Official newspaper of The University of Texas at Austin

The Daily Texan

Official newspaper of The University of Texas at Austin

The Daily Texan

Official newspaper of The University of Texas at Austin

The Daily Texan

All content by Anna Lassmann
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Associate news editor leaves the Texan for even more education

Anna Lassmann May 10, 2019

My time at the University of Texas has been short — three years to be exact — but well-lived. Between marching for the Longhorn Band and writing and editing for The Daily Texan, it’s...

UT’s main campus landscaping is nearly all organically maintained

Anna Lassmann August 29, 2018

The University’s grounds are now almost 100 percent organically maintained. Spanning 431 acres, this makes UT the largest example of organic landscaping in Austin. What began as a small project...

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UT-Austin cancels two undergrad classes taught by professor accused of student-teacher relationship

Anna Lassmann August 21, 2018

The University has canceled two undergraduate courses for the fall semester taught by English professor Coleman Hutchison, who was recently found to have engaged in an inappropriate relationship with a...

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UT settles discrimination lawsuit by former track coach Bev Kearney

Anna Lassmann August 20, 2018

The University of Texas reached a $600,000 settlement for a race and gender discrimination lawsuit filed by Bev Kearney, a former UT women’s track coach, according to the settlement document obtained...

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Semester in Review: looking back, looking forward

CRIME: Looking forward Meechaiel Criner’s trial is set to begin July 9. Criner was indicted by a grand jury for capital murder in connection with the 2016 death of dance freshman Haruka Weiser. Looking...

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MasculinUT to undergo clarifications after conservative media said it treats masculinity as a ‘mental health issue’

Anna Lassmann May 4, 2018

Earlier this week, conservative media outlets said UT regards masculinity as a “mental health issue” through its program MasculinUT, housed in the Counseling and Mental Health Center. MasculinUT...

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UT emphasizes need for first aid assistance one year after stabbings

Anna Lassmann May 1, 2018

In the year since the on-campus stabbing attack that killed UT freshman Harrison Brown and left three students injured, the University has made efforts to improve campus safety. The Texas Department...

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Trial details of stabbing suspect Kendrex White

Tehreem Shahab and Anna Lassmann May 1, 2018

May 1, 2017 1:45 P.M. The UT Police Department receive reports of an individual assaulting others with a knife on the 200 block of East 21st Street, across the street from Speedway and San Jacinto....

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Haruka Weiser case: Pretrial requested to bring in experts, trial still set to begin July 9

Anna Lassmann April 24, 2018

A pre-jury hearing for the Haruka Weiser murder case took place at the Travis County Courthouse Monday morning in the 167th District Court of Judge David Wahlberg. The attorneys for the case said they...

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UTPD has increased traffic stops on Robert Dedman after safety complaints

Anna Lassmann April 20, 2018

The UT Police Department increased their traffic safety enforcement along Robert Dedman Drive near the Law School and the Butler School of Music indefinitely on Monday. The targeted enforcement...

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Food for Fines pilot program to waive UT parking citations through peanut butter donations

Anna Lassmann April 16, 2018

The Food for Fines pilot program, through Parking and Transportation Services and Student Government, is collecting 40-ounce plastic jars of peanut butter to dismiss eligible parking citations. “(Food...

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Man arrested by UTPD, Harris County Sheriff after multiple terroristic threats made against UT

Anna Lassmann April 15, 2018

The UT Police Department made an arrest Sunday morning in Crosby, Texas, with assistance from the Harris County Sheriff’s Office after terroristic threats were made against UT by Sean Haddon, according...

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UT pharmacy professor Richard Morrisett found dead in South Austin home Thursday afternoon

Chase Karacostas and Anna Lassmann April 6, 2018

Update (2:56 p.m.): The Travis County Sheriff’s office said they went to Morrisett’s house Thursday as part of a welfare check. The check was called in by the University after Morrisett...

President Fenves releases policy change recommendations following backlash from Morrisett investigation

Anna Lassmann April 6, 2018

A University committee released recommendations Thursday to change faculty misconduct procedures, two months after an investigation revealed that UT allowed a professor to remain on faculty after pleading...

