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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 Sarah Philips
2016-10-19_Student_Government_Jenan

Austin mayor joins coalition in urging Obama administration to accept further protections for undocumented immigrants

Sarah Philips December 31, 2016

On Thursday, Mayor Steve Adler joined 31 members of Cities for Action, a coalition of mayors and county leaders, in thanking President Barack Obama for his support for immigrant families and urging him...

2015-11-05_Regents_Meeting_Joshua

Texas Supreme court decides to hear case between UT Regent Wallace Hall and Chancellor William McRaven

Sarah Philips December 31, 2016

The Texas Supreme Court agreed Friday to hear arguments in the lawsuit UT Regent Wallace Hall filed against UT System Chancellor William McRaven in order to access confidential student records that McRaven...

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Trump chooses former Texas governor Rick Perry for energy secretary

Sarah Philips December 14, 2016

President-elect Donald Trump has chosen former Texas governor Rick Perry as his energy secretary, the New York Times confirmed Tuesday night. Perry served as Texas governor from 2001 to 2015. He ran...

Challenger Alison Alter defeats incumbent city council member Sheri Gallo in runoff election

Sarah Philips December 14, 2016

After a contentious campaign, Alison Alter, former member of the Austin Parks and Recreation Board, upset incumbent city council member Sheri Gallo in a runoff election for the Austin City Council District...

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Trump names UT alumnus and Exxon CEO as Secretary of State

Sarah Philips December 13, 2016

President-elect Donald Trump has selected Rex Tillerson, ExxonMobil CEO and UT alumnus, as his choice for secretary of state, The New York Times confirmed Monday night.    Tillerson is expected...

tower_pics_rachel

Texas attorney general says community colleges cannot prohibit guns for instances involving minors

Sarah Philips December 1, 2016

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton announced community and junior colleges would not be able to generally prohibit guns on campus for occasions when minors are involved at the schools in an opinion released...

2016-11-30_85th_Legislature_Talk_Angel

Texas House Speaker looks ahead to 2017 legislative session, reflects on 2016 election

Sarah Philips November 30, 2016

With the Texas Legislature convening in six weeks, House Speaker Joe Straus, R-San Antonio, weighed in on the Nov. 8 election and the upcoming 85th legislative session in a conversation with Texas Tribune...

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Center for Disease Control find first locally transmitted case of Zika virus in Texas

Sarah Philips November 29, 2016

The first local transmission of the Zika virus in Texas occurred in Brownsville, Texas, health officials announced Monday. The woman who contracted the illness is not pregnant, according...

2016-11-18_Antifacist Protest_Alex_Dolan37747

Revolutionary Student Front marches to protest student arrests

Sarah Philips and Paul Cobler November 18, 2016

The Revolutionary Student Front, a self-described anti-fascist organization, marched Thursday in protest of three of the group’s allies being arrested last month for attempting to remove a Celtic...

2016-11-17_Mayor_Alder's_Task Force_Thomas

Mayor Adler announces task force to attack institutional racism in Austin

Sarah Philips November 17, 2016

Austin Mayor Steve Adler announced a task force on Wednesday that will explore ways the city can combat institutional racism within criminal justice, health, education, finance and housing.  The...

2016-11-16_Standing_Rock_Protest_Angel

Austinites march in protest against Dakota Access pipeline

Sarah Philips and Jenan Taha November 16, 2016

Protesters marched past the Texas State Capitol Tuesday evening, chanting, “We will stand. We will fight. Water is a human right,” in an effort to call out companies such as Chase Bank and...

GinaHinojosa_Zoe

State Rep. Gina Hinojosa says she will examine legislative impact on UT

Sarah Philips November 15, 2016

State Rep. Gina Hinojosa, D-Austin, announced Monday she will explore whether the University of Texas could opt out of the campus carry law and the potential bathroom bill Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick is touting...

2016-10-27_Conservative_Bake_Sale_Zoe

Students for a Stateless Society criticizes University Democrats’ actions in open letter

Sarah Philips November 14, 2016

The Students for a Stateless Society criticized University Democrats for their actions during the affirmative action bake sale hosted by the Young Conservatives of Texas on Oct. 26 in an open letter this...

2016-08-24_DonaldTrump_Joshua

Donald Trump becomes 45th United States president

Sarah Philips November 9, 2016

Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump won the highest office in America on early Wednesday morning, defying predictions for the election. “Now it’s time for America to bind...

