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

Joelle DiPaolo, News Desk Editor

Joelle is a journalism and French sophomore from Houston, Texas. Currently, she is a desk editor for the news department and was a senior news reporter during Spring and Fall 2022 and a general news reporter during fall 2021. In her free time, Joelle enjoys obsessing over reality tv shows and playing board games.

All content by Joelle DiPaolo
The UT Tower viewed from the Turtle Pond on October 6, 2023.

Board of Regents approve negotiations for a new undergraduate housing complex

Joelle DiPaolo, News Editor February 28, 2024

The University of Texas System Board of Regents authorized the University to negotiate  construction of the first on-campus housing complex in nearly 20 years on Thursday. The new housing complex,...

First director of Disability Cultural Center to start this month

First director of Disability Cultural Center to start this month

Joelle DiPaolo, News Desk Editor January 9, 2023

In 2021, UT formally began discussing the creation of a Disability Cultural Center.  On Jan. 31, the center will kick off its first event, a cultural hangout at 6:30 p.m.  Emily Shryock is currently...

LGBTQ+ community finds ways to move forward post-election

LGBTQ+ community finds ways to move forward post-election

Joelle DiPaolo, Senior News Reporter November 29, 2022

The day after the election, some members of UT’s LGBTQ+ community received an email from a professor, checking in on them after the “stress and struggle” of election night.  “We did get through...

Amid high numbers of alcohol-related deaths statewide, UT aims to shift drinking culture

Amid high numbers of alcohol-related deaths statewide, UT aims to shift drinking culture

Joelle DiPaolo, Senior news reporter November 18, 2022

A quarter of deaths that occur among 20 to 34-year-olds in Texas result from excessive alcohol use, according to a study from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention published Nov. 1.  The study...

Students voice concerns over trucks on Speedway, University reviews vehicle policy

Students voice concerns over trucks on Speedway, University reviews vehicle policy

Joelle DiPaolo, Senior News Reporter November 15, 2022

Growing fed up with the heavy foot traffic and vehicles that traverse Speedway, business freshman Victoria Bradley experimented with different ways to cross campus that do not involve dealing with the...

UT researchers receive $4 million grant to improve literacy through peer tutoring

UT researchers receive $4 million grant to improve literacy through peer tutoring

Joelle DiPaolo, Senior news reporter November 11, 2022

UT researchers received $4 million to look at the efficacy of cross-age peer tutoring to improve reading skills in elementary school students. The grant, given by the Institute of Education Sciences,...

UT System board members donated $5.8 million to Abbott campaign since 2013

UT System board members donated $5.8 million to Abbott campaign since 2013

Joelle DiPaolo, Senior news reporter November 8, 2022

Members of the UT System Board of Regents donated $5.8 million to Gov. Greg Abbott’s gubernatorial campaigns, according to an analysis by The Texas Tribune.  Abbott appointed all 90 members currently...

Title IX office releases annual report, sees increase in direct reporting

Title IX office releases annual report, sees increase in direct reporting

Joelle DiPaolo, Senior news reporter October 31, 2022

The Title IX office released their annual report on Monday, reviewing the Title IX cases received in the 2021-22 academic year.  Title IX is a federal law that prohibits sex discrimination and conduct,...

Study finds bilingual babies brains work differently; bilingual students speak about experiences

Study finds bilingual babies’ brains work differently; bilingual students speak about experiences

Joelle DiPaolo, Senior News Reporter October 28, 2022

Infants raised to be bilingual use different parts of their brains when shifting attention to better adapt to hearing two languages, according to a study conducted by a UT researcher.  In the study...

CVS reduces period product prices, absorbs tax to combat period poverty

CVS reduces period product prices, absorbs tax to combat period poverty

Joelle DiPaolo, Senior news reporter October 24, 2022

Since Oct.13, CVS Health reduced the price of their branded period products by 25% and will cover the taxes on menstrual products in Texas and other states, according to an Oct. 11 announcement.   In...

The Perry-Castañeda Library security desk is now a distribution center and an emergency access point for naloxone spray for students, faculty and staff. The nasal spray, known as Narcan, is used to reverse the effects of an opioid overdose.