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UTPD remembers Haruka Weiser two years later with a gold flame

Anna Lassmann April 3, 2018

Two years after the death of dance freshman Haruka Weiser, the UT Police Department and the Be Safe program graphics are changing their logos to a gold flame to honor Weiser during the month of April. “As...

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UTPD to continue presence of explosives-detecting K-9s after Austin bombings

Anna Lassmann March 28, 2018

Because of the string of Austin bombings which began March 2, the UT Police Department has permanently increased the presence of K-9s in its explosives unit that perform random sweeps of campus areas,...

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Austin bombing: APD, UTPD urge people to continue to be vigilant after suspect dies

Anna Lassmann March 21, 2018

The suspected Austin serial bomber died early Wednesday morning, said Brian Manley, interim chief of the Austin Police Department, in a media briefing. APD and the FBI tracked the suspect’s vehicle...

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APD pins string of Austin explosions on a ‘serial bomber,’ UTPD releases safety message

Anna Lassmann March 20, 2018

Austin Police Department responded to reports of an explosion Sunday night in a Travis Country neighborhood that injured two people, APD Chief Brian Manley said in a media briefing Monday morning. This...

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UTPD urges UT Austin community to remain vigilant after fourth Austin explosion

Anna Lassmann March 19, 2018

The Austin Police Department responded Sunday night to reports of an explosion in southwest Austin near Dawn Song Drive, according to an APD tweet. This was the fourth incident of an explosion in Austin...

Victim of package explosion last Monday had been accepted to UT

Anna Lassmann March 19, 2018

Draylen Mason, the 17-year-old killed by a package explosion on March 12, had been accepted to the University of Texas in the Butler School of Music, UT spokesman J.B. Bird said in an email. “This...

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UT stabbing case: Prosecution appoints psychiatrist, Harrison Brown’s family appears in court

Anna Lassmann March 15, 2018

State prosecutors named Dr. Maureen Burrows as the psychiatrist who will assess the mental state of Kendrex White this morning during a court hearing. The family of Harrison Brown appeared in court...

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APD attributes low call response times to increased population, understaffing

Anna Lassmann March 9, 2018

Emergency and urgent call response times have failed to meet the goals set by the Austin Police Department over the past six years, according to APD’s website. In 2017, APD’s average...

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Littlefield Fountain water turns purple, vandalized: ‘This is the blood of survivors that UT ignores’

Anna Lassmann March 9, 2018

The Littlefield Fountain in front of the UT Tower was found marked with graffiti and water dyed purple Thursday morning, according to a tweet by the UT Police Department. The red spray paint read:...

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Littlefield Fountain spray painted last night: ‘This is the blood of survivors that UT ignores’

Anna Lassmann March 8, 2018

The Littlefield Fountain in front of the Tower was marked with graffiti overnight, according to a tweet by the UT Police Department. The graffiti was discovered and reported this morning, UTPD spokeswoman...

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Austin Police Department, Emergency Medical Services discuss safety plans for SXSW

Anna Lassmann March 6, 2018

Austin city officials met Monday to outline traffic and safety plans for the annual South by Southwest festival, which will begin Friday, and other spring festivals. The city of Austin welcomes up to...

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26 West apartments experience water main break, flooding

Anna Lassmann February 28, 2018

Update (3:29 p.m.): The Office of the Dean of Students said students impacted by the water main break can get help from the Student Emergency Services by calling 512-471-5017. Assistance from the...

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UT senior died Saturday after falling from balcony

Anna Lassmann February 26, 2018

Update (7:03 p.m.): APD is waiting for autopsy results to move forward with the investigation, according to an Austin-American Statesman article. Emanuel was also a member of the Texas Iron Spikes...

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UTPD working with prosecutors on charges for women who left pistols unattended

Anna Lassmann February 23, 2018

The UT Police Department is working with prosecutors to determine charges for the two women who left unattended holstered pistols in bathrooms this week, UTPD spokeswoman Cindy Posey said. “UTPD...

