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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

All content by Leena Alali
News desk editor admits she actually likes the basement

News desk editor admits she actually likes the basement

Leena Alali, News desk editor April 20, 2023

I will never forget the day my first article was due. I stood outside of Gregory Gym desperately looking for a student source an hour before my deadline, willing myself to talk to someone.  “We need...

UT enforces TikTok ban on government devices following state orders

UT enforces TikTok ban on government devices following state orders

Leena Alali, Senior News Reporter January 12, 2023

On Dec. 16, UT’s University Compliance department sent an email to students and faculty instructing all University employees to immediately remove TikTok from all state-issued devices.  On Dec. 15,...

Texas French Bread is back to baking baguettes

Texas French Bread is back to baking baguettes

Leena Alali, Senior news reporter December 19, 2022

North Campus bakery Texas French Bread  reopened on Nov. 15 as an outdoor patio and trailer following a fire last Spring. Although customers can no longer take a peek at the crew slinging baguettes...

Where to get a Thanksgiving meal in Austin

Where to get a Thanksgiving meal in Austin

Leena Alali, Senior News Reporter November 22, 2022

This year, Thanksgiving Day falls on Thursday, Nov. 24, and whether you are choosing to spend the day scarfing down pumpkin pie or resting, The Daily Texan has compiled a list of places to get a warm Thanksgiving...

An Indigenous dancer performs in the WCP Blackbox at anti-Thanksgiving event hosted by Latinos Studies UT on Nov. 17, 2022.

Student organization holds anti-Thanksgiving feast to bring attention to Indigenious history

Leena Alali, Senior News Reporter November 18, 2022

On Thursday, the Native American and Indigenous Collective held an anti-Thanksgiving feast at the William C. Powers Jr. Student Activity Center.  The United States proclaimed Thanksgiving a public...

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Ken Paxton wins attorney general race

Leena Alali, Senior News Reporter November 9, 2022

Incumbent Ken Paxton won the attorney general race against Rochelle Garza with 53.5% of the vote. “Just because we won tonight, the fight is not over,” said Paxton, according to the Texas Tribune....

What is going on with the Scientology building on Guadalupe?

What is going on with the Scientology building on Guadalupe?

Leena Alali, Senior News Reporter November 3, 2022

For years, businesses have come and gone from The Drag. From food establishments to student housing, change is no surprise. But for many current students, there is one constant: the boarded up Church of...

UT professor edits first collection of Middle Eastern, North African Gothic literature

UT professor edits first collection of Middle Eastern, North African Gothic literature

Leena Alali, Senior News Reporter November 3, 2022

UT professor Karen Grumberg compiled the first collection of Middle Eastern and North African Gothic literature, which is set to publish in December.  Grumberg, professor in Middle Eastern Studies...

Students propose solution to help diseased bats

Students propose solution to help diseased bats

Leena Alali, Senior News Reporter October 21, 2022

UT students proposed a solution to detect white nose syndrome, a disease affecting bats in Austin, through the International Genetically Engineered Machine competition — a global event to showcase academic...

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STDs rates are rising nationally — learn how to play it safe on campus

Leena Alali, Senior News Reporter October 6, 2022

Data received by the Associated Press stated that the rate of US syphilis cases in 2021 reached its highest since 1991. According to the September report, the continuous uptick in STD and STI cases led...

New student organization aims to educate UT community on substance use, overdoses

New student organization aims to educate UT community on substance use, overdoses

Leena Alali, Senior News Reporter October 3, 2022

A new student organization, Longhorn for Harm Reduction, aims to raise awareness for the impacts of substance use. “Harm reduction is a set of practical strategies and ideas aimed at reducing the...

Austin community unites, brings attention to death of Iranian woman Mahsa Amini

Leena Alali, News Reporter September 29, 2022

“Zan, zendegi, azadi!” protestors chanted in Persian. “Woman, life, freedom!” they continued, alternating between English and their native tongue. On Monday, protestors flooded the streets around...

Austin Public Library now open on Sundays

Austin Public Library now open on Sundays

Leena Alali, Senior News Reporter September 28, 2022

The Austin Public Library expanded its hours to be open on Sundays. The Sept. 11 announcement marks the first time the library has opened on Sundays since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in March 2020.  The...

