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The University of Texas at Austin has begun disciplining students who were arrested in pro-Palestinian demonstrations in April, scolding them for their actions but offering them a path to avoid suspension.
In letters sent out to students this week, first reported by KUT, university officials said it would be appropriate to suspend them for their actions during the protests but would give them the option to take “deferred suspension” instead, a form of probation that would allow students to remain in class and keep the disciplinary action from appearing on their final transcripts.
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“Recognizing our commitment to educational growth, we want to offer you an alternative path to avoid suspension by proving that you have learned from this experience,” reads one of the letters obtained by The Texas Tribune.
Students who choose deferred suspension must agree to take an exam testing their knowledge of the university’s rules and agree not to appeal the decision. The status would be active until July 7, 2025.
Those who decline that option would be suspended, the letter says. Students may also appeal the disciplinary sanctions through a university hearing.
Ari Lenahan, a UT-Austin student set to graduate in December, said he was relieved the university offered him deferred suspension since students at other universities across the country are facing harsher punishments after participating in pro-Palestinian demonstrations. He said it may be the best choice for him since he aims to graduate this year.
“It’s a lot clearer where I stand now, at least in the university’s eyes,” he said.
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Lenahan still has a hold on his account preventing him from registering for classes in the fall but said the letter he received Wednesday states any holds will be removed once his case is resolved.
Anne-Marie Jardine, a recent graduate, received a sanction letter concerning her involvement in an April 24 pro-Palestinian demonstration. Jardine was told she would be under deferred suspension for one year if she were to re-enroll at UT-Austin. Jardine said she hasn’t received her official diploma from the university yet.
Many other students under investigation have not yet been informed about how the university plans to move forward with their cases. Sam Law, a PhD candidate who was arrested on April 29, said that he expects the university will contact him soon.
More than 130 protesters were arrested at pro-Palestinian demonstrations on UT-Austin’s campus in late April. In resolute efforts to dispel the protesters, law enforcement at the time deployed pepper spray and flash-bang explosives and charged students with horses. State troopers were deployed by Gov. Greg Abbott to help quash the protests and had a hand in the arrests.
Those arrested were charged with criminal trespassing but Travis County Attorney Delia Garza declined to pursue those charges.
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In the aftermath of the protest, many students, faculty and free speech advocates questioned UT-Austin’s heavy-handed response to the protests and criticized state GOP leaders’ support of the arrests. Just a few years ago, Abbott had championed state legislation that protected free speech on college campuses, leading free speech advocates to ask who gets to enjoy free speech protections in Texas.
UT-Austin leaders, meanwhile, have vowed to carry out discipline against students who violated campus policies. Seniors in the class of 2024 were afraid their diplomas would be withheld, though they were permitted to join graduation ceremonies in the spring.
Sneha Dey contributed to this story.
Disclosure: University of Texas at Austin has been a financial supporter of The Texas Tribune, a nonprofit, nonpartisan news organization that is funded in part by donations from members, foundations and corporate sponsors. Financial supporters play no role in the Tribune’s journalism. Find a complete list of them here.
Just in: Former U.S. Rep. Liz Cheney, R-Wyoming; U.S. Sen. John Fetterman, D-Pennsylvania; and Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt will take the stage at The Texas Tribune Festival, Sept. 5–7 in downtown Austin. Buy tickets today!
Global SEO Agency now offering deep-dive Audits, AI Ranking SEO, and Business Profile Optimization to local Austin companies seeking measurable digital growth on major search platforms.
AUSTIN, TX – December 17, 2025 – WebJi®, a leading SEO Agency with over two decades of international experience, has officially announced its expansion of service offerings to the Austin, Texas market. This strategic move brings WebJi®’s proven, remote-first strategies for digital growth to Austin’s local businesses and growing brands. The agency’s main goal is simple: to help companies show up higher in search results. This is achieved by fixing complex Technical SEO problems, growing qualified local traffic, and driving more real customers to client websites across the Austin area.
Solving the Visibility Problem for Austin Businesses
Many local businesses in the Austin area struggle to get noticed online. Their websites often face issues like slow loading speeds, poor user experience, or code that is unclear for the search engine robots. When these technical problems exist, the business cannot rank high in search results, even for customers searching nearby.
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The WebJi® team addresses this core problem remotely and effectively. They start with a thorough study of the client’s website, the market, and key local competitors. From this analysis, WebJi® creates a clear, customized SEO plan. This plan is designed to improve search engine ranking and send valuable, ready-to-buy visitors to the site.
The team has a strong history spanning over 20 years in search engine optimization, or SEO, successfully helping businesses globally. WebJi® now actively serves the greater Austin area, including Round Rock, Cedar Park, Pflugerville, and Buda. The team, composed of expert SEO specialists, content writers, and link building managers, operates virtually, ensuring every part of the SEO plan is handled professionally and efficiently, regardless of location.