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APD responds to reports of an armed robbery at a West Campus Subway

Anna Lassmann February 21, 2018

Update (3:00 p.m.): This is the fourth robbery of a Subway in West Campus this year. However, this incident does not appear to be related to the previous cases, APD spokeswoman Tara Long said. Original...

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17 killed in Parkland shooting: how UTPD prepares for active shooters

Anna Lassmann February 21, 2018

As mass shootings flood the headlines, the UT Police Department has specially trained officers ready in the event of an active shooter on campus.    Advertising sophomore Alexa Wachsman graduated...

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Update: Student claims unattended pistol in McCombs, UTPD reports another unattended pistol at Pickle Research Center

Anna Lassmann February 21, 2018

Update (12:57 p.m.): The owner of the pistol left at the Pickle Research Center was found and was not affiliated with UT. The owner was attending a conference at the Commons Learning Center. UTPD...

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Students protest against Richard Morrisett, UT Austin’s decision to keep him as faculty

Anna Lassmann February 13, 2018

Two dozen students gathered near the College of Pharmacy buildings and marched to the tower Tuesday afternoon to protest against pharmacy professor Richard Morrisett, two weeks after a report found UT...

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Trial to begin July 9: Meechaiel Criner appears in court for status hearing in Haruka Weiser murder case

Anna Lassmann February 12, 2018

Meechaiel Criner appeared in court on Monday morning at the Travis County Courthouse for a status hearing. The lawyers for the case said they are still waiting for additional DNA results. Criner’s...

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APD arrests woman in connection with Subway robbery, UT Austin students react

Anna Lassmann February 12, 2018

Dietra Lashell Lee was arrested on Feb. 8 in connection to multiple Subway robberies in West Campus, according to a tweet by the Austin Police Department. On Feb. 2, a Subway on West Martin Luther...

More than half of UT faculty is tenured or on track for tenure

Anna Lassmann February 9, 2018

More than half of UT faculty is tenured or on track to become tenured as of fall 2017, according to the Institutional Reporting, Research and Information Systems. “Tenure denotes a status of continuing...

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APD arrests woman wanted in connection with West Campus Subway robberies

Anna Lassmann February 9, 2018

Dietra Lashell Lee has been arrested in connection with multiple business robberies in the West Campus area, according to a tweet by the Austin Police Department on Thursday night. Wednesday afternoon,...

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College of Pharmacy spray painted with threatening messages

Anna Lassmann February 6, 2018

The College of Pharmacy building was tagged Monday morning with red spray paint messages such as “UT harbors abusers” and “Watch your back Richard.” Cindy Posey, UTPD’s...

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College of Pharmacy spray painted with threatening messages

Anna Lassmann February 5, 2018

The College of Pharmacy building has been tagged with red spray paint messages saying things such as “UT harbors abusers” and “Watch your back Richard.” This incident comes after...

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RISE ATX will combat homelessness and panhandling in West Campus and other Austin areas

Anna Lassmann February 1, 2018

Last Thursday, SafeHorns attended the first stakeholder meeting about a potential program to give panhandlers and the homeless a second chance. Austin residents could give feedback on the Residents...

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APD identifies person of interest in Jan. 21 assault by contact case

Anna Lassmann January 31, 2018

The Austin Police Department has identified a person of interest for an assault by contact case that took place on Guadalupe Street on Jan. 21. The UT Police Department sent out a safety alert through...

Presenting fake identification can result in misdemeanor, increased charges

Anna Lassmann January 31, 2018

UT Police Department officers have responded to four calls involving students using fake IDs within the last 60 days, according to the UTPD crime log.  Three of the four calls involving the use...

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Fenves orders a review of policy following backlash from Statesman investigation

Anna Lassmann January 27, 2018

University President Gregory Fenves released a statement Friday afternoon due to backlash from keeping UT professor Richard Morrisett on staff after he plead guilty to felony charges. Fenves said the...