Travis County, nonprofits provide naloxone at ACL to prevent opioid overdoses

Joelle DiPaolo, Senior news reporter October 20, 2022

Travis County and other organizations provided naloxone for Austin City Limits staff to have on hand to help prevent opioid overdoses at the music festival.  Naloxone, also known by its brand name...

Constantly surrounded by my 4 walls: study finds pandemic impacted young adult personalities

‘Constantly surrounded by my 4 walls’: study finds pandemic impacted young adult personalities

Joelle DiPaolo, Senior news reporter October 18, 2022

Young adults experienced a change in personality traits during the later stages of the pandemic, according to a recent study by researchers at Florida State University.  The study, published Sept....

Professional-track faculty discuss concerns about contracts, promotion

Professional-track faculty discuss concerns about contracts, promotion

Joelle DiPaolo, Senior news reporter October 13, 2022

Stephanie Holmsten said when she started teaching at UT as a professional-track faculty member in 2012, she didn’t feel fully supported by administration. Since then, the University’s increased focus...

University buys apartment building for faculty housing amid increasing housing costs

University buys apartment building for faculty housing amid increasing housing costs

Joelle DiPaolo, Senior news reporter October 10, 2022

To help mitigate the high cost of housing for faculty, the University acquired the Boulevard apartments specifically for faculty housing, President Jay Hartzell said in the State of the University address...

Second Longhorn Band created to not play ‘The Eyes of Texas,’ postponed

Second Longhorn Band created to not play ‘The Eyes of Texas,’ postponed

Joelle DiPaolo, Senior news reporter October 7, 2022

Editor's note: Some names in this story have been changed to protect the sources' position in their organization. UT postponed the creation of a second Longhorn Band that will not play “The Eyes of...

Early apartment renewals in West Campus lead to stress for students

Early apartment renewals in West Campus lead to stress for students

Joelle DiPaolo, Senior news reporter October 7, 2022

By the time Bryanna Boone renewed her Skyloft lease Monday to stay in her apartment for the next year, a waitlist had already amassed for her unit. Although she managed to keep the room, the early renewal...

ACLUs student rights hub empowers students to fight against discrimination, censorship

ACLU’s student rights hub empowers students to fight against discrimination, censorship

Joelle DiPaolo, Senior News Reporter September 30, 2022

The American Civil Liberties Union created a centralized resource hub to encourage students to take action against discriminatory policies. The ACLU published its Students’ Rights Hub on Aug. 31,...

Increased rent, inflation leads to overcrowded animal shelters

Increased rent, inflation leads to overcrowded animal shelters

Joelle DiPaolo, Senior news reporter September 26, 2022

Lindsey Dalton adopted her dog Charlie, a pitbull terrier mix, on a whim after going to the Austin Animal Center’s Clear the Shelters event — she said seeing the crowded shelter pushed her to get the...

UT community reflects on impact of lack of abortion insurance coverage for University employees

UT community reflects on impact of lack of abortion insurance coverage for University employees

Joelle DiPaolo, Senior News Reporter September 23, 2022

When Lisa Moore moved to Texas in 1991, its inclusivity attracted her, but with increasingly restrictive reproductive healthcare, she no longer feels this way today.  “(It was) a place where I, a...

UT psychiatrists work with community to improve mental health in jails

UT psychiatrists work with community to improve mental health in jails

Joelle DiPaolo, Senior news reporter September 20, 2022

UT psychiatrists are working with Travis County to improve mental health services in jails and decrease the incarceration of people with mental health issues. In May, the Travis County Forensic Mental...

UT professor sues Texas A&M for discriminatory hiring practices

UT professor sues Texas A&M for discriminatory hiring practices

Joelle DiPaolo, Senior News Reporter September 16, 2022

UT professor Richard Lowery filed a lawsuit Sunday against the Texas A&M University System disputing a faculty program that the lawsuit argues uses discriminatory practices.  The lawsuit, filed...

