MOODY Moody Magazine is the official student publication of the Moody College of Communication. Created and published by Communication Council, the magazine launched Fall 2018 and is purposed to providing Moody students with a semester magazine and a monthly Moody News.
friends,
It’s no secret that this semester was not ordinary. Each and every one of us was challenged with moving out of dorms, out of apartments, and online. However, in the chaos, we managed to make it through. We found a new normal and we finished out the semester. A few of us graduated, a few of us finished out our freshman years, and a lot of us are somewhere in between. Yet, the important thing is we did it. Moody is a place where students thrive and achieve great things. Moody Magazine aims to celebrate those accomplishments and give you a place to see your work in action. While this semester was unconventional and a lot of our big ideas were dialed back or tucked away for later use, we hope you feel celebrated. We hope you see Moody as your home and your starting point for the greater things to come.
best,
Editor-in-Chief
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what’s in store... Moody Welcomes New Associate Dean for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
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How New Legislation Passed Will Affect Students
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An Honors Community
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Strides Made By Career Services
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Vicks Advising Center
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Moody on the Map
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Places Easily Accessible by Bus From Campus for Post Social-Distancing
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Living, Working and Learning in New York City Before Graduation
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Study Abroad Cancelation Sorrows
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COVID-19 Hits Home
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Moody Welcomes New Associate Dean for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion: Ya’Ke Smith Writer Emily Anaya Designer Emma Bittner
This January, Moody College of Communication welcomed Associate Professor of film Mr. Ya’Ke Smith as our new Associate Dean for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. Smith’s passion and talent for storytelling extend back to his formative years growing up in San Antonio, and he’s been committed to sharing stories with the world through film ever since. His films purposefully shine a light on issues few people take the time to, recounting unique tales of hardship that society often prefers to gloss over or ignore entirely. Smith’s inspiration for his deeply moving narratives comes from his desire to represent the nuances of the minority experience, delving into issues like disparities in access to resources. Smith has proven his talent for capturing the challenges people of color face through his own experience as a black man in America and his conscious effort to tell the “unorthodox” stories of others’ experiences. His commitment to unconventional storytelling lends him the vital role as a mouthpiece for a nationwide community of peoples and has earned him broad recognition including Ya’Ke Smith Day in Buffalo, New York. This passion for storytelling goes hand-in-hand with his passion for serving people of color through his message. In our interview, he pointed to the disturbing reality of black Americans constituting a disproportionately large population of Coronavirus victims. It’s a deadly symptom of deeper problems. This cannot be laid to rest with the people the virus takes, and he refuses to let it. The issues Ya’Ke Smith tackles in his films are timely, rooted in generations of systemic oppression, and ever so consequential. Smith’s career in filmmaking is marked by an extensive list of successes, including upwards of 90 film festivals under his belt, praise from NPR, and screenings of his film dawn. on HBO to name a very limited few. He earned his M.F.A. from the University of Texas at Austin’s film program where he currently teaches and is among the beloved professors who encourage their students to prioritize their mental health during this stressful and historic time. Despite his vast success and worldwide acclaim, Smith is down-to-earth and genuine in his love for his students. During these uncertain times characterized by a global pandemic, Smith remains hopeful for the future. Ready and prepared to support his students in any way that he can, he’s proving himself to be flexible under stress by holding steadfast to his movement and goals.
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Ultimately, what matters most to Moody students is not what we can read about him in his bio. It isn’t where Smith got his degree. Nor is it his years of experience or the awards he’s received. The people of Moody, students and staff alike, care most that Ya’Ke Smith is prepared to go to bat for us. That he’s ready to take the stance that will stir up the sediment, resting in layers after years of comfortable complacency. And he is. Smith’s number-one priority in his role is the students he advocates for, saying that “For me, it’s about making sure that we support our students more holistically, that we understand them.” After watching the emotionally powerful messages of his films, reading up on his credentials, and most importantly, holding a genuinely rewarding conversation with the man himself, I’m confident that Ya’Ke Smith is the person Moody College of Communication needs to advocate for the voices we don’t always hear. Serving this college as the representative of its minority peoples is a great responsibility, and he values it immensely as a greater opportunity for positive change within Moody and beyond, and for that, we are fortunate.
