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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 Raga Justin
Campaign_2018-11_07_Election_Day_Eddie

As the semester comes to a close, here’s a look back at some of the top stories from this fall

Katie Balevic, Raga Justin, Meghan Nguyen, and Savana Dunning December 10, 2018

YCT Kavanaugh protest Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh was confirmed after testifying against sexual assault allegations from former high school classmate Christine Blasey Ford, among others. UT’s...

collier_2018-12-04_Collier_Campaign_Angela

Two UT students were the digital masterminds behind Democrat Mike Collier’s 2018 campaign for Lt Gov

Raga Justin December 5, 2018

In the wake of the midterms, UT-Austin students Jared Hrebenar and Ali Zaidi have turned their attention back to the regular rhythm of classes and extracurriculars.  But just last month, they...

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City cracks down on Lime, temporarily removes scooters

Raga Justin December 3, 2018

Dockless scooter enthusiasts may be seeing a little less green on the streets of Austin.  The dockless scooter company Lime Bike, one of seven dockless scooter operators licensed by the city,...

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City of Austin invites community feedback on new transportation plan

Raga Justin November 30, 2018

A $1 billion project to overhaul Austin’s current mobility system is in the works and up for community discussion until Dec. 21, according to city officials.    Draft maps of the Austin...

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West Campus has problems. These students are forming a neighborhood association to fix them.

Raga Justin November 28, 2018

West Campus has problems, and Allie Runas wants to fix them. Runas, an electrical and computer engineering senior, is currently in the process of organizing a West Campus neighborhood association. She...

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UT graduate students develop car sensor technology

Raga Justin November 27, 2018

Getting stuck behind a car on a two-lane Texas highway is often why drivers swerve into the opposite lane, attempting to pass slower traffic.  However, new sensory software developed through a...

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Prop A a major step toward affordable housing

Raga Justin November 15, 2018

Last Tuesday, 73 percent of Austin voters approved Proposition A, a $250 million affordable housing bond that represents a major step to combat Austin’s housing crisis, city experts said.  Affordable...

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Elections are over, but campaign signs are still around

Raga Justin November 13, 2018

Architectural engineering sophomore Cypress Lefebre has a political sign up on her lawn in North Campus, a holdover from the midterm election just last week.  A drive through Austin’s residential...

Water_2018-10-24_Wild_Water_Elias

City Council to vote on new water plan

Raga Justin November 9, 2018

It has been less than a month since a boil water notice sparked concern over Austin’s water sustainability, but a plan working on diversifying Austin’s water sources has been in the works for...

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Mayor Steve Adler secures second term

Katie Balevic and Raga Justin November 7, 2018

Steve Adler clinched his second term as mayor Tuesday night, defeating former city council member Laura Morrison and five other candidates with more than 60 percent of the vote. Adler spoke about his...

Ted_Cruz2018-11-05_Ted_Cruz_Voter_Milana

Student advocates for Senate Republican candidate

Raga Justin November 5, 2018

Samuel Samson knew who had his vote for the midterm election before the race even kicked off.  Samson, a government and liberal arts honors sophomore, is active in conservative organizations on...

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With midterm one week away, experts warn against predicting blue wave

Raga Justin October 31, 2018

With midterm elections one week away, Texas political experts say the heavily discussed blue wave may not be on the horizon.  Jeff Blaylock, the publisher of the nonpartisan political guide, “Texas...

patterson_Courtesy of Clark Patterson

Third-party CD35 candidate running on “purely Libertarian principles”

Raga Justin October 29, 2018

Editor’s note: This is one in a series of profiles on candidates running for Congressional Districts in Texas.  Wedding photographer and political newcomer Clark Patterson is the Libertarian...

Austin_PA_Courtesy_of_Katera berent

Local shelter flooded with donations after boil water notice threatened animal’s water supply

Raga Justin October 26, 2018

As Austin residents woke up Monday to the city-wide boil water notice, leaders at the Austin Pets Alive! animal shelter were already worried about the long days ahead.  The no-kill shelter keeps...

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Incumbent representative for Congressional District 35 committed to continuing progressive agenda

Raga Justin October 24, 2018

Editor’s note: This is one of a series of profiles on candidates running for Congressional Districts in Texas. Congressman Lloyd Doggett, the incumbent representative for Congressional District...

