History of the University of Texas at Austin
Built in three stages by architect F. E. Ruffini, the first was completed in 1883 for the university's first class; subsequent construction saw the creation of the central section in 1891 and the east wing in 1899.
[23][24] The campus was geographically divided by gender, with women's dorms north of the Forty Acres and men's dormitories southeast of the Main Building.
In 1903, the Woman's Building became the first women's dormitory at UT Austin, featuring modern amenities like an elevator, gym, swimming pool, infirmary, and spacious living areas.
In contrast, male students resided in dorms with limited common areas, barracks-style sleeping arrangements, with only one dormitory offering air conditioning.
Female students in early UT dormitories required permission to leave for activities other than classes; male visitors were restricted to certain areas and used phone banks to contact women upstairs.
Additionally, to facilitate the wartime effort, academic calendars were compressed, allowing for accelerated graduation Among these defense researchers, 22 university scientists contributed to the Manhattan Project.
The creation of a Naval ROTC unit transitioned into the V-12 program, headquartered at the Littlefield Home, and mandatory physical education classes and survival training were implemented for all students.
[39] In 1965, the Texas Legislature granted the university Board of Regents to use eminent domain to purchase additional properties surrounding the original 40 acres (160,000 m2).
However, following 12 years of negotiations, the Blackland Community Development Corporation (CDC) and the university reached a compromise, which allowed the annexation of the land between I-35 and Leona Street to build the Red and Charline McCombs Field and other auxiliary buildings; meanwhile, the university divested all of its previously acquired property east of Leona Street back to the Blackland CDC.
At the beginning of the fall 2016 semester, hundreds of students staged an anti-gun rally on campus, where they displayed sex toys to highlight their opposition to allowing concealed handguns in classrooms and dorms.
[59] The protest, known as "Cocks Not Glocks," aimed to draw attention to what participants viewed as absurdity in allowing deadly weapons on campus while imposing strict rules on free sexual expression.
[62] After an ensuing manhunt, Austin police announced on April 8, 2016, that 17-year-old Meechaiel Criner, a homeless youth, was arrested and charged with first-degree murder of Haruka Weiser.
[69] In July 2019, a tuition-free college program, the Texas Advance Commitment, was launched, supported by a $160 million endowment to cover tuition and fees for low-income and middle-income students.
[73] During the COVID-19 pandemic, UT Austin scientists, including researchers from the molecular biosciences department, collaborated with the National Institutes of Health in January 2020 to develop key components of COVID-19 vaccines.
[74] During the 2020 spring break, hundreds of University of Texas at Austin students traveled to Cabo San Lucas, Mexico, resulting in 49 confirmed cases of the novel coronavirus upon their return.
[79] As the fall 2020 semester commenced, the majority of courses transitioned to online formats, while 19% adopted hybrid models combining virtual and in-person elements.
The widespread adoption of remote conferencing platforms like Zoom became essential for various university activities, accumulating over 1.2 million hours of usage within just 16 days into the semester.
[74][83][84] In anticipation of the fall 2021 semester, UT Austin planned for a return to in-person classes and campus activities, mirroring a broader trend across Texas universities.
Despite facing limitations on implementing comprehensive safety measures, UT Austin adapted its strategies with testing requirements, vaccination incentives, and voluntary mask-wearing campaigns to promote campus safe.
[85] In 2021, UT Austin leaders worked with Dan Patrick, Lieutenant General of Texas, and private donors to set up a Liberty Institute at the university.
[88] In January 2023, the University of Texas at Austin implemented a policy to block access to TikTok on its IT network, aligning with Governor Greg Abbott's directive to ban the app from state-managed electronic resources due to concerns about data security and ties to the Chinese government.
This decision was part of a broader trend seen across various universities and state governments in the U.S.[89][90] In early 2023, a winter storm caused class closure across the campus and prolonged power outages.
[91] In November 2023, controversy arose when two teaching assistants, Parham Daghighi and Callie Kennedy, were dismissed following a message they sent to students expressing support for Palestinians, in the context of the outbreak of the Israel-Hamas War.
[92] Dean Allan Cole of the School of Social Work argued that their message was unprompted, unrelated to the course, and lacked approval from a supervising faculty member, and thus served as grounds for termination.
[96] In compliance with Senate Bill 17, the center announced the elimination of all training and workshops pertaining to race, sexual orientation, and gender identity.
[98] Critics argued that the university's response represented an over-compliance with the anti-DEI law, and Brandelyn Franks Flunter, the director of the multicultural center, publicly announced her termination.
Despite cloudy weather, thousands of students, faculty, and visitors gathered across campus at designated "Sun Spots" to witness the rare astronomical event.
[108] The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) chapter in Austin, Texas, issued a statement condemning what they described as "unnecessary and excessive force" by law enforcement officers.
Fayyaz Shah, board chair of CAIR Austin, emphasized the importance of law enforcement exercising restraint and respecting the rights of protesters.
In the statement, Shah expressed concern over the use of a large number of heavily armed officers to arrest student activists peacefully protesting the Israel-Hamas war.