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How New Legislation Passed Will Affect Students
The six most impactful legislation passed this school year by the Senate of College Councils Writer Jessica Lenamond Designer Kellie Woodin Each academic year the Senate of College Councils passes legislation that directly affects UT Austin students to bring change to campus. The Senate consists of 22 college councils that represent the needs of students and provide student opinions on academic issues to the University's administration for implementation. But outside of students that are directly involved with Senate, many students are not aware of what legislation was recently passed and how it will affect their academic and personal experience. To help students better understand future changes to campus, this article highlights the six most impactful legislation passed this year. There are a few key steps to understanding how legislation is created and then passed, failed, or tabled in Senate and then eventually implemented into student life. First, a resolution is written when a systematic academic challenge is identified for students, and research is done to support the resolution. The Senate representative in each college’s council usually writes the resolutions, but anyone from a council, Student Government, Senate, or Graduate Student Assembly can create a resolution. If a student is not in any of these groups but still wants to present legislation, they can directly contact someone from one of these groups to work with. Once written, the legislation is presented to Senate and then to each college’s council. Once each council votes to pass, fail or table a piece, the Senate representative will take that vote back to Senate for questions and a final count of votes from the councils. Only council members in Senate can have the final vote on legislation and it passes if it reaches a majority vote. There are three types of legislation written: Joint Resolution (J.R.), Senate Resolution (S.R.), and Senate Bill (S.B.). A J.R. is a resolution in support of a change to campus signed by Senate, Student Government, or the Graduate Student Assembly. A S.R. is a resolution in support of change to campus but is only signed by Senate. A S.B. only applies to amendments to Senate’s constitution. Even after legislation passes, it still must be implemented on campus so that students can experience the benefits of the legislation. In order to implement the legislation, the writers and council must coordinate with administration and faculty to actively create the change supported in the resolution and help students as quickly as possible. If you want to become more involved in making changes that directly impact the student body, consider connecting directly with your college’s council and its Senate representative. The representative is there to find resolutions to issues that students face and can assist in writing legislation. Student Government and Senate are also always looking for students passionate about change and policy and Senate meetings are open to the public every other week during the school year. For updates on legislation passed, visit Senate’s website.
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Most impactful legislation passed by the Senate of College Councils in 2019-2020 J.R. 1901: A Joint Resolution in Support of Granting Students Excused Absences from Class to Vote During Election Days How it affects students once implemented: Students will be granted an excused absence from class to vote on election day for city, state and federal elections. Students will scan a QR code at the voting station that will notify their professor that they voted. This policy also extends to Teaching Assistants, Instructor Assistants, Graduate Assistants and any other graduate student worker.
J.R. 1904: A Joint Resolution in Support of Putting Menstrual Products in Women’s and Gender Neutral Restrooms How it affects students once implemented: Menstrual products will be available in all women’s and gender neutral restrooms in on-campus academic buildings.
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J.R. 1907: A Joint Resolution in Support of Increasing the Accessibility of Full-Time Private Advocate Employees How it affects students once implemented: More full-time private advocates will be hired by the Title IX Office and the Office of the Dean of Students to give students more access to an essential university resource for survivors and students affected by sexual assault and/or misconduct.
S.R. 1908: A Resolution in Support of Creating a Student Bereavement Leave Policy How it affects students once implemented: Students will be allocated a minimum of 3 days after the loss of an immediate family member or loved one for bereavement activities without facing penalties for class absences. Before S.R. 1908 was passed, professors could individually decide how to handle absences and assignments for students facing familial loss. The Office of Student Emergency Services will require students to provide some sort of documentation before receiving accommodations, such as copies of death certificates, obituaries, and letters from funeral directors.
S.R. 1910: A Resolution in Support of Enforcing that Professors Disclose Resource Purchases on Course Schedules How it affects students once implemented: Students will know exactly what supply purchases are required for a course before they register for the class. Professors must submit additional fees and supplies purchases for approval and disclose all purchase requirements on the Course Schedule.
S.R. 1912: A Resolution in Support of Modifying the Internal Transfer Application Process How it affects students once implemented: The internal transfer application process will be standardized across the entire university to make transfer navigation much easier for students, advisors, and administration. Currently, each college has its own application and timeline for this process.
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Balanced on a thicker Balanced on a thicker knife’s edge. knife’s edge.