UT strategic plan, high enrollment rates affect student parking availability

UT strategic plan, high enrollment rates affect student parking availability

Leena Alali, Senior News Reporter September 25, 2022

UT’s 10-year strategic plan, Change Starts Here, aims to make the University a high-impact research school. In doing so, UT’s campus is expanding to accommodate more facilities, taking up more land....

Food resources near UT campus

Food resources near UT campus

Leena Alali, Senior News Reporter September 12, 2022

According to a Student Government report released last spring, 32% of UT students are food insecure. The report cited living on or off campus and differences in access to reliable transportation as factors...

UT student startup Tuktuk provides budget-friendly rideshare

UT student startup Tuktuk provides budget-friendly rideshare

Leena Alali, Senior News Reporter September 11, 2022

When UT graduate Sujoy Purkayastha first came to Austin, he felt particularly lucky to be able to explore the area comfortably because he could always rely on his friends for transportation. “I had...

Guide to finding menstrual care products on UT campus

Guide to finding menstrual care products on UT campus

Leena Alali, Senior News Reporter September 1, 2022

For those who menstruate, there are various UT resources where the community can obtain pads, tampons and other personal care products. The Daily Texan has compiled a list of locations to access these...

Miakan-Garza Band continues push for return of Indigenous remains in UT-Austin possession

Miakan-Garza Band continues push for return of Indigenous remains in UT-Austin possession

Leena Alali, Senior news reporter August 29, 2022

Sept. 25 will mark two years since UT President Jay Hartzell made a statement expressing UT’s acknowledgement of the Miakan-Garza Band of the Coahuiltecan people and their claim to  Indigenous remains...

Coffee lovers, you’re in luck! Lucky Lab opens two new branches on UT campus

Coffee lovers, you’re in luck! Lucky Lab opens two new branches on UT campus

Leena Alali, Senior news reporter August 22, 2022

Lucky Lab Coffee Co., the beloved puppy-themed coffee shop of West Campus, opened two new locations on UT campus in the Gates Dell Complex and the Jackson Geological Sciences Building on Monday. Last...

American Campus renovations on The Drag force Wooten Barber Shop to halt operations

American Campus renovations on The Drag force Wooten Barber Shop to halt operations

Leena Alali, News Reporter May 8, 2022

The old school decor of the Wooten Barber Shop remains mostly unchanged from when it opened in 1964, despite the urban sprawl of The Drag where it is located. With burnt orange leather chairs and an eye-catching...

UT-Austin engineering students create charger checkout system at PMA library

UT-Austin engineering students create charger checkout system at PMA library

Leena Alali, News Reporter May 2, 2022

Starting Fall 2022, students will be able to check out cords to charge their electronics from the Physics, Math and Astronomy building’s library as part of an initiative from the Society of First-Year...

UT partners with state to form semiconductor chip initiative, hosts roundtable with Cornyn, McCaul

UT partners with state to form semiconductor chip initiative, hosts roundtable with Cornyn, McCaul

Leena Alali and Katy Nelson May 1, 2022
Cornyn and McCaul engaged in a roundtable discussion with industry executives at the J.J. Pickle Research Campus to discuss the University’s public-private partnership with the Texas Institute for Electronics to advance semiconductor research within the United States.
UT concrete canoe team places 3rd in competition with ‘U.S.S. Tub’ despite structural issues

UT concrete canoe team places 3rd in competition with ‘U.S.S. Tub’ despite structural issues

Leena Alali, News Reporter April 13, 2022

The UT concrete canoe team placed third in a regional competition which took place in Houston, Texas, from March 30 to April 1. This competition marks the first time since the start of COVID-19 that the...

Members of Palestine Solidarity Committee hold signs and banners during a protest against the Israeli Block Party event on April 5, 2022. Protesters gathered near the McCombs School of Business across the street on Speedway from the Israeli Block Party event.

Palestine Solidarity Committee protests during Israel Block Party

Leena Alali, News Reporter April 5, 2022

The Israel Block Party, an event that celebrates Israeli culture, took place in front of Gregory Gym this Tuesday. Simultaneously, across Speedway by the McCombs School of Business, the UT Palestine Solidarity...

