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

Morgan Severson, Managing Editor

Morgan is a journalism senior from League City, Texas and is currently Managing Editor. Starting at The Texan in fall 2021 she's previously held the following positions: Associate Managing Editor, News Editor, News Desk Editor, City and Politics Senior News Reporter, General Photographer and Issue Designer. In her free time, Morgan is probably at a coffee shop or spin class.

All content by Morgan Severson
Las becas basadas en la raza están protegidas federalmente, pero la guía del Sistema UT dice que deberían revisarse en medio de la inminente prohibición de DEI

Las becas basadas en la raza están protegidas federalmente, pero la guía del Sistema UT dice que deberían revisarse en medio de la inminente prohibición de DEI

Morgan Severson and Judith Matehuala November 30, 2023

Nota del editor: este artículo se publicó por primera vez el 27 de noviembre por Morgan Severson y fue traducido al español por Judith Matehuala Los colegios y universidades de Texas están haciendo...

Managing Editor loves The Daily Texan with all her heart

Managing Editor loves The Daily Texan with all her heart

Morgan Severson, Managing Editor November 30, 2023

I wrote this in October. And no it wasn’t because I felt ready to leave the Texan last month … okay maybe I did a little. But it was mostly because I was feeling sentimental.  I was reflecting...

Scholarships based on race protected federally, but UT System guidance says they should be reviewed amid impending DEI ban

Scholarships based on race protected federally, but UT System guidance says they should be reviewed amid impending DEI ban

Morgan Severson, Managing Editor November 27, 2023

Texas colleges and universities are making changes on campus to comply with Senate Bill 17’s Jan. 1 deadline, which bans diversity, equity, and inclusion offices, mandatory trainings and DEI statements...

Secretary of State Antony Blinken throws a hook em at the Hogg Memorial Auditorium on Wednesday in support of Longhorns before the Red River Rivalry.

Secretario de estado Antony Blinken discute la guerra en Ucrania, inmigración y IA durante visita a UT

Morgan Severson and Emma Rikalo October 7, 2023

Nota del editor: este artículo se publicó por primera vez el 4 de octubre por Morgan Severson y fue traducido al español por Emma Rikalo. El secretario de estado Antony Blinken discutió el estado...

Ben LaBolt, White House communications director, speaks at the first campus White House briefing of the 2023-2024 school year held Sept. 25 on Zoom.

Primera sesión informativa del campus de la Casa Blanca del año escolar 2023-2024, los asesores hablan sobre asequibilidad universitaria, salud mental y cambio climático

Morgan Severson, Kevin Vu, and Hannah Garza October 5, 2023

Nota del editor: Este artículo se publicó por primera vez el 11 de septiembre por Morgan Severson y Kevin Vu y fue traducido al español por Hannah Garza.  Los asesores de la Casa Blanca celebraron...

Secretary of State Antony Blinken throws a hook em at the Hogg Memorial Auditorium on Wednesday in support of Longhorns before the Red River Rivalry.

Secretary of State Antony Blinken discusses war in Ukraine, immigration, AI during UT visit

Morgan Severson, Managing Editor October 4, 2023

Secretary of State Antony Blinken discussed the state of foreign affairs at the Hogg Memorial Auditorium Wednesday.  Blinken was introduced by UT President Jay Hartzell and interviewed by Kay...

Ben LaBolt, White House communications director, speaks at the first campus White House briefing of the 2023-2024 school year held Sept. 25 on Zoom.

First campus White House briefing of 2023-2024 school year, advisors talk college affordability, mental health, climate change

Morgan Severson and Kevin Vu October 3, 2023

White House advisors held a campus press briefing on Sept. 25, inviting student publications across the country, including The Daily Texan, to share the Biden administration’s plan to address college...

A tool for learning or an accomplice for cheating? How artificial intelligence, like ChatGPT, is changing the classroom at UT

A tool for learning or an accomplice for cheating? How artificial intelligence, like ChatGPT, is changing the classroom at UT

Morgan Severson, News Editor June 13, 2023

When Jared Mumm, a professor at Texas A&M University at Commerce, had a sneaking suspicion some of his students used ChatGPT, an artificial intelligence chatbot, to write their final essays, he asked...