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Ads from Texas Creative Students
An Honors Community Writer Emma Bittner Designer Emma Bittner Fostering a sense of community on campus can be difficult. You’re in a new place, with thousands of new people. You’re trying to figure out what you want to do with your life and now you have to find where you belong --- it's overwhelming. For many people, this sense of community is found in Greek life, sports, or clubs on campus, however, for some, it’s within their academic groups. The Moody Honors Program, the new and improved honors program, stemming from the previous Senior Fellows program, is one of the most prominent communities in the college of communication. Each cohort, built of 30 freshmen and ten sophomores, are given the opportunity to get closer than the usual class over the span of the two foundational courses of the program. Only two years old, the Moody Honors Program is making incredible strides to the college experience by combining experiential learning and finding a home on campus into one. “Community,” said Brad Love, Moody Honors Professor. “The notion of community is clearly important to honors students and I really see it as an outsider among you all. You support each other and the way you help each other grow is impressive.” The design of small cohorts of students was intentional and has proved to be one of the biggest assets of the program. “One of the benefits of our honors program, compared to many others, is that it is relatively small,” said Dave Junker, Director of the Moody College Honors Program. “This makes it easy for students to get to know each other and take a sense of ownership for themselves and each other.” The Moody Honors Program presents itself differently than the typical honors program at UT. It flies under the radar, while it is prestigious and difficult to get into, it doesn’t project a sense of elitism. “The honors program aims to be a good citizen of the college,” Junker said. “We want top students and we have top students, but we don't want to be elitist. The mission isn’t to be elitist.” While the program’s goal isn’t to appear as superior to the rest of the college, the honors program still has a lot of prestige and aims to include the rest of the college. “It offers all the benefits of attending an elite public research university with a worldclass communication school, without losing the intimacy and community you might get from a small liberal arts college,” Junker said. “Getting in is hard. Despite this, the honors
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program offers public events every semester that are open to everyone and are made better by when students from every major and year attend and participate.” Junker and Love applaud the students in the program and often reflect on how lucky they are to be surrounded by such dedicated students daily. “UT students are impressive,” Love said. “I have a hard time getting my brain around how accomplished these students are. It’s mind blowing, you can only read the stuff and have the discussions and wonder where did these people come from and how are they so good at stuff and so generous.” The Moody Honors Program has much to offer for students now and in future classes, but none of it would have been possible without the years of behind the scenes work. “So many people, Laura Brown, Associate Dean Mark Bernstein and Junker, just to name a few, worked so hard behind the scenes for no gratitude rather than a job well done,” Love said. “Everyone already had a full time job and jumped on voluntarily because they thought it would be beneficial to the students. They brought this program to life from the idea that we could serve young people better.” The Moody Honors Program just finished it’s second year as a full functioning program and has high hopes for future cohorts and incoming Moody students. “We are lucky in Moody in general, but especially in the honors program, to have so many students who are not only motivated to succeed in conventional terms but who are motivated to understand themselves and the world better,” Junker said. “When there is trust and enthusiasm in the learning experience, there is no better place to be as a professor.”
Strides Made By Career Services Writer Emma Bittner Designer Kellie Woodin
Career Services has gone under a few dramatic changes in the past year. While a new director, Ladd Flock, was hired for Career Services last semester, big changes started occurring in the spring. As promised, specialized career advisors were hired for each major to replace the general career advisors the center used to have. Career Services also redesigned its website to make it more user friendly and interactive. Additionally, Career Services started pushing Handshake, a site similar to LinkedIn for college students, to help connect us to companies, recruiters and internships in the area.
In an attempt to help place students in jobs, Career Services revamped the back half of the Student Leadership Suite, BMC 1.202, to allow for interview rooms when recruiters come to campus. In the 20-21 school year, Career Services will start hosting companies to be able to talk to and interview students. Career Services overcame many hurdles during the COVID-19 pandemic as all university aspects were moved online. In order to help students continue to search for jobs, Moody Career Services helped host a virtual career fair. “Career Services did an incredible job transitioning when everything became virtual,” said Alex Allen, Communication Council’s Career and Alumni Chair. “They have continued to have Zoom advising appointments and are really pushing Handshake to help us find jobs in this weird time.” In terms of plans for the future, Career Services’ main goal is to build better relationships with alumni. They want to host alumni in Moody through panels to share their expertise with students who are looking for jobs post-graduation, as well as students searching for internships. Additionally, Career Services wants to partner with the Communication Council to host headshot workshops, so people can have progressional headshots done, as well as resume writing workshops. Career Services has come a long way in the past few months and is still making strides to improve for the upcoming school year.
