Promises of money, fast cars, women and a life devoid of consequences associated with Mexican cartels and their growing appeal have lured some border-city youth down a dead-end road.
The UT football program is in hot pursuit of the top ranking in the Bowl Championship Series poll, but graduation data released by the NCAA this week show the Longhorn football players are lagging behind other top programs in completion of degrees.
Ten UT Laboratories have been cited for staff failure to complete mandatory lab safety training in a timely manner.
Speakers rally in support of domestic partner benefits at UT
More than 60 students gathered Thursday to support domestic partnership benefits for University faculty and staff.
UT President William Powers met with members of the Austin delegation of the state Legislature Wednesday to address their concerns about budget cuts at the University.
Some people engage in human-rights activism through protests and rescue missions. Meanwhile, some librarians at UT address the issue in another way: documentation.
Organization links Longhorns to career opportunities in more than 700 countries
A nonprofit student-run organization encouraged UT students and recent graduates to sign up and find work abroad at an information session Wednesday night.
Standing in front of the Tower while 1 million volts of electricity danced off his hands, UT alumnus Patrick Brown can say his return to campus was literally an electrifying experience.
Researchers found that the appearance of avatars in video games and other virtual platforms affects the way a user plays the game, according to a study released in September.
At his Riverside apartment, business junior Siming Yang cooks familiar spicy Chinese dishes to remind him of his home in Jinhua, China.
Despite his confidence in the security of his position, Texas State Employees Union organizer James Rubarth-Lay lost his job as a senior software analyst for UT’s Information Technology Services during a round of layoffs in late October.
Hiring for new college graduates is down 40 percent from the previous year, according to a recent survey.
Ten years ago, Texas A&M University and UT set aside their rivalry when 12 students were killed after the collapse of A&M’s annual bonfire.
Despite Austin’s economic stability, some residents, including many students, are sometimes forced to eat unhealthily in an effort to make ends meet, according to officials in Austin’s food bank industry.
Germany and Australia are not neighbors, hummus and Chex Mix do not share origins in any culture and the Peace Corps is not a country. But at the Students for Study Abroad Student Mixer, pretty much anything goes.
In response to the recent debate regarding proposed budget reallocations throughout the University, President William Powers encouraged “candid discussion” between faculty, administrators and staff at a Faculty Council meeting Monday.
As caffeinated alcoholic drinks grow increasingly popular among college students, the Food and Drug Administration announced Friday that the agency will examine the safety and legality of the drinks.
In the last year and a half, it has tracked hurricanes, forecasted natural disasters and mapped the spread of the H1N1 flu virus.
Austin will add another transportation option for public employees today with the launch of a new car-sharing program.
Two separate robberies Sunday sparked a UT Police Department investigation to clarify if a single suspect committed both crimes.
APD undercover operation results in eight drug-possession arrests
A man dressed in black with old English letters on his shirt waves a white towel to oncoming traffic, whistles at them and asks "What do you need?" He is a crack dealer with rocks in his pocket looking for a customer — and he's a cop.
As social networking becomes more popular, more businesses are attempting to connect with their consumers by entering the iPhone-application market.
The Indian Students Association and the UT chapter of Nourish International brought University of Pennsylvania a cappella choir Penn Masala to UT for a benefit concert Friday. Penn Masala is the world’s first Hindi a cappella choir, and its popularity has led them to perform internationally since their inception in 1996.
Austin retailers attempt to attract pre-recession profits during holidays
This holiday season, some local retailers are hoping that the relative strength of the Texas economy will boost consumer confidence enough to draw in shoppers like in pre-recession times.
Running back arrested on DWI charges, suspended indefinitely; UTPD investigates reportedly armed suspect on campus
The UT System office in charge of federal relations reported Thursday that research expenditures and grant money from the federal government to the UT System are above the national average.
Volunteer effort assists underprivileged, allows workers to build skills
As a volunteer with Community Tax Centers earlier this year, finance junior Stratton Borchers guided one of his first customers to her seat at a tax center.
Scholarly blogger deals with cultural fallacies, ethnic misconceptions
When you think of an angry Asian man, the image of a ninja wielding formidable weapons comes to mind. The stereotype isn’t far from the mark when you visit “Angry Asian Man,” a blog run by University of California, Berkeley alumnus Phil Yu.
The Fine Arts Library unveiled a collection Thursday consisting of artifacts from South American countries including Colombia and Peru, as well as pieces from Africa, Mexico and the Southwestern United States.
Soldiers returning from service with skills, no degree search for employment
After completing five years of service with the U.S. Army, a public affairs specialist re-entered the job market in the middle of a recession — without a college degree.
Texas ROTC members congregate at Tower to observe Veterans Day
Stoic faces at attention lined the main mall Wednesday in honor of the American flag and the veterans who fought to protect it.
Following the mass shooting in Fort Hood last week that killed 13 people and wounded nearly 30 others, several UT organizations put aside their political leanings to show support for the U.S. military Wednesday.
After a year-long search, the UT System Board of Regents settled on Robert Nelsen as the next president of UT-Pan American.
Somber ceremony acknowledges fallen soldiers in silence
FORT HOOD — As Command Sgt. Maj. Donald Felt called out the names of each person shot during last week’s attack on Fort Hood, the wounded soldiers present at Tuesday’s ceremony responded with cries of “Here, Sergeant Major!”
A look back at the college application process may remind many students of the hair-tearing, aspirin-popping fall semester of their senior year in high school.
The city of Austin was awarded the 2009 National Outstanding Large Employer of the Year award Tuesday by Disabled American Veterans. Austin was the only municipality nominated for the award.
Driskill Hotel to close for three days during electrical repairs
Although all UT campus dorms have a comprehensive recycling policy, only half of University-area off-campus dormitories have recycling programs.
Students commemorate fall of Berlin Wall with cardboard replica
Decorated cardboard boxes with graffiti and German phrases saying “Unify Germany and families,” were stacked on the plaza in front of the UT Tower on Monday night to commemorate the 20th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall.
Jessica Tan didn’t like the taste of alcohol the first time she tried it at the age of 19.
Austin officials with differing sentiments toward a 6-month-old police shooting, in which an Austin Police Department officer failed to record the fatal incident, gathered Monday at City Hall advocating the digital upgrade of the department’s car camera system.
American foreign assistance programs that have long been plagued by inefficiencies, wasted funds and poorly defined objectives are in need of comprehensive reform, said a panel of experts on Monday.
Hours after Maj. Nidal Malik Hasan was taken into custody under accusation of killing 13 people and wounding 28 others in the Fort Hood shooting spree Thursday, broadcast journalism senior Sobia Lodhi got a call from her worried parents.
Federal stimulus funds are helping retain and create positions for researchers throughout the University during an ongoing recession.
After 10 years of traveling and sleeping anywhere from youth hostels to public parks, Robert Shults said that his body is still learning how to sleep in the comfort of his own bed.
As universities increase their use of technology, they face the dilemma of providing constant technological maintenance services while feeling the pressure to cut costs.
Shopping centers prepare for increased spending despite economic worry
It appears the downturn in the economy has hit everyone except Santa.
KILLEEN — Most of the seats in the sanctuary of Memorial Baptist Church were empty Thursday night after the shooting at nearby Fort Hood left members of the community in shock.
FORT HOOD — The deadliest attack on a domestic U.S. military base in modern history struck Fort Hood on Thursday as a soon-to-be-deployed Army psychiatrist opened fire on a group of soldiers and civilians, killing 12 and injuring 31.
Capital Metro bus riders could experience a fare increase of $0.25 per one-way trip if it’s approved by the Capital Area Metropolitan Planning Organization.
With a solemn demeanor, Austin Police Department Chief Art Acevedo announced Thursday the indefinite suspension of Detective Christopher Dunn, the lead internal affairs investigator of the Nathaniel Sanders II shooting by Officer Leonardo Quintana.
A soldier opened fire at a U.S. Army base in Fort Hood, Texas on Thursday, unleashing a stream of gunfire that left 12 people dead and 31 wounded.
FORT HOOD, Texas — Army closes base at Fort Hood, Texas amid reports that several people have been shot, killed.
To address issues related to the layoffs in the McCombs School of Business, Dean Thomas Gilligan gave a brief overview of the effects the cuts will have on remaining employees and fielded questions at a town hall meeting Tuesday.
The office of City Councilman Bill Spelman declared Monday that the domestic partners of the more than 200 city employees who are in same-sex relationships will continue to receive health insurance benefits in the event of their termination from a job or the divorce or death of their partner.
More than 30,000-person voter turnout exceeds poll worker's expectations
All 11 proposed amendments to the Texas Constitution passed after 30,068 Travis County voters and other Texans hit their precinct polling places Tuesday.
Though proposals to change the foreign language curriculum requirements were dropped two weeks ago, UT administrators listened as students expressed their opinions on language requirements Tuesday evening.
While struggling to attain asylum, hundreds of immigrant women are kept behind chain-link fences within a former medium security prison, no more than an hour away from the state Capitol.
Public library branch reopens after delay caused by moisture
'No-Refusal' Halloween weekend allows blood draws without consent
Austin Police Department’s Halloween DWI “No-Refusal” initiative Friday and Saturday nights netted 46 arrests, a decrease from last Halloween’s 54 arrests.
Sixteen staff members in the McCombs School of Business were notified Monday that they will no longer have jobs starting Jan. 31.
Following a lull in the number of reported swine flu cases, the American College Health Association statistics indicate that the disease is returning to the country’s college and university campuses.
Varied data indicates some populations more represented than others
According to recent data gathered by the U.S. Government Accountability Office, representation of minorities in law schools is up across the country, but the number of blacks in law school is shrinking, a trend that has yet to be seen at UT.
As voters head to the polls today to weigh in on 11 state constitutional amendments, student groups are prioritizing Proposition 4, which would increase state funding for universities hoping to reach tier-one status.
Undergraduates attempt to gain insight on college's curriculum alterations
Undergraduate students will have a chance to give their input on the future shape of the foreign language curriculum at UT during a forum tonight hosted by the Senate of College Councils and the Liberal Arts Council.
UT officials unsure whether they can use federal money for original purpose
Bureaucratic hurdles have led UT administrators to shift federal stimulus funding from construction on campus to paying off gas bills.
Fifteen teams from 19 universities and eight countries presented their inventions and marketing strategies at the seventh annual Idea to Product Global Competition over the weekend at UT.
The population of Spanish-speaking Texans is rapidly increasing, but University social work experts say the number of social workers and mental health professionals who speak the language is insufficient to care for Hispanic populations in need of services.
Study combats common misconceptions about university acceptances
Colleges are harder to get into than ever, and the competition for admission at most universities is growing each year, right? Not according to recent reports.
Timely debate on merits of reform leaves some unmoved
The words flew Thursday night as members of College Republicans and University Democrats debated health care reform, but some students in the audience were unimpressed.
Zilker Park’s Great Lawn will reopen to the public today after four weeks of rest and recovery from the rain and mud that accumulated during the Austin City Limits Music Festival weekend, Oct. 2-4.
Students have been losing more than just sleep at campus libraries in recent weeks.
More than a thousand students, professors and faculty have put their names on a petition to protest proposed layoffs during the new budget cycle.
Division of Housing and Food Service celebrated Halloween on Thursday by inviting the children of the custodial and food service staff to come trick-or-treating.
Woman accused of drugging drunk men on Sixth arrested;
Accomplice in West Campus murder denied second trial
Students enjoy their Bevo Bucks. But a look at the finances of Longhorn sports gives students a reason to be proud of Bevo’s real bucks too.
Red, black, yellow and orange balloons created a pathway on the Tower steps Wednesday night to an alter of marigold bouquets, painted animal masks and framed photographs of the deceased illuminated by candles.
Five institutions, including three within the UT system, received nearly $2.5 million from the National Cancer Institute to establish a center to identify better ways to deliver treatment to cancerous tissue, the institute announced last week.
Two men accused in the 1991 yogurt shop murders walked free after charges were dismissed Wednesday, but Travis County District Attorney Rosemary Lehmberg promised to eventually retry both defendants. Lehmberg filed the motion to dismiss charges against Robert Springsteen and Michael Scott rather than proceed with inadequate evidence that fails to match DNA found at the scene with either suspect.
UT students stand above the trend of U.S. college students, who are reported to be less interested in math and science courses and are thus less prepared for global competition, according to a new study.
To cater to Austin’s large population of bicyclists, UT teamed up with the city to study four experimental lane designs.
UT President William Powers bestowed his seal of approval on the grilled chicken and salad served in Jester Center West on Tuesday.
Protestors present death penalty moratorium petition to governor
Anti-death penalty activists joined two exonerated death row inmates Tuesday to deliver a petition for a moratorium on the death penalty to Gov. Rick Perry.
More than one-third of employers report that recent hires neglect skills
New college graduates may not meet employers’ expectations of professional behavior when entering the workforce, according to a study from York College of Pennsylvania.
About 70 people piled into an auditorium Tuesday at the South Lamar Alamo Drafthouse to hear market researcher Jon Hockenyos speak about the economic impact of the gay community in Austin.
Professor receives $841,000 grant for disorders research
A congressional panel voted Thursday to increase federal oversight of private student loan lenders but rejected a proposal to include for-profit institutions, such as universities, in that oversight.
Solar-powered vehicles threaten Austin's pedicab businesses
Inside a stone warehouse hidden deep in eastern Austin, a bright blue electric vehicle stands out among bikes, pedicab trailers and old golf carts.
Lack of clarity drives most discussion over alteration to classes
Unanimous faculty opposition led the College of Liberal Arts to drop proposed changes to foreign language curriculum last week. As a result, Faculty Council will more thoroughly review curriculum changes proposed in the future, said some members at Monday’s meeting.
Recent research finds that Central Texas still faces large water deficit
Austinites have made good use of their galoshes and umbrellas this fall, but the city is still suffering from a historically high drought.
New contracts for residential and commercial construction are not immune to the economic downturn as they have dropped 21 percent in Austin and Round Rock since last September, according to a recent industry report and several industry members.
Two civil liberties groups went before the Austin Human Rights Commission on Monday to present recommendations for public oversight of the new Austin Regional Intelligence Center.
When students dial the number to check the status of their Post-9/11 GI Bill claims, they are greeted by an automated message urging them to be patient — not all of the requests have been processed yet.
Just a few streets away from UT at the University Presbyterian Church, a food pantry run by a coalition of churches and volunteers from the University and the city feeds hundreds of people a week.
Wind farms in West Texas make the state a leader in renewable power generation, but a lack of infrastructure leaves much of their potential electricity output blowing across the plains.
After being enticed by the live music scene, 21-year-old Bobby Fitzgerald packed his fiddle and moved from upstate New York to Austin four months ago, looking for what he thought would be "a fresh start in a fun city" to play music.
U.S. emergency in form of H1N1, still no vaccines for UT students
Two men incarcerated for the last 12 years for a Dallas murder will walk free today thanks to the work of UT-Austin and UT-Arlington students.
The San Jacinto multi-purpose room was filled with people of all faiths Thursday night. And until sunset, people of all faiths were filled with nothing.
Former CBS news anchor Dan Rather urged American news consumers Thursday to take action to address the declining state of the journalism industry.
The largest drug enforcement take-down in U.S. history occurred Wednesday with the collaborative effort of law enforcement agencies nationwide, striking at the heart and severing several arms of the Mexico-based La Familia drug cartel.
To ensure professional and sanitary conditions for drawing blood, the Austin City Council voted unanimously for a resolution Thursday to prohibit Austin Police Department officers from performing blood draws.
Dean scraps proposed curriculum change due to large negative response
After Liberal Arts faculty members showed overwhelming disapproval for reducing the number of required foreign language hours at an open forum Monday, the proposed changes will no longer be voted on at the upcoming Faculty Council meeting Oct. 26.
Tax credit program provides for affordable renting options
Three development companies have been awarded tax credits that will help fund 827 units of affordable housing in Austin.
More than 50 students of various ethnicities and backgrounds voiced opinions and concerns regarding diversity on campus to UT faculty, staff and fellow students in the San Jacinto Multipurpose Room on Tuesday evening.
Some community organizations are worried that two City Council members may approve a project along Lady Bird Lake after initially campaigning against such developments.
Walter Cronkite was no stranger to the University of Texas at Austin, and now most of his personal papers and photographs will be permanently filed in the archives of the Dolph Briscoe Center for American History on campus.
Austin Police event discusses students’ off-campus safety;
UT, Dell collaborate to create contest that promotes innovative proposals addressing global problems
Last week, students around the world began submitting entries to the 2010 Dell Social Innovation Competition, which offers a grand prize of $50,000 to the student team with the best entry.
Texas Department of Public Safety troopers will take a trip back to their school days this week.
A monarch butterfly lands on the leaf of a milkweed plant, flutters its wings and flies off.
