The University of Texas at Austin reportedly laid off at least 60 employees in positions related to diversity, equity, and inclusion after a <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/texas" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Texas</a> law banning <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/diversity-equity-and-inclusion-dei" target="_blank" rel="noopener">DEI</a> programs and offices at public universities took effect. 
UT Austin announced this week major organizational changes to comply with the state&#8217;s DEI law, <a href="https://capitol.texas.gov/tlodocs/88R/billtext/pdf/SB00017F.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Senate Bill 17</a>, which went into effect in January. The law, signed by Republican Governor Greg Abbott in June 2023, prohibits public colleges in the state from establishing DEI offices and hiring DEI officers. 
In a Tuesday <a href="https://president.utexas.edu/organizational-changes" target="_blank" rel="noopener">letter</a> to staff and students, UT Austin President Jay Hartzell said that the school&#8217;s Division of Campus and Community Engagement, once known as the Division of Diversity and Community Engagement, would close.
“Soon after the passage last year of Senate Bill 17 — which prohibits many activities around diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) — the University embarked on a multiphase process to review campus portfolios and end or redesign the policies, programs, trainings, and roles affected by the new law,” Hartzell said. 
“Additionally, funding used to support DEI across campus prior to SB 17’s effective date will be redeployed to support teaching and research,” he added. “As part of this reallocation, associate or assistant deans who were formerly focused on DEI will return to their full-time faculty positions. The positions that provided support for those associate and assistant deans and a small number of staff roles across campus that were formerly focused on DEI will no longer be funded.”
The Austin American Statesman <a href="https://www.statesman.com/story/news/politics/state/2024/04/02/texas-senate-bill-17-anti-dei-ut-fires-four-staff-related-positions-two-sources-confirm/73179902007/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">reported</a> that &#8220;at least 60 staff members&#8221; have already been laid off due to the new law. According to Hartzell, employees whose DEI positions are being eliminated would be given the opportunity to apply for other open positions at UT-Austin. 
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The layoffs come after state Senator Brandon Creighton <a href="https://archive.ph/n9dSp" target="_blank" rel="noopener">wrote</a> a letter last week informing Texas university leadership that the state Senate would be conducting oversight to ensure that they were complying with the law. 
“When Texas taxpayer dollars are used to fund offices, departments, or employee positions dedicated to promoting DEI initiatives, rather than basing decisions on merit, that is not only inappropriate, it is inconsistent with state law,” said Creighton. “Now that SB 17 is law, I’m confident that Texas public colleges and universities can return to their core mission of innovation and education— and if they do not, the Texas Senate will be resolute in enforcement of this legislation.”
Republican-led states across the country, from Florida to Alabama, have enacted bans on DEI in higher education amid criticism of schools prioritizing identity over education and merit.

Views Of The Texas State Capital During The South By Southwest (SXSW) Interactive Festival

At Least 60 Staffers Laid Off At University Of Texas As DEI Ban Takes Effect

Diversity Equity and Inclusion (DEI)

Education

Greg Abbott

Politics

Texas

University of Texas

The University of Texas at Austin will host workshops on “affirming LGBTQIA+ people” and LGBT allyship, which warn of “heterosexual” and “monosexual” privilege.
The university’s Gender and Sexuality Center hosts a number of <a href="https://diversity.utexas.edu/genderandsexuality/trainings-workshops/workshops/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">different workshops</a> for students, staff, faculty, and administrators, which “use an intersectional approach to foster and develop allyship practices that center affirming people of color as necessary for affirming women and LGBTQIA+ people.”
The center will <a href="https://diversity.utexas.edu/genderandsexuality/trainings-workshops/workshops/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">host</a> two workshops next month: “Affirming LGBTQIA+ People: Interpersonal Advocacy” on August 1 and “Affirming LGBTQIA+ People: Organizational Advocacy” on August 3.
The site provides several workshop materials, including one <a href="https://docs.google.com/document/d/1Cd1D2pshd_oLxOfNlGHF0FbL4WACc1jRK5Koi5r2wMc/edit" target="_blank" rel="noopener">form</a> on “Heterosexual and Monosexual Privilege.” The document lists a total of 44 supposed privileges, including, “I can choose to be in a polyamorous relationship without being accused of reinforcing stereotypes against my sexual-identity group.” Another portion of the list reads “I can easily find representations of people of my sexual-identity group.”
The Gender and Sexuality Center also hosts one workshop titled, “Histories of &amp; Accountability to Trans Feminisms,” which features a <a href="https://docs.google.com/document/d/1-rALLPmGZ6SlKfRswiPHfvt8HEQq15Cfrx8XNl01ohA/edit" target="_blank" rel="noopener">list of terms</a> associated with “Transfeminism.” It defines the word “transfeminism” itself as “a movement by and for trans women who view their liberation to be intrinsically linked to the liberation of all women and beyond.”
It also defines “transmisogyny” as “The intersection of transphobia and misogyny that systematically targets trans women” and “misogynoir” as “The intersection of racism, anti-Blackness, and misogyny that Black women experience.”
The term “sexism” is defined as “the systematic, institutional, pervasive, and routine mistreatment of women and femme people of all genders.”
The center also hosts numerous other <a href="https://diversity.utexas.edu/genderandsexuality/trainings-workshops/workshops/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">workshops</a>, including, “From Allyship to Advocacy: Supporting Transgender Communities,” “Intersectionality &amp; Allyship,” and “Working Towards Gender Justice.”
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Other resources from the center include a document titled “<a href="https://docs.google.com/document/d/1VQ2ZcoVNQTE6IAcO1rq4F5p4OpP-nfSYDPqzWGy3WfE/edit" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Affirming Asexuality</a>” and “<a href="https://docs.google.com/document/d/1H2phWbG_gUsvGI8YB0k2VylBX9lTv_Ae91yOV1vHZYQ/edit" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Affirming Transgender Students and Colleagues In Classrooms and Workplaces</a>,” which tells teachers to “use gender inclusive language” and to “avoid statements like: ‘good morning, ladies and gentlemen.’”
The Gender and Sexuality Center also <a href="https://diversity.utexas.edu/genderandsexuality/publications-and-resources/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">directs</a> students who identify as transgender to University Health Services, which <a href="https://healthyhorns.utexas.edu/HT/HT_LGBTQIAhealthcare.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">provides</a> cross-sex hormone therapy.
Other state universities also host workshop programs similar to those at the University of Texas, Austin. The Daily Wire recently <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/ball-state-university-trans-ally-training-includes-cisgender-privilege-checklist" target="_blank" rel="noopener">revealed</a> that Ball State University, a public institution in Indiana, holds “trans safe zone” workshops, which also lament “cisgender privilege.”