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Vicks Advising Center: A Hidden Gem
Writer Aalia Qazi Designer Emma Bittner
Stressed about what you’re doing with your life? Need tips on how to navigate academic life at UT? The Vicks Center for Strategic Advising and Career Counseling (Vick) is here to help. Located in JES A115, you can get help on the weekdays by meeting with advisors for different purposes. The center offers in-person and online appointments for students who are exploring majors, careers and are undecided on what path they want to take. Not only can you meet with advisors one on one, but you can attend workshops that can help you plan your future as well. For example, they hold events to help with graduate school planning, internships, and resumes. For more information, you can visit their easy to access website: https://ugs.utexas. edu/vick. The four main areas of expertise for Vick are major exploration, registration, academic planning, and academic difficulty/scholastic probation. Registration is a rough time for everyone because no one really knows what classes they want to take. While all colleges have advising centers, the appointments seem quick and unbeneficial sometimes because some questions are left hanging after the twenty to thirty-minute time slots allotted to students. There are over 50,000 students on campus, and the advisors allocated to each student has a poor ratio that can sometimes be hard to manage. Vick helps students with bars, dropping classes, making a class pass/fail, taking courses outside of UT, and picking courses. Moreover, Vick helps find methods to get involved in research, internal transfers, volunteering, and studying abroad, which is an opportunity many students want to embark upon but are unable to find the right program that enables them to do so. Personally, visiting the Vick center helped me plan what career path I want to follow. While the resources available to students are wonderful, such as the flyers and handouts located in the entrance that give guidelines for cover letters, resumes, essays, etc., meeting with an advisor would be more beneficial for students because they can receive advice unique to their circumstance. I met with an academic advisor to talk about when I should start thinking about adding a minor and what the process of that would look like. I also met with a career counselor to help me plan out intern-
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ships over the summer and what I can do to boost my resume and stand out when I apply for a job. Not only were they helpful, but they actually spent time to answer my questions in detail. Nonetheless, I recommend whoever goes to the Vicks center to have premade questions to make the process go smoother because sometimes they are busy, and that can negatively impact the experience by making it seem rushed. Sometimes students are unaware of what their tuition pays for, and I wanted to shed light and bring attention to this facility in Jester. Most people I talk to, whether in my college or in general, do not actually know about Vick. Similar to the One-Stop-Shop where you can get your questions answered online, Vick can be a more customized and personal experience. To clear up another misconception because it is located as a UGS , it is not just for people who are new to UT, anyone can go in to get ahead in planning their future. I went to the center to meet with advisors for more information, but since they prioritize appointments for students seeking help, I reached out via email. Here are some more details and an inside look on the resources and tools available and offered for students at Vick: Q: What can students expect when they come here? A: Academic Advising Services - Appointments to review internal transfer, core curriculum requirements, major exploration, academic concerns, registration advising, and academic standing. Career Counseling Services - Appointments to review career and major exploration, career assessments, graduate school planning, internship planning, mock interviews, and resume/ personal statement review. Q: Who is allowed to come in for help? A: Undergraduate students at UT Austin. Q: How is career advising different from academic advising? A: We offer different services. Academic advising appointments are 30 minutes while career counseling appointments are 45 minutes-1 hour. Academic advisors speak to students about the specific internal transfer requirements for colleges/schools across campus. Q: How does major exploration work? A: We speak to students about the 111 majors at UT. Review resources like Wayfinder, degree plans, and course descriptions. We work to identify students values, interests, personalities, and skills and how this can align with a major. Q: How does Vick help with registration and academic difficulties? A: Academic advisors meet with students every semester for a mandatory registration advising appointment. During this appointment, advisors review all course recommendations and logistical registration details. The Vick Center speaks to students about their options if they have academic concerns. The office processes all q-drops, P/F, and withdrawals. Q: Does Vick help with scholarships? For example, some that pertain to studying abroad? A: We refer students to internal UGS scholarships and refer them to different UT scholarships based on eligibility and need.
