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

Leila Saidane, Photo Editor

Leila Saidane is a junior from Dallas, Texas, studying Radio-TV-Film and Journalism. Her words and photos have been published in The Texas Tribune, The Austin Chronicle, The Austin American-Statesman and The Dallas Morning News.

All content by Leila Saidane
Photo Gallery: Austin City Limits Festival, Week One

Photo Gallery: Austin City Limits Festival, Week One

Julius Shieh and Leila Saidane October 11, 2022

Music fans attend the annual Austin City Limits Festival from Oct. 7-9, 2022.

On Oct. 1, 2022, fans celebrate as the Texas Longhorns play the West Virginia Mountaineers at the Darrell K Royal Memorial Stadium. UT beat WVU with a score of 38-20.

Photo Gallery: Texas vs West Virginia Gameday

Peyton Sims, Leila Saidane, and Joy Li October 10, 2022

On Oct. 1, 2022, the Texas Longhorns faced off against the West Virginia Mountaineers at the Darrell K Royal Memorial Stadium. UT beat WVU with a score of 38-20.

Paramore performs on the American Express stage at Austin City Limits on October 9, 2022.

[Photo] Paramore embraces recalls 2010s roots in nostalgic ACL performance

October 11, 2022

Paramore performs on the American Express stage at Austin City Limits on October 9, 2022.

Japanese Breakfast performs on the T-Mobile stage at Austin City Limits on October 9, 2022.

[Photo] Japanese Breakfast performed musically mystic, dreamy ACL set

October 10, 2022

Japanese Breakfast performs on the T-Mobile stage at Austin City Limits on October 9, 2022.

PinkPantheress performs on the T-Mobile stage at Austin City Limits on October 9, 2022.

[Photo] PinkPantheress’ angelic live vocals fail to make up for low-energy ACL performance

October 10, 2022

PinkPantheress performs on the T-Mobile stage at Austin City Limits on October 9, 2022.

Photo Gallery: Mahsa Amini Protest at Texas State Capitol

Photo Gallery: Mahsa Amini Protest at Texas State Capitol

On Sept. 26, 2022, people gather outside of the Texas State Capitol in protest of the Iranian government following Mahsa Amini’s death.  

Fared Shafinury leads the crowd in chant in front of the Texas State Capitol on Sept. 26, 2022. Protestors gathered in protest of the Iranian government following Mahsa Amini’s death.

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

September 30, 2022

Fared Shafinury leads the crowd in chant in front of the Texas State Capitol on Sept. 26, 2022. Protestors gathered in protest of the Iranian government following Mahsa Amini’s death.

Photo Gallery: Beto ORourke Texas College Tour

Photo Gallery: Beto O’Rourke Texas College Tour

As a part of a series of college visits, gubernatorial candidate Beto O'Rourke visited the 40 Acres on Sept. 26, 2022.  

Photo Gallery: Texas vs. Alabama Gameday

Photo Gallery: Texas vs. Alabama Gameday

On Sept. 10, 2022, over 100 thousand fans gathered at DKR Stadium to watch the Longhorns face nationally ranked rival, Alabama. Alabama won by one point with a final score of 20-19.

Photo Gallery: Students Return to Campus

Photo Gallery: Students Return to Campus

Julius Shieh, Peyton Sims, and Leila Saidane August 31, 2022

Longhorns returned to Austin for the first week of classes of the Fall '22 semester.

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Putting a wrench in the school-to-prison pipeline: Alternatives to zero-tolerance discipline in public schools

Leila Saidane, News Reporter August 9, 2022

Editor's note: This article first appeared in the August 9, 2022 flip book.  Growing up in her predominantly low-income Hispanic community near San Antonio, Kollette Zamora saw friends she knew as...

What do songbirds and professional musicians have in common? Precise timekeeping

What do songbirds and professional musicians have in common? Precise timekeeping

Leila Saidane, News Reporter August 7, 2022

A perfect tempo is not something a skilled musician is born with. It’s achieved through years of exposure to music, timing ingrained in memory and lots of repetition. But for a scaly-breasted wren, a...

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UT-Austin fundraiser symbolically names over 600 turtles at the Turtle Pond

Leila Saidane, News Reporter August 3, 2022

Editor’s note: This article first appeared in the August 2, 2022 flipbook. While working on his dissertation last year, predoctoral fellow Theo Milonopoulos found himself visiting UT’s iconic Turtle...