University of Texas, Austin

University Of Texas At Austin Hosts ‘LGBTQIA’ Allyship Training, Warns Of ‘Heterosexual Privilege’

LGBT

Social Issues

Transgender

U.S.

Researchers at the <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/university-of-texas" target="_blank" rel="noopener">University of Texas</a> in Austin unveiled a system which uses <a href="http://dailywire.com/topic/artificial-intelligence" target="_blank" rel="noopener">artificial intelligence</a> to transform a person’s brain activity into written words.
The team of academics, led by computer science doctrinal student Jerry Tang and assistant professor Alex Huth, used a model similar to the one which serves as the basis of ChatGPT to turn brain activity released while “listening to a story or silently imagining telling a story” into a “continuous stream of text.” Unlike other solutions, the system, which the researchers call a “semantic decoder,” does not need surgical implants and is entirely noninvasive.
“This is a real leap forward compared to what’s been done before, which is typically single words or short sentences,” Huth said in a <a href="https://cns.utexas.edu/news/podcast/brain-activity-decoder-can-reveal-stories-peoples-minds" target="_blank" rel="noopener">press release</a>. “We’re getting the model to decode continuous language for extended periods of time with complicated ideas.”
The decoder learns how to translate an individual’s thoughts as he or she listens to podcasts and the system concurrently measures brain activity with an fMRI scanner. The decoder then produces text meant to mirror the intended meaning of the individual’s thoughts rather than a word-for-word transcript of the exact words which enter the individual’s brain. In one such example, the decoder said a participant had listened to a speaker say “she has not even started to learn to drive yet” when the participant actually heard “I don’t have my driver’s license yet.”
Researchers added that the system, which was described in a recent <a href="https://cns.utexas.edu/news/podcast/brain-activity-decoder-can-reveal-stories-peoples-minds" target="_blank" rel="noopener">study</a> published in Nature Neuroscience, could not decode words for participants who had not willingly trained the system or who intentionally sought to defy the system. “We take very seriously the concerns that it could be used for bad purposes and have worked to avoid that,” Tang commented. “We want to make sure people only use these types of technologies when they want to and that it helps them.”
The system has implications for stroke victims and other individuals who are conscious but unable to speak physically, although the current version relies upon an fMRI machine and is therefore impractical for use outside of a laboratory.
Leading corporations and investors have poured considerable funds into developing AI tools meant for consumer products and business solutions over the past several months. Microsoft, which invested billions of dollars into ChatGPT creator OpenAI, announced that the system would be <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/microsoft-unveils-new-version-of-bing-powered-by-artificial-intelligence" target="_blank" rel="noopener">incorporated</a> into the search engine Bing and internet browser Edge, allowing users to more easily locate information. Google likewise <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/google-search-will-soon-receive-ai-upgrade-as-company-scrambles-to-release-chatgpt-competitor" target="_blank" rel="noopener">revealed</a> that Bard, an experimental conversational AI service, would soon be added to the company’s search engine.
The semantic decoder study was published as medical researchers in the United Kingdom <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/new-ai-tool-predicts-cancers-better-may-catch-them-far-earlier" target="_blank" rel="noopener">unveiled</a> an AI tool which can improve predictions of whether a nodule will develop cancer, thereby helping physicians to identify the disease far earlier than current methods.
Some analysts have raised concerns of possible widespread technological employment even as the novel AI applications create productivity increases for workers and businesses. One recent <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/colossal-share-of-american-jobs-could-be-replaced-by-ai-new-report-says" target="_blank" rel="noopener">forecast</a> from Goldman Sachs predicted that AI could eliminate 7% of positions in the United States, largely in sectors that rely upon office work such as administrative support and legal, while positions in sectors such as building and grounds maintenance, construction, logistics, and healthcare support are predicted to remain broadly intact.

