Leo Manzano (Spanish ’08) earned the Silver Medal for the United States in the 1,500 meter during the 2012 Olympics in London where he posted a time of 3:34.79. He is the first Longhorn to ever make the U.S. Olympic team in the 1,500 meter. During his time at the university, he won five NCAA […]
Balancing Act
Presidential scholar discusses war power and accountability Many Americans believe that the growth of presidential war power relative to Congress is irreversible. Bruce Buchanan, government professor at The University of Texas at Austin and one of the nation’s leading presidential scholars, contests that view. In his latest book, “Presidential Power and Accountability: Toward a Presidential […]
A Place to Remember
New Officer’s Room Honors A Hero When the new Liberal Arts building opens in January 2013, thousands of students, faculty and staff will flood its pristine new hallways, and marvel at the architecture and amenities. But a building of this undertaking is much more than bricks and mortar. For the family and friends of Captain John […]
Early Earners
Economist looks at the long-term effects of school starting age and family background “Redshirting” is a popular term among parents of the pre-K set, and it has a lot of parents asking a familiar question: Is my child ready to start kindergarten, or would she or he benefit from delaying this debut into the world […]
Gone to Texas!
The University of Texas at Austin welcomed its new students in grand style during the traditional Gone To Texas celebration Tuesday, Aug. 23. The program, held every year on the evening before classes begin, underscores what it means to be a Longhorn and highlights the academic mission of the university. The event’s theme is inspired […]
On the Rise
Perhaps the only benefit from Austin’s lack of rain has been that construction on our new College of Liberal Arts Building is ahead of schedule, helping the building project come in under budget. Located on the East Mall, this 200,000 square-foot, glass and limestone building includes a number of sustainable design strategies and is expected […]
Dig This
Undergrads who conduct research in the field are more likely to thrive in the classroom For three College of Liberal Arts undergraduates, conducting research with professors provided the skills they needed to succeed and helped them discover just what they wanted to do next. “Undergraduate research gives you an experience that you’d almost never get […]
Classics’ Detective Work Leads to the Return of Stolen Artifact
Back in 2007, Gina Giovannone was contacted by the U.S. Border Patrol to help identify an old manuscript written in Latin that was believed to have been stolen from a Jesuit library in Peru. Acting on a lead, a customs officer had identified a man arriving in Houston who had history of possession of stolen […]
Books: Fall 2011
Greenback Planet: How the Dollar Conquered the World and Threatened Civilization as We Know It By H.W. Brands, professor, Department of History Historian H.W. Brands charts the dollar’s astonishing rise to become the world’s principal currency recounting key episodes in U.S. monetary history, from the Civil War debate over fiat money (greenbacks) to the recent […]
Cost of Free Speech
The Cost of Political Speech With a record $2.4 bill ion spent by candidates in the last U.S. presidential election, the “Free Speech Dialogue” held Feb. 10 delved into the controversial topics of how money complicates political speech and who is entitled to First Amendment rights. “I would like students to walk away with a […]
Books: Spring 2011
Spring 2011 titles from our college community.