Liberal arts lecturers and assistant instructors got a chance to voice their concerns over proposed changes to foreign language curriculums directly to Dean Randy Diehl on Monday.
As election season draws near, many political groups in Austin are playing host to candidates hoping to win constituent endorsement.
Meteors will dot the Austin sky early Wednesday morning at the peak of the annual Orionid meteor shower.
Bentley University marketing professor Raj Sisodia said Monday that he is trying to change the culture of businesses worldwide by convincing the next generation of CEOs of the importance of compassionate business practices.
COLLEGE STATION - More than 2,000 students, volunteers and civic leaders greeted President Barack Obama with applause and whoops of approval inside Rudder Auditorium on the Texas A&M University campus Friday.
DALLAS — Colt McCoy and his teammates stood in the middle of the Cotton Bowl with a rising sea of burnt orange at their backs, soaking in as much of this moment as they could.
Some students who feel underrepresented by the University's method of reporting race and ethnicity now have a chance to more accurately identify themselves.
Much has changed since the first AIDS Walk Austin in 1987, but the message of the event has stayed the same.
The UT School of Law is planning a $7 million renovation of the Tarlton Law Library in Jesse H. Jones Hall in the northeast corner of campus.
At precisely 12:17 p.m. Thursday, about 10 members of UT’s Muslim Students Association stopped what they were doing and froze in place at the Main Mall.
A proposed amendment to a federal appropriations bill that would prohibit National Science Foundation funding for political science research is stirring discontent in the UT government department.
UT graduate Matt Mackowiak, who jumped into Republican politics full-time after graduating in 2003, told listeners Thursday night that the organizations they participate in will benefit them far more than their GPA when they leave the 40 Acres.
The UT Project on Conflict Resolution honored three Austin men, including the late Clifford Antone, for their work in bringing people of diverse backgrounds together through music and art. The men were honored Thursday night at Antone’s, a famous blues club.
Staffers aim to decrease missed appointments, improve transfer times
Officials from the UT System health care community highlighted their successes Thursday in treating more patients and reducing missed doctor’s appointments and transfer times to special hospitals.
Pumping their horns in the air and wielding torches, a parade of about 500 students and Austin residents marched down Guadalupe Street on Wednesday night to the sound of spirit songs at the annual torchlight parade.
Suicide represents the second leading cause of death for college students, according to the UT Counseling and Mental Health Center, a statistic they hope to combat at the University with several services and options for students who seek counseling or express concern about their friends’ mental health.
Viral researchers from across the country may have access to a new online database with information on a wide range of disease-causing viruses as early as December.
Diana Padilla’s best friend was trapped with a boyfriend who routinely hit her.
“She got out of the relationship before her boyfriend killed her,” Padilla, a psychology senior, said. Padilla watched as her friend went on to find a relationship that was stable.
Society’s inattention to men’s vulnerabilities might pose a problem to their mental well-being, said Michael Addis, a psychology professor at Clark University at a talk Wednesday.
A high rise alarm triggered by burning debris at the Quarters apartment complex attracted fire trucks, ambulances and police cars to West Campus and forced residents out on the streets early Wednesday morning.
Dia de la Raza sheds light on conceptions of early colonization
A line of singers, guitar and conch shell players, and instrumentalists with red cloth tied around their heads marched into the center of a full auditorium.
Investigations continue in search of motivation for apparent suicide
A male UT student jumped to his death from the seventh floor of the San Antonio Garage at the corner of 25th and Nueces streets Monday afternoon.
Board unanimously votes on appointment, students voice concerns
After two weeks without a director, the Texas Student Media Board confirmed Jennifer Hammat, the University’s assistant vice president for student affairs, to serve as interim director until a permanent replacement can be hired.
Campus begins training counselors in debriefing tense social workers
UT’s Institute on Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault has begun a two-year program to help social workers across the country cope with the emotional fatigue of working with victims of child abuse.
The Health Promotion Resource Center held the first of four “Nutrition 101” classes Monday at the University.
Collaboration between hospitals, med school provide opportunities
The UT System Board of Regents approved a partnership between the UT Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas and the Seton Family of Hospitals in Central Texas on Monday, allowing UT Austin and several other UT System institutions the opportunity to expand biomedical research programs.
According to the APD, a male UT student jumped to his death from the seventh floor of the San Antonio Parking garage at the corner of 25th and Nueces streets at approximately 2:20 Monday afternoon.
A new partnership announced by the LBJ School of Public Affairs on Friday between the Center for Politics and Governance and the Texas Tribune intends to improve the public discourse on politics and governance.
Hundreds of marijuana plants seized in attempts to alleviate illegal activity
The Texas Department of Public Safety raided two elaborate marijuana operations housed in Northeast Austin homes this month, affirming drug enforcement officials' belief in Austin's growing allure for the drug enterprise.
Project unites revolving door of Danish, Austin musicians through song
For the next 10 months, a house in a quiet Travis Heights neighborhood will be home to a slew of musicians from Denmark, here to work in collaboration with Austin musicians in a project dubbed The House of Songs.
For law school applicants, internship experience may not be as advantageous as they believe, according to a recent survey conducted by a national test prep company.
UT associate professor, graduate student aspire to thwart heart problems
Though no research has proven that swimming can improve cardiovascular health, two UT researchers are determined to prove its health benefits.
UT receives contribution from Exxon Mobil to aid programs
Nearby subdivisions fight what they say are unfair zoning restrictions
As Austin continues to grow, some homeowners are examining the implications of expansion.
The UT Office of Technology Commercialization — responsible for developing and commercializing intellectual property on campus — will be combined with corporate relations and restructured to handle contractual relations with industries and develop broader relations through corporate development, said Vice President for Research Juan Sanchez Thursday.
Each inspection of UT labs in the last two years has, on average, turned up at least one deficiency in safety procedures.
Young Conservatives of Texas oppose creation of research university fund
The Young Conservatives of Texas, a statewide student organization, became the first group to declare opposition to Proposition 4 this week.
UT graduate student asks Union food supplier to work with labor group
Throughout the state of Florida, and across the United States, the Coalition of Immokalee Workers is campaigning to end conditions for farm laborers that it says meet legal standards for modern-day slavery.
Austin ranked 56th out of 77 cities in highest occupational wages, according to statistics released Wednesday by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
The Texas Freedom Network Student Chapter collaborated with the Texas Youth Leadership Council, Voices for Choice and Advocates for Youth to host a rally Wednesday to raise support for comprehensive sex education in Texas schools.
A man’s desire to have complete control of his life may lead to greater depression in those with cancer.
No date has been set for the UT System Board of Regents Special Advisory Committee on the Brackenridge Tract to review the UT faculty’s alternate plan presented at last month’s Faculty Advisory Council meeting.
Students are not the only ones getting graded these days. Some universities, including UT, are being graded on their sustainable policies.
Food bank copes with supply decrease during economic downturn
The Capital Area Food Bank of Texas has seen a 40 percent increase in demand for food since 2008, serving many first-time clients who found themselves below the poverty line or living paycheck to paycheck.
The Information Technology Services central office laid off 25 employees Tuesday in a move officials say will increase efficiency and make up for the loss of contracts within the office, which left more staff than existing positions.
Raymond Orbach, the director of UT’s Energy Institute, spoke Tuesday evening about the goals of the institute, including his hopes the University will become a leader in solving energy problems.
An independent review by a group hired by the city found some Austin Police Department internal investigators showed bias when reviewing the actions of officer Leonardo Quintana leading up to the May shooting of 18-year-old Nathaniel Sanders.
Starting next semester, Austin Community College will provide its students, faculty and staff with free Capitol Metro passes as part of the “Green Pass” pilot program approved by the ACC Board of Trustees, pending a vote by the Capitol Metro Board of Directors.
A warrant of arrest was filed Thursday against Kenny Vaccaro, UT football backup safety, alleging that he punched a UT law student and committed an assault with bodily injury, a Class A misdemeanor.
Budding research universities in Texas may receive increased funding following Nov. 3 election
When polls open in less than a month on Nov. 3, voters will decide whether to amend the state constitution to increase the number of Texas national research or “tier one” universities. The proposition, fourth on the list of 11, would give seven emerging tier one Texas universities — including UT-Dallas and UT-Arlington — access to $425 million which would help them eventually achieve tier one or national research university status.
Week-long event pushes students to 'develop personal safety plan'
UT’s Safety Week kicked off with fire safety Monday morning at the Speedway Pedestrian Plaza with members from UT Fire Prevention Services providing fire basics and putting out a simulated grease fire.
Texans for Public Justice filed a complaint Monday with the Texas Ethics Commission against a political action committee linked to former House Speaker Tom Craddick.
Four journalism students are working with law students this semester to investigate claims by some inmates that they are innocent of the offenses for which they are incarcerated.
Awareness events prompt students to contemplate consequences of AIDS
In preparation for Austin Red Week, designed to bring attention to AIDS-related issues, the Student Services Building is displaying eight patches of the national AIDS Memorial Quilt until Oct. 18.
A University alumna and two anthropology professors from Harvard and UT, respectively, won an Ig Nobel Prize on Thursday for their evolutionary explanation of why pregnant women don’t tip over.
City, campus groups spread word about last day to register to vote
Today is the last day to register to vote in the Nov. 3 election, but there are still several ways to register before the end of the day.
Candidates for Texas education board seat
Two Democratic candidates for the Texas State Board of Education, including one UT professor, discussed their platforms at a forum Saturday that was touched by controversy.
Carolyn Mosley’s daughter Ortralla was on her way to dance practice at Reagan High School six years ago when she was murdered by her abusive boyfriend.
The Texas Law Veterans Association held a free legal clinic at the Travis County Veterans Service Office Friday for low-income veterans and service members.
University Health Services offers flu vaccinations starting Tuesday
Four branches of the UT System health institutions filed a lawsuit against the commissioner of the Internal Revenue Service for failure to refund more than $10 million of federal employment taxes to medical students since 2005.
Use of the UT System plane in the past year has consisted of routine fundraising trips to alumni dinners and attendance at UT football games, as well as the more out-of-the- ordinary events, like the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo.
Members of the Workers Defense Project lined seven pairs of construction worker boots outside City Hall on Thursday in memory of the seven workers who died on the job in Austin this summer.
The city of Austin’s Bicycle Program kicked off a multi-dimensional project to aid bike commuters Thursday morning at the James D. Pfluger Bicycle and Pedestrian Bridge at Lady Bird Lake.
Swine Flu claims high-risk UT staff member Sunday; Rapper’s trial for drug charges pushed to end of month
Gov. Rick Perry signed the Taxpayer Protection Pledge on Thursday, thereby committing to not increase state taxes and oppose others’ efforts to do so.
When advertising senior David Lee went to Central Market in late August, he was disappointed to find his dinner would only consist of coffee and pineapple samples.
Annual music festival sells out months in advance, will bring a profit to city
This year’s 8th annual Austin City Limits music festival is estimated to bring in about $35 million to businesses and industries throughout the city, about $2 million more than last year’s festival.
Student-organized event draws hundreds to the Texas Union Ballroom
A crowd of UT students made their way into the Texas Union Ballroom to enjoy the keyboard melodies and pop vocals of Kansas indie band Mates of State on Wednesday evening.
Representatives from the Division of Instructional Innovation and Assessment addressed a smaller-than-expected crowd of instructors Wednesday about the benefits of receiving student feedback throughout the semester.
UT graduate awarded for work on educational equality issues.
Families watch more than 740 residents become citizens at ceremony
A crowd packed Austin’s Dr. Exalton & Wilhelmina Delco Activity Center on Tuesday as if a much-anticipated basketball game was about to be played. Friends and family members of the people gathered on the main floor sat on the edge of their seats waiting for the defining moment as young children enthusiastically waved five-by-eight inch American flags.
Cheap clothing and free pizza attracted dozens of UT students to the Campus Environmental Center’s annual Trash to Treasure clothing sale and Earth Summit on Tuesday.
Members of university unite on campus to honor memory of Brianna Becker
Friends of Brianna Becker, the UT student who was hit and killed by a car while jogging Friday, remember her as intelligent, funny and dedicated.
Trustees announce interim director appointment without due ratification
The appointment of Jennifer Hammat, assistant vice president of student affairs, as interim Texas Student Media director was never officially ratified by the TSM Board, despite the board’s official announcement at last week’s meeting.
College of Liberal Arts informs students how tuition is really spent
Students in the College of Liberal Arts got a better idea of how their tuition dollars were being spent during an open forum at Mezes Hall on Tuesday.
Red flags and speech bubbles featured behaviors and quotes representing the telltale signs of bad relationships and dating violence at a display in Gregory Gymnasium on Tuesday.
Northern Entertainment Inc., the subsidiary of NBC Universal that produces the “Friday Night Lights” television show, failed to comply with the city of Austin’s economic development agreement for seasons one and two.
Cap Metro passes balanced budget, no major services cut; SG honors deceased student, voices opinion on coal plant
Muslims emphasize peace, tolerance in Capitol lawn march
Austin Muslims staged the third annual Muslim Peace March on the South Lawn of the Capitol building to address discrimination and religious intolerance faced by Muslims in the eight years since the 9/11 attacks.
Jennifer Hammat, assistant vice president for student affairs, will serve as interim Texas Student Media director in place of Kathy Lawrence, who announced her retirement Thursday.
Politically active student was grassroots intern, aspired to practice law
“She was going to save the world. As silly as that may sound, that was her ambition and her career goal,” said Allan Becker regarding his daughter Brianna.
Talking Heads singer, experts engage audience with transportation talk
Hundreds of bicycles parked outside the Paramount Theatre on Sunday in anticipation of a panel discussion that packed the house.
UT President William Powers singled out the Cockrell School of Engineering last week in his State of the University address when pointing to the tough budgetary decisions facing colleges across campus.
After 15 years as the director of Texas Student Media, Kathy Lawrence announced her retirement in an e-mail to TSM staff and student managers Thursday.
Bobby Seale, co-founder of the Black Panther Party, sat in the Oakland Auditorium in 1962 where he was first inspired by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s powerful ideas about how to fight racism in the United States.
Within three hours of each other, emergency personnel responded to two chemical spills Thursday evening in the engineering area of campus.
Despite the protests of neighbors and other Austin activists, Austin City Council passed, on first read, a developer’s plan for a 20-acre construction project along Lady Bird Lake Thursday night.
Jorge was 11 when he crossed the Mexican-American border with his family.
Plans to transform Speedway Street into a more pedestrian-friendly area have been a topic of discussion for more than 10 years. But slow fundraising has hindered progress of the $130 million project.
The Austin City Council will consider a controversial proposal presented by developer Grayco Partners today to build upscale high-rises around the East Riverside Drive and South Lakeshore Boulevard area. The public hearing, meant for Aug. 28, was initially postponed.
Within the next year and a half, UT will utilize reclaimed water in the cooling towers of the University’s Hal C. Weaver Power Plant. Eventually, the plan may extend to watering lawns and landscapes around campus.
$2.8 million grant awarded to UT professor for research; Science program gets grantto help high school students.
Victims of domestic abuse are increasingly turning to the Internet for online counseling opportunities, a UT professor said Tuesday.
East Austinites strive to protect neighborhood from UT expansion
Seventeen years after the end of a land battle with UT, residents of a small East Austin community remain wary of the University’s plans for expansion along their western border.
Although the nationwide unemployment rate has hit nearly 10 percent, Galveston and the University of Texas Medical Branch are in an unusual situation with more available jobs than they have people to fill them.
Local artists perform benefit concert for Health Alliance that provides medical access
Musician Jenny Reynolds still makes payments to hospitals in Massachusetts for her pneumonia treatment from six years ago because, at the time, she didn’t have insurance.
Candidates running for Student Government offices next spring will face new election rules after the Assembly approved minimally debated changes to the election code.
Mourners march against death toll of Afghanistan, Iraq wars
Activists walked silently down Congress Avenue Monday, carrying three small coffins draped in American, Iraqi and Afghan flags.
Powers says faculty plans better for the long-term interests of the University
A member of a faculty committee charged with drawing up recommendations for the redevelopment of the Brackenridge Tract said Monday that their suggestions have been ignored by design firm Cooper, Robertson & Partners, LLP.
About 40 students and researchers seeking scholarships and funding got help from University librarians Monday as part of an outreach program offered for the UT community.
Austinites and students have almost 100 reasons to enjoy musical performances all over the city today for the fourth annual Austin Musicians Benefit Day.
Suspect’s attorney thinks illnesses not to blame for two officers’ absences
One of three cases related to the May police shooting of Nathaniel Sanders ended in dismissal Monday, but charges could be re-filed by the county attorney.
Staff members of the McCombs School of Business were notified last week in an e-mail that jobs will be reduced by 5 percent in the coming months.
The photographic archive of one of the most influential photojournalists of the 20th century is now on display at the Dolph Briscoe Center for American History in Sid Richardson Hall.
