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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

Caroline McConnico, Senior News Reporter

Caroline is a journalism sophomore from Winston-Salem, North Carolina. She's currently a senior news reporter, covering student government and the UT system. Previously, she was a general news reporter. When she's not reporting for the Texan, Caroline loves seeing live music, reading and eating queso.

All content by Caroline McConnico
UT and OU compete in voter registration contest ahead of Red River Rivalry

UT and OU compete in voter registration contest ahead of Red River Rivalry

Caroline McConnico, Senior News Reporter October 8, 2024

UT Student Government competed against Oklahoma University in a voter registration contest that started on Sept. 16. Voter registration in Texas for the November elections closed Monday and will close...

The student section yells during the thirds quarter of Texas' game against CSU on Aug. 31, 2024.

El Gobierno Estudiantil aprueba la expansión de la sección estudiantil, propone asientos organizados y la revisión del Big Ticket

Este artículo se publicó por primera vez el 2 de octubre de 2024 por Caroline McConnico y fue traducido al español por Valentina Avendaño Figueroa. Los miembros del Gobierno Estudiantil aprobaron...

City Commission recommends partnership to build hiking trail in Edwards Aquifer

City Commission recommends partnership to build hiking trail in Edwards Aquifer

Caroline McConnico, Senior News Reporter October 4, 2024

The City’s Environmental Commission passed a motion on Sept. 18 recommending the city council to partner with the Great Springs Project, a non-profit organization working to create a greenway of protected...

The student section yells during the thirds quarter of Texas' game against CSU on Aug. 31, 2024.

Student Government approves student section expansion, proposes organization seating and revising Big Ticket

Caroline McConnico, Senior News Reporter October 2, 2024

Student Government members unanimously passed a bill on Tuesday to expand the football student section during their weekly general assembly meeting. The bill comes as Texas was ranked No. 1 by...

Recursos de salud mental requeridos propuestos en la reunión del Consejo Asesor Estudiantil del Sistema de UT

Recursos de salud mental requeridos propuestos en la reunión del Consejo Asesor Estudiantil del Sistema de UT

Caroline McConnico and Maria Gomez October 1, 2024

Nota del editor: este artículo se publicó por primera vez el 27 de septiembre de 2024 por Caroline McConnico y fue traducido al español por Maria Gomez. La Presidente del consejo estudiantil,...

UT Student Government President Grace Kelly discussed student experiences and issues on at their first meeting Sept. 26. 2024

El gobierno estudiantil organiza el primer ayuntamiento del semestre

Caroline McConnico and Jessica Nino October 1, 2024

Nota del editor: este artículo se publicó por primera vez el 29 de septiembre por Caroline McConnico y fue traducido al español por Jessica Nino.  El gobierno estudiantil organizó su primer...

Leander D'Costa concludes his speech during the Student Government meeting on Tuesday Sept 24, 2024. D'Costa, who is originally from Mumbai, India transferred to the University this Fall and is the first international student appointed as Parliamentarian in the 120 years since the Student Government assembly was created.

Gobierno Estudiantil propone ley para expandir la sección estudiantil en los partidos de fútbol americano

Caroline McConnico and Anuar Yutani September 30, 2024

Nota del editor: Este artículo se publicó por primera vez el 27 de septiembre del 2024 por Caroline McConnico y fue traducido al español por Anuar Yutani. Un miembro de la asamblea del Gobierno...

UT Student Government President Grace Kelly discussed student experiences and issues on at their first meeting Sept. 26. 2024

Student Government hosts first town hall of semester

Caroline McConnico, Senior News Reporter September 29, 2024

Student Government hosted its first town hall of the semester on Thursday to discuss student concerns,  including on-campus voting and student involvement in campus life. The meeting began with...

Required mental health resources proposed at UT System Student Advisory Council meeting

Required mental health resources proposed at UT System Student Advisory Council meeting

Caroline McConnico, Senior News Reporter September 27, 2024

Student Government President Grace Kelly pitched the implementation of mental health modules at the recent UT System Student Advisory Council meeting on Sept. 6 and 7.  During the meeting, Kelly...

Leander D'Costa concludes his speech during the Student Government meeting on Tuesday Sept 24, 2024. D'Costa, who is originally from Mumbai, India transferred to the University this Fall and is the first international student appointed as Parliamentarian in the 120 years since the Student Government assembly was created.

Student Government proposes bill to expand football student section

Caroline McConnico, Senior News Reporter September 25, 2024

A Student Government assembly member proposed a bill to expand the football student section during Tuesday's general assembly. Emma Daniell, representing the College of Liberal Arts, introduced...