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First-time politician runs for Congressional District 35, urges for term limits

Raga Justin October 24, 2018

Editor’s note: This is one of a series of profiles on candidates running for Congressional Districts in Texas. As a first-time politician running for Congressional District 35, David Smalling...

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In re-election bid, Democrat Gina Hinojosa urges students to make it to the polls

Raga Justin October 19, 2018

Editor’s note: This is one of a series of profiles on the race for House District 49. During her “freshman year” as the state representative for House District 49, Democrat Gina Hinojosa...

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Republican contender for District 49 pushes for legalized marijuana, privatized education

Raga Justin October 16, 2018

As the Republican contender for the Texas House District 49, which encompasses UT, Kyle Austin said running for office is the biggest thing he’s done.  The 25-year-old Austin native is challenging...

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Mayoral candidate Travis Duncan calls for universal resource access, voting rights

Raga Justin October 12, 2018

It’s Travis Duncan’s first time running for mayor, but he said it won’t be his last.  “I’m going to run every four years until I win,” Duncan said.  Duncan...

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Austin Mayor Steve Adler wants to ‘continue the fight’ for another term

Raga Justin October 10, 2018

Editor’s note: This is one of a series of profiles on the candidates for the Austin mayor’s race. Serving one term as the mayor of Austin is quite possibly “the biggest honor”...

Laura headshot_Courtesy_of_Laura_Morrison

Mayoral candidate Laura Morrison: ‘This is an anxious town’

Raga Justin October 9, 2018

Editor’s note: This is one in a series of profiles on the candidates running for Austin mayor.  In the three years since her term as an Austin City Council member ended in 2014, Laura...

church_2018-10-04_Catholic_Church_Eilish

Catholic churches near campus respond to national crises

Raga Justin October 4, 2018

Catholic parishes near UT are offering counseling services and training to prevent sexual abuse in response to an August Pennsylvania grand jury report, which revealed statewide sexual abuse by hundreds...

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Pool days just got a little more expensive after fee prices raise across Austin

Raga Justin October 2, 2018

Starting yesterday, students and residents should expect to pay more for a visit to Barton Springs and other Austin pools to fund maintenance costs.  All municipal pools and the popular Barton...

Shelters_in_hurricanes_2018-09-22_Austin_Convention_Center_Eddie

Austin city officials look at storm plan in wake of Hurricanes Florence, Harvey

Raga Justin September 28, 2018

Following a tropical system scare earlier this month and the destruction of Hurricane Florence in the Carolinas, Austin and Travis County officials are reassessing emergency shelter plans.  Eric...

Asian immigration to U.S. outpaces Latin American immigration, trend reflected among international students

Raga Justin September 24, 2018

When UT international student Daniel Shih was in third grade, he moved from his homeland Taiwan to an international school in Beijing. There, his family encouraged him to look at universities outside...

Politcal_2018-09-21_Political_Carlos_Eddie

‘The youngest person on the email thread’: students take to working on campaigns ahead of November

Raga Justin September 21, 2018

On the morning of primary elections last semester, Jacob Springer woke up at 7 a.m. On a normal Tuesday, he would have been attending classes until early afternoon. But on March 6, Springer ditched his...

McCombs MBA program sees increase in diversity

Raga Justin September 13, 2018

The incoming MBA class to McCombs School of Business will see its highest numbers of women and underrepresented racial groups in nearly 20 years, the school announced in a tweet last week.  Nineteen...

Plastic_Bags_2018-09-07_Plastic_Bags_Nairi_Garza16743

‘We have to lead by example’: City of Austin to encourage plastic bag ban despite Texas court ruling

Raga Justin September 7, 2018

Libby Griswold goes grocery shopping frequently, as many students without a meal plan do. But when Griswold shops, she takes care to do one particular thing. “I never use plastic bags,”...

WC_2018-08-29_W

Fourteen years of growth: How West Campus has changed

Raga Justin September 6, 2018

West Campus today is not the West Campus it has always been. Fifteen years ago, ambitious high-rises were almost nonexistent. Features such as bike lanes and street lighting were yet to be improved, or...

waterways_2018-09-04_Dirty_Waterways_Ashley

Nearly half of all Texas waterways — including campus creeks — have unsafe levels of fecal bacteria

Raga Justin September 5, 2018

Austinites using Texas waterways as a cool escape from the burning heat might want to consider cleaner options. A report released Thursday by Environment Texas, an environmental advocacy group, compiled...

