The Liberator Magazine
The Official Publication of the College of Liberal Arts
Written by Justin PastranoGraphic by Asiyah Saeed. – Trigger Warning: I have every intention of being sensitive towards those who have been affected by suicide. This is a profound issue in our society that should be discussed. The target audience here is not for those who may be experiencing these issues. The Myth of Sisyphus has an emphasis on the […]
Written by Eva Strelitz-Block.Graphic by Quynhmai Tran. – Jude is two years younger than me. According to family lore, the night he was born (literally in the room next door to my bedroom), I slept without waking for the first time ever. Characteristically, his arrival was noisy and chaotic. He has never once in his life finished a family dinner without […]
Written by Alyssa Hiarker.Graphic by Quynhmai Tran. – We all know the horror movie experience: a darkened theatre, ominous music to set the mood, screams followed by a collective breath of laughter, strangers turned to friends as the tension builds with each new scare. There’s more to horror movies than just the moments of abject terror that come with jump scares; […]
Written by Aryan Bhalla.Graphic by Quynhmai Tran. – As I stand by my windowsill in ode As I stand by my windowsill in ode To the fairies of dark symphonies above I sit, breathe you out You I cannot see You I cannot describe Your love I always breathe But your love I cannot revive. As I stand here, thanking the […]
Written by Hayle Chen. Graphic by Quynhmai Tran. – For Allison, who told me I could absolutely write on a topic that I had never pitched to her before—you brought the best kind of control to this chaotic world. “To be in hell is to drift; to be in heaven is to steer.” When addressing the fervent lust for control that […]
Written by Morgan Jeitler. Graphic by Emma Robinson. – Once a week, I, like many others, gather my friends and my wine and plop on my couch to watch what juicy betrayal or break up comes next. My friends and I root on our favorites, laugh at the contestants’ buffoonery (cough, cough, remember when Kiarra ever so confidently pronounced ‘lingerie’ absolutely […]
Written by Aryan Bhalla. Graphic by Quynhmai Tran. – LOVE You love her, so does she.And so it is this love, that makes you we.But love her pure, as does she;For a love that is love is a symphony. Or risk her sadness, and a grieving pain.You can’t wish for love, yet you can sustain,For a love that is pure […]
Written by Avani Chhaya.Graphic by Quynhmai Tran– The miles of hurt – s t r e t c h –through the deserted terrain,exposed to the relentless sun Baked and crackingbeneath this oppressive heatbearing down upon us Accumulated like airline mileage,I stack hurt awayin a beaten, worn-down suitcase The hurt elongatesshape-shifting with ambiguous intentionstaking the form of believable promises, of naive […]
Written by Eunsu Cho.Graphic by Quynhmai Tran. Broken feeling empty is when you don’t know whether to fill the cup back up again, or whether to break the cup so it can never be filled again Spring they call it beautiful renewing awakening blooming but I call it struggling growing hurting under blissful gazes of the ignorant people who romanticize […]
Written by Eva Strelitz-Block.Graphic by Quynhmai Tran. Dendrochronology is a new word I’ve learned. It is the science of the transformation of trees. If you cut a tree down, the analysis of its rings provides insight into its seasonal experiences over time: its nutrient and climate highs and lows, its times of abundance and scarcity. It has always made sense to […]
Written by Praveena Javvadi. Graphic by Quynhmai Tran. I wonder if goodbyes ever work out that way. Where you say what you think and you know what you mean. Where a goodbye is goodbye. When the moment feels likethe end of a sentence, on the last page of a book. I wonder if it ever works out that way. I wonder if they’re ever good, or less painful. I […]
Written by Catherina Chowdhury. Graphic by Quynhmai Tran. I haven’t met anyone who picked “dare” in years. Over time, my friends and I started calling the game “truth or truth” just because it was more to the point. Then it became “hot seat,” because it wasn’t like anyone wasn’t going to answer the questions. As young people, all we could give each […]
Written by Kayla Hays. Graphic by Quynhmai Tran. “We bought this for you,” said my mom, handing over a hot pink blanket which burned brightly in both the soft fabric and the forced femininity for my five-year-old self. Of course, I didn’t know to care at the time; I didn’t know to care that my blanket was hot pink and my brother’s […]
Written by Byron Xu.Graphic by Ashley Mireles.– The Rise and Fall of Kentucky’s Crack-Slinging, Skydiving Cowboy and His CIA-Backed International Drug Ring They found the bear on the mountains of Fannin County, Georgia, next to 15 million dollars worth of cocaine—or what remained of 15 million dollars worth of cocaine after the bear had gotten to it. Officers from the […]
