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

Fiza Kuzhiyil, Managing Editor

Fiza is the fall '22 managing editor, but over her time at the Texan, she worked as a general news reporter, life & arts senior reporter, life & arts editor and associate managing editor. Phew... You can find her in her basement office hunched over page edits likely with a Starbucks holiday drink.

All content by Fiza Kuzhiyil

UT President Jay Hartzell talks reproductive rights, ‘The Eyes of Texas,” affordability, COVID-19, and more

Fiza Kuzhiyil, Managing Editor December 5, 2022

After nearly two years, The Daily Texan sat down again the President Jay Hartzell to ask about the University's response to COVID-19, the overturning of Roe V. Wade, "The Eyes of Texas," housing affordability...

Managing editor struggles to write one last headline

Managing editor struggles to write one last headline

Fiza Kuzhiyil, Managing Editor December 2, 2022

When I close my eyes and try to picture my life without the Texan, I just find myself staring at the back of my eyelids like someone who can’t conjure an apple in their mind. Let the record show, I can...

Una carta largamente atrasada del editor: The Daily Texan en Español

Una carta largamente atrasada del editor: The Daily Texan en Español

Fiza Kuzhiyil and Lucero Ponce October 18, 2022

Nota del editor: este artículo se publicó por primera vez el 14 de octubre y se tradujo al español. Durante el verano, mientras me preparaba para ser editor gerente de The Daily Texan de otoño del...

A long overdue letter from the Editor: The Daily Texan en Español

A long overdue letter from the Editor: The Daily Texan en Español

Fiza Kuzhiyil, Managing Editor October 14, 2022

Over the summer, as I prepared for my role as fall ‘22 managing editor of The Daily Texan, I went down a rabbit hole of reading college newspapers. One day, as I perused the University of Maryland’s...

Dayglow’s newest album gives into repetition, excels at relatability

Dayglow’s newest album gives into repetition, excels at relatability

Fiza Kuzhiyil, Managing Editor October 11, 2022

Indie sensation Sloan Struble, known on stage as Dayglow, charms with his third album, People In Motion. Struble, a former UT student, returns with an album similar to his two first two projects, incorporating...

Q&A: Dayglow talks time as UT student, new album, tour

Fiza Kuzhiyil, Managing Editor October 11, 2022

Sloan Struble, better known by the stage name Dayglow, wrote his bedroom pop debut album, Fuzzybrain, at UT. Now, he celebrates the release of his third album, People In Motion, with a tour that ends with...

Live Shot: Olivia Rodrigo, Holly Humberstone bring music, vibrant energy to Moody

Live Shot: Olivia Rodrigo, Holly Humberstone bring music, vibrant energy to Moody

Fiza Kuzhiyil, Associate Managing Editor May 23, 2022

Fans in lavender crop tops and prom dresses start lining up for the show before the sun rises. With an hour left until the doors open, the line wraps around the venue. Chart-topping artist Olivia Rodrigo...

Indie pop band Valley headlines Antone’s, brings ethereal music, vibrant energy

Indie pop band Valley headlines Antone’s, brings ethereal music, vibrant energy

Fiza Kuzhiyil, Associate Managing Editor February 28, 2022

Back pressed against lead singer Rob Laska, bassist Alex Dimauro plays a chord strong enough to vibrate through Antone’s. Guitarist Mickey Brandolino and drummer Karah James exchange laughs as the crowd...

Disko Cowboy talks unique mix of country and club music

Disko Cowboy talks unique mix of country and club music

Fiza Kuzhiyil, Life and Arts Reporter October 26, 2021
Before his Weekend 2 ACL set, The Daily Texan spoke with Disko Cowboy, also known as Dave Wrangler,about his unique act.
Pop punk artist Jxdn talks influences, performing with Machine Gun Kelly

Pop punk artist Jxdn talks influences, performing with Machine Gun Kelly

Fiza Kuzhiyil, Life & Arts Editor October 15, 2021

For pop punk artist Jxdn, performing on one of the biggest stages at Austin City Limits Festival is nothing — he’s used to having over 9.3 million followers view his every move on Tik Tok. Ahead...