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Austin passes $720 million mobility bond, will turn Guadalupe into city activity corridor

Sarah Philips November 9, 2016

The city of Austin has voted to pass Proposition 1, a $720 million mobility bond, that will turn Guadalupe Street, a well-traversed street for students, into a city activity corridor and provide funds...

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Student elections forecaster predicts presidential election outcome

Cassi Pollock and Sarah Philips November 8, 2016

Today is Election Day, marking the end of a frenzied political battle between Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton and Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump, and Americans who didn’t...

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Voter turnout at FAC ranks third-highest in Travis County

Sarah Philips November 4, 2016

With early voting drawing to a close, students, faculty and members of the surrounding community have made UT’s polling place of choice, the Flawn Academic Center, the Travis County polling place...

2016-11-02_Mannan_Ali_Angel

Muslim-American student is voting for Clinton amid anti-Muslim rhetoric of 2016 campaign

Sarah Philips November 2, 2016

Mannan Ali, corporate communications senior and president of the Ismaili Muslim Students Association, is a political independent who normally leans Republican on economic matters and disagrees with the...

2016-10-26_Early_Voting_Lines_Chase

Travis County, Texas see surge in early voting totals

Lisa Dreher and Sarah Philips October 28, 2016

Counties across Texas are breaking early voting records, with more than 17 percent of Travis County’s registered voters casting ballots in the first three days of early voting for the Nov. 8...

2016-09-27_Debate_Juan

UT/Texas Tribune poll puts Trump three points ahead of Clinton in Texas

Sarah Philips October 28, 2016

A recent poll conducted by The University of Texas and The Texas Tribune found Texas will most likely remain a Republican stronghold in the presidential election despite Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton’s...

2016-10-27_News_Symposium_Windy_Davis_Joshua

Moody hosts talk about media’s influence on campaigns

Sarah Philips October 27, 2016

The Moody College of Communication brought former gubernatorial candidate Wendy Davis, Republican strategist Rob Johnson and Emily Ramshaw, editor-in-chief of The Texas Tribune, to campus for a conversation...

2016-10-25_Cristian_Cortes_Portrait_Chase

Bernie supporter turns to Jill Stein, away from two-party system

Sarah Philips October 27, 2016

Editor’s note: This is the third profile of a series The Daily Texan is publishing during the 2016 election season, featuring a wide variety of student political perspectives. Beginning with the...

2016-10-26-Senator_Mike_McCaul_Zoe

Rep. Mike McCaul criticizes Cruz, talks about role as Trump national security advisor

Sarah Philips October 26, 2016

United States Rep. Michael McCaul, R-Austin, criticized Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, for his lack of emphasis on the interests of Texas, while also avoiding confirming a possible challenge for Cruz’s...

LGBTQscorecard

Human Rights Campaign gives Austin perfect score for support of LGBT community

Sarah Philips October 21, 2016

Austin was given the highest rating in Texas for its support of the LGBT community by the Human Rights Campaign, which rates cities in America by how well they score in non-discriminatory workplace environments,...

2016-10-21_City_Coucil_Joshua

Austin City Council begins search for new city manager

Sarah Philips October 21, 2016

Austin City Council began the months-long process of finding a new city manager this week by approving a solicitation for a search firm to find someone to run the day-to-day operations of city government. Austin’s...

2016-09-27_Debate_Juan

Clinton, Trump war in final debate

Sarah Philips October 20, 2016

Presidential candidates Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump sparred in the last presidential debate of the election year Wednesday night in their final chance to convince on-the-fence voters.  According...

2016-10-18_Jill_Stein_Juan

Green Party Jill Stein nominee hopes to poll around 5 percent in Texas

Sarah Philips October 18, 2016

Green Party presidential nominee Jill Stein said America is at its “Hail Mary” moment to applause and yells of support at Huston-Tillotson University on Monday during a town hall meeting with...

2016-10-17_Jimmy_Flannigan_and_City_Council_Races_Andrea

Councilmember Don Zimmerman defends District 6 seat from challenger Jimmy Flannigan

Sarah Philips October 18, 2016

The Austin City Council race for District 6 is heating up as incumbent Don Zimmerman and challenger Jimmy Flannigan trade criticisms of the other’s temperament. Zimmerman, who is often the...

2016-10-11_Voter_Registration_Angel

Texas registers record 15 million voters for November election

Sarah Philips October 13, 2016

Texas Secretary of State Carlos H. Cascos announced Thursday that Texas registered over 15 million voters, accounting for 78 percent of the state’s voting age population. “If you want to...

tower_pics_rachel

Travis County registers record percentage of eligible voters, looks ahead to election day turnout

Wesley Story and Sarah Philips October 13, 2016

Travis County has registered a total of 717,694 voters for the upcoming election, and continues to process voter registration forms submitted before the deadline, surpassing its original goal of registering...