Targeted Services for Real Local Results
WebJi® offers comprehensive services focused on maximizing visibility specifically within the Austin market:
Local SEO and Map Ranking: The agency uses Local SEO to ensure nearby customers find the business first. They optimize listings and pages to boost local calls and visits. They improve Map Ranking SEO so a business’s pin shows up higher for “near me” searches on major mapping platforms.
Technical SEO and SEO Audits: WebJi® performs a deep SEO audit, a full health check of the website. They focus on Technical SEO, fixing site speed and crawl issues. This helps search engines correctly read and reward the site with better positions.
AI Ranking SEO and Content: The agency uses cutting-edge AI Ranking SEO to study search patterns. They adjust content based on real data to keep clients ahead. This process is built on detailed keyword research to find the exact terms real buyers use. They also manage safe, honest link building from reputable sites, which acts as a vote to boost domain strength.
WebJi® provides clear monthly reports on traffic, rankings, and leads, showing measurable results typically within 3 to 6 months.
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If your Austin business needs better search engine ranking or Local SEO, WebJi® can help. The team serves all Austin neighborhoods, including Downtown Austin, Central Austin, South Congress, and Tech Ridge.
About WebJi®:
WebJi® is an established SEO Agency with over 20 years of experience in search engine optimization, offering remote-first services globally. The team of specialists focuses on Local SEO, Technical SEO, AI Ranking SEO, and building authority through safe practices. WebJi® delivers effective digital marketing strategies to ensure long-term, measurable search growth for clients in the Austin market.
Media Contact Company Name: seoagencyaustintx.com Contact Person: Anand Maheshwari Email: Send Email Country: United States Website: https://seoagencyaustintx.com/
Austin, Texas seeks offers of design, engineering, installation, operations and maintenance and decommissioning of solar projects on municipal facilities.
Anne Fischer
Image: Jan Van Bizar, Pexels
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Last spring Austin, Texas city council members approved a resolution to put solar on the rooftops of city-owned buildings. The resolution supports the Austin Climate Equity Plan that aims for net-zero community-wide carbon emissions by 2040 with an emphasis on cutting emissions by 2030. In keeping with that plan, the city is seeking a request for quotations (RFQ) for the solar projects planned for 111 municipal facilities.
Austin plans to make use of existing infrastructure by placing solar on rooftops and over parking lots. In addition to parking lots, the City-owned facilities on the site list designated for solar include at least seven fire stations, libraries, maintenance facilities, garages, recreation centers, city hall, and more.
Quotations on design, engineering, building, operations, maintenance and decommissioning are due by January 6, 2026 at 2 p.m. CST with questions due by December 22, 2025 at 5 p.m. CST. An online pre-offer conference will take place via Microsoft Teams on December 19, 2025 at 11 a.m. CST. Teams meeting ID: 277 171 690 189 99 Passcode 45Vf2kK3. Solicitation-specific questions can be directed to shawn.willett@austintexas.gov.
Austin’s electric customers are served by Austin Energy and connected to the Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT) grid.
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Joe Ely, a Texas singer-songwriter and guitarist, passed away at the age of 78 on Monday, as reported by Rolling Stone.
Ely, a pivotal figure in the 1970s progressive country movement, died at his home in New Mexico due to complications from Lewy Body Dementia, Parkinson’s, and pneumonia.
Ely’s influence on Austin’s music scene was profound. Known for his unique blend of country, rock, folk, and Tex-Mex, Ely was a driving force behind the city’s progressive country music scene.
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He was inducted into the Austin City Limits Hall of Fame in 2022, a testament to his enduring impact on the music community.
Born on Feb. 9, 1947, in Amarillo, Texas, and raised in Lubbock, Ely’s music was deeply rooted in West Texas. Despite his close association with Austin, he often returned to the wide-open spaces of West Texas for inspiration.
“Every time I start a new album, I head up to West Texas and drive around,” Ely told Texas Monthly in 2011.
Ely’s career began with the formation of the Flatlanders, a trailblazing country trio with fellow Texans Jimmie Dale Gilmore and Butch Hancock. Although their debut album, “All American Music,” was initially overlooked, the group later gained recognition as a quintessential display of West Texas country storytelling.
Throughout his career, Ely collaborated with a diverse array of artists, including Bruce Springsteen, Tom Petty, and the Clash. His live performances were legendary, captivating audiences from Lubbock to London. Ely’s contributions to music were recognized by the Texas Legislature, which named him the Official 2016 Texas State Musician.
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Reflecting on his journey, Ely once said, “I made it this far. I had teachers tell me I wouldn’t make it to 21 when I was going to high school, so I beat the odds, you know?” His legacy as a songwriter’s songwriter and a musician’s musician will continue to inspire generations to come.
:focal(0x0:3000x2000)/static.texastribune.org/media/files/2af7d6febd353ab62caf552991ab2fc6/0424%20UT%20Austin%20Protest%20EH%20TT%2012.jpg?ssl=1 "UT-Austin spares pro-Palestinian protesters from suspension, offers them probation instead")
