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The Daily Texan

As a general and senior news reporter at The Daily Texan, I covered all things UT - including major protests, lawsuits, breaking news and University policies. I reported on some contentious topics, including the Israel-Palestine conflict, the fall of diversity equity and inclusion offices, and free speech. Now, I'm a news desk editor, fact-checking stories and editing them for flow, grammar and AP style. 

Breaking News

From rushing to the scene of a stabbing to sifting through court documents in the middle of the night, I've been in a wide variety of breaking news situations. I worked with editors and other reporters to quickly put out content about news that directly impacted the UT community. My work included drafting tweets and writing follow-up stories within a few hours to a day depending on the situation.

By far my most intense breaking news scenario was the pro-Palestinian demonstrations and encampment at UT in April 2024. I conducted on-the-spot interviews, documented arrests, drafted tweets and wrote detailed timeline stories.  

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Palestinian-American stabbed in West Campus, Hate Crimes Review Committee to investigate incident

The Austin Police Department is investigating the stabbing of a Palestinian-American man in West Campus on Sunday as “bias-motivated,” and the incident will be reviewed by the Hate Crimes Review Committee, according to a press release.
The Council on American-Islamic Relations, a Muslim civil rights organization, called Monday for the assault to be investigated as a hate crime. Tuesday, CAIR released a statement welcoming APD’s “confirmation of bias motivation.”
The suspect, Bert James Baker, wa...
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Federal judge allows advancement of lawsuit against state university’s enforcement of executive order

A federal judge on Tuesday allowed a lawsuit concerning Texas universities’ enforcement of Gov. Greg Abbott’s executive order on antisemitism to proceed in court.
In May, pro-Palestine organizations across the state, including the Palestine Solidarity Committee at UT, sued Abbott and state universities, stating Abbott’s executive order on antisemitism violates the First Amendment. The lawsuit also asked the court to issue a preliminary injunction preventing universities from enforcing the govern...
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Muslim student attacked on campus, hate crime review pending

Three men attacked a Muslim student and his friend on Friday, and the Austin Police Department Hate Crimes Review Committee is evaluating whether the attack was a hate crime.
The Muslim student, who asked to be identified only as “D” for safety reasons, said he was wearing a kurta – a type of dress associated with the South Asian Muslim community – and walking with his friend at about 11 p.m. outside of Dobie Twenty21 when the three men stood in their path yelling “Allahu Akbar” and pejoratives....
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Students, faculty, law enforcement clash at pro-Palestine protest

UPDATE: The number of confirmed arrests is now 57, according to the Travis County Sheriff’s office, as of 10:30 a.m. Thursday morning.
Hundreds of protesters chanted “free Palestine” and “off our campus” Wednesday after police officers arrived at a pro-Palestine protest, pushed protesters and made at least 34 arrests. 
The protest, organized by the Palestine Solidarity Committee, called for the University to “divest from death” following encampments at campuses such as Columbia and Yale, accordi...
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UT Austin pro-Palestine encampment dismantled by law enforcement, over 100 protesters arrested: timeline

Law enforcement arrested at least 100 people today after protesters formed an encampment in support of Palestine on South Mall. 
The event follows similar encampments at college campuses around the nation and a Wednesday protest that resulted in 57 arrests, though all charges from Wednesday were dropped.
12:45 p.m. Around 50 people form an encampment in the center of the South Mall. They start chanting variations of “free Palestine” as some erect a few tents in the middle of the circle. 
1:10 p....
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Department of Justice sues West Campus property management company for rent-fixing scheme

The U.S. Department of Justice sued a software company and six major property management companies, including one with properties in West Campus, on Jan. 7 for colluding to fix rent prices. 
The lawsuit claims six property management companies colluded to raise rent prices across the country using a software called RealPage. One of those companies is Greystar Real Estate Partners, which owns Hilltop, Union on 24th and Union on San Antonio in West Campus. 
Combined, the six landlords in question...
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UT’s quiet changes to its free speech policies: what to know

