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The Daily Texan

As a news reporter at The Daily Texan, I covered some contentious topics on campus, including the Israel-Palestine conflict, the fall of diversity equity and inclusion offices, and free speech. As the news editor, I fact-checked stories and oversaw our coverage of campus and beyond. I also became the first outside journalist to interview UT's president over a year into his term. You can find that interview, along with the rest of my DT bylines, here.

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. 

Some more breaking news:

Multiple people arrested in LA solidarity protest against ongoing immigration enforcement

Federal judge strikes down Texas law giving undocumented students in-state tuition

Palestine Solidarity Committee leader suspended, asks judge to halt suspension

UT Austin pro-Palestine encampment dismantled by law enforcement, over 100 protesters arrested: timeline

Muslim student attacked on campus, hate crime review pending

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

Accountability Reporting

One thing about me is I love a good public record. Pieces that break down complicated topics and examine public policy are my favorite kinds of stories. More than doing deep dives into government documents, I'm passionate about explaining these topics in a way that makes people care. 

Some more accountability pieces:

University Event Readiness and Response director discusses student demonstrations

What wasn’t on the ballot: University cancels ‘Eyes of Texas’ referendum

University upholds sanctions on pro-Palestine protesters

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, 2023 Hamas attack. As a result, I covered a diverse set of communities, including Arab, Muslim, Jewish, Black and LGBTQ+ communities. 

Some more underrepresented communities coverage:

Muslim, Jewish students express safety concerns amid Islamophobia, antisemitism around campus

Pro-Israel speaker event featuring Yaron Brook interrupted by protesters, police confrontation

Students recall their journeys through past 100+ days of violence in Israel, Palestine

The Daily Texan •

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...
The Daily Texan •

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...
The Daily Texan •

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...
The Daily Texan •

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...
The Daily Texan •

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...