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 The Daily Texan Editorial Board

Setting the system standard

The Daily Texan Editorial Board November 10, 2011

Earlier this week, UT-Arlington President Jim Spaniolo recommended to the university’s tuition review committee a tuition freeze for the 2012-13 school year. The freeze would be UT-Arlington’s...

Front porch in focus

The Daily Texan Editorial Board November 8, 2011

Athletics is a university’s front porch. This timeless adage is the mantra spread by the NCAA, co-opted by university presidents, athletic directors and coaches alike. According to a report by...

Quotes to Note: Occupy Austin, Longhorn Network, and GOP

The Daily Texan Editorial Board November 7, 2011

 From the controversy surrounding the Occupy movement to our favorite GOP presidential candidates, the following quotes are among the best from the last few days. “To raise the issue is not...

Burnt orange paint job

The Daily Texan Editorial Board November 4, 2011

MyEdu is getting an expensive burnt orange paint job. For several months, rumors have surrounded the UT System’s incipient acquisition of a major stake in the private web-based company, but until...

Oversight not out of mind

The Daily Texan Editorial Board November 3, 2011

State Sen. Kirk Watson, D-Austin, appeared on campus Wednesday as the first speaker for the Texas Politics Speaker Series. While dabbling in issues from the start of his political career to his plans for...

Quotes to Note: MyEdu partnership, voter ID laws, Rick Perry

The Daily Texan Editorial Board November 2, 2011

“Would I have had different priorities for that money? Yes. We didn’t choose to bring this to the campus.” — President William Powers Jr. on the UT System Board of Regents’...

Battling perceptions, avoiding drought

The Daily Texan Editorial Board November 1, 2011

Monday’s Faculty Council meeting featured concern regarding an article by the Austin American-Statesman titled “Do college ratings of professors make the grade?” published two weeks...

Quotes to Note: MyEdu deal and Longhorn Network lockout

The Daily Texan Editorial Board October 31, 2011

UT invests in MyEdu The UT System Board of Regents recently invested $10 million from the Permanent University Fund in the Austin company MyEdu as part of an effort to improve four-year graduation rates...

Increased enrollment demands more support

The Daily Texan Editorial Board October 28, 2011

The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board released its annual fall enrollment report Wednesday, which detailed the changing number of students enrolling at institutions of higher education in Texas....

Set the guidelines, not the syllabus

The Daily Texan Editorial Board October 28, 2011

The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board passed recommendations Thursday that would alter the state’s mandatory core curriculum at all of its higher education institutions. Driven by cross-campus...

Using more than data

The Daily Texan Editorial Board October 27, 2011

Last week, the Austin American-Statesman ran a story examining the teaching performance evaluation process at UT. The article comes after months of debate surrounding faculty productivity and higher education...

Quotes to Note: Plastic Bags and West VA joins Big 12

The Daily Texan Editorial Board October 26, 2011

Public commentary on the proposed plastic bag ban The following quotes are from Monday’s open forum during which Austinites voiced their opinions on the proposed plastic bag ban. City officials...

Quotes to note: UTEP, sexual harassment, Bastrop fires

The Daily Texan Editorial Board October 24, 2011

“They’re all talking about getting out. You’re getting ready to lose a lot of people you don’t want to lose.” — Mary Aldridge Dean, executive director of the Texas...

Quotes to note: Legislature’s Joint Oversight Committee on Higher Education

The Daily Texan Editorial Board October 18, 2011

Editor’s Note: The following quotes are from the second hearing of the Legislature’s Joint Oversight Committee on Higher Education Governance, Excellence and Transparency held Monday at the...

Thanksgiving with the Powells

The Daily Texan Editorial Board October 18, 2011

Monday’s higher education hearing featured a long-awaited public dialogue between Gene Powell, chairman of the UT System Board of Regents, and the Legislature, which has been less than exuberant...

Quotes to note: Perry, Fisher vs UT, David Ash

The Daily Texan Editorial Board October 17, 2011

“We’re talking about basic primary things that everyone should be entitled to, and it really shouldn’t be attached to any political or religious agenda.” — Dr. Tamarah Duperval-Brownlee,...

Technology for education, not profit

The Daily Texan Editorial Board October 14, 2011

Last weekend, about 400 invited participants from the higher education community attended the star-studded, Future of State Universities conference in Dallas. The conference was hosted by former Florida...