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Researchers analyze how to rescue weak memories to help in education, PTSD treatment

Leila Saidane, News Reporter July 25, 2022

A recent study co-authored by a UT researcher reviews how to rescue weak memories within a few hours before or after memory formation by exposing people to novel or emotional experiences, which could help...

Managing, understanding stress can help students perform better academically, according to research

Managing, understanding stress can help students perform better academically, according to research

Leila Saidane, News Reporter July 24, 2022

To counteract the stress of college, students learn skills for minimizing or avoiding academic anxiety in order to manage the challenges they face. A team of researchers aims to change that narrative,...

UT-Austin researchers develop low-cost water filter from tree seeds, cotton balls

UT-Austin researchers develop low-cost water filter from tree seeds, cotton balls

Leila Saidane, News Reporter July 21, 2022

A UT-led team of researchers developed a low-cost, regenerative filter that removes viruses and bacteria from water using two simple, unprocessed ingredients: tree seeds and cotton balls. Viruses are...

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Monkeypox case confirmed in UT-Austin community

Leila Saidane, News Reporter July 17, 2022

A monkeypox case was confirmed in the UT community last week, a University Health Services spokesperson said Sunday.  Nine cases have been reported in Travis County as of Thursday. UHS associate director...

How to support LGBTQ+ youth beyond pride month

How to support LGBTQ+ youth beyond pride month

Leila Saidane, News Reporter July 14, 2022

While June, a month of pride and acceptance for the LGBTQ+ community, is over, advocates at UT’s Gender and Sexuality Center said there are ways people can continue to show their support and allyship...

UT-Austin discontinues COVID-19 dashboard

UT-Austin discontinues COVID-19 dashboard

Leila Saidane, News Reporter July 14, 2022

UT retired its COVID-19 dashboard on July 1 — six months after it reported the University hit daily positive case records — due to a lack of self-reporting and an increase in at-home testing. The...

Researchers discover frog-eating bats remember ringtones after years in the wild

Researchers discover frog-eating bats remember ringtones after years in the wild

Leila Saidane, News Reporter July 14, 2022

Editor’s note: This article first appeared in the July 12, 2022 flipbook. A group of researchers led by a UT grad student discovered that wild frog-eating bats can remember sounds their prey make...

UT researchers discover first viruses in ancient archaea, a possible key to origins of complex life

UT researchers discover first viruses in ancient archaea, a possible key to origins of complex life

Leila Saidane, News Reporter July 11, 2022

UT researchers have made the first discovery of viruses infecting ancient archaea that may further scientists’ current understanding of the origins of life.  Asgard Archaea are ancient prokaryotes...

Rising temperatures projected to decrease tomato production

Rising temperatures projected to decrease tomato production

Leila Saidane, News Reporter July 7, 2022

Editor’s note: This article first appeared in the July 6, 2022 flipbook. The global processing tomato production is projected to decrease 6% by 2050, a recent study co-authored by UT researchers found...

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UT System approves $16.5M in funding for student mental health, safety services

Leila Saidane, Senior News Reporter June 30, 2022

On Tuesday, the University of Texas System Board of Regents approved the allocation of $16.5 million toward student mental health, student safety and alcohol education for all 13 UT System institutions...

Newly discovered river belt rule helps scientists analyze ancient, extraterrestrial rivers

Newly discovered river belt rule helps scientists analyze ancient, extraterrestrial rivers

Leila Saidane, News Reporter June 27, 2022

New findings by UT researchers may help scientists identify the geometry and patterns of dried-up ancient rivers, such as the 3.5 billion-year-old rivers that once flowed on Mars, and provide insight for...

Protesters in Austin, Texas on June 24, 2022 after the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade.

How to receive abortion care in Texas post-Roe v. Wade

Leila Saidane, News Reporter June 27, 2022

Many Texas clinics have halted pregnancy termination services since the Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe v. Wade on Friday. When abortion-ban “trigger laws” take effect, the nearest legal...

Colonialism produces gaps in scientific understanding of Caribbean, researchers find

Colonialism produces gaps in scientific understanding of Caribbean, researchers find

Leila Saidane, News Reporter June 26, 2022

The Caribbean is a region recognized for its rich biodiversity, but the long-standing legacy of colonialism continues to create gaps in scientists’ understanding of the area’s natural history. This...