UT made changes to its free speech policies over the summer, ranging from small terminology changes to entire sections added. 
The University did not notify the campus community of policy changes. University spokesperson Mike Rosen said UT routinely updates its policies over the summer. 
The policy changes follow UT’s crackdown on pro-Palestine protests on April 24 and April 29. City and state police arrested 136 people across both days for criminal trespassing, but County Attorney Delia Garza h...
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University Event Readiness and Response director discusses student demonstrations

The Daily Texan sat down with the director of the new Event Readiness and Response Unit, Joseph LoBrutto, to discuss the role of the new unit in managing campus events and student demonstrations.
LoBrutto declined to answer multiple questions about April’s pro-Palestine demonstrations, citing ongoing litigation. On April 24 and April 29, the University called in city and state police to quell the protests, leading to 136 arrests for criminal trespassing across two days. County Attorney Delia Gar...
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Arrested pro-Palestine student protesters share stories from Travis County Jail

Anne-Marie Jardine and two other people locked arms on the South Lawn at 3:15 p.m. on Wednesday, April 24 as police officers and state troopers pushed back the crowd of pro-Palestine protesters.
One officer grabbed the demonstrator next to Jardine while another said to Jardine, “I’m going to get you too.”
He pulled Jardine to the ground by her hair. Several more officers turned her onto her stomach and zip-tied her hands behind her back. One officer dug his knee into her shoulder blade.“My shoes...
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University introduces employee SB 17 training, continues web scans for potentially noncompliant activity

The University notified all staff Nov. 14, including student employees, that they must complete a mandatory Senate Bill 17 compliance training by February 2025. 
All UT employees must complete the virtual SB 17 compliance training every two years. The modules explain how SB 17 prohibits some campus offices and hiring practices, like requiring DEI statements. The training also clarifies that SB 17 does not impact course curricula and registered student organizations. 
The UTLearn training is the...
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Travis County changes policy to allow Muslim detainees to keep hijabs on during booking

The Travis County Sheriff’s Office changed its “religious articles” policy earlier this month to allow female Muslim detainees to keep their hijabs and require jail staff to fulfill requests for modest clothing during the booking process. 
After pro-Palestine demonstrations on campus in April, multiple female Muslim UT students reported to the Council on American-Islamic Relations that law enforcement removed their hijabs during their arrests and bookings. 
The policy change follows “interventio...
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University upholds sanctions on pro-Palestine protesters

Recent UT graduate Anne-Marie Jardine appealed a deferred suspension from the University after she was arrested at the pro-Palestine protest on campus on April 24. She learned on Aug. 19 that her appeal was denied.
Jardine is one of multiple students facing disciplinary action for participating in April’s pro-Palestine demonstrations, ranging from academic probation to suspension. While she has no plans to return to UT, she worries about current students continuing to face sanctions.
“I cannot i...

Analysis and Accountability

Another big aspect of my reporting was holding institutions accountable by asking tough questions and breaking down complicated topics for the average reader. Even when I didn't get a straight answer from those with power, I let their silence speak for itself -- my biggest priority was always explaining how these issues directly affect people in the UT community. 

Underrepresented Communities

My time at the Texan coincided with the implementation of anti-DEI laws and Israel's genocide in the Gaza Strip after the Oct. 7 Hamas attack. As a result, I covered a diverse set of communities, including Arab, Muslim, Jewish, Black and LGBTQ+ communities. In reporting the facts, I still approached issues of antisemitism, Islamophobia and racism with sensitivity and centered the lived experiences of my sources. I drew on my own experiences as a Muslim woman to build trust and empathize with my sources and avoid problematic framing in my stories. 