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Ads from Texas Creative Students
Moody on the Map Writer Emma Bittner Designer Vicki Shon The relief that washes over you and the excitement that bubbles from within when you secure an internship is unmatched. For many Moody students, an internship is required in order to graduate. While students have secured internships across Austin, and even across the country, not much is heard about these elusive internships. Many have landed impressive internships in New York and are representing Moody, yet we often don’t get to know what these internships are. In order to shine a light on these internships and celebrate Moody students, we gathered data and attempted to visualize the results. Here is the first ever map of Moody Internships.
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Places Easily Accessible by Bus From Campus for Post Social-Distancing Writer Jessica Lenamond Designer Emma Bittner
Hugging friends, getting a haircut, eating in your favorite restaurant instead of out of another to-go container. I’m sure that by now most people have a list of exactly all of the things that they want to do as soon as social distancing is in the past and we are able to see friends and family again. Returning back to our usual routines will be a very strange experience, but it is exciting to look to the future and make plans for the time that we are so excited about. Being back on campus is going to be more than thrilling for many of us, and the amount of things to do is going to feel endless. For post social-distancing freedom, here is a list of places easily accessible by bus from campus. The distances from campus listed below are based on the campus bus stop that was closest to each location.
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Quack’s 43rd Street Bakery Bus stop: Duval/Park Distance from campus: 11 minutes
Quack’s is the perfect place for late night studying while taking bites of your favorite baked good. Their cases are always full of the biggest and best cookies, cupcakes, pies, and much more to satisfy your bakery craving.
Thunderbird Coffee
Bus stop: 2219 Manor/Chestnut Distance from campus: 15 minutes Thunderbird is a cozy local café that serves coffee and beer and is a great spot to study or meet with friends. They also have an outside area with picnic tables that is perfect for days in the sun.
The Triangle
Bus stop: Triangle Station Distance from campus: 13 minutes The Triangle is a center for great restaurants and a few shops just north of campus. Try Mandola’s Italian Market for a lunch or dinner date and browse their selection of gelato and Italian produce. Hopdoddy Burger Bar is also worth trying solely for their parmesan truffle fries.
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South Congress
Bus stop: Soco Station Distance from campus: 16 minutes South Congress Avenue is classic Austin: murals, weird shops, and great food all on one street. This is a perfect place to take family or friends who are visiting Austin for the first time. There are farmers’, makers’, and artists’ markets every month where you can find unique art, jewelry, prints, clothing, and countless other things. For a fanciful brunch with family in town, try Perla’s Seafood and Oyster Bar. For a more casual laid-back classic, Home Slice’s enormous slices of pizza never disappoint.
Austin Central Library
Bus stop: 800 Cesar Chavez/West Distance from campus: 11 minutes A familiar classic, the Austin Central Library is a beautiful space to get lost in for an afternoon of studying or exploring.
Mozart’s Coffee Roasters
Bus stop: 3825 Lake Austin/Enfield Distance from campus: 12 minutes Everyone in Austin knows about this famous lake-side spot with hot chocolate and a charming Christmas lights show, but you might not have known just how easy it was to get to from campus. Mozart’s is undoubtedly packed during the holidays but it is worth the trip for their outside patio when it’s not too busy. Not to mention, their bakery selection is impressive.
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Living, Working and Learning in New York City Before Graduation Q&A with two students who went to the first semester of UTNY Writer Jessica Lenamond Designer Helen Hulsey
The dream of living in New York City one day is familiar to many college students because it is the global center for media, entertainment, finance, and the arts. That dream can come true for UT students before they even graduate with the UT in New York Program. UTNY provides the chance for students to live, work, and learn in NYC to kickstart professional opportunities before they start their careers. The program’s first semester was Fall 2019 and it is an internship-first experiential learning program open to all majors. The UTNY campus is in Manhattan and students can attend either the fall, spring or summer semesters to earn between nine and 12 credit hours towards their degree. A three or six-hour internship credit must be completed and then additional courses are taken with UT faculty members. To see courses offered with UTNY, visit https://utny.utexas.edu/learn. For housing, students have the option of living in the provided student housing in Brooklyn Heights near Manhattan or they can find their own housing. The UTNY summer 2020 program will now be online for a virtual experience because of the COVID-19 pandemic. The new virtual program will be June 4 to August 7 and courses will be offered online on Canvas. Students will still take 9 hours of coursework and can complete a three or 6-hour internship credit but an internship is not required for this summer semester. Two students who went to the first semester of UTNY gave their feedback on the program and how the experience helped shape their career. Laura Laughead is a senior journalism major and interned at “Good Morning America” at ABC News. Saskia Gregg is a senior advertising and music major and interned at Sony Music Entertainment and a Broadway producing company, the John Gore Organization. Here is their take on UTNY:
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How did your experience at UTNY help prepare you for the rest of your college experience and your career? Laura Laughead: My time and internship in NYC have given me a clearer image of what I want to do with my life and what I don’t want to do with my life. While I missed UT and Austin, it was great to be able to have the opportunities that only New York City could provide. Plus, there’s nothing like Christmas in the city. I’ll remember that for the rest of my life! The UTNY experience has already opened a ton of career doors for me that I didn’t think were possible. Saskia Gregg: UTNY was one of my favorite semesters I’ve had at UT because it gave me a chance to essentially “try out” my post-grad aspirations. I got exposure to the entertainment industry with a scope that I never had the opportunity within Austin, which taught me a lot about what I want to pursue after graduation.