TPPF’s new higher education baggage

The Daily Texan Editorial Board October 14, 2011

Last Tuesday, the much-maligned Texas Public Policy Foundation released a statement from their new Director for Higher Education Research, Thomas Lindsay. The Texas Public Policy Foundation is the Austin...

Quotes to note: Talking points from TPAC

The Daily Texan Editorial Board October 13, 2011

The following quotes are from the Tuition Policy Advisory Committee’s open forum held Wednesday evening. TPAC, composed of four students, five faculty and administrators and three non-voting members,...

Quotes to note: Presidential hopefuls, occupy movement and medical school

The Daily Texan Editorial Board October 10, 2011

“A pregnant woman who enters an abortion clinic is faced with a decision that will forever change two lives. That’s why she must have the very best information with which to make that decision.” —...

Oh you sweet, stupid OU

The Daily Texan Editorial Board October 6, 2011

Editor's note: In the spirit of our friendly rivalry with the University of Oklahoma, the editorial boards of The Daily Texan and The Oklahoma Daily have exchanged editorials. In anticipation...

The need for basic research

The Daily Texan Editorial Board October 4, 2011

The Natural Sciences Council sponsored a faculty panel Friday highlighting the importance of public funding for investigative research. The group noted that the National Science Foundation, the federal...

Quotes to Note: Public funding, SECession

The Daily Texan Editorial Board October 3, 2011

Public funding for academic research “Short-term research makes money for a company. Long-term research, if done well, instead will create new companies. It will create new markets. It will create...

Sonogram law awaits appeal

The Daily Texan Editorial Board September 30, 2011

On Thursday, the U.S. Supreme Court prohibited Texas from enforcing the new sonogram law that passed the Legislature last spring while the law is under the appeals process, according to The Texas Tribune....

Proposed pipeline draws controversy

The Daily Texan Editorial Board September 30, 2011

Editor’s note: The following quotes are from Wednesday’s State Department hearing held at the LBJ Auditorium on the proposed extension of the Keystone Oil Pipeline. The pipeline, which transports...

Quotes to note: Increasing the four-year graduation rate

The Daily Texan Editorial Board September 29, 2011

[Corrected Sept. 29: Corrected third quote.] Editor’s note: In his State of the University Address, President William Powers Jr. said he wants to increase the current 52-percent four-year graduate...

Quotes to Note: Best of Tribfest

The Daily Texan Editorial Board September 26, 2011

Editor’s note: The following quotes are from The Texas Tribune Festival on Saturday and Sunday. The festival featured speakers from around the country on topics including energy and environment,...

Overview: Remember student athletes in realignment discussions

The Daily Texan Editorial Board September 23, 2011

The Board of Regents gave President William Powers Jr. the authority Monday to make any necessary decisions to align the University with the sports conference that will best suit its future needs. Since...

Overview: A reminder to the Regents

The Daily Texan Editorial Board September 23, 2011

The Legislature’s Joint Committee on Higher Education Governance, Excellence and Transparency held its first hearing Wednesday, and despite the nearly packed Senate Finance Committee Room, the targets...

Quotes to Note: Higher education hearing

The Daily Texan Editorial Board September 22, 2011

The newly formed Joint Oversight Committee on Higher Education Governance, Excellence and Transparency held its first public hearing Wednesday at the Capitol. UT President William Powers Jr., UT System...

Quotes to note: Football, Faculty and Physics

The Daily Texan Editorial Board September 19, 2011

“To win a tight one at home against Brigham Young when we were behind and then come out here and do really well in this game that we lost last year – that’s two statements of improvement.” —...

Quotes to Note: Gov. Rick Perry reflects on his campaign

The Daily Texan Editorial Board September 16, 2011

Gov. Rick Perry graced the cover of this week’s Time magazine, which featured a variety of articles about him and an exclusive interview. The following quotes are from the interview. “[Republican...

Quotes to note: 6th State of the University Address

The Daily Texan Editorial Board September 15, 2011

Editor’s note: The following quotes are from President William Powers Jr.’s State of the University Address Wednesday evening. “If universities stand for anything, it should be the...

Embracing change and continuity

The Daily Texan Editorial Board September 15, 2011

The stage had been set long before the Longhorn Network’s Lowell Galindo delivered a lead-in tinged with an intensity best suited for a live broadcast of a battlefield rather than a university president’s...