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UT professor continues job after domestic abuse charges

Anna Lassmann January 26, 2018

Pharmacy professor Richard Morrisett will remain at UT, despite pleading guilty to a felony charge after strangling his girlfriend until “she saw stars” in May 2016, according to an investigation...

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Skeletal remains found on West Pickle Research Campus

Anna Lassmann January 25, 2018

The UT Police Department reported skeletal remains have been found on the West Pickle Research Campus. UTPD said they were found in a wooded area of the Research Campus in what appears to have...

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UTPD, Registrar’s Office suggest restricting directory information

Anna Lassmann January 24, 2018

The Office of the Registrar and UT Police Department urged students through Twitter last week to look over their personal information on the UT directory and restrict any details they do not want to be...

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APD responds to multiple robberies in West Campus

Anna Lassmann January 19, 2018

The Austin Police Department is responding to a report of an off-campus robbery at the Subway located at 2323 San Antonio in West Campus. At this time, it is unknown if the individuals are affiliated...

SURE Ride and SURE Walk are now wheelchair accessible

Anna Lassmann January 18, 2018

SURE Ride began accepting requests for wheelchair accessible vehicles when they resumed services at the start of the spring semester. “This has been in the plan from the beginning, and so we are...

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Extreme winter weather temperatures lead to University closure

Anna Lassmann January 17, 2018

The first day of class and all University events were canceled due to extreme winter weather conditions. Students spent the canceled class day sleeping in and watching the “snow." Grace Allen,...

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Extreme winter weather temperatures lead to University closure

Anna Lassmann January 16, 2018

The first day of class and University has been canceled due to extreme weather predictions from the National Weather Service and University meteorologist Troy Kimmel. Campus shuttle buses will also not...

APD, UTPD respond to man holding woman against her will

Anna Lassmann January 14, 2018

Update (4:31 p.m.): UTPD received additional information that the incident took place at a private residence, not in public and that no one was held against their will. UTPD is still investigating...

$4 million grant aims to reduce atmospheric carbon emissions

Anna Lassmann December 7, 2017

Carbon emissions are about to have a rocky future, thanks to a $4 million grant to UT’s Bureau of Economic Geology from the U.S. Department of Energy. The grant was given to the bureau, which...

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Verts on Guadalupe rebrands to Noon Mediterranean

Anna Lassmann December 5, 2017

No, there isn’t a new restaurant on Guadalupe. Verts just changed its name to Noon Mediterranean. The name change, first announced on Twitter and Instagram on Nov. 17, was the result of extensive...

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Students rang in the holiday spirit by making ugly sweaters

Anna Lassmann November 30, 2017

Sequins, bows and garlands lined the tables of the Union Presidential Lobby as dozens of students created do-it-yourself ugly sweaters for the holiday season. The Make It, Take It: Ugly Sweater event...

Mechanical Engineering senior wins Research Showdown

Anna Lassmann November 28, 2017

By comparing drilling disasters to milkshakes, Mitchell Johnson won first place in the 2017 Texas Student Research Showdown. “Some fluids flow more easily than others ­— it takes more...

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Orange Santa program accepts donations for holiday season

Anna Lassmann November 21, 2017

Santa Claus is coming to the 40 Acres with the Orange Santa program.   Orange Santa is an annual toy collection that began in 1994 to provide help to members of the University who are in need during...

Dell Medical School redesigns health care for all women

Anna Lassmann November 21, 2017

The Dell Medical School has started an initiaive to to redesign women’s health care within its Department of Women’s Health with the hopes of alleviating the burdens of women with chronic...

Five years since the vote for its creation, Dell Medical School is expanding access to health care

Anna Lassmann November 9, 2017

Dell Medical School is working to expand access to local health providers for communities in Austin, as highlighted in the 2017 Community Benefit Report. The report, released by the school in August...

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Cardiovascular research center renamed after distinguished alumni

Anna Lassmann November 7, 2017

The renaming of a UT research center in the Institute for Computational Engineering and Sciences is sure to get students’ blood pumping. Cardiologist Dr. James Willerson was honored by the institute...