Would you recommend that other students go on this program? What would you tell a student who is interested in applying? Laughead: UT students should definitely consider doing UTNY before they graduate. You get to “test drive” a career before you enter the “real world.” You can find out if what you’ve been studying in school and what you think you want to do with your life is actually what you want to be doing 40 plus hours a week for the next 40 years after all. Having this experience will definitely make your resumé stand out. The program offers you so many professional and life experiences you can’t get anywhere else. Gregg: I would definitely recommend this program to other students if they want to try out living and working in NYC. There’s no pressure if you don’t like it because you always have UT to come back to. And if you take advantage of this opportunity, it opens the door to some fantastic companies that UT has built relationships with.
Where did you intern? How was that experience? Laughead: I interned at “Good Morning America” at ABC News, and it was one of the greatest experiences of my life, both professionally and personally. I grew up watching “GMA,” and I wanted to intern for the show for years. It was incredible because I not only got to help out with the show in the mornings, but I also got to write stories for the GMA website and ABC News. I ended up with 75 national bylines by the end of my internship.
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Gregg: I interned at the John Gore Organization (a Broadway producing company) and Sony Music Entertainment. Both internships were very different but gave me interesting perspectives on the breadth of the entertainment industry. Working two internships was also a great way to get a taste of working full time, plus I made so many great connections.
What is the most memorable thing that you did at UTNY? Laughead: I interviewed Helen Mirren and Ian McKellan on the red carpet at the premiere of their movie “The Good Liar.” I interned with the digital department of “Good Morning America,” and after work one day, they asked me if I would be interested in covering the premiere for the “GMA” official Instagram. I immediately said yes and dashed across town with my equipment to the theater. I was a little nervous, but the interviews went great. Ian even made a joke about how late it was for a “GMA” employee to be out. I bonded with another young journalist next to me on the carpet, and she gave me her spare ticket for the movie screening and the after party. I left my apartment that morning at 6 a.m. and didn’t get back until after 1 a.m., but it was so worth it! Gregg: I camped out for SNL with some friends one night which was one of my favorite memories. We brought towels and blankets and slept on the street outside of the Rockefeller Center in 40 degree weather. Probably lost a year off of my life from everything we went through, but worth it for Chance the Rapper!
What is it like to live in New York City? Laughead: Living in New York City was very intimidating at first, but I fell in love with the city by the end of UTNY. There are so many moving parts and interesting things to do and see and — my personal favorite — to eat. I don’t have a car, so the subway system was a lifesaver. I feel like everyone dreams of living in New York City at one point in his or her life, so I still can’t believe I’ve already checked that off my bucket list. So many movies and TV shows are set in NYC, so I had a fun time trying to find their real life locations, like the “Law and Order” courthouse and the “Friends” apartment. Gregg: As someone who was always overwhelmed by the city on brief trips in the past, I didn’t expect to fall in love with it as I did. Living in New York City is so different from visiting it. The energy of the city is contagious and there’s always something interesting to do if you want to -- but having months to explore it also gives you the chance to relax sometimes and find the quieter corners of the city. I’m also not a huge fan of driving so the subway was a game-changer for me.
What resources did you find beneficial for finding housing? Laughead: I used the housing that UTNY provided. I loved the Brooklyn Heights location. If I ever move back to New York City, that neighborhood is definitely the place to live.