UT launches new robotics program for freshmen

UT launches new robotics program for freshmen

Caroline McConnico, Senior News Reporter September 17, 2024

UT launched the first known freshman robotics program in the country, allowing high school students to apply directly as part of their admissions application to the University, according to a Sept. 5 press...

People swim in Barton Creek on Feb. 26, 2024.

New city of Austin project aims to protect Barton Springs from drought

Caroline McConnico, Senior News Reporter September 10, 2024

The water was freezing when Plan II senior Raquel Rubiano dove into Barton Springs on a hot day this summer. She beelined for her favorite cave just beside the diving board. Here, she said she transformed...

Student government hosts first general assembly, discusses annual budget, new goals

Student government hosts first general assembly, discusses annual budget, new goals

Caroline McConnico, Senior News Reporter September 4, 2024

Student Government held their first general assembly of the semester on Tuesday, where they introduced the proposed 2024-2025 budget and established platforms for the year. The proposed budget allotted...

Full implementation of new bill works to prevent workplace violence in healthcare amidst statewide nursing shortage

Full implementation of new bill works to prevent workplace violence in healthcare amidst statewide nursing shortage

Caroline McConnico, Senior News Reporter September 4, 2024

The Texas Legislature fully implemented Senate Bill 240 on Sunday, requiring all healthcare facilities to adopt a workplace violence prevention policy and plan. The bill, created in 2023, also requires...

The Texas Hospital Association on Aug. 21, 2024. These headquarters are located adjacent to the Texas Capital building

Abbott requires Texas public hospitals to collect patients’ immigration status

Caroline McConnico, Senior News Reporter August 25, 2024

Gov. Greg Abbott signed an executive order on Aug. 8 requiring Texas public hospitals to collect the immigration status of patients, according to a press release.  The order directs the Texas Health...

The University of Texas tower on April 7, 2024.

Looking Back, Looking Forward: Summer in review and fall preview

Erika Pernis, Ren Leija, and Caroline McConnico August 13, 2024

Looking Back: City and Politics: Summer temperatures rise as the state's power grid faces growing challenges from aging power plants, the strain of integrating renewable energy and the increasing demands...

City of Austin launches centralized support hub for sexual assault survivors

City of Austin launches centralized support hub for sexual assault survivors

Caroline McConnico, Senior News Reporter August 12, 2024

The city of Austin announced the launch of a new website and a public service announcement campaign for sexual assault survivors in an Aug. 1 press release.  The website was created in collaboration...

UT joins national effort to recruit rural, small-town students

UT joins national effort to recruit rural, small-town students

Caroline McConnico, Senior News Reporter August 6, 2024

UT joined a national effort to recruit students from rural areas and small towns in an effort to increase college enrollment resources in these areas, according to a July 26 press release.  The University...

UT’s Dell Medical Center expands neurocritical care unit

UT’s Dell Medical Center expands neurocritical care unit

Caroline McConnico, Senior News Reporter August 4, 2024

A nonprofit health system in Austin officially opened the newly expanded neurocritical care unit at UT’s Dell Medical Center on July 30, the only of its kind in Central Texas.  Ascension Seton’s...

UT's Texas-Soton team qualifies for XPRIZE wildfire competition

UT’s Texas-Soton team qualifies for XPRIZE wildfire competition

Caroline McConnico, Senior News Reporter July 30, 2024

UT’s Texas-Soton team is among 29 groups that qualified for the XPRIZE Wildfire Autonomous Wildfire Response competition, according to a July 15 press release. The four-year competition, with a prize...

Federal judge dismisses lawsuit against UT admissions

Federal judge dismisses lawsuit against UT admissions

Caroline McConnico, Senior News Reporter July 29, 2024

A federal judge dismissed a lawsuit claiming UT uses unlawful admissions policies, according to the July 15 order. U.S. District Judge Robert Pitman ruled the University’s revised policies are lawful...

The Texas Advanced Computing Center in the Advanced Computing Building on July 25, 2024. The National Science Foundation invested $457 million in the center for it to lead national research projects.

Texas Advanced Computing Center chosen to lead national supercomputing initiative

Caroline McConnico, Senior News Reporter July 26, 2024

The U.S. National Science Foundation selected UT’s Texas Advanced Computing Center, investing $457 million, to become the Leadership-Class Computing Facility to lead national research projects, according...

City updates displacement risk, Project Connect spending map for first time since 2020

City updates displacement risk, Project Connect spending map for first time since 2020

Caroline McConnico, Senior News Reporter July 23, 2024

The City of Austin Housing Department updated its Displacement Risk Area Map and Dashboard for the first time since 2020, identifying city areas where displacement increased, according to a July 11 press...