Bikes_scooters2018-08-30_Scoters_Pedro

Have any thoughts on dockless scooters and bikes? The City of Austin wants your feedback

Raga Justin August 30, 2018

The City of Austin is accepting public feedback until Friday on dockless scooters and bikes, which have recently taken over both streets and conversations.  The survey is an attempt by the...

overbuilding_Anthony

West Campus growth does not bring lower rent prices

Raga Justin August 27, 2018

West Campus is notorious for ever-expanding growth, and the past year was no exception.  Four new student housing projects were completed in 2018 and have recently opened for students: Skyloft,...

uh_2018-08-21_UH_Lawsuit_Joshua

Lawsuit against University House to move to trial

Megan Menchaca and Raga Justin August 27, 2018

After Plan II sophomore Rylan Maksoud found out his lease with a West Campus apartment complex had been terminated in January, he vowed to pursue every legal avenue open to him. But first, Maksoud created...

daca_2018-02-21_DACA_Protest_Nikita

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...

voting_2018-03-05_Election_Line_Anthony

Runoff voting center to move from FAC to DKR

Raga Justin May 3, 2018

Finals are upon UT-Austin, but civic engagement never stops. The primary runoffs are May 22 and early voting runs from May 14 to May 18, but you may have to work harder to cast your vote.  Flawn...

Prime deal or nightmare? Austin hesitates to welcome Amazon headquarters

Raga Justin April 25, 2018

A new poll from Elon University indicates that Austin residents may not be thrilled if Amazon decides to plant its second home base here. The poll, released earlier this month, found that two potential...

vaping_0420_dianesun_vaping

Vaping brings a cloud of concerns to campus

Raga Justin April 20, 2018

When philosophy junior Alayna Kingston was 15, she smoked her first cigarette, a Kamel Red. She was soon hooked, and that one cigarette spiraled into a two-pack-a-day habit.  Last fall, she decided...

starbs_2018-04-19_Starbucks_Shutting_Down_Ryan

Starbucks in hot water after being accused of racism

Raga Justin April 19, 2018

A video of two black men being arrested after police said they were waiting for a friend in a crowded Philadelphia Starbucks circulated last Thursday, receiving backlash on social media. On Tuesday, Starbucks...

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Facebook under fire for Cambridge Analytica data leak

Raga Justin April 13, 2018

Facebook came under fire earlier this month after it was revealed the political data firm Cambridge Analytica had harvested data from up to 87 million users, hoping to glean insight on targeting American...

Distracted_Driving

National Distracted Driving Month brings strong reminder to drive safe

Raga Justin April 11, 2018

With one hand placed on the steering wheel and her Hyundai slowed to almost a crawl, Abigail Horne figured she would be OK shooting off a quick text to a friend as she approached a nearly deserted four-way...

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Bumble takes swipe at Tinder in new lawsuit

Raga Justin April 4, 2018

Two staples of the college dating app scene are gearing up for a legal battle. In late March, Tinder’s parent company Match Group filed a lawsuit against Bumble claiming patent infringement....

Toys_R_Us_closing_2018-03-30_Toys_R_Us_Joshua

Students remember memories, say goodbye to Toys R Us after closing announcement

Raga Justin March 30, 2018

Once a fixture of the toy industry, Toys R Us has filed for bankruptcy and is in the process of liquidation, according to a statement on the company’s website earlier this month.  The longtime...

gateway_2018-03-26_March_for_our_Lives_Anthony

Austin City Council funds immigrant aid through contract with nonprofit American Gateways

Raga Justin March 29, 2018

Starting in April, the city of Austin will provide $135,000 for immigrant legal services in the area.  Last Thursday, the City Council approved a year-long contract with American Gateways, a nonprofit...

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Election spurred law school applicants, study shows

Raga Justin March 26, 2018

The 2016 presidential election had a major impact on the decision of nearly a third of this year’s law school applicants across the nation, a Kaplan Test Prep study concluded last month. The University’s...

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Depressed? It could be your social media habits.

Raga Justin March 8, 2018

Over winter break, government freshman Rylee Matousek fell into the habit of frequently checking her phone. But constantly browsing through sad tweets and posed Instagram pictures had its drawbacks.  “Every...

