April 12, 2013    

Jordan Rudner and Joshua Fechter    

Complying with requests from several Texas lawmakers, the UT System Board of Regents unanimously voted Thursday to release documents requested by legislators and allow the Texas Attorney General's Office to conduct an investigation into the relationship between the UT School of Law and the Law School Foundation.

The decisions came after several months of tension between the board, the Texas Legislature and UT President William Powers Jr. Regent Printice Gary acknowledged the tensions while speaking after the decisions were announced.

April 10, 2013    

The Daily Texan Editorial Board    

On April 9, the Texas Senate passed SB 1530, a bill filed by Higher Education Committee Chairman Sen. Kel Seliger, R-Amarillo. The bill would maintain the cap on students admitted under the Top Ten Percent Rule in the event that the U. S. Supreme Court strikes down UT's race-conscious holistic admissions policy in the pending case of Fisher v. University of Texas. It also extends the cap from 2015 to 2017. Under existing law, the cap, which mandates that no more than 75 percent of an incoming freshman class can be automatically admitted by the Top Ten Percent Rule, would automatically expire if the Supreme Court deems race-conscious admissions unconstitutional. If that were to happen, almost all of the next incoming freshman class would be admitted based solely on high school rank.

April 10, 2013    

Andrew Roush    

The Texas Senate has endorsed a measure that would extend an existing cap on automatic admissions to UT-Austin, and protect the cap against potential fallout from the Fisher v. University of Texas case. The upper chamber voted 25-6 in favor of Senate Bill 1530 Tuesday, which limits admissions under the Top 10 Percent law to 75 percent of an incoming class through the 2017-2018 school year.

April 9, 2013    

Reeve Hamiliton    

The Texas Senate approved a bill on Tuesday that would allow the University of Texas at Austin to maintain its current cap on automatic admissions — at least until 2017 — no matter the outcome of Fisher v. University of Texas, a case currently pending in the U.S. Supreme Court.

A decision in the Fisher case, which challenges the university's consideration of race as a factor in admissions decisions for students who are not automatically admitted under the state's "Top 10 Percent" law, is expected in the coming months.

April 9, 2013    

Katherine Haenschen    

Last week, the University of Texas's Invest in Texas campaign held their lobby day, in which students from across the political spectrum visited with legislators to advocate on behalf of the university community. Here with a guest post on these efforts is Michael Morton, outgoing president of the UT Senate of College Councils, who helped organize the effort.

UT Students Call on Legislature to Invest In Texas

By: Michael Morton 

More than 80 University of Texas at Austin students descended upon the State Capitol on Tuesday, April 2 for the Invest in Texas Legislative Day. Students dressed in "Invest in Texas" T-shirts walked from UT Austin's Student Activity Center to the Capitol's North Steps to hold a press conference advocating to keep the university competitive, safe, represented, and affordable.

April 8, 2013    

Ralph K.M. Haurwitz    

University of Texas System regents will meet Thursday to consider retracting a request to withhold records sought by members of the state Legislature.

The Board of Regents will also discuss whether to halt plans for an external review of the UT-Austin School of Law's ties with a donor group and instead have state Attorney General Gregg Abbott conduct a review.

State Rep. Dan Branch, chairman of the House Higher Education Committee and co-chairman of a House-Senate panel investigating the UT board, said Monday that he was pleased that regents were focusing on these matters.

April 7, 2013    

Reeve Hamilton    

There has been no gathering of the Legislature's Joint Oversight Committee on Higher Education Governance, Excellence and Transparency since a preliminary organizational meeting on March 19.

Since then, tensions between state lawmakers and the regents have only worsened. But one regent is eager for the committee to reconvene. On Saturday, Regent Alex Cranberg told the Tribune, "Let's have the hearings."

The oversight committee was formed to look into the turmoil at the University of Texas System. Its first meeting did not include testimony from any witnesses but still managed to make headlines.

April 4, 2013    

Morgan Smith    

About eight hours into the House's debate on the state budget Thursday, lawmakers in the lower chamber sent a clear signal about their position on private school vouchers.

An amendment from state Rep. Abel Herrero, D-Corpus Christi, that would ban the use of public dollars for private schools, passed 103-43 with bipartisan support.

"What this amendment basically does is say that you cannot use public money to support private institutions with vouchers," said state Rep. John Otto, a Dayton Republican who is the House's head education budget writer.

April 3, 2013    

Editorial    

Amarillo, TX - Some Texas voters may have to cast their ballot differently in the future.

Most states do not allow straight-ticket voting, Texas is one of only fifteen states that still offers the option.

But it may not be offered for much longer.

That's because several proposals have been introduced this week and are seeking State Legislature approval.

One of those proposals is by Representative Dan Branch of Dallas, who seeks to eliminate straight-ticket voting all together.

April 3, 2013    

Alexandra Dubinsky    

Despite cloudy skies and light rain, 80 students marched from the Student Activity Center to the Capitol's North Steps to keep UT competitive, safe and affordable.

Coordinated by the Senate of College Councils, Student Government and the Graduate Assembly, the demonstration was a culminating event for the Invest in Texas campaign, a student-run, nonpartisan organization intended to champion for the student body during the 83rd Legislative Session.