UT joins Unizin to enhance learning analytics capabilities

UT joins Unizin to enhance learning analytics capabilities

Caroline McConnico, Senior News Reporter July 15, 2024

UT’s Academic Affairs division recently joined Unizin, a member-based organization of 14 academic institutions focused on improving university learning data analytics, according to a July 2 press release.  The...

LBJ School of Public Affairs announces first undergraduate degree

LBJ School of Public Affairs announces first undergraduate degree

Caroline McConnico, Senior News Reporter July 12, 2024

UT’s Lyndon B. Johnson School of Public Affairs announced its first undergraduate degree program in a July 11 press release.  The Bachelor of Public Affairs will focus on building leadership, policy...

The site of a new supportive housing location on Lancaster Ct on Monday.

Austin breaks ground on apartments for victims of violence, abuse

Caroline McConnico, Senior News Reporter July 9, 2024

The City of Austin Housing Department announced the groundbreaking of a 60-unit permanent supportive housing building for survivors of violence and abuse in a June 13 press release.  The Lancaster,...

Texas Supreme Court upholds ban on gender-affirming care for transgender minors

Texas Supreme Court upholds ban on gender-affirming care for transgender minors

Caroline McConnico, Senior News Reporter July 9, 2024

The Texas Supreme Court upheld a state law barring doctors from prescribing gender-affirming care to transgender minors on June 28, despite challenges to its constitutionality by parents and medical professionals.  Justice...

West Mall Post Office reopens, offering full suite of mail, copying, printing

West Mall Post Office reopens, offering full suite of mail, copying, printing

Caroline McConnico, Senior News Reporter July 1, 2024

Document Solutions opened in the former U.S. Postal Service’s West Mall location on Tuesday, June 25, according to a University press release.  The reopening comes after the USPS West Mall post office...

City of Austin set to update Imagine Austin plan

City of Austin set to update Imagine Austin plan

Caroline McConnico, Senior News Reporter June 27, 2024

The City of Austin is working to update its 30-year Imagine Austin plan, the city announced in a June 13 press release. The Imagine Austin plan maps out a vision of Austin as a sustainable, equitable...

Giant telescope enclosure set for construction as part of UT collaboration

Giant telescope enclosure set for construction as part of UT collaboration

Caroline McConnico, Senior News Reporter June 27, 2024

The Giant Magellan Telescope’s enclosure, set to be one of the world’s largest astronomical facilities, was approved for construction in Chile, UT announced in a June 13 press release. The Giant...

Travis County prosecutors drop 79 trespassing charges from on-campus protest

Travis County prosecutors drop 79 trespassing charges from on-campus protest

Caroline McConnico, Senior News Reporter June 26, 2024

The Travis County Attorney dropped 79 trespassing charges for those arrested at the April 29th pro-Palestine protest on Wednesday.  At a press conference, Travis County Attorney Delia Garza announced...

New speaking limits in place for Austin City Council

New speaking limits in place for Austin City Council

Caroline McConnico, Senior News Reporter June 20, 2024

Austin City Council approved a new public comment ordinance giving individuals at least two minutes of speaking time per item on May 30.  Under the new ordinance, people who sign up to speak at city...

The Austin State Hospital completed renovation on Monday.

New Austin State Hospital opens in partnership with Dell Medical School

Caroline McConnico, Senior News Reporter June 10, 2024

State leaders celebrated the opening of the new Austin State Hospital on May 15 with a ribbon-cutting ceremony to honor the $305 million replacement facility.  The new 240-bed facility, built on the...

Government senior Elijah Kahlenberg poses for a portrait in a stairwell in the UT tower on April 18, 2024. The Harry S. Truman Foundation awarded Kahlenberg and 59 other students the Truman Scholarship, which awards $30,000 to those pursuing public service careers.

UT junior awarded Truman Scholarship for commitment to public service, peace advocacy

Caroline McConnico, General News Reporter April 22, 2024

On the morning of April 10, Elijah Kahlenberg received a phone call from the University asking if he could come to the Tower at 4:45 p.m. dressed in a suit. Kahlenberg, a government, Middle Eastern studies...

UT graduate student wins top prize in Visualizing Science contest

UT graduate student wins top prize in Visualizing Science contest

Caroline McConnico, General News Reporter April 9, 2024

UT’s College of Natural Sciences recently announced the winner of its annual Visualizing Science contest, which celebrates images captured by participants. This year, physics graduate student Maile...