2014-03-31_College_Republicans_Ethan

College Republicans host Michael Cargill for talk on Second Amendment rights

Sarah Philips October 13, 2016

In its third meeting of the year, College Republicans hosted Michael Cargill, Second Amendment expert and Central Texas Gun Works owner, for a talk involving Second Amendment rights and campus carry. Cargill...

2016-10-12_Voter_Registration_Jenan

Campus groups turn voter registration into a party, attract potential student voters with music and food

Sarah Philips October 12, 2016

Dressed from head to toe in red, white and blue, Rosie Zander, campus director for University Democrats, was one of many volunteers Tuesday evening who flagged down students heading home from class and...

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Student organizations to host all-day rally on campus for final day of voter registration

Sarah Philips October 11, 2016

With Election Day 28 days away, student organizations are rushing to register students to vote before the deadline today at midnight. Civic engagement groups on campus, such as Hook the Vote and UT...

2016-10-11_Lamar_Smith_Investigation

UT researchers speak at climate change panel, call out climate change deniers

Sarah Philips October 11, 2016

State Rep. Elliott Naishtat (D-Austin) and U.S. Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse (D-Rhode Island) hosted a discussion on climate change at the State Capitol on Monday involving UT researchers Kerry Cook, a professor...

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Debate watchers react to the second presidential debate, compare Clinton and Trump

Sarah Philips October 10, 2016

While eating schnitzel and drinking beer, a full-capacity audience reacted Sunday at Scholz Garten to presidential candidates Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton speaking on subjects ranging from a 2005 video...

2016-10-05_Vicepresident_Debate_Andrea

Vice presidential candidates face off in debate, defend running mates

Sarah Philips October 5, 2016

Vice presidential candidates Mike Pence and Tim Kaine faced off in a debate Tuesday night as students observed at watch parties throughout campus. LBJ School of Public Affairs held a watch party...

2016-10-05_Criminal_Justice_Hearing_Zoe

State Senate Committee discusses implementation of instructions for ticketing process

Sarah Philips October 5, 2016

After a public hearing on Tuesday, police departments in Texas may be required to include instructions for civilians about how to make a complaint about a police interaction on every citation or ticket. The...

2016-02-05_Uber-Lyft_Mike

Mayor Adler comes to the defense of $720 million bond, calls criticisms of the measure “myths”

Sarah Philips September 30, 2016

Austin Mayor Steve Adler came to the defense of the $720 million mobility bond that Austin will vote on in November, calling some of the dissenters’ criticisms of the bond “myths.” Adler...

2016-09-30_Windy

Abortion rights activists celebrate SCOTUS decision on Whole Women’s Health with Wendy Davis

Sarah Philips September 30, 2016

Abortion rights activists and supporters gathered with Wendy Davis, former gubernatorial candidate and Texas state senator, on Thursday for Rejoice for Choice, a night of live music, drinks and voter...

2015-06-04_Bill_Signing_Daulton

Gov. Abbott threatens to pull out of refugee program over Syrian refugees to consternation of civil rights workers, student refugees

Sarah Philips September 29, 2016

The state of Texas recently threatened to pull out of the federal refugee resettlement program over security concerns related to Syrian refugees, a move that the Texas Civil Rights Project has condemned...

2016-09-28_Voter_Registration_Zoe

Students register new voters on campus as Election Day approaches

Sarah Philips September 28, 2016

With Election Day and the deadline for voter registration just around the corner, political organizations across campus have been flagging down students and helping them fill out yellow forms with one...

Former mayor pro tem Sheryl Cole considers running for HD 46 as Rep. Dawnna Dukes announces retirement

Sarah Philips September 27, 2016

In the wake of State Representative Dawnna Dukes announcing her retirement from the Legislature, former mayor pro tem Sheryl Cole announced hours later Monday that she is considering running for the empty...

2016-09-27_Debate_Juan

Presidential debate watch parties show wide array of student opinions on Trump and Clinton

Sarah Philips September 27, 2016

Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton and Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump took the stage Monday night for the first presidential debate of 2016, speaking on issues such as race relations,...

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Presidential candidates face off in first debate of 2016

Sarah Philips, Cassandra Pollock, and Forrest Milburn September 26, 2016

Tonight, Republican nominee Donald Trump and Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton will face off in the first presidential debate of the year. The showdown comes at the apex of one of the most contentious...