Written by Kara Hildebrand (she/her)Graphic by Quynhmai Tran (she/her) – Flipping on an episode of Riverdale (totally ironically, of course), presents the unsuspecting audience member with a cast in their mid-to-late twenties lamenting about relatable teenager problems. The school dance got canceled, the boy next door doesn’t like me back, and parents are so controlling. Perhaps this slips past them, […]
Written by Jadyn Simental.Graphic by Quynhmai Tran. – Sometimes I catch myself deepening my voice to hide any form of femininity. I find myself eyeing make-up in stores, but then remember the time I was caught wearing it in high school and swore it was acne medicine. I talk about painting my nails with friends, but consider my disapproving mother […]
Written by Kayla Hays.Graphic by Ashley Mireles. – To my dearest Aemilia, For an hour I have sat with pen to parchment, and yet not a single word flows. Your last letter left me with too many thoughts—now they all exist inside me, fighting for equal space granted to none. But I will say that which has been plaguing my mind […]
Written by Frida Silva.Graphic by Asiyah Saeed. – “Since bathroom graffiti is done neither for acclaim nor money, it is the purest form of art. Discuss” I’ve always considered bathrooms to be an odd space. They uniquely exist in the wavering border between the public and the private, with only a flimsy stall door to divide the two. People come […]
Written by Harrison Fernelius. Graphic by Emma Robinson. – The Guadalupe Drag hems the edge of the nation’s seventh-largest college campus. In theory, this commercial area should provide a space for students to purchase reasonably priced basic necessities and enjoy affordable dining options, which include diverse cuisines and local fare. Also, considering the academic nature of college, hip and welcoming study space […]
Written by Marielle Glasse. Graphic by Emma Robinson. – In the body of an arrow is a man. He lays down with his arms to his sides, like a board in the desert. His stomach is carved out all the way to his feet. This eternal hunger that rules him is an arrow too. A hollow grinds in him like […]
Written by Bismarck Andino, Jayla Ball, Emily Hyatt, and Anissa Reyes. Graphic by Emma Robinson. – Austin’s rapid growth is challenging the food service industry as business owners struggle with today’s competitive market, staff turnover, and the high rate of property taxes and rent, an industry official said Nov. 19 in an interview. “It is tough out there,” said Kenneth […]
Written by Marielle Glasse. Graphic by Quynhmai Tran. – There was a day when The night wet the grass and My feet came Stomping in to crush it all all those little green sprouts mocking our growth So we decided to play god We kissed concrete We hit the ground to break it before It fell out from under […]
Written by Morgan Jeitler. Graphic by Emma Robinson. – Why does everyone hate the PCL—or, better yet, why does UT’s culture tell us we should hate the PCL? Sure, I’ll admit that from the outside the Perry-Castañeda Library may look like a prison, and it might be stuffy and hot some days and too crowded on others, but these reasons […]
Written by Hayle Chen. Graphic by Quynhmai Tran. – Communication. Thirteen letters, five syllables, and an abundance of dichotomies: we do it all the time. From the fleeting goodbye you call out to your roommate as the door slams shut, to delivering well-composed answers specifically devised for a life-altering interview, communication is undoubtedly humanity’s unwavering constant. However, do we recognize […]
Written by Harrison Fernelius. Graphic by Emma Robinson. – Strip malls, aren’t they beautiful? Now before you pass judgment, please let me explain. Some of the most vivid memories of my childhood come from those summer days spent strip mall shopping with my mom. The palpable heat of the sun giving way to the ice-cold chill of the store, as […]
Written by Kate Diller. Graphic by Quynhmai Tran. – I never was much for wearing jewelry every day. I wear a watch on my left wrist, over the spot I plan to remember one of you with a tattoo. Some days, I’ll wear a necklace, one from Ryan, or Turkey, or you. There’s a ring I love, made from a […]
Written by Bismarck Andino. Graphic by Emma Robinson. – Despite having access to eight dining locations throughout campus, some students at the University of Texas at Austin go to classes without eating a meal. Jalesha Bass, communication and leadership and journalism double major, is one student whose eating patterns have been disrupted due to financial stress. Bass said her experience […]
Written by Kate Diller. Graphic by Quynhmai Tran. – I can’t think. I’m not sure I can feel any part of my body. Nothing is solid around me. I can’t feel the world. Where did it go? And then suddenly, there it all is. The air surrounds me again; I can feel the gases slide past my skin like water […]
Recorded by Allison McCarty and Shini Meyer Wang. Graphic by Emma Robinson. – Want to make sure you don’t miss an episode? Follow our podcast on Spotify! Interested in recording an episode for The UTea Podcast? Click here!
