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1A1 OPINON PAGE 4 SPORTS PAGE 8 DT editorial board files SG endorsements Canadian curlers ’pebble,’ ‘shuffle’ and ‘hack’ their way to Central Texas LIFE&ARTS PAGE 14 Eatery offers healthy options for on-the-go TOMORROW’S WEATHER High Low THE DAILY TEXAN 67 41 Tuesday, March 2, 2010 Serving the University of Texas at Austin community since 1900 www.dailytexanonline.com Students heed call to service UT to vote on Green Fund referendum By Audrey White about $400,000 each calendar year Daily Texan Staff and be managed by a committee In the campus-wide gener- composed primarily of students, al election today and Wednes- along with faculty and staff with day, students can vote on a ref- expertise in energy and environ- erendum for the creation of a UT mental fields. Any student, facul- Green Fund that would allow stu- ty or staff member could suggest dents to create projects and con- sustainability-related projects. duct research focused on envi- The fund would also create stu- ronmental sustainability using tu- dent jobs and internships in envi- ition dollars. ronmentally rele- The Green vant fields, Bint- Fund is the only liff said. referendum on In 2009, the the ballot in this This is an opportunity state House of year’s election. for students to become Representatives If it passes, each empowered and passed a bill al- student will pay ‘‘ lowing univer- an additional $5 take control over a sities to put “en- in tuition fees portion of the budget vironmental ser- for each long se- for a program that is vice fee” initia- Tamir Kalifa | Daily Texan Staff mester and $2.50 tives to a student Peace Corps director Aaron Williams, center, speaks with former colleague Samuel Scott, right, and volunteer Ben Freelom, who for each summer important to students vote. Texas State served in Guatemala from 2007 to 2009, following a moderated interview at the Etter-Harbin Alumni Center. session for five — environmental University passed years. Jacob Bint- their own green liff, the referen- sustainability.” fund based on dum’s campaign — Jacob Bintliff student demand Peace Corps set to increase stipend for returning volunteers director, said the in 2004, and Rice increase will most Green Fund campaign University passed By Joshua Michaels development, such as agricul- tion during that time. Wil- stationed in 76 countries with likely take effect director a green fund on Daily Texan Staff tural training, business devel- liams said that an increase in 7,300 men and women, 68 of in spring 2011, Wednesday. UT Peace Corps director Aar- opment or English instruction. the Peace Corps budget un- whom are from UT. While once the fund re- and seven oth- on Williams announced at a Returning Peace Corps volun- der President Barack Obama Obama made a campaign ceives final ap- er state universi- moderated interview Mon- teers receive a $6,000 stipend would allow the program to promise to double the number proval from the UT System Board ties will vote on green funds this day that the volunteer organi- from the government to help raise the allowance. of current volunteers by the of Regents semester, including three other zation will increase the $6,000 cover the costs of transitioning The service program has re- organization’s 50th anniversa- “This is an opportunity for stu- schools in the UT System. stipend for returning Peace back to the United States. ceived bipartisan support in ry in 2011, the 2011 fiscal year dents to become empowered and The effort was organized by Corps volunteers. During the audience ques- Congress. When Obama allo- budget places the Peace Corps take control over a portion of the the ReEnergize Texas coalition, The Peace Corps is a nation- tion-and-answer session fol- cated $373 million to the pro- on track to reach only 11,000 budget for a program that is im- a statewide environmental ef- al, governmental service pro- lowing the interview, a for- gram in the 2010 fiscal year volunteers by 2016, according portant to students — environmen- fort that has focused its efforts on gram that places volunteers in mer Peace Corps volunteer budget, the House and the to the PolitiFact Web site. tal sustainability,” Bintliff said. developing countries. Volun- voiced concern that the sti- Senate increased that amount The Obama administra- The fund would accumulate GREEN continues on page 2 teers are typically employed pend has not increased in 20 to $400 million. in jobs relating to international years or adjusted for infla- The Peace Corps is currently CORPS continues on page 2 Patrick Meaney, government senior and co- director of the Green Fund Referendum Organization’s director visits UT campaign, asks students pass- Economic downturn better global citizens. I think ing the Gregory that it also gives you a chance Gym Plaza to is a cause for increased to consider what you might vote for a bill want to do with