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Study Abroad Cancelation Sorrows Writer Emma Bittner Designer Helen Hulsey Studying abroad is just one of the many things that COVID-19 put a halt to this year. Hundreds of students from the university planned on studying abroad this summer but now are left thinking about how to spend the summer in quarantine instead. With this newfound time on their hands, students were able to reflect on the opportunity to study abroad and how the global pandemic has impacted them.
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“This summer I had planned to study abroad in Shanghai, China through Moody’s Brand Marketing & Analytics program. As an advertising student, an understanding of media and digital metrics is critical. When I saw the opportunity to engage with this coursework firsthand in Shanghai, the fastest growing media market in the world, I knew it was an opportunity I could not miss. Additionally, the location allowed me to practice the Mandarin I had been studying for years in-person and more deeply connect with my Asian heritage- it felt like the perfect program. “When my program was canceled due to COVID-19 I was heartbroken. This program matched me so perfectly that I felt like it was meant to be, and its cancelation was the last thing I expected or was prepared for. Now, I plan to spend my summer taking classes remotely through UT. Moving forward, I hope to still go abroad while in college and am exploring the international internship program in Shanghai hosted by UT Global for Summer 2021. Though it is not an ideal situation, I understand why the decision to cancel the abroad program was made and I hope that all students affected still find a way to expand their learning beyond the classroom.”
-Catherine Lindberg, sophomore Advertising major
“This summer I was going to study abroad at Oxford University in the UK to take a travel writing course. I chose this program because I hope to travel on assignment when I am a journalist and wanted to expose myself to a more creative style of writing. Studying in Oxford for six weeks and seeing more of Europe also sounds like a dream! I chose to study abroad because I knew that I did not want to graduate without having the experience of learning abroad. I hope to work as a journalist abroad after graduation so I knew that this experience would be very helpful in deciding my future career. “The cancellation of my program was heartbreaking for me because I was looking forward to it for months. It also made things complicated because I had an idea in my head of how my college schedule would go and this alters those future plans. I am also now left confused about what I should do this summer to make up for my lost plans, but I know that everyone is also struggling with what to do this summer now. I’m hoping that I will still be able to go the summer before senior year though!”
-Jessica Lenamond, sophomore Journalism major
“This summer, I was planning on studying abroad in Prague, Czech Republic, and doing a documentary photography course! I have always been a storyteller and knew I wanted to continue that with my future career. Stepping outside of my comfort zone and into another person's shoes is a large part of storytelling and being able to convey an accurate story. Going to the Czech Republic and being in a foreign country with a language other than mine is the perfect opportunity for me to be uncomfortable and understand what it's like to be in someone else's shoes.
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“When all study abroad was canceled for Summer 2020, I was devastated. This maymester is something I had heard about before I even got accepted in UT and knew it was something I wanted to do before graduating. I was worried that I wouldn't be able to have the opportunity to study abroad because I knew I needed an internship the next summer. I hope I can find time to study abroad before I graduate because I think it is essential to the college experience.”
-Emma Bittner, sophomore Journalism and Communication & Leadership major
“In the months leading up to March, I prepared to study abroad in London, U.K. During the course of my maymester, I planned to film a documentary on the community life in London. This program aligned perfectly with what I hope to pursue as a career in the future; travel and storytelling of unseen communities. I was really bummed about the cancelation. I worked for months to save enough money for the trip and had already begun reaching out to potential interviewees in London. My heart was set on going, so I am leaning towards attending the program next year.”
-Ashley Miznazi sophomore Journalism and Corporate Communications major
“This summer I was planning on studying and interning in Sydney, Australia. I was going to finish my sociology minor and be placed to intern at a competitive company in Sydney. I’ve never left the country before, and I was so excited to have this opportunity. As a low-income student, this chance didn’t seem possible for me for the majority of my college career, but I worked very hard with financial aid and scholarship applications and financing my trip actually became possible. “When I found out that my program was canceled, obviously I knew this was the safest and smartest choice, but I was still disappointed and concerned. One concern I had was the fact that I was behind on finding an internship for the summer to afford to live in Austin — as well as have competitive experience on my resume when applying to law school. I hope to still have the chance to travel and experience working in a different country later in my career.”