Artificial Intelligence

Scientists Unveil AI That Can Turn Thoughts Into Written Text

Scientists Announce AI System That Can Turn Thoughts Into Text

Technology

The <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/university-of-texas" target="_blank" rel="noopener">University of Texas</a> announced Thursday afternoon that they fired men&#8217;s basketball coach Chris Beard after he was arrested last month on a domestic violence charge.
Beard, 49, was arrested on December 12 after the Austin Police Department reportedly responded to a “disturbance hot shot,” which the department says are incidents that “are in progress and are an immediate threat to life and/or public safety (i.e. shootings, stabbings, rapes, riots).” The arrest affidavit <a href="https://twitter.com/AnwarRichardson/status/1602441327643594752" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a> that Beard and his fiancée Randi Trew were having relationship issues, and during a heated conversation he “snapped” and “became super violent,” according to Beard’s fiancée.
Longhorns athletic director Chris Del Conte said in a statement that it was &#8220;a difficult situation that we&#8217;ve been diligently working through&#8221; and that the school ultimately decided to &#8220;terminate him effective immediately.&#8221;
The university sent the following letter to Beard:
<blockquote>Dear Chris Beard: The University of Texas at Austin is terminating your employment, effective January 5, 2023, pursuant to Section 7(A)(12) of your employment contract, Suspension or Termination by the University for Cause. This action also effects immediate termination of the Baseline Group LLC agreement of July 12, 2021. 
As noted in your employment contract, all obligations of the University to make further payment or provide any other consideration will cease as of January 5, 2023.
Please speak with Rianne Brashears in Athletics Human Resources … for separation processing, including collecting your personal belongings and returning any University-issued property.</blockquote>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
The University of Texas announces that it has fired men&#8217;s basketball coach Chris Beard. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/HookEm?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#HookEm</a> <a href="https://t.co/b3Od6kxfIU">pic.twitter.com/b3Od6kxfIU</a>
— Danny Davis (@_dannydavis) <a href="https://twitter.com/_dannydavis/status/1611085015508557824?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 5, 2023</a></blockquote>
Beard responded to the firing in a statement given through his attorney.
&#8220;Chris Beard is crushed at the news he will not be couching [sic] at the University of Texas,&#8221; attorney Perry Minton said. &#8220;At the outset of Coach Beard&#8217;s suspension, The University promised they would conduct an independent investigation surrounding the allegations and make a decision regarding his employment only after they had done so.&#8221;
&nbsp;
&#8220;They proceeded to terminate Coach Beard without asking a single question of him or his fiancé,&#8221; the statement continued. &#8220;Since the arrest, there have only been positive developments clearly demonstrating his innocence. Additionally, it is my opinion shared by others that any potential charges against Coach Beard will be declined very soon. This is in addition to the statements made by his fiancé that emphatically state that the original reports were inaccurate.&#8221;
&#8220;I am concerned that the University of Texas has made a terrible decision against the interest of the University, based on Twitter feeds and editorials &#8211; and not the facts concerning a truly innocent man,&#8221; the statement concluded. &#8220;The University has violated their agreement with the coach and we are devastated.&#8221;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Chris Beard&#8217;s attorney says he is crushed <a href="https://t.co/SbMrMlUtxK">pic.twitter.com/SbMrMlUtxK</a>
— Chris Walker (@WalkerATX) <a href="https://twitter.com/WalkerATX/status/1611108446321152000?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 5, 2023</a></blockquote>
A couple of weeks after the arrest, Trew <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/fiancee-of-texas-basketball-coach-changes-story-he-didnt-strangle-me-he-acted-in-self-defense">said</a> that Beard did not strangle her, she did not want him to be arrested, and that he was acting in self-defense.
&#8220;Chris and I are deeply saddened that we have brought negative attention upon our family, friends, and the University of Texas, among others,” Trew said in the statement. “As Chris’ fiancée and biggest supporter, I apologize for the role I played in this unfortunate event. I realize that my frustration, when breaking his glasses, initiated a physical struggle between Chris and myself.”
“Chris did not strangle me, and I told that to law enforcement that evening,” the statement continued. “Chris has stated that he was acting in self-defense, and I do not refute that. I do not believe Chris was trying to intentionally harm me in any way. It was never my intent to have him arrested or prosecuted. We appreciate everyone’s support and prayers during this difficult time.”

