko said. “Whether it’s fashion, travel, food or even recipes for college students. Start now.”