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 William James Gerlich

Perry joins field of candidates vying for Republican nomination

William James Gerlich August 13, 2011

Another Texas politician has a chance at being added to the list of U.S. presidents now that Gov. Rick Perry has officially entered the race for the White House. Perry announced his presidential...

Schools take different approaches to budget cuts

School of Architecture After losing three prominent professors in the past year, the School of Architecture’s answer to balancing a difficult budget has been to replace two positions with...

Counter-rally addresses PerryĀ’s exclusion of non-Christians

William James Gerlich August 8, 2011

Gov. Rick Perry’s “The Response” proved less controversial than expected, but at the state Capitol, protesters drove home a radical message — ‘Rick Perry: Bad for Texas,...

Texas Windstorm Insurance Association to make reforms before hurricane

William James Gerlich July 28, 2011

The Texas Windstorm Insurance Association is enacting a number of reforms this summer that officials say will protect homeowners by making the organization more efficient and financially stable. Last...

Lesser-known GOP candidates flaunt moderate platforms for 2012 race

William James Gerlich July 25, 2011

U.S. Rep. Michele Bachman, R-Minn., and former Mass. Gov. Mitt Romney have monopolized the media’s attention with controversial ideologies, but some of the 12 GOP contenders have more moderate...

US, Texas officials take wide range of stances on higher education

William James Gerlich July 18, 2011

Gov. Rick Perry, Pres. Barack Obama and former Pres. George W. Bush have each made a mark on higher education in Texas. The former and current president each holds his own opinions on how to shape universities....

Group holds benefit for Planned Parenthood, to protest sonogram bill

William James Gerlich July 11, 2011

A women’s rights group is working with Planned Parenthood to fight new health care legislation they call anti-women and insensitive. On Saturday, the feminist organization The Lonely Ladies...

Redistricting maps draw fire for splintering UT voters

William James Gerlich July 7, 2011

The University’s blue legislative districts may turn red if the current state and federal redistricting maps pass through the judicial system untouched. The new maps divide neighborhoods...

Violence rises as Greece’s debt swells

William James Gerlich July 4, 2011

As Greece comes closer to defaulting on their growing national debt, violent demonstrations and protests have become headline news throughout the world, said a UT student researching social media in...

Lawmakers’ fashion shocases faux pas, great style in session

William James Gerlich July 4, 2011

Lawmakers of the 82nd legislative session are trading in their suits and ties for Hawaiian shirts and Bermuda shorts now that special session is over at the Texas Capitol. Until this past Wednesday,...

Closing thoughts on the 82nd Legislature

William James Gerlich June 30, 2011

Editors note: As the 82nd legislative session wound down Tuesday and Wednesday, The Daily Texan’s William James Gerlich collected final thoughts from legislators and leadership on the successes...

Debates, blame games ensue after legislative special session

William James Gerlich June 30, 2011

Wednesday marked the close of the 82nd legislative special session rife with political posturing, finger pointing and headline-grabbing, values-based bills. In the process, senators and representatives...

Texas Legislature passes appropriations bill, denies anti-groping law

William James Gerlich June 29, 2011

TSA Anti-Groping Bill The House of Representatives did not pass the controversial Transportation Security Administration Anti-Groping bill after parliamentary failures to suspend the rules for a...

House passes budget after initial failure

Diego Cruz and William James Gerlich June 29, 2011

The special session almost went into round two after the Texas House of Representatives first rejected the “must-pass Senate bill” that would balance the state’s next biennium budget. After...

Legislation piles up as special session winds down

William James Gerlich June 28, 2011

General Appropriations Bill One of the key general appropriation bills passed the House and Senate and awaits Gov. Rick Perry’s final approval. Sen. Steve Ogden, R-Bryan, said this bill was...

Storm bill rests in the hands of compromise

William James Gerlich June 23, 2011

The Texas Senate passed its version of the long-debated Texas Windstorm Insurance Association bill Wednesday, but legislators said it may be impossible to compromise the Senate and House versions of...

Perry considers presidential run

William James Gerlich June 23, 2011

Gov. Rick Perry may throw his cowboy hat into the ring of Republican presidential candidates when the legislative special session ends — possibly as soon as Wednesday. After discussing his...

Redistricting map headed for signature, likely legal challenge

William James Gerlich June 20, 2011

Senators approved the final passage of the congressional redistricting map with a vote of 19-12 along party lines. The map now awaits Gov. Rick Perry’s signature, and according to some Democrats,...

Special session dominated by Republican agenda

William James Gerlich June 16, 2011

Republican lawmakers have rubber-stamped most of the legislation Gov. Rick Perry added for the special session, leaving Democrats voiceless. Four major bills are hurtling past the final roadblocks to...

Sanctuary Cities bill passes Senate

William James Gerlich June 15, 2011

The Sanctuary Cities bill passed in the state Senate despite emotional opposition speeches from Hispanic senators who claimed American citizens will be harassed and targeted because of their skin color. “This...

Legislators worry for future of research in public higher education

William James Gerlich June 13, 2011

Legislators want to ensure transparency and impartiality in university boards of regents with a new committee after learning officials were meeting with Gov. Rick Perry behind closed doors, said Sen....

Schools to take 6-percent cuts despite wishes of protesters

William James Gerlich June 13, 2011

Public school districts will take a 6-percent cut for the next biennium despite rallies and protests held by educators, politicians and public school officials at the Texas Capitol that demanded alternatives. The...

Redistricting lines, education cuts pass Senate

William James Gerlich June 7, 2011

Despite opposition from every Senate Democrat, Republicans approved their congressional redistricting lines and a plan to permanently reduce some teachers’ salaries and furlough others Monday. Both...