Jimmy V Classic – Illinois v Texas

Texas Longhorns Fire Chris Beard After Felony Domestic Violence Arrest

College basketball

Crime

The fiancée of <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/university-of-texas" target="_blank" rel="noopener">University of Texas</a> head men&#8217;s basketball coach Chris Beard said Friday that he did not strangle her and she did not want him arrested, a stark turn around from the story that emerged early this month.
Beard, 49, was arrested on December 12 after the Austin Police Department reportedly responded to a “disturbance hot shot,” which the department says are incidents that “are in progress and are an immediate threat to life and/or public safety (i.e. shootings, stabbings, rapes, riots).”
Fiancée Randi Trew <a href="https://apnews.com/article/sports-texas-chris-beard-top-25-college-basketball-today-99133534a0645c7318c6557d425d5dcf">said</a> through her attorney, Randy Leavitt, that she was &#8220;deeply saddened&#8221; by what has happened and that Beard was acting in self-defense, the Associated Press reported.
“Chris and I are deeply saddened that we have brought negative attention upon our family, friends, and the University of Texas, among others,&#8221; Trew said in the statement. &#8220;As Chris’ fiancée and biggest supporter, I apologize for the role I played in this unfortunate event. I realize that my frustration, when breaking his glasses, initiated a physical struggle between Chris and myself.”
“Chris did not strangle me, and I told that to law enforcement that evening,&#8221; the statement continued. &#8220;Chris has stated that he was acting in self-defense, and I do not refute that. I do not believe Chris was trying to intentionally harm me in any way. It was never my intent to have him arrested or prosecuted. We appreciate everyone’s support and prayers during this difficult time.&#8221;
The <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/new-details-emerge-about-texas-coachs-alleged-violent-attack-on-fiancee-choked-me-threw-me-off-the-bed-bit-me" target="_blank" rel="noopener">arrest affidavit</a> from earlier this month said that Beard and his fiancée were having relationship issues and during a heated conversation, he “snapped” and “became super violent,” according to Trew.
The incident began after Beard refused to communicate with Trew because he was mad at her, and when he came home, he went to the guest room in the house, the fiancée said. She went into the guest room to check on him. He was reportedly lying on the bed, twirling a pair of reading glasses in his hands when she grabbed them and broke them. Things quickly escalated from there.
Beard allegedly went to the main bedroom where he slapped the glasses Trew was wearing off her face. When the two were supposedly lying in bed together, she attempted to retrieve her glasses, and she claims that was when she was thrown off the bed. She attempted to gather her things, but reportedly couldn’t see because she didn’t have her glasses. She claims that he stood behind her and put his arm around her neck.
The woman said that she did not feel safe after “he choked me, threw me off the bed, bit me, bruises all over my leg, throwing me around, and going nuts.”
When asked by law enforcement if his choking her “impeded her breathing,” she replied, “yes, I could not breathe, he did it for probably like 5 seconds.”
When Beard was interviewed by police, he said that he had audio recordings that indicated that he was not the primary aggressor. When police asked if he was willing to share the recordings, he said no.

COLLEGE BASKETBALL: DEC 10 Arkansas-Pine Bluff at Texas

Fiancée Of Texas Basketball Coach Changes Story: He Didn’t Strangle Me, He Acted In Self-Defense

Fiancée Of Texas Basketball Coach Changes Story: He Didn't Strangle Me, He Acted In Self-Defense

General

Chris Beard, the head coach of the University of Texas men&#8217;s basketball team, was arrested during the early morning hours on Monday and charged with third-degree assault on a family member.
Beard, 49, was arrested after Austin Police reportedly responded to a &#8220;disturbance hot shot,&#8221; which the department says are incidents that &#8220;are in progress and are an immediate threat to life and/or public safety (i.e. shootings, stabbings, rapes, riots).&#8221;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
Austin Police responded to a &quot;disturbance hot shot,&quot; per spokesperson, at 12:15 a.m. to the 1900 block of Vista Lane.
Beard was charged in the 4 a.m. hour. 
Texas AD Chris Del Conte has not yet responded to CBS Sports&#39; request for comment.
&mdash; Matt Norlander (@MattNorlander) <a href="https://twitter.com/MattNorlander/status/1602307534269947905?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 12, 2022</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
The University of Texas responded to the news in a brief statement.
&#8220;The University is aware of the situation regarding Chris Beard,&#8221; the statement said. &#8220;We are continuing to gather information and monitoring the legal process.&#8221;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
Texas has released the following statement on Chris Beard. <a href="https://t.co/nxa3TwDPxH">pic.twitter.com/nxa3TwDPxH</a>
&mdash; Jon Rothstein (@JonRothstein) <a href="https://twitter.com/JonRothstein/status/1602313862405029890?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 12, 2022</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Beard has been the head coach of the team for two years now since signing a seven-year contract that pays him $5 million per year.
The Austin American-Statesman <a href="https://www.statesman.com/story/news/crime/2022/12/12/chris-beard-texas-basketball-coach-charged-domestic-assault/69720219007/">reported</a> that a clause in his contract allows to the school to suspend or terminate him if &#8220;any conduct (a) that the University administration reasonably determines is clearly unbecoming to a Head Coach and reflects poorly on the University, the Program, or The University of Texas System; or (b) resulting in a criminal charge being brought against Head Coach involving a felony, or any crime involving theft, dishonesty, or moral turpitude.&#8221;
This is a breaking news story; refresh the page for updates.