Students at UT typically qualify for scholarships based on GPA, community service hours and test scores.
Three UT professors received nearly $2.5 million this month to identify ways to generate hydrogen fuel from water.
After passing through the Internal Affairs Committee on Sunday, changes to election rules will reach the Student Government Assembly floor for debate and vote Tuesday.
Medical facilities brace for influx of patients suffering flu-like symptoms
University Health Services plans to address the rising wait times for sick students seeking medical care by adding three nurses to its staff starting today.
The University’s Air Force ROTC commemorated the 62nd birthday of the United States Air Force and POW/MIA Day with a ceremony Thursday.
Robert Taylor remembers the day he embarked on his journey to create the intergalactic network, the foundation of today’s Internet. Before him sat three different computers, each one connected to a different location.
According to the preliminary enrollment report released after the 12th day of class, diversity among the student body and the number of students automatically admitted under the Top 10 percent law has increased since last year.
Minority activists urged Texas education officials on Thursday to not minimize the importance of civil rights leaders Cesar Chavez and Thurgood Marshall in public school curriculum.
ARLINGTON — The University of Texas at Arlington is considering banning smoking and tobacco campus-wide and would become the first four-year college in northern Texas to do so.
Assistant dean moves on up to president of pharmacy society; UT to publish research on social media-geared Web site;
Social scientists and biologists came together Wednesday to discuss health issues facing the elderly U.S. Latino population, including an aging boom brought on by large waves of Mexican immigrants.
Speech attempts to clear up tough decisions made in troubling economy
During his fourth State of the University address Wednesday, UT President William Powers Jr. said the University could not wait for the economy to turn around to pursue its goal of becoming the top public university in the country.
Austin will be one of the first two cities in America able to climb out of the recession, according to two recent reports.
Hundreds of universities around the world have used Second Life in the classroom to an extent, but the UT System is the first statewide university system to plunge into the virtual world.
After last year’s election dissension, Student Government representatives said they hope to minimize ambiguity and confusion with their proposed changes to election rules.
Universities and college students may receive a financial boost as members of the House of Representatives debate today what is called the single largest higher education investment in history.
Students unite to celebrate Mexican independence, spirit of revolution
More than 200 students attended Dieciséis de Septiembre in the Texas Union on Tuesday to celebrate Mexico's independence day one day early.
In an attempt to “go green,” UT Arlington’s Student Congress passed a resolution recommending discontinuation of the print version of The Shorthorn, the university’s student newspaper since 1919.
Nearly two-thirds of the adult population in Texas is overweight or obese, according to a report released by the Trust for America’s Health.
Ross Szabo was only 11 years old when his father told him his brother had been admitted to a psychiatric ward. “I never saw my dad cry before, so I knew something was seriously wrong,” Szabo said. At age 16, Szabo was diagnosed with bipolar disorder during his senior year of high school and he was hospitalized after trying to commit suicide.
Texans for Obama invites Watson to speak about health reform, stimulus
Texans for Obama hosted State Sen. Kirk Watson at the Scholz’s Biergarten on Tuesday night for a town hall-style meeting on the state of the economy and the health care debate.
The UT Counseling and Mental Health Center is stepping up efforts to prevent suicide by demystifying mental health issues during UT’s first Suicide Prevention Week.
After months of discussion, the city’s $2.8 billion budget for next year was unanimously approved by the Austin City Council in under an hour Monday morning.
Blue-green bacteria in Lake Austin harmless aside from unpleasant taste, smell
A blue-green algae bloom in Lake Austin may cause a fishy or musty taste and odor in the water supply in the coming weeks. Although the algae is not harmful, Austin Water Utility is taking steps to prevent consumers from noticing the changes in their water supply.
“The thing I remember most is looking back at the Earth, all the beauty,” Captain Eugene Cernan told the attentive audience. “I could literally cover up the entire Earth with my thumb.”
Local's alter-ego finds fame after winning reality show, starring in SyFy channel film
In every cell of a comic book's pages, within the text bubbles and beyond a caped hero, there lies the power to invigorate the superhero within children and adults alike.
Music, relaxed lifestyle among reasons why Longhorns love Austin
Austin ranked second amongst midsize cities in the U.S. by the American Institute for Economic Research in its first list of the 75 best cities to live in for college students.
UT’s Objectivism Society looked to apply the philosophy to real-world issues Monday night and accused public education of lacking in several areas.
Diez y Seis celebrates Mexican struggle for independence
Faculty discussing move to intensive first-year courses and pass/fail grading system
Looming budget cuts in the College of Liberal Arts will result in a wave of instructional staff eliminations, but foreign language departments within the college could also be affected by changes to graduation requirements and grading policies.
Event aims to garner more support for American Indians
Native Americans of various tribes exhibited their culture with drum beats and dance steps on Saturday at the University’s annual Powwow hosted by the Longhorn American Indian Council, a group within the Multicultural Information Center.
Karen Sage has practiced and taught law as a University adjunct law professor and Travis County assistant district attorney. Now, she is running for judge of the 147th District Court.
An appeals court affirmed last week a decision by a local district court denying the city of Austin immunity in a civil lawsuit filed by former Austin Police Department Officer Ramon Perez.
Globs of paint, helping hands and smiles surrounded SafePlace, a domestic violence and sexual abuse center in Austin on Friday morning.
UT’s Jackson School of Geosciences received a $1 million grant from the U.S. Department of Energy to train a workforce of research scientists and graduate students in carbon-capture and storage technology.
Despite low attendance, GLBT rally accomplishes primary goals
A small turnout at a local GLBT rally held Thursday afternoon on the West Mall to promote a national march in Washington, D.C. didn’t discourage the students, faculty and staff who attended.
Visiting lecturer addresses economic inequities that create coverage gaps
With much of the nation’s attention focused on health care reform, related issues such as a health care professional’s understanding of the socioeconomic, ideological and ethnic diversity of their patients have come into the limelight.
The clouds gathering outside mirrored the discussion Thursday night at City Hall as panelists shed light on the effects of the economic climate on the Austin art scene.
The sounds of catchy top 40 hits were nearly as noticeable as the enticing scent of Gatti’s Pizza on Wednesday at the 11th annual Party on the Plaza, held in Gregory Gym.
The Austin Police Department arrested 27 individuals over Labor Day weekend under the department’s “No Refusal” initiative conducted Friday night and a new state Driving While Intoxicated law enacted Sept. 1.
Free food, T-shirts and live music offered by the Texas Exes Alumni Center grabbed the attention of 1,500 students Wednesday afternoon.
A report released Wednesday claims that in Central Texas, African-American women have the highest breast-cancer mortality rate, Hispanic women receive mammogram screenings less than other ethnic groups and women in rural areas may have a lower prognosis than others.
In preparation for the National Equality March in Washington, D.C., meant to promote gay and lesbian rights, two local groups will hold a rally today at the West Mall fountain near Guadalupe Street shortly before noon.
Instead of losing health care coverage after leaving UT, teaching and research assistants as well as graduate students on fellowship may be eligible to keep their University health insurance until they find other employment.
Schoolchildren in AISD allowed to watch speech, LISD prohibited broadcast
Despite some Austin-area schools choosing not to show President Barack Obama’s speech to school children Tuesday, the UT Elementary School and Austin Independent School District left the decision up to teachers.
University Health Services cannot confirm whether the H1N1 virus has struck the UT campus yet, but a wave of students has been diagnosed with a flu-like illness in recent weeks.
Investments in diverse funds prove costly, regents still hopeful
Although University assets managed by University of Texas Investment Management Company have increased by 10 percent from January to August of this year, its CEO still expects another down year.
A survey released Tuesday indicates graduate students living on the Brackenridge Tract are most concerned about access to affordable housing if proposed redevelopments to the tract take place.
Thousands traverse course for third annual Austin Triathlon
For many Austin residents, a light jog around the block is sufficient exercise for the day. The 2,000 participants in Austin’s third annual triathlon Monday wanted a little more — make that more than 50 kilometers more.
Authorities believe bullets on campus linked to possible drug cartel violence in nearby Mexico
UT Brownsville students return to class today after a shooting directly across the border in Matamoros, Mexico forced the campus to close over the weekend.
UTPD utilizes e-mail, text messages to warn students of possible risk
Dollar bills lay spread across a tile floor among damaged and tossed fixtures after a Subway on 2906 Duval St. just north of the UT campus was robbed by a masked suspect Sunday afternoon.
Civil liberties groups believe privacy at stake with 'data mining'
Civil liberties groups filed an open records request in August for privacy and policy guidelines for the new Austin Regional Intelligence Center, but the city sent a request to the Texas attorney general asking for some of the information to be exempt from public disclosure.
Crowds of cactus enthusiasts gathered at the Zilker Park Botanical Gardens this weekend for the bi-annual cactus show and sale.
Man falls from overpass, survives 25-foot drop
The aroma of freshly popped kernels wafted throughout the second floor of the Recreation Sports Center as the Queer Welcome Carnival kicked off early Friday evening.
Artists take stage to speak against stereotypes that plague community
Students who packed the Texas Union Ballroom on Thursday night for the eighth annual “You Bring Out the Asian American in Me” event heard how they can overcome stereotypes and become involved on campus.
Following flu outbreaks in recent weeks among college athletics, including Duke University’s football and Tulane University’s football and volleyball teams, the UT athletics department said it is taking measures to prevent outbreaks of H1N1 among athletes.
Fritz Steiner and Hopeton Hay, two members of the UT System, will serve on Mayor Lee Leffingwell’s council of community advisors.
The Senate of College Councils opened the semester Thursday evening with resolutions endorsing academic integrity and expanding interdisciplinary degree programs.
Austin has just two more months to clear up an unsatisfactory air quality rating before restrictions will be placed on the local economy.
Graduate students hoping to increase their voice both on and off campus attended the first Graduate Student Assembly meeting of the semester Wednesday evening.
Austin firefighters are concerned their First-Amendment rights may be compromised by an Austin Fire Department code of conduct that limits the contents of any electronic communication between firefighters and anyone outside the department.
Students who eat small and frequent portions of food throughout the day may be on their way to better health, suggests a study conducted by economics professor Daniel Hamermesh.
As the Missouri violet, Fall Aster and Sage Tropicals embellished the entryway to the Boys & Girls Club of East Austin on Wednesday afternoon, the age gap between flower admirers didn’t seem to matter.
A state law that took effect Tuesday allows police to draw blood from suspected drunk drivers in some situations without a warrant.
Austin to begin distributing season flu vaccine this month; UT to hold annual bike auction on roof of Trinity Parking Garage
Memo asks Liberal Arts department chairs to cut non-tenure-track positions
Department chairs from the College of Liberal Arts received an internal memo Aug. 20 tasking them with reallocating $5 million to new priorities, largely at the expense of non-tenure track faculty.
Incoming representatives introduce themselves to more than 1,200 students
More than 1,200 students enjoyed free food, T-shirts and guest speakers, Tuesday evening on the Jester Spanish Oaks Terrace at the first Student Government meeting of the semester.
UT-Dallas chief stepped down after allegations of improper vehicle use
The resignation of former UT-Dallas police Chief Colleen Ridge was one of many recent events among UT System schools that spurred a formal review of 14 campus police departments, including the UT Police Department.
University of the People delivers college classes using social networks
Students enrolled at the University of the People, the first completely online, tuition-free university, will actually have an excuse to spend hours on Facebook.
Hazlewood Act allows veterans to give education credits to spouses, children
While a new GI Bill will benefit veterans and their families from across the country this school year, Texas veterans can use an existing state law to expand their educational benefits to their children.
Students interested in Latin American Studies may have more opportunities to supplement their coursework with social activism after the University named anthropology professor Charles Hale, the new director of the Teresa Lozano Long Institute of Latin American Studies. His appointment begins today.
Effective today, drivers who take the chance of parking in handicap parking spots without a proper permit will face double damages if they’re caught. Fines will jump from $250 to $500 in state parking spots like those at the Capitol.
Training efforts for Austin Police Department officers will be more realistic and technologically advanced as the city is poised to receive hundreds of thousands of dollars in grants aimed to improve training practices.
Event focuses on confronting issues of safety on college campuses
Colin Goddard says reliving the events of April 16, 2007 becomes easier each time he tells the story.
UT officials confirmed Friday that the University will end its National Merit Scholarship program next fall.
Convention attracts the experts of inking, piercings, hook suspension
The Downtown Hilton got a splash of color this weekend as hundreds of tattooed people graced the Governor’s Ballroom for the Immersed In Ink Tattoo and Arts Festival.
The Donald D. Harrington Fellows Program awarded 12 three-year grants to graduate students and faculty from UT and other universities Friday.
Despite an abnormally high number of cases of flu-like symptoms during the first week of class this semester, flu vaccines will not be available to students, faculty and staff
until October.
Lifestyle changes, classes and homework are just some of the reasons why 30 percent of students reported feeling depressed to the point of having trouble managing day-to-day activities, according to the recently released 2008 American College Health Association
survey.
Measure passed unanimously, aims to reduce number of cell phone-related driving injuries
Austin Police Chief Art Acevedo said 30 percent of car accidents this year were caused by texting while driving. City Council passed a proposed ban Thursday which aims to cut down on that number.
A UT professor and his students are trying to ensure that solar-powered lighting and composting toilets like those implemented in some smaller college campuses might be in UT’s future.
The City Council voted Thursday to postpone a public hearing on a controversial mixed-use development plan along Riverside Drive until Sept. 24.
A new traffic law that takes effect Tuesday will make it illegal for Texans to ride unbuckled in the back seat.
Police officers throughout Central Texas skirmished against one another Thursday in a simulated riot at the Round Rock Independent School District Athletic Complex football stadium.
Late senator’s Austin friends recall his dedication, compassion, service
Though his home was on the East Coast, U.S. Sen. Edward M. Kennedy, who died late Tuesday night after a yearlong struggle with a malignant brain tumor, was no stranger to Austin — or the UT campus.
For many college students, texting has become as natural as talking or eating. Upon hearing the familiar chimes of an incoming text, it is almost instinctive to respond immediately.
A trade association for higher education retail recently launched an informational Web site to help students and their families take advantage of a new federal tax credit.
JetBlue Airways Corp. is set to become the official airline sponsor of UT Athletics.
Analysis of graduate-school acceptance rates finds domestic students favored
Although offers of admission to graduate students from outside the United States fell this year for the first time since 2004, enrollment of international students at UT remains steady.
Fewer than 10 students to study global energy and environmental law
The School of Law welcomes today its first participants in the Center for Global Energy, International Arbitration and Environmental Law, which aims to cultivate experts on energy and environmental law on an international level.
Parking and Transportation Services will offer more options this semester for drivers on the 40 Acres.
At least $400 was stolen in two separate incidents from a non-profit organization aimed at lowering the number of euthanized animals during a pet adoption fair this weekend.
New angle parking and pay meters on Dean Keeton Str
A shocking discovery; Handcuff me; Elephant in the room; Don’t let the door hit you on the way out
The city Parks and Recreation Department Board voted unanimously Tuesday in favor of an amendment to the existing sound ordinance, allowing Austin Police Department officers to issue tickets to boaters on the lakes within city limits.
As more airtime goes to national artists, local musicians left behind
Though the audience for public radio station KUT 90.5 FM has grown over the past 10 years, there has also been growing concern among some listeners over programming changes.
Renaissance Market reconstruction to last a month longer than planned
The reconstruction of the Renaissance Market near the intersection of 23rd and Guadalupe streets, which has displaced many of the area’s vendors, is expected to be completed in early October, a month later than originally expected.
Thirty-five UT faculty receive between $15,000 and $30,000 each
The UT System Board of Regents awarded $2 million in Outstanding Teaching Awards to 73 professors across the UT system, including 35 at UT.
A recent study conducted by University of California, San Diego researchers found some teenage binge drinkers had less brain damage when they combined their drinking with marijuana use.
Recommendations urge students to wash hands, avoid campus if experiencing flu-like symptoms
In an attempt to prevent swine flu from spreading across colleges and university campuses, the Centers for Disease Control has released a new set of precautionary guidelines for colleges.
An Austin Fire Department policy that requires firefighters to obey the speed limit and stop at all red lights and stop signs when responding to emergencies has sparked concern and frustration from many Austin firefighters. The policy was introduced by by Austin Fire Department Chief Rhoda Mae Kerr.
City Manager Marc Ott has chosen KeyPoint Government Solutions to investigate the May 11 shooting of Nathaniel Sanders by Austin Police Department Officer Leonardo Quintana.
Officials at Capital Metro say they have no definitive launch date for the transit authority’s MetroRail system. The system’s debut has been delayed since March.
City closes portions of Cesar Chavez for tree salvaging effort
Austin City Council will consider zoning changes Thursday that have some residents on East Riverside Drive concerned about the impact of development on the character of Lady Bird Lake.