Republicans push statewide cutbacks

William James Gerlich June 6, 2011

The Texas Senate passed four bills Friday that will help balance the budget and prepare Texas for the next biennium. The special session, which Gov. Rick Perry called Tuesday, started slowly after...

Special session of legislature called as result of filibuster

William James Gerlich June 2, 2011

Gov. Rick Perry and Texas legislators started working overtime during a special session Perry called Tuesday. Sen. Wendy Davis, D-Fort Worth, filibustered the school finance bill at the end of the...

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30 Columns: Life and Arts

Everything we need to say can be summed up in 30 words. Our time here ranges from six months to five years, with work ranging from music reviews to feature writing. Although our experiences could amount...

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Safety forums, University event raise awareness for Bike Month

William James Gerlich May 4, 2011

Austin drivers could see some relief from usually hectic traffic throughout May as citizens participate in National Bike Month. To kick off the month, UT Parking and Transportations Services...

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APD launches program to enable online filing of police reports

William James Gerlich April 29, 2011

Filing a paper police report for petty crimes can be a hassle, and the Austin Police Department hopes its new online system will simplify the process. On April 7, APD launched a web-based program...

Student designs menswear collection for fashion show

William James Gerlich April 21, 2011

Editor’s Note: This is the final installment in a three-part series about the annual textiles and apparel seniors and their fashion show that will be held tonight. Drawing inspiration from...

UT loses ranking as No. 1 party school

William James Gerlich April 15, 2011

UT has a “work hard, party hard” ethos, but the University no longer holds the Playboy Magazine No. 1 party school title. Playboy’s editors, who considered feedback from readers,...

Student creates ornate fashion designs

William James Gerlich April 14, 2011

Editor’s Note: This is the second in a three-part series about the textiles and apparel seniors and their fashion show held at the end of the semester. Fashion masterminds such as Yves Saint...

Increased loans likely as UT faces cuts

William James Gerlich April 14, 2011

Total student loan debt may top $1 trillion this year, having previously exceeded total credit card debt for the first time last year, The New York Times reported Tuesday. Mark Kantrowitz, who publishes...

Representative seeks harsher punishment for first-time DWIs

William James Gerlich April 13, 2011

After a drunken driver killed one of his constituents in 2006, Rep. Bill Callegari, R-Katy, now wants all those convicted of driving while intoxicated to undergo a Breathalyzer test before they get...

Journalist explains problems in India

William James Gerlich April 6, 2011

In India, a farmer takes his own life every 33 minutes because of the rise of corporations and the systemic problems in the country’s agriculture, said journalist P. Sainath during a talk Tuesday. Sainath,...

Photojournalist captures presidential history

William James Gerlich April 1, 2011

Appearing in publications from Time magazine to Vanity Fair and portraying figures including President Gerald Ford and President Bush, Diana Walker’s photographs have been some of the most popular...

House bill could cut funding, reduce services for hospitals

William James Gerlich March 30, 2011

Hospitals, nursing homes and physicians could be forced to cut services if lawmakers pass House Bill 1 this Friday, said leaders of the Texas Hospital Association on Tuesday. The association’s...

Professor reviews spread of Mexican food in world

William James Gerlich March 25, 2011

Most people understand the tacos they eat are no more representative of Mexico than pizza is of Italy. Jeffrey Pilcher, a history professor at the University of Minnesota, explained the globalization...

Obama team unveils program to increase graduation numbers

William James Gerlich March 23, 2011

The Obama administration rolled out an new program Tuesday that it hopes will help the United States boast the best college graduation rate in the world by 2020. During a summit in Washington, D.C.,...

Anti-death penalty event educates student advocates

William James Gerlich March 21, 2011

Students around the country gathered in Austin to advocate an anti-death penalty agenda as part of the Anti-Death Penalty Alternative Spring Break. The weeklong event offered 30 students a crash course...

KUT donors pledge support for station after threat of cuts

William James Gerlich March 11, 2011

When it comes to radio pledge drives, KUT deserves a Ph.D. for schooling every other local radio station in town. The National Public Radio affiliate and University-operated radio station, KUT 90.5,...

Students, leaders speak out for evidence-based sex ed

William James Gerlich March 9, 2011

Sex education in Texas public schools will become more comprehensive if student lobbyists and a state representative get their way. About 75 students from across Texas assembled at the Capitol on Tuesday...

Celebrities increase popularity of mustaches

William James Gerlich March 7, 2011

Iconic men with trendsetting mustaches have shaped the way we have shaved our faces since the dawn of the razor, and from Salvador Dalí to Johnny Depp, it is clear that with a great mustache...

Legislation seeks free IDs for homeless

William James Gerlich February 25, 2011

More than 265,000 Texans are homeless, but two Austin representatives are attempting to lower the number by introducing legislation that would allow homeless individuals the ability to acquire a free...

Department unveils crime lab to keep up with technology

William James Gerlich February 23, 2011

The Texas Department of Public Safety performed a ribbon-cutting ceremony for its new crime lab Tuesday. The new facility will allow the department to expand and keep up with technological advances,...

Survivors decry campus gun legislation

William James Gerlich February 18, 2011

Two survivors of the 2007 Virginia Tech shooting want Texas lawmakers to vote against bills that would allow students to carry concealed handguns on campus, they said at a press conference Thursday. Sen....

Radio experts offer tips to ambitious musicians

William James Gerlich February 16, 2011

Industry insiders revealed the secrets of how to make it big as a recording artist during a talk Tuesday night. Panelists Zannie K. of Clear Channel’s The Beat, Leah Manners of KOOP and KAZI’s...

UT professor talks of strife American acts create in world

William James Gerlich February 11, 2011

Since Europeans landed in the United States, cultural suppression has played a key role in the rise of the American empire, said a UT journalism professor in a lecture Thursday. Robert Jensen...

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