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 Lauren Abel
Professors continue to use Proctorio despite University discouragement of the software

Professors continue to use Proctorio despite University discouragement of the software

Lauren Abel, News Reporter October 25, 2021

Editor's Note: This article first appeared as part of the October 8th flipbook.  Some students say their professors still use Proctorio, an online test proctoring tool, after the University released...

Student Government passes carbon neutrality joint resolution

Student Government passes carbon neutrality joint resolution

Lauren Abel October 7, 2021

Editor’s Note: This article first appeared as part of the October 1 flipbook. Last Tuesday, Student Government passed a joint resolution calling for a University carbon neutrality deadline of 2033.  The...

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Provost Wood discusses Liberty Institute, COVID-19 guidance at faculty council meeting

Lauren Abel, News Reporter October 6, 2021

Editor's Note: This article first appeared as part of the September 21 flipbook.  University faculty and staff had the opportunity to ask administration about COVID-19 guidance and the proposed political...

Senate of College Council releases legislative priorities, initiatives for 2021-22

Senate of College Council releases legislative priorities, initiatives for 2021-22

Lauren Abel, News Reporter September 15, 2021

The Senate of College Councils released the 2021-22 Senate Platform in late August, which details goals and areas of focus for legislation this semester, although many initiatives are carried over from...

Students call for UT-Austin president to rescind support for Liberty Institute bill, put funding towards students needs

Students call for UT-Austin president to rescind support for ‘Liberty Institute’ bill, put funding towards students needs

Lauren Abel May 7, 2021
Students are calling for University President Jay Hartzell to rescind his support for a Texas State Senate bill which will allocate between $3 million and $6 million sometime between 2022 and 2023 for the development of a campus “Liberty Institute.”
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Austin city special election results announced: Proposition B passes, criminalizes anyones that sits, lies down or camps in public areas downtown or near campus

Lauren Abel May 1, 2021

The city of Austin announced the results of the May 1, 2021 special municipal election Saturday evening. All eight propositions on the city of Austin ballot would amend the city charter if they received...

‘It probably wouldn’t take more than 48 hours without (insulin) for me to slip into a coma’: Students weigh in on bill filed in Texas legislature to cap insulin out-of-pocket costs to $50 per month

‘It probably wouldn’t take more than 48 hours without (insulin) for me to slip into a coma’: Students weigh in on bill filed in Texas legislature to cap insulin out-of-pocket costs to $50 per month

Lauren Abel April 29, 2021

A bill filed in the Texas House of Representatives would place a price limit on monthly insulin copays for people with diabetes. Rep. James Talarico, D-Round Rock, filed a bill which will cap the out-of-pocket...

Minimum wage increase denied in U.S. Congress, alternate bill leaves possibility open

Minimum wage increase denied in U.S. Congress, alternate bill leaves possibility open

Lauren Abel March 26, 2021

Efforts to increase the federal minimum wage to $15 are being postponed after the minimum wage hike failed to be included in the COVID-19 relief package President Joe Biden signed on March 11. According...

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Experts say ‘there hasn’t been’ a COVID-19 response from Texas, leaving local governments to act ‘much tougher’

Lauren Abel March 24, 2021

Editor's Note: This article first appeared in the March 12 issue of The Daily Texan.   COVID-19 has tested state officials’ leadership as the on-going public health crisis has killed nearly...

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Legislators file bills to expand Medicaid as Texans struggle to access affordable health care

Lauren Abel March 11, 2021

Texas legislators proposed bills to expand Medicaid and address the state’s health insurance disparities as more than 5 million Texans continue to weather the COVID-19 pandemic uninsured. Approximately...

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Biden Administration attempts to reverse transgender military ban, only 18 days until progress report

Lauren Abel March 9, 2021

When Map Pesqueira lost his military scholarship in April 2019 due to former President Donald Trump’s executive order banning transgender people from serving in the military, he thought he would be unable...

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Thousands of ineligible individuals request COVID-19 vaccine appointments through false scheduling link

Lauren Abel and Kevin Vu March 5, 2021

Hundreds lined up outside Gregory Gym on Monday after thousands of individuals who do not qualify for the COVID-19 vaccine made an appointment after a scheduling link was unofficially spread. UT Health...

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Travis County COVID-19 positivity rates decrease, may change risk level next week

Lauren Abel March 3, 2021

Austin may change it’s COVID-19 risk level next week as COVID-19 positivity and hospitalization rates gradually decrease in Travis County, Mayor Steve Adler said at a Tuesday night press conference. “Dr....

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What resources are available on campus after the winter storm?

Editor's Note: This story first appeared in The Daily Texan's February 23 print edition. Despite this week’s higher temperatures, Austin is still reeling from the effects of last week’s...

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University will not require ACT or SAT scores for fall 2022 admissions

Lauren Abel February 25, 2021

University admissions will not require fall 2022 undergraduate applicants to submit SAT or ACT scores due to COVID-19 related testing limitations, according to a statement released on the Texas Admissions...

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Elected officials help Texans during, after winter storm crisis

Lauren Abel February 25, 2021

Elected officials were asked to help their constituents and provide resources to Texans after millions were left without power and water for days during last week’s severe winter storm.  While...

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Boil water notice lifted for UT-Austin main campus, West Campus, parts of North Campus

Skye Seipp, Sheryl Lawrence, and Lauren Abel February 22, 2021

Editor's Note: This story was updated as information became available.  The University’s main campus is no longer under a boil water notice, according to the emergency messages page....