Pierre Bertrand
A man drowned in Lady Bird Lake on Friday while trying to help what appeared to be a distressed swimmer.
A wall of early morning sunshine illuminates a stark, still radio-station boardroom on the fourth floor of a building nestled into the hills west of Austin.
A multitude of grim reapers and animal rights activists gathered outside the Frank Erwin Center on Wednesday evening, chained together with large, plastic links, holding pictures of elephants in bonds.
Jester Center, Gregory Gym among locations with highest crime rates
With a student population in the tens of thousands, thefts and petty crime can happen almost anywhere on the UT campus, but according to UT records and UTPD officers, on-campus crime tends to be concentrated in a few locations.
Sparks rules use of race advances government interest in diversity
A lawsuit that challenged UT’s admission policies for the first time since 1996 was dismissed on Monday by U.S. District Judge Sam Sparks.
The UT System Board of Regents approved the $11.9 billion operating budget for the 2009-2010 fiscal year Monday — $500 million more than last year’s budget.
French professor Barbara Bullock and Spanish professor Jacqueline Toribio, two of 22 incoming female faculty members teaching in the College of Liberal Arts, first shared a bond through their linguistics research in the Dominican Republic and Haiti.
After a year of renovation and restoration, Zilker Metropolitan Park’s Great Lawn will once again be open to Austinites. A special ribbon-cutting event today at 11 a.m. will celebrate the grand re-opening of the 46-acre park, which has featured everything from music to kite festivals.
US House of Representatives evaluates legislation to protect homeless
Early one summer morning, James Clements sat waiting to catch a bus. Down the street sped a black truck, spraying fire from a pellet gun as it passed, hitting him three times — once in the foot, once in the chest and once fracturing his right index finger.
UT administrators are implementing a 2008 plan to bridge the gap between the disproportionately higher number of men than women in the faculty.
The Benson Latin American Collection is rethinking the scope of its project to document human rights abuses as part of its campaign to keep the library’s role relevant through increased accessibility and data collection.
The UT System Board of Regents may be set to approve the budget for the 2009-2010 school year at next week’s meeting.
As the 2010 Texas gubernatorial election draws near, candidates find themselves torn in attempts to attract minority voters who may prove crucial to the election’s outcome.
Interior design senior receives five-figure award from contest
Students and dignitaries gather at event to speak with orbiting astronaut
Visions of floating in space and peering down upon a pensive blue Earth were ignited within the minds of Texas students participating in a live discussion hosted by The Bob Bullock Texas State History Museum, which included NASA astronaut Col. Tim Kopra aboard the International Space Station on Wednesday.
Ongoing simplification of the FAFSA may impact students and financial offices at both state and federal levels.
Suburb aims to attract music performances away from Austin bars
Black and white tarps, taped together and covered in dust and dry paint, create the stage for hundreds of cardboard boxes. Wearing yellow safety jackets and leather work boots, a few workers take a lunch break on top, as thousands of empty seats, clothed in clear plastic, look on.
A recent study found evangelical Protestants who had a college degree were more likely to be tolerant of gays and atheists than those without a college degree.
Dormitory has wiring replaced as contractors rush to complete work
Ivan McCoy, a mechanical technician with the Division of Housing and Food Services for 21 years, said he and others at the department are constantly working on different facets of dorm rooms to repair wear and tear before students returned.
The first court hearing in the Yogurt Shop Murder case since Michael Scott and Robert Springsteen were released from Travis County jail June 24 was rescheduled for Oct. 28 when Judge Mike Lynch deemed the hearing unnecessary Wednesday afternoon.
Researchers at UT Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas are working to disprove myths associated with the use of insulin injections for people with type 2 diabetes to help them make informed medical decisions.
Health experts are warning about the serious long term effects of a vaccine expected to become available within the next few months that would combat Swine Flu, a virus associated with more than 430 deaths this year.
With the approach of a new school year, the dreaded freshman 15 is likely to be weighing on the minds of many incoming students. But an ongoing UT study focuses on another group that is also battling weight issues: the faculty.
The concerns of international students who support a quicker, more efficient way to access higher education in the U.S. are not going unnoticed by local and national lawmakers.
When the nation’s economy goes south, and cities and local governments are faced with looming budgetary crises, some believe law enforcement agencies increase traffic citations in order to make up for lost funds.
A recent study conducted by UT associate sociology professor Mark Regnerus, found that analyzing high school students’ levels of religious devotion in combination with personality traits can predict the sexual behavior and relationship patterns that adolescents will exhibit as they enter college.
Austin and the University cemented their place in the history of music this week, when the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame recognized the Austin City Limits Music television show as a historic landmark.
Effort aims to attract upscale demographic and area investment
The West Sixth Street district will undergo renovations during 2010 that will add to and transform aspects of the area’s character and commercial viability.
Effort part of University campaign, soliciting $3 billion in donations to secure financial future
The UT Capital Campaign, a comprehensive fundraising effort at UT-Austin, has amassed $910 million as of the end of last week since the campaign’s inception three years ago, UT officials said.
Canadian researchers say stalking lover could lead to jealousy, tension
Researchers in Canada are blaming Facebook for relationship troubles.
The high dropout and transfer rate of first-generation college students at four-year institutions is largely dependent on parents’ education and can be reduced with guidance and goal setting, according to a study presented this weekend.
Reductions in service and fare increases could be part of budget request
In light of anticipated budgetary shortfalls, Capital Metro may increase bus fares and eliminate downtown ‘Dillo service, starting in January, in an effort to balance the transit authority’s budget.
Marine Science Institute gets new high tech building; University to exhibit faculty artwork in upcoming show
Within the chain-link fence surrounding Austin’s tallest building — 55 stories and growing — the builders bustle.
Moving beyond a one-way energy-distribution system that has remained unchanged since the industry’s inception and into a method where energy distribution is networked similar to the internet was discussed last Wednesday at the Austin Clean Energy Forum.
Forbes magazine recently ranked UT’s McCombs School of Business the 11th-best business program in the nation in its 2009 publication of the Best Business Schools, a list that typically is reserved for Ivy League-caliber schools.
The worldwide economic crisis will likely not change the number of international students enrolling at UT this fall, said Teri Albrecht, director of International Student and Scholar Services.
Without any more clues, anonymous tips or leads, Kyle Police Department investigators have classified the investigation into the death of former UT student Jeffrey Weng “inactive” six months after Weng sustained fatal injuries when he somehow fell out of a moving taxi along Interstate Highway 35.
Over four days, UT professors and scholars from the Department of Religious Studies prepared high school teachers to teach a new and controversial addition to the state public school curriculum — the Bible.
‘Living Newspaper Project’ teaches young minds in non-traditional way
In the tradition of the “Living Newspaper Project,” Central Texas middle school and high school students researched and performed the history of immigration at the Bob Bullock Texas State History Museum on Thursday.
The U.S. Senate confirmed Sonia Sotomayor as the first Hispanic justice of the Supreme Court on Thursday, although both Texas senators voted against the appointment.
John Bush stood before city council Thursday morning, his face half-hidden behind a red plastic mask.
Plan would suspend incentive pay, institute furlough program
Austin city employees gathered on the steps of City Hall on Thursday evening to say “enough is enough” to a budget proposal they feel asks the most loyal of them to shoulder too much of a burden.
Statesman no longer for sale after lack of adequate offers; City contractors hit with non-discrimination resolution
Jamie Schanbaum is a 20-year-old pre-pharmacy sophomore who loves to go to concerts, listen to her favorite band, Ghostland Observatory, play “Guitar Hero” and spend time with her family and friends, but on the night of Nov. 13, 2008, her life changed forever.
A Travis County grand jury decided Wednesday not to press criminal charges against Austin police Officer Leonardo Quintana and his two backup officers, John Hitzelberg and Mohammad Siddiqui, for the shooting death of 18-year-old Nathaniel Sanders II in May.
Due to a high level of E. coli bacteria in Bull Creek, the Watershed Protection Department may temporarily close the dog park at Bull Creek District Park and require dog owners to use leashes. Austin City Council will vote on the measure Thursday.
Environmental awareness groups rallied in front of Austin City Hall on Wednesday in opposition to a new water treatment plant proposed by the city.
Economic trends, other factors influence amount available for faculty
Kenneth Gentle arrived at UT in 1966, a time he referred to as “post-Sputnik.” The space race was well underway, and only three years stood between man and the moon. For Gentle, now director of the UT Fusion Research Center, it was a good time to start a career in physics.
After stumbling in ranking last year, like a drunk on Sixth Street, UT may be regaining its footing as one of the nation’s top party schools.
Austin Energy, in partnership with Keep Austin Beautiful, awarded $10,000 in grants to local neighborhood organizations to purchase trees to help improve the environmental quality of urban areas of the city.
Committee suggests higher drug restrictions for college students
In a chilling and gruesome video shown to about 50 people at a symposium Tuesday, a camera panned across a blood-soaked tiled shower, where seven men hung from their feet, tortured and decapitated.
UT researchers received a grant from the National Institutes of Health to study how influenza is spread throughout populations using mathematical models to improve prevention methods.
Texas Tribune's online status 'is a sign of the times' in news media
Against the ever-changing news media horizon, a landmark is rising, as traditional journalists leave positions in print to join a new Web site devoted to Texas politics.
After voicing concern over cuts to their funding from the city last week, members of the Austin Emergency Medical Services department will propose a new budget plan to the City Council this morning in an effort to increase their allocations of the city budget, which they say the EMS needs to serve Austin effectively.
Students begin return to House of Commons as reconstruction ends
Residents of the House of Commons Co-op are starting to trickle back into their old rooms after a two-alarm fire ravaged the house’s third floor, forcing the residents to seek temporary housing.
New server hub will offer less redundancy as well as improved security
The UT Purchasing Office’s move to the Main Building ended Monday, making way for a new primary University Data Center.
Nine schools in the Austin Independent School District are labeled academically unacceptable, the lowest accountability rating given by the Texas Education Agency, which is a decrease from last year’s 11. One school’s consistently low ratings have received special attention from the agency and the school district.
At “Kids University,” a camp hosted by the UT School of Social Work, children can learn educational concepts while building Lego robots, bowling and watching IMAX movies.
Austin joined more than 760 other communities across the U.S. Monday when it received national recognition for efforts taken to preserve cultural and historical artifacts.
U.S. Rep. Lamar Smith, R-San Antonio, said in a statement Friday that a request he had made for $1.5 million in funding for UT-Austin was included in the approval of the 2010 Defense Appropriations bill by the U.S. House of Representatives.
Flood control tunnel to aid park's transformation to community center
Waller Creek will soon be given a new opportunity to attract Austin citizens when a flood water control tunnel is constructed and a redevelopment plan is implemented.
State Comptroller Susan Combs announced that the Texas Tomorrow Fund, which allowed parents to prepay their children’s tuition at a rate reflective of its current cost, is nearly broke.
Once a world-class Level 1 trauma center, the emergency room at the University of Texas Medical Branch in Galveston remained closed for almost a year after Hurricane Ike devastated the hospital, leaving health care in the city and surrounding areas in a vulnerable state.
Lawyers are preparing for the pending trial of two gunmen who turned themselves in for the non-life threatening shooting of eight people outside Spiro’s nightclub in May.
Religious freedom, civil rights and curriculum discussed at conference
With a battle brewing over the Texas State Board of Education’s potential to emphasize the importance of the Bible and the Christian faith in American history classes, American Civil Liberties Union members are expressing deep concern.
A construction worker fell on Sunday from the roof of the House of Tutors building in West Campus.
Austin Energy will perform an upgrade to an electrical conduit on Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard, which will cause lane closures ending Aug. 16.
UT family remembers Barnett’s calm demeanor, smile during memorial
Former professors and friends of Stacey Barnett, remember her smile, calm demeanor and her loyalty.
As the UT System Board of Regents anticipates to vote for the coming year’s budget next month, department chairs, professors and other University faculty express cautious optimism.
Officials hope to complete Solid Waste Management Master Plan for 2040 goal
Community activists gathered with city officials at the Town Lake Center on Thursday to provide their input into the city’s Solid Waste Management Master Plan and the future of Austin’s environmental policy.
Almost eight months after forming an exploratory committee for the 2010 gubernatorial race, Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison announced she will leave the Senate later this year to face Gov. Rick Perry for the Republican nomination.
The city of Austin is looking for a new director for its Solid Waste Services department to replace former director William Rhodes, who held the position for 16 years.
CCG examining projects which can improve results that are relevant to citizens
Members of the state Council on Competitive Government on Thursday morning suggested ways to optimize “fleet and fuel” management services, which could potentially alter the way Texas state agencies utilize their vehicles.
The stretch of 24th Street, currently blocked off for construction of the new Norman Hackerman Building, will remain closed to car traffic during business hours as part of a larger effort to make central campus more pedestrian-friendly, officials said Wednesday.
The Austin Police Association and the Austin/Travis County Emergency Medical Services Employee Association say the resources provided will not be enough to meet department goals despite a proposed city budget that avoids making major cuts to emergency services.
A new study shows choice of a college major can determine more than a student’s future career, it can also be an indication of their level of faith.
In a lecture at Austin Community College on Wednesday, a California civil rights researcher argued that Latinos are facing economic and educational disparities.
A researcher from the University of Connecticut said in a speech at UT on Wednesday the findings of his study may provide evidence of a relationship between genetic makeup and alcoholism.
IONS meets every month for philosophical banter in a judgment-free space
Formed after an astronaut said he had an epiphany in 1973, the IONS group is still attempting to reach what it calls “global consciousness.”
Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott said in an opinion it is unclear whether Texas is in violation of federal law and the Constitution by allowing illegal immigrants to benefit from in-state tuition at state colleges and universities.
UT President William Powers has permanently revoked a controversial University policy almost eight months after two UT students faced possible expulsion from their dormitory for displaying political signs.
Faculty members discuss rigorous path to tenure, winning research grants
For faculty at the Cockrell School of Engineering, balancing academia and drumming up the grant money to make research and teaching possible can be a time-consuming endeavor, especially for younger professors.
Changes to eminent domain regulation and the creation of a national research university fund are just two of the 11 proposed amendments to the Texas Constitution.
Students enrolled in online courses this fall might have to go a step further in verifying their identity for Blackboard assignments.
Lynne Milburn, director of the Career Exploration Center and advocate of domestic partner benefits at UT, will retire next week after 26 years with the University.
The APD’s eye in the sky is a crucial component of a successful operation
Nestled in a hangar within the Austin-Bergstrom International Airport, and alongside the Texas National Guard, lies a prefabricated trailer housing the Austin Police Department’s aerial unit, Air One.
Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, said he will vote against the confirmation of Sonia Sotomayor to serve on the U.S. Supreme Court.
The University Medical Center Brackenridge is celebrating its 125th birthday this month by producing a compilation of on-air anecdotes called “A History Forward,” a series of recorded interviews with citizens who have had some type of personal experience with the hospital since its inception.
Demonstrators at 'Global Day of Action' call for more democracy in Iran
More than 300 Austin protesters adorned with green sashes gathered at Austin City Hall Saturday and marched to Auditorium Shores, and with the support of others from more than 110 cities in 80 countries across the globe yelled, “No more dictatorship! No more theocracy! Give us democracy!”
Austin Police Department investigators arrested a suspect Friday who admitted to shooting recent UT graduates John Goosey and Stacey Barnett in connection with a drug-related dispute in West Campus last week, officials said.
Four UT students will journey to Mali in West Africa on August 13 to host an educational conference to help deaf people learn about various technological mediums to help them communicate with others.
Austin Community College held a veterans’ appreciation and open house event Saturday that provided veterans with information regarding the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, post-traumatic stress disorder and a new GI bill that will go into effect August 1.
Digital versions of textbooks offering students more variety in their choice of written learning mat
While most students are simply looking for the cheapest way to buy this semester’s textbooks, a battle may be looming over the textbook industry’s future.
In circumventing the financial crisis, city officials add environmental flavor
In the midst of an economic downturn, Austin continues to trade green for green, striving to become a national leader in clean energy.
The Butler School of Music has created the new Joe R. and Teresa Long Endowed Chair in Piano with $1 million donated by UT alumni last month.
Ubiquitous products still sell rapidly during first quarter, driving revenue
UT broadcast journalism senior Allison Ignacio said she found the perfect solution when she bought an Apple iPhone.
Former officials face charges related to sexual abuse of youth in custody
An Odessa judge Thursday ordered that one of two staff members from the Texas Youth Commission arrested in 2007 for allegedly sexually abusing and molesting children will stand trial December 15, according to an Associated Press report.
Experts say that hurricane season, despite El Niño, is not expected to be severe
Although a series of deadly storms ravaged the coast in the past few years, meteorologists in Texas are expecting a calmer hurricane season this fall.
APD asks for public's help with investigation, says few clues known so far
Police identified the two individuals found dead in West Campus apartment as UT graduates Stacy Barnett and John Goosey and classified their deaths as a double homicide Wednesday.