‘She’s really good’ … at prioritizing mental health: Camp Rock star Alyson Stoner discusses importance of self-care

‘She’s really good’ … at prioritizing mental health: Camp Rock star Alyson Stoner discusses importance of self-care

Joelle DiPaolo, Senior news reporter September 15, 2022

Former Disney star and mental health advocate Alyson Stoner visited UT to educate students on the importance of the body and mind in mental health during a discussion Wednesday.  “When we talk about...

University dining halls pledge to reduce carbon emissions by 2030

University dining halls pledge to reduce carbon emissions by 2030

Joelle DiPaolo, Senior News Reporter September 13, 2022

University Housing and Dining pledged to reduce carbon emissions by serving more plant-based foods in dining halls.  In April, UHD joined the Cool Food Pledge, an aim by member organizations to reduce...

Students, faculty support decision to remove paywalls from publicly funded research

Students, faculty support decision to remove paywalls from publicly funded research

Joelle DiPaolo, Senior news reporter September 9, 2022

Publicly funded research should be rid of paywalls by 2026, according to an Aug. 25 memorandum from the White House, which requires federal agencies to make all public research accessible.   The decision...

Latin American studies institute and collection receives $2.1M in grants

Latin American studies institute and collection receives $2.1M in grants

Joelle DiPaolo, Senior News Reporter September 7, 2022

The University plans to expand Latin American studies with $2.1 million worth of grants from the Department of Education for curriculum development and cross-departmental collaboration.  LLILAS Benson...

FDA allows for over-the-counter hearing aids, students and faculty call for more affordable hearing health care

FDA allows for over-the-counter hearing aids, students and faculty call for more affordable hearing health care

Joelle DiPaolo, Senior News Reporter September 2, 2022

Those living with mild to moderate hearing loss will be able to obtain hearing aids over-the-counter following a new Federal Drug Administration rule from Aug. 16, effectively making them more affordable...

UT studies show LGBTQ+ youth experience more discrimination, distress

UT studies show LGBTQ+ youth experience more discrimination, distress

Joelle DiPaolo, Senior News Reporter September 2, 2022

Content warning: This article mentions suicide.  Forty-nine years ago, homosexuality was unclassified as a mental illness in the U.S. Seven years ago, same-sex marriage was legalized. Despite U.S....

Insulin costs capped for some diabetics, UT community calls for further reform

Insulin costs capped for some diabetics, UT community calls for further reform

Joelle DiPaolo, Senior news reporter August 26, 2022

Karley Singleton dreamed of being a filmmaker, but she said she had to push her dream to the side so she could afford insulin.  “What I want to do for my passion would be to get gigs … or work...

University Health Services addresses monkeypox concerns

University Health Services addresses monkeypox concerns

Joelle DiPaolo, Senior news reporter August 22, 2022

The City of Austin declared monkeypox a public health emergency Aug. 9, but students who attend in-person classes are at low risk for contracting the illness, University health officials say.  UT officials...

College of Education students and faculty grapple with Texas teacher shortage

College of Education students and faculty grapple with Texas teacher shortage

Joelle DiPaolo, Senior News Reporter August 22, 2022

When Gigs Hodges came to Austin, she felt a pull to be a teacher. However, her student teaching experience left her apprehensive about the profession she felt passionate about, as she faced verbal assaults...

‘Long live the King’: UT’s beloved cat Domino loses battle with cancer 

‘Long live the King’: UT’s beloved cat Domino loses battle with cancer 

Joelle DiPaolo, News Reporter May 8, 2022

Domino, the celebrity campus feline and UT’s most “beloved mascot” who brought comfort and companionship to many in the University community, died Tuesday. He was 13 years old.  “There have...

College of Natural Sciences students struggle with mental health, college strives to increase awareness

College of Natural Sciences students struggle with mental health, college strives to increase awareness

Joelle DiPaolo, News Reporter May 8, 2022

Editor's note: This article first appeared in the May 3, 2022 flipbook. Maya Flores, an environmental science and geology freshman, said she took five STEM courses this semester. She said she wishes...