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Kinsolving Residence Hall, Honors Quad without water due to inclement weather

Lauren Abel February 18, 2021

Editor’s Note: This story was updated regularly until Sunday, February 22. Information within this story may no longer be up to date. Students in Kinsolving Residence Hall and the Honors...

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Here’s what you need to know about power, water and shelter at and around UT amid severe weather

Editor’s Note: This story was updated regularly until Sunday, February 22. Information within this story may no longer be up to date. Students living off campus continue to face power and...

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Duren Residence Hall evacuated early Tuesday morning due to faulty water flow detector

Lauren Abel and Sheryl Lawrence February 16, 2021

Residents evacuated Duren Residence Hall due to a fire alarm into below-freezing weather and about 6 inches of snow at 1:47 a.m. Tuesday.  Resident assistants directed students to shelter in Kinsolving...

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Students face power outages while UT facilities still have power, are available to students

Sheryl Lawrence and Lauren Abel February 15, 2021

Editor's Note: This story has been updated to include power outages at UT-owned Gateway Apartments. Students living off campus continue to face power outages and internet issues amid the winter...

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UTPD develops crisis intervention team to respond to mental health calls

Lauren Abel February 12, 2021

Editor's Note: This story first appeared in The Daily Texan's February 9 print edition. The UT Police Department launched the University Critical Incident Response Team on Jan. 11 with the hope...

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UT, city council expand PCT locations around Austin

Lauren Womack and Lauren Abel February 12, 2021

Editor's Note: This story first appeared in The Daily Texan's February 9 print edition. The University’s Proactive Community Testing program is expanding to include mobile sites located...

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Dell Medical School assistant professor develops The Impact Factory, aims to alleviate long-standing social issues

Lauren Abel February 3, 2021

Some university students and staff are working to help develop solutions for long-standing social issues through a new civic engagement initiative, The Impact Factory. The Impact Factory is an organization...

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Texas legislators aim to revise marijuana policies, decriminalize low-level possession

Lauren Abel January 28, 2021

With more than 30 cannabis-related bills filed for the ongoing 87th Texas legislative session, legislators from both parties aim to change marijuana policy in Texas to reduce the consequences for low-level...

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87th legislative session prompts redistricting in Texas

Lauren Abel January 26, 2021

The start of Texas’ 87th legislative session on Jan. 12 marked the beginning of legislators’ redistricting process, when legislative and congressional boundaries will be redrawn.  The...

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UTPD will keep cars’ red, blue lights on overnight, aims to increase visibility in West Campus

Lauren Abel November 17, 2020

The UT Police Department will keep the red and blue lights on squad cars lit overnight to increase visibility in West Campus, according to a Saturday UTPD tweet. Peter Scheets, UTPD assistant chief...

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Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board organizes emergency relief for students impacted by COVID-19

Lauren Abel November 10, 2020

The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board is seeking applications from institutions for three different grants under the Governor’s Emergency Education Relief Fund, a $175 million fund established...

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McCombs MBA graduate creates Pay It Forward scholarship for incoming MBA students

Lauren Abel October 21, 2020

The Pay It Forward scholarship for incoming Master of Business Administration students aims to help MBA students struggling because of the COVID-19 pandemic.   Developed by MBA graduate Gbenoba...

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Scooter rental companies discontinue on-campus operations for fall semester

Lauren Abel September 17, 2020

Electric scooter rental companies are no longer operating on campus for the fall semester due to decrease in demand for scooter rentals, said Blanca Gamez, associate director of UT Parking and Transportation...

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Polling locations look to recruit younger employees following COVID-19

Lauren Abel September 14, 2020

Polling locations across the country have faced staffing shortages for the upcoming election as a result of COVID-19, prompting the recruitment of younger workers. One group trying to reduce the shortage...

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UT-Austin students develop website to make information about courses, professors more accessible

Lauren Abel September 1, 2020

After registering for classes in the spring, three UT students decided to create UTexas Review, a website that condenses information about courses and professors to help students make informed decisions...

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Freshmen receive virtual welcome with online Gone to Texas

Lauren Abel August 26, 2020

Interim President Jay Hartzell led incoming freshmen in a virtual Gone to Texas on Tuesday night to celebrate their arrival before the first day of class.  Gone to Texas, which used to allow freshmen...

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Sure Walk implements new safety measures, aims to reduce health risks

Lauren Abel August 26, 2020

Sure Walk is changing their operations this semester to reduce health risks.  Sure Walk, which provides free walks and rides from on-campus locations to home at night, resumed services Aug. 20...

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Texas Global suspends all study abroad programs through Aug. 18

Lauren Abel and Anna Canizales March 13, 2020

Editor’s note: This story is part of The Daily Texan’s coverage of how coronavirus concerns are affecting UT-Austin. Read the rest of our coverage here. Texas Global has suspended all...

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UT suspends study abroad programs to all CDC Level 1, 2, 3 countries

Lauren Abel March 11, 2020

The University announced Tuesday that undergraduate travel, including Maymesters and summer programs, would be suspended for all countries with Centers for Disease Control Warning Levels 1, 2 and 3, adding...

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Disability Student Advocacy Coalition hosts Disability History Night

Lauren Abel February 25, 2020

The Disability Advocacy Student Coalition discussed a history of unfair and inhumane treatment of disabled people that continued into the 1990s at the Disability History Night on Monday in the William...

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Students for Equity and Diversity host Diversity Dialogue: Intersex Education

Lauren Abel February 6, 2020

Activist Alicia Weigel spoke about intersex awareness and said intersex children are subject to harmful procedures at the Diversity Dialogue on Wednesday. Students for Equity and Diversity hosted the event...

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