El informe de políticas de un investigador de la Universidad de Texas revela la lucha continua por el acceso al cuidado infantil en Texas

El informe de políticas de un investigador de la Universidad de Texas revela la lucha continua por el acceso al cuidado infantil en Texas

Caroline McConnico and Mariela Villela April 5, 2024

Nota del editor: este artículo se publicó por primera vez el 3 de abril de 2024 por Caroline McConnico y fue traducido al español por Mariela Villela.  Texas necesita urgentemente guarderías...

UT researcher policy brief reveals continued struggle for childcare access in Texas

UT researcher policy brief reveals continued struggle for childcare access in Texas

Caroline McConnico, General News Reporter April 3, 2024

Texas is in urgent need of accessible and affordable child care, according to a recent policy brief by UT researchers in the LBJ School of Public Affairs.  According to the brief, over half of...

UT researchers develop AI tools to help ferment Alzheimer’s medication

UT researchers develop AI tools to help ferment Alzheimer’s medication

Caroline McConnico and Chloe Robinson March 25, 2024

UT researchers developed AI tools to accelerate the production of a medication that treats Alzheimer’s and dementia symptoms, according to a study published March 7.  Simon d’Oelsnitz, an author...

UT marine scientists find rising sea levels linked to loss of valuable seagrass habitats in Texas

UT marine scientists find rising sea levels linked to loss of valuable seagrass habitats in Texas

Caroline McConnico, General News Reporter March 20, 2024

A recent study conducted by UT marine scientists linked rising sea levels in the Gulf of Mexico to the loss of seagrass habitats in Texas. The study was conducted by Kyle Capistrant-Fossa, a UT doctoral...

UT organizará cinco paneles en SXSW sobre innovación tecnológica en diferentes profesiones

UT organizará cinco paneles en SXSW sobre innovación tecnológica en diferentes profesiones

Caroline McConnico and Mariana Flores-Sosa March 7, 2024

Nota del editor: este artículo se publicó por primera vez el 6 de marzo por Caroline McConnico  y fue traducido al español por Mariana Flores-Sosa.  UT organizará cinco paneles sobre tecnología,...

UT to host five panels at SXSW about technological innovation in different fields

UT to host five panels at SXSW about technological innovation in different fields

Caroline McConnico, General News Reporter March 6, 2024

UT will host five panels about technology, health, science, sports and lifestyle during South by Southwest on March 8 and 9. The event will occur downtown at the Hook ’Em House at Antone’s Nightclub.  The...

UT study discovers treatment to curb growth of deadly cancer

UT study discovers treatment to curb growth of deadly cancer

Caroline McConnico, General News Reporter February 28, 2024

UT scientists have discovered how the growth of  a deadly form of leukemia could be controlled in a study published on Feb. 13. The study, published in Cell Metabolism, details a possible treatment...

UT professor receives prestigious biology award

UT professor receives prestigious biology award

Caroline McConnico, General News Reporter February 22, 2024

 A UT assistant professor received an award earlier this month from the Society for Developmental Biology, recognizing his outstanding research on cell polarity. Daniel Dickinson, an assistant professor...

Panelist Paige Duggins-Clay, J.D., discusses the future of public education during the Thurgood Marshall Legal Society's Afrofuturism and Law Symposium at the Jamail Pavilion on Saturday, Feb. 10, 2024. Left to right are Afrofuturism and Education panelists Dean Demetria Frank, Paige Duggins-Clay, Andrew Hairston and moderator Dean Shavonne Henderson.

Afrofuturism and the Law Symposium’ imagines the future of the Black legal field

Caroline McConnico, General News Reporter February 12, 2024

The Thurgood Marshall Legal Society hosted a symposium at the UT Law School, celebrating Black legal scholarship on Saturday. The symposium, called ‘Afrofuturism and the Law,’ explored the future...

'Guaraná', el libro más reciente de un profesor de UT, gana múltiples distinciones

‘Guaraná’, el libro más reciente de un profesor de UT, gana múltiples distinciones

Nota del editor: este artículo se publicó por primera vez el 7 de febrero de 2024 por Caroline McConnico y fue traducido al español por Citlali Martinez Hernandez. Un profesor de historia de UT...

UT professor’s latest book ‘Guaraná’ earns multiple distinctions

UT professor’s latest book ‘Guaraná’ earns multiple distinctions

Caroline McConnico, General News Reporter February 8, 2024

A UT history professor earned three distinctions for his latest book at the American Historical Association’s annual meeting in San Francisco last month. Seth Garfield’s book, titled “Guaraná:...