Texas native band Surfaces talks ACL set, new album

Texas native band Surfaces talks ACL set, new album

Fiza Kuzhiyil, Life & Arts Editor October 13, 2021

A pink and purple ombre landscape lights up the screen behind two white lawn chairs. Thousands of people scream, some holding cardboard signs made out of broken down Boxed Water boxes. Then, accompanied...

ACL: The best acts of weekend 2

ACL: The best acts of weekend 2

Fiza Kuzhiyil, Life & Arts Editor October 11, 2021

After two weekends of rocking Zilker Park, Austin City Limits Festival 2021 finally came to a close this weekend. With over 130 artists to watch over the two weekends, it may be hard to tell who put on...

Doja Cat performs during Weekend 1 of the Austin City Limits Music Festival on Oct. 3.

ACL Liveshot: Doja Cat flies audience to Planet Her

Fiza Kuzhiyil, Life and Arts Editor October 3, 2021

Under the Austin skyline, thousands of fans gathered at Lady Bird Stage six hours ahead of Doja Cat’s performance. As her crew set her stage with artificial plants, stragglers flowed in from the rest...

A crowd gathers at Weekend 1 of the Austin City Limits Music Festival on Oct. 1.

ACL Weekend 1 brings energy and large crowds, despite inclement weather

Fiza Kuzhiyil, Life and Arts Editor October 2, 2021
Live music has continued to make its return with the start of the ACL 2021.
Miley Cyrus performs during Weekend 1 of the Austin City Limits Music Festival on Oct. 1.

ACL Liveshot: Miley Cyrus ‘Can’t Be Tamed’

Fiza Kuzhiyil, Life and Arts Editor October 2, 2021
Miley Cyrus brings energy and nostalgia to her ACL Weekend One set.
Students look forward to starting in-person classes, meeting virtual friends in the fall

Students look forward to starting in-person classes, meeting virtual friends in the fall

Fiza Kuzhiyil May 7, 2021

When Devashree Shah saw her fall 2021 schedule on the morning of registration, she couldn’t believe it. Beside the course number, every single one of her classes had a room number attached. “I was...

Q&A: UT-Austin junior Ethan Tran talks Webby-nominated short film When We’re Older’

Q&A: UT-Austin junior Ethan Tran talks Webby-nominated short film ‘When We’re Older’

Fiza Kuzhiyil May 2, 2021
UT junior Ethan Tran, creator of a Webby-nominated short film, talked to The Daily Texan about how the past year influenced his filmmaking.
Students reflect on a year of increased violence against the AAPI community

Students reflect on a year of increased violence against the AAPI community

Fiza Kuzhiyil April 30, 2021

Trigger warning: This story contains mentions of racism, hate crime and violence against Asian people. For a list of Anti-Asian violence resources look here: https://anti-asianviolenceresources.carrd.co/  Growing...

Helpful ways to stay engaged in online classes

Helpful ways to stay engaged in online classes

Fiza Kuzhiyil April 28, 2021
As the spring semester comes to a close and some students gear up for another round of digital summer classes, The Daily Texan compiled a list of ways to stay engaged in online meetings and lectures. 
UT-Austin students reflect on volunteering at COVID-19 vaccination sites

UT-Austin students reflect on volunteering at COVID-19 vaccination sites

Fiza Kuzhiyil April 12, 2021
To streamline the COVID-19 vaccination process in Gregory Gym, UT enlisted students to administer vaccines and help patients navigate the vaccination site.
Fearless (Taylor’s Version): A nostalgic callback to a generation-defining album

Fearless (Taylor’s Version): A nostalgic callback to a generation-defining album

Fiza Kuzhiyil April 11, 2021

If you owned a radio in 2008, you heard a song from Taylor Swift’s album, Fearless. We danced to “You Belong With Me” at middle school dances and tried to shake earworms like “Love Story”...

Students reflect on volunteering at COVID-19 vaccination sites

Students reflect on volunteering at COVID-19 vaccination sites

Fiza Kuzhiyil April 9, 2021

As the sun beat down on the line outside of Gregory Gym, student volunteers helped guide people to their COVID-19 vaccination appointments. On the way out, an elderly man stopped to thank volunteer...