2016-09-24_Cruz_OPStephanie

Ted Cruz defends Trump endorsement at Texas Tribune Festival

Sarah Philips September 26, 2016

Sen. Ted Cruz, R-TX, former presidential candidate, made an appearance at the Texas Tribune Festival this weekend in a one-on-one conversation with Texas Tribune CEO Evan Smith that centered around his...

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Austin mayor, Texas politicians discuss future of ride-hailing at Texas Tribune Festival

Sarah Philips September 26, 2016

Austin Mayor Steve Adler discussed the future of ride-hailing Saturday with Corpus Christi Mayor Nelda Martinez, state Rep. Jeff Leach, R-Plano, and state Sen. Charles Schwertner, R-Georgetown, at the...

2016-03-02-Ted_Cruz_Rachel

Ted Cruz officially endorses Donald Trump after holding out at Republican National Convention, will speak at Texas Tribune Festival

Sarah Philips September 24, 2016

Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) endorsed Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump Friday afternoon after holding out at the Republican National Convention over the summer. Cruz turned to Facebook to announce...

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Texas Tribune Festival: Senator Ted Cruz has one-on-one conversation with Evan Smith

Sarah Philips September 24, 2016

Ted Cruz, Texas senator and former presidential hopeful, will have a one-on-one conversation with Evan Smith, the CEO of the Texas Tribune at the Texas Tribune Festival on Saturday. Cruz did not endorse...

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Texas Tribune Festival: Texas politicians talk about the future of ride-hailing four months after Uber, Lyft leave Austin

Sarah Philips September 24, 2016

Four months since Prop. 1 failed and Uber and Lyft left Austin, Texas politicians discuss the future of ride-hailing Saturday at a panel titled "Rideshare's Road Forward" at the...

Texas Tribune Festival: Gary Johnson sits down with ABC News’ chief political analyst

Sarah Philips September 24, 2016

Gary Johnson, the Libertarian presidential nominee, spoke at the Texas Tribune Festival Saturday morning in a one-on-one conversation with Matthew Dowd, the chief political analyst at ABC News.  Follow...

2016-09-23_Black_Lives_Matter_Vigil_Juan

Huston-Tillotson hosts vigil for Terence Crutcher, Keith Scott, talks about future of Black Lives Matter

Sarah Philips September 23, 2016

“Staying silent isn’t gonna do a damn thing,” Ayana Edwards said to a hushed crowd inside an overcrowded chapel in East Austin Thursday night. Students of Huston-Tillotson University,...

2015-10-16-Dan_Patrick_TTF_Junyuan

Texas Tribune Festival brings politicians and journalists to campus, highlights issues like campus carry

Sarah Philips September 22, 2016

Politicians, journalists and politics lovers alike will be descending upon campus this weekend for the Texas Tribune Festival, a three-day conference that includes panels on timely political topics. Some...

College Republicans endorse Donald Trump, cite Supreme Court and opposition to Hillary Clinton

Sarah Philips September 21, 2016

College Republicans have officially endorsed Donald Trump for president after internal debate on what their official stance should be on the 2016 presidential election. “Although the College Republicans...

2016-09-21_First_Year_Complaint_Hearing_Brooke

UT Supreme Court holds hearing over possible first-year representative election campaign violations

Sarah Philips September 21, 2016

UT Supreme Court held a hearing Tuesday on complaints filed by first-year representative candidate Jason Lyu on fliers from other candidates who he believes violated campaign rules.     Lyu...

2016-04-02_Gina_Hinojosa_Juan

Democratic House candidate Gina Hinojosa speaks at Texas Tribune forum, details policy views

Sarah Philips September 16, 2016

Gina Hinojosa, the Democratic candidate running unopposed for House District 49, spoke at a forum titled “Meet the New Guys” on Thursday for incoming members of the Texas House of Representatives....

2016-02-05_Uber-Lyft_Mike

Austin City Council passes $3.7 billion budget

Sarah Philips September 16, 2016

The Austin City Council passed their 2016–2017 budget Wednesday after three days of deliberation, with council members Sheri Gallo and Don Zimmerman voting against the budget and councilwoman Ellen...

2016-09-15_UT_shuttle_bus_Brooke

Capital Metro revamps bus transit system, plans to add 24/7 line to campus

Sarah Philips September 16, 2016

The Capital Metro transit system is exploring ways to revamp its Austin bus routes through an initiative called Connections 2025, a project that analyzes current bus patterns and ridership to make the...