Austin’s 2010 budget proposal avoided potential cuts to public service departments and employee layoffs, while eliminating 105 vacant city jobs.
The sight of bicycles stripped of all major components — frames lacking front wheels, back wheels and seats, if the owner is lucky — has become more common across UT campus and downtown Austin.
Like the other nine members of the UT System Board of Regents, Karim Meijer was appointed by Gov. Rick Perry. He participates in closed and open meetings to decide how funds for system institutions throughout the state will be spent.
Austin Community College will offer a new management course this fall to teach students how to run environmentally sustainable businesses by incorporating green habits into everyday practices.
Austin Police Department officials received a call at 9:43 a.m. from a witness who said an individual had jumped from the roof of the 360 Condominiums in downtown Austin. EMS pronounced the man dead at the scene. Officials classified the death as a suicide.
Neighbors discover man’s, woman’s bodies showing ‘evidence of trauma’
Austin police are investigating the “suspicious” deaths of two individuals found in a West Campus home Tuesday on 21st Street between San Gabriel and Pearl streets.
Barton Springs Pool requires repairs that could cost millions
Barton Springs Pool, which cools half a million swimmers annually, could close for at least half a year, according to a city memo.
Residents of East Austin spoke out against gentrification in a neighborhood meeting Tuesday night.
Private universities and colleges in Texas are working to mitigate the recession’s effect on student enrollment, an effort that has succeeded so far according to survey results released this week by the National Association of Independent Colleges and Universities.
Foundation holds panel discussing crucial issues, legislative session results
The Texas Public Policy Foundation, a non-partisan research institute which promotes limited government, free markets and personal responsibility, is pushing for more conservative policies on many issues facing the state and local government.
Officials implore parents to watch with their kids, answer lingering queries
Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott announced Tuesday the launch of an informative video designed to educate parents and children about the dangers of cyber predators.
'Sasquatch' Dave brings joy to passers-by with signs, music and dancing
“Sasquatch” Dave sits in the cool shade of a campus-area church courtyard, reading.
Local job prospects amid the recession look dim as the unemployment rate in Austin increased from 6.2 percent to 7.1 percent in June.
A highly anticipated headliner at the 2009 Austin City Limits Music Festival, Beastie Boys, will be cancelling its festival show and national tour as band member Adam ‘MCA’ Yauch receives treatment for a cancerous tumor in his neck.
Parking meters to become a thing of the past as 'pay stations' rise in numbers
Street parking in Austin is going green with new high-tech parking pay stations.
They come small and large, fluffy and smooth, but they all have wet noses and cute little paws. But not many future pet owners realize the costs of their four-legged companions extend beyond simple price tags.
Donna K. Sollenberger, a nationally recognized health care administrator, will lead the University of Texas Medical Branch Health System as executive vice president this fall.
UT-Arlington and UNT offer reduced book fees, if students return them
As students’ pockets tighten during the economic recession, two Texas colleges will offer a rental program this fall to try to alleviate some of the high costs associated with textbooks.
Walking through roughly six miles of passageways underneath the University is not something Kevin Johnson looks forward to.
Westbank parents and children stood in blistering heat awaiting the ribbon-cutting of the Laura Bush Community Library with the former first lady on Sunday. The library stands upon a 10-acre tract donated by the Texas Research International group at the intersection of Bee Caves Road and Cuernavaca Drive.
As one walks into the Mexic-Arte museum downtown, a festive atmosphere of soft pinks, sky blues, gentle greens and works from prominent Latino, Mexican and Latin American artists jumps off the walls.
Supporters say approval process is tough, haven't given up on the program
Efforts to open the first public dual language charter school in Austin failed after Lori May, board treasurer for the Austin Community School, and Cynthia High, Austin Community School board president, proposed their program to the State Board of Education in a hearing last Tuesday. The Austin Community School was competing with five other proposed schools to be the last charter school in Texas.
The Austin Police Department arrested a man they call a person of interest in an early-morning shooting in North Austin.
Fashion show and awards ceremony boast a uniquely Austin atmosphere
As the sun sets Sunday on an unusually breezy evening, Austin’s fashion community strolls down a red carpet rolled out in front of the Long Center for the Performing Arts during the fashion show and awards ceremony that would culminate the city’s first everfashion week.
Nontraditional journalistic medium a wild array of opinions, ideas
Richard Gonzalez isn’t a journalist. He doesn’t carry a spiral notebook in his back pocket. He doesn’t work on deadline. His writing, however, attracts more than 100,000 Web hits per month via “Ultra8201,” the Austin music blog he writes with co-founder Joel Richardson.
Baseball coach sentenced to four days in jail for DWI offense, but could get less
UT baseball coach Augie Garrido was sentenced to four days in the Travis County jail Thursday and faces a fine of $500 after pleading guilty to drunk driving in February.
International Socialist Organization presents history of the conflicts
The embers of political dissent within Iran have yet to be extinguished as citizens still flock to the streets expressing disdain with Mahmoud Ahmadinejad’s presidency.
Behind a chain link fence rests an emerald-green island in a sea of dirt, dust and patches of dead grass. The new, fully hydrated face of Zilker Park awaits August, when it is expected to be open for the public to trample underfoot.
Local activist organization Change Austin protested property tax distribution between middle-class homeowners and commercial property builders that they claim to be unfair on Thursday.
Outcry fueled by claims of lax safety measures, suspect lending practices
Almost 100 residential construction workers and members of the Laborers’ International Union of North America gathered outside KB Home’s regional office yesterday to protest the company’s building practices.
Labor activists rally, decry Gov. Perry, demand better workplace safety
Gov. Rick Perry and employees within the state insurance building did not meet the typical sound of 5 p.m. traffic Wednesday.
With the help of a grant from the Texas Ignition Fund, UT researchers hope to expand a new technology with the potential to save thousands of people who experience cardiac- and stroke-related ailments.
President Barack Obama announced his plan Tuesday to launch the American Graduation Initiative, a program which will provide billions of dollars in federal funds to community colleges as a means of bolstering the national economy.
Health experts are warning that the swine flu could return as flu season approaches.
UT is taking a step toward solving some of the most pressing energy-related issues with the formation of the Energy Institute, a new multi-disciplinary program that will pull some of the University’s top colleges together to achieve a sustainable future.
Department of Defense awards grants to four UT assistant professors for early, noteworthy successes
Four UT assistant professors have been recognized by the president for their research in science and engineering, which aids ongoing government projects.
Almost two years since world hitchhiker Jérémy Marie, 23, left his home in northern France to embark on a world travel tour, he has arrived in Austin barely halfway through his trek.
Pedro Hernandez fell off a roof while working on a construction project and was severely injured.
Austin political activist Wes Benedict will take over as the executive director for the National Libertarian Party today.
The Clean Air Force of Central Texas, an organization that promotes improving air quality through educational programs, is continuing its efforts to inform citizens about the harmful effects of ozone emissions in the region.
The rise in labor costs and high oil prices have hindered coffee production for Latin American and African countries, but the industry has not suffered as much as others, said Néstor Osorio, executive director of the International Coffee Organization.
The Austin Community Foundation and the Applied Materials Foundation announced Tuesday that they have teamed up to start the Basic Needs Emergency Assistance Fund, which helps economically disadvantaged families in Central Texas and nonprofit organizations that are having problems meeting their clients’ needs.
Austin animal shelters promote cat adoption during summer months
Town Lake Animal Center and the Austin Humane Society have increased efforts to save the lives of stray and abandoned cats this year by treating sick animals rather than euthanizing them.
Exchange students come to U.S. for educational opportunity, not freedom
BEIJING — A year ago, Zhou Shuang was studying public affairs at a U.S. university and said she was uninterested in the roots of China’s Internet censorship. Close to the end of her studies in America, Zhou said she was slightly irked when she visited China on vacation and found access to certain sites — such as Blogspot — blocked by Chinese firewalls.
Austin police obtained a search warrant to further investigate West Campus apartment complex Rio 21, where three construction workers fell to their deaths at the beginning of June.
UT radio-television-film senior Alexander Shumake is bringing back old-school science fiction filmmaking, and he’s doing it with an entourage of teenage girls donned in plaid skirts.
The Texas Legislature approved a study that will determine the need and feasibility of creating higher education institutions in the Rio Grande Valley and areas of the state devoid of such facilities.
As the population density of Austin grows, people of varying incomes seek affordable housing within the heart of the city. To solve the problem of a lack of affordable housing, a city development program has initiated a plan to redevelop the downtown Austin area.
“I want to make this very clear, we’re not an atheist organization,” said Tim Hayles, the Ethical Society of Austin’s president, outside the group’s Sunday meeting on the second floor of the Austin Museum of Art.
Last-minute changes to Austin’s citywide Bike Plan left members of UT’s Bicycle and Parking and Transportation committees concerned about the University’s take on bicycling on campus.
Amended contract could expand library's online archive offerings
In a burgeoning digital age, the UT Libraries are working in tandem with Google Inc. to help the literary world turn a page.
Robert Scott, commissioner of education for the Texas Education Agency, decided on July 2 to close Pearce Middle School. In the wake of his decision, distraught community members held a public forum Friday within the school’s cafeteria where two banners in English and Spanish loomed over the audience, stating, “Success is the only option.”
The National Institute of Mental Health has enlisted UT’s School of Social Work to fight against depression in the homebound elderly.
Experts warn citizens not to disturb serpents as summer continues
Venomous snake bites are surging in striking numbers this summer, as a severe drought has seen serpents slithering into backyards across the Austin area, seeking food, water and mates.
Internationally renowned violinist Anne Akiko Meyers will join the UT Butler School of Music in the fall of 2009.
Some NFL players have gotten a head start on training this summer, but at a different kind of camp.
Regents’ meeting with company yields increase of one-year pay deferments
The UT Investment Management Company will recommend changes to the regulations governing bonus payouts to its Chief Executive Officer and senior staff at the August UT System Board of Regents meeting after they were approved Thursday afternoon by UTIMCO’s board of directors.
The Texas Politics project in UT’s Department of Government released the results of an online poll that showed Gov. Rick Perry in a 12-point lead over Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison with many Texans still undecided.
Cybercrime investigations throughout the city may be hampered as more and more portable devices gain access to wireless Internet.
UT nursing senior Maranda Neal said she decided to go into nursing because she enjoys making people feel better.
Local organization urges Sen. Hutchison to bolster new health care program
As cars drove by honking their support, activists passed around petitions and shared testimonials on the necessity of a new public health insurance program that Americans could choose instead of private coverage on Thursday.
Local meteorologist says concrete, hills, limestone combine to cause trouble
Torrential rains and flash floods may be the last thing on the minds of most students in the midst of this summer’s record-breaking drought, but Rep. Lamar Smith is preparing for the potential threat very seriously.
Pearce Middle School to close its doors during 2009-10 academic year
Texas Education Commissioner Robert Scott notified the Austin Independent School District recently that Pearce Middle School will close for the 2009-2010 school year.
Businesses closed as buildings are renovated to form one establishment
As high-rise apartment complexes take to the West Campus skies and UT’s student neighborhood continues along its path toward modernization, two of the area’s landmark stores have become the most recent casualties of change.
Board approves new research center, degree programs and tenure issues
The UT System Board of Regents unanimously passed a flurry of motions at a meeting Wednesday, approving property purchases and administrative policy changes throughout the University System.
In the face of an economic recession and faltering student foot traffic typical of a summer semester, shops along the Drag are staying alive.
The legality of the Bowl Championship Series was put into question Tuesday in a hearing hosted by Sen. Orrin Hatch, R-Utah.
Documentary explores life experiences of music legend through candid interviews
Local radio station KUT received international recognition Monday for their news documentary entitled “Amazing Grace: The Story of Willie Nelson.”
Austin Water Utility employees finished repairing a damaged water main in South Austin early Wednesday morning after a construction worker accidentally drilled a 4-inch hole into the pipe Monday evening.
Inability to budget leads to high debt loads, long-term financial problems
No group has felt the effects of the recession as much as young college students taking their first steps into the real world.
UT officials said the current economic woes are not stifling job opportunities for recent graduates, but their chosen career paths may be changing.
New art installation transforms waste products into 'something useful'
Large tepees on a lone grass lot stood in stark contrast to the massive skyscrapers and the bustling city traffic of downtown Austin at Republic Square Park on Tuesday.
County officials look for solutions that will increase UTMB hospital funding
Last month, Gov. Rick Perry signed a bill giving the University of Texas Medical Branch $150 million in revenue bonds to restore the John Sealy Hospital to its former state before it suffered damages from Hurricane Ike. But many lawmakers oppose the idea that state tax dollars should pay for indigent health care on the island while other counties pay taxes to their own hospital districts.
Foundation encourages recruitment of students locally for online courses
A New York-based foundation has suggested universities try to recruit students locally instead of on a global or national scale for online coursework.
For 17-year-old Dillion Canizales, being addressed by two-time world boxing champion Jesus Chavez on Tuesday was an inspiration.
Results show 39 percent of Americans saw their views shift to the right
UT professors and students have a reputation for being politically liberal, but a recent Gallup Poll reported that four in 10 Americans have adopted more conservative views in the past few years.
Many Americans modify coffee routines to better afford their daily habit
The National Coffee Association says that more than 50 percent of Americans over 18 years of age drink coffee every day, which equates to more than 150 million daily drinkers. As wallets start to shrink and the economy falters, coffee has remained a common necessity among Austin locals and students.
The UT Information Technology Services department could be drastically remodeled in the coming months.
Fewer employers may visit UT School of Law students for on-site interviews as recruiting staggers within Texas law firms.
Criminal activity was relatively tame during this year’s Fourth of July celebration in Austin compared to last year, according to police.
The Summer Food Service Program for Children started providing free breakfast and lunch to students 18 and under in the Austin school district last month.
Republican, Libertarian politicians show concern for high federal spending
Hundreds of people braved the scorching summer heat at the Texas Capitol Saturday to protest the federal stimulus bill, taxes, President Obama’s proposed health care program and illegal immigration. Others protested the speakers, Texas Gov. Rick Perry and U.S. Sen. John Cornyn.
Program increases funding for Pell Grants, lowers student loan rates
U.S. Rep. Lloyd Doggett, D-Texas, announced a new program aimed to make federal student loans more affordable.
Texas is tied with Georgia for the position of the fourteenth fattest state in the U.S., according to a study released last week, authored by Trust for America’s Health in collaboration with the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.
Thirty Texas children drowned in June, making it the worst month for child drownings since the state started conducting an annual count in 2005.
As part of “The Big Read” initiative, the National Endowment of the Arts has given the Harry Ransom Center $19,380 to host an exhibit exploring Edgar Allan Poe’s life, work and enduring influence.
Campus Watch for July 6th, 2009.
Black Cats, Bottle Rockets, Roman Candles and Sparklers sit in a roadside shack like boxed-up stars, waiting for the time to come when they will be set ablaze and burn out.
Uninvited man allegedly attacks fraternity member after being asked to leave for brandishing a knife
A student was stabbed Thursday morning outside of a West Campus fraternity house when one man refused to leave a party.
APD taking breath, prisoners, blood and names to maintain holiday order
Austin drivers and travelers may see an increase in police presence along the city’s major roads this weekend as officers ready themselves for the holiday weekend.
No illnesses linked to local grocer, but meat recalled to be especially certain
H-E-B grocery stores issued a recall of several of its beef products this week because of a possible E. coli contamination.
As boaters are revving up for Fourth of July festivities, the sinking water levels of Lake Travis have raised not only environmental concerns but also economic woes.
Legislation on horizon creating government-funded service college
UT President William Powers and UT Student Government have signed on to endorse the U.S. Public Service Academy, a federally funded public service university.
Local leaders gathered on the steps of the State Capitol on Thursday in support of President Barack Obama’s nomination of Judge Sonia Sotomayor as a U.S. Supreme Court Justice.
Chancellor who gave recently resigned president poor evaluation loses trust
The Texas A&M University Faculty Senate voted to approve a resolution of “no confidence” in Chancellor Michael D. McKinney.
Officials: New driver's license changes aimed to make faking harder
Those looking to duplicate or tamper with Texas identification cards will have to overcome a new series of digital graphics and holograms, as new licences issued by the Texas Department of Public Safety increase in circulation.
Senate passes sunset legislation keeping major agencies open
Despite state leaders’ claims that the special session would not last more than a few days, some legislation already hit a speed bump in committee Wednesday.
The federal government’s new income-based repayment program, which will cap monthly payments on student loans, went into effect Wednesday.
Demonstrators gathered at the busy intersection of Sixth Street and Lamar Boulevard on Wednesday carrying green balloons to show their support for Iranian citizens’ ongoing opposition to the allegedly fraudulent elections.