Petroleum engineering students consider different career paths as market crashes

Petroleum engineering students consider different career paths as market crashes

Fiza Kuzhiyil April 6, 2021
Due to a large loss of employment within the Texas oil and gas industry, some students hoping to enter the once-booming industry have pursued further education or shifted career paths entirely.
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Multiple UT alumni are keynote, featured speakers at SXSW conference

Fiza Kuzhiyil March 23, 2021

Editor's Note: This story first appeared in The Daily Texan's March 10 print edition. From the Forty Acres to the virtual stage, several UT alumni will be speaking at the 2021 South by Southwest...

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What to check out if you’re going to SXSW

Editor's Note: This story first appeared in The Daily Texan's March 10 print edition.   The Daily Texan’s team of South by Southwest Online reporters have created a list of must-sees for students...

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SXSW introduced various female Asian artists

Fiza Kuzhiyil March 20, 2021

From the hills of Taiwan to a South Korean warehouse, Asian artists took over the virtual stage of the South by Southwest 2021 virtual music festival. Many streamed their performances from unique locations...

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TikTok creators talk how to engage Generation Z audience

Fiza Kuzhiyil March 20, 2021

TikTok creators, Dave Jorgenson, Ian McKenna and Jackie James talked about making news engaging in their South by Southwest 2021 conference session. During the session, each creator picked out a TikTok...

Theon Cross courtesy of WholeHogMedia

Tuba player Theon Cross talks African influences, new album

Fiza Kuzhiyil March 19, 2021

Emerging British jazz musicians performed at Abbey Road Studios in London on Tuesday, March 16 for the Jazz re:freshed Outernational showcase at the 2021 South by Southwest Music Festival. British...

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Band Ley Line talks multilingual music, sisterhood

Fiza Kuzhiyil March 19, 2021

In front of an ethereal galaxy backdrop of the Black Fret showcase stage, the four members of Ley Line embrace in a huddle as they do before every show. “This is this four-piece sisterhood, and...

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‘Demi Lovato: Dancing With the Devil’ is a powerful depiction of addiction, trauma

Fiza Kuzhiyil March 17, 2021

TW: This story contains descriptions of drug abuse, sexual assault and eating disorders.  Singer and actress Demi Lovato is a familiar icon from her time on Disney Channel in the early 2010s and...

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Q&A: Robyn Kanner, senior creative adviser for Biden-Harris campaign, talks creative process for virtual campaign

Fiza Kuzhiyil March 16, 2021

Creatives from the Biden-Harris campaign shared their experience conducting an online presidential campaign during the South by Southwest 2021 conference session “Politics x Design: How the Biden-Harris...

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Winter storm leaves many UT students seeking shelter from uninhabitable living conditions, freezing temperatures

Fiza Kuzhiyil March 9, 2021

Editor’s Note: This story contains information about students’ experiences during the winter storm and may be difficult to read. At the bottom of this story, the Texan has linked to resources for students...

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Students face financial fallouts after winter storm

Fiza Kuzhiyil March 9, 2021

Editor's Note: This story first appeared in The Daily Texan's March 5 print edition.   A pipe burst, and water soaked into the hardwood floor. The power went out, and food began to rot in the...

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Resident assistants work extra shifts during historic storm

Fiza Kuzhiyil March 4, 2021

Editor’s Note: This story includes sources whose names have been changed to protect their employment. This story first appeared in The Daily Texan's February 26 print edition. As the...

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Finding community amid a snowstorm: students, faculty, alumni are supporting each other during inclement weather

Fiza Kuzhiyil February 18, 2021

After UT students spent Monday sledding, dancing and taking pictures in the snow, Justin Phan and his roommate spent two hours picking up the trash they left behind on the South Mall lawn. “If...

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Uninsured UT students discuss healthcare barriers

Fiza Kuzhiyil February 9, 2021

Editor's Note: This story first appeared in The Daily Texan's February 5 online edition. Michelle Nwaeri has a lingering fear. If she was ever in an accident, she’s afraid that someone...