-Jordan Ludzenski, junior Political Communication major
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COVID-19 Hits Home
Writer Aalia Qazi Designer Helen Hulsey Everyone has had a unique experience with COVID-19, good or bad, and I would like to share some of what I went through. To preface, I was not affected or harmed in any negative way by the virus, but I have definitely had to transition and adjust to a new form of learning. Never did I think I would be partaking in online schooling involuntarily. Having my freshman year cut short was painful as so many events and exciting experiences usually happen during the spring semester and everyone is fully adapted to living in their home away from home. Being from Houston, I was excited to move to Austin and be independent, while receiving the best college experience at my dream school. Now that I am home, as much as I complained about how hard school was, I definitely miss Austin and the vibes there. Our campus is so amazing, and not being able to just walk around or even study at PCL makes me miss it every day. I love being home, but studying at home and having to discipline myself to stay motivated and actually do my work has been tough. I literally cannot focus at home because of the level of comfort I have. When I was in Austin, I would have lazy days, but I knew the main reason I was there was to get an education, so I would push through. Nonetheless, it’s been great spending time with my family because I really missed them, I just wish I could see my cousins more because I’m extremely close to them too. However, in Houston, it is hard to balance spending time with family and school. Not to mention, the boredom hits HARD.
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Not being able to leave and constantly finding new ways to be bored has definitely not been the ideal situation, but I know that people have it so much worse. My prayers and thoughts go out to everyone going through this tough time, as we are all going through it together. Hopefully, things will get better and go back to normal soon, if people could stay inside.
Writer Emma Bittner
When coronavirus was just beginning I didn’t think much about it. I assumed that because I was a reasonably healthy 20-year-old I was going to continue about my life, go to work and school like normal. Maybe I would stock up on some canned foods and toilet paper, but assumed it would all blow over. However, I was extremely wrong. Quickly, things became much more serious than I had ever anticipated. Grocery store aisles were bare, lines were long and items were being rationed. The University of Texas at Austin soon followed in the footsteps of many other universities around the nation and extended our spring break, preparing to move online for the remainder of the semester. Only a few days before things got bad, I hopped from airport to airport to go visit my aunt up north. She was in the final stages of her fight with pancreatic cancer and my family advised me to go up and spend time with her before it was too late. When I was traveling, the airports seemed emptier than normal. People were concerned and on edge. When I finally made it back to Austin, I received backlash for even traveling during the pandemic, even though in my eyes it was a necessary trip. After being home for only 36 hours, I got the phone call from my dad to share that my aunt had passed away. I needed to make arrangements with school and work to fly back up north at the end of the week. While my professors were extremely understanding and kind, it was circumstances that I could have never foreseen that caused issues. Twenty-three hours before I was supposed to board a flight to the funeral, it was released that UT’s President, Greg Fenves’s wife, who worked for the University, tested positive for COVID-19 and he would be tested too. This not only put me but the whole UT community at risk. This not only caused me to panic and worry if I was exposed to COVID-19 but it made me worry about everyone around me, a University of over 50,000 students. After a long discussion with my parents and their concern of my exposure, they were the one who made the final decision; I wasn’t allowed to go up north for the funeral. Logistically it made sense. I needed to see if I was in contact with anyone who had it and see if Fenves tested positive. Furthermore, the funeral would be full of people over the age of 60 in addition to my grandparents who were nearly 90. It was a hotspot for people at risk and even if my chance of having COVID-19 was slim, I couldn't risk it. I was distraught and extremely upset. Not only was I grieving the loss of my aunt and now not being able to pay respects at her funeral, but now I was alone and isolated in my apartment. My mental health took a hit during the COVID-19 outbreak and it only got worse as it went on. I thrive on being social and going out and talking to people, but now I’m stuck by myself for most of the day. Not only have I not been able to be with family recently, but now that classes have moved online I’m not able to see most of my friends and classmates until next semester. The COVID-19 pandemic hit much closer to home than I thought it ever would and now it’s just a waiting game. My experience with the current pandemic is very mild and only recently took a toll on my mental health, but I know there are students across the nation who are suffering much worse than I am.
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OUR STAFF Emily Anaya Emma Bittner Helen Hulsey Jesse Jun Jessica Lenamond Jaymi Morris Rocio Perez Vicki Shon Sarah Stiles Jack Tucker Logan Ulery Kellie Woodin Aalia Qazi