Written by Bismarck Andino. Graphic by Emma Robinson. – With a 20% increase of homeless animals this year and only 19 full-time animal care employees to care for them, the Austin Animal Center has experienced chronic overcrowding for the past two years, an Animal Advisory commissioner said Oct. 14 during a meeting where the Commission approved a set of amendments for no-kill practices. Austin […]
Written by Jennifer Dong. Graphic by Quynhmai Tran. – Her name is Chanel Miller. She is half-Chinese; an artist, writer, sister, daughter, friend, lover of printmaking and comedy. For years, she was publicly known as Emily Doe or a nameless victim after Brock Turner was convicted for sexually assaulting her on Stanford University’s campus in 2015. Emily Doe’s name was […]
Written by Varun Hukeri. Graphic by Quynhmai Tran. – On campus at the University of Texas, finding a meal should be the least of students’ worries. If they need a quick bite to eat after class or simply want to grab lunch, there’s a bountiful number of options. From various chains on campus to a line of restaurants along The […]
Written by Noah Van Hooser. Graphic by Emma Robinson. – Although looming climate catastrophe has induced a flurry of policy proposals, impassioned punditry, and even occasional existential reorientations, it seems all varieties of environmentalism have not gone quite far enough. All too often, the language of possible ecologies inherits the baggage of reform. It is not that the very ground […]
Written by Harley Gutierrez. Graphic by Emma Robinson. – The warm embrace of the hellfire that burns in my heart is familiar. In two years, one cycle, like nine circles, smoldered and took seven attempts to escape. Circumambulating the situation, I spiraled into sorrow and anger – emotions inflicted or fueled by pain. The pain was so great, I can […]
Written by Hector Osegueda. Graphic by Quynhmai Tran. – I’ll be the first to admit that I’m bad at math. My high school report card would be straight A’s all the way down until, quite rudely, a math class reminded me of my shortcomings with a big fat C. I was always elated whenever I managed to eke out a […]
Written by Kate Diller. Graphic by Emma Robinson. – He didn’t hear the footsteps behind him, hadn’t heard the bodies fall. The glass came to his lips, smooth liquor gleaming in the light from the moon above him. The shadows slipped forward, blades in hand. They faltered, though, when he turned to face them, setting his glass down on the […]
Written by Aryan Bhalla. Graphic by Quynhmai Tran. – Should I, Rest as I do; aimless; like a polarizing wind or must I rise above these clouds? Shrouded in mystery as my destiny and the stars hide behind these clouds. Compounded in labor as my life shies away behind these clouds. Groom my wings and face my fears, Should I […]
Written by Praveena Javvadi. Graphic by Emma Robinson. – For most people, college is the last time that they will be completely surrounded by people their own age. For that reason, university campuses can develop interesting dynamics and politics unique to the college environment. Some of this can be great, like good meme pages and inside jokes across campus. But […]
Recorded by Allison McCarty, Mariah Sanchez, Morgan Jeitler, and Valeria Colunga. Graphic by Emma Robinson. – Want to make sure you don’t miss an episode? Follow our podcast on Spotify! Interested in recording an episode for The UTea Podcast? Click here!