Students raise concerns for campus turtle population amid record low temperatures

Students raise concerns for campus turtle population amid record low temperatures

Caroline McConnico, General News Reporter February 1, 2024

Earlier this month, many UT students expressed concern for the on-campus turtle population as Austin experienced below-freezing temperatures.  During an arctic blast, students found the turtles absent...

Dell Medical School keeps its campus green, receives platinum Green Grounds Certification

Dell Medical School keeps its campus green, receives platinum Green Grounds Certification

Caroline McConnico, General News Reporter January 21, 2024

Dell Medical School received the highest level Green Grounds Certification for eliminating synthetic pesticide and fertilizer use on its campus.  The Platinum Certification comes from Re:wild Your...

New McCombs research reveals why we keep secrets

New McCombs research reveals why we keep secrets

Caroline McConnico, General News Reporter January 16, 2024

A forthcoming study from the McCombs School of Business identifies the reasons humans keep secrets and neglect to tell the truth.   The study was co-authored by Amit Kumar, assistant professor of...

A father and son exit the Shark Exhibit at the Bullock Texas State History Museum on Nov. 26, 2023. This exhibit will be on view until Mar. 24, 2024.

Take a bite out of the Bullock’s newest exhibit chronicling history, science of sharks

Caroline McConnico, General News Reporter November 29, 2023

The Bullock Texas State History Museum opened a new exhibition on Nov. 11 exploring the diversities and evolutionary history of sharks.  John Sparks, a curator in the Department of Ichthyology at The...

American Airlines to cut 21 routes from Austin Airport in 2024

American Airlines to cut 21 routes from Austin Airport in 2024

Caroline McConnico, General News Reporter November 14, 2023

American Airlines plans to cut 21 nonstop routes from Austin-Bergstrom International Airport in 2024. Six of the canceled flights are international and 15 are domestic. Among the canceled routes, 13...

Kids play on the Monkey Bar Fort at the Fortlandia interactive exhibit at the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center on Nov. 5. School of Architecture professor Ria Bravo was the designer of this fort.

UT professor, graduate student’s custom-designed fort showcased in annual interactive art exhibition

Caroline McConnico, General News Reporter November 7, 2023

Graduate student Jessica Wilsey stood waiting for her professor at the Oct. 6 soft opening of Fortlandia, an annual exhibit from the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center. No children were playing with the...

El Consejo Municipal de Austin aprueba una resolución para posponer la financiación de la I-35

El Consejo Municipal de Austin aprueba una resolución para posponer la financiación de la I-35

Caroline McConnico and Hannel Suarez November 1, 2023

Nota del editor: este artículo se publicó por primera vez el 30 de octubre por Caroline McConnico y fue traducido al español por Hannel Suarez. El 19 de octubre, el Concejo Municipal de Austin aprobó...

Austin City Council approves resolution to postpone I-35 funding

Austin City Council approves resolution to postpone I-35 funding

Caroline McConnico, General News Reporter October 30, 2023

On Oct. 19, the Austin City Council approved a resolution asking the Texas Department of Transportation and the Capital Area Metropolitan Planning Organization to delay funding for the expansion of Interstate...

Global quantum electronics company Infleqtion on Brushy St. and E 6th St. on Oct. 13, 2023. Infleqtion's partnership with UT grants access for quantum technology experts to create quantum-based energy and healthcare products.

UT collabs to create new center of excellence for quantum manufacturing

Caroline McConnico, General News Reporter October 17, 2023

The Texas Institute for Electronics at the University of Texas signed a memorandum of understanding with Infleqtion, a global quantum research company, to establish a new center of excellence for quantum...

New Blanton Museum of Art exhibit reimagines original thoughts on climate change

New Blanton Museum of Art exhibit reimagines original thoughts on climate change

Caroline McConnico, General News Reporter October 9, 2023

In the Blanton Museum of Art’s most recent exhibit, “If the Sky Were Orange: Art in the Time of Climate,” artists, writers and climate scientists explore the intricacies of the ongoing global climate...

The library storage system at the University's Pickle Research Campus on Sept. 29, 2023.

UT Library Storage Facility plans largest module expansion

Caroline McConnico, General News Reporter October 3, 2023

At the UT Library Storage Facility on the J.J. Pickle Research Campus, books of all sizes and ages consume towering shelves. With three book modules filled with over 2 million books, the LSF plans to open...

Darden Smith named UT’s first inaugural songwriter in residence

Darden Smith named UT’s first inaugural songwriter in residence

Caroline McConnico, General News Reporter September 18, 2023

The University of Texas named Austin-based musician and UT alumnus Darden Smith the first inaugural songwriter in residence as part of a new program.  The program, started by the College of Fine Arts,...

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