2018-03-06_Democrat_Primary_Anthony

Abbott and Patrick hold majority in GOP primaries, Dems undaunted

Raga Justin March 7, 2018

More than 100 Democrats gathered at Austin eatery Scholz Garten on Tuesday night to wait for the Texas Democratic primary results, huddling around large TV screens and cheering on the party’s contenders. Incumbent...

lg_2016-03-01_Ted_Cruz_Super_Tuesday_Rachel

Republican incumbents for attorney general and lieutenant governor seem poised to win

Raga Justin February 28, 2018

The offices of lieutenant governor and attorney general are held by Republican incumbents who seem poised to win their respective primaries. But that has not stopped other candidates from stepping up to...

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APD warns of possible illegal boot scams

Raga Justin February 22, 2018

Having to pay a fine for a car boot can be a negative experience for many student vehicle–owners, but fraudulent boot fines are arguably worse. The Austin Transportation Department released a...

Kelly_2018-02-19_Ellsworth_Kelly_Elias

Ellsworth Kelly’s ‘Austin’ opens to acclaim

Raga Justin February 19, 2018

Anthropology freshman Manuel Ortiz gazes at a starburst of multicolored glass windows, set high in the stark white walls of the newly-opened “Austin” exhibit, located right outside of the Blanton...

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APD, University join forces on sexual assault kit research

Raga Justin February 16, 2018

For years, hundreds of sexual assault kits lay untested in Austin’s evidence rooms, spurring lawmakers and activists to take action in recent months. Although most of those kits have been moved...

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City Council approves dockless bike share pilot program

Raga Justin February 9, 2018

A free–range community bike system, otherwise known as dockless bike share, is now on Austin’s horizon. Last week, the Austin City Council approved a 12-month pilot program to test out dockless...

Voter_0205_VoterRegistration_MingyoLee

Registration deadline for March 6 primaries fast approaching

Raga Justin February 5, 2018

Presidential elections may generate the most buzz, but for some, the primaries for midterm elections are just as important.    Voter registration for the March 6 primaries ends today...

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Austin Animal Services celebrates new lifesaving record

Raga Justin January 30, 2018

Although UT student Katya Vallejo was captivated by the puppies cavorting in the Austin Animal Center, her mission was clear: She was there to find the perfect service dog for her boyfriend Neven Garcia,...

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Abbott faces nine Texas Democrats in gubernatorial race

Raga Justin January 24, 2018

With the 2018 Texas gubernatorial election looming, nine Democratic candidates are gearing up for the primary in an attempt to dislodge Republican Governor Greg Abbott. Josh Blank, manager of polling...

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Austin named finalist in search for Amazon’s second headquarters

Raga Justin January 23, 2018

Austin has been named one of the 20 cities that still has a shot at nabbing Amazon’s second headquarters, according to a statement released by the company last Thursday. Many of the 238 cities...

UH_2018-01-23_University_House_Ashley

University House overbooks and terminates student leases

Raga Justin and Chase Karacostas January 23, 2018

Plan II freshman Rylan Maksoud had barely adjusted to dorm life when he signed a lease in September to live at the apartment complex University House the following year. Four months later, he received...

Security_Fees_Anthony

Young Conservatives of Texas call for removal of security fee system

Raga Justin January 18, 2018

The conservative youth organization Young America’s Foundation sent a letter to the University last Wednesday demanding the rescission of a $654 security fee charged to Young Conservatives of Texas...

Homan2018-01-15_Adler_Brooke

ICE director hopes to prosecute sanctuary cities

Raga Justin January 16, 2018

Thomas Homan, acting director of Immigration and Customs Enforcement, appeared on Fox News earlier this month to threaten prosecution of sanctuary cities, which would include the city of Austin. In...

Chill_1207_2017-12-07_Chillfest_Ashley

Chillfest encourages students to relax before finals

Raga Justin December 7, 2017

Snuggling up to Samantha, a nine-year-old therapy dog, government junior Alexandra Thomas could feel her finals stress slip away. “Dogs are never worried about anything, they just live in the...

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Refugee Student Mentor Program finishes successful fundraiser

Raga Justin December 5, 2017

A month-long campaign through UT’s crowdfunding site HornRaiser proved lucrative for the Refugee Student Mentor Program, which raised $10,056 total, 25 percent more than its original $8,000 goal. The...

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Students gather around hot cocoa, local charities

Raga Justin November 28, 2017

Even on a warm Austin Monday night, dozens of students flocked to the to Student Activity Center ballroom for steaming cups of hot chocolate and to learn about local charities. Hot Chocolate for Charities...

