Hello, I'm Alex Leisk, a journalist in Austin, Texas!

The Daily Texan • July 24 2026

‘Not just a farewell’: UT student embroiders grief, personal experiences into fashion

After four months of sleepless nights – once the last of the pins holding everything together was removed, ideas took their physical form. There, in the warm April evening, Justin Le stood surrounded by friends and peers watching as models showcased his designs from the Textiles and Apparel Capstone Collection class at their annual student fashion show. 
Le, who graduated from the University in the spring with a Bachelor of Science and Arts in Chemistry, initially complained to his friend and cl...

Austin American-Statesman • July 17 2026

Bee Cave voids public safety building contract over alleged procurement violations

The Daily Texan • July 13 2026

City bans use of all waterways due to flooding, dangerous conditions

UPDATE: The city has lifted the waterway ban for Lake Austin on Saturday, July 25, allowing for recreational and commercial use to resume. The city, however, extended the waterway ban on Lady Bird Lake and a portion of the Colorado River south of Longhorn Dam by 48 hours, effective until 5 p.m. Monday, July 27. This comes as the Lower Colorado River Authority announced it will continue floodgate operation at Tom Miller Dam on Lake Austin for several days.
Austin Fire issued an order Friday night...

Austin American-Statesman • June 26 2026

Bee Cave approves architectural plan for Village at Spanish Oaks apartments

The Daily Texan • April 16 2026

‘We waste time every second we spend arguing about political issues’: A divided Student Government

Over 40 students packed the Student Government assembly room — a contrast from the usual handful — as the assembly looked to pass funding for UT’s Turning Point USA chapter. The air was tense. Over the next four hours, chants and boos echoed through the room as representatives continued to ask themselves, where should we draw the line at political issues?
Throughout the past year, political debates over issues both internal and external to the University have stalled and complicated operations o...

SPARK Magazine • March 31 2026

Loss of Valentino, New Era of Fashion Royalty — SPARK

The Daily Texan • March 10 2026

Former American Studies leader pulls scholarship funding due to consolidation

Editor’s Note: The faculty member quoted in the article is speaking independently and not on behalf of the University or the Department of American Studies. This article has been updated to include the year when the scholarship was established and the number of awarded students each year. This article has also been updated to more accurately reflect Stott’s funding plans.
With the help of his parents, former American Studies professor and chair William Stott donated $25,000 to establish the Stot...

The Daily Texan • February 13 2026

University suspends, issues deferred suspensions to students involved in UT Tower sit-in

The Office of the Dean of Students suspended one student and issued deferred suspensions to six on Wednesday for their involvement in a Nov. 7 sit-in at the UT Tower. 
UT notified the seven students that they had been found responsible for unauthorized entry into the Provost’s suite, where they engaged in “disruptive conduct,” according to documents obtained by the Texan. Computer science sophomore Daniel Ramirez was the only student found responsible for “prompting or inciting” disruptive condu...

SPARK Magazine • December 18 2025

Timeless, elegant and Armani: the fashion brand challenging norms for over 50 years — SPARK

The Daily Texan • October 31 2025

Katie McGee to no longer serve as Dean of Students

Dean of Students Katie McGee will transition into an advisory role, and John Dalton, vice president for Student Affairs, is now the acting Dean of Students, according to an email to student leaders on Thursday obtained by the Texan.
Dalton wrote that McGee will transition to advising and assisting him and will work to reevaluate how the Office of the Dean of Students supports students, according to the email. In 2000, Dalton was named the assistant dean of students and has been in various roles...

The Daily Texan • October 21 2025

‘This won’t stop at higher education:’ students protest against Trump administration compact

Around 200 students and community members protested on campus on Monday against the Trump administration’s compact offered to the University earlier this month.
The compact would give universities priority for federal funding in exchange for certain requirements, including limiting international student enrollment, prohibiting suppression of conservative speech, and freezing tuition rates. President Trump’s administration set a Nov. 21 deadline for universities to decide to sign the compact.
Kev...

The Daily Texan • September 22 2025

Abbott issues executive order to regulate THC product sales

THC vendors must now age-verify customers with IDs after Gov. Greg Abbott directed state health and public safety agencies to regulate the sale of THC products in a Sept. 10 executive order. The order also bans THC sales to people under age 21.
The governor said in a press release he issued the order because the Texas lawmakers failed to pass legislation banning or regulating THC products like gummies or cannabis oil.
Abbott said his executive order would ensure safety for kids, give parents pea...

The Daily Texan • September 18 2025

UT Student Government rewrites constitution, formalizes University oversight over elections

The Office of the Dean of Students and UT Student Government rewrote the SG Constitution over the summer to formalize the Dean of Students’ authority over student elections and increase “efficiency,” SG President Hudson Thomas announced on Sept. 2.
Language in the new constitution now clearly lists the Office of the Dean of Students and the Election Supervisory Board as joint overseers of campus-wide elections as opposed to only the Election Supervisory Board. The constitution also states that t...

The Daily Texan • September 17 2025

UT Student Government to end ranked choice voting system

UT Student Government will move from a ranked choice voting system to a simple majority in future student elections, SG president Hudson Thomas announced Sept. 2.
Thomas said the changes made to UT SG’s constitution align the University with student governments at other Southeastern Conference schools. UT now joins 13 other SEC student governments that use systems where a candidate wins if they receive a majority of the votes cast. If no candidate receives a majority, then runoff elections will...

The Daily Texan • September 12 2025

UT’s Turning Point USA hold vigil in remembrance of Charlie Kirk

Members of the UT community gathered Thursday at the West Mall to remember the life of Charlie Kirk, a prominent conservative figure and co-founder of Turning Point USA. 
More than 75 individuals, many from across the state, attended the vigil hosted by the UT chapter of Turning Point USA. 
A gunman shot and killed Kirk on Wednesday while Kirk spoke at Utah Valley University, according to an FBI report. Kirk was speaking in front of an audience at his first stop of his “The American Comeback” co...

The Daily Texan • June 4 2026

University begins removing César Chávez statue from campus

UPDATE: The César Chávez statue has now been removed from the ground and placed onto a trailer. Workers have begun placing wooden framing around the statue, while caution tape protects the area. This is a developing story; check back for more updates.
The University began removing an on-campus statue of labor rights activist César Chávez Thursday morning, according to a University spokesperson.
The bronze statue, located between Battle Hall and the West Mall Office Building, was created by artis...