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Online Sport Management master’s program to begin in January

Anna Lassmann November 3, 2017

The Department of Kinesiology and Health Education will begin offering an online Sport Management master’s program in January. Through this program, students will learn management skills that...

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UT helps create Texas OnCourse to provide resources for high school students, educators

Anna Lassmann November 1, 2017

In an effort to address a lack of college and career readiness, UT is rolling out its college and career preparatory program, Texas OnCourse, starting with the Texas OnCourse Academy which launched on...

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A new research challenge will bring together faculty to address environmental issues facing Texas

Anna Lassmann October 26, 2017

UT-Austin’s first University-wide interdisciplinary research challenge was announced last week by Daniel Jaffe, vice president for research at UT. The new challenge, Planet Texas 2050: Planning...

Report: Methamphetamine is Texas’ largest drug threat

Anna Lassmann October 24, 2017

Methamphetamine remains the largest drug threat in Texas, causing 715 deaths in 2017, according to a substance abuse trend report published by social work professor Jane Maxwell last week. “Meth...

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Jackson School of Geosciences leads research mission

Anna Lassmann October 19, 2017

Jackson School of Geosciences researchers are one step closer to understanding the properties of frozen methane hydrate, which is a potential future energy resource, with the help of recently obtained...

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Steve Hicks School of Social Work has highest four-year graduation rate

Anna Lassmann October 17, 2017

The Steve Hicks School of Social Work’s 83 percent four-year graduation rate is the highest of all UT schools, according to the most recent data published by the University in 2017. Allan Cole,...

College of Education increases graduation rate by 15 percent

Anna Lassmann October 13, 2017

The College of Education’s four-year graduation rate has increased over 15 percent from 2016 to 2017, with 81.4 percent of undergraduate students graduating within four years in 2017. Beginning...

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Local mental health care to be addressed by UT with $1.8 million grant

Maria Mendez and Anna Lassmann October 10, 2017

With a new $1.8 million federal grant, UT will train students to improve mental health care for low-income and uninsured populations in Travis County. To address the lack of mental health care professionals...

Santa Muerte, the fastest growing religion in the Americas

Anna Lassmann October 5, 2017

Santa Muerte is the fastest growing religion in the Americas, said Andrew Chestnut, a professor of religious studies at Virginia Commonwealth University, in a lecture on Wednesday. Santa Muerte is the...

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Harry Ransom Center acquires archives of Michael Ondaatje

Anna Lassmann October 3, 2017

The Harry Ransom Center recently acquired the archives of Michael Ondaatje, a Canadian poet and novelist best known for writing “The English Patient.” “The English Patient” received...

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The pending creation of College to Career will place emphasis on life after college

Anna Lassmann September 28, 2017

The College to Career program will now be able to launch due to recently announced funding from the University. At his Sept. 12 State of the University Address, UT President Gregory Fenves announced...

Aiming for inclusion, the College of Fine Arts expands the Guest Artist Initiative

Anna Lassmann September 26, 2017

To expand understanding of underrepresented culture and viewpoints, the College of Fine Arts will now allow its Guest Artist Initiative to accept student proposals. The initiative allows faculty and...

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Professor talks about historical progression of presidential role

Anna Lassmann September 21, 2017

The role of the president has grown too big for one person to handle, Jeremi Suri, public affairs and history professor, said in an LBJ School of Public Affairs lecture on Wednesday. “I think...

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Texas Exes ‘Black Homecoming’ recognizes distinguished black students, alumni

Anna Lassmann September 11, 2017

Hundreds of black UT alumni descended on Austin over the weekend for the Texas Exes Black Alumni Network’s ninth annual Alumni Homecoming.  The group began the weekend Friday with a...

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Larger class sizes weaken academic performance

Anna Lassmann September 1, 2016

The obstacles that are present with the larger classroom size begin to affect the academic success of students due to the increase in distractions and the decrease in the ability to have intimate professor-student...

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