University Of Texas Men’s Basketball Head Coach Arrested For Felony Assault

University Of Texas Men's Basketball Head Coach Arrested For Felony Assault

Assault

Austin

Celebrities

Promising work in the field of machine learning indicates that people with severe tetraplegia will have a new way to navigate the world with mind-controlled wheelchairs.
Researchers have found that tetraplegic users can navigate natural, and even cluttered, environments with a powered wheelchair using brain signals communicated to a brain-machine interface (BMI), SciTechDaily <a href="https://scitechdaily.com/not-science-fiction-paralyzed-people-can-navigate-using-mind-controlled-wheelchairs/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">reported</a>. The primary aim of the study was to demonstrate the reciprocal learning process between users and the BMI algorithm.
“We show that mutual learning of both the user and the brain-machine interface algorithm are both important for users to successfully operate such wheelchairs,” said José del R. Millán, the corresponding author of the study from the University of Texas at Austin. “Our research highlights a potential pathway for improved clinical translation of non-invasive brain-machine interface technology.”
Three participants wore specialized caps that detected their brainwaves through electroencephalography (EEG). Researchers assigned them specific thoughts to indicate directions for the wheelchair. Thoughts of moving both hands indicated moving left, and thoughts of moving both feet indicated moving right. Over the two-to-five month <a href="https://www.cell.com/iscience/fulltext/S2589-0042(22)01690-X" target="_blank" rel="noopener">study</a>, with sessions being three times per week, it was found that not only did the algorithm learn from the users, but the users learned from the machine.
Participants one and three had noticeable changes in their brainwave patterns. Participant one showed 95% accuracy with commands by the end of the study, and participant three showed 98% accuracy — drastic improvements from the beginning, the study notes.
“We see from the EEG results that the subject has consolidated a skill of modulating different parts of their brains to generate a pattern for ‘go left’ and a different pattern for ‘go right,’” said Millán. “We believe there is a cortical reorganization that happened as a result of the participants’ learning process.”
The study advances the opportunities for BMI technology, however, the researchers recognize there is more to learn. The second participant showed relatively stagnant progress in accuracy improvement, suggesting that the mutual learning between user and machine is far from understood. Authors of the study note “more and larger studies are needed” due to its promising results, but also low number of participants.
Artificial intelligence has advanced other areas of life. The technology is now able to <a href="https://www.cancer.gov/news-events/cancer-currents-blog/2022/artificial-intelligence-cancer-imaging" target="_blank" rel="noopener">aid</a> doctors in diagnosing cancer. John Deere has started to <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/let-it-run-24-hours-a-day-how-artificial-intelligence-and-automated-tractors-will-change-the-face-of-farming" target="_blank" rel="noopener">roll out</a> automated tractors that <a href="https://youtu.be/QvFoRk4JsPc" target="_blank" rel="noopener">use</a> artificial intelligence for self-driving. Machine learning has even found its way into the world of art with <a href="https://openai.com/dall-e-2/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Dall-E 2</a>, where the machine learning software can generate an image in any style with just a few keywords.
Success with mind-controlled wheelchairs is the latest example of artificial intelligence creating new possibilities and improvements, though it remains a subject of great debate.

Brain Scan

Mind-Controlled Wheelchairs: Study Shows Promising Possibilities For Paralyzed People

Brain

Health

Medical Research

The Big 12 is becoming more interesting every week, and while <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/show/crain-and-company" target="_blank" rel="noopener">I picked Oklahoma</a> to win the conference, there are some teams that do have a chance to unseat them.
The Big 12 is deeper than the Pacific Ocean right now, and the matchups are more intriguing than Elon Musk at a science fair.
Dave Aranda has turned Baylor into a physical team that demands respect, Oklahoma State went from spreading you out to mashing you in, and Kansas is going through a resurgence that rivals the end of the Romanov dynasty. And let&#8217;s not forget K-State has shown the ability to be dangerous at every turn.
Oh, and there’s another team in the Big 12 that seems to be turning a corner — the Texas Longhorns. Quarterback Quinn Ewers might be hurt, but Hudson Card has experience and can make the throws Sark needs to put pressure on all three layers of the defense. Speaking of defense, Texas has gone from not being able to tackle a third grade math problem, to shoving ‘Bama around for 3 ½ quarters.
Long story short, the Big 12 is up in the air right now.
I still feel super jacked about picking Oklahoma to win the conference for a couple reasons:
<ol>
<li>Jeff Lebby and Dylan Gabriel together are a great collaboration, they are one step away from dropping a hot mixtape, they&#8217;re such a good combo. Now, Gabriel has shown he can shine when the moments are the brightest, but he also has the weapons around him and the scrambling ability to turn broken plays into broken dreams for a defense.</li>
<li>Brent Venables has already seemed to change the identity of Oklahoma from an offensive team that ‘hopes’ to stop you, into a team that expects to punish ball carriers, catchers, and even the refs if they get in the way.</li>
<li>The remaining schedule sets OU up better than any other team with a chance to win the conference: They get Kansas State, Baylor, and Oklahoma State at home. If they can handle business against Texas, a Big 12 sweep could be in short order.</li>
</ol>
There is a ton of football left to play and key injuries can happen at any time, but at this point, I couldn’t feel better about picking Oklahoma to come out on top of the Big 12.
Jake Crain is co-host of <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/show/crain-and-company">“Crain &amp; Company.”</a> the Daily Wire’s sports show hosted by former athletes and coaches Jake Crain, Blain Crain, and David Cone.
The views expressed in this piece are those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of The Daily Wire.