the rest of that would cre- interest in peace group your life.” ate a UT Green #Z4IBCBC4JEEJRVJ Williams sat down with The Fund. This bill Daily Texan Staff Daily Texan before his campus gives students Peace Corps director Aar- visit Monday to discuss the or- a chance to on Williams has watched ap- ganization’s mission, success- decide whether plicants to the program that es and challenges. extra money “changed his life forever” sky- The Peace Corps was start- should be rocket by 18 percent since last ed by former President John spent to fund year; all it took was presiden- F. Kennedy and Robert Sar- environmental research proj- tial prodding and a worldwide gent Shriver in 1961 with the ects on economic belt-tightening. goals of promoting world campus. “I think the overriding pop- peace and friendship by train- Tamir Kalifa | Daily Texan Staff ularity has to do with [Pres- ing men and women in devel- Bonnie Drenik, a Peace Corps volunteer in Bulgaria from 2003 ident Barack Obama’s] call oping countries, while helping to 2005, listens to Corps director Aaron Williams at the Etter- to service,” Williams said. “I Harbin Alumni Center on Monday. think people want to become PEACE continues on page 2 Stephanie Meza Daily Texan Staff Student Government Elections Barton Springs night swimmers may face fees March 2 and 3, 8 a.m.- 5p.m. By Audria Choudhury clean. During the spring clean, Daily Texan Staff the dams that keep the pool full Austinites who enjoy swim- are opened, dropping water lev- Students can visit utsg.org to cast their votes for: ming in Barton Springs Pool at els enough to allow Austin city t4(QSFTJEFOUBOEWJDFQSFTJEFOU night may soon be charged a officials and volunteers to scrub t3FQSFTFOUBUJWFTJOUIF4(BTTFNCMZ CPUIGPSJOEJWJEVBMDPMMFHFTBOE fee that is being proposed at to- the pool’s natural surface clean in 6OJWFSTJUZXJEFSFQSFTFOUBUJWFT night’s city Aquatic Division time for the summer season. Jon- t4UVEFOU&WFOUT$FOUFSQSFTJEFOU meeting. athan Beall, head of The Friends t&EJUPSJODIJFGPG5IF%BJMZ5FYBO The Aquatic Division of the of Barton Springs Pool’s service t5FYBT4UVEFOU.FEJB#PBSE.FNCFST city’s Parks and Recreation De- committee, said this time will also t5XPTUVEFOUNFNCFSTPGUIF6OJPO#PBSEPG%JSFDUPST partment will hold the meeting be used for other groundskeeping t5XPTUVEFOUNFNCFSTPGUIF6OJWFSTJUZ$PPQ#PBSEPG%JSFDUPST to address the safety concerns tasks including cleaning, planting t(SBEVBUF4UVEFOU"TTFNCMZQSFTJEFOUBOEUXPWJDFQSFTJEFOUT caused by large numbers of night flower beds and painting and re- t5IF(SFFO'VOESFGFSFOEVN swimmers. pairing the bathhouse’s roof. Not all students can vote for all positions depending on academic clas- Victor Ovalle, program man- The department will also gath- sification. For a complete list of candidates, see page 3. For Daily Texan ager for the Parks and Recreation er public suggestions at the meet- editorial board endorsements, see page 4. Department, said that, if passed, ing, said Tom Nelson, manager of the fee would cover the cost of the aquatic division. Catalina Padilla | Daily Texan Staff lifeguards to increase safety dur- “People want to continue with Texas Primary Elections ing night swims. A worker dredges Barton Springs during the annual spring cleaning free [swimming during night “In the evening hours, there are Monday morning. Water levels are dropped so workers can clean the hours], and we’ll look at it as part March 2 up to 1,000 people,” Ovalle said. pool for the upcoming summer session. of an option,” Nelson said. “We’ll “You don’t want that many peo- will vote on it. The pool may re- for the fee, but swimmers during be taking more input [tonight] 7JTJUUIF8FCTJUFPGUIF5SBWJT$PVOUZ$MFSLUPGJOEPVUZPVSQPMMJOHMP- ple without a lifeguard, and the open after a routine cleaning on the day are currently charged be- and then formulate a plan to pres- DBUJPOTJOUPEBZTQSJNBSZFMFDUJPO4UVEFOUTXIPMJWFPODBNQVTDBO department is trying to outfit the March 13 with a fee for swims tween $1 and $3, depending on ent to the Parks board [later this WPUFBUUIF'MBXO"DBEFNJD$FOUFS*UFNTPOUIFCBMMPUJODMVEF%FNP- costs.” between 9 and 10 p.m., which their age. month].” DSBUJDBOE3FQVCMJDBOHVCFSOBUPSJBMDBOEJEBUFT If the department passes the are currently free of charge. Offi- The pool will be closed until proposal, Austin City Council cials have not yet set an amount March 12 for the annual spring SPRINGS continues on page 5 2 2 NEWS Tuesday, March 2, 2010 THE DAILY TEXAN CORPS: Volume 110, Number 160 Group GREEN: Some 25 cents draws support G CONTACT US say increase Main Telephone: across parties (512) 471-4591 in fees would From page 1 Editor: Jillian Sheridan tion’s goal mirrors similar at- vex students (512) 232-2212 tempts by the former George W. [email protected] Bush administration, which also From page 1 pledged to double the number Retail Advertising: of Peace Corps volunteers im- implementing green funds.