In a major — and surprising — win for affirmative action supporters, the U.S. Supreme Court has upheld the University of Texas at Austin’s right to give a slight boost to black and Hispanic applicants.
Matthew Watkins
Matthew Watkins began serving as editor in chief of the Tribune in September 2024. He is a Texas native, born in Houston and raised in Austin. He attended Texas A&M University and has spent his entire professional career in Texas journalism, including stints at The Eagle in Bryan-College Station and The Dallas Morning News. Matthew joined The Texas Tribune in 2015 has held various roles, including higher education reporter, breaking news editor and politics editor. He has helped guide the Tribune's award-winning journalism that has included coverage of six legislative sessions, multiple election cycles, natural disasters and political scandals. He lives in Austin with his wife, Susan, and their two children.
Posted in
Demographics
At A&M, Diversity Increases Without Affirmative Action
Texas A&M University sparked outrage when it decided in 2003 not to use affirmative action in its admissions process. But since then, the school’s black and Hispanic population has grown faster than that of the University of Texas at Austin.
Posted in
Higher Education
In Filing, Briles Accuses Baylor of Scapegoating Him in Sexual Assault Scandal
Former Baylor University head football coach Art Briles is fighting back against his sudden dismissal, arguing that he was wrongfully terminated and is being used as a scapegoat for the sexual assault scandal that has shamed the school.
Posted inState Government
Provost Selected as Texas Tech’s Next President
Texas Tech University has selected its current provost, Lawrence Schovanec, to be the school’s next president. Schovanec has been an administrator at Tech for three decades.
Posted in
Higher Education
University of Houston Settles Lawsuit Over Basketball Arena Name
The University of Houston has agreed to resolve a legal fight over its basketball arena, currently named after former Houston mayor Roy Hofheinz, by erecting a statue of and renaming a street after the deceased school booster.
Posted in
Higher Education
Texas Colleges Staying Out of Bathroom Battles
The state’s colleges and universities have been largely been left out of the debate over transgender bathroom policies. Over the past decade, most have adopted policies friendlier to transgender students and staff.
Posted in
Higher Education
UT System Institutes “Soft” Hiring Freeze, Considers Layoffs
As part of what Chancellor Bill McRaven is calling an “organizational assessment,” the University of Texas System has implemented a “soft” hiring freeze and is considering layoffs, according to a memo obtained by The Texas Tribune.
Posted in
Criminal Justice
Ken Starr Struggles to Answer Whether He Knew About Rape Allegation (Video)
An awkward TV interview posted this week by a Waco TV station shows former Baylor University president Ken Starr offering multiple answers to a question about his knowledge of a student’s rape allegation.
Posted in
Higher Education
UCLA Shooting Rekindles Campus Carry Debate
Supporters of Texas’ new campus carry law say the shooting at UCLA exemplifies how banning guns on campus only deters law-abiding people. Opponents say it shows why guns shouldn’t be allowed on campus.
Posted in
Higher Education
Ken Starr Resigns as Baylor Chancellor
Days after he was stripped of his job as Baylor University president over a scandal over how the school handled accusations of sexual assault, Ken Starr said he will also resign as chancellor of the private Baptist school.