Local Starbucks employees protest Red Cup Day, claim lack of union negotiations

Local Starbucks employees protest Red Cup Day, claim lack of union negotiations

Morgan Severson, News Desk Editor November 21, 2022

Over 100 Starbucks stores across the nation, including the 45th Street and North Lamar Boulevard location, held protests Nov. 17 over stalled union contract negotiations, employees said.  In June,...

Radio-telivision-film junior Jazzy Anne poses on her bed in front of her camera in her West Campus apartment. Anne has a YouTube channel with 1.59 million subscribers.

[Photo] Jazzy Anne reflects on YouTube channel, change in direction

November 8, 2022

Radio-telivision-film junior Jazzy Anne poses on her bed in front of her camera in her West Campus apartment. Anne has a YouTube channel with 1.59 million subscribers.

Customers take their order from the window of JP’s Pancakes, a food truck in West Campus, on October 25. The business became a quick success but the currently facing difficulties due to labor shortages.

[Photo] JP’s Pancake Co. shares staffing struggles with West Campus community

October 27, 2022

Customers take their order from the window of JP’s Pancakes, a food truck in West Campus, on October 25. The business became a quick success but the currently facing difficulties due to labor shortages.

Photo Gallery: Beto ORourke Texas College Tour

Photo Gallery: Beto O’Rourke Texas College Tour

As a part of a series of college visits, gubernatorial candidate Beto O'Rourke visited the 40 Acres on Sept. 26, 2022.  

‘What about my roommate?’: UHD adopts ‘isolation-in-place’ strategy in dorms, residents worry about infecting roommates

‘What about my roommate?’: UHD adopts ‘isolation-in-place’ strategy in dorms, residents worry about infecting roommates

Morgan Severson, News desk editor September 12, 2022

When Jester West resident Joel Gomez tested positive for COVID-19 last week, he had a difficult decision to make — isolate back at home and risk getting his grandma sick, or isolate in his dorm and risk...

Alienware partners with Texas Union for UTs first esports lounge

Alienware partners with Texas Union for UT’s first esports lounge

Morgan Severson, Senior News Reporter September 2, 2022

The Texas Union is home to the new Alienware esports gaming lounge, which is currently in a soft opening stage after its ribbon-cutting ceremony on Wednesday. Alienware, the gaming line of Dell Technologies,...

Services for Students with Disabilities renamed Disability & Access to increase student representation

Services for Students with Disabilities renamed Disability & Access to increase student representation

Morgan Severson, News Desk Editor August 26, 2022

Starting this semester, Services for Students with Disabilities is changing its name to Disability & Access to better reflect the scope of its work and represent those who do not identify with the...

UT Senate applications indefinitely postponed for review of governing documents by dean of students

UT Senate applications indefinitely postponed for review of governing documents by dean of students

Morgan Severson, News Reporter August 8, 2022

The Office of the Dean of Students announced it is indefinitely postponing applications for the Senate of College Councils while it reviews the student organization’s governing documents to ensure they...

‘A choice for the greater good’: Students work to unionize Detroit-style pizzeria Via 313

‘A choice for the greater good’: Students work to unionize Detroit-style pizzeria Via 313

Morgan Severson, News Reporter August 8, 2022

Employees at three Austin Via 313 locations, including one in North Campus, announced Thursday that they filed to unionize for better wages and to improve working conditions in Austin’s service industry...

UT-Austin student runs for Austin mayor, wishes to improve disability access and public transportation

UT-Austin student runs for Austin mayor, wishes to improve disability access and public transportation

Morgan Severson, News Reporter August 3, 2022

Editor’s note: This article first appeared in the August 2, 2022 flipbook. At just 21 years old, government senior Phil Brual will have his name printed on Austin’s mayoral ballot this November.   Brual...