Remembering Sept. 11

The Daily Texan Editorial Board September 12, 2011

“We remember September 11th not out of a desire to relive the sadness and anger of that time but to commemorate the good we saw in its aftermath — the acts of heroism, the compassion, the expressions...

Redistricting; Perry’s performance at the GOP debate

The Daily Texan Editorial Board September 9, 2011

Redistricting As the U.S. Department of Justice reviews the newly-drawn Texas legislative district maps, a number of lawyers have filed suit in federal district court to speed the process of judging...

Quotes to note: wildfires and Perry on climate change

The Daily Texan Editorial Board September 8, 2011

Wildfires continue to spread across Texas “These fires are serious and widespread, and as mean as I have ever seen, burning more than 1,000 homes since this wildfire season began.” —...

Quotes to note: college football and Rick Perry

The Daily Texan Editorial Board September 6, 2011

“I feel sorry for some schools that will have to scramble to find a place. We won’t. I trust DeLoss [Dodds], and I trust Bill [Powers]. I can’t sit around and worry about things I can’t...

Quotes to note: sonogram law struck down and goodbye to A&M

The Daily Texan Editorial Board September 1, 2011

New sonogram law struck down On Tuesday, U.S. District Judge Sam Sparks struck down key provisions of a sonogram law passed during the legislative session last spring, according to The Associated Press....

A vision for the UT System

The Daily Texan Editorial Board August 30, 2011

Chancellor Francisco Cigarroa unveiled his highly anticipated nine-plank Framework for Advancing Excellence throughout The University of Texas System on Thursday at the Board of Regents meeting. The plan...

Expand transit system

The Daily Texan Editorial Board August 30, 2011

Beginning next Tuesday, Austinites looking to park downtown will have to pay on nights and weekends. After months of debate, City Council voted to extend parking meter hours, which currently run from 8:30...

Perry’s skepticism on science

The Daily Texan Editorial Board August 30, 2011

Weeks after officially entering the presidential race, Gov. Rick Perry has wasted little time in closing ranks with most of his Republican colleagues by expressing his personal skepticism of certain established...

Quotes to note: Perry, Longhorn Network and UT

The Daily Texan Editorial Board August 26, 2011

“So would I support Rick Perry for president? Hell, yes! As the last nail that hasn’t been hammered down in this country, I agree with Rick that there are already too damn many laws, taxes,...

Increasing input in budget decisions

The Daily Texan Editorial Board August 25, 2011

Earlier this month, President William Powers Jr. announced that the University Budget Council will be expanded to include a student and a faculty member for the first time since its establishment in 2000. The...

The cowboy mystique

The Daily Texan Editorial Board August 25, 2011

In the less than two weeks since he threw his hat in the ring, Gov. Rick Perry has catapulted into the national spotlight as a top GOP contender for the 2012 presidential race. In fact, Perry has taken...

Meet your editors

The Daily Texan Editorial Board August 24, 2011

Viviana Aldous, Editor-in-Chief For the better part of the last three years, I reported for work in The Daily Texan basement more days than not. As a news reporter, I attended student and state legislative...

Voices around Austin: Geographical representation

The Daily Texan Editorial Board August 11, 2011

Editor’s note: The Austin City Council and various neighborhood groups are currently exploring options for creating single-member districts to elect members of Austin’s city council. Currently...

Quotes to note: church, state and plastic bags

The Daily Texan Editorial Board August 8, 2011

Blurring the line between church and state Gov. Rick Perry led a crowd of more than 30,000 people in prayer Saturday in Houston during “The Response.” Together, attendees prayed for America,...

Quotes to note: 08.01.2011

The Daily Texan Editorial Board August 1, 2011

“Our friends in New York ... passed a statute that said marriage can be between two people of the same sex. And you know what? That’s New York, and that’s their business, and that’s...

Quotes to note: Report ruffles feathers

Former UT System adviser Rick O’Donnell published a report Wednesday that categorized UT professors based on teaching workloads and the amount of research revenue generated. The report segmented...

Austin needs single-member districts

The Austin City Council and various neighborhood groups are currently exploring options for creating single-member districts to elect members of Austin’s city council. Currently the council’s...