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City Council to vote on rape kit funding

Sarah Philips September 14, 2016

Austin Police Department’s Public Safety Commission released a statement Sept. 6 urging the Austin City Council to provide funds to address the rape kit backlog and the current closure of APD’s...

2016-09-13_2016_Bus_Juan

Capital Metro gets federal grant to purchase new buses

Sarah Philips September 13, 2016

Austin’s Capital Metro transit system will receive a $11.2 million grant from the Federal Transit Agency to purchase more buses as a way to support regional transit projects. According to a statement...

2016-09-12_For Hillary_Mary

Cecile Richards organizes for Hillary in Austin, says Texas could be viable for Democrats

Sarah Philips September 12, 2016

The Hillary for Texas campaign hosted Cecile Richards, president of the Planned Parenthood Federation of America and daughter of former Texas governor Ann Richards, for an organizing and phone banking...

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Texas receives federal aid from CDC to fight Zika

Sarah Philips September 9, 2016

With Zika on the rise both in the United States and abroad, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention responded this summer with a series of grants to specific states and counties to increase public...

2015-11_23_Immigrants_Pilgrimage_Junyuan

Sheriff candidate wants to end detainment of undocumented immigrants at county jail

Sarah Philips September 9, 2016

Travis County Constable Sally Hernandez, the Democratic candidate for Travis County sheriff, hopes to make a vital immigration policy shift for the county, campaigning on the promise that she will...

2016-02-02_Registration_Rallies_Emma

Travis County sets goal to register 90 percent of eligible voters

Sarah Philips September 7, 2016

Travis County is aiming to register 90 percent of the county’s eligible citizens to vote before Election Day, which would break a record, according to the Travis County Tax Office. Bruce Elfant,...

2016-08-18_City_Council_Chambers_Joshua

Sexual assault victims, nurses speak out for funding to test backlogged rape kits at City Council meeting

Sarah Philips September 6, 2016

Austin City Council members heard public testimony Thursday from PS 1.04 and PS 1.07 amendment supporters who want the 2016–17 budget to help reopen and staff the DNA testing lab that processes rape...

2016-09-01_WelchTalk_Gabriel

University Democrats, College Republicans respond to presidential election, prepare for election year

Sarah Philips September 2, 2016

With the election just two months away, University Democrats and College Republicans are gearing up for recruitment and “get out the vote” campaigns.  Both organizations had their...

2016-02-05_Uber-Lyft_Mike

Austin City Council approves salamander DNA sequencing at UT lab

Sarah Philips September 2, 2016

The Austin City Council voted Thursday to create a partnership with the UT DNA Sequencing lab to study the DNA sequencing of Barton Creek salamanders.  “This will enable us to get a...

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Counseling center takes on suicide prevention as suicide rate rises for young people

Sarah Philips August 31, 2016

With the biggest freshman class in UT’s history trying to get acclimated to college, suicide is of special concern this year.  Suicide is the second-leading cause of death for people ages...

Robert Marrow

Controversial Travis County GOP chair removed because of presidential bid

Sarah Philips August 29, 2016

Former Travis County GOP chairman Robert Morrow, infamous for his jester hat and controversial Twitter presence, will no longer serve as the head of the county party because his bid for the U.S. presidency...

2016-08-26_WC_Construction_Emmanuel

West Campus construction on Rio Grande continues into school year

Sarah Philips August 26, 2016

Road construction in West Campus is a common sight for students who traverse Rio Grande Street, a road lined with off-campus condos and Greek system houses. The construction, occurring between 24th...

2014-09-30_lt_gov_debate_Ethan

Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick proposes cutting set-aside tuition grants that help lower-income students

Sarah Philips August 25, 2016

Texas Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick has proposed removing access to set-aside tuition grants for students at public Texas universities on the basis that the money comes from a “hidden tax” on parents...

2016-08-24_DonaldTrump_Joshua

Austin Trump rally draws mixed responses

Sarah Philips August 24, 2016

Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump hosted a rally in Austin last night, bringing supporters and protesters alike to Luedecke Arena.  Trump stuck to his greatest hits, speaking about jobs,...

2016-08_17_In_N_Out_Zoe

Campus welcomes In-N-Out, Panda Express as new food options for students

Sarah Philips August 22, 2016

With summer coming to a close, a wave of UT students and their fast food-eating habits are descending upon campus to new eateries like In-N-Out and Panda Express.   The Taco Bell previously located...

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