SG agency co-director removed for mishandling funds with Torchy’s Taco order

SG agency co-director removed for mishandling funds with Torchy’s Taco order

Morgan Severson, News Reporter July 28, 2022

Editor's Note: This article first appeared in the July 26, 2022 flip book.  Student Government President Leland Murphy removed the co-director of SG’s Longhorn Entrepreneurship Agency on July 19...

Austin City Council passes GRACE Act to decriminalize abortion despite statewide ban

Austin City Council passes GRACE Act to decriminalize abortion despite statewide ban

Morgan Severson, News Reporter July 25, 2022

In a special meeting last Thursday, Austin City Council unanimously passed items supporting access to reproductive healthcare, as well as an act to decriminalize abortion in the city — an effort that...

UT-Austin poll finds majority of Texans oppose abortion ban, support access to contraception

UT-Austin poll finds majority of Texans oppose abortion ban, support access to contraception

Morgan Severson, News Report July 21, 2022

Despite an impending trigger law that will criminalize abortions in most cases in Texas, a majority of the state’s voters oppose a total ban on the procedure, according to the latest poll conducted by...

Texas Planned Parenthood sees increase in contraceptive, reproductive healthcare demand following abortion ban

Texas Planned Parenthood sees increase in contraceptive, reproductive healthcare demand following abortion ban

Morgan Severson, News Reporter July 21, 2022

Editor’s note: This article first appeared in the July 19, 2022 flip book. While Planned Parenthood clinics are now unable to provide abortions, their ability to provide other reproductive healthcare...

Oil, gas production activity found to be likely cause of earthquakes in West Texas, New Mexico by UT-Austin researchers

Oil, gas production activity found to be likely cause of earthquakes in West Texas, New Mexico by UT-Austin researchers

Morgan Severson, News Reporter July 14, 2022

UT researchers found oil and gas production activities are the likely cause of increased earthquakes in West Texas and New Mexico, according to a recent study.  The Delaware Basin, stretching through...

Government and African Diaspora studies junior Aria Kaylin Tolbert reflects on college life for Black women post Roe v. Wade.

‘You have to live a little bit more in fear’: UT students reflect on Black maternal health disparities

Morgan Severson, News Reporter July 14, 2022

Editor’s note: This article first appeared in the July 12, 2022 flipbook. Since the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, Aria Kaylin Tolbert said losing her bodily autonomy has weighed heavily...

Protesters march down Congress Avenue on Saturday, June 25. A crowd of several hundred attendees gathered to protest the Supreme Court’s ruling to overturn Roe v Wade.

Incoming students consider not attending UT following abortion restrictions

Morgan Severson, News Reporter July 14, 2022

This article first appeared in the July 12, 2022 flipbook. When deciding where to apply for college, high school senior Sarah Warren said she considered applying to UT, but concerns for autonomy over...

Protesters march down Congress Avenue on Saturday, June 25. A crowd of several hundred attendees gathered to protest the Supreme Court’s ruling to overturn Roe v Wade.

Incoming students choose not to attend UT following abortion restrictions

Morgan Severson, News Reporter July 11, 2022

When deciding where to apply for college, high school senior Sarah Warren said she considered applying to UT, but concerns for autonomy over her body in Texas made her decide against it.   “I was...

CapMetro allows riders to get dropped off in-between stops at night

CapMetro allows riders to get dropped off in-between stops at night

Morgan Severson, News Reporter July 6, 2022

CapMetro’s new courtesy stop program allows riders to be dropped off in between stops closer after 9 p.m. in an effort to help riders feel more comfortable taking the bus at night. The program, which...

2020-08-15_Austin_City_Hall_Presley

Austin City Council unanimously passes resolution in support of livable wages for city employees

Morgan Severson, News Reporter June 27, 2022

City employees could have their pay increased to $22 an hour in the fall following a unanimous decision by the Austin City Council to raise the minimum wage for city employees on June 16.  The resolution,...

