Good morning, Longhorns! It's Monday, July 21, 2025, and here's your latest campus news. The University of Texas at Austin is making significant strides in water sustainability with the development of the WaterHub, a 9,600-square-foot facility set to become the largest of its kind at a U.S. university. Scheduled to be operational by fall 2027, the WaterHub will reclaim up to 1 million gallons of wastewater daily, aiming to reduce the campus's reliance on municipal water and alleviate pressure on Austin's water supply. Located in the engineering district, this facility will also serve as a hands-on research laboratory for students and faculty to explore water treatment and reuse technologies. In athletics, the UT System Board of Regents has approved a six-year, $32 million contract for new Longhorns basketball coach Sean Miller. Miller, formerly of Xavier and Arizona, will start with a $4.8 million salary for the 2025-26 season, increasing by $200,000 annually. He also received a $250,000 relocation bonus and could earn up to $850,000 in annual performance-based bonuses. Miller replaces Rodney Terry, who was dismissed in March. The Longhorns are looking to revitalize their basketball program after a challenging season in the Southeastern Conference. Four current and former UT Austin students have filed a federal lawsuit against the university, Governor Greg Abbott, and law enforcement officials, alleging violations of their First Amendment rights following their arrests at an April 2024 campus protest against Israel's actions in Gaza. Represented by the American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee, the students claim the arrests and university disciplinary actions were retaliatory and aimed at suppressing pro-Palestinian speech. The lawsuit asserts that Governor Abbott, with university President Jay Hartzell’s approval, deployed state police in riot gear to detain peaceful demonstrators. Charges against the arrested students were later dropped due to lack of probable cause. An increasing number of students from the Northeast are choosing to attend UT Austin. Between 2014 and 2023, the number of Northeastern freshmen at UT more than doubled from 121 to 245. Factors such as warm weather, lower tuition costs, availability of merit-based scholarships, and the university's vibrant location contribute to this trend. Despite this growing interest, UT's admissions are largely reserved for top Texas high school graduates due to state law, limiting the influx of out-of-state students. Starting next fall, the UT System will waive tuition fees for students from families earning $100,000 or less. This program, funded by a $35 million infusion, makes the UT System the first in Texas to provide such broad financial aid. Currently, the system covers tuition for families earning up to $65,000, and this expansion aims to further reduce student debt and increase enrollment. The University of Texas at Austin has sent layoff notices to an estimated 60 staff members who previously worked in diversity, equity, and inclusion roles. This move comes as the university works to comply with the state’s anti-DEI law, SB17, which bans public colleges and universities from maintaining DEI offices and holding mandatory DEI training. The staffing cuts have sparked protests among students and faculty, who are calling for transparency and support for affected staff members. In response to recent campus protests, UT Austin has created a new unit dedicated to free speech on campus. The Event Readiness and Response unit aims to address students' rights and responsibilities regarding free speech, ensuring that demonstrations are conducted safely and in accordance with university policies. This initiative follows last spring’s protests that ended in arrests and confusion. Lorraine Haricombe, the Director of University of Texas Libraries and a champion of open access, has announced her retirement. Haricombe has been instrumental in advancing the university's library services and promoting open access to research and educational resources. Her leadership will be greatly missed, and the university is currently seeking her successor. That's all for today's update. Stay cool, stay informed, and Hook 'em Horns!

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