1A TOMORROW’S WEATHER LIFE&ARTS PAGE 6B SPORTS PAGE 1B For design seniors, final High Low collections an expensive endeavor Baylor breaks Horns’ eight-win streak 84 60 HE AILY EXAN TThursday, April 9, 2009 DServing the University of Texas at Austin community since 1900T www.dailytexanonline.com Gambling debate comes to Texas Bill would create UT school, set reading list By Mohini Madgavkar Daily Texan Staff A House bill to turn a program at UT into an in- dependent school has drawn criticism from faculty members. State Rep. Lois Kolkhorst, R-Brenham, intro- duced a bill to create the School of Ethics, Western Civilization and American Traditions at UT during the House’s Higher Education Committee meeting Wednesday. Students in the school would be required to take 18 hours of Western civilization studies, including cours- es covering ancient philosophy and literature, the Bi- ble and Renaissance and Enlightenment classics. These courses would count for 18 hours of the tra- ditional core curriculum requirement, and students would then have to complete an additional 18 hours Emily Kinsolving | Daily Texan Staff of coursework in Western civilization. As Juan Cruz, Antonio Macias and his son Antony read through programs, jockeys prepare for the next race at Manor Downs on Sunday Kolkhorst said the $5 million project would re- afternoon. Recently proposed legislation may allow horse- and dog-race tracks like Manor Downs to use slot machines. semble the existing UT Center for the Study of Core Texts and Ideas, in which students study history, lit- erature, philosophy and religion through the “great House bill calls for construction of resort casinos, slots in metropolitan areas books” philosophy that classics, not curriculum, should guide students. By Erin Mulvaney “Visitation is down from both Unlike the center, which has no set canon of study, the new school would establish a core of important Daily Texan Staff “The beer and alcohol business fails if you don’t visitors to the state and people The odds may be in favor of le- that live in the state, and it is down texts that would focus exclusively on Western tradi- galized gambling in Texas. have alcoholics. The casino industry fails if there substantially,” Streshley said. tions and American ideals. Lawmakers and gambling ad- are no pathological gamblers supporting it.” Christian Life Commission at- Eli Cox, a business professor who teaches in the vocates dealt out plans to build torney Stephen Reeves said his center, said he was surprised the Legislature was resort casinos and allow casi- — Stephen Reeves, organization opposes the expan- BILL continues on page 2A nos at race tracks and on Amer- Christian Life Commission attorney sion of gambling in Texas. Peo- ican Indian lands in Texas at the ple throw their money away and House Licensing & Administra- become addicted to gambling, he tive Procedures Committee hear- would be interested in purchas- Opponents of the bills say Tex- said. He said the goal of the slot ing Wednesday. ing casino licenses in Texas if the as may be breaking into the casi- machine is no secret: to get people The controversial discussion bill passed. no industry at a bad time for gam- to play longer, faster and more in- drew a large crowd. Don Hoyte, an economic consul- bling. Nationwide, industry reve- tensely. One bill would allow the cre- tant for the Texas Gaming Associ- nue is declining. As least two ma- “A lot more people are paying ation of resort-style casinos in ation, presented research showing jor casinos, worth $33.5 billion, for the win than are getting the metropolitan areas. that if resort casinos were legal- have shut down in Las Vegas. win,” Reeves said. Sheldon Adelson, chairman ized, they could ultimately gen- Nevada Gaming Control Board State Rep. Edmund Kuempel, and chief executive of the Las Ve- erate $3.3 billion annually in state analyst Frank Streshley said gam- chairman of the committee, said gas Sands Corp., told the com- and local tax revenue by 2015. bling industry revenues are down he disagreed with Reeves’ claim. mittee that destination resorts are The 12 states with legalized 9.7 percent since 2008 — the big- “You can’t save everybody the best opportunities for casino gambling pulled in $5.8 billion in gest decline in 50 years. The sec- from themselves,” Kuempel said. Andrew Rogers | Daily Texan Staff building. combined taxes last year, accord- ond-largest decline was seen in “Some people drink beer; some Dan Branch, chairman of the Higher Education He said Texas is a prime attrac- ing to the American Gaming Asso- 2001, when gambling revenues Committee, listens during a hearing at the Capitol tion spot and that his company ciation, which represents