UT-Austin researchers develop low-cost gel that absorbs water from desert air

UT-Austin researchers develop low-cost gel that absorbs water from desert air

Leila Saidane, News Reporter June 23, 2022

A new low-cost, sustainable polymer gel film produced by UT researchers may hold the key to aiding water scarcity in two-thirds of the global population. The thin and porous film, made out of the cooking...

UT-Austin researchers develop faster, more energy-efficient components for 6G networks

UT-Austin researchers develop faster, more energy-efficient components for 6G networks

Leila Saidane, News Reporter June 23, 2022

An international team led by UT researchers created a key component for the next generation of wireless communication — sixth-generation network applications — that will allow for faster and more energy-efficient...

Civitas Institute, formerly Liberty Institute, hires executive director Justin Dyer

Civitas Institute, formerly Liberty Institute, hires executive director Justin Dyer

Leila Saidane, News Reporter June 16, 2022

UT’s Civitas Institute, formerly known as the Liberty Institute, named alumnus Justin Dyer as its executive director Monday. The conservative-backed institute aims to teach the American values of...

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Vehicle traffic to be eliminated from Guadalupe Street under new Project Connect plan

Leila Saidane, News Reporter June 16, 2022

An updated plan calls for The Drag to lose all vehicle traffic as a part of Project Connect, the city’s multibillion-dollar transit initiative.  The plan is part of Project Connect’s Orange Line...

Patrons walk through the gates at the Barton Springs Pool at Zilker Park on June 5, 2022. Austin Public pools have been closed  or operating with limited hours due to a lifeguard labor shortage.

Over half of Austin pools closed due to lifeguard shortages, as some advocate for higher wages for city employees

Leila Saidane, News Reporter June 9, 2022

Editor’s note: This article first appeared in the June 7, 2022 flipbook. As temperatures rise to triple digits this week, many Austinites who turn to public pools to cool off may find them closed...

The last standing slave quarters in Austin sits behind the Neill-Cochran House Museum in West Campus.
The two-story building originally had a living and lounge space for the enslaved people that worked within the main house on the top floor and a workspace on the bottom, with an internal opening and external staircase connecting the two.

Urban slave quarters rediscovered in West Campus

Leila Saidane, News Reporter May 8, 2022

Deep in the heart of West Campus sits the last standing slave quarters in Austin. Situated behind the Neill-Cochran House off San Gabriel and 24th Street, hundreds of UT students unknowingly walk the same...

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No furry friends: UT-Austin warns students to beware of raccoons after increase of campus encounters, 3 bites reported

Leila Saidane, News Reporter May 8, 2022

Editor's note: This article first appeared in the May 3, 2022 flipbook. When Wren Thomson took a late-night walk on campus last semester, he didn’t expect a slow, stalking raccoon to chase him past...

Austin reports increase of hate crimes, civil rights violations in 2021

Austin reports increase of hate crimes, civil rights violations in 2021

Leila Saidane, Senior News Reporter May 4, 2022

The City of Austin reported a total of 28 hate crimes in 2021, an increase from 24 in 2020 and 12 in 2019, reflecting a portion of the increase in bias and discrimination against marginalized communities. The...

UT launches Longhorn SHARE, peer-led support groups addressing mental health issues

UT launches Longhorn SHARE, peer-led support groups addressing mental health issues

Leila Saidane, Senior News Reporter May 4, 2022

A new peer-led support group program at UT will help students address issues concerning imposter syndrome and mental health diagnoses or discuss navigating queer identities and first-generation college...

After marching from Republic Square, protestors arrive at the Capitol steps on May 3, 2022. The crowd echoed chants such as my body, my choice.

‘We’re all disappointed’: Abortion rights protests form in Austin over leaked Supreme Court draft opinion

Leila Saidane, News Reporter May 3, 2022

Hundreds of protestors marched through the streets of downtown Austin to the steps of the State Capitol on Tuesday evening to protest the United States Supreme Court’s intention to overturn Roe v. Wade,...

UT researchers study ‘COVID brain,’ why patients experience brain fog, depression, and other lingering symptoms post-infection

UT researchers study ‘COVID brain,’ why patients experience brain fog, depression, and other lingering symptoms post-infection

Leila Saidane, News Reporter April 28, 2022

Some individuals who contract COVID-19 struggle with “long COVID,” experiencing lingering acute COVID-19 symptoms such as fatigue and shortness of breath, in addition to other symptoms like depression...

