Texas
Bill would make UT-Austin center formerly known as Liberty Institute into its own college
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A Texas lawmaker has filed laws that will flip the Civitas Institute — a middle that college have criticized as politically motivated as a result of it was initially conceived with the assistance of conservative donors and state lawmakers — into a proper faculty on the College of Texas at Austin.
Sen. Brandon Creighton, R-Conroe, filed the invoice late final week to create The Civitas Faculty of Civic and Worldwide Management on the flagship campus in Austin.
It states UT-Austin should present the faculty with 15 tenured or tenure-track college spots and permit the faculty to supply programs and undergraduate and graduate diploma applications. The invoice states that the dean would report back to the college president and provost. The dean, president and board of regents would set up a board of advisors who would “take part in any future processes to pick out successor deans of the varsity.”
Any college within the faculty may additionally maintain a joint appointment elsewhere on the college. The faculty should be created by Jan. 15 of subsequent 12 months.
“By way of legislative motion, Civitas Institute can be a pacesetter in analysis, schooling and coverage based mostly on free markets, particular person liberty and the philosophical and historic foundations of a free society,” Creighton mentioned in a press release. “Constructing off of the appropriation in SB 1 within the 87th Legislative Session, this invoice codifies the mission and goal of the Civitas Institute and creates a tutorial unit, organizational construction and funding for college and employees.”
The invoice has not been despatched to a committee but.
The Civitas Institute, which launched simply eight months in the past, initially obtained $6 million from the state price range in 2021, which the College of Texas System Board of Regents matched with system funds. In proposals obtained by The Texas Tribune, Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick and a number of donors have been working with UT-Austin President Jay Hartzell and UT System Board Chair Kevin Eltife to create the institute “devoted to the research and instructing of particular person liberty, restricted authorities, personal enterprise and free markets” and produce “mental range” to the flagship college in Austin.
Since then, the middle has been mired in criticism as college officers tried to assuage considerations from college that UT-Austin was permitting the Legislature to politicize the college with this new heart. Months later, two professors behind the undertaking accused Hartzell of strolling again the unique plan within the wake of that criticism. Patrick additionally claimed publicly final 12 months that UT-Austin college “shot it down” as a result of they needed to have management of hiring. Regardless of pushback from each side, UT-Austin launched the middle with a brand new identify in July 2022 and employed an government director.
Jeremi Suri, a public affairs and historical past professor within the LBJ Faculty of Public Coverage at UT-Austin, mentioned it’s uncommon for a college to show a middle into a university so rapidly earlier than it could absolutely assess its affect and dictate what topics universities will train.
“College management curriculum and so we have now an issue right here that they’re circumventing college management,” mentioned Suri. “It does appear to me a really unusual and a poor means ahead to create a university that the college on the college does not assist being a separate faculty.”
He’s additionally involved a brand new faculty with 15 college positions would create a monetary burden for UT-Austin at a time when budgets are tightening.
“The way in which to create excellence is to not create extra forms, extra silos,” mentioned Suri. “I need to see an built-in surroundings the place we have now folks with numerous backgrounds, college, college students, audio system with numerous backgrounds and numerous factors of view, sitting in the identical school rooms not divided in numerous sections of campus.”
UT-Austin officers didn’t instantly reply to a request for remark.
The laws is the newest step to increase the middle’s presence on campus after the Civitas Institute formally launched final July. Since then, the middle, which is self-described as a “university-wide initiative to assist the research of the concepts and establishments that maintain a free society,” has largely hosted lecture collection with the assistance of school fellows from throughout UT-Austin and at different universities throughout the nation. It additionally created an undergraduate fellowship program.
“Universities are essential to the preservation of liberty, for no nation can lengthy stay free with out leaders who perceive the situations of freedom. However it’s particularly essential these days, as American politics grow to be more and more polarized and American universities more and more mired in disputes about larger schooling’s current state and supreme goal,” the middle’s fall e-newsletter states.
“Our intention is to assist American larger schooling return to itself by fostering the spirit of civic management and accountability amongst our college students, who’re our future civic leaders and the longer term custodians of the American experiment.”