UTEP v Oklahoma

‘More Intriguing Than Elon Musk At A Science Fair’: Why Oklahoma And The Big 12 Have My Full Attention

College Football

Oklahoma

Readers Pass

University of

While <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/harvard" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Harvard University</a> rejects investments related to fossil fuels and is suffering in the current <a href="http://dailywire.com/topic/stock-market" target="_blank" rel="noopener">stock market</a>, the <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/university-of-texas" target="_blank" rel="noopener">University of Texas</a> is continuing to lease its land for <a href="http://dailywire.com/topic/oil-and-gas" target="_blank" rel="noopener">oil</a> drilling, and its endowment could overtake Harvard&#8217;s.
Most elite universities grow their multibillion-dollar investment pools through stock market assets, private equity, and venture capital. At the end of fiscal year 2020, Harvard boasted a $41.9 billion endowment — the largest in the country — while the University of Texas followed in third place with a $30.5 billion endowment, according to data from the <a href="https://nces.ed.gov/fastfacts/display.asp?id=73">Department of Education</a>.
Yet a plummeting stock market in the first half of 2021 may have poised the endowment of the University of Texas, which earns $6 million per day through its 2.1 million acres of oil fields in the Permian Basin, to become the nation&#8217;s largest as Harvard and other top schools take losses, according to data from <a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/graphics/2022-harvard-university-of-texas-richest-college-oil-endowments/">Bloomberg</a>. The University of Texas is enjoying record income from rising oil prices as hundreds of drilling companies, such as ConocoPhillips and Continental Resources, procure fossil fuels from its land.
At the end of last year, Harvard President Lawrence Bacow announced that the university would allow its remaining investments in the fossil fuel industry to <a href="https://www.thecrimson.com/article/2021/9/10/divest-declares-victory/">expire</a> while refusing to adopt new ones. The move came after aggressive campaigns from student activists.
“President Bacow’s language showed, however, that Harvard still remains afraid to fully sever ties with the fossil fuel industry,” an article from <a href="https://divestharvard.medium.com/tireless-organizing-yields-harvard-divestment-victory-b68f43b271a1">Divest Harvard</a> claimed. “Never once has it used the word ‘divest,’ even as it is now making clear commitments to undertake the divestment process. That cowardice and its deadly consequences should not go unnoticed.”
More broadly, Harvard works to integrate Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) factors into its investment processes, according to <a href="https://www.hmc.harvard.edu/sustainable-investing/">Harvard Management Company</a>, which has set the explicit goal of achieving a net zero emission portfolio by 2050.
Amid the most recent stock market downturn, however, ESG investments tended to suffer the most — especially through exposing themselves to the technology sector while continuing to scorn fossil fuel investments. Though technology companies are known for bankrolling social justice initiatives in reaction to national events like the <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/one-year-after-george-floyd-americas-biggest-corporations-earmark-37-billion-for-racial-equity">death of George Floyd</a> or the <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/here-are-the-woke-businesses-vowing-to-cover-travel-costs-for-employees-abortion-tourism">overturning of Roe v. Wade</a>, they were also the first to <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/recession-fears-lead-big-tech-companies-to-pause-hiring-cut-jobs">lay off</a> large portions of their staff as the stock market began its months-long tailspin.
For instance, iShares’ <a href="https://www.ishares.com/us/products/308574/ishares-esg-msci-usa-leaders-etf">ESG Aware MSCI ETF</a> — which has its largest holdings in companies like Microsoft, Tesla, and Alphabet — is down over 14% since the beginning of 2022, slightly lower than the overall S&amp;P 500 index. Meanwhile, iShares’ <a href="https://www.ishares.com/us/products/239741/ishares-global-energy-etf">Global Energy ETF</a> — dominated by oil and gas conglomerates like Exxon Mobil, Chevron, and Shell — has risen nearly 36% over the same time period.
While university endowments and leading asset managers continue to operate under the assumptions of ESG, an exclusive poll from <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/poll-by-two-to-one-margin-investors-reject-woke-companies-pushing-political-causes">The Daily Wire</a> recently indicated that American investors prefer to keep profits and social activism apart from one another. While 29% of respondents agreed it is a “good thing” for companies to leverage their financial power for political or social means supported by executives, 58% — twice as many — said it is a “bad thing.”

Harvard

Harvard’s Endowment Suffers Through Woke Investing While The University Of Texas Drills Oil And Rakes In Cash

Harvard's Endowment Suffers Through Woke Investing While The University Of Texas Drills Oil And Rakes It In