Moody Center makes debut

Moody Center makes debut

Christina Huang, Bo Espey, and Leila Saidane April 26, 2022

Editor's Note: This article first appeared in the April 22, 2022 flipbook. After seven years in development, including about two years of construction, UT’s $375 million Moody Center made its debut...

Fans wait for the Moody Center doors to open on the Dell Technologies Plaza on Apr. 20, 2022. The venue featured a performance from Grammy award winner John Mayer and artist YEBBA in its first public concert.

[Photo]

Fans wait for the Moody Center doors to open on the Dell Technologies Plaza on Apr. 20, 2022. The venue featured a performance from Grammy award winner John Mayer and artist YEBBA in its first public concert.

UT, Austin Public Health offer second COVID-19 booster shots for eligible individuals

UT, Austin Public Health offer second COVID-19 booster shots for eligible individuals

Leila Saidane, News Reporter April 19, 2022

Editor's Note: This article first appeared in the April 15, 2022 flipbook. Immunocompromised individuals and people 50 and over can now get their second COVID-19 booster shot through University Health...

UT civic group seeks student involvement in Project Connect proposal

UT civic group seeks student involvement in Project Connect proposal

Leila Saidane, News Reporter April 13, 2022

A student civic entrepreneurship group is gathering community feedback from student residential areas — including North Campus and Riverside — as it develops a report to present to the city of Austin’s...

Austin Holi Festival 2022

Austin Holi Festival 2022

UT Students and the larger Austin community celebrated Holi at an event hosted by the UT Hindu Student Association. The festival was held was help on the LBJ lawn on April 9, 2022.

UT report discusses challenges students with marginalized identities face in elected positions

UT report discusses challenges students with marginalized identities face in elected positions

Leila Saidane, News Reporter April 8, 2022

Editor's Note: This article first appeared in the April 5, 2022 flipbook. Former Student Government members of marginalized identities discussed their challenges navigating public office during and...

Essential workers and low-income individuals face higher COVID-19 risks during lockdowns, UT-Austin researchers find

Essential workers and low-income individuals face higher COVID-19 risks during lockdowns, UT-Austin researchers find

Leila Saidane, Senior News Reporter April 6, 2022

Essential workers, residents in low-income neighborhoods and those that live in densely populated areas face disproportionately higher risks of contracting COVID-19 during lockdown periods, according to...

UT-Austin introduces expanded gender-inclusive roommate option on campus

UT-Austin introduces expanded gender-inclusive roommate option on campus

Leila Saidane, Senior News Reporter April 6, 2022

University Housing and Dining introduced a new gender-inclusive housing option for certain on-campus residence halls starting in Fall 2022, allowing students to select roommates regardless of gender identity...

UT-Austin to implement new financial aid software for 2023-24 academic year

UT-Austin to implement new financial aid software for 2023-24 academic year

Leila Saidane, Senior News Reporter April 4, 2022

UT will begin implementing new financial aid software as the primary interface for the Office of Scholarship and Financial Aid Services in October for the 2023-24 academic year.  Oracle Vocado Student...

UT students, community march for climate action 

UT students, community march for climate action 

Leila Saidane, News Reporter March 27, 2022

Over 100 UT students and community members marched from the Tower to the Capitol on Friday as part of an international climate movement and to encourage the Texas Legislature to hold the Electric Reliability...

UT student nonprofit FostaParty receives grant to continue throwing birthday parties for foster children

UT student nonprofit FostaParty receives grant to continue throwing birthday parties for foster children

Leila Saidane, Senior News Reporter March 12, 2022
FostaParty’s birthday kits allow foster parents to throw parties for foster children for free.
Hundreds of people wave their homemade signs and pride flags outside of the Texas State Capitol on March 1 in protest of Gov. Greg Abbott’s restrictions on transgender youth.

Protesters rally for transgender rights at Texas Capitol

Leila Saidane, News Reporter March 2, 2022

Around 300 demonstrators gathered at the Capitol on Tuesday to protest Gov. Greg Abbott’s recent directive to classify gender affirming procedures on minors as child abuse.  “Abbott's written directive,...