Student housing company American Campus Communities acquired for nearly $13 billion

Student housing company American Campus Communities acquired for nearly $13 billion

Joelle DiPaolo, News Reporter April 29, 2022

Editor's Note: This article first appeared in the April 26, 2022 flipbook. A real estate investment company acquired American Campus Communities, a student housing company that owns several West Campus...

iSchool Inclusion Institute moves to UT, increases opportunities in informatics

iSchool Inclusion Institute moves to UT, increases opportunities in informatics

Joelle DiPaolo, News Reporter April 28, 2022

UT will host a program encouraging undergraduate students from underrepresented communities to engage in information sciences starting this summer. The iSchool Inclusion Institute is a program that...

UT-Austin’s Student Government amends constitution, aims to increase transparency and accountability

UT-Austin’s Student Government amends constitution, aims to increase transparency and accountability

Joelle DiPaolo, Senior News Reporter April 27, 2022

Student Government passed an accountability amendment to their governing documents as part of a series of reforms on April 26.  The Transform SG Initiative Act includes reforms such as creating agency...

Briscoe Center acquires archives from Richard Goodwin, speechwriter for JFK, LBJ

Briscoe Center acquires archives from Richard Goodwin, speechwriter for JFK, LBJ

Joelle DiPaolo, Senior News Reporter April 21, 2022

Former President Lyndon B. Johnson famously used the words “we shall overcome,” a phrase synonymous with the Civil Rights Movement, in a speech to Congress calling for voting rights in 1965. The drafts...

Student Government passes resolution in support of emergency contraception vending machine on campus

Student Government passes resolution in support of emergency contraception vending machine on campus

Joelle DiPaolo, News Reporter April 17, 2022

Editor's Note: This article first appeared in the April 12, 2022 flipbook. Student Government passed a resolution April 5 in support of Emergency Contraception 4 Every Campus’ initiative to bring...

UT to allocate funds for faculty housing in response to increased living costs in Austin

UT to allocate funds for faculty housing in response to increased living costs in Austin

Joelle DiPaolo, News Reporter April 17, 2022

Editor's Note: This article first appeared in the April 12, 2022 flipbook. President Jay Hartzell announced he will set aside funding for faculty recruiting packages due to high housing prices in Austin...

Richard Reddick appointed new School of Undergraduate Studies dean, senior vice provost for curriculum and enrollment

Richard Reddick appointed new School of Undergraduate Studies dean, senior vice provost for curriculum and enrollment

Joelle DiPaolo, News Reporter April 8, 2022

Editor's Note: This article first appeared in the April 5, 2022 flipbook. Richard Reddick, associate dean of equity, community engagement and outreach for the College of Education, will begin two new...

Graduate Student Assembly passes resolution reaffirming stance on graduate student representation in Student Government

Graduate Student Assembly passes resolution reaffirming stance on graduate student representation in Student Government

Joelle DiPaolo, News Reporter April 8, 2022

Editor's Note: This article first appeared in the April 5, 2022 flipbook. The Graduate Student Assembly passed a resolution March 23 reaffirming their stance that Student Government should cede representation...

Round Up returns after 3 years with increased safety, acknowledgement of racist past

Round Up returns after 3 years with increased safety, acknowledgement of racist past

Joelle DiPaolo, News Reporter April 5, 2022

Editor's Note: This article first appeared in the April 1, 2022 flipbook. Last weekend, the Interfraternity Council hosted Round Up, a music festival put on by IFC chapter members, for the first time...

Dining halls adopt more rigorous ID checks after Feb. increase in ID confiscations

Dining halls adopt more rigorous ID checks after Feb. increase in ID confiscations

Joelle DiPaolo, News Reporter April 3, 2022

Editor's Note: This article first appeared in the March 29, 2022 flipbook. University dining halls and stores have implemented a new policy to check student IDs due to an influx in students using each...

Sanger Learning Center increases pay for student employees

Sanger Learning Center increases pay for student employees

Joelle DiPaolo, News Reporter March 29, 2022

Editor's Note: This article first appeared in the March 25, 2022 flipbook. The Sanger Learning Center increased most student employee wages from $11.25 to $14 an hour this semester in an effort to attract...

Joint resolutions paused for legislative student organizations

Joint resolutions paused for legislative student organizations

Joelle DiPaolo, News Reporter March 25, 2022

Editor's Note: This article was first appeared in the March 22, 2022 flipbook. The joint resolution process for Legislative Student Organizations will pause for the rest of the semester due to procedural...