Quotes to Note: Less money, more problems

Less money, more problems On Thursday the Board of Regents voted to allocate an additional $20 million out of the Permanent University Fund to UT. “We haven’t decided how we are going to...

Quotes to note: 07.07.2011

“The higher education experience is not akin to shopping on iTunes or visiting Banana Republic.” — Randy Diehl, dean of the College of Liberal Arts, and the college’s executive...

Overview: Pushing for the DREAM Act

A U.S. Senate committee held a hearing on the DREAM Act for the first time ever Tuesday. The Development, Relief and Education for Alien Minors Act would provide legal residency to those who have...

Quotes to note: 06.23.2011

Race-based admissions policy upheld “In our view, the nation’s future depends on students being exposed to diversity in their formative educational experiences.” — Joshua...

Overview: Where’s Perry; Preserving higher education

Where's Perry? Last week, as the special session of the 82nd Texas Legislature put the finishing touches on one of the most hotly-contested state budgets in recent history, the most powerful...

Prohibiting sanctuary cities

Senate Bill 9, a bill that was added to the calendar for the special session, is part of the anti-Hispanic agenda the Texas GOP is carrying. SB 9 will prohibit sanctuary cities, expand the federal government’s...

Vote in Saturday’s city council runoff

This year’s city council race for Place 3 between incumbent Randi Shade and challenger Kathie Tovo has been one of the most tightly contested local elections in years. The months-long campaigns...

Overview: Bias in the classroom

The recent study that investigated bias in the classroom found a correlation between students’ perception of bias and their resistance to changing their beliefs. The study, which will appear...

Overview: Bringing down the walls of prejudice

Rep. Wayne Christian, R-Center, made yet another attack on the GLBT community Thursday with his attempt to revive an amendment that would significantly reduce support for gender and sexuality centers...

Quotes to note: 06.09.2011

“I believe it is time to convene the leaders from each of our United States in a day of prayer and fasting, like that described in the book of Joel.” — Gov. Rick Perry on his proclamation...

Quotes to note: 6.1.2011

An unbalanced budget Gov. Rick Perry called a special session Monday night after a Democratic filibuster of a public education reform bill prevented the Legislature from balancing the budget before...

Overview: A rash response; let it die

A rash response Most UT students remember where they were when they heard about the most devastating terrorist attacks in American history. Within months after the World Trade Center fell...

Quotes to note

“With limited resources, it’s more important than ever to demand more value from each dollar invested in higher education. That will be the right message.” — Rep. Dan Branch,...

Quotes to note

Editor’s note: On Friday the Texas Public Policy Foundation (TPPF) hosted a panel to discuss several issues pertaining to Texas higher education, including a set of controversial reforms published...

Quotes to Note: April 28, 2011

The Daily Texan Editorial Board April 29, 2011

Concealed carry amendment “I did not expect this amendment. It is very controversial among university regents, and it should stand as its own bill.” — Sen. Judith Zaffirini,...

Overview: Alumni voice support, ASU plays role in UT refrom

The Daily Texan Editorial Board April 24, 2011

Alumni voice support Since the Board of Regents hired controversial politico Rick O’Donnell in February, the outcry from various alumni, both organizations and individuals, has been tremendous....

Quotes to note

The Daily Texan Editorial Board April 17, 2011

“I do my best to produce quality work. This is a production snafu.” — Well-paid regent hire Rick O’Donnell responding to revelations that his controversial research paper...

Quotes to note

The Daily Texan Editorial Board April 14, 2011

A visit to Arizona State University “Officials at ASU made it clear that ASU wanted to be an institution defined by its high degree of inclusiveness and ability to manufacture a significant...

OVERVIEW: All the help we can get; More questions about Rick O’Donnell

The Daily Texan Editorial Board April 13, 2011

All the help we can get Last summer, Rep. Lloyd Doggett, D-Texas, authored an amendment to a higher-education bill stipulating that Gov. Rick Perry maintain state education funding levels for Texas...

Quotes to Note

    <i>“I’m taking a position, and my position is: This is a false choice. I’m not going to pick one over the other when I know there is a third option.”...

Overview: Celebrate Cesar Chavez; Good riddance to Rick O’Donnell

The Daily Texan Editorial Board March 28, 2011

    <strong>Celebrate Cesar Chavez<strong/> Thursday may be the last time Texans celebrate Cesar Chavez Day if state Republicans have their way. Cesar Chavez Day,...