Suri mentioned he has met with Justin Dyer, the Civitas Institutes’ government director, and Dyer instructed him he needed to interact with all viewpoints on campus.
“I don’t suppose he desires to construct a silo,” mentioned Suri. “However I believe the way in which to try this is to start slowly and work by means of current establishments, with establishments supplementing current faculties, not substituting for them.”
Disclosure: College of Texas at Austin and College of Texas System have been monetary supporters of The Texas Tribune, a nonprofit, nonpartisan information group that’s funded partially by donations from members, foundations and company sponsors. Monetary supporters play no function within the Tribune’s journalism. Discover a full record of them right here.
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Texas
Texas Football Ranked Among the Top Offenses in the New EA CFB 25 Game
As a part of its rankings week showcase, EA has released its top offenses for the new EA CFB 25 game, with the Texas Longhorns tying for the third-highest-rated squad in this year’s game.
Texas was given a 91-rated offense, tying with Alabama for the third spot. The two teams ahead of the Longhorns and Crimson Tide are Georgia and Oregon, who share the top spot with a 94 overall rating.
Texas looks to feature one of the best offenses in real life in 2024, which will lead to exciting gameplay for the first college football game in over a decade. Just two returning Power Five quarterbacks had more passing yards in 2024 than Texas quarterback Quinn Ewers, and he’ll have the privilege of throwing to the transfer portal’s top receiver Isaiah Bond in the upcoming year.
The offensive line is also one of the best in the nation, ranking inside the top five of rankings from sites like On3, PFF, and 247. Behind that line will be runningbacks CJ Baxter and Jaydon Blue, who combined for 1,057 rushing yards on over five yards per carry in 2023. The Texas offense is filled from top to bottom with playmakers, likely making them one of the deepest offenses to play within the game.
At the quarterback position, Ewers will likely be one of the three highest-rated passers, especially given his status as the cover athlete, and is backed up by Arch Manning, who sadly won’t be in the game due to him opting out. Whether they replace him with an auto-generated player or just leave him out, freshman Trey Owens will be a fine backup in the game.
The running back room not only features Baxter, the No. 1 rusher in the class of 2023, and Blue, but also Tre Wisner, who averaged six yards per carry last year, and the No. 3 running back in the class of 2024, Jerrick Gibson. Baxter will be the highest rated of the group, but the other three rushers will likely be pushing above 95 speed, making them perfect for a simulation football game.
In the receiving core, Bond is joined by two other transfer receivers Matthew Golden and Silas Bolden. Both pass-catchers were rated as four-star or higher transfers, and tight end Amari Niblack was the top tight end transfer in the country. Returning for the Longhorns are sophomore stud wide receivers Johntay Cook, DeAndre Moore, and Ryan Niblett, while five-star freshman Ryan Wingo will bring verticality to the team.
This offense will not only be one of the highest rated but also the most fun teams in the game. With the bountiful playbook of head coach Steve Sarkisian and his love for players with speed, it’ll be hard to slow down an offense like this.
Texas
Texas lt. gov. warns of Biden's border inaction after Jocelyn Nungaray's murder: 'It can happen to you'
Texas Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick warned of the deadly consequences of the border crisis, calling out President Biden for failing to “seal the border with Mexico right now” following the brutal murder of 12-year-old Jocelyn Nungaray.
“If Joe Biden had any compassion at all for this family or the families of Laken Riley or Rachel Morin and others who have been killed… he would secure the border on Thursday, the day of [Nungaray’s] funeral,” Patrick told “America’s Newsroom,” Wednesday.
“This little girl, she was tortured, she was strangled, and she was thrown in the river like a rag doll,” he continued. “Now I want America to wake up. This can come to your wife, your daughter, your sister, your grandmother. It can happen to you. There are animals roaming this country today because of Joe Biden, and these three women I just named would all be alive today – today – if it weren’t for Joe Biden. The blood is on his hands.”
MIGRANT ARRESTED IN BROAD DAYLIGHT RAPE OF 13-YEAR-OLD IN NEW YORK PARK
Prosecutors said Tuesday that two illegal immigrants from Venezuela allegedly lured the Houston girl under a bridge where they sexually assaulted her before tying her up and killing her.