2022-23 UT Student Government executive alliance candidates discuss platform points

2022-23 UT Student Government executive alliance candidates discuss platform points

Leila Saidane, News Reporter March 1, 2022

Editor's Note: This article first appeared in the Feb. 25, 2022 in the flipbook. UT students can vote starting Monday on who will represent them as student body president and vice president for the...

UT students call for reliable Riverside transportation

UT students call for reliable Riverside transportation

Leila Saidane, News Reporter February 25, 2022

Editor's Note: This article first appeared in the Feb. 21, 2022 in the flipbook. UT students living in Riverside have experienced delays and service disruptions throughout the first few months of classes....

Student Government executive alliance candidates discuss platform points at debate

Student Government executive alliance candidates discuss platform points at debate

Leila Saidane, News Reporter February 22, 2022
The debate, hosted by Sanika Nayak, editor-in-chief of The Daily Texan, presented the candidates’ platforms and informed the Texan’s editorial board on their candidate endorsement.
UT COVID-19 forecasting model assists city in pandemic responses

UT COVID-19 forecasting model assists city in pandemic responses

Leila Saidane, Senior News Reporter February 15, 2022

The UT COVID-19 Modeling Consortium has developed a forecasting model that uses city hospital and cell phone mobility data to predict the progression of COVID-19 transmission, assisting the Austin metropolis...

Few working street lights line Graham Pl and Rio Grande St. The City of Austin plans to upgrade more than 400 streetlights in West Campus by the end of the year.

City of Austin to upgrade lighting in West Campus

Leila Saidane, Senior News Reporter February 11, 2022

Editor's Note: This article first appeared in the Feb. 8, 2022 flipbook. The city of Austin announced a plan Jan. 27  to upgrade more than 400 streetlights in West Campus by the end of the year, in...

Rally attendees hold a lit candle during the candle lighting at the Beto ORourke rally on Feb. 9, 2022. Attendees held candles in honor of the 246 lives lost during Storm Uri in Feb. 2021.

[Photo]

Rally attendees hold a lit candle during the candle lighting at the Beto O'Rourke rally on Feb. 9, 2022. Attendees held candles in honor of the 246 lives lost during Storm Uri in Feb. 2021.

Gubernatorial candidate Beto ORourke speaks near the State Capitol on Feb. 9, 2022. ORourke called for the reform of Texas infrastructure after the ERCOT power failures during winter Storm Uri in Feb. 2021.

[Photo] Beto O’Rourke discusses power grid, improving health care access at Texas Capitol rally

February 10, 2022

Gubernatorial candidate Beto O'Rourke speaks near the State Capitol on Feb. 9, 2022. O'Rourke called for the reform of Texas infrastructure after the ERCOT power failures during winter Storm Uri in Feb....

CapMetro driver shortages cause UT shuttle route delays, Riverside students miss classes

CapMetro driver shortages cause UT shuttle route delays, Riverside students miss classes

Leila Saidane, News Reporter February 8, 2022
On Tuesday, only one of three Capital Metro buses that run the Riverside route were operating due to bus driver shortages
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CapMetro’s future light rail could eliminate vehicle traffic on Guadalupe

Leila Saidane, Senior News Reporter February 7, 2022

Editor’s note: This article first appeared in the Feb. 4, 2022 flipbook. Capital Metro’s future light rail could eliminate vehicle traffic from The Drag, simultaneously solving the West Campus “transit...

UT to reopen Turrell Skyspace, ‘The Color Inside’ on Feb. 14

UT to reopen Turrell Skyspace, ‘The Color Inside’ on Feb. 14

Leila Saidane, News Reporter February 7, 2022
“The Color Inside,” located on top of the William C. Powers, Jr. Student Activity Center, is one of 82 skyspaces installed worldwide by artist James Turrell.
Rotating walk-up PCT sites reintroduced to UT campus

Rotating walk-up PCT sites reintroduced to UT campus

Leila Saidane, News Reporter February 4, 2022
Locations will be updated each week on the Proactive Community Testing site. 
Austin wastewater helps UT researchers track COVID-19 transmission

Austin wastewater helps UT researchers track COVID-19 transmission

Leila Saidane, News Reporter February 3, 2022
UT epidemiologists are using fecal matter from Austin’s wastewater plants to track the transmission of COVID-19 in the area.
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