Quotes to Note

The Daily Texan Editorial Board March 27, 2011

    <em>“We support [research] and in fact are working hard to ensure that the University can generate even more valuable research.”<em> — an open letter...

Quotes to note

The Daily Texan Editorial Board March 24, 2011

    <i>“It’s basically impossible to get elected in Austin unless you are a Democrat.”</i> — Andy Brown, chair of the Travis County Democratic...

Overview: Urging legislators to invest in Texas; Provide input on concealed carry

The Daily Texan Editorial Board March 21, 2011

    <strong>Urging legislators to invest in Texas<strong/> More than 25 organizations, including Student Government, Senate of College Councils and Graduate Student...

Quotes to note

The Daily Texan Editorial Board March 20, 2011

    <em>“The only ‘bias’ of those who begin with ‘Morning Edition’ is a bias for truth. My constituents tune in to KUT because they want fact-based,...

An open dialogue: mandatory meningitis vaccines

The Daily Texan Editorial Board March 10, 2011

    <em>Editor’s note: This is the sixth installment in a six-part series about legislation that would affect students. We have asked campus leaders, students, faculty,...

Reminder: Vote in the runoff today

    <strong>Reminder: Vote March 9 & 10<strong> in the SG election runoff <a href="http://www.utexasvote.com">utexasvote.com</a> Editor’s...

Quotes to note

    <em>“The price of education also affects the quality of education. If I didn’t have to pay so much for college, I would be able to devote way more time to it...

Connecting during a crisis

The Daily Texan Editorial Board September 28, 2010

Tuesday’s events were undeniably tragic. First and foremost, we would like to thank the Austin Police Department, the UT Police Department, UT administration and all other officials who effectively...

Texas vs. OU

<em>Editor’s note: Each year before the Red River Rivalry, The Daily Texan exchanges editorials with OU’s student newspaper, The Oklahoma Daily.<em/> <strong>OU sucks<strong/> by...

Overview: A DREAM deferred; Banned books

The Daily Texan Editorial Board September 22, 2010

<strong>A DREAM deferred<strong> Undocumented students and allies suffered another setback on the path to pass the DREAM Act Tuesday night when the legislation was blocked in the U.S....

EDITORS WEIGH IN: Powers addresses the state of UT

The Daily Texan Editorial Board September 16, 2010

Editor’s note: President William Powers Jr. delivered his fifth annual State of the University address Wednesday afternoon, identifying UT’s budget priorities and its role as an institution...

Horns up, horns down

The Daily Texan Editorial Board September 15, 2010

<strong>Horns down: Recession drives up grad school applications<strong> A report released Tuesday by the Council of Graduate Schools revealed that the number of students applying to...

OVERVIEW: Improve Texas SAT scores; A&M’s measures miss the mark

The Daily Texan Editorial Board September 14, 2010

Improve Texas SAT scores A report released Monday by the College Board showed that the average SAT scores for Texas high school students dropped five points since the previous year. In contrast,...

Overview: State financial aid faces cuts; Capitol guards will carry M4 semi-automatic rifles…

The Daily Texan Editorial Board September 7, 2010

State financial aid faces cuts On Monday, The Dallas Morning News reported that state-funded financial aid for college students is set to drastically decrease for the upcoming year in light...

Pollution and local produce

The Daily Texan Editorial Board September 1, 2010

In Tuesday’s column, “Choose your food wisely,” Egu Ramanathan makes the case for eating locally grown produce, not just for health and enjoyment reasons, but for environmental...

Horns up, horns down: Involving students in budget cut decisions; UT is the king of royalties

The Daily Texan Editorial Board August 30, 2010

Horns up: Involving students in budget cut decisions The Senate of College Councils recently announced it will form student committees to help address college-specific budget cuts for the...

Overview: Perry declines to meet with editorial boards; UT moves up in college rankings

The Daily Texan Editorial Board August 25, 2010

Perry declines to meet with editorial boards Gov. Rick Perry’s campaign spokesman Mark Miner recently announced that Perry would not be meeting with the editorial boards of Texas’...

Meet your editors

The Daily Texan Editorial Board August 24, 2010

Lauren Winchester: editor-in-chief It’s a difficult time to be a student at the University of Texas. This past year, the University suffered through several rounds of budget cuts,...

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