Texas
Texas universities' graduation ceremonies will go on as planned
DALLAS – While some major universities are canceling graduation commencements or scaling them back, Texas universities plan to go on with graduation as planned.
UT Austin also updated its security policy for this weekend’s commencement. Hecklers will be removed, and any kind of protest on the campus will be blocked.
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Ut Austin President Jay Hartzell referenced that the 2024 graduates had their high school graduation canceled in 2020 due to the pandemic.
Many reached out for assurance that graduation will go on as planned. Hartzell confirmed it will happen while adding the university will be ready to ensure everyone will be protected.
Wednesday, Hartzell sent out a video message to the nearly 11,000 graduates and anyone attending this week’s graduation.
“Graduates we will have no tolerance for any disruption for your special and hard-earned achievement,” he said.
The university-wide commencement takes place at the football stadium on Saturday evening after all the college-specific convocations.
Hartzell confirms all ceremonies will go on as planned while referencing the recent protests, encampments and arrests on campus.
“There are devastating world events that continue to dominate our attention and energy. People continue to express themselves in different and personal and heartfelt ways,” he said. “We support them and have supported them each and every time when the intent is to use our campus as a platform to lawfully protest and have their expressions heard.”
More than 100 people have been arrested on the Austin campus in the past two weeks.
On April 29, protesters created a surprise encampment, causing police and DPS troopers to step in.
According to UT Austin’s commencement conduct guidelines, heckling speakers who cause any disruption will be removed.
Also, attendees, graduates and outside demonstrations cannot block entrances, exits or pathways in and around campus.
In North Texas, UT Arlington confirms to FOX 4 that its Friday commencement is also on. It says its ceremonies are ticketed and secure events held at Globe Life Field.
A week ago, a small group of protesters complied with university guidelines by calling their demonstration an informal encampment.
Graduation will also continue at UNT, where a peaceful protest was held on the Denton campus for a few hours.
FOX 4 reached out to UT Dallas multiple times for commencement specifics, but we did not hear back. But online, their commencement schedule is still posted as planned.
No. 1 seed Texas (51-12, 16-8 in SEC play) and No. 3 seed Texas Tech (61-8, 21-3 in the Big 12) begin their three-game series at 8 p.m. ET Wednesday in Oklahoma City. Each
Texas
Brazoria County deputy shoots, kills Texas State University student after car chase, report says
BRAZORIA COUNTY, Texas – A Texas State University student was shot and killed by a Brazoria County Sheriff’s deputy early Monday morning after an attempted traffic stop in Lake Jackson.
The news was first reported by The University Star, Texas State’s student-run newspaper.
In a Tuesday statement to KSAT, the university identified the student as John Gabriel Mendoza Jr., 18. He was a freshman who studied management, according to the school.
“We extend our heartfelt condolences to his family, friends, classmates, and all those affected by this tragedy,” the university said in its statement.
Deputies attempted a traffic stop on a vehicle just after midnight Monday near Farm-to-Market 2004 and This Way Street in Lake Jackson, the sheriff’s office said.
The driver of the vehicle, who was identified as Mendoza by The University Star, did not stop, deputies said. The deputies then chased after the vehicle for approximately a mile into a neighborhood located in the 100 block of Indian Warrior Trail.
According to the sheriff’s office, the driver went inside a home’s garage and parked before a deputy approached the vehicle, the release said.
The deputy then pulled out his firearm and shot into the vehicle. The sheriff’s office said the gunfire struck the driver.
The University Star reported that Mendoza was the one shot. He was taken to a hospital, where he was later pronounced dead.
The deputy who pulled the trigger has since been placed on administrative leave in accordance with the Brazoria County Sheriff’s Office policy.
KSAT reached out to the Lake Jackson Police Department and the Brazoria County Sheriff’s Office for more information, but neither agency has responded at this time.
The shooting investigation is being led by the Texas Rangers, according to a Brazoria County Sheriff’s Office news release.
This is a developing story. Check back for updates.
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