Palestinian Solidarity Committee releases response to University halting legislation about definition of antisemitism

Palestinian Solidarity Committee releases response to University halting legislation about definition of antisemitism

Joelle DiPaolo, News Reporter March 22, 2022

Editor's Note: This article first appeared in the March 11, 2022 flipbook. This story was updated on March 22 with new information obtained by the Texan through a public information request about emails...

Trans students speak out against Gov. Abbotts order to investigate gender affirming health care as child abuse

Trans students speak out against Gov. Abbott’s order to investigate gender affirming health care as child abuse

Joelle DiPaolo, News Reporter March 21, 2022

Editor's Note: This article first appeared in the March 8, 2022 flipbook. The night Kai Bovik and their friends heard about Gov. Greg Abbott’s directive attacking trans children, they got together...

New State of LGBTQIA+ Affairs at UT Austin report provides recommendations to increase inclusivity on campus

Joelle DiPaolo, News Reporter March 21, 2022

Editor's Note: This article first appeared in the March 8, 2022 flipbook. Student leaders released an updated State of LGBTQIA+ Affairs report Monday with 48 recommendations to increase inclusivity...

UT professor receives 3 grants focused on transportation accessibility

UT professor receives 3 grants focused on transportation accessibility

Joelle DiPaolo, News Reporter March 21, 2022

Editor's Note: This article first appeared in the March 1, 2022 flipbook. Regional planning professor Alex Karner received three grants totaling over $400,000 for projects investigating transportation...

UT releases $25.7 million in final round of HEERF block grants, students express relief

UT releases $25.7 million in final round of HEERF block grants, students express relief

Joelle DiPaolo, Senior News Reporter March 2, 2022

UT released $25.7 million in Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund block grants to students on March 2, the final round of debt relief provided by HEERF III, a University spokesperson said. Over 27,600...

New anonymous social media app comes to UT

New anonymous social media app comes to UT

Joelle DiPaolo, News Reporter February 25, 2022

Editor's Note: This article first appeared in the Feb. 21, 2022 in the flipbook. On Feb. 10, UT became the third university to join the new anonymous social media app Fizz.  Founders Teddy Solomon...

Sweatt Center receives gift to promote success for Black male students

Sweatt Center receives gift to promote success for Black male students

Joelle DiPaolo, News Reporter February 22, 2022

This article first appeared in the Feb. 18, 2022 flipbook. The Heman Sweatt Center for Black Males received a $750,000 donation this semester to help advance initiatives that promote success for Black...

Cockrell climate survey reveals different perspectives, provides recommendations for change

Cockrell climate survey reveals different perspectives, provides recommendations for change

Joelle DiPaolo, News Reporter February 18, 2022

This article first appeared in the Feb. 14, 2022 flipbook. The Cockrell School of Engineering released its 2021 climate survey report Feb. 1, which showed some engineers, including women and people...

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Hartzell’s absences at Faculty Council meetings leave some members frustrated, disappointed 

Joelle DiPaolo, News Reporter February 9, 2022
President Jay Hartzell has not attended three of the five Faculty Council meetings this academic year, leaving some faculty members frustrated at the lack of opportunities for communication.  
New Canvas resource for testing accommodations makes reservations more efficient 

New Canvas resource for testing accommodations makes reservations more efficient 

Joelle DiPaolo, News Reporter February 9, 2022
Professors can now schedule exams for students who need testing accommodations on Canvas by using a new resource that is intended to make the reservation process easier. 
Pease Parkside apartment building without heat, gas for over a month, leaves residents frustrated

Pease Parkside apartment building without heat, gas for over a month, leaves residents frustrated

Joelle DiPaolo, News Reporter February 8, 2022
Some residents at the Pease Parkside apartment complex in West Campus have been without gas, heat and hot water for over a month due to failed utility inspections.
UT professor co-chairs committee to recommend equitable policies, reform higher education

UT professor co-chairs committee to recommend equitable policies, reform higher education

Joelle DiPaolo, Senior News Reporter February 3, 2022

A UT professor co-chaired a committee focused on combating inequity in higher education through policymaking, formed as a result of President Joe Biden’s January 2021 executive order on racial equity.  The...