Organizers battle to cut Texas high rate of teen pregnancy through events
Because Texas had the highest number of teen pregnancies last year in the U.S., organizers of the iChoose Teen Summit educated young Austinites on healthy sexuality Wednesday.
Three former UT football players will host the Texas Premier Football Camp next week, a two day non-contact introduction to football for Austin youth.
The Domain in North Austin will host the annual Susan G. Komen Austin Race for the Cure.
Citizens urged to keep lights off, do laundry at night, water on schedule
As summer temperatures continue to climb to more than 100 degrees, Austin residents have set record highs in their water and energy use.
Participants committed to educating students in lower-income area schools
UT graduates will build upon their college experience this fall as teachers for underperforming school districts nationwide.
Kindle allegedly crashes car into Jefferson West, destroys personal items
A UT student hired a lawyer to recover damages to her property sustained when football player Sergio Kindle allegedly crashed into her apartment complex last week.
Fourth meeting added to agenda to hear more community concerns
Austin residents asked for changes in local government and addressed the city’s looming budget deficit at a town hall meeting Tuesday.
In the face of Iranian unrest, the tiger-cuddling “King of Pop” became 21st century news royalty after his death last week, according to a local media monitor.
Spring 2009 thefts at Gregory Gym match annual totals for 2007 and 2008
UT Police Department officials say they are alarmed by an increase in the number of thefts at Gregory Gym.
Funding for repairs provided by FEMA, UT System, the Texas Legislature and a charitable foundation
Nearly a year after Hurricane Ike swept through Galveston, the University of Texas Medical Branch is preparing to undertake a $1.4 billion reconstruction project to repair the damages.
State Sen. Eliot Shapleigh urged Gov. Rick Perry to include the Children’s Health Insurance Program bill on Thursday’s special legislative session agenda.
Richard Grucza, a professor at the Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, recently authored a study that researched the binge-drinking tendencies among young females in the U.S. and found increased consumption rates in college aged women.
Not only do temperatures rise during the summer months, but according to one organization’s findings, vehicle theft is at its highest in July and August.
Proposed Brackenridge Tract changes could close beloved 'Muny' course
The prospect of change looms in West Austin and the lush green fairways and frustrating sand traps of the Lion’s Municipal Golf Course.
Elias Bingham holds his skateboard across his shoulders as if it had buckets of water on either end, and for a split second he flashes a big, cheesy, overblown smile — like a proud farmer bringing salvation to his oxen on a hot summer day.
Brackenridge plans shown to regents would shrink or move field laboratory
Recent proposals to relocate or downsize UT’s Brackenridge Field Laboratory have been met with stiff resistance from faculty members who utilize the 88-acre West Austin site.
Construction worker Fontino Cortes-Cruz was killed early last Wednesday morning in a hit-and-run incident on I-35 near Onion Creek Parkway.
Residents unable to pay electric bills on time ask for slack during summer
With record heat indexes and temperatures in the triple digits, state Rep. Sylvester Turner (D-Houston) initiated a petition that calls for the Texas Public Utility Commission to adopt an emergency rule that he said may help save lives and protect customers from having their power cut off.
Legal scholarship at UT might be coming out of the closet by spring 2010 if students in the law school can gather enough support for a new journal.
People find vampires and fantasy comforting during periods of turmoil
When hard times have the world by the throat, one UT distinguished teaching associate professor says people turn to an unlikely hero — the vampire.
Governor calls for reconvening of Texas Senate, House to pass needed sunset bills
Gov. Rick Perry set the date for an anticipated special legislative session, calling state representatives and senators to return to the Capitol next week.
Students’ tax records will be shared between governmental offices
Students applying for financial aid will find a much more streamlined application beginning in the spring of 2010.
The city and the Austin Firefighters Association, Local 975, may reach a compromise as future labor contract negotiations loom.
LSU's hitting overwhelms Texas' pitching to score 11 runs in CWS Final
OMAHA, Neb. — Brandon Workman was the best pitcher for Texas on Wednesday.
A full house at Cuatro’s stared at the TV solemnly and nearly silent Wednesday night as the Louisiana State University Tigers snatched UT’s chance at a national baseball championship.
Prosecutors promise retrial as they hunt for a new third mystery suspect
Two men accused of raping and killing four teenage girls in an Austin yogurt shop more than 15 years ago were released from jail Wednesday.
Plan includes new limits on banking fees, loans and student credit cards
For college students, staying free from credit card debt has always been an issue, but recent federal legislation may alleviate this problem.
Voter ID block hindered ‘children’s medicaid’ vote in regular session
More than 50 agencies from across the state issued an open letter Wednesday demanding Gov. Rick Perry include the Children’s Health Insurance Program on the agenda for the upcoming special legislative session.
Even though the state’s legislative session came to a close, the CleanTx Foundation, a partnership of organizations in support of clean energy, continues to push for green policy advances in Texas.
Man claiming to be APD’s ‘person of interest’ talks about events surrounding Riverside-area killing
Dried blood could still be seen splattered on a driveway along Town Lake Circle where Jerry Duane Still was found dead early Friday morning.
One more day of failing air quality grades would initiate federal penalties
Austin’s air quality could soon become a roadblock for the city’s economic growth.
Lectures, campus tours re-familiarize graduates with their alma mater
During the next three nights, the Texas Exes will hold their annual Alumni College event, a conference which has brought UT alumni together since 1977.
Panels to generate enough power to run three homes for a year
A local H-E-B earned the distinction of becoming the first Austin grocer to go solar.
Local district exempted from Justice Department election law oversight
A U.S. Supreme Court decision concerning the 1965 Voting Rights Act landed a local municipal district in the national spotlight Monday.
Hundreds turn out at candlelight vigil in support of Iranian protesters
Hundreds of flames lined the Pfluger Pedestrian Bridge above the moonlit water Monday night, as Austin For Iran brought together locals at a candlelight vigil to show their support for solidarity in light of the recent Iranian election controversy.
Lee Leffingwell took the reins of Austin’s government Monday, as he and other newly elected council members were sworn into office.
As the Texas State Board of Education election draws near, UT mathematics professor Lorenzo Sadun announced his intention to run for the Place 10 seat against incumbent Republican Cynthia Dunbar.
Private donations through UT’s “Campaign for Texas” have slightly decreased in the past year due to the faltering economic climate, UT officials said.
A lawsuit has been filed almost two weeks after three construction workers fell to their deaths due to a partial scaffold collapse at 21 Rio, a West Campus apartment complex under construction.
Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal placed a bet against Gov. Rick Perry that the Louisiana State University Tigers will beat the Longhorns in the College World Series championship.
Gov. Rick Perry has employed new tactics, such as Twitter, Facebook and blogs, to attract young supporters for his gubernatorial campaign.
Gov. signs bills supplying $150 million to UTMB, expanding storm insurance
On Friday, Gov. Rick Perry signed into law bills that will provide $150 million in natural disaster relief for the Hurricane Ike-ravaged University of Texas Medical Branch and reform the state’s windstorm insurance fund to allow for more expansive coverage for homeowners and business owners during a storm.
Droves of excited fans mobbed stores all over the nation to purchase Apple‘s latest edition of the iPhone — but none more dedicated than A.J. Landeros.
In the past month, evolutionary study has been improved with SATé, an algorithm designed by UT researchers to take DNA sequences and automatically align them to one another in order to infer an evolutionary tree.
Developers hope to make a new lakefront district, grad students nonplussed
The New York-based architecture firm hired to redesign UT’s Brackenridge Tract presented two master plan proposals Thursday for the redevelopment of the 345-acre West Austin site to the UT System Board of Regents.
County celebrates 1865 announcement of emancipation in Texas
People of all races and ages gathered in Wooldridge Square Park on Thursday afternoon to feast on barbecue, corn on the cob, watermelon and other Texas summer treats as part of Travis County’s 20th annual Juneteenth celebration.
Travis County residents emit less carbon than their state and national counterparts, according to an annual report detailing Austin’s carbon footprint.
Advocates say proposed music department would not tap into city funding
Austin’s music community will have to go a cappella until August after the City Council postponed the creation of a city music department Thursday morning.
Greg Abbott receives criticism for perceived lethargy in TYC case
Representatives from the Texas Civil Rights Project criticized Attorney General Greg Abbott on Thursday for his slow action against the scandal-ridden Texas Youth Commission.
Voter: 'After seeing the aftermath, I'm not sure my vote really counted.'
A small group of protestors, some sharing Iranian descent, gathered Wednesday at the Texas Capitol to speak out against the disputed re-election of Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and the violent suppression of opposition supporters in Iran.
Bill spends $150 million to bring total number of tier-one institutions to 10
Gov. Rick Perry signed a bill Wednesday to grant money to establish more tier-one research universities and provide monetary relief for schools damaged by Hurricane Ike.
The Texas Guaranteed Student Loan Corporation awarded $6.2 million in grants to 55 institutions and non-profit organizations across the state last week.
In a West Campus alley behind the Block at 29th and Rio Grande streets, a chair lies rotting on its side. Next to it, a decaying sofa makes a bed for a lamp, wooden shades and the remnants of a mattress. Long forgotten items left behind from a move remain the mark of an illegal dumper.
Sharon Mosher was born with a rock in her hand. At least, that’s what her mother always told her.
Blood donors will receive a sweet treat for their efforts; UT professor receives award for neural research program
Construction company cited in 2005 for 'serious' safety infractions
Upon the release of a report citing construction violations in Austin, city authorities are still trying to determine the cause of a partial scaffold collapse which claimed the lives of three construction workers in West Campus last week.
High jobless rate means students must prepare for coverage after being dropped from parents' plan
Nathan Monk is a soon-to-be graduate of Texas State University, but now that his 25th birthday has passed, he faces a bigger dilemma than simply attaining a cap and gown. Monk will now be dropped from his parents’ insurance.
Retrofitting of buildings would decrease utility costs and save taxpayers
Many citizens and businesses hope to be recipients of the millions of dollars in stimulus funds earmarked for energy-efficient measures as the deadlines rapidly approach.
Advocacy group releases report citing inadequate training, job payment
To symbolize the number of Texas constructions workers who died on the job in the last year, 142 pairs of boots baked in the summer sun at Austin City Hall on Tuesday.
The unwelcoming job market has forced many students to consider alternate options after graduation, like Neelima Sukhavasi, a recent UT graduate, who opted to go to graduate school instead of entering “the real world.”
Resident committees review possible reductions, offer their opinions
At a public forum Monday, city residents gave their thoughts on proposed budget cuts which would could lower the city’s ability to provide some core services.
UT President William Powers announced the University’s decision to forgo raises for all classified, administrative and professional personnel for the fiscal year 2009-10 in an e-mail sent last week to all University staff.
The Texas A&M University Board of Regents decided at a special meeting Monday to allow former university president Elsa Murano to return to a faculty position. Murano resigned as president Sunday.
Even though some Mexican-American soldiers felt they were a part of a brotherhood while serving in World War II, they faced civil unrest when they came back to the U.S., according to a museum exhibit directed by UT faculty.
As the Internet allows easy access to a variety of cultures and even spawns some new ones, the English language is experiencing dynamic changes in the Information Age.
Museum curator works to save Austin's 'hippie,' 'redneck' history
“This is where it all begins,” Henry Gonzalez says.
Student Government released the final report of the nine-member Election Review Task Force — commissioned in April to review campus-wide election procedures and recommend legislative changes to the newly elected SG Assembly.
Web site sells false files to buy students extra time on tough papers
Corrupted-Files.com has created a new generation of excuses for college students by allowing them to use computer errors to bypass homework deadlines.
State Sen. Eliot Shapleigh, D-El Paso, asked Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst for additional funding to improve universities on the Texas-Mexico border.
Gary Bledsoe, civil rights activist and president of the Texas chapter of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, recounted the violent history of racism in Texas and warned that racial tensions are still a major issue in a speech he gave Sunday at the First Unitarian Universalist Church of Austin.
'Midget' wrestling mayhem, wall-riding daredevils among attractions at four-day event
Heavy metal blasted off the walls of the Travis County Expo Center on Thursday afternoon as bodies hit the mat and a battle raged within the ring.
Students might think twice before eating at their favorite restaurants on the Drag as city health inspection scores show which are clean and which are not.
In-house screen printer keeps shirts up to date, fans crave memorabilia
Sales of baseball merchandise at the University Co-op have been out of the park since the team’s win over Texas Christian University on Monday, which earned it a spot in the College World Series for the first time since 2005.
Alternatives to removal developed through city alliance with activists
Local environmental activists and the Austin Parks and Recreation Department have come together to form the Adopt-a-Tree program in order to help preserve and provide care for trees at Barton Springs that could be cut down.
Local workers to benefit from two bills funding low-income education
At one time, Eloina Serna struggled to work two jobs and was forced to send her son to live with his grandmother because she couldn’t provide for them both.
Local environmental activists and politicians urged Gov. Rick Perry on Thursday to sign legislation that would curb increasing electronic waste by mandating television manufacturers take back their televisions from consumers and recycle them.
Scaffolding failure kills three, injures one in tragic West Campus accident
Three construction workers died Wednesday afternoon when a scaffold partially collapsed near the 12th floor of 21 Rio, an incomplete high-rise apartment at 21st and Rio Grande streets.
In light of Harvard University’s recent endowment of a visiting professorship in lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender studies, UT gay advocacy groups said they would like to see the University follow suit and break into the LGBT field.
Local organization educates residents in 'food deserts'
Potatoes, tomatoes, garlic and greens sprouted from the dry, dead grass surrounding an East Austin middle school parking lot.
Austin’s traditionally low-income neighborhoods now have access to locally grown fruit and vegetables up to the end of July.
Rival engineering teams work together on small, inexpensive space robots
Tiny picosatellites created by UT and Texas A&M University students will be deployed along with the NASA space shuttle Endeavour, which launches Saturday in Florida.
Gov. Rick Perry confirmed suspicions Tuesday of a looming special legislative session at the state Capitol.
Student health fees, which pay for visits to the University Health Center, may soon be integrated with private companies’ health insurance coverage.
Many students have been forced to support themselves financially while in school as a result of rising tuition rates and a stagnant recession.
The Austin Independent School District has applied for a grant to obtain six propane-fueled school buses from the Railroad Commission of Texas in hopes of promoting cost-effective, environmentally friendly alternatives to diesel-fueled buses.
One week before the city’s general election in May, then-council member Lee Leffingwell filed charges against his political opponent, Mayor Pro Tem Brewster McCracken. A month later, city lawyers still remain unsure how to proceed.
National high school graduation rates improved over the past 10 years, but a new report released Tuesday finds there may still be cause for concern.
Gov. Rick Perry broke his collarbone Tuesday night while riding a mountain bike near his home.
Justin Marler held his thermal imaging camera like a ray gun, eagerly jumping from room to room in the second story of a North Austin home as if he were in an intense laser tag match.
City staff released what officials call “a menu of possible budget cuts” for the upcoming fiscal year, as the city attempts to tackle its looming budget deficit.
With the use of supercomputers, UT researchers have employed novel techniques to find solutions to the H1N1 flu virus and future infectious disease outbreaks.
Schools recognize need for improved resources to help transfer students
Austin Community College and UT have partnered to ease the transition of students transfering from community colleges to four-year institutions.
City Manager Marc Ott’s expected budget recommendations on Monday may cause the Austin Police Department to reduce spending by $8.7 million as the city battles a $30 million budget deficit.
On Sunday, an assembly of 20 graduate students and residents of the Brackenridge Tract unanimously opposed a New York-based architecture firm’s proposed changes to student housing in the area.
The green movement may make its way to city construction projects with Austin Energy’s plan to educate citizens on how they can build efficiently.
Several positions are up for election in 2010; five are held by Republicans
Three panelists and about 60 audience members attempted to answer the question of why people should care about the State Board of Education at the Yarborough Library Branch on Saturday.
I first noticed Spencer Wall in my religion and society class toward the end of last semester. She wasn’t particularly outspoken, but the shawl that covered her hair, neck and shoulders made her stand out in the large class.
New technology and processes could reduce cost of solar power by factor of 10
Researchers at UT are developing technologies that could soon power homes and businesses in Austin and across the U.S. with affordable solar energy panels printed like newspapers.
A UT study of 30 same-sex couples in the Austin area claims same-sex partners do not need marriage to show commitment to one another but simply to gain monetary and legal rights.
UT may have the opportunity to be one of “America’s Greenest Campuses.”
The Austin Police Department has suspended its investigation into a series of related sexual assaults in the University area due to a lack of new leads and information.
Bill that would set cap for automatic admissions at 75 percent sent to Perry
Changes to the long-called-for and fiercely debated top 10 percent rule made their way to the governor through the bedlam during the closing days of the 81st legislative session.
Residents share outcry over incident at recent neighborhood meeting
The parents of 18-year-old Nathaniel Sanders filed a federal lawsuit on Tuesday against the city and Austin police Officer Leonardo Quintana on the grounds of racial discrimination and excessive force used during the officer-involved shooting that took their son’s life last month.