City of Austin, Travis County to seek decriminalization of abortion amid impending Texas ‘trigger law’ following the overturn of Roe v. Wade

City of Austin, Travis County to seek decriminalization of abortion amid impending Texas ‘trigger law’ following the overturn of Roe v. Wade

Morgan Severson, News Reporter June 27, 2022

Following the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe v. Wade, José Garza, Travis County district attorney, said in a press conference Monday that his office will “not criminalize personal healthcare...

‘I just want to live a normal college student life’: Student Government report finds one-third of UT-Austin students are food insecure

‘I just want to live a normal college student life’: Student Government report finds one-third of UT-Austin students are food insecure

Morgan Severson, Life & Arts Reporter June 23, 2022

Editor's note: two paragraphs were removed from this story due to an inaccuracy. The Texan regrets this error. Going out to eat with friends is not a decision Maria said she gets to make anymore —...

Austin City Council passes resolution to try and raise age to purchase an AR-15

Austin City Council passes resolution to try and raise age to purchase an AR-15

Morgan Severson, News Reporter June 20, 2022

Austin City Council approved a resolution Thursday that directs the city manager to “explore every option” to reduce or prohibit the sale of AR-15s and other semi-automatic rifles to individuals under...

City partners with UT-Austin to offer classes for small business owners, entrepreneurs

City partners with UT-Austin to offer classes for small business owners, entrepreneurs

Morgan Severson, News Reporter June 16, 2022

The Austin City Council authorized an $82,500 initiative with UT on June 9 to launch 11 online classes for small business owners.  The agreement allows the city to offer the courses for 36 months....

Amanda Garcia, Marwa Sultani, and Quincy Martin stand outside of the Starbucks on 24th and Nueces in West Campus on Friday, June 10 moments after the location voted in favor of unionizing. Garcia, Sultani, and Martin are part of the largely student employee backed campaign that has been pushing for a labor union over the past several months.

West Campus Starbucks becomes second store in Texas to unionize, prepares to bargain with company

Morgan Severson, News Reporter June 16, 2022

A West Campus Starbucks became the second store in the state and city to officially unionize with a vote of 10-2 on Friday — exactly one week after another Austin store won its union election.  “(I’m)...

After marching from Republic Square, protestors arrive at the Capitol steps on May 3, 2022. The crowd echoed chants such as my body, my choice.

Austin City Council member proposes to decriminalize abortion if Roe v. Wade is overturned

Morgan Severson, News Reporter June 9, 2022

If the U.S. Supreme Court overturns Roe v. Wade,  a state trigger law will criminalize almost all abortions in Texas 30 days after the decision — but Austin City Council member Chito Vela proposed an...

12-year-old gets accepted at Austin Community College, plans to transfer to McCombs

12-year-old gets accepted at Austin Community College, plans to transfer to McCombs

Morgan Severson, Senior News Reporter May 5, 2022

Like many 12-year-olds, Deep Hayer loves to play tic-tac-toe with his mom, basketball with his dad and Monopoly on family game night. He loves cruising around his neighborhood on his skateboard and listening...

4th Street LGBTQ+ bars face possible demolition

4th Street LGBTQ+ bars face possible demolition

Morgan Severson, News Reporter May 2, 2022

LGBTQ+ bars on Fourth Street face potential demolition in 2023 for the construction of a 400-unit apartment building. Austin’s Historic Landmark Commission Architectural Review Committee must decide...

West Campus Starbucks increases employee discipline; employees claim union-busting

West Campus Starbucks increases employee discipline; employees claim union-busting

Morgan Severson, News Reporter April 29, 2022

Starbucks employees at the West 24th and Nueces Street location in West Campus plan to protest outside of the store this Saturday at 4 p.m. following a shift in their treatment by management after they...

Community volunteers, students collect 6,000 pounds of trash at Lady Bird Lake

Community volunteers, students collect 6,000 pounds of trash at Lady Bird Lake

Morgan Severson, News Reporter April 29, 2022

Editor's Note: This article first appeared in the April 26, 2022 flipbook. Students and community members celebrated Earth Day this year by participating in Rowing Dock’s first annual Earth Day Clean...