Oil and Gas

Stock Market

Wokeness

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<a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/university-of-texas">University of Texas</a> won the sweepstakes for Arch Manning, the quarterback with a Hall of Fame pedigree and the biggest recruiting prize in <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/college-football">college football</a>.
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Manning is the grandson of former NFL quarterback Archie Manning, and the nephew of Canton-bound superstars Peyton and Eli Manning. He was the consensus No. 1 recruit from the class of 2023, and on Thursday chose the Longhorns over Georgia, Alabama, LSU, and Clemson.
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“Committed to the University of Texas,” <a href="https://twitter.com/ArchManning/status/1540005818619334656?s=20&amp;t=KvgxONI834hz_Z3yYK3wFA">Manning tweeted Thursday</a>. “#HookEm.”
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Committed to the University of Texas. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/HookEm?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#HookEm</a> <a href="https://t.co/jHYbjBaF5K">pic.twitter.com/jHYbjBaF5K</a>
&mdash; Arch Manning (@ArchManning) <a href="https://twitter.com/ArchManning/status/1540005818619334656?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 23, 2022</a></blockquote>
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Manning’s father, Cooper, played wide receiver at Ole Miss. Uncle Peyton Manning starred at University of Tennessee before going on to becoming one of the greatest NFL quarterbacks of all time, while Eli Manning played at Ole Miss before an illustrious NFL career that saw him win two Super Bowls with the New York Giants.
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The decision gives Texas Coach Steve Sarkisian a huge win following a dismal 5-7 debut season last year and could prompt more blue-chip prep stars to commit to Austin.
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The 6-foot, 4-inch, 215-pound signal caller has one more season at Isidore Newman High School in New Orleans, where he is also a three-year letterman off the defending state champion boys basketball team. In three years as the school&#8217;s starting quarterback, Manning has thrown for 6,307 yards and 81 touchdowns while rushing for another 18 scores. Last year, Manning led his team to a Newman to a 7-3 record and a Louisiana Division III state semifinal appearance.
A <a href="https://247sports.com/Player/Arch-Manning-46080533/">scouting report by analyst Cooper Petagna of 24/7 Sports</a> raves about Manning.
&#8220;Displays excellent arm talent, showing the ability to make every throw on the field within the pocket,&#8221; reads the report. &#8220;Shows the ability to drive the ball down the field and play with velocity. Excels as an intermediate passer, displaying the ability to consistently deliver the ball accurately and on time while playing with anticipation. Throws an exceptional deep ball, flashing outstanding touch and ball placement allowing him to throw his receivers open.&#8221;
Manning family patriarch Archie, now 73, played at Ole Miss like two of his sons before a 13-year NFL career, most of which was spent with the New Orleans Saints. Last month, Archie Manning reflected on the recruiting of his sons and compared it to the scramble to land Arch.
&#8220;When Peyton, Eli and Cooper went through it, it really didn’t turn up until the spring before their senior year,&#8221; he said.  &#8220;They might have been getting letters, but with Arch, it started in the seventh grade. I’m not that fond of that, but that’s just the way it is.&#8221;

Arch Manning

Top Recruit, Football Royalty Arch Manning Announces College Choice

Sports

The “Eyes of Texas” is under fire once again.
It’s the school song of the University of Texas at Austin, performed by the marching band at university athletic events. The song gained national attention shortly after the death of George Floyd in the summer of 2020, as many pointed out that the origin of the song is racially insensitive. A group of UT-Austin football players asked that the school remove the tune as the school’s song in order to make the university “more comfortable and inclusive for the Black athletes and the Black community that has so fervently supported this program.”
Pushback against the song caused the university to look into the origins of the tune, and according to a March 2021 report by UT-Austin, the song was first played at a student-organized minstrel show in 1903 and more than likely performed in blackface. However, the report stated that the song “had no racist intent.” 
Following the report, in April 2021, the UT-Austin Butler School of Music announced that the Longhorn Band would continue to perform the song and that band members would be required to participate. 
“We need to celebrate and nurture what makes UT special, and the Longhorn Band is one of those great organizations that shape our campus culture, elevate school spirit and provide amazing opportunities for our students,” UT-Austin President Jay Hartzell <a href="https://www.texastribune.org/2021/04/21/eyes-of-texas-song-ut-austin-band/">said</a> in the release. “Our multi-million-dollar commitment over the next five years will support the Longhorn Band in restoring — and even going beyond — its former glory, while also providing strong support for our entire portfolio of university bands.”
UT-Austin also announced the creation of a separate band in which the band members would not be required to perform the “Eyes of Texas.” That band is scheduled to form in the fall of 2022. 
Now, as the 2021 college football season is underway, those that oppose playing the song are renewing their efforts to have it banned. 
On Friday, the Texas chapter of the NAACP along with a handful of anonymous students filed a complaint with the U.S. Department of Education’s Office of Civil Rights. In the complaint, UT-Austin is accused of &#8220;creating a hostile environment for Black students by continuing to play the ‘The Eyes of Texas’ alma mater song at university events,” per <a href="https://www.texastribune.org/2021/09/07/naacp-ut-austin-eyes-of-texas/">The Texas Tribune</a>. 
“(UT’s actions) are a violation of the university’s obligation under the Fourteenth Amendment, Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, and clearly in violation of the university’s responsibility to provide a violence- and intimidation-free environment for our young students so they can pursue their education the same as others,” <a href="https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/ncaaf/big12/2021/09/08/texas-naacp-the-eyes-texas-creates-hostile-environment-ut/5768659001/">said</a> Gary Bledsoe, president of the Texas NAACP.
The complaint alleges that the university violated Title VI of the Civil Rights Act by failing to “respond to racial harassment against Black students and others who oppose the song.” The complaint also states that the creation of a &#8220;separate marching band for students who do not want to play &#8216;The Eyes of Texas&#8217; violates equal protections afforded under the Fourteenth Amendment.&#8221;
The Longhorn Band <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r4H0Q6q2k9Q">performed</a> the “Eyes of Texas” this past weekend in the home opener for Texas football against Louisiana. In January, newly hired head football coach Steve Sarkisian <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2021/01/13/steve-sarkisian-the-eyes-of-texas/">said</a>, “I know this much, &#8216;The Eyes of Texas’ is our school song. We’re going to sing that song. We’re going to sing that proudly.”
“Whenever there&#8217;s an event where it&#8217;s played, I feel uncomfortable, because it&#8217;s almost like a song of white supremacy, and it just holds all those negative connotations of the 1900s and of most minstrel shows,” Al-Nassar Lawal, president of the UT-Austin chapter of the NAACP <a href="https://www.statesman.com/story/news/2021/09/08/texas-naacp-the-eyes-texas-creates-hostile-environment-ut/5757918001/">said</a> in an interview. “That&#8217;s the imagery that comes to my mind.”
Joe Morgan is the Sports Reporter for The Daily Wire. Most recently, Morgan covered the Clippers, Lakers, and the NBA for Sporting News. Send your sports questions to sports@dailywire.com.