Non-commercial stations oppose bill that would impose royalty fees
Non-commercial radio stations, like UT’s 91.7 KVRX, may face the prospect of going off the air if new legislation proposed in the U.S. House of Representatives gathers enough support.
Dozens of death penalty opponents gathered on the steps of the Texas Capitol on Tuesday to protest the 200th execution under Gov. Rick Perry, which took place at 6 p.m. that evening.
Two gunmen charged with the early morning shooting at Spiros nightclub were transferred to Travis County jail following their surrender on Friday. Additionally, Wendon Earl Candrick who was wanted for questioning in connection to the shoot out was arrested Wednesday on unrelated drug charges.
Dozens of death penalty opponents gathered on the steps of the Texas Capitol Tuesday evening to protest the 200th execution under Gov. Rick Perry, which was scheduled for 6 p.m.
In response to the officer-involved shooting of Nathaniel Sanders last month, the 18-year-old’s parents filed a federal lawsuit against the City of Austin and Austin police officer Leonardo Quintana Tuesday on the grounds of discrimination and excessive force.
UT Police officers are investigating a knife-point robbery that took place early Tuesday morning but have yet to identify the assailant.
Mayor-elect Lee Leffingwell will soon be forced to make decisions about trimming the city’s budget and reconnecting Austinites to city government.
As printing moves to Statesman, mixed feelings about Texan’s future, legacy
Leah Finnegan thought the noise was coming from construction.
UT faculty and staff voice has been absent from the legislative conversation on campus safety, as a push to allow concealed weapons on Texas college campuses moves to the Texas House floor this week.
In late April, two police officers staked out a North Austin house, hoping to arrest a man they suspect introduced an 11-year-old girl to her pimp.
As the 81st state legislative session winds down, UT is waiting to see if a list of issues concerning the University will pass through a jumble of legislation jammed on the House and Senate floors.
Editor’s note: This is the last in a three-part series about pay for elected students.
Ned Rifkin named director of Blanton Museum of Art
A new social and professional networking site unique to UT aids graduating advertising and public relations students in their job searches by connecting them with alumni around the nation.
A police officer shot to death an armed 18-year-old man who was in the backseat of a parked car Monday morning. Another man, 21-year-old Sir Lawrence Smith, was shot after exiting the vehicle and is in stable condition, police said.
Mayor Pro Tem Brewster McCracken ended his candidacy for mayor Monday afternoon after results from Saturday’s municipal election showed his opponent, City Councilman Lee Leffingwell, leading by a 20-point margin.
Student-organized fundraiser proves successful despite double-booking mishap
One person almost stopped Monday night’s benefit concert for the Austin Children’s Shelter at Aces Lounge from happening.
Police suggest locking up valuables, registering bikes to keep them out of pawn shops
As one of the largest campuses in the United States, UT is a tempting target for small-time thieves of every variety.
After five months of campaigning, mayoral candidates Lee Leffingwell and Brewster McCracken are expected to head into a runoff following Saturday’s municipal elections.
Critics: Goal of surveillance system to make money, not to improve safety
Cameras at intersections may get the red light from the Texas Legislature.
After 10 years, 120 students and more than 400 hours of audio interviews, anthropology lecturer and oral historian Martha Norkunas held her last graduate seminar at UT on Friday.
The Air Force ROTC held its change-of-command ceremony on the Main Mall on Saturday, demonstrating a peaceful transfer of power between cadet colonels.
An amendment passed through the state House on Friday that would prohibit the installation of any new red-light cameras in Texas.
Officials awaiting results of possible case of H1N1 virus found in UT student
The University faces another possible case of swine flu as officials at University Health Services sent an additional positive type A influenza test to state laboratories this week.
Police catch pedestrians off guard with increased ticketing at busy crosswalk
“Now I owe the city of Austin, like, $100 — for walking across a street,” said Andrew Carlson, glancing at the ticket Austin police had just given him for crossing Guadalupe Street against the signal.
Collection to be shifted from FAC to Fine Arts Building in August
The Audio Visual Library will change homes this summer when it moves from the third floor of the Flawn Academic Center to the third floor of the E. William Doty Fine Arts
Building.
Competitors beat out other teams to win coveted $50,000 prize
After about seven months and 500 ideas from thousands of university students around the globe, three teams remained.
Man surrenders after killing woman, threatening others
University officials announced Wednesday that several faculty-led study-abroad programs to Mexico will be canceled because of the swine flu outbreak.
As the elected representative of UT’s 12,000 graduate students, the Graduate Student Assembly president receives a $6,630 stipend during his yearlong term, making him one of the highest-paid graduate student officers in the Big 12 conference.
City looking to lawyers to help settle dispute over campaign finance
The debate surrounding the criminal charges filed against mayoral candidate Brewster McCracken over a possible breach of the city’s charter continues into its fourth day as Saturday’s municipal election approaches.
Keep your socks on — a mysterious photographer of women’s feet has been prowling campus for years, according to witnesses and police.
The Travis County Courthouse was evacuated for about an hour Wednesday after a passerby mistook a broken car part on the sidewalk for a pipe bomb.
Students and faculty listened as associate Spanish professor Enrique Fierro read aloud Vicente Huidobro’s poem “El Espejo de Agua” at the Harry Ransom Center on Wednesday afternoon.
SAN FRANCISCO — Prepare to be awed by Odd Day.
Consumers in the state of Texas could save almost $1 billion annually with increased transparency in the electricity market, according to an AARP report released Tuesday.
Distancing supervisory board from SG among group’s top priorities
In what was likely its last meeting, the Election Review Task Force drafted and revised its recommendations Tuesday night on changes that should be made to the student elections process.
A bill aiming to keep sexual predators off social networking sites passed through the state Senate on Monday.
Students looking for housing near campus may find that they are working with real estate agents who are violating state law.
Caps on tuition increases are one step closer to taking effect, thanks to the state Senate’s unanimous passage of a comprehensive tuition regulation bill Monday.
Student says store will train cyclists to maintain, repair their own bicycles
The 21st Street Co-op Bike Shop smells like fresh lumber as sawdust fills the air and walls stand bare.
Despite increase, only 648 ballots cast at Flawn Academic Center by Sunday
In the closing stages of early voting, county officials are expecting a slight increase in voter turnout, but at the University level, voting trends seem static.
A case in Travis County previously classified as a “probable” swine flu infection has now been confirmed, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Constant news updates on swine flu — which the World Health Organization now refers to as the H1N1 virus — have left many wondering whether fears of an “imminent” global pandemic are rooted in truth or if the story has been overblown by the media.
The Election Review Task Force decided Sunday to recommend requiring the student body president to add a disclaimer to any candidate endorsement during Student Government elections.
South Congress studio adds controversial twist to traditional meditative exercise
Early on Saturday morning, a group of men entered an ordinary-looking yoga studio on South Congress Avenue across the street from St. Edwards University...
The Texas Student Media board decided Friday not to cut advisory positions, instead approving a budget that cuts equipment expenditures and reduces two full-time positions to half-time.
National experts on embryonic stem cell research examined the growing impact of politics and ethics on developments in their field at the UT School of Law this weekend.
Holy shit! Toilets help cushion plane’s crash landing in Wash.; Busty lady needs a permit to stand outside restaurant
Lack of pink-eyed, white critters on campus may disprove superstition
Campus lore suggests that seeing an albino squirrel on the way to your next test will guarantee you an A, but students may be less lucky than the legend implies.
Since it was first reported late last week, swine flu’s creep across counties, countries and continents has prompted a rash of alarming headlines and declarations from public officials.
Shrinking job markets for graduating seniors contribute to increase
Unlike some of his classmates, Travis Christal isn’t interested in a large income or working for a corporation. The accounting senior has something else in mind.
Shirin Ebadi believes the biggest problem between the U.S. and Iran has little to do with Iran’s nuclear program and everything to do with the two nations’ differences in foreign policy.
With each provided a $5,200 scholarship and $6,480 stipend per year, UT’s Student Government president and vice president are some of the highest-paid student executives in the Big 12 Conference.
Austin reported its first probable case of swine flu Wednesday as Texas was declared a disaster area, and the World Health Organization said a global pandemic is now imminent.
Economic woes, rising unemployment set tone of president’s first days in office
Since the beginning of his term in office, President Barack Obama has been forced to tackle an economic recession, a rising unemployment rate and the consequences of an unpopular war. The new president’s choices during his first 100 days may color the rest of his presidency and those of his successors.
According to the report, which was released Friday, Hispanic and African-American students are underrepresented in graduate schools around the country, despite modest gains in minority enrollment. In science and engineering, each group makes up less than 10 percent of graduate students and less than 5 percent of new doctoral
students.
Professor: Animals should be left alone to seek higher ground for egg-laying
The egg-laying season may explain why some students have seen the turtles crawling around outside the pond, but putting the turtles back in the water is not in their best interest, said biology professor David Hillis.
Texas Student Media may be able to address its budget deficit without salary or student manager tuition rebate cuts, following a new proposal presented at a TSM Board Executive Committee meeting Wednesday.
College students are beginning to organize in support of Chicago’s bid to be the site of the 2016 Summer Olympic Games.
On Israel Memorial Day, the Israeli-Palestinian conflict found its way to UT as a controversial author explored alternative views of recent events in the region.
Emotions ran high at City Hall on Tuesday as Austin residents temporarily interrupted a briefing on the possible removal of 28 trees around Barton Springs Pool.
A measure that would ban smoking in restaurants, bars and public places is gaining momentum in the state Legislature.
Austinites turn to community gardens to grow, rather than buy, organic produce
Crouching between leafy spinach sprouts and blossoming bundles of broccoli, Latin American studies senior Jacob Bintliff plucked a few pesky blades of grass before harvesting some chard and herbs to cook for dinner.
Conservative group claims president’s policies could compromise border security
Eight members of Young Conservatives of Texas protested President Barack Obama’s immigration policies on the West Mall on Tuesday, attracting more than 100 counter-protesters.
Austin got a clean bill of health for swine flu Monday, but the extent of the disease elsewhere in Texas — and the world — remained as unclear as its origins.
Commission votes against the demolition of historical apartment house
The Historic Landmark Commission voted unanimously Monday night to deny an application to demolish the Travis House, a 1945 apartment house located at the intersection of 18th and Guadalupe streets.
In 1992, Texas was at the top of women’s athletics.
Dozens of students went to Spider House Patio Bar and Cafe on Saturday expecting to hear live music. Many of them left with free vegan ice cream and blue and green Chris Riley campaign stickers.
Doggie reunited with owners after storm sweeps her away; Car an unwelcome surprise in Brownsville family’s garage
In honor of trailblazing politician, UT unveils its first sculpture of a woman
As Barbara Jordan’s commencement address to UT’s 1986 graduating class blared across Whitis Avenue on Friday for all to hear, sign language interpreter Lucy Brotherton stood in front of the crowd translating the speech for those who couldn’t.
“I was just trying to get to the library so I could study for my test,” said Rocco Bernardoni, sweating through his T-shirt as he dismounted his bicycle in front of the police officer who had chased him a block down Speedway.
University officials say they are closely monitoring the campus for any sign of a mutant swine flu that has alarmed public health officials as it spreads from Mexico into Texas and across the United States.
Seven state universities may have the opportunity to join UT as tier-one academic research institutions.
Swiss state to German hikers: Put some clothes on, please
In the midst of an economic crisis, the Asian Business Association Investment Team is managing a $30,000 portfolio without any faculty supervision.
Sleeping bags, pillows and backpacks littered the Capitol lawn Sunday as more than 800 people from all over Texas waited to be “rescued” by media and celebrity moguls.
Conservative, liberal organizations debate legislation allowing arms on campus
Tempers ran high and laughter alternated from side to side of a sharply divided audience as conservative and liberal students took shots at one another’s arguments about concealed-carry legislation.
Due to economic woes, new lawyers having more trouble finding work
With the economic downturn and a slowdown in legal work, some major law firms are delaying start dates for new hires. In the meantime, some law school graduates must find other legal practice.
As the recession persists, the city faces the challenge of retaining and promoting jobs to spur economic recovery — a hot-button issue in this year’s mayoral race.
Current classification codes irrelevant to certain workers, create confusion
University human resources officials have begun re-evaluating employee classifications in an effort to clarify current positions.
Legislation aims to modify information given by pharmacists to Plan B customers
Some state lawmakers are hoping to dispel common misconceptions about the emergency-contraceptive pill this session by helping women become better informed about it.
Senators propose legislation to monitor University administrators, UTIMCO board
Some state lawmakers are calling for more legislative oversight of higher education this session.
Speaker discusses dangers of travel, advises students to take safety precautions
Natalee Holloway, an 18-year-old teen celebrating her high school graduation, disappeared from the Caribbean island of Aruba on May 30, 2005, and has not been seen since. The mystery of her disappearance remains unresolved.
Senator's bill would cap admissions under rule to 60 percent of class
State Sen. Florence Shapiro, R-Plano, told a crowd of 30 at a College Republicans of Texas meeting Wednesday night a bill that she authored would not do away with the top 10 percent rule, but wants to institute a cap on how many students are admitted under the law.
In preparation for the final transition to digital television on June 12, local and state government officials met with environmental activists at the state Capitol on Wednesday to support legislation that would make television manufacturers responsible for recycling of their products.
Two piles of sliced red apples sat side by side on a card table on the South Mall Tuesday afternoon. To the naked eye, the stacks of fruit were identical, but to the tongue there was a world of difference. One was organic, one was not, and it was up to the expert taste budsof passing students to decide which was which.
Bill would award grants to graduates who commit to teaching for four years
Students at public colleges in Texas may have an incentive to go back to school after graduation thanks to state Sen. Dan Patrick’s Texas Teach Corps bill, which cleared the Senate on Tuesday.
Redevelopment of neighborhood homes hampering construction
For the past decade, sleek new buildings seen along E. 11th and 12th streets have redefined the look of East Austin. After about nine years of construction, area officials are hoping to finish a slew of redevelopments.
A House committee heard multiple hot-button issues at the Capitol on Tuesday, tackling abortion, human cloning, immigration and state sovereignty bills.
Despite bill to allow guns on campuses, citizens cannot carry in seating galleries
Though members of the Texas House of Representatives and Senate may carry legally concealed handguns into the legislature, spectators watching from the seating galleries above the floors are no longer permitted to do so.
Journalism junior Blair Spansel did not plan on dragging herself out of bed at 8 a.m. five days a week to learn Spanish.
History senior Karina Fuentes laughed as she was flung off a mechanical bull on the Main Mall on Monday evening.
An Israeli journalist explored recent changes to the U.S. and Israeli governments Monday evening at the University Teaching Center.
The Maryland Legislature became the first in the country to extend hate crime protection to the homeless, The Washington Post reported last week.
Students performed step dance routines and gave out free “Step for Hope” T-shirts to encourage diversity on campus as they kicked off Hope Week on Monday.
University-wide Rep. says Student Government lacks jurisdiction over paper
The Election Review Task Force decided Sunday that any organization, including The Daily Texan, should be allowed to endorse candidates during student body elections.
Gov. Rick Perry stirred political controversy and became the butt of national jokes and criticism when he warned the federal government that Texas has the option to secede.
Higher education funding increases by nearly 8 percent as overall spending expands
The Texas House of Representatives unanimously passed a two-year, $178.4 billion budget Saturday after it was approved by the House Appropriations Committee earlier this month.
Under Voting Rights Act, US Attorney General will advise Legislature on bill
Federal officials have determined that Texas’ proposed voter ID law needs federal approval.
Under Section 5 of the Voting Rights Act, Texas is required to get approval from the U.S.
200 rally against concealed carry 2 years after Virginia Tech shooting
“Hey hey, ho ho, guns in school have got to go!” chanted about 200 UT students as they ascended the state Capitol’s south steps Thursday afternoon.
In September 1900, after a historic hurricane devastated Galveston Island, the chairman of the UT System Board of Regents sent a telegram to the campus saying the doors would re-open and classes would start again, simply stating, “The University of Texas stops for no storm.”
Proponents say long-term benefits will outweigh initial loss of tax revenue
The state Senate approved a bill Wednesday raising the age limit for buying tobacco products to 19, clearing the legislation for entry to the House as early as next week.
Candidates agree on need for green jobs, look to cut salaries of Austin officials
With Austin municipal elections coming up on May 9, the Ethics Review Commission hosted a forum for the mayoral and City Council candidates Thursday evening.
At Tea Party, one of hundreds across US, protesters rally against taxes, spending
Angry and passionate conservatives gathered at Austin City Hall and the state Capitol on Wednesday to participate in the nationwide Tax Day Tea Party, a collaborative national effort to protest tax increases, high government spending and stimulus packages.