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Bhangra dance team uses platform to raise money for Indian issues

Fiza Kuzhiyil February 8, 2021

Editor's Note: This story first appeared in The Daily Texan's February 2 print edition. In the Indian state of Punjab, farmers camp out on the cold streets to protest new agriculture laws. Over...

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LGBTQ+ students come out to family members amid pandemic, seek connections

Fiza Kuzhiyil January 29, 2021

Quarantined in her Austin apartment in August, Fay Medina pressed her phone to her ear and came out to her mother as bisexual. There was a pause. “You know you're going to hell, right?”...

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College-based content creators find new creative pursuits amid COVID-19 pandemic

Fiza Kuzhiyil January 26, 2021

“Welcome back to my channel, everyone,” Amanda Saunders said to the camera. Saunders sat in front of her grandmother’s china cabinet, filming a video for her 7,000 subscribers on her...

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UT-Austin research finds gaps in service for sexual assault survivors in Texas

Fiza Kuzhiyil November 24, 2020

Research by UT’s Institute on Domestic Violence & Sexual Assault found service gaps in sexual assault survivor’s resources in Texas, including mental health and legal services. The research...

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City of Austin expands rent assistance program, allows residents 6 months rent coverage

Fiza Kuzhiyil November 23, 2020

Austin residents can now apply for up to six months of rent assistance from the Housing Authority of the City of Austin, expanded from the three months it previously covered.  The Relief of Emergency...

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Q-drop rates remain steady through shift to online courses

Fiza Kuzhiyil November 16, 2020

Student Q-drop rates remained similar to previous semesters this fall despite the transition to online courses for fall 2020. Mark Simpson, assistant vice provost and University registrar for the Office...

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Wearable technology monitoring water intake aiming to reduce kidney stone risk receives National Institutes of Health grant

Fiza Kuzhiyil November 9, 2020

A team of UT researchers received a five year, $2.97 million grant from the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases to develop a water bottle, watch and app for monitoring water...

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UT-Austin students feel anxious about election in polarized political climate

Hairuo Yi, Fiza Kuzhiyil, and Sheryl Lawrence November 4, 2020

Some students have expressed anxiety about this years’ election results, saying it is one of the most important elections of their lifetime. With increased student involvement on social media,...

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Latinx Theatre Initiative celebrates Día de los Muertos with virtual altar

Fiza Kuzhiyil November 2, 2020

The Latinx Theatre Initiative, a theater-focused student group, created a virtual altar to celebrate Día de los Muertos for students to post photos of their ancestors from Oct. 31 to Nov. 2.  Manuela...

silent reading zoom_courtesy of Fiza Kuzhiyil

UT-Austin students form silent reading club, connect through Zoom, Discord

Fiza Kuzhiyil October 30, 2020

About 80 members of the UT community are part of a weekly virtual reading club over Reddit and Discord to connect during COVID-19.  Jessica Shu, a finance and Plan II senior, said she suggested...

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UT Health Austin to open epilepsy clinic for Spanish-speaking families

Fiza Kuzhiyil October 20, 2020

UT Health Austin will open an epilepsy clinic at Dell Children’s Medical Center for Spanish-speaking families by mid-November, lead doctor Karen Skjei said. Skjei said the clinic has two goals:...

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Jester City Limits to close for semester starting October 5

Fiza Kuzhiyil October 5, 2020

Jester City Limits dining hall will close Oct. 5 due to a low customer turnout this semester, said Rene Rodriguez, director of dining for University Housing and Dining. UHD closed JCL after it averaged...

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US News & World Report ranks UT’s First-Year Experience program No. 25 in nation

Fiza Kuzhiyil October 2, 2020

The U.S. News and World Report ranked UT’s First-Year Experience program 25 in the nation and second in universities with over 30,000 students, but the program continues to make adjustments for COVID-19. UT’s...

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UT researchers receive $2.6M grant for improved COVID-19 antibody test

Fiza Kuzhiyil September 29, 2020

UT researchers were selected for a grant from the National Institutes of Health for their antibody test to detect the virus that causes COVID-19. Researchers will use the estimated $2.6 million grant...

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