Ten weeks later, we have arrived at the last Forum of the semester. From politicians to student leaders, we have sought to bring diverse perspectives to the Texan beyond those of our issue staff. This week, we want to thank all of those who have contributed thus far and highlight a few forward-looking perspectives as we move into the new year. 

First, graduate student Sarah Welsh criticizes the tax bill currently being debated in Congress. The proposal would view waived tuition for graduate students as taxable income, which Welsh says would make living and working in cities like Austin nearly impossible. Graduate students across the country, including here at UT, have protested the measures this week. 

Second, students McKenna Gessner and Zoe Gonzalez call attention to how Texas’ constant involvement in costly legal battles limits the right of Texans to make decisions about their bodies and receive abortions.

Beyond editorials, we also welcome letters to the editor about issues important to students or about our content itself. Dr. Lauren Blondeau, a lecturer in statistics and data sciences, responds to an article about the leader of the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board’s statement on the overrepresentation of female students at Texas universities. 

We’ll be back to continue the conversation next semester, so if you have perspectives on these topics or any others, please reach out to us at [email protected].

Nemawarkar is a Plan II and government junior from Austin. Shirvaikar is a math and economics junior from Frisco.