Constitutional law professors deliberate 2008 court case’s application to legislation
Legislation allowing concealed handguns on state campuses has incited passionate debate at UT. This battle has been ongoing since the founding fathers guaranteed “the right to bear arms” in the Bill of Rights.
Dozens of state legislators are making sure their voices are heard as part of the tuition re-regulation debate.
Nashville, Tenn., inmate Timothy McKinney’s voice broadcasted through a UT classroom holding a crowd of nearly 90 people “Live From Death Row.”
Shocked, UT police Officer Larry Robertson peered over a ramp in Trinity Garage, watching a man 10 feet below hurl a rock as big as his head straight through both front windows of an SUV.
Stolen Chihuahua returned in shoe box; thieves ‘sorry’
Children’s cries of glee too much for San Antonio man;
Bank has held centenarian’s cents for more than 80 years
Several UT athletes believe the student body’s perception of them is inaccurate.
Despite Texas Student Media’s projected losses of more than $150,000 for the 2009-10 fiscal year, Texas Student Television hopes to invest in an $85,000 digital transmitter that could broadcast a clearer picture to about 17 times its current audience, 24 hours per day, seven days per week.
University of Texas Medical Branch faculty members settled their wrongful termination lawsuit against the UT System Board of Regents on Monday, ending some of the branch’s legal troubles.
Bill would let Board of Regents decide who is eligible as ‘qualified individual’
Adopting domestic-partner benefits would help the University recruit and retain top faculty and staff, UT employees said before state lawmakers Tuesday.
Man flees police, threatens suicide atop Fifth Street bar; SWAT called to location
Multiple Austin police divisions, the city’s entire SWAT team and numerous medical and fire units cordoned off a large swath of downtown Tuesday night when a man, chased by police, threatened to end his life on the roof of Apple Bar.
Texans might need to prepare themselves for a self-described “pothead” attorney general.
'Bonk' writer uses video, 4-dimensional ultrasound to illustrate book's concepts
“This guy has a really big … ” wrote Mary Roach, the New York Times best-selling author of “Bonk: The Curious Coupling of Science and Sex,” on a student’s shirt.
Banker becomes one of only five regents appointed to position twice
In a move that didn’t surprise many, the UT System Board of Regents appointed Vice Chairman James Huffines as the new chairman of the board at its meeting Monday.
Journalist draws similarities, differences between present and 1960s struggles
Tom Brokaw, former anchor of “NBC Nightly News,” said to a crowd of 800 at the LBJ Auditorium on Monday night that the U.S. is reaching a “historic passage” due to the current economic state and the world’s view of the country.
The Election Reform Task Force decided Monday night that The Daily Texan should not be allowed to endorse candidates during student elections because the newspaper receives student-fee money.
NAACP-led protest slams center for closing early on weekend that attracted thousands of blacks
Hundreds of protesters lined Airport Boulevard in front of Highland Mall on Saturday morning to speak out against the mall’s controversial April 4 decision to close its doors seven hours ahead of schedule during the Texas Relays, an annual track and field competition that brings thousands of black youths to Austin.
Cigarette sparks three-alarm inferno; uninhabitable building displaces dozens
Nearly 100 firefighters and other emergency workers battled a three-alarm fire that displaced dozens of people early Saturday morning from an apartment complex near Town Lake.
To younger generations, AIDS ‘not a death sentence,’ prevention specialist says
As the number of HIV/AIDS cases among certain age groups continues to climb, younger generations’ ambivalence toward the virus shows a stark contrast to popular opinion almost 30 years ago.
DEARBORN, Mich. — A student fatally shot a female classmate before turning the gun on himself Friday in an apparent murder-suicide that prompted a lockdown at a community college west of Detroit, police said.
Network’s viewers say good morning to ‘Girls Gone Wild’; For some Amish in Missouir, talk of bailout befuddling; Apologetic burglar eludes police, friendly small talk; Unemployed woman turns to streets to find a job
Conservative author David Horowitz may have been disappointed if he expected a quiet welcome during his visit to UT on Thursday.
Civil rights group says mall’s early shutdown motivated by racism
The NAACP will protest at Highland Mall in response to the mall’s early closure last Saturday during the Clyde Littlefield Texas Relays.
After years of campaigning, faculty may be working directly with the UT System Board of Regents on issues including tuition rates, hiring and curriculum reform following the current legislative session.
Center’s goals include helping families understand code, maximize returns
The last day to file tax returns — April 15 — is rapidly approaching as hundreds of University students volunteer to help low-income families with the task.
The House Committee on Public Safety approved a bill Wednesday that would allow concealed-handgun-license holders to carry guns onto college campuses.
House bill calls for construction of resort casinos, slots in metropolitan areas
The odds may be in favor of legalized gambling in Texas.
A House bill to turn a program at UT into an independent school has drawn criticism from faculty members.
Thousands of state workers gathered on the south steps of the Capitol on Wednesday to rally for increased benefits and pay.
Bill Nye, of PBS fame, leaves the test tubes behind for talk on environment
The audience cheered for Bill Nye, but Nye did not appear.
Administration's five members to oversee resolution enactment, have ties to O'Rourke campaign
The Student Government assembly unanimously approved SG President Liam O’Rourke’s five executive board appointments Tuesday night at the first meeting of the new administration.
Democrats, Republicans debate potential impact of photo ID requirement
Debate continued Tuesday as the Texas House Committee on Elections heard public testimony regarding the Voter ID Act.
A House committee unanimously approved its version of the state’s 2010-2011 budget Tuesday, including $11 billion in controversial stimulus funds.
Whoops! NYU mistakenly sends acceptance e-mails to rejects; Nut-tossing at Capitol could lead to allergies, Wis. says
The Texas House Committee on Elections heard testimony for and against the Voter ID Act from 13 experts Monday at the Capitol.
Every day, hundreds of students pass a nondescript, brown building on Speedway without realizing that inside scientists are running tests on monkeys, rabbits and pigs.
A screening of the pornographic film “Pirates II: Stagnetti’s Revenge” at the University of Maryland campus theater was canceled last weekend after the state Legislature threatened to cut off funding to the entire university.
Restriction would have little effect on Austin restaurants, spokesman says
In a state where fried Snickers bars, fried pickles and even fried ranch dressing are readily available at most cultural festivals, one senator is fighting to ban harmful fats.
Texas Relays crowds draw hostility, NAACP leader calls decision ‘mass racism’
More than 100 patrons who were kicked out of Highland Mall gathered in the parking lot to protest the mall’s early 2 p.m. closing time on Saturday.
Local improvisation troupe makes plans to carry out monthly gag at Pease Park
“Oh please excuse my dog; he’s bananas,” said a young woman wearing a red and white shirt.
Competitors hurriedly prepare business plans for panel of investors
After three days of getting almost no sleep, consuming 10 gallons of coffee and polishing off four warehouse-sized cases of energy drinks, 40 UT business and engineering students produced four viable prototypes of start-up technology companies.
Gov. Rick Perry made his intentions clear Saturday with the first sentence of his address to the Young Conservatives of Texas.
University police use state-of-the-art gadgets to assist in catching criminals
When UT police were able to pinpoint a stolen laptop in a dorm room Tuesday — minutes after it was used to log onto the campus network — it was a telling example of how thoroughly and aggressively the department has embraced technology in its effort to patrol a 21st-century campus.
City Council approves talks with Daimler to start new citywide vehicle initiative
By registering online, Austinites will have the opportunity to rent from a pool of 200 vehicles as part of a car-sharing pilot program expected to begin this fall.
Spurred to harvest their own food by concerns for safety, spending and health, some Austinites are showing an enthusiasm for gardening that coincides with rising costs of living and awareness of the economy.
Anchia suggests loan system; Strama plan includes rebates for solar panel installation
Members of the Energy Efficiency and Renewables Subcommittee analyzed 14 bills on Thursday that promote new ideas regarding renewable energy in Texas.
Juarez residents maintain sense of normalcy amid drug-related violence, martial law
CIUDAD JUAREZ, Mexico — Sergio Acoste stands under the shade of the city center’s massive cathedral.
Some form of tuition reform seems inevitable this legislative session after state senators introduced three bills with a combined total of more than 40 co-sponsors seeking to re-regulate tuition Wednesday.
Austin Sen. Kirk Watson one of five to vote against $182.2 billion legislation
The state Senate passed a $182.2 billion budget after hours of debate Wednesday, but Sen. Kirk Watson of Austin was one of five Democrats to vote against the bill.
At 6:30 every morning, Paul Gavaza creeps into his children’s bedroom to wake them up for school. At 7 a.m., the two kids hop on the school bus, and Gavaza jumps on the UT shuttle, where he catches up on some reading during the short trip to campus.
Voices Against Violence encouraged rape victims to be open about their experiences at Wednesday’s Take Back the Night rally for survivors of sexual violence.
Council, president of United Farm Workers honor union founder's life, work
More than 40 years ago, Cesar Chavez founded the United Farm Workers of America to bring farm workers’ rights to the public and legislative forefront.
Residents of southernmost Texas towns face repercussions of drug-related crime
As crime and drug-related violence persist on the Texas-Mexico border, state lawmakers are fighting a seemingly uphill battle against Mexican drug cartels.
Despite the economic recession, Americans’ overall consumption of distilled spirits increased in 2008, according to a handbook released Monday by the Beverage Information Group.
State Reps. Michael Villarreal and Joaquin Castro, Democrats from San Antonio, discussed their bills Tuesday to alter the sex education curriculum in Texas public schools.
Guests donate to Project Peanut Butter, eat berries that make sour seem sweet
Between a tray of chicken wings and a standard fruit platter, more than 50 sliced lemons rested on a table at the Zilker Park Clubhouse on Friday night.
Campus was dotted with students covered in neon-pink powder after Saturday’s celebration of Holi, a Hindu holiday.
Neutral elections site, restructured supervisory board among suggestions
The Election Reform Task Force decided at its first meeting Sunday night to restructure the Election Supervisory Board and to create a neutral elections Web site.
The State Board of Education will not require educators to teach the strengths and weaknesses of the theory of evolution, but educators must encourage students to critically analyze all scientific theories.
Energy-efficiency projects in the state and Austin have received a boost from the Obama administration with more than $200 million in additional stimulus funds.
If approved, adviser roles will be consolidated; changes to save $126,000
The Texas Student Media Board may vote today to eliminate six positions, including the editorial adviser position at The Daily Texan.
Ryan Weinheimer’s pledgeship to the Phi Kappa Psi fraternity in the fall of 2005 was cut short when one of his pledge brothers alerted representatives from the Interfraternity Council to the fraternity’s use of hazing.
In 1997, then-UT President Larry Faulkner launched a capital campaign to raise $1 billion in funding for the University over seven years. Faulkner exceeded his goal by $6 million.
On Monday, the city of Austin will activate four new red-light cameras at intersections.
Former attorney general encounters protestors, supporters during speech on campus
The stage was set for former Attorney General John Ashcroft to speak on campus Wednesday night well before he arrived.
A bill proposing a revision of the top 10 percent law passed in the Texas Senate on Wednesday, and its fate now lies with the House of Representatives. The issue is expected to be divisive in the lower chamber.
Each of the nine students on the Election Review Task Force joined for unique reasons and comes from a different background, but they have all vowed to work toward the same goal: improving the campus election process.
In the first formal debate on evolution at UT in several years, biology professor Arturo De Lozanne and philosophy professor Robert Koons squared off Wednesday over whether there are weaknesses in the scientific theory.
When police officers stormed the old Experimental Science Building early last year, running up staircases and breaking down doors as gunshots echoed through the long hallways, they were planning for the worst.
The decade-old debate over the contentious top 10 percent rule continued Tuesday on the Texas Senate floor.
Wildlife safety specialist uses humane methods to capture stray animals
From 6-foot rat snakes to 6-inch baby squirrels, Carin Peterson has rescued her fair share of lost animals from campus buildings.
State Sen. Dan Patrick, R-Houston, is looking to Texas college students for the solution to public schools’ shortage of math and science teachers.
Spelman, of LBJ School, running to help ease economic difficulties
After nine years away from the Austin City Council dais, Bill Spelman, a professor at the LBJ School of Public Affairs, is trying to return to City Hall.
At forum, Austin groups discuss possible changes to transportation laws
Cyclists locked up their bikes outside St. David’s Episcopal Church to head into a mayoral forum Monday night that focused on issues important to the cycling community.
State Rep. Donna Howard, D-Austin, a UT alumna with a nursing degree and experience as a critical care nurse, never expected to enter public service.
Greater revenue, federal stimulus keep tuition costs from increasing sharply
UT Chief Financial Officer Kevin Hegarty is optimistic about the University’s financial future, he said at a Faculty Council meeting Monday.
By 2015, Texas will need more than 4,500 health care professionals to provide for the predicted 5.3 million medically underserved residents, according to a study by Texas Academy of Family Physicians.
Town looks to old electric chair as possible tourist attraction; Brazen turkeys ruffle feathers at Michigan truck service shop; Men seek work at strip club — without taking their clothes off
Some residents return after North Campus blaze; two left homeless
A fire destroyed several North Campus condominiums Friday night, leaving at least two students without homes.
Food, fun and fandango excite and overwhelm fans at mammoth music festival
South by Southwest is a complicated beast. Changing set times, $4 Lone Stars, hype that could crush an elephant and living on a diet of street vendor food are all part of the fest: It is not for the faint of heart.
Sexual satisfaction in both males and females is often related to motives for having sex, UT researchers have found.
Changes to federal student loan policy will affect more students than ever as the financial crisis brings them in growing numbers to loan office doors.
Even with consumers cutting back on personal expenses, Austin received an economic jolt from the annual South by Southwest festival, which attracted more than 100,000 visitors from around the world.
The Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center showcased the work of 24 local artists and craftsmen during its annual Art & Artisans Festival on Saturday.
A fire destroyed several UT-area condominiums Friday night, leaving at least two students without homes.
PORT BOLIVAR, Texas — Half a year after Hurricane Ike made landfall, Port Bolivar remains a wasteland.
Call for accountability in campaigns follows questions of fairness
Following questions of fairness in the Student Government elections held last week, SG President Keshav Rajagopalan is organizing a task force of the assembly’s “harshest critics” to review the process for next year.
City Council clarifies code, creates more cohesive noise ordinance
Months of debate regarding the issue of live music permits and sound ordinances came to an end Thursday morning as City Council members adopted a revised city ordinance that clarified Austin’s legal language.
Gov. Rick Perry announced Thursday that he would reject federal stimulus money for Texas’ rapidly diminishing unemployment compensation fund.
Matt Stephens
Texas leads the nation in contaminated coal waste with more than 13 million tons (and nearly 9,000 tons of toxic metals contaminating that waste), according to a recent study by the National Resources Defense Council. Taking that into consideration, lawmakers are taking proactive measures to curb some of the state’s waste production.
Despite escalating violence between drug cartels and Mexican troops along the U.S.-Mexico border, thousands of Americans are expected to head south for a week of perfect weather, pristine beaches and famous nightlife.
Traffic will increase this afternoon as students leave the city for spring break and drivers from other cities pass through on their way to warm Texas beaches.
E-mail sent on eve of voting solicits votes for 3 nominees, says ‘outsiders’ could win race
Student Government President Keshav Rajagopalan sent an e-mail, signed with his title, to five fraternity presidents the day before elections began, soliciting support for Liam O’Rourke, Minator Azemi and Justin Stein.
Destruction causes victims to repair, sell ships; others plan on sailing waters again
GALVESTON — Once a tidy home to rows upon rows of gently rocking boats docked in the cold bay water, the Payco Marina is now a ship graveyard.
On election night a week ago, an oversight left Jillian Sheridan just another defeated candidate. But after a runoff, she was elected Daily Texan editor-in-chief on Wednesday.
Critics of holistic admission process advocate test period to assess short-term effects
When UT President William Powers testified before the House Higher Education Committee on Wednesday, he assured legislators that proposed changes to the top 10 percent admissions rule would not impact UT’s commitment to diversity on campus.
Austin receives funding for police surveillance system;
At forum following exposure of e-mail, Rajagopalan defends behavior, election
Calls for a new election and the resignation of the Student Government president were met with both opposition and encouragement during an open forum Tuesday.
Minister stayed behind despite danger, felt duty to support community
GALVESTON — The Rev. John Bostock, minister of Galveston’s Church of Reality, never regretted his choice to stay on the island during the onslaught of Hurricane Ike in September, even when faced with certain death.
GALVESTON — For more than 30 years, Clary’s Seafood Restaurant was “one of the reasons to come to Galveston.” But after Hurricane Ike’s winds blew through the city, the restaurant remained unopened and stripped of its former charm for months.
Despite the economic downturn, UT research funding has increased by more than 20 percent in the last year.
Salvia divinorum users are not the only ones trippin’ out over the hallucinogen, as legislators are attempting to restrict the use and the sale of the plant.