The Burden of the Bullied
High school’s over, but the effects may be long term High school is long past for Kelly, now 38, but she still recalls when her family relocated to a small West Texas town at the beginning of her freshman year. The bullying started from day one with a new rumor circulating about her every Monday […]
Two MacArthur Fellows, One Maya Signature Class
Professors draw from experiences to teach To put things in perspective, a college student has a higher probability of being struck by lightning than of being taught by one MacArthur Fellow, much less two. So when MacArthur Fellows Nora England, a linguistics and anthropology professor in the College of Liberal Arts; and David Stuart, an […]
Awards & Honors: Fall 2010
Top Teachers Recognized Six College of Liberal Arts professors have received 2010 Regents’ Outstanding Teaching Awards from The University of Texas System. They are among 72 recipients from across the system’s 15 academic institutions. They will share $2 million in awards. This year’s recipients are: Mia Carter, associate professor, University Distinguished Teaching Associate Professor, Department […]
Media Highlights: Summer 2010
Elizabeth Richmond-Garza (English) shared insight into the role cities play in TV shows and movies in an Aug. 11 Christian Science Monitor story. Mary Hayhoe’s (Psychology) eye-tracking research in the Children’s Research Lab was featured in The New York Times on Aug. 17. Peter Trubowitz (Government) was quoted in an Aug. 5 Christian Science Monitor […]
A Towering Mystery Solved
Why ancient alphabets adorn a university icon When then-Harvard University Professor John Huehnergard and his wife and colleague Jo Ann Hackett first visited The University of Texas at Austin last year, they couldn’t help but notice the ancient Phoenician and Hebrew letters that adorn the Tower. After all, Hackett, a Hebrew scholar, and Huehnergard, who […]
Book News: Fall 2010
Pioneering With A Pen For creating the most vivid and vital portrayal of the American experience in microcosm, Creative Writing graduate Nora Boxer has won the $50,000 Keene Prize for Literature. Her story “It’s the song of the nomads, baby; or Pioneer,” was selected from 61 submissions in drama, poetry and fiction. Laconic in style, […]
Being Somebody
Humanities Alumna Builds a School in Belize Days before Heidi Baker Curry opened the first high school on the island of Caye Caulker, Belize, in 2008 she received a knock at her door from a teenage boy known for selling marijuana on the island. He wanted to attend the school, he said, and started by […]
The Beginning of a Beautiful Friendship
Ellen Temple known for commitment to loved ones “Once upon a time, a very special 18-year-old girl came into my life, and she has been there ever since,” Frances Vick said about her friend and 2010 Pro Bene Meritis recipient Ellen Temple during the April 22 awards reception. “My experiences here have shaped my life […]
Awards & Honors: Spring 2010
The Silver Spurs, the student service organization that cares for Bevo, gave out its 21st annual Endowed Teaching Fellowship awards to four liberal arts professors, who each receive a $6,000 prize. The group surprises each recipient with an unannounced presentation. They are: Kirsten Belgum (Germanic Studies) Robert Moser (Government) Elizabeth Engelhardt (American Studies) Lisa Moore […]
My Dearest
Scholars reveal the stories behind some of the world’s most inspired love letters A little over a year ago, Janine Barchas witnessed a marriage proposal in a crowded hotel ballroom. The young man left nothing to chance, relying on the words of a Jane Austen love letter—almost crafting his entire proposal from it. “The young […]
College Dedicates Charlie Wilson Chair
Grassroots effort helps create first privately funded chair in Pakistan Studies in the nation The College of Liberal Arts has successfully responded to a $500,000 challenge grant from the T.L.L. Temple Foundation of Lufkin to support the nation’s first privately funded faculty chair in Pakistan Studies. In all, the college raised $536,000 and received significant […]
Learning Curve
Texas Language Technology Center develops low-cost textbook alternative With textbooks often costing more than rent, many students will be relieved to know the Texas Language Technology Center (TLTC) is working on an alternative to the bulky old textbook that’s easier on the wallet and offers interactive features and compelling content. The TLTC has won a […]
Books: Spring 2010
Oscar Casares’ “Amigoland” Is 2010 Mayor’s Book Club Selection The book “Amigoland” (2009, Little, Brown) is set in a small Mexican border town. It tells the story of two estranged and aging brothers, Don Fidencio Rosales and Don Celestino, who are brought back together by a young cleaning woman and a mystery. The improbable trio takes […]
Standing on CloverStreet:
Willie Tichenor’s Legacy Rocks On At 16 years old, Dallas native Willie Tichenor joined the band CloverStreet as lead vocalist and journeyed to Austin to perform at the South by Southwest music festival. “My lifelong dream is to travel around the country with five stinky guys in a van and sing for strangers every night,” […]