Johan Jose Rangel Martinez, 21, and Franklin Jose Pena Ramos, 26, have each been charged with capital murder.
“While we’re there, looking at the casket and praying for this family, [Biden] will be letting more animals like the two that allegedly killed her into this country,” Patrick remarked.
The Texas Republican urged former President Trump to confront Biden at Thursday night’s CNN Presidential Debate on the result of his border policies.
“I would ask President Biden, ‘can you tell me who Rachel Morin is? Can you tell me who Jocelyn is? Can you tell me who Laken Riley is?’ And Joe Biden has a choice. He could either say, ‘Yes, there are three people who should be alive today except for my border policies,’ or, ’I don’t know who they are,’” he said.
Jocelyn’s mother, Alexis Nungaray, tearfully told “Hannity” on Tuesday that “we have to stop burying our kids.”
“This isn’t right. We have to have more reinforcement when it comes to letting people in. This is not okay,” she said.
Pena Ramos illegally crossed into El Paso, Texas, in May, sources with the Department of Homeland Security confirmed to Fox News. He was caught by Border Patrol agents and was released into the U.S. with a Notice to Appear in court.
Rangel Martinez also crossed illegally into El Paso in March and was caught by Border Patrol. He was released into the U.S. on an unknown basis.
Pena Ramos was wearing an Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency (ICE) ankle bracelet at the time of the crime – a detail highlighted by Jocelyn’s grandfather, Kelvin Alvarenga, during the “Hannity” interview.
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement told Fox News in a statement Friday that he “illegally entered the U.S. without inspection, parole or admission by a U.S. immigration officer on an unknown date and at an unknown location.”
Harris County District Attorney Kim Ogg described the city of Houston as a “huge international hub” that draws in people from all over the country.
“Unfortunately, we see a great deal of violence committed by illegal immigrants, and we see as many victimized by other illegals and regular people here. It’s an enormous problem. This was bound to happen,” Ogg told Fox News on Tuesday. “It’s one of those things that, as an elected prosecutor, you are just waiting for [the] other shoe to drop. I’m just sick and sickened this little girl was the innocent victim of these two monsters.”
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Fox News’ Louis Casiano, Bill Melugin, Griff Jenkins, Yael Halon and Greg Norman contributed to this report.
Texas
Texas A&M hit with transfer portal exodus after Jim Schlossnagle’s exit
The ripple effect of Jim Schlossnagle’s shocking departure from College Station to Austin is just beginning.
One day after Schlossnagle accepted an offer to become the next head coach at Texas and two days after Texas A&M lost the College World Series final, 11 Texas A&M players have entered the transfer portal, according to The Athletic’s Max Olson. Six of those players were starters for the Aggies in the College World Series against Tennessee.
Here’s the current list of Texas A&M players in the portal (bolded names started in Monday’s CWS finale):
- Jace LaViolette
- Gavin Grahovac
- Kaeden Kent
- Jack Bell
- Max Kaufer
- Hayden Schott
- Caden Sorrell
- Jett Johnston
- Ali Camarillo
- Justin Vossos
- Carl Schmidt
According to the NCAA’s transfer rules, players are given a 30-day transfer window when a head coach leaves.
LaViolette was an All-American, is widely considered the top prospect in the 2025 MLB Draft, and hit 29 home runs for the Aggies this season. Grahovac was just named the SEC’s Freshman of the Year after posting a 1.051 OPS with 19 homers. Schott posted a .916 OPS while Camarillo was the Aggies’ starting shortstop.
This is quite the turn for LaViolette. When the news of Schlossnagle’s departure came out, LaViolette posted the following on Twitter/X:
“Thank you @12thMan from the bottom of my heart for everything y’all did for us throughout the year, if you’re in the portal your missing out if you don’t want to be apart of the best university in the nation. this is where people come to be great! Let’s go get it done next year!”
Kent became one of the stars of the College World Series when he stepped up in Braden Montgomery’s absence. The son of former major leaguer Jeff Kent was selected to the CWS All-Tournament.
It remains to be seen if these players are following Schlossnagle to the Longhorns.
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