New student organization attempts to increase blood donations amid supply shortages

New student organization attempts to increase blood donations amid supply shortages

Joelle DiPaolo, Senior News Reporter February 1, 2022

Editor's note: This article first appeared in the Jan. 28, 2022 flipbook. When touring one of Austin’s We Are Blood facilities last semester, Tasha Anslyn realized how heavily the pandemic had diminished...

UT forms learning community to help teachers understand, implement curriculum

UT forms learning community to help teachers understand, implement curriculum

Joelle DiPaolo, News Reporter January 28, 2022
The college received a one-year learning grant to form the Texas Education Curriculum Literacy Learning Community.
UT engineers commercialize carbon capture technology to combat climate change

UT engineers commercialize carbon capture technology to combat climate change

Joelle DiPaolo, News Reporter January 25, 2022
The agreement between the Texas Carbon Management Program Group and Honeywell, a multinational conglomerate, was announced in December and gives Honeywell the right to scale the technology for commercialization.
Dining halls offer takeout for 2 weeks due to COVID-19 surge

Dining halls offer takeout for 2 weeks due to COVID-19 surge

Joelle DiPaolo, News Reporter January 18, 2022

For the first two weeks of the semester, campus dining halls will be takeout-only to reduce the spread of COVID-19, according to a Jan. 7 email from University Housing and Dining.  The dining hall...

Compostable waste destined for landfill under UT’s expired contract

Compostable waste destined for landfill under UT’s expired contract

Joelle DiPaolo, News reporter December 18, 2021

Editor's Note: This article first appeared in the November 2 flipbook. In some University Housing and Dining locations, items placed in the “compost” bins are not currently being composted because...

UT creates Academic Technology Council to improve coordination of technology, create new technology campus-wide

UT creates Academic Technology Council to improve coordination of technology, create new technology campus-wide

Joelle DiPaolo, News Reporter December 15, 2021

Editor's Note: This article first appeared as part of the November 30 flipbook.  UT is looking to improve technology literacy and accessibility campus-wide with a new council it created last month.  The...

UT leads project focused on exploring the deep ocean

UT leads project focused on exploring the deep ocean

Joelle DiPaolo, News Reporter December 15, 2021

Editor's Note: This article first appeared as part of the November 16 flipbook.  An interdisciplinary team led by UT researchers launched a project in October focused on exploring the deep ocean. The...

UT to begin renovations on Hogg Memorial Auditorium to improve safety, accessibility

UT to begin renovations on Hogg Memorial Auditorium to improve safety, accessibility

Joelle DiPaolo, News Reporter October 27, 2021

UT will start renovations next month to the Hogg Memorial Auditorium, a popular venue for student and University events, to address safety deficiencies and make the building more accessible. The renovations...

UT creates new dual degree program combining business, computer, electrical engineering

UT creates new dual degree program combining business, computer, electrical engineering

Joelle DiPaolo, News Reporter October 19, 2021

Students can apply for a new honors dual-degree program that combines business, electrical and computer engineering for fall 2022. The Texas Honors Electrical and Computer Engineering and Business program,...

UT-Austin School of Undergraduate Studies to get rid of undeclared major, creates new internal transfer application

UT-Austin School of Undergraduate Studies to get rid of undeclared major, creates new internal transfer application

Joelle DiPaolo October 10, 2021

The School of Undergraduate Studies will no longer accept new applicants starting fall 2022 and created a centralized internal transfer application for spring 2022.   Beginning in fall 2022, all incoming...

Pro-Palestine UT students say roundtable discussing Israel, Palestine conflict spread misinformation

Joelle DiPaolo, News Reporter September 27, 2021

Editor’s Note: This story has been removed because the round table discussion it centered around did not foster productive conversation surrounding the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Thus, the Texan was...

University Housing and Dining return to normal swipe-in policies at residence halls

University Housing and Dining return to normal swipe-in policies at residence halls

Joelle DiPaolo September 20, 2021

After over a year of students swiping in at all times at the front desk to access their residence halls’ lobby, the University changed its policy in early September to only require identification from...

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