COLLEGE FOOTBALL: SEP 04 Louisiana at Texas

Texas NAACP And UT Students File Federal Civil Rights Complaint Over ‘Racist’ School Song ‘Eyes Of Texas’

Racism

Correction: A previous version of this article stated that Spenser Rapone was hired by the University of Texas as a professor. It has been corrected to note that he is attending the university&#8217;s graduate program. The article has also been corrected to note that The New School is based in New York, and is not part of the university. 
The University of Texas accepted a man known as the “commie cadet” as a graduate student in the university’s history department.
<a href="https://liberalarts.utexas.edu/history/graduate/gradstudents/profile.php?id=sr49877">Spenser Rapone</a>, also known as the “commie cadet,” was removed from the U.S. Army on an “other-than-honorable” discharge after he posted photos praising communism during a West Point graduation ceremony. Rapone has since started attending the University of Texas as a graduate student. 
During a May 2016 graduation ceremony, Rapone was photographed opening his dress uniform to show a T-shirt with a red image of socialist icon Che Guevara. Guevara is a Marxist revolutionary who played a major role in the Cuban Revolution. In a second image, Rapone is seen raising his fist and showcasing the inside of his hate which reads, “Communism will win.” 
Rapone echoed this sentiment on Twitter. 
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Communism will win
&mdash; Spenser Rapone (@SpenserRapone) <a href="https://twitter.com/SpenserRapone/status/815720490799132672?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 2, 2017</a></blockquote>
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According to <a href="https://www.armytimes.com/news/your-army/2018/06/19/commie-cadet-sends-vulgar-message-on-his-way-out-of-the-army/">Army Times</a>, an investigation into Rapone’s online behavior uncovered that the former cadet used his online presence to advocate for a socialist revolution and disparage high-ranking military officers. Rapone was reprimanded for “conduct unbecoming of an officer.” 
West Point released a statement after Rapone’s photos caused an uproar on social media. “In no way [do Rapone’s actions] reflect the values of the U.S. Military Academy or the U.S. Army.” 
Speaking to The Associated Press, Rapone said that he considers himself a “revolutionary socialist.” He encouraged members of the armed forces to stop fighting on behalf of the United States, or as he calls the country, “the agents of imperialism.” 
“I consider myself a revolutionary socialist,” Rapone said. “I would encourage all soldiers who have a conscience to lay down their arms and join me and so many others who are willing to stop serving the agents of imperialism and join us in a revolutionary movement.”
In an interview with <a href="https://www.jacobinmag.com/2018/10/spenser-rapone-interview-communist-army">Jacobin</a>, Rapone said that he does not believe that the U.S. military fights for “freedom,” “truth,” or “justice.” 
“I was always told growing up that the U.S. military protects the innocent, that we fight for freedom, truth, and justice,” Rapone said. “It didn’t take me long to realize that my experiences did not reflect that in the slightest… We were just persecuting and terrorizing some of the most exploited people on Earth with one of the most technologically advanced militaries in history.”
Rapone’s University of Texas biography states that he has a continued interest in socialism and conducts research on the subject. In particular, he researches “Ba’thism,” which is a <a href="https://www.jstor.org/stable/4324510">fusion</a> of socialism and Arab nationalism. 
“[Rapone’s] research is primarily concerned with the question of the spirit and soul in modern thought,” his biography reads. “Specifically, he seeks to reconstruct and historically situate politico-theological ideologies such as Ba’thism and similar thought-forms in the Arab World and beyond.” 
His biography fails to mention his military service or his “other-than-honorable” discharge. 
Rapone&#8217;s interests are in “Modern Arab intellectual history, Modern Middle East and North Africa, metaphysics, consciousness, political theology, decolonization, [and] violence.”

University Of Texas Accepts ‘Commie Cadet’ Who Posted Photos Praising Cuban Revolution, Communism

Communism

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