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One year later: Students reflect on identity, safety, free speech on anniversary of Oct. 7

Palestinian and Lebanese flags lined the grass of the South Lawn for an Oct. 1 vigil, hosted by the Arab Students Association, to honor those killed within the past year in Gaza and Lebanon. 
Hadi, a Lebanese student who lost family in Israel’s recent bombing of Lebanon, said the vigil was a space of “collective healing” for those personally impacted by violence in the Middle East. 
“As much as people would like to think it’s a world away and doesn’t affect us, this is something that has real ef...
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Students stage #NOTOURTEXAS demonstration following DCCE dissolution, staff layoffs

Hundreds of students and staff holding posters filled a section of Speedway in a silent demonstration on Monday to protest the University’s response to Senate Bill 17.
Approximately 300 people attended what was called “BLACKOUT,” which the #NOTOURTEXAS movement organized. The demonstration follows the movement’s first action, posting signs around campus, on Thursday and the University’s dissolution of the Division of Campus and Community Engagement and subsequent staff layoffs. 
According to a F...
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Austinites call on UT to preserve historical golf course

An organization calling for the preservation of a historic Austin golf course hosted the NAACP at a press conference on Jan. 18 to publicize their efforts.
UT owns the land on which the Lions Municipal Golf Course, nicknamed “Muny,” the first desegregated golf course in Austin, sits. UT announced in 2019 its intention to sell the land to develop it.
As a result, the Texas Senate formed Save Historic Muny District the same year, creating a way for Austinites to have a say in Muny’s fate. The Muny...
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Students recall their journeys through past 100+ days of violence in Israel, Palestine

In the 100 days since the Oct. 7 Hamas attack and Israel’s subsequent invasion of Gaza, Arab, Muslim and Jewish students said the ongoing conflict has taken a toll on their mental health, exacerbated by feeling unsafe on campus.
Anti-Semitism and Islamophobia have been on the rise in the U.S. since Oct. 7. The Anti-Defamation League reported a 360% increase in anti-Semitic incidents, and the Council on American-Islamic Relations recorded a 216% increase in Islamophobia. 
Rabbi Stephanie Max, Hil...
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Former UT Arabic instructor evacuated from Gaza

Former UT Arabic instructor, Amjad Shabat, along with her husband and 2-year-old daughter, was evacuated from the Gaza Strip to Cairo on March 15.
Shabat and her family are in good health and have found shelter in Cairo, Shabat’s former student, Aaron Burroughs, said in an email.
Burroughs raised $19,600 from crowdfunding alongside Nahed Elrayes, a development manager at the United Nations Relief and Works Agency, who created a website for the crowdfunding efforts. Burroughs originally planned t...
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Student Government passes resolution in support of student committee to preserve community resources

The Student Government passed a resolution last night calling for the creation of a student committee to preserve the resources in WCP 2.112. Advocates for the space attended the meeting to show their support for the resolution.
The resolution passed with 24 yeas, one nay and three abstentions. 
WCP 2.112 currently houses the Women’s Community Center (WCC), which the University announced will shut down on July 5 to comply with Senate Bill 17. The WCC replaced the Gender and Sexuality Center, whi...
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Pro-Israel speaker event featuring Yaron Brook interrupted by protesters, police confrontation

At a talk by prominent Israeli activist Yaron Brook on Friday, protestors occasionally interrupted and tensions came to a head when UTPD forcibly escorted one protester out of the room and handcuffed them. 
UTPD has not yet provided comment at the time of initial publication. This story will be updated as information becomes available. 
The McCombs Salem Center hosted the talk, titled “Israel’s Moral War.” Brook argued that Israel should see “the Palestinian population at large as an enemy,” acc...
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Muslim, Jewish students express safety concerns amid Islamophobia, antisemitism around campus

Every day before stepping out, Kira Berzack questions whether she should take off her Star of David necklace. Berzack said she’s proud of her Jewish identity, but fears the symbol could incite a reaction from those around her. 
“I’ll never hide being Jewish,” nutritional sciences sophomore Berzack said. “But there are some times when it’s sad to think, ‘Is it worth just showing off and having that on your neck when you don’t know who’s around you and you don’t know how people will take it?’”
Mus...