The Liberator Magazine
The Official Publication of the College of Liberal Arts
Written by Christina Lopez. Graphic by Peyton Cabaniss. It takes planning, persistence, and prioritization. As college tuition costs skyrocket, more full-time students are taking on jobs to finance their college experience. According to CNBC, a 2015 study from Georgetown University’s Center on Education and the Workforce found that in the past 25 years, over 70 percent of college students […]
Written by Hira Vayani. Many South Asian children’s earliest memories include their family and a stethoscope. It’s the child’s 4th birthday, and they have received a doctor’s kit as a present. This is just the beginning of the continuous career conditioning, as most people in the South Asian community have a narrow definition of success, due to cultural and societal […]
Written by Amina Amdeen. Images provided by Kaci Beeler and Nancy Norton. Of all the universal truths, “laughter is the best medicine” is my favorite. Not only has it endured the test of time, as proven by the continued importance of jokes in every culture, but it has also withstood countless social transformations. No matter what upheaval we experience in our […]
Written by Hayley Wood. Since its invention, theater has been a haven from the gleam of technology – a place of silence, strangers, and immersion into another world. The cackles, sighs, and tears from other audience members can make or break the experience of seeing a film for the first time. Unfortunately, the rising popularity of online streaming and personal […]
Written by Chloe Kersh. Though eating disorders are visibly connected to body weight, recovery from these mental illnesses is an invisible process. Maintenance of a “healthy” weight and a return to “normal” eating habits are the ostensible signs of recovery, but it is cognition that drives change. Despite the internal nature of recovery, external stimuli, such as the words and […]
Written by Hayley Wood. Shades of pretentiousness, urgency and obscurity tint the topic of sustainability. As a pillar of science, the amount of available data can be overwhelming. As a pillar of morality, it can seem too rooted in hippy-dippy secularism. As a pillar of human existence, it can be seen as either too intimidating or not important at all. […]
Written by Hira Vayani. Careful, condemned, curious are some words I would describe my experience as a 21st century Muslim. “… You terrorist,” yelled a driver as I walked near the UT campus. On my way to the mosque one night, a man reprimanded me because I decided to wear a religious symbol, a headscarf. While Austin may appear liberal, […]
Written by Brooke Quach. We roll into Austin at 40 miles per hour, caught in the traffic of ACL, but still eager to explore our second home. My friend and fellow UT classmate points to the east of I-35 and states matter-of-factly that this area is the ghetto of Austin. It’s where you don’t want to be, where you’re most […]
Written by Yulissa Chavez. From November 8 to November 19, Texas Performing Arts showcased Arthur Miller’s The Crucible, a story of how ignorance, hatred and jealousy can result in the deaths of innocent people. Set in Salem, Massachusetts during the 17th century, the play begins with the fearful and paranoid Reverend Parris accusing his devious niece Abigail and his daughter […]
Written by Christina Lopez. The air was thick with conversation and the smell of coffee as over 200 people filed into First United Methodist Church just before sunrise on Tuesday, November 7th. About 30 volunteers were busy setting up tables, serving eggs, filling coffee cups, and making sure everything was ready for Feed My People, a program that serves breakfast […]
Written by Hayley Wood. When we think of the benefits bees carry, honey is normally the first thing that comes to mind. Yet honey bees are only one of the tens of thousands of other bee species that exist. While the fruit of their labor is sweet, their pollination services extend beyond a pot of honey. These tiny pollinators are […]
Written by Siqi Jiang. Originally published in the POWER issue, Jiang was the winner of our 2017 Creative Writing Contest. Image: “The Half Hour Library of Travel, Nature and Science for young readers,” pub. by James Nisbet & Co., 1896. Arguments, they are like rock-paper-scissors. As surely as rock beats scissors; Beasts, They are weak to my sword. Sharpen yourself, […]
Written by Robyn Yeh. Photos by Robin Yeh. In the early 1900s, the US Supreme Court passed a series of policies that inhibited zoning minorities to certain areas. The South responded by creating new policies that enforced racism. In 1928, a “Negro District,” where schools and public services were more readily available for African-American citizens was created. Decisions made […]
Written by Jacob Hood. Originally published in the Spring 2017 “Power” Issue. The Counseling and Mental Health Center (CMHC) at the University of Texas seeks to provide counseling at lower costs than other health care providers in Austin, while offering students a multitude of helpful services. For example, the CMHC gives students the chance to use their crisis line, participate […]
Written by Amina Amdeen. Originally published as part of the Spring 2017 “Power” issue. “Turns out, once you go black you can go anywhere else.” The audience erupts with laughter. “For the first time in American history they’re asking the black man to stay,” Trevor Noah continued. Trevor Noah is not a political commentator, pundit, or confirmed expert. He is […]
Written by Samantha Bolf. Originally published as part of the Spring 2017 “Power” issue. In 2016, I read the Southern Reach Trilogy by Jeff VanderMeer. Immediately, I was enthralled with the world he had created in only three books –– a world of natural beauty and horror, which at the center was a woman biologist. I felt transformed as though […]
The Liberator Magazine 