Written by Neelesh Rathi. Graphic by Quynhmai Tran. – Fear is, more than anything else — more than paralyzing, more than misery-inducing — fleeting, and then frustrating. It’s frustrating because it’s fleeting. Fear doesn’t last — the paralysis and misery don’t last — which means after it passes, for however long it stays away, we’re left frustrated with ourselves. Why did […]
Written by Frida Silva. Graphic by Emma Robinson. – When the Twilight films first started being released, expressing any positive feelings for the movies meant enduring endless shame and online harassment. Just like any other pop culture phenomenon with a fan base consisting of mainly teenage girls, Twilight generated endless memes and jokes at the expense of the franchise and […]
Written by Morgan Jeitler. Graphic by Quynhmai Tran. – UT prides themselves on their use of energy. Their sustainability website explicitly states that UT Austin “continues to lead among universities by reducing waste, conserving energy and water resources…” and follows immediately with a list of awards and achievements garnered by the university over time. They’re right in priding themselves on […]
Recorded by Allison McCarty, Hubert Ning, Rohin Balkundi, and Terrane Ansley.Graphic by Emma Robinson. – Want to make sure you don’t miss an episode? Follow our podcast on Spotify! Interested in recording an episode for The UTea Podcast? Click here!
Written by Cameron Waltz. Graphic by Emma Robinson. – A Warm Embrace I hold him close. Don’t leave me for the World yet. You’re far too young to leave my arms. The great, wide world is one of danger and loss. I tug you back to rest, but you won’t let me hold you down. I wish I could keep […]
Written by Hayle Chen. Graphic by Quynhmai Tran. – **Content Warning: Graphic Content** Envision this: You’re gazing into a black void. There’s haphazard electronic humming and stark white letters emblazoned across a pitch-dark background. Then—the unnerving crack of the void, the screen, as a sound akin to a distressed heart monitor pitching higher assaults your ears. There might be a […]
Written by Harrison Fernelius. Graphic by Emma Robinson. – “After all, very few musical genres are able to contain the sheer force of sentiment and anger that metal can accommodate. It simply has an enormous capacity for emotion. No anger is too great, and no sentiment is too dark. It is the musical mouthpiece of the counterculture.” – What makes […]
Recorded by Allison McCarty, Elena Edwards, Mariah Sanchez, and Valeria Colunga. Graphic by Emma Robinson. Want to make sure you don’t miss an episode? Follow our podcast on Spotify! Interested in recording an episode for The UTea Podcast? Click here!
Written by Kate DillerGraphic by Emma Robinson – “Suddenly, or perhaps imperceptibly slowly, my lungs are empty. I cannot find air, even as my chest heaves, trying to draw it in.” – The desk beneath me is shockingly cold, distracting me momentarily from the scene before me. My attention doesn’t stray for long though, the sharp scent of blood drawing […]
Written by Alyssa Hiarker. Graphic by Quynhmai Tran. – Dressed in superhero tights and capes, fashionmongers and environmentalists alike traveled to the Texas Federation of Women’s Clubs on Sept. 14 for Texas Campaign for the Environment’s ninth annual Trash Makeover Challenge. The Trash Makeover Challenge, a fashion show and silent auction, used local artists’ sustainable fashion designs to showcase the […]
Written by Jennifer DongGraphic by Emma Robinson – “With lyrics of cutting specificity and breathy vocals, Swift reminds the listener that love is just as precarious and torturous as it is reassuring, singing, “I hope I never lose you, hope it never ends. I’d never walk Cornelia Street again.” ” – “I Forgot That You Existed” & “ME!” Taylor Swift’s […]
Written by Jennifer Dong. Graphic by Quynhmai Tran. – “Swift’s greatest strength is her rare ability to expertly pinpoint sacred emotions through a combination of tenderly crafted lyrics and music in the same way that the prisms of crystals are able to catch the fleeting gaze of light at just the right time, place, and angle.” – More than a […]
Written by Frida Silva.Graphic by Quynhmai Tran.– During the final meal that Jesus shared with his apostles, they dined on bread and wine. “Do this in remembrance of me,” he said. “The bread is my body and the wine is my blood.” Shortly after the Last Supper, Jesus was crucified. According to Christianity, the crucifixion of Jesus plays a central […]
Written by Ashley Mireles.Graphic by Quynhmai Tran. – Twice a year, students are asked to complete the grueling task of enrolling for classes. As spring registration looms once again, we must address the flaws with UT’s current system. UT is considered a world-class institution, but its registration system doesn’t reflect that. Outdated and disorganized, the system creates unnecessary stress for […]