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Briscoe Center opens civil rights photography exhibit

Raga Justin November 16, 2017

The Dolph Briscoe Center for American History unveiled its newest exhibit, “Struggle for Justice,” on Friday. It’s the third exhibit to be featured after a nearly two-year long renovation...

Business2017-11-14_Genesis_Business_Panel_Alexander

Entrepreneurs dole out advice at genesis

Raga Justin November 14, 2017

While moving from Seattle to Austin, the small van Matt Chasen had ordered was unavailable, leaving him with a 20-foot truck and a lot of empty space. That excess capacity gave him the idea for uShip,...

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Award winning Australian author visits Joynes Reading Series

Raga Justin November 7, 2017

Eavesdropping at an airport gate before a flight, Australian author Fiona McFarlane overheard a middle-aged couple nervously admit to each other they were terrified of the holiday they were about to embark...

Beauty_1031_Courtesy of Anna Wang

UT Real Beauty wraps up two weeks of defying beauty standards

Raga Justin October 31, 2017

Students strolling through the West Mall were showered in compliments last week as volunteers for UT’s Real Beauty campaign crusaded against negative body image and media stereotypes of beauty. The...

Hypnotist_1026_Ashley

Student provides hypnosis services as stress management option for UT students

Raga Justin October 26, 2017

The tripod aimed at the reclining chair and a miniscule black dot on the wall across from it are the only two signs that something out of the ordinary takes place in linguistics freshman Nathaniel Lawson’s...

Ride or Drive offers insight on different types of transportation

Raga Justin October 24, 2017

Even though he bought his first car last year, graduate student Matthew Haley still uses his bike to navigate to and from campus to avoid the hassles of parking and traffic. With high parking fees and...

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UT college councils compete in canned food drive following Hurricane Harvey

Raga Justin October 19, 2017

The annual Halloween canned food drive benefiting the Central Texas Food Bank is working overtime this year due to Hurricane Harvey’s impact. The Student Engineering Council, or SEC, coordinates...

Mass_Challenge2017-10-17_MassChallenge_Anthony

Austin welcomes startup accelerator program

Raga Justin October 17, 2017

Eager for the chance to network with big names in business, entrepreneurs gathered for the launch of startup accelerator MassChallenge Texas Monday night. The event at the Bob Bullock Texas History...

Murphy_1013_Courtesy of John Murphy

Stan Richards School crowdfunds money for new John Murphy scholarship

Raga Justin October 13, 2017

Earlier this month, the Stan Richards School of Advertising and Public Relations started raising money for the new John Murphy Endowed Scholarship in an unusual way: crowdfunding. The endowment for...

10-09-2017_Indigenous_Lecture_Anthony

First Indigenous Peoples’ Week to host multiple events

Raga Justin October 10, 2017

The first Indigenous Peoples’ Week is being held through Friday by the Native American and Indigenous Collective. While Indigenous Peoples’ Day has been recognized at UT in past years, this...

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Famed journalist Dan Rather recounts stories from decades-long career

Raga Justin October 5, 2017

Veteran journalist Dan Rather drew laughter and a standing ovation from the audience during a lecture Wednesday night about stories from his career, which spans more than 60 years. A large crowd gathered...

Shanghai__Court_The_University_of_Texas_at_Austin

New partnership with Shanghai University forthcoming

Raga Justin October 3, 2017

In one photo of a brief ceremony documented on Twitter last week, Shanghai University’s President Jin Donghan is shown offering a gift to UT President Greg Fenves, a sign of goodwill between two...

2016-10-26_Young_Conservatives_Club_Bake_Sale_Katie

Campus free speech under fire, new survey suggests

Raga Justin September 28, 2017

Collegiate free speech is under fire, a new survey by the Brookings Institution suggests. Brookings senior fellow John Villasenor recently conducted a survey of 1,500 undergraduates nationwide and said...

Guest speaker offers new perspective on design

Raga Justin September 21, 2017

Beats by Dre, Nasty Gal and Jamba Juice are all high-profile clients of architect Barbara Bestor, who discussed her work during a lecture on campus Wednesday. The UT School of Architecture Lectures...

New study shows apologizing may increase hurt feelings

Raga Justin September 12, 2017

New research conducted by UT and Dartmouth psychologists suggests that apologizing after socially rejecting someone does little to repair hurt feelings and, in fact, may make matters worse. The study,...

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