Tesla Gigafactory creates job opportunities, environmental concerns for surrounding community

Tesla Gigafactory creates job opportunities, environmental concerns for surrounding community

Morgan Severson, News Reporter April 26, 2022

Editor's Note: This article first appeared in the April 22, 2022 flipbook. Tesla’s new Gigafactory in eastern Travis County could provide UT students and community members with nearly 10,000 jobs,...

Black Law and pre-law students reflect on Ketanji Brown Jackson confirmation as first Black female supreme court justice

Black Law and pre-law students reflect on Ketanji Brown Jackson confirmation as first Black female supreme court justice

Morgan Severson, News Reporter April 22, 2022

Editor's Note: This article first appeared in the April 19, 2022 flipbook. Sitting in the breakroom at his internship for the U.S. House of Representatives, Jeremiah Baldwin said he felt emotional as...

City auditor, UT working to finalize agreement to review Austin Water after February boil water notice

City auditor, UT working to finalize agreement to review Austin Water after February boil water notice

Morgan Severson, News Reporter April 19, 2022

Editor's Note: This article first appeared in the April 15, 2022 flipbook. UT is finalizing an agreement with the city of Austin to review water operations after February marked the city’s third boil...

UT students, community members paint Pease Park trees blue to bring awareness to deforestation

UT students, community members paint Pease Park trees blue to bring awareness to deforestation

Morgan Severson, News Reporter April 17, 2022

Editor's Note: This article first appeared in the April 12, 2022 flipbook. A visit to Pease Park looks a little different this month — the park’s trees display a vibrant shade of electric blue on...

UT students share experiences with hair-related discrimination following CROWN Act passage in US House

UT students share experiences with hair-related discrimination following CROWN Act passage in US House

Morgan Severson, News Reporter April 5, 2022

Editor's Note: This article first appeared in the April 1, 2022 flipbook. Before going to a job interview, Greg Phea pats his Afro down with water to make it appear smaller. He said he does this to...

West Campus Starbucks announces plans to unionize, gains support of local leaders

West Campus Starbucks announces plans to unionize, gains support of local leaders

Morgan Severson, News Reporter March 29, 2022

Editor's Note: This article first appeared in the March 25, 2022 flipbook. Starbucks employees announced their intent to unionize their 24th street store on March 7, becoming the first store in Austin...

UT student creates Gray for Glioblastoma Foundation after dad diagnosed with brain cancer

UT student creates Gray for Glioblastoma Foundation after dad diagnosed with brain cancer

Morgan Severson, News Reporter March 22, 2022

Editor's Note: This article first appeared in the March 11, 2022 flipbook. After her dad was diagnosed with the brain cancer glioblastoma multiforme, education sophomore Katherine Snedeker created the...

UT senior Jaskaran Singh wins ‘Jeopardy!’ National College Championship for $250,000 grand prize

UT senior Jaskaran Singh wins ‘Jeopardy!’ National College Championship for $250,000 grand prize

Morgan Severson, News Reporter February 28, 2022

The Tower lit burnt orange Tuesday night to celebrate Jaskaran Singh’s victory in the “Jeopardy!” National College Championship, after he represented the University and took home the grand prize...

Dobie Twenty21, Jester West residents report uncomfortable room temperatures

Dobie Twenty21, Jester West residents report uncomfortable room temperatures

Abbie Bard and Morgan Severson February 25, 2022

Editor's Note: This article first appeared in the Feb. 21, 2022 flipbook. Students living in Jester West and Dobie Twenty21 University housing say they’ve spent months living with hot temperatures...

UT student advances to ‘Jeopardy!’ National College Championship semifinals

UT student advances to ‘Jeopardy!’ National College Championship semifinals

Morgan Severson , News Reporter February 14, 2022

After auditioning for “Jeopardy!” at roughly 14 years old, Jaskaran Singh represented UT in the “Jeopardy!” National College Championship on Friday and won $19,900 in the quarterfinal round. Singh...

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