casinos. fell 1.3 percent. CASINO continues on page 2A on Wednesday during which testimony on the creation of a new UT school was heard. House committee approves Workers rally for benefits on union’s lobby day concealed carry on campus By Andrew Martinez county government and sever- Daily Texan Staff al private sector companies, ac- By Amy Bingham for Concealed Carry on Cam- Thousands of state workers cording to its Web site. Daily Texan Staff pus. “The invisible line be- gathered on the south steps of Jones said that graduate-stu- The House Committee on tween on-campus and off-cam- the Capitol on Wednesday to ral- dent pay increases have been Public Safety approved a bill pus doesn’t have barbed wire ly for increased benefits and pay. overlooked for years and that the Wednesday that would allow and metal detectors.” At the Texas State Employ- system for awarding research fel- concealed-handgun-license Crocker said he is cautiously ees Union lobby day, march- lowships needs to be revamped. holders to carry guns onto col- optimistic that the bill will pass. ers chanted and held signs as “Fellowships give you time to lege campuses. UT’s Student Government, they waited to talk to legislators do research and work, but a lot The bill, authored by state Senate of College Councils and about their grievances. UT grad- of students don’t take the fellow- Rep. Joe Driver, R-Garland, Graduate Student Assembly uate students attended the event ship because it offers no health passed the committee by a 5-to- have passed resolutions against to fight for better benefits. care,” Jones said. 3 vote. It has 77 co-sponsors, the bill. Graduate student John “As state employees, we fall Jones said graduate students which makes its passage likely Woods was an undergradu- into an odd category,” said gradu- find themselves in a double when it is debated on the House ate at Virginia Tech during the ate student Andrew Jones. “We’re bind because the University asks floor. A similar bill has already 2007 shooting. He authored the not looking for a huge pay raise. them to perform research with- passed in the Texas Senate. SG resolution supporting the We’re just asking for something to out benefits. “Crime happens on campus, current ban of concealed weap- Andrew Rogers | Daily Texan Staff stay with the price of living.” “It’s important for us to be and I’m very passionate about ons on-campus. Larry Gomez, an Adult Protective Services employee, holds a banner The union is made up of 11,635 here because we do a lot of work people’s right to defend them- “The Second Amendment during the Texas State Employees Union lobby day at the Capitol on state workers in 53 state agen- for the University,” Jones said. selves,” said Daniel Crocker, Wednesday morning. Demonstrators marched from Waterloo Park to cies and 24 university locations, the Texas director of Students GUN continues on page 2A the Capitol chanting and carrying signs. as well as workers in local and MARCH continues on page 2A 2A 2A NEWS Thursday, April 9, 2009 GUN: S THE DAILY TEXAN Opposition organizes protest Volume 109, Number 123 From page 1A position to the bill. 25 cents “Right now students are sort of does give the right to bear arms, whispering that they don’t want CONTACT US but when we’re talking about guns guns on campus, but they are not on campus possibly harming stu- being visible enough,” Woods said. Main Telephone: dents, that’s a public-safety issue, “If we get a lot of students walking (512) 471-4591 not a rights issue,” Woods said. out, then the Legislature will see Retail Advertising: Woods said he is planning a that the students — the people that (512) 471-1865 student protest on campus and will be most affected — are against [email protected] at the Capitol on April 16 in op- having guns on campus.” Classified Advertising: (512) 471-5244 classifi[email protected] The Texan strives to present all infor- mation fairly, accurately and complete- MARCH: Grad students push for benefits ly. If we have made an error, let us know about it. Call (512) 232-2217 or e-mail [email protected]. From page 1A ognize that, regardless of sexual orientation, the faculty members Graduate student Irene Gar- who are affected by UT’s lack za said she attended the march of domestic-partner benefits are COPYRIGHT to lobby for same-sex domestic- still employees. Copyright 2009 Texas Student partner benefits. “They pay taxes and provide a Media. All articles, photographs “This is a real personal issue public service,” Garza said. “It’s Sara Young | Daily Texan Staff and graphics, both in the print for me,” Garza said. “We’ve lost like they’re relegating them to A woman walks past Victory Grill, one of the oldest blues venues in East Austin.