UT launches Extended Campus website, consolidates education program resources

UT launches Extended Campus website, consolidates education program resources

Leena Alali, News Reporter March 31, 2022

UT launched the Extended Campus website March 8, consolidating all available continuing education programs from various colleges to help students easily access information about all programs.  UT’s...

Halal Bros reopens after 2021 fire forced owners to rebuild

Halal Bros reopens after 2021 fire forced owners to rebuild

Leena Alali, News Reporter March 21, 2022

Editor's Note: This article first appeared in the March 1, 2022 flipbook. The highly frequented restaurant Halal Bros on Guadalupe Street reopened Feb. 25, after a fire last April caused damage to the...

UT researchers use social network algorithms to identify extinction patterns

UT researchers use social network algorithms to identify extinction patterns

Leena Alali, News Reporter March 20, 2022
The study, which was published Dec. 1, attempts to prove the punctuated equilibrium theory that life on earth consists of long periods of stability followed by short mass extinctions. 
Proposed land purchase by local eateries may create largest scholarship for Texas Women’s Athletics in history

Proposed land purchase by local eateries may create largest scholarship for Texas Women’s Athletics in history

Leena Alali, News Reporter February 8, 2022

Editor's note: This article first appeared in the Feb. 4, 2022 flipbook. Betty Grubbs was a fanatic supporter of all Longhorn sports, and she dedicated herself to ensuring that women at UT had the opportunity...

Austin creates emergency system for deaf, blind, hard of hearing community

Austin creates emergency system for deaf, blind, hard of hearing community

Leena Alali, News reporter December 17, 2021

Editor's Note: This article first appeared in the October 26 flipbook. The city of Austin started providing the community with a system to help those in the blind, deaf and hard of hearing communities...

School of Information alumni create scholarship for BIPOC students

School of Information alumni create scholarship for BIPOC students

Leena Alali, News reporter December 14, 2021

Editor's Note: This article first appeared in the October 15 flipbook.  School of Information alumni and Texas Exes opened a fundraiser to the public last week to create a scholarship endowment for...

UT launches program to help students, faculty approach mental health conversations

UT launches program to help students, faculty approach mental health conversations

Leena Alali, News Reporter November 30, 2021
The Counseling and Mental Health Center initially formed the Mental Health Conversations program in collaboration with the Longhorn Wellness Center to guide faculty members on how to speak to students about mental health.
Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium receives Facility of Merit award for safety and security

Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium receives Facility of Merit award for safety and security

Leena Alali November 7, 2021

Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium received an award for above-average safety and security for protocols including designated zoning rules and mobile vehicle barriers. The National Center for Spectator...

UT launches program to anonymously report campus experiences

UT launches program to anonymously report campus experiences

Leena Alali, News Reporter October 29, 2021

UT launched a program this month that allows students to anonymously report their experiences on campus to better identify problem areas in the community. The Division of Diversity and Community Engagement...

Austin creates emergency system for deaf, blind, hard of hearing community

Austin creates emergency system for deaf, blind, hard of hearing community

Leena Alali, News Reporter October 25, 2021
To create the accessible hazard alert system, the city partnered with Deaf Link, a company that provides media services for those with sensory disabilities.
McCombs receives $1.4 million to create Business of Sports Institute

McCombs receives $1.4 million to create Business of Sports Institute

Leena Alali, News Reporter October 25, 2021

Editor's Note: This story first appeared as part of the October 5th flipbook.  Business and sports education will combine at UT’s Business of Sports Institute debuting fall 2022. The institute,...

UT-Austin community members petition for more deadlift platforms at RecSports facilities

UT-Austin community members petition for more deadlift platforms at RecSports facilities

Leena Alali October 3, 2021

Over 200 members of the UT community signed a petition for the University to add more deadlift platforms to UT’s gyms, which currently only have one located in Gregory Gymnasium.  Biology sophomore...

UT-Austin geophysicists partner with city of Austin on lake initiative

UT-Austin geophysicists partner with city of Austin on lake initiative

Leena Alali, News Reporter September 23, 2021

The UT Institute for Geophysics started a partnership with the city of Austin on Sept. 7 to create 3D images of lakes in Austin, which the city will use to study water quality and algae.  Researchers...

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